Homecoming 2012

Adam turned 16 at the beginning of July, thus making him eligible to date.  He goodnaturedly took me out on his first date (a request I made of both him and his brother), but he has since gone out on some "real" dates, including Centennial's Homecoming Dance.  Hard to believe my youngest kid is a dating man, but then I am a grandma.  I must be old.

The best part of Adam's homecoming experience may have been his day activity where he went to the BSU-Miami of Ohio football game with his date and her family.  Adam is a HUGE Boise State fan--he's even rooting for them in the post-Kellen era--and so was his date's family.  So, he and Lauren enjoyed watching BSU actually generate some offense, a rarity this season, and trounce the RedHawks.  Adam was particularly impressed that Lauren's dad would high five everyone after every good play.  He may want to go to ALL of the games with her dad.

They went and got pictures out in Eagle, ate Greek food at a little bistro, and went to the dance briefly.  Adam said the dances themselves get a little wild, so they hadn't planned on staying long.  Afterward, they went swimming in someone's backyard pool and watched part of a movie.  They really enjoyed their date.

All dressed up with some place to go.

Someone in their group said they were the most closely matched.  I concur.

In a lighter moment. . .

Adam was especially happy that he was
actually taller than Lauren.

Cheese!

I was most pleased that Adam had such an unforced, fun time on his date.  He said he was surprised that it was never awkward and that they were just able to talk and have fun.  News flash:  that's what dating is supposed to be, especially at this age.  He has plenty of years ahead for more intense dating and relationship stuff.  Just have fun, boy!  Have some fun!

XC Update (before the season ends)

Sorry about the blogging break.  I have been immersed in organizing and writing the Primary sacrament meeting program for the past week and a half.  This annual event has long been my favorite sacrament meeting program of the year, but I never fully appreciated how much work went in to it.  I'm even more grateful now than I have been in the past for those sisters who slaved away to make each program come off relatively seamlessly.  I'll let you know how ours goes on October 28th.

Adam is about halfway through his junior cross country season.  Due to budget cuts, there are even fewer meets this fall than last, so he has just two more meets before the district race in about a month.  The biggest news flash is that he isn't injured this year, and he is running well and having fun.  That last part is most important to me.  I told him many times last season, "If you have fun when you run, then you've won."  I've discovered he has the most fun when he runs fast.  Not surprisingly, he runs a lot faster when he's not injured.

He really came through in his first meet of the season, the Jimmy Driscoll Invitational at Bishop Kelly.  It was so smoky that Saturday morning that I was actually kind of surprised they held the meet.  Witness:

Adam and teammate, Scott.  No, this picture is
not blurry.  It really was that smoky.

Sprinting down the homestretch

Yup, Top 10!  Hooray for Adam!

He has had three more meets since the opening lung-scorching race.  (My eyes and lungs were burning just standing there.  Don't know how they did it.)  He ran in the Twilight Invitational in Caldwell, the Silverwood Coaster Cross in Coeur d'Alene, and Centennial's Stephen Thompson Memorial Centipede Race.

He always seems a little tightly wound before each race.
Guess that what makes him run fast.  I just want to hug him.

And they're off. . .

The Centipede Race is the most unique one they run all year.  Seven runners have to hold on to a rope and complete the first 2.25 miles together.  Then they hit the transition zone where they drop the rope and race the last 0.75 miles on their own.  Adam had the disadvantage of being assigned to be the lead runner this year, and he expended a ton of energy pacing/dragging everyone along.  Fortunately, his team did well and finished second overall.  He was run down in the homestretch by a normally slower runner that he had paced along, but I think that makes him all the more fired up to run well at Bob Firman this Saturday.  

Waiting for the "Runners, take your mark. . ."

Rounding the corner just prior to the drop zone.  I think
Adam was pretty gassed at this point, but he did great.

Buckle up for the last half of the season.  I think Centennial is on their way to state!  Mark the date:  October 27th in Lewiston.  (That's gonna be a BUSY weekend!  See above.)

What Else Makes Me Smile?

Okay, so I freely admit that I am obsessed with my granddaughter.  She is amazing, but I have other things in my life that make me smile.  Really, I do.  I spent 45+ years before Emily arrived living a relatively happy life.  So, there are other joys.  Here are a few, in no particular order:

1)  Adam had injury-riddled cross country and track seasons last year, but he is healthy this year and is running with more confidence and, well, happiness.  Almost every race last year seemed to be a valiant struggle.  It's just heartwarming to see him running fun again.  Makes me smile.

2)  Mike and I celebrated 25 years of marriage almost two weeks ago.  I love him even more today than I did on August 21, 1987.  We've had a pretty good ride together, full of the inevitable ups and downs of life, but I've learned that he'll stick with me through both good and bad times.  He is kind, unselfish, hardworking, faithful, and optimistic.  That last attribute is a good counterpoint to my too-often moody nature.  He is simply a happy touchstone in our home.  He makes me smile.

There may be only one person more enchanted by
Emily than me--Granddad Mike!

3)  My parents-in-law celebrated 50 years of marriage on August 31st.  Wow!  Knowing that Mike loved me, they welcomed me into the family with such kindness and warmth.  It was Mike's mom who suggested that he "take out one of those Forsnes twins," so I will be forever indebted to her.  I have grown to love these two as my second set of parents and feel completely comfortable calling them Mom and Dad.  They have a strong marriage and taught Mike to honor women and to be a strong priesthood holder.  They are serving in the Hermosillo Mexico temple right now, and we miss them.  Thinking of them coming home in just two months makes me smile.  I've missed them.

4)  I miss my missionaries like crazy, but getting their letters and thinking of the many opportunities they have to serve and to grow makes me smile.  Their letters are the highlight of my Monday, so much so that I look forward to Monday.  What a tremendous opportunity to have two gone at once.  Am I lonely sometimes?  You betcha.  Would I rather have them home?  No way!

Matt and his "crazy trainer," Elder Gardner.  He now
has a latino companion.  He says his language skills are growing.

Rachel and her companion, Sister Hinckley, have had some neat
experiences in the Hamilton Mill Ward.  Rachel is now a trainer and
has a new companion she is orienting.  She's doing great!

5)  We had the chance to go to the open house of the new Brigham City Temple, and reflecting on the joy the gospel brings to me makes me smile.  I'm grateful that I have been taught the Plan of Happiness and that I know that I can live with my family, Heavenly Father, and the Savior forever.  That will bring the biggest smile yet.

What Makes Me Smile?

We have a whiteboard in our restroom at work where every couple of weeks someone posts a question.  We nurses can then write our anonymous answers, and it provides a little entertainment for us.  Some of the answers to this latest question?  "Another smile, toddlers, feeling my baby move."  My answer was easy:  my grandbaby.  Seriously, there is no quicker way to make me grin than to show me a picture of sweet baby Emily.  How I love this little girl!!

See if you can suppress a smile when you look at these:

And, my very favorite photo:

Don't tell Emily, but she could pretty much ask me for anything she wants.  If she looked at me with those bright, brownish eyes and gave me a big old smile, I would quickly comply.  I wonder if I'll be as smitten by all of my grandchildren.  My guess is YES!!!