"Play Like A Champion Today"

Mike and I took a little weekend trip to Indiana the weekend before Thanksgiving. We had been to Notre dame about 10 years ago when looking at law schools and had always wanted to go back for a longer visit. BYU was playing Notre Dame so it was a gimme! AMAZING!!

First night there, we went and drove around campus and went to a basketball game

 

Mike got a picture with their mascot- the Leprechaun!

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Amazing Bookstore- we ran into a lot of BYU fans

This is their main building. = to BYU's ASB.  Absolutely beautiful! Huge painted murals of early American scenes line the walls. The dome was beautiful This is where we gathered to hear the Irish Guard (bag pipes)play and then the trumpets play.





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'The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a magnificent, Gothic-inspired, cross-shaped place of worship and welcome, nurturing Notre Dame’s Catholic identity. Many members of the campus community gather here amid its artistic splendor for daily and weekly Masses that are celebrated both in the main body of the church and in its basement Crypt chapel."

the grotto
Mike was the only one lighting a candle for BYU!

In the Hesburgh Library, we attended a lecture hosted by Notre Dame and including UVU's President Holland addressing "If Mitt Romney's religion was the cause of his elections loss?" There we saw the real Rudy! He was on the front row listening to the lecture.

"Touchdown Jesus" is visible from inside Notre Dame Stadium
The stadium is known for its view of "Touchdown Jesus", a nickname given to the large mural entitled The Word of Life by Millard Sheets of the resurrected Jesus. Installed in 1964 on the Hesburgh library, the mosaic wall looms over the stadium, mirroring the raised arms of a referee signifying a touchdown."



On this lawn, while we were waiting for the Player's March to begin, the men's Chorus gave a concert. Amazing- they sang a medley of fight songs of all their opponents they had played so far this year- even BYU's!!

We followed the band and cheerleaders from the main building all the way to the stadium. Talk about school spirit!! So many athletic and school traditions!

We sat a few rows up from the BYU sideline. so close that Mike could yell "Come on Kyle!" and Kyle Van Noy would turn and look up at the stands. However, our enthusiasm was not enough to fire the Cougars up and they had a pretty pathetic loss to the Fighting Irish. dang it.

 

Freezing cold! We had 3 layers of clothing on and with the wind chill I think it was near 10 degrees! We loved Notre Dame. the campus was awesome and inviting. we had several people welcome us and ask where we were visiting from. the guys next to us at the game asked if we had had a nice visit and "Win or lose ( it was obvious by this time) we hope you enjoyed your time in South Bend".

And we did!

Mike found this quaint little Scottish Bed & Breakfast on the internet. the owners were very friendly and helpful and we stayed in a portion of their garage that they had finished.

 

 

Lots of Amish country and corn fields!!

 

Katelyn the Photographer

I have many a' folders full of Katelyn's photos on the computer. She loves to take the camera out and capture nature and all sorts of other things. There was a PTA contest at school that she entered one of her photographs into... Reflections 2014: Believe, Dream, Inspire





Like this mother duck, teachers believe in each and every one of their students. Even with many students, teachers are able to take time to reach each individual and help each student create their own dreams. Through learning and their examples my teachers have inspired me to be the best I can."- Katelyn black

She won honorable mention for the 7th grade from her Jr High PTA!

Wrestling Mania

In October, the boys brought home this wrestling flyer from school. They said they wanted to try it out so we signed them up. I knew nothing about wrestling. I didn't even know my own husband had wrestled. The boys LOVED it. Way impressed with Bountiful High and their wrestling program and coaches. They went to the school a couple of times a week to practice and then participated in a tournament at Viewmont High.
Brigham loved it and Tyler did a great job, but decided it wasn't for his tender heart.

 Briggs at his first tournament at Viewmont.

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Both boys won 2nd place in their weight division!

 

 

Humble Beginnings

Seeing B and L's beautiful new home brought back some memories...

Had a new baby, moved to an unfamiliar city far away from friends and family, in school, husband living out of a van during the school week, bought new house, Christmas time...

I had stood in line at Target on Black Friday to get this "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree for $30. We decorated it with lights and  toilet paper because that is all we had.


And we were happy! Look at those darling smiles!

Tyler jazzin' it up!

Jr Jazz has begun again and Tyler is doing an awesome job! His team is undefeated so far with 2 games left in the season.  He is enjoying the season and says he wants to play again in the spring!

 

Last week was their toughest game but the ended up pulling ahead and winning 18-13!

Tyler has some great coaches and they have him playing center position.

Amy's 11th Birthday

Can you believe Aimers is 11???? She is a smart, beautiful, talented young lady! And we just love having her in our little family!

 Amy decided to choose a friend party again this year. She had an "Artist Party"

 They painted canvas and made duck tape flower pens.

 Fun, crazy group of girls!

 Of course, Amy's birthday would not be complete without Chuck A Rama!

 Tyler made her a birthday treat and the waitresses sang her a song!

 Then she doorbell ditched a gift to a "special" friend that shares her birthday with her. As we were preparing his gift for drop off there was a frantic knock at our door. The kids ran to the door and on the doorstep was a 2 liter of root beer and a card for Amy from him! Ahhh the giddiness! I think she had a great birthday!