Finishing up the 2009 Football Season

Part of me is relieved when football season ends...just for the sake of the busy schedule and time to make banners each week (because I couldn't ever keep it simple :}), and the missing spouse! :}; but, it sure is fun too & hard not to miss it either! Bradon's team continued to play strong, finishing the regular season at 7-2. He has really stepped up as Quarterback, and has amazed us with this arm! He's got it in him for sure! I know I sound like "one of those parents"..."Oh, look at my child!" But, really, I'm not kidding. He heard that from a lot of people. Who knows, maybe he will play for the Utes someday like he says he will! (don't worry, I'll make sure you get your autographs! :}) It really made me proud to watch my boys, including Doug, out there on the field! :} Dylan's team really picked it up too, and made it to the playoffs by hair. They were so thrilled, it was cute (I mean, "cool"...football boys can't be "so cute", right? :}). I'm so glad I was there to watch him make his first touchdown! He was SO excited, running back down the sidelines saying "Did you see that?!" (about 5 times I might add!). He loved using his energy to keep the team pumped up, and helping with the team chants! Oh I love our Dyl-Pickle!
Kaley always kept herself entertained as well, when she wasn't busy playing cheerleader! :}
We really enjoyed having friends & family come watch at different times, and we know that meant a lot to the boys too!
They even put Dennis to work...I think he enjoyed it though! :}
Bradon's team got to play in the "Border Wars" which included games at my old school, Cottonwood (Go Colts! :})...(no pics there thanks to my camera breaking :( ) and at Rio Tinto Stadium. That was a thrill for them to be play under the lights, especially on the big field! (and even better that it's the home of the recently crowned 2009 MLS Cup Champions...Go Utah!!)
They end the season with the Annual Banquets (unfortunately both the same night, so I missed most of Dylan's), which is a fun way to give some recognition to the boys and all their hard work.

Doug had fun making up the awards & thinking of a "Title" for each player. He did a great job at presenting them too! :}

You can never have enough food with a bunch of teenage boys!

GREAT JOB COACHES!

Dancin' the night away!

It was long overdue for a night out of dancing! We used to do it on a more regular basis but, busy life just gets in the way sometime! (and let's face it, we are getting older! :}) Since many of us have birthdays in October, that always seems like a good excuse to get together & do our thing! We met at Club 90, which happened to be the night before Halloween (and why you will see some costumes here). Holly freaked us out with her cat eye contacts! She didn't say anything at first, so it the dim light, I was trying for a while there, to figure out why her eyes were just not right. Silly Holly!

I love getting my "Bonko Babes" & "Jazzerbabes" together too! :}

Doug always enjoys getting to see his good bud, Gary

It was fun to have cute little Becci & Jeanette (who are like 2 peas in a pod), from class, join us too!

Tina & I were sure to hit the dance floor when that 70's music started playing

Which, of course, brings out the Dancing Queen, Nicole, herself!

The band was very entertaining, covered all kinds of music & decades. I was amazed to realize later, that the singer/keyboardist was blind.

Love it when we get the guys out on the dance floor too! :}

Miwa & Lenny...oh they're just cute! :}

Fun to have our Jessica, from Jazzercise, join us too!

Oh, we have some fun friends! :}

So then Holly took one of the contacts out to see the difference....freaky I tell ya!

Fun, Fun, Fun....Gotta Luv It!

Kaley turns 7!

Our little Boo Boo is no longer a baby! :( (of course, she'll always be our baby; but, just growing up too fast!) What is it about 7 that seems so much bigger than 6? Maybe it's because she is reading & writing a lot more now that she's in succeeding in 1st grade. This has created some great notes & pictures! Good thing there's plenty of scratch paper because she is a busy girl with her projects! One thing about Kaley, she has lots of love to give!

Ahhhh...her brothers love her! :}

And, if you couldn't tell here, it was Football Sunday...and a day of big games for our teams!

Grandma & Grandpa Leach came by to share some birthday fun. Toby always loves it when Grandpa comes to visit! :}Unfortunately, she managed to get the dreaded H1N1 Flu for her birthday week. Of course, this had to happen while Doug & I were out of town without the kids. We came home to our poor girl sick & weary with high fevers (Thank God for Aunt Colleen who saved the day & was there for her!). She seemed to be doing a little better on her birthday; but, that must have been determination to have a fun day since the next day it was all right back! We'll have to make up for it on her next birthday!HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY-KAY!!

Mom & Dad hit Vegas!

It's rare that Doug & I get the chance to have much time for ourselves with our crazy busy lives, especially going out of town together. So, when he had a convention in Vegas, it seemed like a prime opportunity to join along! This was with much thanks to family & friends who took over the parental duties of the week. Lucky us for having them be so wiling to help us out! I wasn't even sure it would work until the day before when it came together (and may not have, had I known Kaley was actually going to get the dreaded Swine Flu while we were gone either!). Though Doug was busy in meetings all day, I let that be the opportunity for me to catch up on my rest. I know not every one's ideal of their time in Vegas; but, that is just what the Dr. ordered! (especially since I was fighting bronchitis at the time..and sad I actually have to go out of town to do this! :}) If you know me, you know I don't just relax too much. So, to actually wake up around 11, and just read & do my nails, take the day as it goes with no specific plan...that was a treat! And getting time with Doug all to myself was also very nice! :}

Inside our hotel at The Rio

Doug's favorite part there had to be the cool shop inside Vince Niel's Ink...which included these killer motorcycles! Of course the VooDoo Lounge (and view from it) wasn't so bad either! :}And how fun that I also got to see old friend, Julie Clemens, who lives down there now. As a busy Mom of 4, I wasn't sure she could fit it in. But, fortunately it worked..and was so fun to see her again! Three things to know about Julie...1) The girl can sing! (she has done a number of National Anthems at different events, for example) , 2) She is an amazing mom!, and 3) She is absolutely hilarious & can make me smile on any given day! (one more reason I LOVE Facebook & blogs! :}). We played softball with her & her husband, Kregg, and Father, Dave. Really just a cute & fun family! Mom always looked forward to getting to talk with her Mom during the games. And the small world that it is, she even lived in my Aunt's Julie's Ward for a bit, while they lived in Mesquite (before heading to Vegas). It was so sweet of her to make the time & come find me like she did! (Thanks Julz if you read this! :})

Doug & I had fun at "The I Bar" where you can play games & order drinks right there on your cool touch screen table

I got to attend the Awards Presentation with him. Not too often I get to see my handsome man in a suit! :}

Thanks again Tracy, Glenn & Colleen for playing parents for us, so we could have this time together! We sure do appreciate it! :}

Amen to 2010!

Hey y'all! No, we didn't drop of the face of the earth..really! I realize it's been 2 1/2 months, and trust me, I'm having blog withdrawals! :} And there's been so many activities & events, it may take a while to catch up! But, there's just been to much else going on, it had to be put aside. Which are reasons why we say Amen to a new year...we're ready to have a fresh start again! Despite the fun times of 2009 (which is nice to look back at the blog to be reminded :}), it was just a rough year overall. Not only for us; but, for many of those we care about. Whether it's the current economic times, life situations, medical issues, whatever...there just seems to be a lot of stresses all around. And hard to not let it all get the best of us! So, we are more than ready for a new year, new beginnings, a new outlook on things. It's all what we make of it, we realize that....it's just, where to start? Let's just hope we can stay focused & it's not just that "New Year Feeling" that goes away in a week or two! :} We wish you all the best of the New Year ahead & hope we can all strive for a year of hope & many blessings ahead!! :}