General Conference Weekend

Last weekend was spent with family, and making memories for Michael to carry with him for the next 2 years.

 We listened to conference, spent time with the San Jose nieces and nephew, had Jonathan as a visitor from SLC, played freeze tag and basketball, and the boys went out to their traditional dinner after priesthood meeting.
 Lena and Lexy like to make baskets, and this time they had TWO uncles helping them score.

 Luke is getting his sports all mixed up. He watches his sister play soccer so I think that he knows what to do with a volleyball on a basketball court?  Not really.

Uncle Jonathan, Lena, Uncle Michael

 Michael did change out this net before he left on his mission.

I should explain the dinner tradition. John takes the boys out every 6 months after the Saturday night session of conference, and they try to be in the same city if they can. However, Jonathan hasn't been to conference with them for 3 years and he generally doesn't go to church. He made and exception for the tradition and they seem to all have had a great time. David was working during the day, so he met them at Priesthood meeting and I didn't get a picture.

 The boys went to visit their favorite Inger Sandberg.

Swinging in GramVi and GPa's apple tree. Wheeeeee!

Playing with MM

Michael Michael is such a cute Uncle to the kids.

 Woooo, this is a bit chillay.

Here, I'll get you warm.

Look, GPa's taking a picture.

 The parents of the cute kids are pretty good participants too.

 Now that's sacrifice. Click on that to see Katz face. Awesomeness.

 The water playground was pretty terrific.

 Don't ever let MM tell you its ALL about the kids.

GramVi doesn't participate except to assist out of the pool. (It was cold, are you kidding me?)

Finally we get a shot of GPa. He's just the best photographer, so we let him be.
Now here goes MM down the slide with Ells.
"Really, it'll be great, just come and go down the slide with me," he said to the trusting 2 year old.

 Woowoo, here we go.

 Yikes

 Are you kidding me?

"Well that was such a fun activity. Let's never do it again," says Ells.

Megan's Wedding Deux

We have little mini reunions whenever a cousin gets married and this time was no exception.  Out of the 19 grandchildren, we are down to the last few singles and so we are going to have to come up with other means of getting together. Many were able to come for the wedding including 9 big boy cousins. A couple of second generationers were shooting around at the beginning and were enjoying the scene.
This particular day following the wedding luncheon which was held at Kathy's church building, the big boys all played some hoops while they were killing time before the reception.

You will never see as intense a game of cousins basketball than exists in my extended's. That is a FACT.

Some of the rest of us shopped and played in other venues for the afternoon, but these boys had the most fun.
Thanks Megan, for providing a little cousin bonding time.

Family BBall

Our 2 youngest children were home for their respective spring breaks this past week. We enjoyed them a lot and ate, watched bball games, watched it rain cats and dogs, and tried to stay dry.
Finally on Saturday it stopped raining for a little while and so the little girls wanted Uncle Michael to teach them how to play a little ball. LK wanted to learn dribbling skills and LG was just going to make a few baskets.

Yea!!! You go girl!
Then the little guy had to get in on all the action (or his dad thought so).

What a cutie.
Thanks MM!

In My Arrogant Opinion

NCAA Mens Basketball has always been a part of my life. When I was 9 years old my brother, who is 9 years my senior, started playing college ball for BYU and so we traveled to many games in Provo as well as a few other places the next 4 years. Good memories.
My other brother coached at a small college for about 15 years until a few years ago, and most of the 15 nephews are into the game both physically and mentally, including my own Michael who has played on the U of U team this past year.
So, you would think that this family of mine would do well when it comes to predicting the winners of the big tournament at the end of the season which is dubbed March Madness.
Well, you would be wrong.
Out of 34 of us Kelly's participating in this years ESPN challenge, not one of us has a pick left in the final 4 that has a win predicted. So no more possible points to be added to anyones total.          
 Nada, Zero, Zip!
I have UConn in the mix but they aren't supposed to win, so I can't get any points for them.
However ..... I am the WINNER!!!!!!! Yes IMAO (in my arrogant opinion) is in 1st place.
Yes you heard correctly. I WON!   With the tournament not over for nearly a week I am the winner from all the other rounds.

So, I get the coveted prize. A basketball cut out to look like a helmet or something. I'll show you when I receive it from Kara my DIL, who was the winner last year. (We are keeping it in Nor Cal if we possibly can.)
Looks like I won the immediate family bracket as well. I actually get $ for this one from the Hubby.  Think I'll buy an ice cream machine.

TV Shot

My SIL has a father that is a supportive fan. He took this picture off of his big TV, of Michael shaking Jimmer Freddette's hand after the first game of Utah vs BYU. Jimmer had just scored 47 points on Michaels Utes. 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=819198667319&set=t.685922303

If you can look it up and check out all the comments made to my SIL it is pretty funny. Comments from people who don't know my son as well as people who are related to him. We thought it was quite entertaining.
Facebook has an interesting medium for all kinds of things.

PS: I guess you have to be Austin's friend to be able to see it.

Quite a Rivalry

Our University of Utah basketball playing son got us tickets to the U of U @ BYU game yesterday and we were not disappointed.  Gotta love the BYU Marriott Center for the loudness factor as well as the total showtime atmosphere of the place.
Michael said the student section was full before he and his U of U teammates even arrived on site.

This large student section that is so high on their Jimmer Freddette is so NOT high on the U.  They had some funny and imaginative posters for their team, as well as some not nice ones for the Utes.
"Class it up a little," were my thoughts in a nutshell.

Going up for a warm-up layup. He doesn't play in the games, but he is helping his team become better on a daily basis. M has a great attitude and work ethic on the practice court and I believe he is good for the teams emotional and physical dynamics. He knows the game well and can be anyone he is asked to be for the scouts in practice. The coach welcomes him to play all 4 years even if he doesn't play in the games.

Michael's team stayed with the heavily favored Cougars until the last quarter and held Jimmer to 8 points until that time. Then ... Jimmer and his Cougs took off.
This is the last game where the 2 teams are playing for conference standings, as next year they both switch conferences. I'm sure their rivalry will remain, but truly the games aren't going to mean as much in the future.
We were proud of our boys.

The crowd was proud of their boys.
Stephanie and Michael couldn't believe the electricity in the arena. It really took me back. My big brother played for the Cougars before they were in the Marriott Center in the early 70's, and I have lots of memories going to the Smith Field House as a young girl. I also have memories of when I was a student there at the "Y".
Lots of fun.

Family is the BEST

Just thought I'd go back a week and post some pictures from our trip to Utah and Colorado.

We arrived in Brigham City a day before the storm hit. We were bundled up all snug in Grandma's house for the 6 inch snowfall.

It was very pretty. And then became very cold as the next couple of days proved. There were 5 degree mornings and I'm just not used to that, being acclimated to Nor California and kinda liking it that way.

 We visited with Grandpa in the care center. Jonathan and Stephanie are with him in this picture. Michael had gone back down to Salt Lake City for basketball practice and Thanksgiving dinner with the team at Coaches home.

Father and son (The Hubby) pictured here.  Grandpa seems settled and not too agitated in the center.
Then we went up to Aunt Toni's for dinner.

 Grandma love the appetizers.

 Stephanie loves the puppy's.

 The family loves the football games too.

 Yes, including Grandma Hodgman.

Sarah set a beautiful table. Everyone helped in the cooking and cleaning, what a great family I married into.
Thanks for a lovely holiday.
The Hubby and I dropped of Jonathan and picked up Michael's car in SLC, then followed Stephanie to Pleasant Grove where she was dog sitting, to spend the night before heading to Grand Junction for one short day.

My Dad is recovering from a total knee replacement. Starting to move better. The other leg is taking the brunt of healing the operated one.

 My mom and baby sis.

Me, Mom, Tracy, Camille.

Then back to Salt Lake City to watch Michael's new team play a game.

 Warm ups.

 Jumbotron Michael.

I love this cute kid.