Happy Birthday, Parker!

If I had another child it would be a son and his name would be Parker.  Today is his birthday; not just any birthday but #16!  Parker is an amazing young man and he makes me smile and giggle and laugh so hard that sometimes . . . .

Parker is always welcome at my home, and I love his visits.  He is always doing and saying things that are sometimes on the edge of totally making me crazy, and I love him. I am so blessed that he is my nephew!

Happy Sweet 16 Birthday!

My Home, My Family -- Priceless and Practically Perfect in Every Way

So, it's Sunday morning and another beautiful fall day.  We are refinancing our home to a lower interest rate and fewer years to pay it off and that requires an appraisal.  The appraisal person came by on Thursday, walked through our house and took pictures and measurements and asked about improvements in the past few years to get the highest appraisal, possible.  Hmmm . . . . improvements since we moved into our Hunter home?  Something to think about -- the built-ins in the office, new paint and new carpet, the pergola over the patio, a nice vinyl fence, . . .

Well, that question got me thinking (yes, I do think on occasion). I dropped off a gift basket on the porch of a friend yesterday afternoon.  She lives at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in a very nice home in a well-kept, upper middle-class neighborhood with large trees, beautifully manicured yards, and so on.  Mind you, I have no criticism at all of the home, the neighborhood, etc.; my thoughts were more about how the homes would appraise for more than mine although my beautiful home has about the same square footage, well-kept yard, etc., but in a different neighborhood where people's incomes, professions, and priorities are not as obvious in where they live or the size of their homes. 

So, back to the questions posed to me by the appraiser about improvements since we moved into our home 13 years ago.  Let's start with the growth and development of three amazing children all of whom have maintained their nice, healthy and strong, smart spirits during the time we have called our house "home" - improvements! Let's go on with a very good dad/husband who has taken up doing the wash and yard work and completely changed his work with additional education this past years while serving in YM leadership, priesthood group leadership, scouts, Stake sports/activity leader, and assistant to me, the boss of the house, in everything I do with family, church, and work - improvements! Can't leave out 2 amazing sons-in-law which meant 2 temple marriages and wedding celebrations to go along with them - improvements!  Think about the preparation and cooking for Sunday dinners (670+), birthday celebrations (too many to count), Christmas parties -- and all of the conversations and activities that ensue. Also, add in planning and discussion for family trips to Disneyland, Yellowstone -- improvement!  Add in all of the homework and studying for junior high, high school, college courses, church lessons, talks, and callings are also for improvement! Then consider the work and collaboration needed for an honor student, athlete, Eagle Scout and SBO president -- improvements! At last, the grand improvements have come along the way -- Elliott, Wyatt, Molly, Jack, and Quinn!

I could go on but only with annoying emphasis.  The point to all of this is that you are who you are regardless of a home's appraisal; and, in my opinion, the improvements that occur in a home are not so much about physical, tangible improvements but so much more about the intrinsic and extrinsic improvements made by those who live therein.  In that case, my home and my family are priceless and practically perfect in every way . . . and appraise at invaluable levels.  The End.

Region 2 Champs-Hunter 35 Viewmont 0

Well, they did it!  The HHS Wolverines went undefeated in Region 2 play and are now ready for the 5A State Playoffs.  The boys (and coaches) have had a great season and I don't think they have played any game at full potential.  It will be fun to watch them in the playoffs to see what they can do!  The last region game Wednesday, Oct. 17 (35 to 0 over Viewmont) was senior night -- the game when senior players and their parents walk out on the field and get the spotlight for a few minutes.  Well the boys were introduced in jersey number order #1-#88.  Willis is #74 and was second to the last.  Each senior player had a few seconds of their favorite song played and then a few words were stated about each.  My son never ceases to amaze me (and everyone else).  He ran to mid field as his song began to play (Mariah Carey, "Fantasy"), made some weird pose, and then did some goofy dance moves before running through the player "high five, low five" line.  Yes, he is a wild and crazy boy!

It was an exciting night and the players, their families, friends, and others had a great time!  Playoffs begin on Friday, Oct. 25, and Hunter has home field advantage!

Class 5A -- State Playoffs

First Round

Friday, Oct. 26 Upper Bracket

Riverton (6-4) at Alta (8-2), Fri., 6 or 7 p.m.

Viewmont (2-8) at Syracuse (9-0), Fri., 3 p.m.

Fremont (2-7) at Hunter (7-2), Fri., 5 p.m.

Winning Team -- Hunter 38 Taylorsville 13

It was one of those games where the players and the spectators just couldn't get excited about what was happening on the field.  It was kind of pathetic in a way. Taylorsville is just a 1 win team this season and the football team just didn't have much to show vs. the HHS Wolverines.  The best part of the game is that HHS is pretty much the outright Region 2 Champions.  Just one game left in the regular season and then on to the state 5A playoffs!

Date-Game-Result

Fri. Aug. 17, 2012 Hunter 25, Layton 20 Final W

Fri. Aug. 24, 2012 Sky View 45, Hunter 27 Final L

Fri. Aug. 31, 2012 Hunter 23, West Jordan 21 Final W

Fri. Sept. 7, 2012 Davis 23, Hunter 0 Final L

Fri. Sept. 21, 2012 Hunter 41, West 3 Final W

Fri. Sept. 28, 2012 Hunter 34, Granger 14 Final W

Fri. Oct. 5, 2012 Hunter 21, Kearns 20 Final W

Thu. Oct. 11, 2012 Hunter 38, Taylorsville 13 Final W

Wed. Oct. 17, 2012 Viewmont 7:00 p.m.

Winning Team - Hunter 21 Kearns 20



Long sleeve white shirt lasted only through the first half -- it was not that helpful in making for a great game!

This game was a nailbiter from the beginning!  HHS got scored first but then got down 20 to 7.  The team came back strong in the 4th qarter to seal the 1 point win!  It was a great game.  Kearns has some pretty big players and they owned our o-line for half the game.  But the drive and spirt came through in the second half for the win!

The team also got some great press in the D-News this week about all of the sets of brothers on the team!

This is why I like Hunter Football- The Haka

Winning Team -- Hunter 34 Granger 14

Yep - #74 is my Son!  Senior, Captain, Center, 2-Year O-Line Starter

What a week!  HHS Homecoming and all of the activites made for a very exciting but very demanding and busy week.  The highlight for the people who live in my house was the football game on Friday night and a sweet victory.

Homecoming Week!