Makenna's First Day

The very first day of Kindergarten! This just-turned-6-yr-old has been more excited than I thought possible. And what she lacked in teeth, she made up for in confidence. Freshly pressed outfit. Brand-spanking-new backpack. Delicious lunch packed according to her wishes (salami sandwich, Cheetos, fresh blueberries, fruit snacks, and a Thermos full of water). And a little sister sobbing at the top of the stairs because she couldn't go with. They are, however, wearing "sister bracelets" that will make them think of one another throughout the day.

Time to go...


 Makenna and her little friend, Catalina from her Primary class, walked together to the bus stop in the morning. Both the moms were unashamedly snapping like Paparazzi.

Drew was the cutest dad at the bus stop, hugging his little girl and walking off quickly before we both lost it. I love this guy. He's a sensitive one.

 I love this girl more than I thought humanly possible. I love her enough to get dressed with make-up and hair done before 7:30 in the morning. That's a lot.

 Hand in hand, these two friends anxiously step on to the bus. Here you go, world. I've prepared her the best I can. Send her back safe and sound to me.

We were the family that helped her onto the bus and then raced into the car and beat the bus to the school so we could watch her walk off and go to class. Big camera around my neck and Dad juggling two little sisters, my big girl wasn't one ounce embarrassed. She smiled at us with the biggest grin I've ever seen.

 Addison, patiently waiting to see what comes next, not quite sure where she fits in.

 Pure excitement. Nothing more. We've been working up to this moment for 6 years and she's ready to jump in, headlong. Fewer Mom Moments have made me prouder.

 "Ohhhh, Mom. I can't give Makenna a hug," says little sister. "Oh yes you can! Run, before she walks in!"

 A hurried, albeit needed, hug.

 Fresh off the bus, 3:05pm. The 2 Kindergartners and the wannabe. Thumbs up from all three.

All smiles getting off the bus after school. Jabber jaws all the way home and all afternoon. And warm molasses cookies, my favorite school girl's favorite cookie. "Can I go back tomorrow, Mom?"  I couldn't have asked for a better reaction.

7:20 the next morning. Exactly 30 minutes before the bus arrives. I regretted having to wake her up, but I had to. School awaited. Being a Kindergartner is tough work.

All in a Day's Play

Yesterday was one for the record books. It was a memory maker. It was the game day to beat all game days. Here's how it all went down...

We drove 2 hours to Charlottesville, thinking we'd have plenty of time before the BYU Tailgate party. We got there late, though, due to the unforeseen obscene amount of game day traffic in this cute little town. When we got there we pigged out on pulled pork sandwiches, but more importantly BYU's famous mint brownies. I may have eaten 2.

We got our faces painted. (The girls got cute little pink cougar tracks on their cheeks, which didn't show up all that well on camera.)

We posed with the cheerleaders. Kendall thought it was a tryout and showed them her high kick.

We met Cosmo (and Tom Holmoe not pictured). The girls were scared out of their mind, even Makenna, at the sight of him. Drew had to drag them into the picture while throngs of fans waited to pose with him.

 We took some family shots in the bright sun. Addison's looking thrilled, right?

 We took in the atmosphere of Scott Stadium. (How cool is this grassy knoll of an end zone?)

 We sunbathed in 90 degree heat. And snapped the only picture of Addison genuinely smiling.

 We watched some football with a bunch of yahoos, I mean Wahoos.

 We snacked with friends.

 We goofed around with the other fans.

 We posed for pictures among a sea of blue.

 

We watched these black clouds approach rather rapidly, hoping for nothing too serious. With minutes to go of the first quarter ending, an announcement over the loudspeaker came on asking us all to vacate the stadium due to severe lightning in the area. So we left our seats and walked into the concession area to wait. And wait. And wait.   

 And then suddenly it was 2 hours later, after all the thunder and lightning had passed over, with a resumed game in the pitch black night. What started out as a 3 hour game quickly turned into the longest football game I have ever been to in my life. Luckily there were friends and ward members who helped us pass the time. And one 6-yr-old who was more excited than ever to drink in the experience that is a BYU football game. Even through the pouring rain that followed.

 And then we got so close to that "W" that we could taste it...with only two minutes left...and it slipped through our fingers. There may or may not have been some grown men in the vicinity pouting. But rightfully so, we came expecting to win and walked away having not.

 However, we still had an amazing family day, surrounded by friends, food, football, and fans...lots and lots and lots of true blue through and through Cougar fans.

 And that, my friends, makes for a wonderful day. Until 2 years when they play at FedEx Stadium...