Making Memories

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take my nephew to the BYU-Colorado State game. He's only 11 and shows a real aptitude toward BYU fanaticism, which is definitely something I want to foster :) I wondered how it would be taking him. College football games can be long and I figured he'd probably get bored at some point, but he was such a blast to be with the entire time. He knows more about football than I thought he would, and really enjoyed yelling his loudest on defensive third downs, and sang all the words to the fight song each time we scored, after I pointed out that they put the words up on the video screen. (But even before then, he knew a lot of the words :)

Of course I loved going to the BYU game. I love being in that stadium with 65,000 other people in blue and white. I love the team this year and am so proud to be a Cougar, but my favorite part of yesterday wasn't watching Max Hall walk untouched into the endzone or cheering my heart out when we kept a late CSU drive to a fieldgoal. My favorite part about yesterday was being an aunt...singing along to Rascal Flatts with my nephew in the passenger seat on the drive down to Provo, putting matching tattoos on our cheeks and taking goofy pictures, watching my nephew participate in the pre-game activities and win himself a new BYU shirt, watching him take in the splendor as the stadium filled with people, watching him search and search the field for the number 84 on the back of a jersey because he's such a fan of Jan Jorgensen.

Yesterday was incredible not because BYU moved its record to 3-1 but because I made memories with a kid I love and care about so much, a kid I watched be born and come into his own as a pre-teen, a kid who loves reading as much as I do and dreams of being a famous actor or a BYU football player or swimmer, a kid that asks the most random hypothetical questions you'd ever think of, a kid that's okay being smart and geeky, that's okay being best friends with his younger brother, and a kid that thinks he's much older than he is, is sensitive, and kind... a kid I'm blessed enough to call my nephew.


P.S. Thanks so much to Tyler and Jessica for getting me those tickets. You guys are amazing.

Thursday Night Bowling

Tonight's scores:

Game 1--75
Game 2--92
Game 3--85

I'm happy about two things. Number one, all of my scores this week were higher than all of my scores last week. And secondly, I got two strikes tonight! First ones of the season :) I hope I can keep improving each week.

Fall Swap!

So, lately I've been missing working at Zions for the close, familial atmosphere we had at the branch. But I'm learning to appreciate a lot of the positives that come with working with so many people. I was introduced to one such positive this week.

Apparently at the change of each season, anyone that wants to participate joins in a swap. The procedure is thus: you come up with a list of your 5 favorite things about the season and give your list to the Administrative Assistant in our office. Then she pairs you up with someone, and you buy the person gifts having something to do with one of the items on their list and one of the items on your own.
I got comfy sweats, a pumpkin pie, and chips & salsa! Yum! Perfect for football season.
I got my partner a Halloween decoration that was like a little metal jack-o-lantern pail with a candle inside and a sleep mask (sounds weird, but one of my favorite things about Fall is the end of Daylight Savings :). I included this poem with my gift (Don't judge too harshly, it was written on my cell phone during my morning commute. Technically I wasn't breaking the law because I wasn't *texting*...just taking notes):

The year’s made of changes from season to season,
But one change is fun above all.
The color of leaves and the cooling of weather,
It’s the change from the summer to fall!
I’ve heard in addition to weather and leaves
You’re especially fond of the day
When goblins and ghosts and all manner of foe
Enter into our world to play...
So this year to save you from horrors that beckon
And protect you from too much fright
I’m giving you this cute little, watchful friend
To light up your Halloween night.
And after the trick-or-treaters are gone
No doubt you’ll be wiped out, so tired,
Which brings me to the part of this season
I find completely and utterly inspired.
When Daylight Savings ends and our clocks fall behind
And we gain that one hour of rest,
I have no doubt that of all of the seasons
This one, the Fall, is the best!

This whole Fall Swap has me thinking, what're your favorite things about Fall?

Mine include...

Penn State Football

BYU Football

Saturdays at my parents' house

Driving with the window down

Jackets

Colors

Jenny's famous pumpkin rolls

It getting dark outside earlier

5 family birthdays

The Office's return to NBC

Blankets at night

Kids in Halloween costumes

Musicals

Black Friday

Premieres of the newest Twilight movie

Just to name a few :)

Newest Adventure

So, I don't really know why, but I agreed to join a team of my co-workers in a bowling league. I don't bowl. I've always had fun bowling, but have never been anything close to resembling decent. However, I thought I'd give it a try. My debut was on Thursday night and in three games I scored a 50, 61, and 74. I was pleased that I at least got better each game. We'll see how the upcoming weeks go.

Oh, and aren't we cool? Our team name is "The Incredibowls" Haha.