My picks.......

.....with a little help from DP. (Duane Poffenberger)

I'm top-heavy with QB's.
Drew Brees
Frank Gore
Tom Brady
Carson Palmer
Thomas Jones
Joseph Addai
John Carlson
Antonio Gates
Reggie Bush
Baltimore Defense
Anthony Gonzales
Julius Jones
Stephen Gostkowski
Kevin Curtis
Ricki Williams
Chris Chambers
Chargers Defense
Looking forward to a great season!

One thing I know for sure.....

I'm really bad at housework. I've been walking around for days accomplishing nothing. Hopefully - tomorrow I can FOCUS!

P.S. tomorrow is also the draft..........I'm officially "in" a fantasy football league with the teens. I can't wait.

Our "Player" is Home!!!

Levine and Ryan Nelson(USA) vs. Natalie Mayara and Pedro Rocha (Brazil)

With a 2-0 lead heading into the doubles, Team USA brought their doubles specialist, Ryan Nelson into the tie sparking cheers from the crowd. Nelson, a strong new junior addition to Team USA and the international stage, was spectacular in his British Open debut last week and showed some of that magic in today’s doubles. In the first set Levine seemed sluggish coming off his singles victory and five straight days of matches without much rest. Team USA dropped the set 4-6 and looked towards a come back in the vital second set. It was a tough start and Nelson and Levine were having trouble communicating and making sure they were on the court with a plan. It wasn’t until Team USA was faced with a final chance at 4-5 to wake-up or lose the match. Nelson came alive firing balls at the opponent’s chairs and motivating his veteran teammate with his favorite “come on” chant. The crowd went crazy as the boys turned the tide winning the next three games and taking the set 7-5 forcing a 10 point match tie-break. Nelson and Levine were a bit cold in the first few points, giving the Brazilians a 5-2 lead in the breaker. At that point Nelson again started pumping fists and drilling positive energy into his teammate and the sidelines. After trading a few unforced errors both teams were knotted at 8-8. Rocha hit a quicker winner past Nelson to go up 8-9 and force a match point. It was Levine who stayed calm volleying a winner back to the Brazilians and tying it up at 9-9. After missing a match point at 10-9, Levine and Nelson dropped the next two points and were on the verge of losing when the US cheering squad gave one last yell. With Nelson serving after two straight US points, Rocha dinked a ball back into the net sending the large crowd into loud cheers for Team USA. The spectators rushed the court and celebrated the juniors 5th place finish.

By Jeremiah Yolkut

Ryan had a fantastic time, made many new friends and played some great tennis!

He is HOME!

(He is in the front center of the picture - yeah!)

Have you ever.........

written so many papers entitled "Blah Blah Blah", that writing on a blog seemed out of the question?

I have. (the paper due tomorrow will be a total of 15 in 6 weeks)

The kids have been galivanting........and holding down the fort (with grandma's help.....thank you!).

I've been writing papers......and enjoying my travel back in time.
(I went to college a very long time ago....)

I've seen 2:00 a.m. several times, a few 3:30's and a "race to the finish" 5:15 a.m. (before going to bed).

It's a blast!......and I mean it.

Roses are Red Violets are blue..............

We're glad it's Spring!

Some of you know I started school.

The MAT program at Westminster College.

Today is my fourth day.

How's it going?.....

I feel like I've regergitated 1/2 my soul........Huh??

Yeah, that is what I feel like saying when I'm asked to "talk about myself" or "give my thoughts" "analyze this" or gather into groups and "discuss"......... I feel like saying.......Huh?????

Anyway.....

Instead of an epic of my eventful? spring.........here it is in a nutshell.

I'll start with "thang 1".

Samson played baseball again for Olympus High.

Good Year.......he pitched Varsity and J.V.........and he hit something like 6 doubles.

Good Year........except - I didn't make to a single game (full game that is) .

I had a little problem getting to the right field.

Once I went to Timpview (in Provo)........game was at Olympus.

Once I went to Tooele and heard the words "strike three" as I sat down.......game over.

(that was Samson striking out.....so I guess I'm glad I missed it)
Once I went to Olympus.........game at Cyprus. Oh Well!

Actually..........Samson was glad that my "sense of direction" was so scewed.

He doesn't really enjoy me coming to his games (especially with all those kids!)

He says I look like this...........

So this summer........if I can actually get myself to the correct location......

I'll make sure I look like this.

Thang #2

Ryan had a great spring gallavanting around the country winning tennis tournaments.

.........with his dad!

He played in the sand.......

He also played tennis for BRIGHTON - who SWEPT the state tournament!

Ryan's friend Collyn played Varsity 2nd doubles and won state as a 9th grader.

GOOD JOB Collyn! and good job Ryan........he loves what he's "doin" right now.

Thang # 3

Olivia had a great dance recital.....and plays soccer 4 X a week!

Thang #4

Isaac is playing soccer and baseball.

And wishing school was over.........so he can sleep in..........and play with friends all day.

Thang #5 (how dare I call her a thang)

Annie sang beautifully at her SPRING SING.

I really don't want her to grow up.

Wayne is riding Lotoja this year.

Logan to Jackson in "a-couple-a hours".

He rides up to snowbird in the morning for training.....while I sleep and dream about cake.

.........and figure out what I'm gonna "say" at school!

Let's Make a Deal!

A few kids in our neighborhood have made "candy/soda deals" with their parents.

The agreements have gone something like this: No candy or soda for one year....not a drop, morsel, or bite and then you get paid a lump sum of money (usually $200.00 or so).

Lot's of kids have done it.

I tried it once - back in 07'............ I made it till March.

(See previous post "cake" for other versions of my limitations pertaining to willpower)

Anyway.....Isaac approached his Dad this evening with his version of a DEAL.

"Dad, I'm not going to smoke cigarettes or drink coffee

for one full year if you'll pay me $300.00?........ Are you in?"

Go Isaac.....Go Isaac......You're a rockstar......uuhuh.....uuhuuh

P.S. I'm gearing up for a ginormous post - of epic proportions to illustrate my busy? and eventful? spring......stay glued to your computer screen.