Jimmer those Gators!

Are you ready for this?

BYU COUGARS VERSUS FLORIDA GATORS

IN THE SWEET SIXTEEN

TONIGHT

6:27 P.M. CENTRAL

This game should be WAY exciting since number 3-Seed BYU will be taking on number 2-seed Florida, and we beat them last season in double overtime. Plus, it's always exciting to watch Jimmer do his thing.

QUICK FACTS

• Did you know that this is the Cougars' first time in the Sweet Sixteen since the winter of 1980/1981, my freshman year at BYU?
• Did you know that their current record is 32-4, the best 36-game record in program history and the most wins in a season in school history?
• Did you know that BYU's .889 winning percentage is also a school record?
• Did you know that Jimmer leads the nation in scoring at 28.8 points per game and adds 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game? (Actually, he's scored more than 30 points in the last six out of seven games.)
• Did you know that Jimmer is MWC Player of the Year?
• Did you know that I think he should be NCAA Player of the Year?

LET'S JIMMMER THOSE GATORS!

NEXT GAME - SAT. MARCH, 26TH

Rebecca Black - Friday (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

(before watching this video, pause my tunes at bottom of blog)

I've seen and heard a lot of criticism about Rebecca Black and her song (FRIDAY). I think she's is a pretty girl with some promising talent. Yes, the lyrics are simple, but it's a very catchy song. She's 13 years old! Most of her fans are probably tweens. This is basically how they talk and what they think about. Besides, remember the huge hit by the Bay City Rollers in the 70's? "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!" (repeat about five times) "Sa-Sa-Sa-Saturday night!" (repeat about four times). Then back to spelling the word "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!" (As if we don't know how to spell?!!!?) "I I I I I've got a date! I I I I I just can't wait!" It's simply a fun song celebrating the weekend--something we practically LIVE for when we are young (and some of us when we are old). I think it's about time we had a song about about Friday, don't you? "Friday! Friday! Gotta' get down on Friday!" One more thing...I find it refreshing to hear a nice, clean, fun song with no inappropriate lyrics. I also like the fact that in this video her clothing basically covers everything that it should. It would be nice to see more of that in the music industry. Hmmm...tomorrow is Friday. Gotta' make my mind up. Which seat can I take?

Now and Then

Did I mention that all four of our kids are attending out-of-state universities? It's amazing the vacant emotions that surface with "empty nesting". I really had no idea! My daycare babies have been a huge blessing. Kids are what I do. I'm pretty darn proud of how mine are turning out.

Now - 2011

(Olathe, KS; the day after David returned from Japan)

Then - 1992

(It's not time to cut the cake yet. Could they possibly get any closer to it? "We're not touchin' it; we're just lookin'.")

Then - 1993

(Jennie, bursting with personality; David, not so much.)

Then - 1994

(Why did we always take pictures in front of Nana & Papa's fireplace?)

Then - 1995

(See? BTW, I love the handholding!)

Then - 1996

(Goofing around on the playground - Atascadero Zoo)

Then - 1996

Feeding the ducks at Waller Park

Then - 1997

(Ready for church - Jennie was always a little mommy.)

Then - 1998

(We support Cub Scouts. Hugs!)

Then - 1999

(First day of school. Sorry about your bangs, Jen. I didn't know any better.)

Then 2000

(Vacationing witout Dad; Avila Beach, CA)

Then - 2001

(Outside our first home in Olathe, KS)

Then 2002

(Alpine Slide; Park City, Utah)

Now again

33 Sweet Pieces of Advice for Finals Week

For finals, I wanted to make giant "candy bar letters" for Daniel and Jessie (our two college freshmen). But after thinking about it, I knew Jessie wouldn't want two huge poster boards as carry-on when she flies back to Salt Lake this afternoon. Talk about AWKWARD! Plus, I could just imagine the candy falling off and her leaving a trail everywhere she goes. So, I decided to individually wrap each candy:

...using scraps of wrapping paper from birthdays past.

I tightly packed them into a gift box.

Turned out, it took two boxes; so I tied them together.

I typed the letter on a standard 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and taped it to BYU blue cardstock. They have to put the right candy in each blank to make sense.

Here's the letter with the missing answers included:

Finals week is fast approaching. Just be(TWIX) you and us, it's (CRUNCH) time! Be sure to do (MOUNDS) of studying for your Religion (WHATCHAMACALLIT), your math (THINGAMAJIG) and your (WHOPPER) history test. If you need to take a little break, (TAKE FIVE) or ten minutes to stretch, eat a healthy snack, and even (SNICKER) a little because everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine. Now, on your way to the testing center, don't be an (AIRHEAD) and drop your calculator! Those (BUTTERFINGERS) could cost you to (SCORE) a (BIG RED) (ZERO) on the final, which could affect the rest of your life. You don't want to end up unemployed in Greenland raising (TURTLES). Do your very best and bring your parents lots of pride and (ALMOND JOY). Maybe someday you'll end up on (5TH AVENUE) in (NEW YORK) attending the (SYMPHONY) and making ($100 GRAND) every (PAYDAY). Or maybe you'll be a famous astronaut who visits (MARS), soars through the (MILKY WAY) and explores the (ORBIT) of the moon. You never know! So, be sure to get up when your alarm goes off. Don't (ROLO) over and go back to sleep dreaming of giant (KIT KATs) and the adventures of the (THREE MUSKETEERS) while the hours (TIC TAC) away. You'll miss the big test and that would be a major (MILK DUD).

We love you!

--Dad and Mom

p.s. We don't expect you to be an (EXTREME) (NERD), just try (EXTRA) hard to be a (SMARTIE) instead of a (DUMB DUMB). :)

Fredette about it!

I've never been much of a sports fan; but lately, college basketball is one of my favorites. Specifically, BYU. Jimmer Fredette is freakishly phenomenal on the basketball court. He drops three-pointers like most of us walk across a room, and he's a total blast to watch. Last night, he lead the offense with 32 points in the first half. That's as many points at halftime solely scored by Jimmer as the Wisconsin team did in its entire game on Saturday. He finished the game with a career-high of 52 points. Anyone who's watched him play is not surprised he won MWC Player of the Year. He's a likely candidate for NCAA Player of the Year as well. He has such a dedicated following that his first name has become a common verb...and if you've been "jimmered", you've pretty much been knocked on your bootie. A current rap song that's growing in popularity says "Teach Me How to Jimmer". My favorite line is "Jimmer Fredette; nothing but net" and it's so true! That kid never hits the rim. The BYU testing center had a sign that read, "I hope you jimmer your exam." There's no question what it means. If you "jimmer" it, you blow it out of the water.

Jessie Girl

So I have this A-MAZ-ING daughter named Jessie. I named her after my mother, the most incredible person I've ever known, and she has upheld the name well. Jessie is an ideal young woman who daily blows me away with her cheerful, upbeat, helpful, hard-working, smart-as-all-get-out, always thinking of others, strong, amazing self. When David was in Japan, he told us that one of the Japanese ladies in his ward had tagged Jessie as "David's Genki Little Sister". Genki means happy and that's a perfect word for Jess. She is the happiest!

Jessica Lauren Drake is truly one in a million and I feel so fortunate to even know her let alone be her mother. I don't know what I did to deserve such awesome kids; but if I knew, I'd do it again. When Jessie left for BYU in January, the positive energy, spirit, and love that she brings into our home went with her. But, being the amazing daughter that she is, she calls me every day...not because she needs to talk to me, but because she knows I need to hear from her.

Jessie is a mature (do not look at above photo), nurturing friend to all. She is 17 years old and still in braces, yet attending a major university several states away. She always says and does things that build others up. One of her mottos for life is, "Don't worry about what people think of you; instead, focus on what they think of themselves when they're around you."

Jessie has an infectious smile, gorgeous shiny dark hair, and perfect olive skin. She has always been and still is soooo cute! When she was a little girl, she got so much attention for her darling curls and brown skin.

Jessie has more personality than just about anyone I know. She can definitely laugh at herself which is a great quality to have. She can make almost any situation fun and can see the positive in everyone and everything. She is also a very determined, hard-working individual. "I can't" is not in her vocabulary. If you tell her she can't, she'll show you she can... and she WILL! She never accepted her role as "baby" of the family very graciously. She's been a leader from day one.

On April 30th, my Jessie Girl and I are going on a week-long trip to celebrate her graduation from high school. She has no idea what we are doing or where we are going other than it will hopefully be sunny. I can't wait to spend this one-on-one time having a blast with my amazing daughter.

New Kids Court

My daycare business started in 2007 when my oldest left home. Initially, it was exclusively for infants (birth to 18 months), but it wasn't long before I was so emotionally connected to these precious babies and their families that I just couldn't let them go. (It's hard enough when they move away...Macie, Olivia...).

Business Shmiziness! When Brookie turned 18 months, we agreed, "Let's hold off until she's two." At two years, we said, "How about two and a half? She'll be potty trained then and can move on to a preschool setting." At two and a half, we said "Three. Definitely THREE! Her baby sister will be born and she'll need Brookie's spot." Well, funny how things work out. I now have three-year-old Brooklyn AND her baby sister. I'd like to keep them both until they go to college. Sweet Finley Kate has also grabbed onto my heart and I'm fastened tight for the long ride.

"Brookie"

"Bay-bay"

"Finley Kate"

As the little girls in my care grow and mature, I accumulate age appropriate toys, games, and activities for each stage of development. Most recently, I toddler-proofed the backyard with a new "kid court" to keep them safely off of the teared yard and large boulders. This was a huge project, but so much fun and I'm thrilled with the results.

The framework was created using PVC piping.

The fabric panels were sewn from nylon, canvas, and see-through mesh fabrics.

Velcro was adhered to the sewn-on straps and holds the fabric in place.

Now, I just need to decide on the flooring and the project will be complete! Next project is to put an e-gress window in the basement. For that, I'll hire a good contractor.