Dear Rachel (#16)

Dear Rachel,

How did this happen? Your little brother grew up and went to Junior Prom!

He had a great time. Both he and Mallory had to run the 800 meter race at the BYU Invitational track meet the day of Prom so they went directly to their "day date" (paint balling with seven other couples) from the meet. In the evening they had dinner at Gloria's Little Italy in downtown Provo followed by promenade and the dance held this year at the new Utah Valley Convention Center. I wonder if Timpview is the only school that continues the tradition of a having a real promenade at prom?

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Prom wasn't the only celebration on our agenda. I did indeed have another birthday. I am in awe that I am actually 49. How did that happen?

Grandma Stoker made me this awesome apron. She's getting back into sewing now that she has a new sewing machine. Any guesses what I'm making for dinner?

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I went to IFA Country Store today to pick up some cat food, and I definitely felt like a city girl when this display stopped me in my tracks.

The sweet little chicks were constantly cheeping and easily startled. Poor things.

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When the kids and I arrived at church on Sunday morning your dad and I discovered that we matched. A springtime couple picture was definitely in order.

Take a picture of you and David for me and enjoy your Atlanta spring.

Love you!

Mom

A Good Coach

Recently my kids' high school was searching for a new boys basketball coach. The principal asked us to create a profile of the ideal coach to aid him and the search committee in the interview process. We asked Kellie to send us her insights. Below are her thoughts. I think they are spot-on. (Kellie wrote this at 1:00 in the morning after a long night of studying.)

A good coach:

1. Knows the game--proper technique, good plays, good tactics, good play calling etc. Probably needs to also have been a good player and have coached at that level before.

2. Good communicator--what do you need to improve on, what are your strengths, why I am taking you out, why you are running, why I am yelling at you? Uses the right tone of voice at the right moments and for the right kids. Ask him how he will correct his players.

3. Charismatic--inspires the players, makes the players love him/her despite having to punish/correct every once in a while. This can be done by humor, loving/serving the players, exuding excitement or love for the game--every good coach or teacher has their own style, but not every coach is charismatic.

4. Cares about the players on and off the field. They talk to the players individually about things unrelated to the sport. They know and communicate to the parents. They are approachable, honest, respectful, and listen to the parents, but is not controlled by them. 

5. Organized. Practices and games are run well. You know what the schedule is in advance. Ask what he thinks a good practice looks like.

6. A good administrator. Can they raise money for the team, can they handle the overwhelming logistics of it all (tournaments, jerseys, grades, liability)? 

7. Cares about the entire program, not just varsity. Do they go to 7th and 8th grade games? Do they do camps? Do they watch and are involved in JV and Sophomore and Freshman? Do they hire good assistant coaches? Are they respectful and supportive of the girls program?

8. Has a handle on his authority. If they are too authoritarian for their own good, then the players will literally hate their coach. If they are a wimp, then the players won't play for him. How much does he care about discipline?

9. Good role model. Does he care about school? Does he swear excessively? Does he lose his temper too much?

That's all I can think of for now.

Kellie

(Kellie was a 4-year varsity basketball player and a 4-year starter on the varsity soccer team at Timpview. She was also a scholarship athlete on the soccer team at the University of Utah. She currently coaches a premier U14 girls soccer team for Celtic Storm in the Premier 1 division.)

Dear Rachel (#15)

Dear Rachel,

This picture of Linus is how I've been feeling this month--my birthday month even--lazy and unmotivated. I am fairly certain our rainy cold spring has had a lot to do with it.

You said you wanted a blog post no matter how uneventful life seems to be, so here it is.

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Kellie asked your dad to make a white chocolate cheesecake to celebrate her 23rd birthday. He obliged and it was decadently delicious.

Travis didn't really dress up for the auspicious occasion. He had just arrived home from a band concert. March was a busy musical month for him. Do you recognize this venue?

Yes, that tall percussionist on the left is your brother.

Here's a close-up of him during a solo/ensemble competition.

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Abby's science fair project made it all the way to the state competition at BYU this year. It was dark in the room where she spent the day so this photo isn't the best, but you get the idea. (She's always so cooperative when I take her picture, yes?)

Abby made each of the Faraday cages completely by herself and when she was done her fingers were quite sore.

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Travis has been doing track this spring. Lately he runs the 400-meter and the 800-meter. He has even competed in the high jump. I thought you might enjoy seeing him run the 4x400-meter relay. He ran the third leg and his team won.

Would you believe that your two youngest siblings spend a good hour outside on the basketball court with no squabbling whatsoever? They actually had a really good time together. Perhaps they are growing up.

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Finally, I will leave you with a view of the tulips in our yard. At least they are thriving in our chilly weather. I will try to follow their lead.

I love you and David lots!

Mom

Time to Ask to Prom

It's that time of the year when we rack our brains for a creative way to ask a girl to Prom. Actually, Travis is the one doing the asking, but I am the one supplying the ideas. Many suggestions were offered, and finally this one proved satisfactory to that 17-year old son of mine.

The concept was easy and simple.  Scrabble tiles were hot-glued onto long skewers and stuck strategically amongst an arrangement of flowers.

The tiled letters of Travis' first and last name were jumbled up in a little bag attached to the vase. A small tag contained the hint that the asker's first name is spelled with six letters.

We had to go with orange roses because we are Timpview (orange and blue) after all.

Now, we just hope she says, "Yes!"

         

My House Has Stars

My House Has Stars
by Abby

My house has trees, many kinds of trees and plants. Aspen and maple stand, their branches protruding and bearing glorious leaves that fill the ground and sky with arrays of color in the fall. Ivy crawls along weathered brick and flowers purple in the spring. Bushes grow along the perimeter, slowly lighting fire in the fall. Their red and pink leaves cast shadows in the evening. My house has trees.

My house has cats. They find nooks and crannies to curl up into. Sleeping the day away. Their fur is soft and their eyes are bright. Always searching for their prey, they scan keenly the area and often spot a mouse lying in the grass. They sometimes bring them home as presents. One is young and spry and was not long ago a kitten. She jumps and plays with anything that moves. The other is old and wise and never is too energetic, he watches and observes. But the oldest and wisest of all is always outside. He never leaves the rose bushes, or the soil where they are grounded. But silently he watches and observes beneath the shadows of the towering aspen trees. My house has cats.

My house has stars. They gaze at me in the night. Glowing green, yellow, orange and pink. They steal the light from the sun and gather energy from the light bulbs. On my ceiling they wait until night comes, where they can shine and release the stolen energy. But they glow for me at night scaring away the monster and demons that have barbed tails and gleaming teeth. So I lay there every night, underneath the stars. My house has stars.

Orange, Blue, White

"Orange, Blue, White. T-Birds, let's fight!"

For some reason this cheer was running through my head in the middle of the night a few weeks ago--some time close to 3 am to be more precise. I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that I have been attending about eight basketball games a week for the last two months.

Travis (#54) is on Timpview's JV and Varsity teams. JV games typically start at 3:30 while Varsity tip-off isn't until 7:00 on both Tuesday and Friday nights.

Abby (#13) is on a Bantam league with other 8th grade girls. She plays Mondays and Saturdays.

In between Travis' games we are usually watching the Varsity girls play--hopefully Abby's future team. This makes for long afternoons and evenings, but honestly, there is nothing I love more than watching my kids' games.

My photos are often blurry due to the speed of play and dim light of a high school gym. However, despite this irritation, I still appreciate the "outtakes" I found in my attempt to capture the action.

Our season is officially over now, but I suspect I will still be humming . . .

"Hey, hey you! You know what to do. You've got to rock with the orange and roll with the blue!"

for a while yet.

All Home

All were abed. All were asnooze. A sudden realization. An overwhelming peace and calm. All my precious ones were gathered home. All within reach. All safe. All here.

I wish I had the words . . .

The Snowball Fight

We've had snow on the ground for a good month now. When it was freshly fallen my "kids" all had an epic snowball fight in our backyard. They started by building opposing snow forts, but soon left their fortifications for hand-to-hand combat.

They were pretty worn out by the battle's end, but, oh, did this mother's heart smile!