Quiz of the Day

How many Saratoga Spartans
does it take to stop the

Vikings BoDozer?

Leaves Are Changing!

Last weekend we made the drive through the Alpine Loop. The Leaves were gorgeous. We may have been a few days early but still worth the drive. It had just rained and smelled just like Pine & Sage Brush. It reminded Bo of hunting but Savannah just kept asking "how much longer?"

It got me in the MOOD for
Autumn & Halloween!
It's right around the corner.
Can't Wait!




Somehow we ended up in Park City for dinner at
Baja Cantina!
Deelish fajita sticks and chimis. This place reminds me so much of my
Uncle Tom
who passed away a couple years ago. His last name was Georgelas - rhymes with GORGEOUS (perfect description). We used to spend a lot of time with his family at their condo in Deer Valley, skiing & eating. Dinner was usually his treat. This great man whisked me away for a summer in Europe when I was headed down the wrong path and taught me a lot about what I could have in life if I straightened up. He lived his life to the fullest and took such good care of himself - hence, the pics below. I have so many fond memories of him.

In Remembrance -What a man!

Daddy's Gone-A-Hunting

Shaun has a deer tag for this special

BIG BUCK area!

Opening morning was Monday - so off he went to do his thing - along with the Gillman boys, Bridger Dain, Colby & Dad.

Bo was stoked because he had these high hopes of

bagging the "Big One".

Well. . .no such luck! The men all hiked until they could hike no more - Bo was just getting started (wussey's).

The terrain is incredibly difficult -

"All the more reason to go there", Shaun would say.

The majority of the group came home with Bambi - or should I say Bambi's dad.

Shaun and Bo plan to return very soon before the hunt comes to an end to fulfill their manly duties and bring home some meat for the family.

Until We Meet Again

Shaun's mother passed away

on Mon. 9/8/08.

She was 74 yrs. young. She married Shaun's father, Jim Simmons, and they were married for 41 years before he passed away in 1997. As teens, Jim used to come to Provo to race his cars against LaJoy's 5 brothers and that is how they met (Bo likes that story). She was very supportive of him and always had dinner on the table when he walked in. He served as Chief of Police for Orem City and that would cause any wife much stress. They had 5 children. Shaun is the 2nd to youngest. She called him the tornado kid because he blew in and blew out. I can only imagine being Shaun's mother - difficult job. She was a sharp-shooter and won many medals in shooting competitions with Jim. She was also a great fisherman. There was a fishing trip when a huge fish pulled her fishing pole out of her hands and into the water. She was more upset about losing the fish than she was the pole. She had a great sense-of-humor and was always telling a great joke.

Shaun and I had only been married 1 year and were expecting Bo when his dad died in 1997 and that was very difficult for us newlyweds. Now Shaun has lost both his parents

at the young age of 39.

They are together in heaven catching up for lost time.

Her casket was beautiful.

Something I think she would have picked for herself.

Are You Ready For Some FOOTBALL?

You're Goin' DOWN!

Bodacious #24

bo·da·cious

adj.
1. Remarkable; prodigious.
2. Audacious; gutsy, fearless.
adv.
1. Completely; extremely.
2. Audaciously; boldly.

So far we've won 2 out of 3 GAMES! I sure have a lot of respect for these volunteer dads (Coaches) who spend 4 days (8-10 hours) per week teaching kids about the game of football. Bo has learned so much about the different positions. . . and he plays many of them - Offense and Defense - Lineman, Linebacker, Corner, Defensive End, Receiver.

His coaches are so good to him and call him
"Their SECREAT WEAPON".

You wouldn't expect much out of him by looking at him, but he EXPLODES and you don't want to be the one he tackles. We've been packing in the calories because he burns so many during the week (hence, the sweat ball below).

Good-Bye Summer!

I just came off the mountain where the colors are already changing. It was rainy, muddy and foggy. . and I came home to the same weather down here - so what better time to share this fabulous poem written by a sweet friend of mine from High School, Jill Ortiz-Murdock.

Goodbye summer season, you’ve been a dear friend,
I wish you would stay, I don’t want you to end.

You’ve given us, sparklers, swimming, campfires and ice cream,
lazy days of nothing but a nap and daydream.
You showed us your beauty, your heat, and your light
and there is nothing greater than you on your night.

It’s off now to school; bags, books are in check,
often right now, I feel like a wreck.
Was I the mom that I wanted to be back in May,
did my kids see me laugh, love, embrace life each day?

So it is with much sadness that I bid you goodbye,
next time please stay longer, so I don’t want to cry.

You’ve given me my kids, the most precious of all
and while I do love your friend we call ‘fall’. . .
I want you to know that I cherish your stay,
where kids are just kids, and they laugh and they play.

The worries are small and the memories are big,
as far as I'm concerned, you’ve got the best gig.
So until next year while new friends you are making,
I am patiently waiting to have you for the taking.

by Jill Ortiz-Murdock