Beaver Believers!!!

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Well folks, it is that time of year again - Beaver football season!!! This season has started off a little rocky. Okay, a LOT rocky. But, we have enjoyed it nonetheless. The kids love to go to the games, and it makes for a great family day out. We will take it!!

Here are some photos of the kids (Abby, Andy, and Cousin Colton) a the Pac-12 (so weird typing that) home opener vs. UCLA. We lost, but the kids looked adorable!

I love how Andy looks like a "Big Boy" standing next to Colton. Like "Yeah, I know... I'm standing by myself all cool like". Either that, or he just looks really old standing next to a 9 month old - or both.

The next home game was against Arizona and I wanted to win that game BAD. They broke our James last year. Just a stupid, mean, tackle IN THE ENDZONE that pretty much derailed his career. Makes me grumpy. Seems like that was the catalyst that took away him, Jacquizz, Katz, and our ability to score. Damn you Wildcats. Damn you I say.

Good news? We WON! I was so happy on the inside - take that stupid Arizona. We might not be great this year, but we beat YOU - haha! :)

After the game we met up with Mark and Heather Johnson. They are family friends from Baker and their son plays, - ahem - starts for the Beavers.

Travis comes from one of those small towns in Eastern Oregon where everybody knows each other, went to school together, and lived by each other. The way I understand it, Mark and Heather used to live behind Trav's parents, Mark went to school with Uncle Russell, and they currently live in Baker and know with Steve and Marilyn. Don't quote me on all that. But that is what I got out of it.

Anyways, we met up with them after the game and visited while waiting for Grant to get out of the locker room.

You could say that Andy took to Mark pretty easily...

Mark is like a celebrity among the players and introduced us to a few. Above left is Kicker #7 Johnny Hekker. Andy wasn't sure of these "BEAVERS" up close and personal - they were tall!

Grant (#70) chatted with the kids for awhile after he came out of the locker room. He was really nice and brought them each a game day glove and signed it, etc. Abby was acting all shy, but Andy was more than willing to try on a glove and chat it up with Grant. He was really good with Andy and just a really nice kid to take the time to chat with him.

Here is Grant's Bio. Small town kid that worked hard and made it to the starting line of OSU:
http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_grant00.html

Then, we made the mistake of thinking we could get in a "group shot" with everyone looking. This was the best one. Not too bad...

Anyways, thanks to Mark, Heather, and Grant Johnson. I think you made Trav's and Andy's days! It was really nice to meet you, and you have a great kid there!!!

PS Marilyn - Make sure Grandma sees these pictures!!! ;-)

Christmas Tree Hunting - 2010

The Saturday of Thanksgiving the Beavers played Stanford - away. Grammy and Papa have cable. So, we killed two birds (well we killed the tree and the Beavers killed themselves) w/one trip and got our tree as well. That morning we headed out to our usual patch to see what we could find. Andy started to master walking in rubber boots and Abby mastered posed pictures!




We told Abby that SHE could pick the tree this year. Because really, they all look about the same. Boy, did I not realize how hard of a choice that would be for her. We must have had three finalists. Before it was all said and done her and Grammy walked 1/2 the field. Yeah, I say her and Grammy because I just stayed by where she originally liked the first tree - and the second. Sure enough, we came back, full circle, and picked a tree from that area.

Here are some pictures of Abby and Andy in front of THE tree. The ones above were finalist #1 and #2. See - they all look the same.

Family picture in front of our tree - NOT the Christmas Card photo I was hoping for, but that is okay... I found another. Seems like I'm never at a loss of photos - heehee.

Dad and Charlie had a little "incident" the day before and Dad's hand was out of commission. So, Trav got to cut down the Trees this year. The look on Abby face at seeing Trav run the chainsaw is priceless.

Andy also STOPPED and checked it out as well. Not something he had done since we got there. If Grammy and Abby walked 1/2 the patch, Papa and Andy walked a good 3/4! He had to walk up to each stump and stomp on it. Make sure it was dead I guess?

I love this picture - his reaction to the tree finally coming down in front of him.

Okay, two trees down -now what?

Abby says: "It is too cold out here, let's go get hot cider and candy canes!"

Andy: "Sounds like a plan to me! Let's add a cookie or two while we are at it!"

Then, sadly it was time to go home so we could decorate the tree...

Andy: "What we aren't done? We have to decorate it as well!?!?!?

Don't worry Andy... Abby got it ALL taken care of!

OSU vs. USC

Another Saturday - another Beaver Game - woot! This week we took on USC - and WON! Thank goodness... after the least few weeks performances, I was nervous. I'll admit it - nervous. It was home, USC was ranked, and we hate their band. I personally think those three things got the crowd behind the game and therefore got the Beavers going. Yep, that's right - I'm taking credit for it. Me and the other 40 some thousand in attendance... :)

It was a 5 o'clock game and it was approx. Zero degrees outside (okay, slight embellish). So, we left the kids at home w/Grammy. They made cookies, watched movies, watched the Beavers on TV, and played. I'm sure they had just as much fun as they would have had at the game - and they stayed warm!

Before we headed down to Mt. Angel, Trav tried to get a few pictures of our little Beaver Believers all decked out - at some point I have to get one good enough for the Christmas Card - right?

We got a few cute ones...

Then, something went terribly wrong. Andy body slammed Abby while she was smiling. So, she in turn, suplex tackled him the next time he tried to get up...

Hardin has nothing on this girl! :)








Anyways... back to our house...


Then, they BOTH Tackled the Camera-man:




As we were loading the car, I got a few more pictures of my little Beaver Princess - she was just so cute, I had to!

Come On Beavers!!!

So, it is GAME DAY - Woohoo! The beavs are pretty much self-destructing and loosing to WSU (WSU!??!?!?!) as I type, so I decided to focus on something fun and blog instead.

Travis and Abby headed down to OSU w/the family and Andy and I stayed home to hang out. I had all these grand ideas of all the things I was going to get done. Scrapbooking, walking, showering, cleaning, etc. So far today I have done nothing. Basically nothing.

Andy on the other hand, discovered the candy bowl....




I can't explain how funny and cute it was to watch. So, I got the camera out. He pulled the little white papers out of about ten of them and then tried to unwrap the chocolate w/his little chubby fingers. Then, then mommy took pity on him and let him have one, and then five! Come on - he was cute!

On a side note, I'm glad he is napping right now! I can only imagine how much yelling at the TV he would be doing right now if he could see the Beavers playing this way!

Cupcake Cutie!

The Saturday before Halloween the Beavs playes the Cal Bears - at home. We had a big day the following day, so we decided to leave the kids home w/our good Friend Auntie Kati! Her and Rob were nice enough to Adopt our kids for the day. Not sure what they did EXACTLY, but this is a picture I found on my camera...

Apparently they had a Halloween Party that evening - or at least I hope! :0)

They did actually, becuase we went and picked up our kids from it after the game. They were running around a house full of strangely dressed people enjoying cupcakes that Kati had made earlier that day. Red Velvet Cupcakes w/Pink "Brains" for frosting. I think Andy either really enjoyed them, or was really hungry!

Anyways, Beavs won (woohoo) and Andy got a cupcake - or at least as much of it as he got in his mouth! :)

OSU vs. ASU

This week, the Beavers played the Sun Devils. It was a NICE afternoon that required water, sunscreen, and hats for all. The Beavs won - a close one (phew), and everyone seemed to have a good time. We made it thru the game, heat, and naptime window w/no tears. I only had to bring out the "secret suckers" at the very end to appease them the last few moments of the 4th quarter. And, by "them", I mean Abby and TREVOR.

We took the opportunity of 1. the nice weather, and 2. being there nice and early to do some shopping and picture taking. We got a few good ones...



But, lets forget the Beavs for a moment and focus on something more important. Yes, to the readers of this (mostly family) there is life outside of OSU Football in the fall - I'm sure of it!

What did I ever do so right to deserve to call this Beauty mine? I mean look at her - she is just a little angel in Beaver clothing... I coudn't ask for a daughter more perfect for me. It makes my heart swell w/pride when putting these photo together for the blog.

Or how about this Little Man-Goober we call Andy. I mean come on? Is there a little Beaver Believer out there that is cuter? I don't think so... He never fails to make my heart smile. You can't help but just pick him up and kiss him over and over.

They both make me so proud and make me smile so much. Together, I think they make quite a little pair...

Not to mention they look pretty darn cute cheering on the Beavers! :)

OSU vs. Louisville

OSU home opener - Go Beavs!

The entire family headed down to Corvallis this last Saturday to celebrate the OSU home opener. We totally forgot to stage a photo shoot of the kids before we left the house, so we had to settle for a cement wall inside when we got there - it was raining when we 1st got there, so we didn't get a chance for a cool back drop of the stadium or any of the signage. Oh well, I WILL get some cute ones before the season is out - I WILL!


We actually stayed really dry during the game. We are RIGHT at the edge of the covered area, so most of the rain doesn't get us - especially when the wind is in our favor! It did RAIN at 1/2 time though, so we went inside and shared a bucket of popcorn and stretched our legs. Andy discovered that he LOVES popcorn - his first experience w/it!

Oh, and Abby had a blue sucker... :)

Beaver Believers!!!

Football season is once again upon us. The season when our house become shrouded in Black and Orange, "Duck" becomes a bad word, and Saturday is almost as holy as Sunday.

Another year, another hope. Another year, another outfit. Another year, another hectic schedule. Another year, another PHOTO SHOOT! All I'm going to say is this... Trav was in charge of the photo shoot this year and this is the ONE picture that was sharable....

(psst: *I* will try again next week.)



Above is a picture of me and the kids watching the season opener - good game, bad outcome.

Here are some more photos Trav got of Abby - I see our future and it looks dramatic, expensive, and emmotionally traumatising - too all of us! :)

Until next week - Go BEAVS!!!!