Sack the Quarterback!

Mark got a nice clean sack on this play during the Douglas game.  Obviously before the concussion.

Bulldog Football.....The Beginning!

Mark is a team captain this year for the Lovell Bulldog football team, along with Steven Picket and AJ Montanez.  Here they are lined up for the coin toss before the Lovell VS Douglas football scrimmage.

We have some new coaches for the Bulldogs.  Head coach Doug Hazen is joined by offensive coordinator Bob Weber, assistant coach Daniel Robertson and assistant Craig Winterholler.  Isn't it nice to hear so many Lovell boys as coaches?  These guys really care about the kids and are excited about this coming season.

Lovell looked way better than last years zero week scrimmage that they played against Thermopolis.  Douglas was a pretty tough team and last years 3A state champions. The score was 37 to 23 I think.  I wasn't paying much attention during the last half of the game because Mark came out with a concussion  in the second quarter.  I am not sure when he got it and he can't remember for sure.  We showed him most of the plays up to that point and he remembered some of the game but not any after he took himself out.

We do appreciate Ken Ferbrache being there and helping with Mark.  Hopefully, Mark will heal quickly and be able to play the sport he absolutely loves soon.  With the new WHSAA rules concerning concussions it may be a longer road back than it used to be.  I thought our boys played tough and learned lots.  They got some practice playing on artificial turf.  I asked Mark how he like it and he said he couldn't remember. RATS!

Lucas, Shanae and Connor came up to watch Mark.  It was really nice to see them.  I loved holding Connor and visiting with them. It would be nice if Mark could remember that he had a conversation with them after he got changed but he didn't even know they were there to support him.  I appreciate the support they gave me. Gwen stopped on her way back from Gillette after watching Mary play volleyball.  Mary sounds like an amazing girl.  I hope I can see her play sometime.  My friend Jean who lives in Douglas came to sit with us but left after an emergency call from the Hospital.  Her daughter had a cardiac arrest due to a genetic defect and is not doing well.  Please remember her in your prayers.

The game started late, not until 7:00.  The JV bus had to go home so they could get to Lovell before the 1:00 a.m. cutoff.  I was joined in my trip to Douglas with Kristi, Becky, Jan and Brian.  We made Brian drive for us.  Special thanks to him because we didn't get home until 3:00 in the morning.  I would have had to pull over and get some sleep at the side of the road.  We had lots of good stories and a fun time.  I think we need to take a big bus for all the parents who like to travel over the state of Wyoming to watch these boys play.

Here is a video of Mark getting a handoff before he gets his concussion.

Pictures from Brian's Reception

 Matt and Jacob are enjoying the evening of fun and food.

 Bob and Mark are looking especially nice in their kilts and leather vests. 

 Brian and Maddy standing in the line having a great time. ;)

 Emily has a cute smile.  As soon as some said "Smile for Aunt Marianne, she cocked her head and flashed a bright smile for the camera!

This was one of the highlights of the evening.  Mark, Chris, Brian and Bob are all in their kilts.  What a handsome bunch.

 Wow!  Looking fantastically tough in their Scottish attire.  Wouldn't you just hate to meet these guys in a dark alley.  Mark is wearing the Grant tartan while the others all have on the Robertson tartan.

 Ah.  The cutest knees contest.  I think Mark wins this one.

 Brian and Maddy are cutting their cake with a claymore.  Fun!

We missed lots of family who couldn't make it.  Those that were there included, Matt and Margaret, Grandma Flash and Bob, Joyce and Glynn, Betsy and kiddos, Suzy, Amanda, Kim,Chris and Brooke and Emily, Brian & Maddy (of course) Christina & Gary and kids, Spike & I along with Mark and Jacob, Erin, Brenda and Roland.  Lots of Glynn's family was there to support Brian also.

Garden 'Stuff'

I went out to the garden today.  This is what I found, actually this is part of what I found.  Notice the funky looking squash that tried to be a conjoined twin. Hmmm.  I had to throw some of the squash that got too old and a few of the whale sized cucumbers away.  The tomatoes have been delicious  and so have the younger cucumbers.  The pepper plants are looking fantastic and so are the peppers.  They are delicious.  Let me know if anyone would be willing to take some of this off of my hands.  I seem to be harvesting about six cucumbers a day and we are having a hard time keeping up.

Spider Leg

 As a fun family activity we decided to take a quick trip down Devil's Canyon.  Spike ended up driving us to Spider Leg trail.  I had never been to this one and was a little awed by the 'ropes' we had to shinny down.  I was a little worried about getting back out.  This top picture is of Mark and Jacob climbing down.  Mark was such a good helper with his little brother.

 Here they are all fishing.  I am not a fisherman but I very much enjoyed the hike in and out.  I think next time I will bring a few snacks and a good book to read.  Mark was the only one that caught a fish that day.  We found a pile of fish heads and guts in the creek so someone had a great day fishing the day before.

Mark was very patient with his mom.  He was a great help by grabbing my hand and pulling me up when I needed it.  On the way out Mark was in the lead, then Jacob, then me and then Spike.  We were almost out of the canyon when I heard a rattling sound.  I looked down and sure enough right in front of me and just where Jacob's foot had been there was a four foot long rattlesnake.  Yikes!  I was glad that he didn't get bitten.  It looked to us like the snake had about 10 rattles on it.  It got away before we could harvest the rattles.  That would have been a good show and tell for Jacob when school starts. This was the first time I have actually seen a rattlesnake in the wild.  I could do without seeing one again.

I hope we do this again this year but things at our house are starting to speed up.  Mark is still working but also started two a day football practices.  They did the conditioning test this morning and will hit the hard stuff this afternoon.  Their zero week game is in Douglas.  That should be interesting since Douglas was number 1 in 3A last year and it seems to me quite a few years before that.  They are well coached.  I guess we will get to see where we are weak and work on those areas.  School starts in two weeks.  Jacob will like that.  He has been busy all summer mowing the lawn, doing his Rosetta Stone Spanish, piano lessons and reading 'Lord of the Rings'  He just got to the second book in the trilogy 'The Two Towers".  He really likes it and is amazed about how different the movie is from the book.

4 Generation Photo with Grandma Grant

Michael, Eve, Marie and Rachael.  I love this picture you can see the family resemblance through all the generations.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Boating with the Cox's

 Yes, there is a reason I wear bangs.  My 5-head is a bit much but unavoidable when you are being towed behind the boat.  This was way too much fun.  I couldn't believe how bad my arms and shoulders felt this morning though.  I must have been holding on for dear life!

 Jacob was pretty darn brave!

 Rachael was having fun but I don't know about Eve.  She was pretty calm throughout the whole ordeal and didn't fuss too much about having the baby life vest on.  She wasn't very thrilled though, as you can tell by her expression.

Eli was pretty darn amazing!  His wipe-out was AWESOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRmA-ZtErYI  Click on this link to watch Mark behind the boat.  He looked pretty amazing!

Swimming Lessons

 Ready?

 Bounce!

 Flip!

 Splash!

Yes!

Jacob had a tough week for swimming lessons.  He decided to get sick.  Not really sick but sort of sickish.  Like low blood sugar sickish.  He managed to make is to swimming lessons every day and did a good job.  He is a very good swimmer and looks great in the water!