Relay For Life '09

The 'Relay For Life' Event took place Friday - April 17th and what an incredible opportunity it was.  We had almost 15 people on our time.  Our team name was 'Sweet & Sassy'...because most of us our 'Sweet' and then there are a few who are 'Sassy'..(mainly me) but all I can say is THANK YOU to everybody who walked with us and shared in this special 12 hour event.  The 'Relay For Life' is put on by the 'American Cancer Society' all over the country.  It is made up of 'Relay' teams that walk from 6:00pm - 6:00am to raise awareness and funds to help someday find a cure for Cancer.

This is the start of the event which is the 'Survivor' Walk..all of us in purple are cancer survivors - some battles are far more severe than others, breast, cervical, brain, and some (like me) are survivors of skin cancer...but bottom line we have all experienced the vulnerability of cancer.  The rest of our team are 'Caregivers' meaning they have taken care of loved ones fighting their fight.

Jori, CJ, Michelle, Allie, Lauri, Kristin - getting ready to start the walk.

Lauri, Lois, CJ, Jori & Me...waiting to start

Here we go.. Sweet & Sassy!!

We Walk for the people we Love and have lost.

We walk for the people who are battling their fight right now.

We walk for those who's battles are ahead.

You don't realize how long 1/4 mile is when you're carrying a banner.

Michelle & Tava - I've known this special lady for 23 years.  I was one of her Mia Maid advisors when she was 15 (of course I was only 18...LOL..NOT but not too far from it) and now we have been in the same ward area for the past 10+ years.  She truly is an amazing lady and I'm so glad we are not only ward members but one of my dearest friends too. 

Sandy & Kelli...all I can say is they ROCK!!

It's because of this special lady 'Lauri' that we are doing this crazy 'Relay'...thanks Lauri for your inspiration and dedication to the cause.  You are the BEST!!

Mother/Daughter Team...Michelle & Allie they are truly wonderful.

Colleen & I went to High School together and now 23 years later we are still walking the track. Colleen is a very special friend and I'm so glad we were able to do the 'Relay' together.  She's Amazing.

There are booths set up at all the different campsites, fundraising and having a good time.  This booth came up with 'Lap Beads'..you purchase the leather tie and then for every lap you complete you got to ADD a bead, for every 10 beads you got to add a PURPLE bead...it was so fun and motivating to see how many laps we had completed by the end of the night.  All of us completed at least 40 laps which is 10 miles and then there were a few Allie, Michelle & Rochelle who beat our 40 lap goal.  Way to go ladies...you are all FABULOUS!!

It's PIE TIME...this was a riot...Lauri and I signed up to help in the concession stand from 8:00 - 10:00pm.  When we got there they sent us out on the track to sell 'PIES'...they were mini pies (Peach, Apple & Berry) for $5.00 each.  Needless to say we totally 'ROCK'D' selling 8 pies in about 20 mins.  We were happy to be done selling pies.

At 9:00pm they did the 'Luminaries' dedication for all those we have lost to Cancer.  Everyone received a candle and luminaries were lit all along the track representing those who have passed away and we walked arm in arm in dedication to those who have gone before us.  It was very touching and emotional to see all of us walking for all of those we have loved and lost.

Kelli, Sandy, Kristin, Tava, Lauri, Allie, Michelle & Mandy 

Kristin, Michelle & Allie - these ladies are the BOMB!!

It's a little chilly out here...so they are taking a break.

Kristin tried to catch a few "zzzz....' however; the music was so loud (they really did a good job at keeping us awake all night) that all we could do was rest.  I'm hunkered down next to her hoping that if I covered my whole head just maybe it would drown out the noise...no such luck.

Alright...we are rested and ready to hit the track again.  I think it's about 5:30am

Lois & Fred - Our 'Relief Team'...they arrived at 4:00am to help walk the last (2) hours and boy were we glad to see them.  Our Hips and Feet were so sore they were definitely a Welcome relief.  Thank You!

Kelda - Our SuperStar...she also came at 4:00am as part of the 'Relief' Team...she was amazing..she put her headphones on, IPod in hand and absolutely kicked butt...she walked (20) laps in the two hours she was there.  WOW...you go Kelda and I hope you'll be back next year. Lois, Fred & Kelda were seriously our 'SuperStars'...THANK YOU for coming and helping us finish the race.

Here we are it's almost 6:00am and this is our Victory Lap..we did it!

Lauri, Tava, Michelle, Allie & Kristin - the die hards.

How fitting is the picture with the 'Eye of the Tiger' in the background.  We all had the 'Eye of the Tiger' to finish this event and know that those who fight this terrible battle also have that 'Eye' to never give up, never quit and to always know that the 'Lord' is by your side, carrying you through.

Our 'Lap' necklaces are full and we are so happy we made it.

Kristin, Tava, Allie, Michelle, Lauri & Kelda

It's 6:00am and we can now go home and 'sleep'.  Thank you to everyone who helped, participated and made the 'Relay For Life - '09' a huge success.  See you next year.

My Stud...He's My Rock!!

I'm so proud of Trennon and what he is becoming...he's my twin and I love him with all my heart.

Trennon's Birthday Cake...we went to the Pacific Seafood Company (it's an all you can eat Seafood, Chinese Buffet) that is yummy.  We then came back and celebrated with his favorite ice cream cake...Baskin Robbins Cookies and Cream.

There was a game against St. Mary's on Trennon's Birthday and the coach let him play the 3rd game.  They killed St. Mary's.  It was a great birthday for Trennon.  Trellany and Trennon have become very close this year.  It's fun to see them together.

I absolutely LOVE this kids...he's my Rock!!

He's such a 'stud', 7% body fat, he's lean, he's mean...he's one tough fighting machine.

Happy Birthday Trennon!!

It was 16 years ago today that this handsome young man came into my life.  I entered the labor & delivery room around 3:00am and told the nurse I needed to go to the restroom.  Everything was fine until the Doctor walked in the room and asked 'Where's Tava'...the nurse politely said oh she's in the restroom...the Doctor freaked out and started asking me if I was o.k., that I wasn't pushing (I guess she was afraid I would have him in the toilet...LOL) I calmly said 'I'm fine'...she then said well we need to get you out of there I don't want anything to happen.  So I got on the bed, they checked me out and told me it wouldn't be long.  The contractions came strong and there was this ugly almost dead plant hanging in the corner and that was my focus point...so I remember the Doctor asking me if we knew what the baby was...I told her no because if I'm going through all this pain I want a surprise at the end...the Doctor lit up and said 'I love surprises and this will be fun'..FUN...oh glad you're having FUN!!!  No but seriously 45mins later, focusing on a half-way dead plant and 3 pushes, Trennon John entered the world.  He weighed 8lbs 2oz and I'll never forget when the Doctor announced 'It's a Boy'..I saw this neon flashing sign that said 'You're Done'.....I thought that meant because I had one girl and one boy that I was finished having children...which at the time I was like...'OK...glad that's over with'....little did I know that 4 years later Bromley would come along.  I guess the 'You're Done'...meant that Trennon was here safe and sound and that I was done with the pregnancy, but then a whole new beginning started when he came home.

Trennon has truly been a wonderful son...challenging at times (especially when he was little).  He was always so ACTIVE and into EVERYTHING...wasn't naughty or mischievious just BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.  I went through 4 babysitters before I was able to found one that understood his Busy--ness and there were times when I thought 'If he had of been my first, it would have been my last'...because you seriously could not turn your back for 1 second and he was off getting into something else.  He has since grown into a PHENOMENAL Young Man who is truly the 'love of my life'.  He is kind, loving, driven, great student, self-motivated and my list could go on and on. 

I know that he will achieve all that he sets his mind too.  He is a GREAT, GREAT kid and all I can say is 'I'm so glad he's mine'.  I love you and hope your 16th Birthday is everything that you want it to be.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart...I Love You More than you will ever know!!

Tucson Volleyball Tournament

Heading down on the bus...everyone is crashed.

The 'Team' getting ready to wake up Trellany 

(She's one of the 'Stat' girls) - Can we say 'iPod'

overload too...LOL.

'Park', 'Henney' & Diane (Trell's partner in crime for 'Stats')

Trennon doing what he does best - iPod junkie...

Last weekend we went to Tucson to watch Trennon and the Boys Volleyball play in their tournament.  It was a two day tournament and there were 28 teams from the valley, tucson and vegas.  The 'Gilbert Tigers' came home with a straight 'Sweep'...they never lost an entire game and came home the total Champions.  It was AWESOME.

Spring Break '09 - Utah

Trellany & Brianna - Visit 'Brighton'

"Snow Bunnies"

Powder Mountain - Cute Girls

Cute Girls

Trellany went to Utah for ‘Spring Break – Snowboarding’ with one of her best friends ‘Brianna Carter and her family’. Thank you to the ‘Carters’ for taking her….she had a blast. At the end of the week they decided to leave Friday night and drive all night so they could get home on Saturday. They drove through Las Vegas so as to avoid the ‘Deer’. They decided to stop in Vegas and see if they could find an ‘All You Can Eat Buffett’. Of course it was 4:00am.

When they pulled in to Vegas Trellany was sleeping and the lights on the strip woke her up and she was like wow…this is so bright…she was amazed at how bright the strip was.

Trellany visits Las Vegas & The Joy of Innocence:

Here is her recount of Vegas:

It’s 4am in the morning and I’m astounding that there are people everywhere. They are walking down the strip and it’s totally disgusting. We are trying to find an ‘All You Can Eat’ Buffet. We are walking in 2’s and these Mexican drunks are saying ‘oh there’s our dates’…I then realize they are pointing to us…then these other 2 guys say ‘we’ll protect you’..I’m like we don’t even know you…it was so scary…everyone was just drunk. Jake (Bri’s cousin) who’s 12 was approached by some guy who was drunk and they asked him if this was his first time to Vegas…Jake was like yea..I’m 12 man. We kept walking around the casino trying to find the ‘Buffet’ and everyone kept staring at us because of the way we were all dressed (we were basically in our PJ’s travelling clothes). I was wearing ‘basketball shorts’ – a big baggie t-shirt, hair tied up on top of my head with my zebra headband and the majority of the people were still dressed from the night wearing the shortest short skirts, stiletto heals and they were all drunk– I got asked by some door guy if I was going to go on a ‘run because of the way I was dressed all I could do was laugh. Vegas is so weird.

She told me that she felt is was totally sad because everyone was drunk that nobody has a life and basically it is the most disgusting place she has ever visited. She told me that she never wants to go to Vegas again.

Volleyball AD's...

Volleyball Program AD's for 2009:

The official 1st game of the season opens tomorrow for Gilbert High's Boys Volleyball Team. Needless to say we are way excited. Along with open season it's also 'Program Time'...this is where the boys sell AD's or sponsorships that are printed in a nice program book that is handed out at all the games. There are business AD's and a ton of family, friends, grandparent well wishes too.

Here's the color renditions of the AD's that will be going in this year for Trennon. He's such a 'Tiger'.

For those of you new to Volleyball or not sure what a 'Dig' means...it's when you dive for the ball when it is almost hitting the floor and you save it with your hand and 'Dig' it out from nowhere...in this shot 'Trennon' made an unbelivable 'Dig' and saved the ball, popped it back into play which allowed his team to win the point. Like I said...he's a 'Tiger' and there is nothing that will stop him from giving it is all.

Congratulations Trennon - You ROCK!!

You are looking at the 'newest' Varsity Boys Volleyball Team member at Gilbert High. Yes...Trennon about gave me a 'car wreck' when I picked him up from Volleyball practice on Tuesday. 

Let me back track a little.  Last week was the Gilbert High Boys Volleyball tryouts.  Trennon played last year (his Freshman year) on the JV team and fell in love with Volleyball.  I think it runs in the family...LOL!!  So he made a goal after last years season to work really hard and try to make 'Varsity' this year.  We knew it was a long shot as competition is fierce at Gilbert High but we also knew that with hard work, determination and the will to succeed Trennon would do his best to achieve his goal. 

After his school season...he knew it was going to be a tough road but one that he was definitely up for the challenge.  He put in a lot of extra training with a 'sports specialist' that helped build his vertical skills, participated in a 16 week in home DVD training and attended the BYU Volleyball training camp this summer.  It all paid off because this fall (when the Boys Club Volleyball season starts) he made the 'Molten 16-1' team and really excelled. They all went on to win the Region under the direction of coach Jesse and Austin who were the defending champs.  The 16-1's were proud to bring home the Regional Championship again for Coach Jesse and Austin.

Last Friday the Varsity Coach asked (5) of the JV boys to come and practice with the Varsity team. Trennon was one of the (5).  They were all pretty excited and played very well.  (Trennon has the stitch to prove that he went all out hoping to secure his spot on the team-he split his chin open during this practice and we ended up getting him stitched up friday evening with our wonderful Doctor Bryan Gallman - Thank You!).  At the end of practice the Coach informed the boys that they did not make Varisty...that he just needed them for practice because some of the boys were still wrapping up their other sports (Basketball, etc.)  So last Friday we were happy that Trennon made the JV team again and knew that he would continue to grow as he would probably be getting a lot of playing time.  So now you probably know why I almost had the 'car wreck' when he told me Tuesday of this week that he did make 'Varsity'.  Because up to this point we were happy that he was on JV.  Ok..I've probably lost some of you now but hang with me just a little longer and hopefully this will all make sense...LOL.

So...back to Tuesday of this week...I pick Trennon up..we are driving down the road..I'm calling home to ask Bromley what he wants from 'Taco Bell'...(I think when you are a teenager...there isn't any other place that exists in their vocabulary except 'Taco Bell'...at least in our home that is)...and Trennon very calmly says..'Oh..Mom...I made VARISTY'...I seriously almost dropped the phone, ran into the curb and screamed all at the same time...the minute Bromley heard me scream on the other end of the phone...Bromley said...uh...let me guess 'Trennon made Varisty"?...guess my kids know me.  Needless to say...it was an exciting few minutes.

Trennon said that he asked the JV coach right before practice if Coach Grover had his 12 for Varsity.  The JV Coach said no...he's got 11 and there's one spot left.  Trennon was a little puzzled but thought just maybe it was his.  So he stepped it up one more time during practice to really show how much he wanted that spot.  At the end of practice Coach Grover called him over and said something to him like 'I like your hustle, like your enthusiasm and I've got one more sport to fill on Varsity...'How would you like to play'...Trennon was in shock...said "I would love that Coach"..he said great because it's yours.  He told Trennon that he wouldn't be hitting (because those spots are filled) but that he needed a really good 'Utility' person, passer and defender...Trennon was so excited and told the coach 'I'll play whatever position you want me to play...I just appreciate the opportunity and I'll do my best for you'....so here we go...

It's definitely going to be a lot of hard work and a level that Trennon is going to have to really step up too...but we know he can do it.

Way to ROCK Trennon...We are so proud of you...You are the total BOMB!!