A little boy's DREAM come true

We were very fortunate to have a unique experience with our very own

UTAH STATE FOOTBALL TEAM!!

Grandma Shauna used her connections (thinking at the most we would witness them practicing) and gave us all an experience to REMEMBER!

Matt happened to be out of town that day and couldn't join us but they made up for that too!

I tried to keep it a secret for the kids (myself not knowing the extent of the suprise)! They were confused about being pulled from school, going to town ("mom, you always get groceries while we're in school"), and having to put all their AGGIE attire on. I told them we were going to go pick up basketball tickets and we would get a discount for wearing our Aggie shirts. That worked until we pulled up to the football stadium. They were confused about being at the football stadium to get basketball tickets. I had to tell them "the same reason we go to the Spectrum (basketball arena) to get football tickets". They went along and of course it was natural for Grandma and Grandpa to be there!

We met Karen on the third floor of the new Jim and Carol Laub Athletic Complex. She took us out on the balcony and let us watch the team practice for a few minutes. She then looked at Kael and said "Do you want to go meet the players?". Kael was so nervous he told her "No"!

We made our way to the field and Steve met us. He gave Kael a new hat and took him out on the field to meet Coach "A".

Honorary "Support" Team!

Coach Andersen took Kael around to all the different'teams' practicing. They gave him a whistle and let him call some of the shots. Then Coach 'A' came over and visited with Matt's parents and I. He spent over 20 minutes asking questions and just talking with us about Kaels diagnosis and experience. I was very impressed with his concern and respect for all we had been through. He asked if I would take a minute to share with the team some of what Kael has been through. Of course I couldn't do it without crying so I hope I didn't make to big-a-fool of myself.

The players gave the other kids 'practice balls' to play with. They were lovin' it!



Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for our own little Make*A*Wish-Aggie Style!!!
(Keep reading the following post - pics aren't in order!)

He followed coach and the boys all over the field. Learning new plays and

how/when to blow his whistle.QB

Coach had the team come out to the middle of the field and kneel down. This is when I told them about Kael's story then Coach and Steve presented Kael with a ball (signed by all the players) and a "Hit" hat. They have only given 4 away this year and Kael got the 5th! They are given to players that have struggled but stepped up and made the neccesary 'plays' to succeed.

Go Kael!!

Coach 'A's' wife showed up at the end so I spent a while visiting with her. She lost her dad just 5 months ago to cancer (he has battled the last 13 years). I enjoyed the visit. As we were leaving one of the players stuck his head out of the locker room and said that Coach wanted to see us in his office! Gary and Shauna had to leave so the kids and I went up to see what he wanted. He led us into his office and then gave us t-shirts and sweatshirts! He told me he was glad that we came and that it is something his team needs to see. As we were leaving one of the other coaches stepped out into the hall and gave the kids a pizza. What an unforgettable experience! It truly was AWESOME! That Saturday the Ag's played Hawaii (in the pouring rain). Steve invited Kael and Matt down to the sidelines to be with the team. While they were warming up they let Kael out on the field and had him lead them in the 'Haka' (Hawiian war dance). They had him do the team cheer and then hoisted him on their shoulders to pack him off the field! I am so glad that Matt got to experience some of it. He really is the BIGGEST Aggie fan (even his dad admits that Matt may be a tiny-bit bigger fan than he is . . . I think it's a toss-up!)

In the hall stood the famous 'wagonwheel' (BYU and the Aggies pass it back and forth according to who wins when they play. BYU has had it for the last 17 years. Ya! Pretty sweet victory this year so I couldn't pass up the chance. I think I let out a squeal when I saw it!! To bad the two BIGGEST Aggie fans (Matt and his dad) were not even there to witness it!)

Thanks again Grandpa and Grandma Leak for this AWESOME experience!

The Road Trip continues . . .

Remember the road trip I started in August?

Remember I got strep and had to come home?

Remember Matt promised he would take me out to the Basin (Roosevelt area)?

. . . well, I remembered!

I talked him into taking me out there over UEA. I scheduled Kael's surgery for the 14th so he wouldn't have to miss school. We stayed at Crystal's that night, then headed out Friday morning. My mom happened to talk to my Grandma about coming and of course she agreed to it. (Grandma has always been a traveler)! So mom, Grandma, and Aunt Julie met us at my cousin, Jessica's, house.

I had two reasons for going. Matt's Great-Grandparents came from that area and my Grandma was born and lived there until she was 7. (K - maybe three reasons - I love spending time with family!)

My Grandma, Jessie Edith Graves, was born January 30, 1925 in Moffat, Utah to Claude Charles Graves and Martha Maria Weiss. Her father came from Indiana and worked in the mines, her mother from South Dakota and was a cook for the mines in Idaho. Grandma was the fourth of seven children, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. She remembers so much for being just seven when they left the area. The next few posts will give you a glimpse into her life while living there.

School Days

Grandma attended primary in this building on occasion. The Graves' were not members but permitted the kids to go with their friends once in a while. Across the street from the church sits this building, the school. Grandma attended the 1st and 2nd grades here. It is now used as a stock yard.
Jess, Me, Crystal. We have always been close and it was so AWESOME to all get together again (twice this year. that's a record!!)!

Great-Grands with Grandma.

Kael, Dallie, Trey, Matti, Kase, Jaicee, Ty, Hayden, Tad
Better than anything to me . . .

Aunt Julie, Dallie, Ty, Jaicee, and Jess

My mom, Sis, and I. Wish the other girls could have been there.

Milk Barn

My Grandma milked cows in this barn when she was just five years old. She remembers bringing the cows in from the meadow and her dad teaching her how to milk on the cows that were going dry. They had a small tin cup that they would drink the warm milk from.

The hay was stacked in the loft above so they could push the feed into the bunks below.
Full Circle. Everyone had a milk cow back then. Everyone milked.

This picture hold a special place in my heart. Our barn is built with cinder blocks. Has electricity. Pipes, pumps, compressors, and a tank. However, the milk is still made into the same basic staples it was then.

The home she was born in no longer stands. This was taken in the general area of where the old homestead stood. The present owner was nice enough to take us down where he thought the home was but after we left grandma said that was the neighbors house!

Grandma and her siblings and friends would roll their Easter Eggs off this hill for fun!

This was one of the farms that Grandpa Graves leased. It is now used for the oil industry.

Meacham's cabin. The Meacham's were close friends with the Graves'. This home stands less than a mile away from where Grandma lived. She remembers riding her horse down to their place all the time. She also recalls the home being much larger when she was a child! When Grandma was seven she went to San Diego with her mom, sister, and younger siblings while her Dad and older brothers loaded the wagons and left for Oregon. The Meacham family went to Oregon with them. Grandma attended the 3rd Grade in San Diego and then her sister took them to southeast Oregon to meet up with the rest of the family. From there she remembers riding the horse until they would come to a town. The she would get off and ride in the wagon because she was to embarrassed. They finally settled in a few different places near Portland.

Upalco

Grandma Hunt is not the only one with ties to the Uintah Basin. Grandma Leak's family came from their as well. Grandma's Grandparents are buried in Upalco (along with extended family). Jess was gracious enough to take us there and we were happy with what we were able to find. Not much grass but a lot of headstones that represent the Marrett and Moon families.

The kids were happy to be out of the car and to see cousins:)

The kids and their Great-Great-Great Grandparents!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to finish our trip that we started back in August. I really thought if I didn't do it then it would never happen. I am so grateful for a husband that took the time to take us - even though he really didn't want to go. He too was glad that we went and if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have the recordings and stories of Grandma Hunt that we do. You never know what tommorrow or next week brings. My theme for the past few months has been "No Regrets". I'm stickin' with it!!!