BYU Football

Since I'm on a reminiscent note about Utah and fall time (see this post about Sundance), I thought I'd continue that and reminisce about BYU football games. We miss being in Provo this fall to enjoy the games.

Throughout my childhood I remember driving the 3.5 hours from Burley to Provo for several BYU football games.  Every member of my family (including parents) attended BYU for their college degree so we love BYU! Game Time was Family Time so games were so fun!  Here's some photos from 2005, we went many other years too, but since that was before the digital camera age, I didn't take the time to scan in all those pictures!

I attended BYU from Fall 2003-2007 and most seasons bought an All Sports Pass to attend with roommates.  Justin wasn't the same- he never went to games!  His roommates convinced him to get  a pass in 2008, and I'm glad he did so we could attend games together once we started dating!  We met at Sundance on Sept. 28 and 1st held hands on October 10 at the BYU Homecoming Football game. See I knew I liked football!  Especially cold games, because that particular game was chilly so we HAD to share a blanket and that led to the hand holding. :) We enjoyed the rest of the season being together and with Janelle and roommates.

In 2009 we didn't pay to have a season pass, but got free tickets to one game.  It was fun to attend once as a married couple. Weird that photos from just 5 years ago I think we look sooo young!

In 2010 we got hooked up with some more free tickets to a game and took Justin's step-dad, Kyle and my sister, Janelle. Our seats were in the Cougar Club section which were way close and it was nice to enjoy back rests once instead of the bleacher seats we always had in the student section.  

In 2013 my entire family-parents, 5 siblings, spouses, and all grandchildren attended a game together.  That was so fun to go back as a whole family!  We had pizza before the game, and did face paint before heading in.

We got free t-shirts on our way in. Way too big for the kids, but still a super cute cousin's photo!  It was so fun to take Dallin-he was 15 months old at the time.  He slept through part, which I don't know how since we were right below the south end zone loud speaker. But he woke up before long and liked the game and especially being with family.

We of course splurged and got the famous Cougar Tails (long maple donut) which are so good and Dallin loved sharing!  He's such a cutie in his BYU gear!

We got free balloons on our way out, it was a fun game.  Yay for BYU Football and family time! Hopefully someday we'll get to be back in Provo during football season so we can go to a game!

Sundance-Where it all began

Justin and I met at a roommate picnic September 28, 2008 at Sundance Resort in Provo, UT.  Exactly 6 years ago today! That's the place our lives changed! Even though we had just met and there was a whole group of friends around, we never left each other's side that whole evening.  Even after returning from the picnic, we talked for hours after ward prayer that night, caught each other on Monday after FHE, went on a motorcyle ride on Wednesday, and had our first date Friday of that same week. We started dating exclusively and were married 8 months later! 

Because Sundance is "where it all began," each year for the past 6 years, we went back in September and took pictures on the same bridge, and usually enjoyed a picnic lunch to reminisce.  We are sad that this year, since we moved away to Texas, we don't get to go back to "our spot" at Sundance and we're especially missing the beautiful fall canyon colors. I decided we could reminisce by looking back at our photos from each year we visited:  

2008-Notice how after the first bridge picture, we are right by each other in every other photo!  Our knees are even touching, sheesh I barely met the guy! haha. But I was smitten from the beginning. :)

 2009- Love the fall colors this year. We look so young!

2010- It was a cold year, but still fun to go!

 2011- We found out I was finally pregnant, 3 days before our Sundance visit.  Fun to be able to celebrate that and the changes coming our way.

2012- First year we didn't go back alone, because we had Dallin in June!  He was 3 months old and enjoyed laying on a blanket during our picnic lunch.  Loved sharing "our place" with him.

2013- This year was sunny and warm and the day we went was the Fall festival where we got to see some wild birds, and horses.  My parents and brother came too, which was fun.  My parent's anniversary is on September 29th and they love driving the canyon and seeing the colors just like us.  We also took the lift ride to the top which was so fun.  Dallin had just learned to walk 2 months prior!

I love Sundance because it's where I met the love of my life!  I love him more every year, and really every day I spend with him. He amazes me with all he accomplishes and does for our family. He is the best husband and father and I'm so blessed to have him!!  

Who does Dallin look like?

I've had some fun scanning in pictures of Justin and I when we were Dallin's age.  I feel like he's a good mix of both of us, but sometimes people will say "He looks just like Justin." Others will say "He is totally his mom."  I decided to really compare, we need to see what we looked like at his age, not as adults.  :)

What do you think?  I'm never good at identifying characteristics like eyes, ears, etc. and who they look more like.  I acutally like what my Aunt said, "He looks like who he should-Dallin." :) Which is so true, he is his own person with such a fun personality. He sure is cute and so much fun.  We love him sooo much!!   

Click here to his 20 month photos that we took at Target today. I'm still waiting for the day that he doesn't get shy and timid for a photo shoot! I need to keep a journal of where I'm sitting and what games I have to play to get a good smile each time!  Today he sat on my legs the whole time and I got the best smile picture by singing "The Noble Duke of York." I'm always amazed that we get at least one great shot!

Hanks Family Reunion-Labor Day 2013

We always have an annual summer Hanks Family Reunion.  Usually we hold it in July, but everyone waited for us to be back from Texas and we held it over Labor Day Weekend this year (4 days total).  It is with my immediate family-parents, siblings, and their spouses and kids (7 grandkids total).  We rotate who is over it each year, and this year was Craig's turn.  He did an awesome job planning some really fun things! Here's a snapshot of what we did:

1.  Played "No Bears Are Out Tonight" & watched the Great Horned Owl up in the tree

2. Played the Candy Jar Game (closest to the right quantity wins each jar of candy) & ate favorite family treats (Katie's scotcheroos, Janelle's gingersnaps, and Dad's Carmel Popcorn)

3. Hiked Balanced Rock & had lunch at Balanced Rock State Park

   
4.  Went Swimming at Nat-Soo-Pah Hot Springs

Dallin loved the waterslide!

5. Played Family Jeopardy and watched slideshows of each family's happenings since the past reunion

6. Had a Cousin Scavenger Hunt (planned by Millie, she's 12 and the oldest cousin)

7. Took Family Photos (everyone's highlight of the reunion!) haha. Just Kidding! But they did turn out well.

True Colors Showing!

7 windows in the shed for each of the 7 cousins! Perfect!

The two craziest of all of us! :)

8. Played games, danced, and watched Craig eat cold pizza (it's not an exaggeration to say he does that every family gathering!) :)

Grandpa laughed so hard he was crying.  Makes the rest of us laugh a lot too!

9. Enjoyed time outside in the yard (thanks Grandma and Grandpa for making it beautiful!)

  

Dallin loved Bocce Ball.  See video below...

10. Went Fishing

It was a fun four days!  Things can get chaotic at times with that many people, but it's still good times together.  So fun to have these memories!  Glad we can all be together! I love my family!