Grad Day

"Congratulations! Today is your day.  

You're off to great places! You're off and away! 

You have brains in your head. 
You have feet in your shoes.  

You can steer yourself any direction you choose. 

You're on your own. And you know what you know.  

And YOU are the person who'll decide where you go!"

~Dr. Seuss

We had a great day today celebrating Braden's high school graduation.  He was among approximately 600 Lehi graduates of the class of 2013.  
 

After commencement exercises at the Marriott Center we went out to dinner, then home for cake and presents.  

He was pretty excited about this cool graduation gift from Rachel and George...

What an awesome, memorable day!  And what a week it has been for him.  Just one week ago was the state championship game.  It has been a whirlwind since then.  Couldn't be prouder of my boy.

Graduation Announcement

Hometown Celebration

The bus ride home from Rio Tinto stadium after the big championship win was awesome!  When they exited the freeway into Lehi City there was a line of police cars waiting to escort them through the streets with lights blazing and sirens blaring.  So exciting! 

Waiting at Lehi High School were hundreds of fans who showed up to welcome their champions home!

 Here comes our hero!

Proud Coach Jerry Preisendorf with the championship trophy.

Proud family!

His best kiss ever!

SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Several months ago Braden wrote a list of goals for his senior year of high school, and posted the list on his bedroom door.  One of them read..."Lehi will win state in soccer."  This week that goal was achieved!! Here are some of my favorite pictures following the championship game, although pictures alone could never capture the excitement and pure joy of that moment.  

What a way for Braden to wrap up his senior year!!  It was such an incredible experience.  But it came very close to never happening.  The semi-final game against #1 ranked Brighton was definitely the game of the tournament.  It was intense, it ended in a shootout after a double overtime.  And Braden played the entire game, including the shootout which he NAILED!  Early on in the first half he made an incredible save where he slammed into the goal post and tore open his shin nearly from ankle to knee. (See it here.) He played the rest of the game with a bruised, bloody leg. That night, and especially the next day it was really sore.  Also, he had slid on the turf several times and had a HUGE turf burn on his right hip/butt cheek.  Oh, it was nasty.  For two days it would not stop oozing fluids through gauze, tape and clothing.  I almost passed out the next morning when a large, thick padding of gauze was totally glued to the wound and I had to peel it off.   He screamed and paced as I tried to clean it with hydrogen peroxide and smear it with ointment.  I seriously wondered if he would be able to play in the championship game due to that injury alone.  But that night Kent and George gave him a priesthood blessing, and with lots of ice, ointment, pain killers and prayer he was able to take the field for the entire game the next day.  He and his team played great, and beat Bingham 2-0 for the trophy.

This is what I later posted on facebook: 

STATE CHAMPIONS!!! All those years of soccer practices, games, tournaments, injuries, emergency rooms, uniforms, cleats, club fees, road trips, and team camps...worth every moment to witness and take part in the celebration at Rio Tinto stadium tonight. Truly one of the highlights of my life.

Stefanie's 14th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby girl!  May is a great month for a birthday, it is such a hopeful time of the year, filled with excitement and anticipation for the summer ahead.  It is also a very busy time with all the end-of-the-school-year programs and activities.  We all had lots of things going on, so we opened her presents first thing in the morning.  Later that night when everyone had returned home we finally had cake and ice cream.  We waited until the next day for birthday dinner.  I don't think she minded spreading it out over a couple of days!  Here are a few important things about Stefanie at age 14:   

Highlight of the year:  Cheerleading. 
Most excited for:  Going on a cruise next month.
Most prized posession:  Cell phone.
Favorite pastime:  Hanging out with my friends.
Best friend:  Makayla from cheer.
Favorite Restaurant:  YouSwirl
Favorite Candy Bar:  I don't like chocolate
Favorite Food:  String cheese and gummy worms
Favorite class in school:  P.E. because I hate sitting at a desk!
Looking forward to:  Being a manager for Dad's basketball team.
Not looking forward to:  Being an only child.
Favorite color:  Light blue.
Favorite movie:  Bandslam.
Favorite candy:  Skittles.
Favorite T.V. show:  The Bachelor and Dance Moms
What I am good at:  Cheer!
How I am like Dad:  I'm loud!
How I am like Mom:  Exact same height!  (5'0)
How I am like Rachel: Long brown hair. 
How I am like Braden:  I'm funny.  (Braden's comment, "You wish you were as funny as me.")

We love our little Stefie and hope she will have an amazing year ahead!

Senior Night and Region Champs

Last Wednesday was Senior Night...Braden's last regular season home soccer game.  Before the game all the senior athletes and their parents were invited onto the field to be recognized.  Each boy had a brief summary read about him.  This is what was said about Braden:  

"Braden has been playing soccer most of his life and loves it.   He started playing on a Lehi city league team when he was four-years-old and has been kicking a soccer ball ever since.  He played for the Arsenal soccer club for the past ten years. He has been a member of the Lehi soccer team since he was a freshman and was All-State Honorable Mention his junior year.   Braden also ran Cross Country where he was a varsity runner all four seasons.  He qualified twice for the state meet and was named MVP his junior year.  Another of Braden's passions is ping-pong, he is vice-president of the LHS Ping-Pong Club. He has a table set up in his bedroom and is always ready for a match. Braden has earned his Eagle Scout award, and in July will begin serving an LDS mission to Honduras."

After the game, Lehi was named Region Champions for the season and awarded a trophy.  It was fun to see their joy and excitement for their achievement. Great job, LHS Soccer Team!  The state tournament begins this week.

My Cute, Crazy Kids