Cuteness is not enough. There must be cake!: September 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013

As you know, September tied with March in my count down of favorites, but then it lost to March in the coin toss. It had to defer to the second half. Anyone get the football reference there? I had to throw that in because football season is what September is all about!!

The things I like about September:

Football!!!

It's still warm and quite often the first half of September is still broiling hot.

The leaves in the valley are still green, even if the higher mountain trees are starting to turn.

The kids are back in school.

The things I dislike about September:

The leaves are starting to change color.

By the end of September you need jackets.

No more lazy summer mornings of sleeping in.

The days are getting shorter.

Don't get me wrong, the leaves changing colors is pretty. But the issue I have is that it means that they soon will turn brown and fall off the trees, leaving the world brown and dreary. There's a bit of anxiety when September comes around. It's like summer didn't last long enough, and I find myself crying out, "No! I'm not ready!!" It means that another year has flown by again and the holidays are just around the corner. And I find myself wondering, "where did the year go?" There's a bit of sadness when September comes around. I'm sad to see the warm weather go. I'm sad to think that before we know it, snow will be flying and we'll have to spend a fortune on winter supplies for the kids. But with September comes the happiness of football season and the excitement that the holidays are around the corner. Out of all of the months, I have the most mixed emotions for the month of September.

In thinking about it, my mixed emotions for March and September are this: March's mixed emotions are an upward mix with the promise of sunshine, long days, and warm weather. Where as September's mixed emotions are a downward mix with the dread of snow, short days, and cold, but there is the caveat that the holidays's will help; at least for October, November, and December. And when it comes down to it, I would rather be up than down. Which is why, in the end, it's for the best that March won the coin toss.

My mom has season tickets to the BYU games. It's been a long standing tradition in my family to accompany my mom to the games. I, however, prefer the opening season games while the weather is warm. I don't enjoy the games as much if I'm freezing my buns off. It's an all day affair when we go to the games. We get there early enough to get food and listen to the pre-game briefing in the Cougar room. Then make the long hike up to the stands in time to see the team finish warming up and head to the locker room. I LOVE the crowds, I LOVE the noise, I LOVE the screaming, cheering, and clapping, I LOVE doing the wave, I LOVE the chanting the cheerleaders encourage, and I LOVE singing the Cougar fight song. I love it when the team runs onto the field and the whole stadium erupts into screams, yells, cheers, clapping, and so forth. I LOVE singing the National Anthem. Friends, I just don't get why pro-sports and other teams have celebrities come and sing the National Anthem. Half the time, they sing terribly or mess it up. I want to sing the anthem!! I want to join with the entire stadium in singing our beautiful Anthem!!! I don't want to sit and listen to someone else sing it; I want to join in, I want to sing it with fervor, gusto, and feeling. I want to join with my fellow American's in joyfully singing. But the best part is when we score and the whole stadium sings the fight song:

O Rise, all loyal Cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe.
You will fight, day or night, rain or snow.
Loyal, Strong, and True
Wear the White and Blue.
While we sing, get set to spring.
Come on Cougars, it's up to you!

CHORUS:
O Rise and Shout, the Cougars are out
Along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out,
As you unfold your vict'ry story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
For Alma Mater's sons and daughters.
As we join in song, in praise of you, our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue,
And cheer the Cougars of BYU.

CHANT:
"Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra
Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra
Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra
GO COUGARS!"

What I really like though, is that after the National Anthem is sung, a word of prayer is given. We pray for the safety of both teams, we pray for the safety of all of the fans, we pray for sportsmanship between players and fans, and we thank our Heavenly Father for our many many blessings. There is no better way to start off a game than by offering a word of prayer, thanks, and blessings.

The other thing I like about September is that I was born in this month and my birthstone is the Sapphire. I LOVE Sapphires. They say diamonds are a girls best friend, not for this girl. Sapphires are this girls best friend. My hubby gave me a Sapphire ring for my wedding ring and I love it. Several years ago, my good friend and her mom bought me a Sapphire ring for my birthday. They are the only pieces of jewelry I wear on a regular basis.

Ring from my friend

Wedding ring

September also has Labor Day. Labor Day is number #5 in my line up. Why is this do you ask? Well, partly it's because I'm not a morning person and it is the first day off the kids get from school since school began. I love any day I can sleep in. It's also one of the last holidays you can have where the weather is still decent enough to enjoy a back yard BBQ with the family.

Well then, what did September 2013 bring to our family?

We took a trip out to the Salt Flats

We went in the evening.

Awesome thunder storm rolling in.

Every now and then I can capture a really cool shot.

Space Man Spiff holding a chunk of salt flat.

I turned 40. So weird.

We almost share birthdays.

Space Man Spiff turned 13. I have a teenager!!

My sister-in-law took me to the State Fair for my birthday. Thanks Emily, it was a wonderful day!! We did get rained on, but it sure didn't rain on our parade!!