The Campaign Game

I spent an entire morning re-writing a song for this cutie to use in her quest to become GHS Junior class president.
(Good Luck Ally)

And...
It got me to thinking that there may be others out there on
the campaign trail.
To some it may bring joy.
To others, maybe not so much.
My personal feeling is that
camPAIGNing is a PAIN!


However, I HELPED Dillon with his a few months back.
I felt it was a perfectly orchestrated campaign.

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Strategy #1 ... Know the RULES!
Strategy #2 ... Know the RULES!
Strategy #3 ... Know the RULES!
I cannot stress strategies 1-3 enough!
The over-looking of these may have led to our demise.

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Strategy #4 ... Find a "catchy" phrase
Use it on your posters, wear it on your body
and try to use your name.

... or not.
Is it still fun when you hear "Hutch has Game!" every time you walk down the hall. It's only been 7 months since the campaign. Maybe it will die down by next year.

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Strategy #5 ... Have lots of Posters
and lots of blue tape.
But be sure to share if you have the opportunity.

A mother ran out tape and wanted some of mine. I didn't share because I was using someone else's (someone who'd shared with me) and I was afraid I, too, would run out. That was not good. It was the beginning of the end. The Lord was not happy with me and now, 7 months later I still feel terrible. So, share
Sharing makes you feel good.

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Strategy #6 ... Hand out something Funky
What is easier than a rubber band with a label on it?
It's a reminder and a funky fashion accessory. Plus, it costs practically nothing
(which was important in obeying the rule of not spending over $20).

How in the world would we know that a rubber band is considered a WEAPON in the Tooele County School District. Oh I hear you saying, "It's a WHAT?!" Yes, it is a WEAPON ... who would have ever, ever guessed! Needless to say, we have 300 funky rubber band weapons just in case we run for another office in a different school district.

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Strategy #7 ... A voting day Reminder
Are we not clever?
I spent an entire morning making these from sticky notes.
Not only that, but I made one for each and every locker!

When I showed them to Dillon he informed me that he could not hang anything on the lockers. I assured him that he was wrong, that the rule actually said he couldn't use TAPE on the lockers. I told him it would be fine. So we hung up 300 after school. We felt we were safe since both the Principle and Vice Principle commented what a great idea they were.

Well, maybe not such a great idea afterall ...

Enter into Dillon's life only 15 hours later:
7:45 (over the intercom) "Dillon Hutchins please come to the office."
7:47 "Dillon you've broken the rules. There was to be nothing put on the lockers. You will need to remove all of your notes NOW!" (Let me just interject here and say, "Hey... what about the tape rule? There was no tape used. Do you see any tape? NO! Check the rules! Check the rules!")
7:50-8:30 Dillon is respectful and removes the notes ... all 300!!
8:00 (text home to mother) "MOM! I told you we couldn't put things on the lockers. I'm in trouble!"
8:01 Mother is feeling like she sent her son off to the slaughter house and offers to come and help.
8:02 (text home to mother) "NO! Do not come!" Dill eventually returns to class.
8:45 (over the intercom) "Dillon Hutchins please come to the office." (Are you kidding me?!)
8:47 "Dillon some of your notes are still on the floor, you need to check all the halls and make sure each and every one is thrown away. You may use the janitors broom if you want. You know you broke the rules." HE KNOWS! HE KNOWS! Enough already!!

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Strategy #8 ... Do not let mother help with your campaign!
Strategy #9 ... Do not let mother help with your campaign!
Strategy #10 ... Do not let mother help with your campaign!

Thus the reason for my new motto...

"Just because you can,
doesn't mean you should."

Sorry Dilly-G-Willigar!

Big game, Big...

Heartbreak.
Cowboys 1 ... Logan 4

Don't be sad... we're not.
(We're not NOW. We were for a few minutes as seen above.)

There is still hope to finish top in the Region!
It's a 3 way tie
for 1st place in Region 11
between Grantsville, Morgan and Logan.
---------------
We will know more after Thursday.
We're excited! Until then,
thanks for loving our boys!


You can't feel blue when you wake up to this...
Dill left it for his brother this morning.
Just makes you smile!
(click to see bigger)

***I have to give proper credit to The Tooele Transcript Bulletin for the picture of Tyson sliding in the post below. But thanks for thinking I was that talented Natalie!

Is this Prayer appropriate? ... Don't answer that question.

I usually don't

PRAY over Baseball.
Somehow I've thought The Lord wouldn't find it appropriate.
However, I've changed my mind.

Last week we played Ben Lomond.
We won... but it was sad.
The score was 29-1

Don't be mad at us.
Our team was doing everything in it's power to stop the carnage. They were moving one base at a time and didn't advance on errors. Our fans were actually cheering when Ben Lomond made a play. We only played 5 of the 7 innings.

You may or may not have ever looked at a baseball scorebook but I have to post mine. For, I've NEVER had (or seen) a scorebook look like this (Have a ball player look at it. He'll be in shock and awe).

So after watching the boys from Ben Lomond hang in there and finish a humiliating game, I decided a little praying was in order.

I did it on my way to the game in Bear River (I like to pray in the car). I prayed that ALL the teams playing that day would play to the best of their ability.

Oh... HUGE MISTAKE!!
The poor girls on the softball field (Ranked #1 in the state) went 0-0 in extra innings! Both teams definitely had their best ability going.

And for the boys... it was the most pain-staking game I've ever sat through. EVERY player had an excellent day and only 1 error was made in the entire game. The Cowboys ended up pulling it out with a, way to tight, score of 3-0 and so did the girls.

However, I have to confess that I ended up praying all through the game. All the while, realizing that The Lord really does hear and ANSWER prayers... and why in the heck did I said that prayer in the first place.

Now we are headed to Logan.
We are playing for the
REGION
CHAMPIONSHIP.

Am I nervous?

Let me tell you how nervous I am... On Sunday, I asked all the Relief Society sisters to pray for our team (Oh, I know you are laughing! STOP IT!). Notice I said, "OUR" Team. That was probably wrong of me, wasn't it? But they didn't know the whole story! It was probably still wrong.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I don't think the 4 players in our ward are as nervous as I am. Jeff told me that no one spoke up and asked for any extra prayers in priesthood. Well, obviously they don't realize that The Lord watches baseball!

So, if you feel it is appropriate...
Will you pray for our team today?
Don't pray that they will WIN (I do know better than that),
just that they can play their best.

I think it's an appropriate prayer.
After all, I'm sure the folks in Logan are praying too.
(I hope they know better than to pray to win).

Downside to Digital

My brother sent his computer in to be worked on. In the process, the whole hard drive was wiped clean. They lost EVERY PICTURE they'd EVER taken of these two beautiful babies.

What a NIGHTMARE!
So sorry Brady and Amanda.

(That same day they wrecked their car... bummer!)

The Men We Share

I adore my

Mother-in-law.
She loves me
and I know it.




I love her for many reasons but the greatest is because of the son
she raised...
Jeffrey Keel Hutchins
My Husband
He possess all the good qualities that I need in my life and he learned them from her. I know that he is able to love me completely because he was loved first by her.

She also raised him to be like
HER Dad
It was a man Jeff never met yet always knew. All his life he heard wonderful stories about "Daddy". So many times I've heard that Jeff is like him. I've heard that from her.

She also raised him to be like
MY Dad
The first man I loved and the first one who loved me. Jeff is the only one who has loved me the same. They are so much alike. He developed qualities like him from her.

So it seems appropriate that those two wonderful men, who were so much alike, and who we adore the same way...

MY Dad and HER Daddy,

share the same birthday
TODAY!

Thanks Bobbie

for the wonderful son you raised and
Happy Birthday

to the men we share.

It takes a Village...

You've heard the saying,
"It takes a Village to raise a child."

Well, I've decided...
"It takes a Village to attend

The Prom."


You need a

"DAY DATE"...
So "The Village" happily steps up to make breakfast.
Thanks Grandma!

You need a

TUXEDO...
and when it shows up in the wrong size,
"The Village" happily steps up to switch it out.
Thanks Uncle Brady!





You need

FLOWERS...
"The Village" happily steps up to make them as beautiful as can be.
Thanks **Sandy!

You need a

LIMOUSINE...
and when it cancels 4 days before the Prom
"The Village" happily steps up to find you another one.
Thanks Nicole!

You need a

Therapist...
after the limo cancelled. So "The Village" happily steps up and joins in your pain (because her limo cancelled too).
Thanks Aunt Jo!


You need

Pictures...
you're to far away to get anything close. So "The Village" happily steps in and let's you know you're covered.
Thanks Heather!

You need an

"After Prom Party"
So "The Village" happily steps up to make it happen.
Thanks Matthews Family!

You need a School to be proud of...
So "The Village" happily steps up and offers every student all he has.
Thanks Trav!

Thanks

"Village"

**This Prom wasn't "magical" for our Sweet Sandy. CLICK HERE to link to her story and leave her some good ole "VILLAGE" lovin'! She needs it!

Tyson's Jr. Prom

April 18, 2009 Tyson entered into
The Magical Right of Passage we call
The Jr. Prom.
The theme for the night was, tenderly, referred to as
"The Time of My Life"


Meet Marissa.

She has been such a sweet and true friend to Tyson. We were so glad they were able to share this special day together.

The day began at 8:30 a.m.
A few of the kids gathered at Grandpa Johns' for a delicious Breakfast of German pancakes, fruit, eggs, sausage, hash browns and gravy. It was a casual and laid back morning. The perfect start to a magical day.

"The Bling" came next.
When Tyson first announced he was getting a white tux (with pin stripes) all I could do was shake my head in wonderment. However, once he slipped into that thing my mouth dropped to the ground. I know I'm his mom...
but, honestly, isn't he
handsome?

Everyone met at the High School looking like they walked out of a Fairy Tale.

It was fun to see everyone's own unique style and what they had chosen to wear on this special night.

Marissa's dress was just as gorgeous as she was!



PICTURE TIME!! This was Mom's favorite part and Tyson was pretty darn patient. I didn't take that many. Do you think 150 is over-doing it? Ah come on, it's "The Time of His Life" ... remember?

These boys have been best friends since the beginning of time. It was so awesome that they were able to share their prom together. Not pictured is Ben... he came running into the school a little after this picture had been taken.

The whole group consisted of:
Taylor Matthews and Kelsi Wells
Scott Chamberlain and Mckell Mouritsen
Ben Tripp and Kendra Sandberg
Tyson Hutchins and Marissa Robbins
Kort Fonger and Shayna Watson
Austin Butler and Marissa Souders.

Then the highlight of the night showed up ... The LIMO! It is longest limo in the state of Utah!

It was equipped with sparkling cider and they toasted to the night as they pulled out to enjoy dinner at The Roof Restaurant in Salt Lake.
We had arranged for them to sit in the private dining room there and that made it extra special.

It was also fun that the restaurant was packed with lots of their classmates and fellow prom goer's. We made a VIDEO for them to watch in the limo on their way to dinner.
You can see it in the post below.

The highlight of MY night was a simple text from Tyson. He sent it after he had gotten in the limo and they'd watched the video.
It simply read,
"Thanks Mom :-)"
Did I cry at this point? Ummmm, yes. Am I crying again just thinking about it. Ummmmm, yes.


The kids adored Limo Driver, Kent. He took them up to the Capital, down through the Gateway and made their night so memorable. He didn't even growl when Ty broke 2 glasses (???). Hummer got to hop in for a quick shot when they returned.


Finally it was time for, the much anticipated, Promenade. The gym was packed as each Junior was announced individually. Then it began...
"This is The Time of My Life."
As we looked at our children, smiles covered almost every face for we realized, at that moment, it really was the time of their life.

Tyson's promenade partner was not his date. It was actually Austin's date, Marissa Souders. This was an arrangement that was made back in the 8th grade (I won't even attempt to explain it). But, since they'd been friends for so many years... they had an absolute ball spending a few minutes together.

Memories of The Jr. Prom are
Once in a Lifetime.
Something about the events of that day can never be relived. As I reflected, I realized what makes it so special ... the people who were there to share it with you. THANKS to all of you who love Tyson and were there to share
"This Time of His Life".

The Prom wrapped up about 11:00 p.m. and then a few of the kids headed over to Taylor's Grandma's to hang out.

I'm sure they reminisced about
The DREAM
they'd just lived and how it had been...
"The Time of Their Lives"

Made more perfect by being with their very best...