Supercross 2009

~

I know this post won't really mean too much to some of you out there...but this is what we did this past Saturday. We bought Supercross tickets months ago and have been gitty with anticipation ever since. OK...maybe not gitty, but excited.

After stopping by Burger King to wish Makenna a happy birthday we were off to Seattle. We got there in pretty good time and didn't hear toooo much whining from Payton and Savannah in the back seat.

Ryan Dungey

We got there in time to watch the riders practice. Since it was practice, we could sit wherever we wanted, so we were pretty close.


Chad Reed and Davi Millsaps

#1 Chad Reed, #7 James Stewart

#14 Kevin Windham

#2 Ryan Villapoto

After watching practice, we ventured into the pitts to check things out. There were so many people there. I really was only interested in seeing one person...Chad Reed. After waiting for what seemed like forever, he finally showed up for his autograph signing. We didn't get there soon enough to get anything signed, but I got as close to him as I could.

Doug and Savannah got a little tired of my massive picture taking, so they went to the back of the crowd.

Mike Alessi and Chad Reed

I took a lot of pictures of this lovely Australian. This was definitely the best one.

Andrew Short

Davi Millsaps

Ivan Tedesco

James 'Bubba' Stewart

This was a replica of James Stewart's bike.

And this was a replica of Chad Reed's bike, so of course I had to stand by it.

as well as Doug...

and the kids.

After we were done at the pitts, ate some cotton candy, and bought some ridiculously expensive shirts for the kids, we started walking to find something to eat. The McBride's were there as well, so we all went to Quizno's. We stuffed ourselves silly and then went back to find our seats.

We had pretty good seats. We could see the entire track.

Savannah was asleep before anything started. But she was awaken to the booming of the fireworks from the opening ceremonies. They were pretty impressive. The one thing that was super cool was that we got to witness 16 people be sworn in to the United States Air Force. I actually would have taken more pictures, but my battery was dying, so I was trying to save the juice.

They introduced all the big riders and each came out and did their own little thing on the track and some even went into the crowd.

There is Supercross Lites and then Supercross. The lites have their two heat races first and then the big guys have theirs. Whoever finishes in the top 9 of those heats moves on to the 2 separate main events...one for Lites and one for Supercross. They also have a last chance qualifying heat. The top 2 get their place in the main events also.

Sadly, Chad went down on the first corner. He was pretty much dead last and wasn't able to work his way back like he normally does. He finished 7th. Ryan Villapoto took 1st, James Stewart took 2nd and 3rd went to Davi Millsaps.

Even though we were disappointed in the results, we had a really great time. The weather was perfect. The kids had their moments of....well, WE had our moments of frustration with the kids, but looking back I think they did pretty good. Don't know if we will be taking them next time though.

"Daddy, look what the tape did...all by itself!!"

"Let's Go to the Movies..."

One of Savannah's birthday presents was movie passes. She has been wanting to go see the new Hannah Montana movie since seeing the million trailers for it on TV. Well, last night her and I went on a little mommy-daughter date. (I know, on a school night!!)

After getting our tickets and yummies to enjoy, we headed into the theater. I had noticed a group of about 6 girls earlier and figured they would be seeing the same movie as we were. Throughout the movie I could hear them whisper and giggle about this and that but mostly about how cute Hannah's love interest in the movie was. It reminded me so much of what it was like to be a teenager. Not that it was that long ago...but long enough.


I will admit that I really enjoyed the movie. It was really cute and the music was great. At one point Savannah asked me, "Mom, can the people on the screen see us?" I smiled and told her no. "But he was just looking right at me." It was cute. She then told me a little later that she wished she was Hannah Montana. I told Doug about that this morning. We talked about what it was like to want to be someone else when we were younger. Sometimes I miss the innocence of that time in my life. It is so strange and somewhat surreal to witness my kids doing the same things I did. I know there is so much more of it to come.

Happy Easter!

April 12, 2009

*A Gifford Family Easter Sunday Photo Shoot*

Warning...

Rated PG for content

(some photos include snotty, screaming, scary faces)

This Easter was very laid back. A bit lazy I guess you could say. Because of the fact that Jillian decided to show the other kids what I (I mean the Easter bunny) was bringing them already, I wasn't too sure about what to do about it. Should I take everything back and get all new stuff? Or should I just risk them finding out the truth? I risked it. After a long couple of days, I realized Saturday night that I wasn't even sure the kids had baskets this year. I felt like a great mother. So, in my creativity (and borrowing the idea from my sister-in-law) I decided to not do baskets. I sent them on a hunt instead. I stayed up late and stuffed all the eggs and hid them and the other things. When the kids woke up....there was some confusion as to where the Easter treasures were. But, the Easter Bunny had left them a little poem to guide them as to what to do.

~

HAPPY EASTER

To all the Gifford Children

On this lovely Easter day

Some gifts from the Easter Bunny

That hopped along your way.

~

I know that you expected baskets

To be found here on the table

But I thought I'd do different

A hunt...if you are able.

~

If you look real closely

In some rooms around your home

You will find some treasures

That I hid while I did rome.

~

There are 4 different colors of eggs

That were put in different spaces

You can only get your color

Leave the others in their places.

~

Isabelle has the yellow

Jilli, purple is for you

Savannah has the pink ones

And Payton, yours are blue.

~

I will tell you now

You'll find more than just the eggs

So be sure to share what you find

No matter what your age.

~

So, Happy Easter kiddos

Enjoy and have some fun

Now hop hop hop along

Your Easter has begun.

~

With Love,

The Easter Bunny

~

So, after the poem was read, I was getting excited for the kids to start. I got out of bed all ready to help and then the questions from Savannah. "Mom, what about all the stuff that was in your closet? Do we get those things too?" I didn't know what to say. Do I just admit what they will eventually find out anyway, or do I play like I don't know what she is talking about? I played it off. "What stuff are you talking about?" She came over to my closet and started digging around. She said, "All of it is gone." "I am not sure what you are looking for, but lets go do some hunting," was my response. Not another word or question was said about it. I think in the excitement of it all, they just didn't care.

It ended up being a very wet day. The girls hid under the umbrella on the way to the car after church.