We woke up to a beautiful dusting of snow. Just like the heavy sprinkle of powdered sugar dressing a scrumptious dessert. They say this is the pre-cursor to a big storm that is supposed to hit tonight sometime during the game. I packed our game day bag with ponchos, scarfs, mittens, beanies. Chapstick is always a must. The dry air plays havoc with us who live in the California moisture. Some black trash bags to cover our seats during 1/2 time and a towel to wipe things down in the event it gets wet. It is not fun to sit in a rainy seat!

We wanted to leave a little earlier than we did, but needed to wait for Christine's friend, Lindsey, to finish up her basketball game at the school. We left at 1pm and our first stop was Costco. I love Costco. I guess the better question is who doesn't love Costco? Probably husbands! I had a list of Christmas items that they don't carry at our Costco. There are so many church things that are quite a bit less expensive than at Deseret Book, so I've learned to go there first and see what they have before I go over to DB. Bingo, I got most of what was on my list.! I must say though: don't ever go to that Costco on a Saturday afternoon. I have NEVER seen anything like that in my whole Costco shopping experience! It was sooooo crowded, you couldn't get anywhere--literally--and if you had a cart, forget it. During my 30 minutes (see I told you it was a quick visit, I was had a time limit, haha) there was one little boy lost and hysterical and some parents hysterical because they couldn't find their child. I had just checked out and was starting for the door when I overheard the store employees talking about doing an Adam alert thing, and all I could think was get out the door, Cindy before that happens!
Then, over to Deseret Book. I'm sure glad they are close now. My favorite has always been the one in Orem on University Parkway by the Distribution Center, but since they moved the one from the mall to it's own building by the movie theater right next to Costco, it makes it convenient. Not that the other one isn't, but this one is more. Wow. Has it changed since I was there in the early summer! They have an art section that is awesome, and a whole home section with a candy counter and dishes and all kinds of fun things. Mixes and rolls, and decorations. This just might become the favorite one now. I grabbed the last few things on my list. But I was annoyed. Duff and the girls had to come in and Christine let me know it was so they could prod me along so I couldn't 'look'. Even though we were still 90 minutes from Game Time, I was told I was making them late. Geez. I hadn't expected all the new sections/areas and I was trying to get my bearings. Next time I will go alone.

We pulled into our parking section and it was so exciting. The cold fall air, the wind blowing all the flags. I looked up at the US Flag so stiff in the wind with the Y flags on either side with the lights shining and I got a lump in my throat. In the beginning of my Patriarchal Blessing it talks about my grandparents sacrificing so that I could be born here in America and have all that it has to offer, especially the gospel in it's fullness. That paragraph is always the first thing that comes to my mind when I see our country's flag. That somewhere a long time ago, decisions were made for my benefit decades later. I feel deep gratitude that they followed those promptings and it reminds me that I have a lot to live up to.
As I was walking back to the table to eat my pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner (which was oh so good), I walked right to Ashley Boice and her sister, Cali. I was walking in one direction and they in another and truly we walked right to each other. They took me straight away to find Cortney and we shared hugs all around. It was so fun to see them! Duff snapped a picture of us when they walked down to where we were sitting. Of course, my eyes are shut and I was all wind-blown from all the running around prior to the game, but hey, we got the shot and shared more hugs and conversation. Love those guys!

These next pictures are from the DNews. But I loved them. The picture above is looking east. Our seats are in the Y section. Right up the 40 yard line on the left, 28 rows up, first 4 seats in. Cort and Ashley have the very same seats about 10 rows down from us. (See the flag in between the stands? We park just behind that, so they always greet us as we walk in. That's what I was talking about...)
Coach Bronco waiting to lead the team in before the game.
Action photo. Time to take the field. And we had a good win against New Mexico, 40-7.
After the game we went and picked up the Black Pearl (Shaun's truck. We name our cars. Don't laugh...) Duff took the Sequoia and went up, the girls and I listened to the post game show on KSL, FM, thank you. I can't get my hubby to swith over to FM. He insists on listening to KSL on AM which is the most obnoxious sound in the world to me. It sounds like it's far away or you are listening to it through a glass window or something. Old habits die hard, I guess. We made a quick stop at the Quilted Bear to get our 2011 Calendar by Lang, The Proud Rooster. I love those calendars. The drawings are so unique and perfect for a country kitchen.
Duff called and wanted to see how far behind him we were and to let us know that by the time we got to the dam we would hit the stormy weather. He was right. We could feel the strength of the wind and the wet heavy snow was falling. He let us know he was going into Heber to Day's market to get some Pillsbury Cherry Turnovers. We can't get them in California and he loves them. When we were early married in college with two baby boys and sooooo very poor they were our splurge once a month. We relive those great memories when we eat them.
We only had 2 squirmy places coming up the switchbacks even in 4WD. Chris and I started shoveling the upper driveway while we waited for Duff to get here. It was blowing and dumping like crazy! We came in and changed into our pajamas and ended the day with those hot-out-of-the-oven cherry turnovers.