Sunday, August 30, 2026

Almost Four Years

It's been almost 4 years since I last updated this blog. Why am I so good at procrastinating? I'm getting old now and it's hard to keep up with things. I look back and wonder how I used to write every day while all the kids were still at home. Now I'm the subject of endless mockery from my children because I'm so far behind. For the record, I've been writing my blog posts in my phone notes for the last couple years. I just haven't put them on the blog. My kids tell me that if I'm writing my blog posts in my phone, I might as well just be writing them on the blog. I tell them that's too much effort. One day I'll put everything back on this blog again, but for now, we'll call one post good enough.

You may be asking what topic could possibly be so important to make me come out of temporary blog hibernation. Well, the answer is that I've come to the conclusion that BYU football is massively overrated. Puka Nacua is probably the best example: at BYU, he played 21 games over two seasons and finished with 91 receptions for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those numbers sound impressive until you remember that he averaged only 68.1 receiving yards per game, and in his final season he had 625 yards in nine games. Yes, he has obviously become a much better NFL player, but I'm evaluating what he actually accomplished at BYU, not what he did afterward. And then there's Jack Kelly, who had 10 sacks in 2025 and 13.5 tackles for loss, which sounds impressive until you put it next to his overall production: 55 tackles for the entire season. His 10 sacks also accounted for a very large portion of his statistical impact as a pass rusher, meaning that if you take away the sacks, suddenly the case for him being some overwhelmingly dominant defender becomes considerably less convincing. He was also a transfer from Weber State, where he had already accumulated 16.5 sacks in 28 games, so I'm not sure why BYU fans act as though his production appeared out of nowhere in Provo. The larger point is that BYU has become very good at turning a handful of impressive individual statistics into the perception that its players and teams are consistently better than they actually are. Also, they love to just have all their best players get injured 5 seconds into the season so they can lose every game afterwards. Their favorite way to lose is to end up ahead by multiple touchdowns at halftime, and then forget how to play football in the second half so they make exactly enough choke moves in a row to lose at the last second.

Now that I think about it, the Jazz are overrated too. I had the realization recently that there's no point in holding Jazz players on a pedestal above anyone else because it's the NBA and everyone just gets drafted to random teams anyway, so really they're just rando-shmandos who don't actually care about representing Utah. Plus there's no point to their sport in the first place because they like to just lose on purpose so they can get better draft picks.

So there you have it. Even though I'll still be watching all the sports and cheering for these teams in the group chats and everything just to keep up the charade, it'll be nice to know that my true opinions exist here and that they've been recorded for posterity. I still plan to eventually go back and catch up on this blog once and for all, but until then, I might procrastinate some more by writing more posts and providing more insightful commentary for you all. Stay tuned!

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Bridger Lake

Mike and Preston came home from Bridger Lake today. They had a great time. Here are a lot of pictures from their weekend in random order.

Top of Stockton's head, Alyssa, Mike, Preston
Preston
Mike
Alyssa
Preston and Alyssa
Mike
Preston, Alyssa, Stockton
Preston
Preston ~ Happy Little Dinosaur
Preston & Alyssa
Bridger Lake

Saturday, September 24, 2022

BYU vs Wyoming

Stockton called me this morning and asked if I wanted two tickets to the BYU football game today. Yes I did! I got my dad to go with me and it was so much fun. Alyssa's dad has legacy seats and they were amazing! Jorja texted me during the game and she sounds so much better. Crazy to be so close to her and unable to see her. I told her I was waving to her from the football stadium. BYU played Wyoming and it was a closer game than I would have liked, but they still won. Puka Nacua played and he was awesome! He made a great catch right in front of us! He has been injured since the first game this season, so I was excited when we saw him come out. The weather was perfect for today too. Glad Stockton thought of me and glad Alyssa's dad was happy to give us the tickets! It was a great night!
Dad and Stephanie
Stephanie and Dad
My BeReal today
Cosmo parachuted into the staduim

LaVell Edwards Stadium
Stockton and Alyssa went to Bridger Lake today to meet up with Mike and Preston. They stopped at Paffs and got carne asada fries, Stockton's favorite.
Alyssa at Paff's

Friday, September 23, 2022

Headed to Bridger Lake

Mike ordered a car cover for Jorja's bug. Becky asked if Mike and I would want to go to a play with them at Hale Center Theater next week. That will be fun! Mike took Preston to Bridger Lake today. I won't be able to contact them until Sunday. Hope they have fun!
Headed to Bridger Lake
Stockton set up a TV stand

Jorja called me today while I was at work. She was crying. She had set up an appointment with the mission therapist before she even left home. She said she knew she was going to need it. She is really struggling. One of the girls in her MTC group is kind of mean to her. That has been hard. It is just a lot and Jorja has such a hard time being out of contact with me. The therapist gave her permission to call/text me whenever she needed to while she is at the MTC. I'm so thankful they did that. Jorja said she is going to try not to call, but she will text me tomorrow. Jorja always has such a hard time when she starts a new, scary thing. Then she always kills it! She is so brave. I miss her.

 

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Wedding Pictures for the Gram

Mike and I called the MTC and got permission to drop off Jorja's passport. The passport is considered an essential item, so we were allowed. We also dropped off a blanket, because Jorja was very cold. One the way home we stopped at a store that only sold cream puffs. They were very good.

I finally posted on Instagram about Stockton and Alyssa's wedding. These are the pictures I chose.
Stockton and Alyssa are married!
Jorja, Preston, Mike, Alyssa, Stockton, Stephanie, Maysen
Stockton, Alyssa, Mina
Greg, Kaylee, Amy, Eve, Anne, Grace, Jeff
Stockton's BeReal for today, sorry about cutting the bottom of Alyssa's face.
Nathan, Taylor
Jorja, Preston, Michael, Jacob, Brandon, Maysen
John, Renee, Stephanie, Debie
Jorja, Stephanie, Maysen
Mike, Stockton
Preston, Jorja, Stockton, Maysen
Stockton and his buddies

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Goodbye Jorja

Today was the day Jorja left home. I have loved having her at home MTC. I think that is the best idea ever! We get to have her just a little bit longer. She already has met her companions and district online, so it isn't so scary entering the MTC. It still makes for a hard goodbye though. We went to Zupas before we left. There were other missionary families there too. We did the traditional stop at the Provo temple to say good-bye. Here are lots of pictures.

Jorja & Maysen
Jorja & Preston

Jorja and Mike
Jorja & Stephanie
Preston, Jorja, Mike, Maysen, Stephanie
Mike giving Jorja some last minute help
Jorja & Maysen
Jorja & Preston
Jorja
Jorja singing as we drove from the Provo Temple to the MTC parking lot.
Preston pusing Jorja out the door. Haha. Just kidding, he is really going to miss her.
Love that Porge!
Goodbye Jorja! We love you! We will miss you!
She's off! Ready for an incredible adventure.
Preston edited this picture on the way home. I love it.
The skies opened and we had a downpour at our house. Georgia style.
Even the sky was sad Jorja is gone.
Mike and I will have to go back to the MTC tomorrow because JORJA FORGOT HER PASSPORT! What in the world? I guess she was so busy packing year supplies of deodorant and hair products that she forgot a small essential item... like a passport!
Preston, Bear and Maysen hanging out in Preston's room.

Jorja tried to call Stockton when we were saying goodbye at the Provo Temple. He was in his Quest class and wasn't able to answer. Stockton also competed in a Mario Kart tournament at school and ended up in the Top 8. That is all that happened today. It was a lot.