Champions

Note: This is part two of a two part series giving you insight as to the differences between my story and Alexa's story about our flag football tournament. See part one if you haven't already. So last night was it, my final flag football game as an ISU student. Although it was disappointing that it had to end, I made my mark in ISU intramural history (if that's possible) by winning the championship. It was a long road with our first two preliminary games taking place the first part of September.

Our first tournament game was on October 8th and we have played at least one game each week since then to get to the championship. Our first two games were fairly easy wins for us with our third game being a little tougher. Our semi-final game was by far our worst competition. We dominated the other team 44-12 by putting pressure on their quarterback, which they had never seen before and continually beating them with the deep ball. The best part about getting to the championship happened the night before we even knew who we were to play. Two of my roommates were on the same team in our bracket on other side. On Tuesday night this week they won their game 36-16 putting them into the championship as well. This caused some heated trash talking in the apartment, with each of us knowing WE were going to win the game.

Now comes game time. We started out with the ball to begin the half and made a couple of nice catches to move down the field, but our drive stalled about at midfield and we were forced to punt. Both teams went back and forth throughout the first half with neither team able to find the endzone. The second half started out much the same way without a score until about 5 minutes into the second half they threw a comeback to their receiver and our safety tried to jump the route for an interception and missed. This gave the receiver an easy opening into the end zone. The two point conversion was under-thrown at the goal line so it remained 6-0. With our next drive ending on a sack just past mid-field it left our defense in a difficult situation. A couple plays into their drive their QB scrambled down field and stopped dead. He had pulled a muscle in his leg and had to come out of the game. So Dane (one of my roommates) took over for them at QB and made a throw across the field to score their second TD. They converted on the extra point by a jump throw and they added to their lead 14-0. On our next drive we were slowly moving it up the field when I found an open receiver deep in the end zone for us to finally get on the board. We converted our 2 point conversion by running an option pass to the corner of the end zone and put ourselves within reach. The next series was back and forth with the other team not being able to get the first down. They were then forced to punt and ended up shanking it off the side of his foot to give us great field position. A couple plays into it under pressure I hit one of our tall receivers right in the end zone to tie the game. This was with less than a minute left. On the two point conversion in order to take the lead I hit the same receiver with a lob pass that he timed perfectly to come down with it in the endzone. We took the lead 16-14. The final attempt to drive against us failed on the first play with the pass intercepted. We then ran out the clock to finish out the last 30 seconds.

After losing in the championship last year it was great to finally win one. I can now wear my t-shirt around campus with pride, knowing the effort it took between all the guys on our team. I was worried after they scored their second TD that it was too much to come back from but we had a great comeback win that we will always remember.

Boys will be Boys

Note: Part one of a two part series giving you insight as to the differences between my story and Payton's about the flag football tournament.

Last night I got to experience my first flag football intramural game here at Iowa State. Of course it was the championship game of the B league (just joking guys, you are A quality) so I felt kind of obligated to go. Plus I was curious to what all of the hype was about. All of the previous games I just went about my daily business and kind of shrugged of the weirdness that Payton expressed before each game. I swear that he was at each game a half an hour before it started so he could "stretch". Yes that's right "stretch before a 30 minute flag football game. That means he warmed up just as long as the entire game took. That is one serious flag football player, although I'm sure some of his other teammates were there with him if not before.

Anyways, the championship game happened to be against the team that his two roommates were on. So you can image what all of the conversations have been about this week leading up to the game. Yes thats right, every conversation had to deal with football. What happened to us being at school to study? I guess this was more important than the assignments that were also due yesterday. Or maybe they are all in easy majors where they get to do these fun things everyday, I don't know. I wouldn't know what that is like.

Anyways, I had the privalege of video taping the football game. Who video tapes a flag football game anyways? Well apparently my soon to be husband and his roommates do. I have been told it is so they can go back and review the plays. Although that may be a little bit of a problem with my video taping skills. Sometimes I had a hard time focusing on the game when there were so many other things happening around me. That and I was using a huge video camera that was very uncomfortable to hold. Well lets just say I am no professional when it comes to taping, although I'm sure they will be very amused by the commentary that another girl and myself had during the game (Sorry Dane).

All I have to say about the actual game is that it was intense. Very intense. Sometimes I just don't understand because it is only a game. And even though it was suppose to be "flag football" there was definitely a little more contact than just pulling each others flags. Every play someone was laying on the ground. But I guess boys will be boys.

So it turns out that Payton's team won, luckily. Otherwise I would have had to deal with one grumpy guss, and that is no fun trust me! I couldn't tell you what the score was, other than it was close. I do know that Payton's team won in the last few minutes of the game, which made his day. You could tell by the scream he let out when they scored the last two-point conversion (see I do know some football ligo). I think this could possible be the happiest day of his life here at Iowa State. Now he has his Intramural championship shirt which he has been working for for the past three years (by the way, I already have two, sorry payton). Anyways, congradulations to you Payton and the rest of the team "The Flaming Tongues (this is their team name, weird).

Being a Mentor

Last year in the fall I was introduced to Youth and Shelter Services of Ames and their mentoring program called GRIP which stands for Great Relationships in Pairs. After going through the application and interview process I was given a 4th grader named Devaughn. For the past two semesters I have been going to the elementary school once a week for about 45 minutes to go to recess and eat lunch with him. It has been a great experience and I wouldn't give up that time each week for anything else.

So in the mentoring spirit, I thought I would share a few of the candid things Devaughn has said over the times we've spent together.

P: What is your favorite food?
D: Fried chicken and shrimp fried rice.

P: What do you want to be in the future?
D: A professional basketball player.

P: What are your hobbies?
D: What are hobbies?
P: Things you like to do in your free time.
D: Crack my knuckles.
P: That's it?
D: Well, I like to look cross-eyed too.

There are no shortages of fun times when we get together each week. Last year we spent most of our time during recess playing basketball, but this year he wants nothing to do with a basketball because it's football season. So we have been playing football each week. We go outside and play for about 10 minutes before anyone else gets to come out and then when recess starts we play a big game of 2 hand touch between the 4th graders and 5th graders. It gets a little rough sometimes, but I haven't seen anyone hurt yet. Below are a few pictures I took during my last visit.
Above is a picture of the overall game. Devaughn is standing on the left side with the white pants and white hat on. Below is a picture of Devaughn being overthrown going into the end zone (the cement). He was disappointed that he couldn't have caught the ball so I could get a good picture of him.
Mentoring for me has been a great break from the ups and downs that college life has brought and I look forward to spending my last year here with Devaughn playing football and i'm sure basketball in the near future each week, while I help to be a role model that he can look up to for answers and advice.

8 years!

Eight years ago today, I was twelve and sitting in a tree house next to the boy that turned out to be the man I am about to marry. Unbelievable, I know! I can barley remember my own life without Payton in it.

Together we went through braces (weird I know), surgeries, high school achievements, a year apart (well kind of with Payton at Kirkwood) and our latest journey at Iowa State. We've been through a lot and we've learned a lot together. I wouldn't trade any of the experiences, well except for the summer I spent at what seemed like 8000 baseball games (sorry Payton).

So I decided to take you through a photo series of our journey together, but I guess we started dating when film was still in! HAHA, wow that dates us. But here are a few....

Homecoming Dance 2002

Camping 2004

Homecoming 2004

Prom 2005


Payton's High School Graduation 2005

My High School Graduation 2006

Christmas 2006

Iowa State Beats Iowa 2007

As I have grown over the years, I realize how much our family has shaped us into the people we are today and I can't thank you enough for your continual love, support, guidance (even when we didn't think we needed any) and prayers as we continue our journey together. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with Payton, going where God leads us.

P.S. Our wedding date is almost finalized, hopefully by the end of the week!

In the beginning...

This is the beginning of our journey into the blogging world. Alexa and I are excited to bring you into our lives and show you the exciting and sometimes funny things we do. We have been on an amazing journey for the past 8 years and we can't wait to include you in our experiences.

To give you a little background...

We met in middle school, I was in 8th grade and Alexa was in 7th. We started our "middle school" relationship at a weekend birthday party and have never looked back. We've been through the ups and downs of life and are excited for what is in store for the future. We went through high school with every one asking "When are you getting married?" or "Payton, where is your wife?". Little did they know that their jokes were about to turn into a reality.

After spending my first year of college playing baseball at Kirkwood Community college, Alexa and I have spent the past 3 years at Iowa State University, me studying Mechanical Engineering and her studying Nutrition (check out her nutrition and fitness blog here). I am a senior and will be graduating in May, with Alexa graduating in the fall of 2009.

But the most exciting part about our journey happened this summer. I'd love to tell you the romantic (cough, cough) story about our engagement but I think I will leave that up to Alexa for a future post. Anyways as you can guess, on Mother's day this year we got engaged and are looking forward to spending our lives together. The wedding date is still up in the air, we started looking in June and then changed our minds to July 4th, but now are leaning towards sometime in May. Hopefully sometime soon we will be able to update you on our final decision.

There have been so many things that we have been through over the years and we hope to update you on the things we have done as we continue to keep you a part of our lives through this blog. Hope you enjoy being a part of our lives through this as much as we enjoy having you here.