Since the first week of August, the boys have been practicing and playing football 4-5 days each week. The first 2 weeks of August, they practiced 5 days each week in 110 degree weather. Once season started, their practices were cut back to 3 days each week for two hours (minimum) each day, with games on Saturdays. They gave up playing video games, playing with friends, and having a smaller amount of time to get homework completed. Many nights they were not getting home from practice until 8:30 pm, then showering, eating dinner, and finishing homework. They got hit for 2 hours, yelled at by coaches, played in really hot temperatures, and by the end of season- really cold temperatures. They never complained. They usually came home happy (except for for maybe once or twice) and really sweaty and stinky. But yesterday made it all worth it.
As a mom, I drove to and from practices three days each week. Of course, they rarely practiced at the same time, so sometimes I drove to and from the high school 4 times each day. Luckily, Garrett was in a carpool for most of the season and that helped with some of my driving time. I washed practice uniforms, and game uniforms repeatedly throughout the week. I made pre-practice snacks and late dinners to accommodate schedules. I sat in blazing hot metal bleachers in August, and wrapped up in three blankets in the winter to cheer my boys on in the winter. It was a REALLY LONG SEASON! But yesterday made it all worth it.
Grant and Garrett were both playing in championship football games. They were invited to play on Dixie State College's football field, Hansen Stadium. What a great experience!
Grant's game was at 1:00 in the afternoon. They were playing Virgin Valley, from Mesquite, NV. During the regular season they had played this team down in Mesquite and had crushed them, holding them scoreless while Grant's team scored 4 touchdowns. However, yesterday was a little different story. Grant's team really struggled at first. They were having a hard time advancing the ball. They were even down by one point in the first half (8-7) I think this was the first time all season they had ever been losing. However, they eventually got ahead and the Bulldogs never scored again. Grant's team was ahead 21-8 in the 4th quarter. They had marched the ball down the field and were in scoring position, on the 6 yard line. The coach called for Grant to run the ball: Power I right, 45 blast... whatever that means. But, Grant knew what it was and he blasted through his hole and scored his first touchdown ever! He was so excited. His team won the championship game 27-8, and Grant scored the last TD of the season for the Warriors.
He was BEYOND THRILLED. His coach was teary when he talked to us after the game and told us that Grant had given him everything he had all season. Grant is small, but he works hard. If you ask Grant if all of the sacrifice was worth it... he will tell you it was. His team went undefeated all season and he will talk about his TD until next football season. (Thanks to Nana, Papa, and Grandma and Grandpa Brooks for being there to support him in his big moment. It meant so much to him.)
At 7:30 pm Garrett's championship football game began. Garrett's team had two losses during his regular season, one to Dixie and one to Desert Hills- both losses were by one point. His team entered the playoffs as the 3rd seed. Last week they played Dixie (the #2 seed) and won 34-0. For the championship they were playing Desert Hills, the undefeated #1 seed. We were more nervous for this game. The beginning of the game was nerve racking! Neither team could advance the ball. Both teams went 3 and out for the first three possessions. Finally, Desert Hills started to advance the ball. They got within 5 yards of the goal, but we held them. For the next several possessions we could not seem to get off their side of the field. It was not looking pretty. Then just before half, we caught a break and scored. We were up 7-0 at the half. Just after halftime Desert Hills scored. They attempted to go for a 2 point conversion, but missed. We still led 7-6. Just a couple of plays later we scored another TD, but missed our extra point. The score was 13-6. Still a tight game. The ball just went back and forth until there were about 4 minutes left in the game. Then Desert Hills started to march the ball down the field. I was a nervous wreck. Garrett was playing corner and guarding one of their big receivers. Garrett was providing really good coverage and you could tell the other kid was getting frustrated. At one point after a play, he got up in Garrett's face and said, "Try that again, I dare ya". Garrett just laughed and said, "Okay, I will". Anyway, two plays later with just under 3 minutes on the clock, the Desert Hills quarter back threw a long pass to the kid Garrett was defending. The ball was thrown a little high and the kid tipped the ball... right into Garrett's hands. Garrett was able to advance the ball about 7 yards and then was brought down. His team was then able to run the clock out and win the championship game. It was a fantastic win. When Garrett's coach was handing out the trophies, he said, "And last but not least, Garrett Hyde, who had a game saving interception to help secure the championship". Garrett's smile was enormous as you could imagine. If you ask Garrett if all of his sacrifices during the season were worth it, just look at the smile on his face. He would tell you that it was. He, too, has another trophy for his collection- but more important were the experiences. (Thanks to Nana, Papa, and the Ellsworth family for sitting in the freezing cold to support Garrett)
As for me... I drive, wash, cook, counsel, sweat, freeze, and give up all of my free time so my children can have experiences like these. There is nothing I would rather be doing than see my children grow, learn, develop, and succeed. Is it worth it? Every second!
I had big plans this year for Christmas. I was going to get started early on shopping, making treats, and creating cute Christmas cards and a clever letter to go along with them. I was going to decorate my house and create a festive atmosphere for my family to enjoy. Well, Strep throat thwarted most of my Christmas dreams. I spent 4 days flat on my back and two full weeks trying to regain all of my energy. It has been a long time since I have been that sick. Needless to say, I quickly sent one family picture to Costco and had some not so cute cards made. We mailed them out, without any kind of letter, and I have been sad about it ever since.
Grant (11 ½)- played football, basketball, and baseball, won championships in baseball and football, began gymnastics and has spent the 2nd half of the year upside down on his hands, started 6th grade at the intermediate school, had his 1st phase of braces removed, started scouts, visited the Mayan ruins at Tulum, is now eating almost as much as his brother.
