17 February 2011- Swimming Banquet

BEHS Swimming Banquet

I can not say enough good things about the BEHS Swim Team and their coaching staff.  In most teams there is rivalry not only from one school to another, but within the team itself. However, you will not see that among those swimmers at BEHS.  What you find are students who are competing against their best, their fastest swim time. Sure this team wants to win, but the real goal is improving their own time and if they do that, They truly are winners!! Can you believe there is a coaching staff that is teaching things that will benefit our children  with true skills that will benefit them for life, not just for a race. .... Yes, if they have individually improved their own time, they are WINNERS!  This coaching staff encourages the best manners among young men and women today.  I will say that Coach Robinette is not just turning out great swimmers, he is contributing to turning out  Great Citizens.  Great Young Men and  Wonderful Young Women. He is an positive reflection of most of the wonderful teachers at Box Elder High School.  If teachers across this country would emulate his example, this country could quickly fix our problems.

 Kaylee and Tiffany and their father Eric Jeppesen 

At this banquet, like all dinners that I have been attendance with them, after the blessing on the food has been offered by a swimmer, the young men step aside to allow the girls to get their meals first, but that is only after the swimmers, both the young men and women, have served their parents before they themselves serve their own dinner and join their parents to eat their meal. 

When a swim team member is swimming in a heat, the others that are available to cheer are at poolside encouraging the swimmer in the water. I have witnessed this team cheer for other swimmers from competing teams. They are encouraging each swimmer, regardless of which team that swimmer is swimming for to do their best! 

 This year, we witnessed one young swimmer, who became distracted at regionals, the crowd was so loud they didn't hear their name announced several times calling them to the block. Parents in the stand were nervous, trying to get the attention of  coaches, other swim team members, the swimmer themselves all to no avail.. by the time that the swimmer realized they should have been on the starting block, the swimmers were halfway down the pool. This swimmer ran to the heat sheet to see when their heat was swimming, realizing that this was THEIR HEAT, they ran back to the pool wanting into the water, but being turned back by the timekeepers, The swimmer burst into tears and was quickly surrounded by team members, who comforted the swimmer. The coach took this young lady in his arms and held her as she cried her heart out. At that moment, Coach Robinette was a wonderful Coach and a giant of a Father as he took this swimmer, one of  "his girls" in his arms to comfort her.  He reassured her that it was OK. She was not put down or shamed in anyways, On that day, at that very moment, many of the students, parents, swimmers were in tears as well. They all knew that it could have been them. That day we were all Fuzuki.  I worried for her, how would she feel when she came home. It was difficult to watch from the stands and not be able to do anything about it. however, when she came home, while sad that she had missed her final race of the season.. she knew that it was Ok, she was still loved by all and in no way brought about criticism from the coaches or the other swimmers. BEHS has the best students and the Swim Team has the Cream of that Crop!!!!

My camera settings were off the night of this Banquet and some or most of my photos are blurry but I remember and rely on this comment, that the faintest of ink is better than the BEST Memory. So with that in mind.... Here are the photos from the Banquet. The Banquet was held at the Brigham City Community Center. Dutch oven dinner was served. Dutch oven chicken, BBQ Ribs, Dutch oven potatoes. So, yummy. The cooks did a great job!

The coaches shared their love and appreciation for these students in their speeches. The swimmers gave awards to their peers. Most were funny. The graduating Seniors passed on their silly momentos - trophies that had been given to them by previous swimmers. Leaving a legacy of love and rememberance from those who had previously participated in this elete group of swimmers.

 Shannon and Coach Robinette

Ogden Douglas going to receive one of his numerous awards.

Coach Robinette and Tiffany Jeppesen

Kaylee Jeppesen with flower on back of her head. Seniors are passing along

their fun trivia momentos that have been passed to them from previous years.

Fuzuki was given a gift along with the seniors since they

anticipate that she will not be returning next year. 

Photo book with photos and written messages to Fuzuki.

Graduating Seniors 

Seniors 

Fuzuki and  

It was a fun evening for swimmers and their parents. If there is one sport that I would encourage any parent to place their student into at BEHS, it would be the Swim Team!!! 

Following this dinner, These students went to the Natatorium and went swimming together for a final Swim as a team.  They all had a great time. Fuzuki has thoroughly enjoyed her experiences as a part of this wonderful group of swimmers. 

As a Mom, I want to thank all of the students, for being uplifting and positive to their team mates. 

 I also want to thank the coaches for all the long hours that they are away from their own families so that they can be to practices, meets, and for all that they give and do help and prepare our children for the future as great individuals.  

Way to go BEHS SWIM TEAM!!!

YOU ARE ALL WINNERS!!!

9 February 2011 Foundation Concert

Box Elder Foundation Concert

Fuzuki performed with the Box Elder High School Orchestra in the Foundation Concert. She spent the week practicing with the special conductor that was brought in for the week then they gave this great performance.
Roger, recorded video and I took some still photos of them. Fuzuki sits just to the left of center. You usually can see her head and recognize her by her hair cut. These photos aren't as clear to identify her, unless they are huge.
 

Ohne played with the Band and she is sitting far left, right next to the stage. You can see her easily in the photo below.

5 February 2011 State Swimming Meet at BYU

Coach Robinette, called and asked me, if we would be willing to take Fuzuki to the State Swimming Meet at Brigham Young University. Fuzuki didn't swim times fast enough to qualify to swim with the team at State.  However, he wanted her to have the experience of going to state.  We agreed. We stayed with the team at the Cotton Tree Inn.  The Hotel was wonderful. The rooms were very clean and the staff were exceptional.

Fuzuki hung out with the team before the meet and after the meet.

This is where they the hotel served breakfast to all the swimmers the morning of the swimming meet.

At Breakfast the morning before the big meet, the coach said how he would love to have Fuzuki swimming on the team next year. He asked if there was anyway that Fuzuki could return next year. She has improved so much this year, that he would love to watch and see her growth continue if she could return for another year on the swim team.  I told him that she would be welcome to stay with us again for another year if it was ok with her family back in Japan.  The councelors for the program inform me that there is a problem with the visas and we could have problems with an F1 visa in the school district. which she would have if she were to return. The Visa thing is all greek to me. If there was a way that Fuzuki could return to stay with our family for a second school year, she would be more than welcome. We love having her. It would be wonderful for her experience a continued growth in her education here in America.   I know that she seems worried about tests that she needs to take back in Japan for College.

Fuzuki went with them to the University Mall in Orem where they went window shopping, ate lunch and had lots of fun.

Anyways these photos are of Brigham Young University at the State Swimming competition.

Thanks to Brigham Young University for hosting the State Swimming Competition. They did a great job of being wonderful hosts. We all had a great time.

Box Elder Swimmer, Ogden Douglas,  took 2nd place in this heat.

                                 Coach Robinette, center in his thinker pose  is talking with one of the girls

Coach Robinette with folded arms.He is a Great Coach, he loves his 

swimmers just like a Dad loves his children.  There isn't a better Coach!

 

Box Elder Swimmer, Ogden Douglas, takes 2nd again,

The Box Elder High School All State Swim Team

 
 The two dancing here were not part of Box Elder. They were so fun to watch that I had to take video.

What a wonderful time we had. It was LOUD!. It was EXCITING. It was Crowded.  It was LOUD!!!! It was FUN!!  Did I say it was LOUD??

Well, it was so LOUD  that when I finally put paper in my ears, I could finally hear the LOUD SPEAKERS, cause it dampered down the man that was yelling in my ears behind me.   I am sure that his student, never heard him yelling his name as he was swimming.. he just nearly broke my ear drums. I could actually hear people talking normal down the row where we were sitting once I put the paper in my ears.  Yes, IT WAS LOUD!!!!!! 

Fuzuki and Eve were wearing purple and cheering on BEHS!!! GO! GO! GO!!!!!!!!!

30 January 2011- Making Valentine Cookies

Fuzuki decided she wanted to ask a young man to Sweethearts dance for Valentines Day. The Sweethearts dance is girls choice. She had made arrangements with the young man's mother to go to put up a "Heart Attack in his bedroom". What we didn't know is that another young lady would ask him before Fuzuki put up the Heart attack. So, she did not attend the Sweetheart dance with this young man. We had made cookies to leave for him as well. Since someone else asked him, we all benefited and we got to eat the cookies. They were delicious!

 

We had alot of fun making them as well as eating them. That young man really missed out on some delicious and beautiful valentine cookies. Fuzuki did a great job decorating them.

22 January 2011 - The Gift of Love

A couple days ago, Fuzuki asked if she can cut her hair. I asked her what style she wanted and she wasn't too sure, but she knew that she wanted it different. It was too long and she was wanting a change. She also wanted a perm and to color it. We have held off on the later two. She is a bit frightened to do a perm and not sure that she wants it, cause never know how it will turn out. If she gets the style of curl she wants, it would be a go.

Fuzuki looked at many books before picking the style that she wanted. She decided onthe style on the right side of the page. She likes the little curl. This is what she wants. She wants her hair to be REDDISH.

Prior to cutting that long pony tail..Fuzuki was a bit anxious. 

 

 

 

OOooooo.............

 Look how long it is!!!

How much shall we take off??

I inquired if they participate in the "Locks of Love" program. They said they would measure and cut it and we can mail it to them. Then we asked Fuzuki if she would like to donate her hair to make a wig for a child with cancer. She agreed  that would be a cool thing to do .

They cut the 11 inch pony tail so that we can mail it into "Locks of Love".

Looking Good!

Not So Scared Anymore!!

Woohoo!!

She love the hair cut.

Fuzuki is proud to be giving such a generous donation to "Locks of Love".

As soon as we got home Fuzuki ran to the bathroom and began curling her hair. This is the outcome. She looks cute in her new haircut and curl.

Her friends on the swim team loved the haircut as well.  Now, if we can find the right curl that she would like, we will go for the hair color soon. She would like to experience these things while she can do so.

Fuzuki is loving the hair cut and the head band.