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.

Regional Swim Meet

These are photos from Regional Swim Meet. The schools that participated were outstanding.
The Boys at BEHS Took Third place, while the Girls at BEHS took Fourth place at Regionals.
There were so many people there and the sound (NOISE) was horrendous! Very very Noisey!
This meet was different, and I supposed that Fuzuki feels disappointed . She performed very well in the heats that she competed in.  Fuzuki will not be swimming at the State Competitions, but we think that she is a real Winner!! She gave her very best at every meet and every heat. Thats all  it takes to be a WINNER!!

Regionals at Mountain Crest High School

Hyrum, Utah

                                           Fuzuki

 You may notice the BEHS boys shaved their heads for the race.

                                                                     Chauncey and his dad

Lots of people, Lots of noise and Lots of FUN!!!

 What a great group of friends, they are great to cheer and to comfort!

WOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL YEAR OF SWIMMING!

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!



Mid-Term Retreat Dinner

Fuzuki, Ohne,

All the Exchange students and their families had dinner together last Friday evening in Fruit Heights at the LDS chapel. What a great dinner was provided by everyone. We had a pot luck dinner. I think that everyone had a wonderful time. We had the opportunity to meet other students and hear of their experiences and their feelings about their school experiences and home experiences. Most of the students were having a great time. Some told us that they felt that School truly was a HOLIDAY in comparison to school in Japan. They felt that the tests were smaller, and much easier. I am so glad that they are having such a great time. Far better they are having a holiday than being swamped and not being able to keep up in their studies.  All the students were so happy to see their friends. There were many HUGS and Squeels of excitement when they saw their friends.

The Students went to Moose Hollow, where they went snowboarding and snow sking all day on Saturday. The families were to pick up their students on Sunday at Moose Hollow by 11am. We made arrangements with two other parents here in Brigham city, to carpool the students back. So, Stacey, Uskee's Mom went for the students at Moose hollow and returned to Brigham City around 1pm Sunday.  Roger was a great Dad and went to pick up Fuzuki at Stacey's home.

Fuzuki said that she had a wonderful time. She went down the small slope several times and the medium slope once or twice and several times down the very long and difficult slope. We are so proud of Fuzuki!!
She is a bit sore in her legs and arms due to the extra exercise and the different muscles used in sking vs. swimming. She had a great time!!

Friends, wow, its so good to see each other!

He believes that School in America is a HOLIDAY!!!

Where did that Basketball go?

Everyone is playing BB or talking to friends.

Fuzuki's counselors are in center in blue jacket and red tshirt.

Lamar and Lisa.

Sharon Welcoming everyone to dinner and explaining the rules for the weekend.

#1. MUST Speak ENGLISH ONLY!

 Dinner is Yummy!!

The Boys at the Table are so cute and quite fun to talk with too.

Jason

 Going to Miss ya Sister !!

 Have Fun and I'll See ya on Sunday!! 

 Ohne

Everyone is starting a game.

Jason and Eve

Jason's Mom is one of the Exchange committee members and he has become friends with Eve.

It was difficult to leave our student and return home without her.