Soccer Night

Took Brayden to a Real soccer game recently for our monthly activity. (Thanks for the tickets Chris!)

Caching with Brayden

Sunny and warm out today. I took my little buddy Brayden out caching along the Jordan River. It was his first time, so I started with the basics. What is GPS? What are caches? Who hides them? How do you find them? What's inside? Etc.

I had loaded 6 caches within walking distance of his house. Despite some tough hides, we managed to find all 6 of them. He loved it.

No Stock Micro

Get Smart

This was a tough one. There were two decoy caches with clues to the real one. Brayden's holding the 2nd decoy.

Bridge on the River Jordan

Your Flies Down

True Grit

The toughest find of the day. We searched every blade of grass in the area looking for this one. Just as we were about to give up, I brushed away some grass on the ground and discovered a green lid at dirt level. The cache was hidden in a sprinkler box below the ground. In reading the cache log, it took some people returning 3 different times with hints in order to find it. We lucked out.

Something Special

An ammo box off the beaten path.

If you're ever in town and want to go caching, give me a ring.

Championship Game

Brayden's team played in the finals today, going in 10-0 for the season. When I left my house in Lehi, it was pretty nice out. I had on just a hoody and my grandpa slippers on my feet. As I headed north on the freeway, I smacked right into a major snowstorm. Parallel parking is tricky when your back window is covered in snow.

#35, Brayden braving the cold

Hard to tell what was happening on the field with all that snow.

Brave fans

We went up 6-0 in the first half. The team sought shelter and warmth in a tent during halftime.

Then back out for the second half, crashing through their banner.

We scored again, making it a 12-0 shutout, earning an undefeated championship. The head coach teared up during his post game speech.

Brayden

After a long vetting process and then several more months waiting for a match, I became a Big Brother back in June. My new "little brother" is named Brayden. He's an active 9 year old who likes video games, candy, sports, and stuff most stuff other 9 year old kids like.

They make you take a picture after getting matched. This was ours.

We've played Frisbee golf, watched a movie, went to Liberty Land, gone bike riding (he crashed--not our best activity), played ping pong, foosball, air hockey, and video games. Most recently I went to one of his football games. His team is undefeated and has already made the playoffs.

#35

Formation

This shot was pure luck. He just happened to be making a game changing tackle right in front of my camera. I caught him just before he laid this kid out.

Pumped up.

Extra point is good. (no kicking at this level) Final score: 27-12

Post game huddle