After planning and scheming for over a month, the day to go search for the box was greeted with some excitement and a little nervousness. Since the day fell on my birthday, I had been given full control of what we would do throughout the day, no questions asked. Priority number one was having fun, and it was to be accomplished by hunting down the box as a family. Everyone was on board. We had to make sure to set expectations really low relative to actually obtaining it, because we didn't want anyone to be upset. We emphasized the chase, rather than the outcome.

We began strategizing and just as soon as we'd determine our plan of action, a new tweet would come in which would require some flexibility and re-assessment. By the time the noon tweet came indicating that it would be West Portland, we settled on splitting up (my wife with the twin girls, and me with the 5 and 7 y.o. boys) and wanted to give ourselve a shot at the box just in case it was put in a random location. So I took my posse to Nike (which was a dead ringer), and my wife's brood ended up in the west hills at the Pittock mansion overlooking the 4 volcanos (for those of you not familiar with the northwest: Adams, Hood, Rainier, and St. Helens).

We determined that "later this afternoon" meant probably around 2:30-3:00, so we got in the car at just after two; just in time to get the text indicating it would be in the 2:00 hour. There was a little bit of 2nd guessing whether we should all just go to Nike, but we stuck to plan.

Upon arrival at Nike (which is not a public campus), I entered at the main gate and was turned away by a perturbed security guard who gave me this "what the heck is going on with BYU fans" type of look. Not wanting to give up, I proceeded to drive the full perimieter expecting that IF it would be dropped there still, it would HAVE to be at an entrance. I noticed two particular entrances were somewhat more innocuous that the others and they were about 300 yards apart, with street parking/loitering space only available at one of them. I parked there, and continued to refresh my phone, while talking with my wife on the speaker phone. There were other cars there doing the same, but they would only stop briefly and leave again. One pulled up behind me and struck up a conversation. He was the older brother of Brayden Kearsley, so we had a good time talking about the offensive line, and Brayden's relationship with 2J's daughter.

As the time drew closer, a couple from my ward drove by. It was fun to see them. They're good friends who I had mentioned the promotion to, when it first started, who otherwise wouldn't have known about it. I was a little nervous that they were going to oust me, and I was determined to not let it happen. At this point it was 3 minutes from the final tweet, and they drove off in the direction of the entrance where it was eventually placed. As the tweet came in, I was struck with adrenaline b/c then I realized that they were driving right into the heart of it. I flipped a quick U-turn, waiting at one left turn red light, and found them there at the location. The wife hadn't located where the box was and was the one on foot. With a nifty driving manuever, I pulled my nose up in front of their car, popped the seat-belt off, and uttered a quick "stay here boys" as I flew under the bridge and around the corner looking for the best path up. That's when the other couple realized where the box was, but didn't try to race me because I had gotten a good jump on them. As I clutched the box on the top of the bridge I looked to my car to see four very anticipating eyes watching through the side window. I pumped my fist at them indicating victory. It took a split second, then the two of the biggest smiles and cheers I've heard from them, came echoeing up to me. My oldest confessed later that when he saw me grab the box, tears came out of his eyes.

We did the picture ceremony quickly because we were told that security was on their way, then I drove back around the corner to admire the loot with the boys. BK's brother had arrived and followed me back and helped take a few more photos. As we stood there talking, a security truck pulled up and asked what the heck was going on. The security radios had apparently been lit up by lots of cars trying to enter casually, and even people on foot running through the campus. We explained the promotion and teased that we were just making his job interesting. He agreed that it was pretty funny and told us thanks!

Of all the things we brought home last night, the box isn't what I'm most proud of. Sure, we were searching for a box, but what we found was that "BYU moment" for my two little bright-eyed dudes. The seed was planted deep and they found something that evokes nearly uncontrollable emotion. It brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.

Now, just need to help them learn how and when to use it.

It was a lot of fun.

Just a side note, the sigs are definitely printed.

I went back and video-taped the route I ran to get the box, which I would upload, but it's not currently in my possession.

Talk about a great birthday!