A weekend spent with Troy

This weekend was a well spent weekend with Troy and his darling 3 little girls. Terry and Troy decided to start it early on Thursday and went catfishing down at the harbor. They got skunked but gave it a good fight since they didn't come back until 3:30am that next morning. But they had some fun and I am always grateful for the time they get together. You know sometimes a woman needs her space. Just kidding.Then Friday a very good friend of mine called and reminded me the Lehi mini-parade was going on that night. Since this is my favorite parade since I was a little one we got some pizza and joined her cute family for the parade. Holly and Marcellus invited us to a movie with them and offered their daughter Tori (who we adore) to babysit all our kids. It was so fun to go sit in the backseat with my husband I just can't tell you how long it has been since I was in the backseat with a real hottie. Fun I tell ya. Now I remember why my friends and I would drive around all night with our boyfriends.So Saturday we headed up the AF Canyon with Troy and his girls. I use to watch his girls regularly and so it was nice to be with them again. I sure miss them. We first went to the reservoir to do a little fishing and I weasled my way out to go save a picnic table and left the boys with 6 kids. Ya I am sure that was a funny sight. But I tell you what these two boys could handle any amount of kids. They are the 2 best dads I know. (Sorry to anyone offended) They can hands down handle any situation. Baylee was the only one to catch a fish and I hear it was only a little one. Then the kids built us a nice campfire and climbed all over the rocks in the picnic area. While I sat and read a book and enjoyed listening to Troy and Terry check out the ladies in the same picnic area. They are hilarious. But the hot dogs and tinfoil dinners weren't burnt so obviously they were not to distracted. I have to say tinfoil dinners are one of my absolute favorites. Especially when Terry makes them. YUMMMY!Then we just relaxed, enjoyed each others company and sat around the burning campfire until 10:00pm I just have to say Troy is an amazing person. He is Terrys younger and only brother by 15 months. Troy loves his little girls like no other and would do anything for them. We all love being around Troy for his bubbly easy to love personality. He loves being outdoors and enjoying life. Thank you Troy for sharing some time with us.Of course Sunday we were out on the lake again. This time we filled the boat with 6 kids a dog and well us of course. It was great. The wakeboarding was so nice almost the best of the year so far. But the best part of it was being out there together with those we love. Sharing memories and creating new ones. The kids were real troopers even when a crazy wind storm came in so suddenly. We practically dumped Troy and his girls off at their harbor and dashed across the lake to our harbor. The harbor was crazy with people trying to get out of there. So we just tied up and waited till they all cleared out. I read a book to the kids as Terry took in some eye candy. And if you know Terry his eye candy is full of towers, props, boards, and engines. Man he loves those boats.

Terrys Final Birthday Event

So finally after a 3 day celebration Terry's birthday events have come to a close. Over the weekend we didn't have time for cake. So when Terry got off work we headed up American Fork Canyon and had a campfire. I don't know if this was more for me or him. I love AF Canyon there is something special to me about that place.
Anyway we built us a campfire and just hung out talking and the kids made their own campfire, yes it was pretend but we sure had a great time. Then we came home and finally got to fire up Terrys birthday cake. Lighting his candles gets scarier each year. But we did it and he blew them out. I was pretty proud of the wakeboard cake I made him, although I am still not sure he liked it. The black frosting turned purple on us. Oh well such as life huh. I love you babe and I sure love our life together.

Terry turns 36

So Saturday was Terry's birthday, yep we are getting old he just turned 36. Crazy if you ask me. So it was all up to him what we did all day long. And just as I suspected we got on the lake at 9:00am and had a wonderful day until we pulled off the lake at 7:00pm. That is a full 10 hours of playing on the water. We even got to spend this wonderful time with Terry's oldest sister Cindy. We love Cindy to death we really cherish the time we have with her. We haven't had to much one on one because she lived out of state for so long and then with her being a newlywed we didn't want to intrude. But man it was sure nice to spend a whole day with her on the boat. Terry did a little spear carp fishing and he speared 9 of those sick fish. Matia was so proud of her daddy. You see Tia hates it when Terry kills anything. However, we have convinced her that carp are the "Bad Fish" that eat all the good fish. So she was begging her dad to go kill some more.Terry also expressed how he would just love Matia n Treg to try wakeboarding on their own for his birthday. But once he discovered how choppy it was he decided it was not a good idea. So Matia tried surfing on her belly alone for him and Treg tried wakeboarding with Terry holding him up next to the boat as I drove. This worked great and he was loving it until his board sank nose first into a huge wave. It took him under and Terry jumped in right after him. Treg stopped crying in no time and proved to be a real sport for trying it. So we said our goodbyes to Cindy and headed back to shore. Grabbed a Hot and (not so) Ready $5.00 pizza for Little Ceasers and then headed home to relax. Well we were all exhausted and not thinking clearly when Terry and I broke the garage door to the boat barn. It was really not a good way to end the day. So we put off cake and presents until Sunday. Terry woke up and started taking the garage door apart and as I have said he can fix anything. And within 3 hours he had it fixed and was feeling much better. So then we opened presents we all got him some tools we knew he would like and then a fishing pole from everyone (since obviously his last one ran out of luck). But we forgot to get him some line. So we did a little shopping, took a nice nap, then headed for Tibblefork Res. to do a little fishing. It was crowded yes but oh so breathtaking. I just sat back and took it all in while everyone else did their fishing. We were low on our luck until about 9:00pm then the kids started reeling them in. Keeping Terry busy with the hook replacements and baiting and me with the camera. Finally at 9:30 we called it a night and headed home. Thanks Terry for sharing your birthday with us. I really enjoyed it. So some of the things I just adore about Terry is that he is a very hard worker and he never complains about it. Terry will do what he has to, to make sure we have what we need. He truly cares about other people and he is a great listener. 9 times out of 10 he can interpret what one person is really meaning to say or what they are thinking. Terry is known to tell you how it is, there really isn't a whole lot of sugar used in his bold truthfulness. (I am not sure I like that for I really like sugar) But I know if Terry says it that is really how it is. I love the daddy that Terry is to his children. Oh my goodness if you could be a fly on our wall you would realize that Terry really takes fathering to a new level. Many times I feel inadequate as a mother when I watch him be a dad. I love our garage, not the looks of it but the ability of it. It seems when Terry is in our garage he can do anything. He has all the tools to accomplish anything he needs to. Terry is not one to hire something out unless he completely has to. He would rather get his hands dirty and do it himself. I also love the way that the things that are important to me are important to you. I love you Terry and I know your children would be completely lost with out you. Hugs and kisses from your soul mate.

Matia's Dance

So Matia has been in dance for almost a year now and she has improved so much. Tonight was her 2nd performance which they did the High School Musical and she did the "Don't Dance" Song. Here is the video it really doesn't do it justice it looked so much better in person but oh well it was the best I could do. She is the first one to walk in on the left and leads the girls to the right. She is the furthest right during the whole dance. Watch how she moves. Good job kiddo you did marvelous, I am so proud of you.

Bowdee's first swim meet

So as you all know Bowdee made the HAST swimteam this year. It has been really fun to see how all his hard work is really paying off. Bowdee has been swimming 45 minute workouts every day of the week and he is doing great. Bowdee swam 3 events and in my opinion really did a great job. So the first meet was the 25 Yard Back stroke and took 4th out of 7. Then he swam in the 25 Yard Breast stroke and he was DQ with most of the other kids who swam breast stroke for flutter kicking a few kicks at the first. He did great to even try it. Last he swam the 25 Yard Freestyle and took 3rd out of 10 boys his age. So congratulations Bowdee we are really proud of your hard work.

Then Bowdee had his 2nd to last Baseball game tonight and hit a great homerun! He also is a total all around great player who focuses on the ball and the game. Good job buddy you are great.

I have really been hit hard lately with just how short our life is and how we just don't know what tomorrow will bring. I can count 5 wonderful individual that just recently have moved on to the next step in life. My heart aches terribly for those immediate families that have had their lives turned upside down. I can't tell you how many times my eyes fill with tears daily for the pain they are going through. So when a friend of mine passed this message along in an e-mail I just thought that is so true, we need to be doing all these things for we never know what is the next step in life for us. I remember in Tonia's hospital room one of her friends gave her a quote on a paper that stuck to her wall that said "Just do the next thing" I guess that is what we should do but I would like to add "Just do the next thing, the best that you can." May you all be comforted through your trials, I love you all.

This was the e-mail message I recieved and loved. "Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don't just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Kiss slowly. Forgive quickly. God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it." I believe what he has to offer, will be worth the fight we are fighting today.

Fathers Day

Today was a special day in our family. I guess it was for most people however, we took a day to really reflect on how lucky we are to have Terry as the father of our little family. Terry is a man who really believes in being honest. If you ask him anything he can not tell a lie. We love Terry because to him his family is his life. I know without a doubt he would do anything for us that he feels is best for our family. He loves to be with us.
Many men strive for a status at work or filling his bank account. Terry aches when he is without us and when he comes home he fills complete. The kids often say at bedtime that their bestest was when daddy came home. I know this is their way of saying that it just feels really good to be a complete family. Well Terry we love you and we feel blessed for each day that we have together. The kids and I all gave Terry a nice wakeboard for fathers day. Then of course we took him boating. It was a perfect day as I heard him say several times yesterday. Love you Honey. I also have to say how there are so many things that I love about Terry that I see in my own dad. Like how they both can fix anything that is broken. They both would protect their family without hesitation. My dad and I have always had a very special bond that will never be broken. Dad I love you so much and I hope you know that. Love your Krystal.There is also another special father figure in our family and that would be Terrys dad Chuck. Chuck is also an amazing person. One who is not quick to judge and full of love. I am so grateful for everything he has taught Terry over the years. I know without such a wonderful dad Terry would not be the man he is today. Thank you Chuck for being a second dad to me. Happy Fathers Day.

First Week of Summer

So I have to admit I was really excited for school to be out. The freedom that comes with summer is just a big relief after a busy 9 months of school. I love waking up and thinking HUM what fun things should I do with the kiddos today? I honestly love to have them at my disposal. So, right before school got out Bowdee made the HAST swim team and so we do have some obligations this summer. Every day Bowdee has swim workouts for 45 minutes. So we go 45 minutes before and let him play swim then he works out then we are all ready to go. It has been really good for him and his teacher has even used him as a good example of how to do a certain stroke. So with swim team and the cold weather the week seemed to just fly by, almost like we were just standing there watching it go by in fast motion. We ended our first week of summer on the shores of Strawberry Reservoir. I have to admit it is probably my fault that we got completely skunked although I wouldn't admit that to Terry. You see I was reading my friends blog and heard they got completely skunked at Jordenelle and thought to myself "How does one get completely skunked while fishing?" I just was thinking maybe they were doing it wrong. Huh, teach me a lesson of thinking like that. We fished for 3 hours and had absolutely no luck at all. I have to admit I did enjoy the drive through the Provo canyon and reading a book with Bowdee on the shore while Dash fetched flying sticks and shook water on us. So here is cheers to hopefully the coldest week of summer.

Yellowstone Vacation

Yes, I know we are so stinking predictable when it comes to Memorial Day weekend. Yes every year we miss the school field day/dance festival to head north to Yellowstone. First we can not drive past Idaho Falls without spending a moment on the lawn in front of the temple as we look across the falls and enjoy the beautiful view.
This year as we stopped there a lady from channel 8 in Idaho Falls asked if she could interview one of us about our vacation. So we all told her we had the perfect guy for the camera. Yes a guy that will just light up and say just what she needs to hear. DAD - Terry ran off to find him as she set up her camera. It was just a short interview about the gas prices and vacationing. It was fun to listen to him and watch. Then we finally made it to West Yellowstone to stay in the Days Inn Hotel (because they have the "Big Blue Slide") My kids love to swim and they really love to go down the big blue slide before we go to yellowstone. That night we ate out at Gushers the little town pizza restraunt and then we swam and then watched the first Indiana Jones movie.
Then on Saturday we head further north into the park and then we see our Grandma LaVel finally take a big sigh it is like she holds her breath all year long until we enter the park again and then it seems her soul has found "Home". So up to Mammoth Hot Springs to stay in a little old cabin. The cabin is cool but the really cool part about Mammoth is the "PotGuts". Yes, this seems to be the kids favorite part of the vacation. They love going out and feeding the PotGuts so they can take photos of them and chase them. This year it was wetter and colder then it has ever been in the 10 years we have been doing this. But it was still fun. Just not as many potguts out to play. Then we drive the same route to Hayden Valley then back to Roosevelt and then down to Tower and then we repeat. Just looking for wildlife doing their thing. Then back to the cabin and enjoy a crockpot dinner and the second Indiana Jones movie.We do love the bear and I must say that has to be our favorite but man it is fun to watch for that crazy dancing buffalo or that little sly red fox peeking from behind the sagebrush. We did see 6 bears this year which is the very little for what we are use to. But we were so thankful to see them. So this year our most memorable moments were watching the bear off in the distance take a baby elk that was just born moments before. The mother staying close by crying trying to do anything to save her baby, obvious her heart was broken. Sad, yes but something you don't see ever. Then as we were driving by the petrified tree. Dad being the cute old man that he is rolled down his window as we were passing a huge buffalo just off the road next to us, then my dad growled at the buffalo trying to get a reaction. Well we got one- the buffalo jumped all 2 thousand pounds of him toward our suburban and kicked his head at us in a motion of threat. WOW Colt and Treg who were next to the windows in the back got their hearts jumpstarted. As Terry punched on the gas to get us out of there. HOLY CROW - what a moment we won't forget as we feared for our lives and our burban.
Then Sunday we drove to Yellowstone Lake Lodge and stayed in a cute little yellow cabin. The lake was still frozen which this is the first time in 18 years it has been frozen this late in the year. It was a beautiful sight one I don't think I have ever witnessed. We enjoyed some tortilla taco soup from the crockpot and yet another Indiana Jones movie that night.Monday we woke up and knew we had a drive a head of us so we loaded up and did alittle sight seeing before we headed out of the park. We have never seen so much snow in Yellowstone it was beautiful but wow was is cold. We enjoyed our "Twilight book on audio" as we drove around and headed south for Jackson Hole. We got there just in time to watch the new Indiana Jones movie in the theater. Terry took the two little ones swimming since he has seen it already and we enjoyed a very upclose version of the movie on the front row. So that was about it our trip in a nutshell. It was so nice to have my brother Colt join us on this trip. He is such an easy going energetic guy. Simple to please and hard to annoy. We love you Spidey and hope you had as much fun with us and we had with you.

Tregs Graduation

So today was a big day at the Townsends home. Treg's preschool had their graduation and as you all know Kristi is their preschool so it was busy. I can't stop thinking of how fast the years go by. Just when I feel like I am getting into the groove with the kids it is time to start thinking of registering for next year and then graduation comes just like that. I have absolutely loved each one of the kids that came to my school this year. I will miss each and everyone of them. A special place in my heart they will hold forever. For their graduation video I put it to the song of Kenny Chesney's Don't Blink. I feel like if we blink we don't know what we will miss because time goes by so stinking fast these days. So to you darling 7 kids who are so special to me I love you and will miss you. Thanks for teaching me all you did this year. Love Miss Kristi
Treg I just have to say how proud I am of you and your accomplishments. Like you know what that is but one day you will. I love who you are becoming and who you are. I love the way you tell me everyday that you love me and I can tell you really mean it. I love you to buddy. I love the way you treat your friends and how you stand up for yourself. Thank you for being such a great part of my life. I will sure enjoy next year with you. Love Mom

Bowdee's Year

So I deam this Bowdee's year to really get better at Wakeboarding. Bowdee started wakeboarding when he was just 5 years old and he has gotten better. Yet not as good as he would like to be. So I really believe along with him that this year his muscles have gotten strong enough where he just might show himself how much talent he has. So here is to you Bowdee I know you can get as good as you want. Love you man and thanks for having a little faith in yourself. Just so you know Bowdee has gone out of the wake but has always been quick to fall and never crossed back over the wake until this year. Here is the video of him wakeboarding this year. The first time out this season. As for the rest of us Terry and I just hope we can make it through another year with our old bodies without any major injuries. Treg it begging us to let him wakeboard on mommies new wakeboard cuz it is cool and he is strong enough to do it himself. Don't worry mommy is not brave enough to let that happen. Matia is still a little weary of the cold water yet she has fun boating and trying a little surfing here and there. We also took Dash out for the second time and this time he jumped out into the water and swam to Terry. I am just glad it was when I had the boat stopped. He did great and Dash is fitting into the family great.

Mother's Day

So wow how did I ever deserve to have such a wonderful family. Terry stayed home with the kids so I could go flower shopping with my mom on Saturday. This is always a treat for me because she is so good with flowers I am trying to learn all that she knows but I don't think I can. So then we mom and dad over for dinner and enjoyed their company with a delicous Pork omlet with green chili sauce - very good if you ever come over for dinner request this from Terry it is to die for.
Then the next morning I was awoke to breakfast in bed accompanied by my Sunday morning paper untouched! Bowdee made me some wonderful blueberry waffles and O.J. After I was left alone to enjoy my breakfast and paper then I got to open all my presents. I just love my family did I ever tell you that?
Then we took the boat out for the first time this year to make sure it still floated. The wind held off for us until we got off the water. Bowdee was the only one to jump in. The rest of us just chilled and soaked in the warmth of the sun for once - it felt really good. Then we came home just intime to watch the Jazz / Lakers game and oh what a game that was... Overtime and everything. WOW! If you don't know I just love watching the Jazz play.
After the Jazz was over Terry loaded the 4-wheelers and off we went to Isearal Canyon for a nice ride up to the top of the mountain. To be with my family out in the great out-doors is also one of my favorite things. So yes I was spoiled beyond belief today. And I am not really sure I deserve it. However I will take it and enjoy every minute of it. I love you guys so much.
I do have to say that Terry's mother is such an amazing person. She has been like a second mother to me. I know she geniunly cares what is going on in our lives and only wants the best for us. So thank you Kaye for taking so much time in the years gone by with your children and making them the loving caring family that you are. Love you.

Twilight

So most of you know that in all my spare time I love to sit down with a good book and take a little time out to read. Well I have not found a book I like as much as the Twilight Series in a very long time. During Christmas is when I began to read them and they were all read within 5 Days. I am considering reading them again, however my friend has me on another Vampire series right now and I am beginning to like them. So yes I am very excited about the fourth book coming out in August and the movie in December. I enjoy reading fiction books because it takes less brain power and when I read I read to relax. I love the mystery with a little love story mixed in with it. Another book I really loved reading was White Out. I can't remember the author but it was a great book if you are looking for one. Oh here is another trailer to the Twilight movie for you. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=33429669