Geode Hunting

This weekend we had planned to go to Moab. However, we had a little trouble with our four wheeler trailer so instead we stayed home and fixed it until Saturday. Then Sunday we took it out for a spin. We went out to check out the Geode hunting out West by Dugway.

We started digging at the pit and we were having some luck. But then a nice old man came by and showed us where the jackpot was. So we followed him and sure enough there was a vein full of Geodes.

After a little while of digging and hunting Treg and Tia got cold and hungry. So Terry took them to the truck to eat while Bowdee and I went to town. We dug up 1& 1/2 buckets then Terry came and finished filling it up. It was cold and muddy but it was fun at the same time. Notice in the second photo there is no snow. By the time we left the ground was covered in the great white cold snow!

Treg is 5!

It is still so crazy to me that Treg was born just 4 days after Matia's 2nd birthday. So in March we get a little crazy at our house. When I was pregnant with Treg I remember thinking this will never end, I am going to be pregnant FOREVER! But time did it's thing and flew by. Before I knew it my little caboose was here and letting us all know about it.

Treg has been such a delight to me. I love watching him keep up with his brother and sister. He never seemed to do the baby stuff it seemed like he just wanted to be like Bowdee and Tia so much that he didn't play with the baby things. In fact we called him our little monkey because he would climb as high as he needed to, to get what he wanted. My brother Kyle called him "Hoodeenie" because if you took your eyes off him for too long (which was about 30 seconds) he was into trouble.

I can't believe next year my little buddy will be going to kindergarten. This last year I have shared some pretty special times with Treg. Before Matia went to Kindergarten I had so many kids around all the time we hardly ever got one on one time. But Treg and I have shared some moments that I pray will last in his memory. I have loved having you home while the big kids are at school. I just hope you will remember forever how much I love you. Happy Birthday my little, big guy!

Matia's 7

Wow, where does the time go? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was in Eagle Mountain with a brand new baby girl. I remember at first being so nervous that she was a girl because after all I had a baby boy and I knew how they worked. But a girl this was all new to me and could I ever possibly love her as much as I loved Bowdee? Would I make a good mother to her?

Well time goes by, and only time can answer some of those questions. My life would simply not be complete with out my Matia. We named her Matia becuase it reminded us of a place we love to vacation in California and also because it means "Gift of God". Matia has truely been my gift from God. She lightens my heaviest of loads just with a smile.

I love the way she is so tender hearted and thinks of everyone all the time. I love how she claims she is now a tree hugger and a tomboy who doesn't like pink anymore. I love her spunk and her charm. I love that you have a mind of your own and you are not afraid to tell anyone about it. Although I am sure at times your father would love for you to keep some of your hunting point of views to yourself. I love you Matia for everything you are and everything you are teaching me to be. Your amazing in all aspects of life. Keep living with a smile in your heart and a dance in your step. Happy Birthday sweetie.

Draper Temple

Treg has had a small obsession with going in the Timpanogus Temple. So I was so happy for the day the Draper Temple opened up for the public to view the inside. Finally he would be able to go through most of the temple and see what it was all about. So I got tickets for the day that they were out of school.

Mom came with us which I was so completely grateful for. I loved being in the temple with you kiddos you will never know how special it was for me to see all of you there with me. I know someday you will understand better the full meanings. My dear friend Christina was also able to bring her 4 boys with us. I tell ya life just won't be the same without friends who love and understand us.

Snowboarding Sundance

Sunday we headed up to Sundance to take the family boarding together. My brother Kyle gave us 2 free tickets so that helped on the price a little. My favorite part was just being up in the mountains with my whole family. I do have to say that Sundance is probably the most beautiful ski resort I have ever been to. I wouldn't say my favorite but I just couldn't get over the fact of being nestled right there under Timpanogus.

It took my breath away every time I looked around me. Matia wasn't feeling very well so after the first run I took Treg and her to the car to hang out. Treg loved it but was a little tired after the first run. Bowdee is amazing for how little he really gets to board. This to me was like a day spent in heaven. Thanks to my family for making it so special. It wouldn't be the same without them.

Terry's Icefishing Trip

Friday night Terry, Troy and Rusty went on a little adventure (to be completely honest I am kinda glad I wasn't invited to go). They went and spent the night in the Eskimo shack on Strawberry Reservior. The got a late start but they made it up there and played cards until about 4:00am. Then they all cracked open the cots and fell asleep until the beautiful sound of the snow plow came around at about 6:00am. Then the hum of the snowmobiles started to plow by them.
I don't know about you but I don't think I would be liking those sounds to much the next morning. They said they had a good time even though Terry caught the only fish. However, Rusty and Troy got a ticket for illegal fishing.

Sounds I love most!

My sister did this assignment about her favorite 10 sounds she hears. Since I found it very interesting to hear hers I decided to write my own favorite 10 sounds. Here we go.

1- My children and husband laughing together.
2- Sound of water crashing, like a waterfall or waves or the gentle crashing against my boat.
3- Nature at night-time. Crickets, frogs, all that comes along with it.
4- Crackling of a campfire.
5- The voices of my siblings and parents gathered together reminising over childhood memories.
6- A newborn babies coos and squeakes.
7- Baby animal sounds, especially baby goats.
8- Birds chirping in the springtime, unless it is extremely early and I am not ready to get up for the day then it is not so pleasent to me. But that is a rare occasion.
9- A pop can being opened don't ask me why but, I have always felt a strange sense of stress release when I hear that sound.
10- My children squeezing me and saying "I love you".

That one really makes you think. Try it on your blog I would love to hear your sounds.

Kindergarten Registration

Is this really possible? Could my children really be growing up before my own eyes? Today I took Treg down to our Shelley Elementarty to register him for Kindergarten in the fall. I can't believe my baby will take his first big step into independance in just 7 short months. I am trying to live in the moment and enjoy all the time I have with him. But it is hard not to look at the big picture and see how fast these years are slipping away. Terry is no help he just tells me to "enjoy the vacation while you are on it and stop thinking about when it is over and you have to go back to work." I know this advice in my head I tell myself the same thing day in and day out. But that doesn't take the sting away from the wound, it still hurts. I guess this day had to come and here it is. I have loved my long days with the kids home with me, and I will miss every minute they are away from me. Love you kiddos!

6-6-6 Tag

Tag 6-6-6
I was tagged by Kristy and what you are suppose to do is...

*Go to document setting/my pictures on your computer
*Choose your 6th file
*Choose your 6th picture
*Blog about it
*Tag 6 people

So the true photo is Terry wakeboarding. It is an awesome photo with huge air and nice pose. However, Terry is wearing his famous Speedo. So I spared you all of that beautiful sight and his humiliation and entered the 5th photo which was this one.

Troy and his darling 3 girls. It was taken this summer when we were up AF canyon. We had spent the day fishing, rock climbing, and campfiring. So the girls had obviously had lots of fun and by the time this photo was taken everyone was a little spent. Troy is the best father I know. Well next to my own father and Terry. He loves those girls so much and it shows by the way he takes care of them so well. Since his divorce his life has revolved around these girls. He is an amazing person and wonderful friend I feel lucky to know him and I consider him to be one of my best friends, not just a brother. Thank you Troy for being part of my life. You Rock!

Now I am supose to tag 6 people. But I am tagging anyone who feels like they have the time. Love you guys. This turned out to be a fun one thanks Kristy.

New Truck!

Well I was given the decision after months and months of arguing it came down to this. "Okay Kristi either you sell the burban and let me buy a truck that can pull the boat. Or (long silent pause with big inhale) we sell the boat... Which will it be?" That is what it had to come down to for me to part with my burban. I love my burban and didn't ever want anything other than it. But he did have a good point it wouldn't pull the boat like we needed it to. So after 8 months of watching trucks Terry finally fell inlove with this 2002 Sierra GMC Diesel truck. Yes I will be saying goodbye to my best burban that has treated me so well. But hello to a new family member that has the muscle to pull our favorite summertime getaway (the boat).

Alta with the Kids

The day after boarding Snowbird with Tammie and Ted, Terry and I still had the mountain fever, so we took the kids for free skiing at Alta. It was crazy busy, but we still had fun. Matia took off all by herself, I was so proud of her. She did awesome and didn't cry once. Even though she fell down quite a few times.

Bowdee did awesome! He just got a little impatient waiting for us all the time. He can really fly down the mountain. We went together on a fun run, just the two of us and I made him follow me half the way working on turning techniques. Then we just went all out and I think he almost beat me. If you look real hard you will see Bowdee getting air off this jump.

Treg was so fun to watch. I think if he really wanted to he could be great! He stuck with his dad the whole time and got bored after the first run but I know it will probably be next year that he is skiing on his own.

Me and Terry we are just there enjoying the moment. Reminding ourselves if we teach them to love these things at a young age they will want to go play with us later when they are older. We love being together as a family and couldn't think of a better way to spend our day together.

Boarding on Valentine's Day

Terry and I both love snowboarding so when Tammie and Ted (Terrys sister) invited us to go boarding with them on Valentine's Day we just couldn't resist. The incentive of being with them was enough to get us up there, but to be able to board was a total bonus. So on Saturday we picked up Lakota for a long day of babysitting and headed up Little Cottonwood Mountain to Snowbird. We enjoyed the morning together with Troy. The powder was unbelieveable! I did fine unless I mindlessly followed Terry into the trees, this is where I sink and then my temper rises as I am buried in 3 ft. of powder (no joking). It was great though, I have to say I love boarding with Terry and Troy because they both just hit all the jumps back and forth as I just make my way down the mountain. I call them my little board rats because they are everywhere.

We finally hooked up with Tammie and Ted. Ted's sister Terri was there and she was not enjoying the powder effect. So she and I took off in our own direction so we wouldn't be holding the pros up any longer. I have to say the blister on my ankle from my new bindings was not helping the situation.

Anyway we ended up eating lunch at the Forklift all of us together. Then Terri and I headed to the spa for a quick massage, while the others hit the mountain for a few more runs. I have to say I have never pansied out like this, but it was kinda nice.

Later that night we headed to Hotel Monico downtown SLC for a 40th birthday party for Ted. Ted is an amazing person he is brilliant and very kind. I love being around Ted because he is a real person and he includes everyone. Tammie and Ted deserve each other, because they are both wonderful individuals. Thanks Tammie and Ted for including us in your vacation activities. We had a wonderful time spending it with you.

PAY IT FORWARD!!

"What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others lives on forever." This is how it works...

The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a "crafty" gift from me!
SO....
Somewhere in your comment, you need to include someone or something you are grateful for!
But Wait....There's MORE...
In order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you must post this on your blog as well. Which means sometime during the next year, you must "pay it forward" to 3 other people!
Good Luck!!

STRESS !

I am not sure exactly how this works, but this is amazingly accurate.

The picture below has 2 identical dolphins in it. It was used in a case study on stress levels at the Mayo Clinic and later at Fletcher Medical Center in Burlington

Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical. A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that , in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person un der stress will find many differences between the two dolphins .

The more differences a person finds, the more stress that person is experiencing.

Look at the photograph and if you find more than one or two differences you may need to take a vacation.

No Need to Reply, I'll be on Vacation

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out of it alive anyway.

Valentine's Day

This year we celebrated Valentine's Day a day early. Since all the school parties were on Friday and we had plans to go boarding with the Crawfords all day Saturday we figured the kids wouldn't mind a little early Valentines Day. So I woke up early on Friday after a late night with the girls at book club. I decorated the house a little and made our heart shaped pancakes.

Then I lovingly sent the kids off to school for a fun day celebrating with their friends. I baked and decorated sugar cookies to go DingDong Ditching and leaving sweet love notes to our family who live close enough for us to do this. The kids always look forward to this each year. So after school we headed out on our mission to be invisible.

Then when we got home we hid all of the valentines we made for Terry around the house. And we ate our traditional heart shaped pizza! I love simplicity, I am starting to love it more and more everyday. Well that was it our sweet Valentines of 2009. Thanks Terry for the sweet roses, big heart cookie, and COOL REI shirt and hat. I love you most!

A weekend with our Cousins

Friday night Terry and Troy went out to Wendover with some friends to watch a comedian. They had a great time and so did we. I have been promising Troys kids a sleepover for sometime now. But, Troy is so stingy with his girls.

When he has them he wants them and he has to be a part of what they are doing. Well finally I pried him away from them and had our sleepover.

So we spent the weekend going to the movies, talking till late at night, playing board games, making Valentine crafts, and eating ice cream.

I won't mention the speeding ticket I got on the way to Bowdee's 8:20am basketball game. With that many kids it is simply impossible to be anywhere on time. Oh well one lesson learned the hard way.

I hope they all had fun because I sure enjoy the time I have with all of my nieces and nephews. I just hope that someday when they are older they will remember the fun times we had together. Thanks you kiddos for a great weekend.

Boat Show of 2009

Four years ago Terry and his brother went to the Utah boat show. It was just after we bought our first boat. I remember that night Terry came home with such a big smile and said "Honey that is something we have got to do." But we couldn't make it that year because it was over.

So ever since that Terry and I have always gone on a special Dream Date. I call it that because all we are doing is dreaming that some day we will be able to say "Yes, we are very interested and would like to purchase a boat tonight" instead of "Oh, we are just dreaming". It amazes me still how excited I get to go every year.

As you can see Treg was lovin' it. At first he was going like crazy and thrilled to be there. After 2 hours he had seen enough boats and just wanted to go home to sleep. He kept saying "I wish I could have this... When I am a million dollar man I am going to buy me this boat." I just encouraged him.

Matia was dancing around like she was on cloud nine. Bouncing from one boat to the other. She was most impressed with the Yacht's. She also got really excited when we started looking at the shoes. They had cute flip flops on sale and she was loving that. Yep she's my little girl.

Bowdee on the other hand is his father threw and threw he got a kick out of the whole thing and thought it was the coolest thing we have done all year. He even got a poster and a pro wakeboarder talked with him and autographed his poster. It was Parks Bonifay and I was most impressed with him. He also loved watching the wakeboarders do their stunts.

Superbowl Sunday

So I have always loved Superbowl Sunday and the reason is because I had the opportunity to fall asleep to the sweet hum of announcers of the Superbowl. However, this year has been completely different. I don't know if it is I have a son who has taken an interest to the game of football or I am just changing. But I just loved the game, I got so into watching the big games and a little excited (if I have to be honest) about going to watch the game with Troy and his girls.
I even made cute football cupcakes and bean dip. Well gotta love the American Game. We were cheering for the Cardnials it is so like Terry to go for the underdog. And my dear friend lives in Arizona so we were cheering for them.

Bathroom is offically completed!

So we finally finished the bathroom in the basement. Here are the photos of what it looks like now. I just have to say how much you learn about a person over the years. For example when Terry and I had just been married 3 years (which at the time felt like forever) we built a shed in the back of our Eagle Mountain home. To make a long story short Terry got frustrated with something and I wasn't doing what I should and so he threw down his drill and shattered it into about a 100 pieces. Well now when we are working side by side I understand his language and I can hand him the tool he needs or step back and give him some space if it is not working just right. Pretty funny that I can ready his emotions so much better and I know just what he needs. I have to say we didn't have any drills "accidently dropped" during this project. Horay now we get to start working on the next 2 small rooms. Wish us luck. I know pretty corney blog but it is something I want to remember. We started this bathroom on Jan 10th and finished Jan 30th. It was pretty well framed from 2 years ago when we started the basement project.

What have we been up to?

Okay well if you know me you know that January is my least favorite month of the whole entire year. I think it has alot to do with thinking I could have done better and now I just have to try that much harder for a whole new year. It also has to do with me missing the sunshine and adventures we always go on. Anyway there are only 2 more days of January and I just can't tell you how excited I am about that.

So this month Terry and I have been working our fannies off in the basement. I have wanted a bathroom down there for the preschool kids for a year now. I must say I have been very patient and waited until Terry was ready to dedicate a small part of himself to my project.

Okay so he had to dedicate his wholeself to it but I was there with him for every minute of it. Here are some before and after photos of our little project. I must say my man does it all!

Matia pulled her first tooth out!

So on the 10th this month Matia decided it was time to get that loose tooth out of her way. But she also decided that she could pull it out by herself with less pain then anyone else could do it. So she pulled and pulled and pulled and finally after about an hour of playing and pulling on it she was shocked to see it was sitting in her fingers after a desperate attempt to pull that tooth.

I was just glad that I didn't have to do it. I tell you I hate pulling those teeth. But it bugs me to see them just wiggling away. Anyway good job Tia you are one brave girl I know I never had the guts to pull my own teeth.