Christmas Cards

This year was the first year I have dared involve the kids in sending out the Christmas cards, I am so glad I did. So they were at the table doing their homework when I was starting the cards and said "hey do you guys want to sign your names 60 times on all these christmas cards?" Thinking they would call me crazy and laugh in my face. Well surprisingly they all said sure. So we started passing the letters around and they all signed all of them then they asked me what else they can help with so I stuffed the envelopes then Treg put the address labels on, while Bowdee stamped a few flakes and Tia stamped the return address and a few more flakes. Then Bowdee topped it off my putting a stamp on each on that needed to be mailed. It was so fun to sit there and talk about the people we were sending them to and remembering all our best friends this time of year. Yes I think we just started a new family tradition. Who knows maybe next year I will have each of them write the letters too....

Christmas Kickoff

This week has already gone by so fast. We have set up the Christmas tree which is always one of my favorite things to do with my family. You see each year we give the kids a new ordament and so we go through the remember this one... AHHH mom this was my favorite I remember when you gave it to me..... anyway I just love it.

Then we had our first Christmas Party with my moms side of the family. We only see those cousins once maybe twice a year and it was nice to see all those familiar faces and get time to chat with them for a little. It reminds me so much of when we were all little and Grandpa and Grandma Bennion would cram all of us down in their basement to hand out gifts. What good memories... What good people, I am proud to consider myself a Bennion and be part of their family.

Then the first Monday of every December my Aunt and cousins put on a live nativity down on their farm by the lake. OH my goodness I LOVE IT! I can't tell you how great it is to go there and hear the story of Jesus's birth in such a touching experience. They start out by having us sign a roster then we sit around a bomb fire and sing songs. Then they take a smallish group to another fire and start the story of that sweet babe that was born in Bethleham so many years ago. They are all dressed up and they carry lanterns and lead us down a path from one place to another first you go to a home searching for the Christ child and they take us to the Wise men who tell us about their experience seeing the Christ Child then we are led to the Shepards who bare testimony of Jesus's birth and they point us in the right direction.
Then as we are going down the dirt road following the star. Angels sing to us, it is amazing they are way up in the sky on a hay stack with a spot light shining right on them. There was a gentle breeze with a light snow fall. I can't explain to you the pureness of the whole experience. We follow on to the manger under a big bright star with the donkey in a coral and a couple in the shack with baby Jesus.
They finish the story and offer the kids to come and see baby Jesus if they would like. AMAZING! I am so glad we have added this tradition to our family. With it being right at the first of the month it helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas all year long!

So yes our Christmas season is in full swing here at the Townsends house. I love every minute of it and the snow just makes it that much better. Then every night we unwrap a Christmas book or two for our reading that night and of course we have the chocolate calander. Yes I do love this season with all its traditions

Sawyer Brown

Oh how I love the sound of Mark Millers voice and then to see him light up the stage with his incredible dancing. Oh it makes my heart so happy. Terry bought me tickets to see Sawyer Brown in concert in Wendover for my birthday. So this last weekend we went out to Wendover to finally get to enjoy this much anticipated concert. Yes he is still as good as he was 16 years ago. Kami watched our kids and mom and dad watched our dog and away we went carefree and fancy steppin, until we got to I-80 which was a solid sheet of ice with at least 30 accidents just till Tooele. We were so thankful that we put the studded tires on before we left and we made it through without any miss haps. So when they come back we are going to take my mom and dad forsure and anyone else that wants to come with us. It is one of the funnest times ever. Anyway thanks Terry for the wonderful birthday gift even if I did have to wait 3 months for it. It was well worth the wait. I just wish I would have remembered the camera in all the excitement. Terry even won another $150.00 on the penny slots! Who does that who goes out there and 2 trips in a row wins $150 on the penny slots? Yes we came home ahead we didn't just pour it all back in. Gotta love that Christmas bonus! All I am saying is if you have not seen Sawyer Brown in concert you need to add it to your bucket list.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Horray for no school for 5 days is what it was at first it felt like forever. Then all of a sudden we are waking back up at 7:00am getting the kids ready for school on Monday. I have to say we had a great weekend one of the best Thanksgivings ever. Terry had Wednesday off so we headed to Wendover and spent the night in a free hotel. They also gave us $45 just to drive out there so we were not arguing. We had fun playin in the pool and playing family games back in the hotel room. This is one activity everyone in the family enjoys except Terry. He has never been a big board game kind of guy. Then in the morning he went to get us breakfast and won us $100 in the slot machines! WOW - Nice bonus we had breakfast in bed as we watched the morning Thanksgiving parade (mom just wish she had her ads with her).

Then we headed to Grantsville to celebrate Thanksgiving with Terrys family. I have to say Thanksgiving is so nice to sit around and talk to the family we just never see enough of. Then watching the kids play with their cousins and having such a good time.
Yes I do love Thanksgiving day. This year I must say I am thankful for my life. I am thankful to be alive so I can enjoy this wonderful world the Lord has provided for us. Yes I do have alot to be thankful for.

November Recap

I don't know if it was just me or if November just seemed to fly by for everyone! One minute I was making halloween costumes and then next I was making Christmas gifts and my belly was full with Turkey! Anyway I have to say I am thankful for the photos on my computer so I can remember what happened in November.

Terry and I decided it was time to have Matia try out the motorcycle so we took her out in the desert and gave her a go. After what was a tramatic experience for her of confusing the gas and break we decided she is just not quite ready. She did great for a while but wow talk about scary. She also put on a darling Thanksgiving program at school that was just really cute! Terry and I have spent many nights hiking enjoying the scenery up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Some people would say we were hunting since we were caring a bow but I like to think of it as just a hike with options to get interesting.

One of our favorite family activities to do in November would be to play in the leaves. What a fun time for me to sit back and just watch the kids build piles and jump in them then dig down under and be buried in a pile of leaves. Have I told you how much I love being a mother? I just love every minute of it. Thanks to my family for making it so much fun!

Halloween hoorah!

I have to say I really enjoy Halloweeen. I love the challenge of putting together a costume that my kids will just love. Of course they have the choice and I don't think I have every told them no and helped change their minds. So this year Bowdee wanted to be a Warlock Child, Matia an Angel, Treg-Wolverine, Terry a Warlock and me a Witch. So after a month of planning and sewing and searching this is what we ended up with for the kids. I was impressed with ourselves. We had all 3 kids ready and only 10 minutes late for their 8:00 class. I know I couldn't have done it without Terry's help. Thanks babe!

Last night (Thursday) we went trick or treating to the Heritage Center here in A.F. I love taking my kids to this trick or treating in particular because it teaches the kids it is not all about candy. It is remembering the elders who don't get to participate in fun activities like this very often. We substituted our costumes because right after Tia had her basketball game.

Which was fun to watch because Tia is really getting into it. Now she has learned the rules (mostly). And tonight she made her first basket! She is still the most aggressive on the team but good goin' Tia.

Tuesday night was Bowdee's last football game. Yes he played in the snow and they all had a great game although they dropped the ball a little more. I think it was due to the fact it is hard to catch a ball with frozen fingers but that could just be my excuse.

Then we came home and carved pumpkins. I love how my kids are so creative that they can draw their own faces on paper then we transfer them to the pumpkin. I was never that creative. I could copy faces but to think of my own it was always the triagle eyes nose and little mouth. I think they get their creativeness from Terry. Chalk just one more thing up for that man. What a fun week full of activities! Ya I love this time of year!

Football

So Terry and I have not been football fans in the past. I mean ya we will watch a good game here and there especially when the Utes are in the play offs. But other then that our football watching days have been limited to about as many games as I can name on one hand. So since Bowdee has been playing Flag Football he has really became a lover of the game. It doesn't help that my brother Kye is as big lover of the game and encourages this new love of Bowdee's. Every time they see eachother they start talking the talk and this and that about all the games going on. I have to say watching Bowdee play is so much fun for Terry and I. We really get into it and we love to watch him do things he loves. And we have become almost addicted to watching the Utes Football every Saturday for a couple different reasons. One when you have no extra cash it is cheap and something to do. Two because we know that Bowdee loves it and would rather do that than alot of things. Three because we love the company we get to watch it with, which is usually my parents or Kye and Em because they have the stations and big TV's it is just not the same on our 25 incher. Anyway I am just saying we have not done much lately other then watch Football and work on our To Do list. It has been such a slow month. Matia did start Basketball so there is another 2 games a week for us to watch and she is so agressive it is fun to watch her. So anyway I hope all is well and we will just keep on trucken. Hopefully we will be watching a little less football to keep us out and about.

Funnys from this last week!

So Terry was talking to his mother on the phone tonight and she asked "Terry what does Bowdee like to do in his down time?" Terry responds with "Down time, what is that?" I guess I am keeping this family so busy that we don't really get the downtime thing to well.

Then Tia, Bowdee and Terry were out fishing in the rain on Sunday night at Tibblefork. It was a cold cold night and Treg had fallen asleep in the truck so me being the kind mother that I was decided it would be best to let him sleep while I stayed with him and read my book. Well after fishing for a while with Tia being the only one to catch a fish again (what is up with this girl and her fishing), they came and jumped in the truck to get warm and go home. They were all telling me how cold it was and Tia pipes in with "Mom it was so cold I had to fart to keep my legs warm". What the.... I guess it was a good thing we were in the mountains.

Well that is all I can think of right now but I am sure I will be adding to this post as I think of the things Bowdee and Treg said.

Funny

I have heard this before and just loved it so here it is in my blog so that one day when I print this thing I will have it forever...

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning....

Uphill... Barefoot...

BOTH ways... Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia!

And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!

Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take, like, a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!


Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished and the tape would come undone. Cause - that's how we rolled, dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever!
And you could never win.. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!


You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off yo ur ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel! NO REMOTES!!!


There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or before!

Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd

I have been dying to take the jeep up the canyon for a autumn drive. So Monday right after Terry got home from work we headed up the canyon. I think every other family had the same FHE idea because the canyon was backed up all the way to the Canyon road turnoff at the mouth of the canyon! But that didn't stop us, which I am glad we waited because the toll bothe just started letting people in to get the line down. If you know me, you know I had in my little mind to take some family photos while we were up there. So this is what we ended up with the sun had gone down and we were lucky to get what we did.

But I think they turned out pretty nice. Ya, I love the AF Canyon, jeepin, fall time, my family and my dog! I just don’t think life gets any better than this. Okay I guess it could have been better if I had a nice Dr. Pepper with chipped ice in my hand... But then again it was so cold up on top of the mountain that I am not sure I would have enjoyed it.

Strawberry Fishing

Sunday morning came and we all had the itch to go try our luck out fishing on Strawberry Reservoir. We have never taken the boat to Strawberry so we thought now was a good time to try it out. So we hooked up the boat, threw in the poles, filled the coolers with yummy food, rounded up some good books and off we went. The drive up the canyon was gorgeous with all the changing leaves. I remember thinking to myself even if the battery in the boat is dead this drive was completely worth all the gas money and time. We got on the lake and about an hour later Matia landed the first fish of the day!

It was a great size it was 15 inches long and pretty thick. She was elated! Then about 2 hours later I caught a fish that was the biggest fish I have ever had on my pole! It was huge I swear it was over 22 inches but of course my eyes could have been pulling that fisherman’s trick on me. However, I started squealing and reeling and Terry got the net and ready to scoop it in when….. Yes it got away! I was so bummed but I didn’t give up and I didn’t even cry I just kept fishing for another 3 hours trying and trying and getting nothing.

I don’t know what we have done wrong to Strawberry we use to catch our limits all the time and they were some really nice fish. But now it is like there is some curse on us so we can’t catch jack. But it was fun and yes the drive up the canyon was beautiful!

Last Boating Session of the Year?

So today we took the boat out for possibly the last boating session of the year. I can not believe I have let 2 months go by without getting out on the lake. It seems like life can get so busy so fast and then it passes even faster!

I was so proud of the kids even though it was colder then normal they jumped right in and started playing then Bowdee just couldn't wait any longer to get on his board. Now remember we haven't done this for two months and look how he did. AMAZING! I hate to think how he would be doing if we keep boarding every weekend the whole summer. Then after mom took some really hard face plants and dad soared through the sky with the eagles, we got the surfboard out.

We all took a turn surfing even Treg and Matia of course we don't let them do it too long because of the exhaust, but they had fun trying it and they all were so brave. So it was a great day on the boat then we hurried back to my mom and dads to watch the Utes win over Louiseville! NICE what a sweet day.

My dad has been working for 2 weeks straight so far with no days off so it was nice to see him. My mom was able to start taking some meds to make her feel better so it was nice to see her healthy I just wish she could take it all the time instead of one month on and one month off. Kami was even there to hang out with us. I haven't seen her for a long time and I must say I just love being with the fam!

My Friends

I went to play Bunco with some friends last night. And it made me realize how lucky I am to have so many friends who I enjoy to be with. I didn't know most of the ladies there but we all had a great time. No I don't have a picture of it. But it made me relize how thankful I am for all the friends in my life. I am truely surrounded by great friends and to think there was ever a time I use to cry myself to sleep because I felt like my family were my only friends and they were just my friends because they "HAD TO BE". So I wanted to thank all of you for being there for me and to know I never for one moment take advantage of your friendship!

I recently went to Park City with some ladies in the ward and it is amazing once you get talking how much you have in common with people you don't even realize. Like Deena for example I realized like me she will do the unthinkable for a great photo! Angie and I worked at Target at the same time for many years and didn't realize it until we put 2 and 2 together. Kim and I both teach preschool and just love it. Kristy went to the same high school as me and I graduated with her brother! I had such an amazing time with these ladies.

Then for my birthday I took 3 of my other friends to Wendover with me. I loved every minute of it. These girls are so much fun to be with. We don't even have to do anything at all and we are having fun! And yes they are just as obnoxious and crazy as I am.

Then I have my sisters and mom who have been my friends since the beginning of time!And no they don't have a choice in the matter they have to be my friends because I said so and I am the baby girl of the family! I seriously don't know what I would do without them.

Then I have countless friends who are always there for me no matter the time or day! Thank you all for being so wonderful. Wether you are near or far. You know who you are and you know I do love ya!

My Belated Birthday

Sunday we celebrated Kristi's 35th birthday finally. We have been so busy it has been hard to do. Terry has a certain way of doing things and it always has to be done the right way... He just wasn't satisfied with not celebrating it so today he made it Kristi's day and catered to her with breakfast buritoes, fixed the clutch in her jeep, cleaned the house, bought and sensitive wrapped gifts, made a cake with the kids, served a yummy salad with her favorite chicken cordeon blu, and then we took a trip to Kyes house to watch Woverine on his big screen in his movie theater in the basement.

Man I sure have one heck of a catch... Not many men could do that kind of birthday celebration... I am not saying he wasn't totally exhaused on Monday but it was fun! Thanks my cute family!

School Picture Day

Terry what do you think? I took the kids out and snapped a few shots before school picture day. Once I got the background up and took the kids photos Dash sat down right where they were... What was I suppose to do? So yes he got his photos taken as well. I know I am no professional and I know I don't have near the equipment they have but I thought they turned out ok considering me and myself.

Family Reunion

So we just had a "Fletcher Family Reunion" this last Saturday. This would be Terry's mothers side of the family. I just have to say I love family reunions, not very many people would say that and sometimes they are at inconvient times. But I love getting together with people who share our same blood and sometimes we know so little about them.

For example Terry has a cousin who has always been super sweet and friendly. She has a son (Andrew) who has a liver cancer and doesn't have much chance of surviving. It is heart breaking to see such a young child have to be faced with such issues.

Well as we were at the family gathering I noticed Andrew was taking some photos. It was funny how I was being shy and reserved and he just walked right up to me and started asking questions about my camera. So then we talked about camera bags and different options on our cameras. I was touched to have this special child reach out to me and in a way he pointed out to me that life is too short to be shy. I realized that I probably have something in common with every person at these reunions. I just have to branch out and find something.

I do love going to them and catching up with cousins. We had photos taken, ate delicous food, played games, but most importantly we visted amongst our families. It was a good time and I am so glad we were able to go.

After the reunion Matia was determined to get her ears pierced. So we went to Clair's in the South Town Mall and she so bravely got her ears pierced. I think Terry was more nervous about it then she was. She didn't even cry or flinch for that matter. Her little earrings look so stinking cute... But it made me realize before I know it she will be dating. I will treasure all these little steps in life. I am so glad I am here to enjoy these kinds of things with her. What a fun day, a day well spent surrounded by family!

A Night to Remember!

Tonight I had a night I will never forget! Our ward did an Enrichment night "Tea Party" for the mothers and their daughters. Oh wow it was simply amazing, from the hats they had for us to decorate, photos, decorations, dinner, company, everything was so well thought out and planned that it was a night like in a fairytale... "Perfect". I do have to give some of that credit to my lovely, wonderful, perfect daughter. What would my life be without my little "Gift of God". Matia lifts my heart and makes me smile every opportunity she gets. I love to watch her grow and learn the lessons of life. I can't tell you how much I enjoy her company. I knew the moment I heard about this activity that I was going to have to do what it takes to get me and my daughter there to enjoy such a magical night. I knew that we just couldn't wear jeans but that for Matia to really love it we were going to have to get all decked out in "Tea Party Attire" so I borrowed some cute clothes from my friend Tara and off we went. Leaving the boys to fend for themselves. I will always remember the balloons that lined up the walk way in their pretty pastel colors and simple decorations. The Old fashion mirrors that lined the fence near the photographers, the stacks and stacks of paper hats waiting to be claimed by some happy heart and then loved with decorations to complete ones personality. I will always remember the delicious food that was served in perfect harmony with the Tea Party.
I will remember the short lesson given by our wonderful Relief Society President how each of our personalities are unique and special and they each have something special to offer others. I will also never forget my dear friends that sat at our table and cherished every moment of the night with us. The small light conversations to the giggles of me dashing up to claim yet another piece of candy during the "Purse-n-ality game". I would like to thank everyone that had a part in planning tonights special party.
It was amazing, I expected amazing when I heard of who was participating in the planning part of it. But wow I must say they each did even better then my simple mind could ever even imagine. Thank you for a night to remember, thank you Tia for being my little friend through this journey of life. You are very special to me, I will always appreciate and cherish your friendship! Thank you again to all of you who gave us this treasured memory! My only regret was that my camera was left home so I couldn't capture all of these little things that were put together so perfectly to make such an amazing event!

Hunting up White River

So over Labor day weekend we decided to go camping with my brother and 2 of his buddies. We went up White River and of course we couldn't just camp, I put Terry to work trying to get us an elk. I think he was excited to be going home so I would hammer him any more about getting out there and bringing us some meat home. The elk were calling and what an amazing thing it is to be sleeping in a tent and listening to their bugeling all night long.

I do have to say the last 2 nights I slept in my brother's little trailer with all the kids "so that they wouldn't wake us up when they left for hunting at 5:00am" So that was what I told them anyway truth be told it had something to do with the recent bear sighting in that same canyon just the weekend before. The trailer was so much nicer and the boys didn't seem to mind sleeping in the tent together, hum.. It was a great weekend anyway sitting by the campfire, shooting our bows, playing in the dirt, and of course riding those 4 wheelers.

My bro has a Trex and my kids thought that was heaven after one ride in that nobody wanted to ride the 4-wheelers. The funniest thing said this weekend was by Bowdee who said "Dad your going to have to get a Trex because pretty soon you won't be able to hold yourself up anymore!" Good one Bowdee with a little sizzle sizzle action.

I do have to say one of my favorite parts of the weekend was when Kyle took me and Bowdee out on an evening hunt. It wasn't that we were hunting but it was the moment that Kyle turned around and started teaching Bowdee all the points about hunting, like staying down wind, camoflaging in with the trees or bushes, and sitting somewhere you don't have to move and won't make sounds when you are sitting there. It warmed my heart to hear him taking the time to teach Bowdee these things. I realized then and there Kyle does love Bowdee and wants only the best for his life. Thank you Kyle for taking the time to share those things with my boy. He sure looks up to you.