Snowboarding One Last Time

So we just couldn't throw in the towel and be done with snowboarding for the season so we hit the slopes one last time. As we were going up the lift the second time Treg says "Dad this is so much fun, at first I didn't want to come but thank you for bringing me. I LOVE THIS, can we do this for my birthday!"










It was a perfect day! The sun was shining, the skies were blue, and we all had fun. We even got brave and hit the miniture board park with the rails and stuff. Which then took us to Snake Creek for a beautiful look out. It was a shorter day because we forgot about day light savings until we were headed up there but it was still a wonderful day! I just can't tell you how it takes my breath away when I am boarding down the slope following my 3 darling kids and cute little husband bouncing down the hill.
It's life's simple miracles I enjoy the most!

Matia's 9th Birthday

So today my baby girl turned 9 years old. It is just crazy to me, but I have loved every minute of it. Watching her grow from a totally dependant infant to an independent loveable sweet young girl. She has been waiting for her birthday so she could be served breakfast in bed... So here you go breakfast in bed.

At lunch time my mom and I checked her, Daisy, and Treg out of school and we took them to build a bear. My mom gave them some money to build whatever animal they wanted. It was perfect they loved getting out of school then spending time with grandma and to make a new stuffed friend on top of it was amazing!

Matia is such a social girl at school. She always finds a way to befriend everyone she meets. So when we were planning her party we had a VERY hard time limiting it to just 10 girls. Last year we found this amazing deal on these kits where you sew these little build a bears together. She loves sewing so we bought enough to make it a party. Thanks to my amazing friends who helped make it possible.

We sewed our bears together, weighed them, filled our their birth certificates, played a few games, ate cake and ice cream and opened presents. Matia loves all her friends but she has a hard time with all the excitement and attention on her so even though it was amazing we decided this is her last year for a BIG party.

After her party we had her favorite french dip sandwiches then we opened our gifts to her. Of course she loved her American Girl Doll Julie, she was amazed at the bunkbeds and was excited to stay up all night sewing the matress, blankets and pillows for the girls.





Matia I love you to pieces I hope you know that. You light up my life and make me smile whenever I think of all the kind things you do for other people every day of your life. Thank you for your examples of friendship and kindness! You are truely amazing! Happy Birthday my best girlfriend!

Busy Nights

So during the week we have started working on the basement. We just ran the electrical and rough plumbing for the kitchen. It was a nasty job with all the insulation but it has to be done. So here is a before photo.

Then Bowdee and I decided to start working on a small project for Matia's Birthday see she is getting a doll that she has wanted for over 3 years. Terry finally caved in and bought it for her. Of course it is for her birthday but Bowdee wanted to do something for her to go along with it. So we started making her some bunk beds for her dolls. Bowdee and I have enjoyed working together and learning at the same time.

Then we have her build a bear birthday coming up so I have been decorating the house, making cakes, and getting the party ready. Bowdee is still in scouts, piano, and doing fabulous in school.
Matia is in gymnastics, dance, and swimming lessons. Treg is in gymnastics as well and swimming lessons. Its busy but it keeps us all going and happy.

Treg also just performed in his class play at school the "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub" Play he was a narrator and he did a fabulous job. He is so animated it made it fun to watch all his actions. Good job Treg we loved watching your performance!

Wendover w/ My Girls

So my girls and I were talking and we figured the only time we would get away until June, for a short weekend away would be the first weekend in March. So Friday we sent the kids off to school packed our bags and headed to Wendover. Well okay we first stopped at Red Robin for lunch then to Ross for some Dancin Clothes.



Then it was our nice drive out to Wendover for a free room and to just sit around and breath. Terry always asks what do we do in Wendover that we enjoy so much. So this is what we do... We got our room then drove to Smiths for some snacks, got a Red Box movie.












Ate at Arby's and talked there until 11:00 then we went back to the room. Watched our movies while I worked on my clipboard projects and Holly slept, Tonja enjoyed Eat, Love, Pray. Fell asleep around 3:00. Slept in, showered, Tonja gave free pedicures and hair cuts. Then they both straightened my hair for me. We went for lunch at Pizza Hut and shopped the family dollar. Then Kami and Emilee showed up for the Jagertown Concert. So we found them just 1 door down from ours and went to the Peppermill for the show. Emilee and I played $20.00 on 21, I came out $70 ahead. Then we danced our selves silly until 2:30 in the morning.

We drug ourselves to our rooms and crashed until 10:00 the next morning. I didn't fall asleep until 5:00... I swear I just don't sleep well without Terry. Anyhow we got up and showered, cleaned up, headed to the car, but had to gamble our free money away first. Made about 20$ more on the slot machines then ate at Subway and headed home. On the way home we decided we all wanna get skinny so we devised a plan to help each other be healthier and then we went home. That was our fun, nice relaxing weekend. And now it is over but I just can't tell you how lucky I feel to be apart of such great girls! So as you can see it is not so much as what we do as who we are with and how we feel!

Brighton - OUCH!

Yesterday started out perfect! We woke up at 7:00 to go snowboarding as a family to Brighton. We left the house around 8:45 which we thought the resorted opened at 9:30 so we were right where we wanted to be. The kids were all filled with stoke and excitement to hit the mountain again. We listened to the Hunger Games on our trip up and all was good. We got our tickets and hooked up with Troy, Terrys brother. I told Terry, Troy and Bowdee to go have fun and that we would meet them for lunch around 12. So I took Matia and Treg up Magestic for a few really fun rides. We had a few moments where I was questioning my abilities and was wishing Terry was there to help me out. Like the time Tia went ahead of me and Treg through the trees. But Treg was unable to make that path and started heading down a different path. I had to unstrap and carry him back up the hill to the path so that Tia wouldn't be lost and waiting for us. After that I got smart and told her to follow us. Getting off the lift went alot smoother then I expected. They both held my hand and I was in the middle and we just coasted right off. So all and all we had a great time. Treg took a really big wipeout, he was just going all out trying to get down cuz his face was cold. He hit a big bump and it threw him pretty good. He was covered in snow and spread eagle facing up. But he didn't move I got up to him and he was ok he said his arm hurt which scared me but it was just the snow. We were right under the lift and I heard alot of people gasping and pointing at him. But we got him up and started heading down the mountain and shortly after we got going a snowmobile ski patrol came barreling up the mountain headed right for where we were. I seriously think someone called the patrol for this little lifeless boy that just took a big hit. Because if I didn't know him better I would have thought the same thing the way he just laid there motionless not even crying out loud even though he probably wanted to. So after about 3 good runs with the kids we took a quick potty break and there were the boys ready for lunch. We went back to the truck and enjoyed the best pulled pork sandwich ever. Then headed back to the mountain for some fun. Terry decided it was my turn to go with Troy and Bowdee. I was a little nervous because for the last 3 years I have been bound to the bunny hills with the kids while they were learning. So you could say I am pretty rusty when it comes to snowboarding with the Big Boys. But I was excited too so we headed up Crest then headed over to Snake. Thats about the last thing I remember... I guess I caught my back edge and flung back and hit my head on the ice. Troy and Bowdee says I kept asking the same questions over and over. If Terry had the little kids and if we were on Snake. I could follow Troy down the mountain but if I couldn't see him I would stop because I was lost and had no clue where I was. So since Bowdee was following me he would show me Troy and I would start to follow him again. Then I do remember fighting with Troy telling him to leave me at the lodge and to go have fun while I take it easy. (which was about 1 hour after I fell because I insisted on him taking me on one more run, which I remember nothing about.)

I was sitting at the lodge for about 45 min while Troy and Bowdee were off looking for Terry and the kids. There was a really nice guy named Chris who came to talk to me. He sat down and showed me his good luck golden necklace that was from back in the 1600's. Thats why he didn't need a helmet like I evidently did. He also balled up some snow for me to hold to my head. And he was just a cool cute guy who took my mind off my hurting head and made me feel like I was going to be okay. Ya know he could tell I was hurting and what a nice thing for him to do. To spend that long sitting and talking to some old lady to make sure she was okay. When he could have just walked right past me and been snowboarding. I know most people would look at him with his long curly hair that was begining to dreadlock and think what a punk. But wow what a heart of gold that kid had. Chris whoever you are thanks for making a difference in my day. I hope someday I can be more like that, so outgoing and helpful instead of shy and passive.Troy found Terry and the kids going up Crest yelled to them and they hurried down as fast as they could. Then we left, that was it 30 minutes before the lifts closed. Bowdee was so cute, I was feeling guilty making everyone leave early. So he says its a good thing mom because now we can beat the traffic. I have to say I am one pretty lucky girl to have a family that loves me as much as they do. Troy was so sweet and fabulous to take care of me. Bowdee was so worried, I think I really scared him and Troy both. Terry made sure I had everything I needed and I wasn't falling asleep. Matia kept rubbing my head and asking me questions. Treg well that was the funniest part of the whole thing, listen to this. Terry was teasing me about if I died this and that which was all funny and good hearted. Then Treg says "Yah if mom dies then we won't have to go to school tomorrow."

So when I woke up today I seriously felt like I was hit by a freight train that was going super fast. My hip hurts, my neck kills, my head throbs and I feel older then I have ever felt... But I am happy to be alive. I am thankful for my sweet family and all my dear friends. I hope I am living a life that I show people how I feel about them and that they will never have to wonder if I loved them. Because I do love my friends and family so much! I just hope they know that. Thanks guys

Nosey Neighbors

Check out our nosey neighbors. Our chickens are so funny. The other day Matia and I were in the office when we hear a thump on the back door. Matia checks it out and our silly Sweetie Pie was trying to fly through our glass door. I guess I cleaned it better then I thought :) But they often times peek through our door and tease Dash our dog... By the way aren't hens suppose to be quiet? We have some that I swear are as loud as the roosters. I hope it doesn't keep the neighbors up.

Boys Boarding Sundance

So Wednesday was the perfect day to skip school and go boarding. That is just what I did for Bowdee. Okay so I did't go boarding with them... But I did take them up to Sundance to enjoy the day. Right when we got up there we met up with Jonah Beck and his parents which Jonah is a really good friend of Bowdee's. It is funny because I remember Bowdee pointing to Jonah when we were in the same ward and said mom that kid is so funny I want to be his friend! Ever since then their friendship has grown stronger and stronger. So when we met up with them his parents offered to bring the boys home.It wasn't a hard decision when I had preschool to prepare and activity days girls coming to my house at 4, to do a scrapbooking layout. I took their generous offer gave Bowdee some money for lunch and went home. The boys had a great time and I got so much done!

Fish Dinner w/ Mom & Dad

So after my mom and dad babysat Dash (our Labradoodle) while we went to Wendover. We invited them over for a YUMMY fish dinner. Terry makes the best fish dinner and any time he is willing to cook it for me he is welcome to go fishing. My mom is also a big fan of Terrys fish dinner. Okay so she will eat just about any fish put in front of her. In fact that is why her dad would take her fishing is so she could eat the fish and he could catch more! Nobody can eat fish like my mom. She will lick the bones to get the last little bit and she is so fun to watch. I think that is why we invite her over its kinda entertaining just watching her. Anyway I have to say I am pretty thankful for my parents and all they have taught me. I wish Terrys parents lived closer so we could share little unexpected moments like this. Moments that might go unnoticed to some but will forever be etched inside my brain. I love you mom and dad!

Cousin Sleepover

So as the boys were fishing or should I say searching for their tents. I was home nice and warm with my 3 cuties and 3 cousins for a sleepover. I love watching my kids play with their cousins. I never lived close enough to my cousins to become really good friends so to me it is like a bonus in life to have cousins that are close. So we played Just Dance, Kami and I got an ice-cream, we ate Mac-n-cheese (because we love it and Terry hates it). Then we went to church in the morning. Well we were going to church and I started with a migrane so I headed home for some medicine hoping to stop it before it got out of control and ended up nursing it for the next 3 hours. Talk about feeling guilty. I seriously thought I would be able to head back to church right after I took some medicine but it put me down and I had to remind myself to go get the kids from church. Then Terry came home and we headed out to Wendover for the night. We like Wendover for a few reasons. It is a long enough drive away from home that the kids feel like we are going away. #2 We love the long family talks we have on our way out to the middle of no-where. #3 The kids love being allowed into the hot tub (which was not working this time). #4 The kids love choosing where we eat which includes subway, mcdonalds, and smith. But they think it is wonderful and we think the FREE price is wonderful. I remember my dad and mom taking us to the hotel by the Airport.
Dad got some kind of discount from where he worked so thats why we would go there. And to this day I remember eating at Pizza Hut, swimming with my dad and watching a movie. It was the best day ever and we loved it. So we go to Wendover and we love it as a family.

Boys Ice Fishing Trip

We headed up to Strawberry on Satuday night for a quick overnighter. It looked like we got there just as the tail end of the storm passed. As we were setting up our QuickFish 6 tents, the full moon was shining through the light snow that was gently falling from the sky. All and all it had the makings of a great night. Little did we know that Mother Nature does this to lure us out into the wild. We settled into the fishing tent and began fishing. While we were sitting there talking about the good-ol-times, it happened. There was a loud "POP" and before we could say holy smokes, we were sitting in a blizzard. Our sleeping tent flew into our fishing tent and with a "POP" the fishing tent lifted off like a rocket and the two tents began racing across the snow covered ice. We took off after the tents and about 200 yards later we caught up to our tents and we were wondering what the crap just happened. We drug the tents back and over an hour later we were finished getting camp back together. The only thing we lost was the snowmobile, but my buddy said he thinks that he saw a green lady with a big nose and a tall black hat flying around in the sky on it.
Anyway, my brother had a 21 inch cut on his line for who knows how long and reeled it in. I think he caught it off of a green 3 inch tube and chub. Our other buddy made it through the storm and joined us for a good clean game of Hold-em. We only got three hours of sleep that night at began fishing at 8:00 a.m. The action was hot on the chub bait, but it is a new way of fishing for us and it was extremely difficult to set the hook.
I had one fish take my lure at the hole while I was trying to land it. Later I caught a 22 inch cut and when I looked in his belly to see what he had for breakfast, I found my lure from earlier. Talk about lucky, I wish I had that same luck during our game of Hold-em. Anyway, 15 feet of water and hot action on the tube jig with chub bait. It was good time. Only landed 2 cuts and 1 crawfish. We saw some nice bull elk near Heber on that North side of the canyon on the way home. P.S. this was written by Terry for a fishing forum and I stole it for my journal. I love the way he tells this story

What do I do?

So I get alot of people asking me what I do with all my spare time since my kids are all in school now. So I teach preschool on Tues and Thurs which takes all but about 5 minutes before the kids come home... Then on Mondays I recover my home from the weekend of madness and playtime. I also do most of my errands on Monday, at least I try. Wednesdays I try to spend a couple hours scrap booking or organizing family videos then I usually have a list waiting for me like I did today... This was the list I wanted accomplished before the kids came home.
Do my moms hair
Exercise
Pick up med at Target
Return pants at Old Navy
Make Flaming Gorge Reservations
Make Yellowstone Reservations
5 Loads of Laundry
Dishes
Clean Carpets
Clean Terrys Car
Fill up Car Gas
Costco for groceries
Make covers for ice fishing sleds
Spring Clean bedroom and bathrooms
Put in for deer hunts
Update Blogs
Prepare new month preschool
Sweep and mop kitchen floor
(I had all but about 2 of those items done before the kids came home.)
Fridays are the days I do what I want weather I go out to eat with friends. Go walk around some store. Or end up finishing that to do list I was working on. So I guess I am just trying to say life has a way of keeping me busy. Very rarely I have a moment where I wonder what can I be doing. But I wouldn't have it any other way I enjoy being busy and I go crazy when I feel like I have accomplished nothing. This is not something I admire about myself. I truly wish I could sit still and just enjoy watching what is happening around me. And sometimes I do... Those times are when we are ice fishing, camping, snowboarding, boating... You get my drift but when I am at home I am busy... There are moments where I will take a time out and play WebKinz.. Yes this is my latest craze which is fading but I love the pizza game and Atlantiles they just help me to slow down. Crazy how life just happens.

Valentine's Day 2011

I love Valentine's day every year, it is the same every year but the whole day is just special to me. It goes like this I wake up to new flowers from Terry with some kind of sweet surprise. Then I decorate the table and make pink heart shaped pancakes, wake up the kids with a sweet kiss and hug and happy Valentines day.

Then send them off to school dressed in red or pink with their Valentines in hand. Tia usually has some kind of a heart shaped into her hair one way or another. Then I stay home and bake cookies and package them up for later door bell ditching which the kids just LOVE.
Then I go and help out at one of the kids classroom parties. This year it just happened to be Bowdee's year. He wanted me to have them play the heart stacking game, but since they are getting older I made them do it using straws. It was just fun to be there watching them interact with each other.

After school was homework, piano lessons for Bowdee, Gymnastics for Treg and Tia, then swimming with friends for Bowdee and lessons for Treg and Tia. Door bell ditching on our way home to our heart shaped pizza from $5 Buck Pizza (although I can't recommend because this year it was GROSS).

Then we opened some small gifts and Valentines from each other. Then headed in to stay up late (which mom doesn't allow very often on school nights 9:30 that was pushing it) to watch Guardian of Ga'hoole. Which the kids just loved. So it was the perfect Valentines day one filled with love all the way around. Happy Valentines Day to all of you!

Brighton Snowboarding

After spending all day Saturday at Basketball games and in the basement running wire through some itchy insulation. We decided it was time to get outside. So Sunday morning we woke up early and headed to Big Cottonwood Canyon. Everytime I even get near the mouth of the canyon I feel an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. It takes me back to the year Kami and I worked at Solitude (as you know a great time in my life). So needless to say we were all happy as can be. We got up there before 10 and had so much fun the rest of the day. Except at lunch time as we were sitting there drinking hot chocolate and eating whatever we had (since we forgot our lunches at home) we notice how pink we were all getting... OOPS mom forgot the sunscreen. So we went up for just a couple more runs then cut out 1/2 hour early because I didn't want to get into to much trouble for neglecting my children. I promise you one thing next time I will be more prepared. I think I was just so excited to get up there that I forgot all about reality. It was a great day and the kids did wonderful for their first time boarding this year. Matia is officially all on her own. We need to work on her toe edge a little more. Treg is doing fabulous all though all he wanted to do was go off the jumps and do tricks like he does on his X-box game SSX-Tricky. It didn't helpe that the lift went right over the half pipe and skate park. We just told him he has to keep practicing so he can get good enough to do those tricks without hurting himself. What is scarey is I see him having the guts to do those tricks and it won't be long! I will be closing my eyes and saying lots of prayers when the tricks start. If ya look really close this is Bowdee going off a jump getting some serious air. Ya like I said not to far away. It was so fun though to be enjoying one of my favorite things to do with ALL of my family! And seeing that they really enjoy it as well. Life is good today!