Townsends Easter Party

After the hunt we loved counting our 6 Blue Eggs and 9 any other color eggs. We are kept thinking and using our brains by the great guidelines given before each hunt. And of course always looking for the wild green egg and the black jelly bean.
Troy and his girls. What a delight to have them around. How lucky is Troy to have 3 special ladies in his life?
Talesha surounded by her sweet family. We are so excited to have a new one around next year. Congrats Talesha we hope this pregnancy goes well for you.
Glen I don't think we told you thank you for coming and being a part of the family even though Cindy couldn't make it. You are the man. Not very many people would have displayed this kind of courage and dedication as you did today. We missed you Cindy I hate it when the work life interfers with real life!
Tomas and Isabela fending for themselves while their mom was rushing about taking photos of the whole ordeal. Not that I can talk but hey it feels good not to be alone. We love you and your darling family Tara and we will pray your family grows to 4 soon. Good luck this week let us know if we can help you.

So a little late it always better then never. Things were so crazy around Easter that we put our annual easter egg hunt until now. It is always hard to find a time that everyone can get together in a family this size. But wow is it ever worth it. The memories we create and the moments that won't be forgotten. The time we have to just talk with one another just is something we can't replace. I am so thankful for family. To have people in this world who are connected to you through something stronger. I cherish the time I have with both of our families to get to know each other even better. We are always changing and we will never know each other truly unless we keep those bonds strong and renew them often. Thank you Kaye and Chuck for allowing us to gather together and strengthen these bonds. And I must say the $5.00 I made in the Easter Egg hunt is always nice as well. The kids loved getting together with their cousins and just having fun.

Gateway Childrens Museum

So this week the kids and I have been creative to find cheap fun activities to do since we couldn't go away like everyone else for Spring Break.

So we have been swimming and playing raquetball and gaming at home and other things. But yesterday we splurged and went to the childrens museum at the Gateway Mall in SLC.

I have heard over and over it is worth the money definately take your kids. Well I finally did and yep it was worth the money we spent a little more to get a 6 month pass.

We learned all about the body and how it works on Sesame Street. Then we got to board a Life Flight Helicopter and decided that was the last time we ever wanted to be in one.
But we are thankful they are here to help those that really need them, like Aunt Tonia. It was simply amazing the grocery shopping was wonderful and all the kids loved the imaginative room upstairs where they had all sorts of things to create with. It was one fun day and if you haven't been you should go. It was $8.50 a person heck like Troys says thats as much as a movie these days.

West Canyon

So this weekend our whole family felt the urge to go away and be together for a little healing time. So we went way out in the West Desert toward Dugway.
Kyle and some of his friends also decided to go to the same place so we went with them and shared mom and dads trailer. Which makes this a little less stressful on me being the mom and making sure the kids are warm and clean.
So it was a good weekend. We went back to the Geode Beds next to Topaz Mountain and found some really cool Geodes. Anyway it was some great fun and good memories.

Dash

So we finally did it! We added on to our family. We have a new member he is a boy we adopted him on April 5th. Dash is a Labradoddle, which is a mix between a lab and a poodle. He is a very sweet boy, although we are working through some obedience issues. However he is great with the kids and we feel he is teaching them alot. We took Dash camping with us this weekend and he was a real trooper. So here is to our first indoor pet since our chipmunks. Wish us a little luck! Yes Tonia, Terry's sister who just passed away inspired us to add on to our family. She was such a dog lover it just seemed like the perfect time, the time we have been waiting for.

Tonia's Accident

So wow where do I start I guess if you don't know already you can check out all the details on Tonia Blogspot at http://toniaeccles.blogspot.com. Here you will find that Terrys sister Tonia, just 2 years older than him was involved in a bad jeep accident. She pulled over to throw up and hit the curb and it flipped her jeep 2-3 times. She was life flighted to IHC in SLC and there she was in the ICU Shock and Trauma unit for over a week. Tonia ended up getting an infection called MRSA, which can be deadly to healthy people. She didn't make it, however she did make her dream come true by saving 3 peoples lives by donating when hers ended. Tonia was an amazing person, I truely feel blessed to have known her as well as I did. I felt like Tonia was my own sister. She had a way of showing how much she cared for everyone. What an amazing person. I wanted to thank everyone that helped me the week she was in the hospital. So many people babysat or carpooled or brought dinners all so that I could spend as much time possible with my very dear friend and sister. I will never forget the thoughtfulness each of you demonstrated to me and my family. I know Tonia is now in a better place and we will miss her much. But Tonia will forever be in my heart as we continue through this life. Thanks Tonia for your perfect example of what I should be.

St. Patricks Day

So if you don't leave out a little green magical box for the leprechauns then you are sure missing out. Of course those little devils messed up the house again. But the kids didn't mind cleaning their mess when I told them if they don't then I will throw away their magical boxes. Because the boxes are what get the leprechauns to come and leave them little green gifts. Then of course we had green pancakes and eggs, then clover sandwiches and the whole works. We celebrate St. Patricks because I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful happy life. I have nothing to complain about. My husband is so dang cute and loveable. And not to mention my kids are the best. Happy Green Day!

Tregs 4th Birthday

March 15, 2008 - So today Treg had another birthday and guess what he is now 4. Treg is so much fun to be around. His moods change as quick as the Utah weather. He is happy one moment and within the same breath everything can go bad just like that. But it is all good because I feel like I understand him. I guess that tells you a little about me huh. Well it is the way it is. Treg decided last year on his 3rd birthday that his 4th birthday would be a "Daf Vador" Birthday and he has stuck with it. Well mom put a little Jedi twist to it but it was a fun party. With all his preschool friends here to celebrate. We made light sabors, then raced pods, then we did light sabor training with balloons and just had a great time. Thank you to all Tregs friends for being so good to him. Oh and Treg I love it when you tell me "When I was a kid I use to..." I just love how now in your mind you are so grown up. What will you think when you turn 8?

Tregs 4th Birthday Slide Show

Matia's 6th Birthday

March 11, 2008 - I just can't believe my baby girl is already 6! I can remember it like it was last week, bringing our sweet bundle of pink home to brighten things up a little. Wow has she ever proven to be a bit of sunshine in our lives. With Matia part of our family we don't feel like we miss out on anything. She adds enough spunk and personality for 10. Matia I sure love the little lady you are becoming always sweet to everyone. And you are always concerned for those who are going through unhappy moments. Thank you for being part of our lives. I love the way you crave cheese and fruit. I love the way you walk right up to school so independant and strong. I just love you, Happy Birthday CutiePie!

Matia's 6th Birthday Slide Show

Welcome Joey

Today yet another miracle happened in our lives. We saw the work of God as he granted us the pure joy of spending time with one of his special loved ones. Joey made the great trek to the good old Earth to join Kyle and Emilee's family. Tayla and Lily both became big sisters and just love the fact they have a special baby. It feels like just yesterday we were in Flaming Gorge when they found out God had plans for them to be parents yet one more time. Joey I love you tons and hope you will always feel of this love for you. Kisses Forever Aunt Kristi

Ice Fishing

March 2, 2008 - Whenever I hear of myself going ice fishing I am reminded of a funny joke my aunt Jeanette told me. It was of a lady who went to a mental institute and told the counselor she would like to have her husband admitted. The counselor asked her what his signs were and she responded. "Well he goes Ice Fishing." The counselor immediatly responded "Good enough for me". Ya well you kinda have to be crazy to go and sit on a huge block of ice, drill a hole, bate a hook and sink it down the hole. Then you just wait and wait for something to happen. And to think we drug our 3 children along for this torture... So actually it is not as bad as it sounds. We do love the time we have there and it creates in incredible bonding time. So yes we got skunked and yes the guy next to us with only one pole and no tent or chairs or heater caught 3 big ones. HUH makes me think what we are doing wrong. Well it was fun and I have to admit without Terry I sure would miss out on alot of fun in life. Thanks Terry for pushing me a little more when I need it.

Girls Weekend Away

Feb 28, 2008 - So finally we girls (Holly, Tonja, Chris and I)found the time to get away for a few nights to scrapbook. Well if you ask Terry he would say we just had our Annual Fur Traders Convention. But that is not really what it is... we just had to get caught up on our scrapbooking for the sake of our childrens memories of their childhood. You know it was not for us, it is all about the family. Well we had a great time anyway. We went to the Covington's Cove near Park City and had a great time relaxing, scrapbooking and eating. Yep there was lots of snow and we will forever be grateful that Dad Covington cleared a path for us to get to the cabin. Well thanks girls for the wonderful memories.

Pampering Night

Feb. 27, 2008 - If you ask me all girls need to be pampered every once in a while, especially the pregnant ones. So Kami and I took Em-Dog out to be pampered. We first went to get pedicures and manicures and then to Chilli's for a little YumYum. It was great we had such a wonderful time just being girls and enjoying the finer things in life. Well you know we only live once we best enjoy it while we can. Not that I am justifing my actions, just clarifing.

Clay Walker with Mom

Feb. 22, 2008 - So I must say I really hit the jackpot out in Wendover this weekend. I am not kidding either. I made something worth more then a million dollars. I made a memory with my mom that I will never forget. We went to a Clay Walker Concert just the two of us and we loved it. It was so much time to just talk and talk and well talk some more. I guess we did do a little singing on the way out there. And then the Concert well we sang some more as we got up and danced the night away. I just have to say I don't think I have ever had so much fun with my mom in all my life. Thank you mom for being who you are. So much fun to be with and with such wisdom in your words. I love you mom, for I truely feel you are a part of my soul. Remember "life is not measured by the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away." I dare say we had our breath taken away!

Valentines Day

Feb. 14, 2008 - So this Valentine's Day was a crazy busy one I must say. It started out as the regular 5:00am workout with Kami at the AF Rec Center and then I come home to my honey frantically wrapping gifts for me. It was cute. Then we had the pancake breakfast and then Tregs preshool Valentine's Party and then wouldn't you know it I volunteered to help out with both Bowdee's
and Matia's Class partys so there I go dashing out the door after serving heart shaped sandwiches to the kids. Then after delivering cookies picking up the heart shaped pizza and to home to relax and enjoy each other. We had a great day and I do love being involved with the kids and their lives. What will I ever do without them to keep me busy?
Today is also a milestone in my life. Today Emilee stopped working so she could stay home and have her third baby girl. This means she will no longer need me to watch her children. So now I have only my 3 children at home with me.It is definately a bitter-sweet feeling, I love my neices and nephews so much I do feel like they are my own. However, I am looking forward to spending more one on one with my own children. So here we go to a newer life style for all of us.

Skiing Alta with the Fam

Jan. 27, 2008 - Did you know that Alta offers free skiing... Well they do but only on one lift... and well only from 3:00-4:30... so it is a lot of work for a little skiing but wow the kids love it and we are learning it is just about the right amount of time for those little ones. So we took the kids up to Alta because we are too cheap to pay for all of us to go for a full day and then leave half way through. Anyway it was a blast this is the first time that we were able to take Treg up with us and he loved it. Tia and I were pretty much glued together and Treg hung with Dad then Bowdee just did whatever he wanted. He is getting so good I have to admit I get a little proud when I watch that kid ski down the hill. Matia and Treg are getting so brave even through the blizzard that hit half way through the day. Remember the family that skiis together stays together. So skiing we will go.