Boat Show 2010

This year we headed to the boat show on the opening day 2/11. Of course we hit subway first for our $5.00 footlongs that we all love. Tia goes for the Cold Cut Combo, Treg the Black Forest Ham, Bowdee LOVES the Subway Melt and Terry the Chicken. We also went with Troy and his 3 girls. It was lots of fun to have friends there with us. The best part was meeting all the pro wakeboarders having them sign our posters and then watching them board. Mom got sick of following the boys (a.k.a. Terry and Troy) around with a dry towel wiping off their drool off the boats. But it was all good there was plenty of my daydreaming moments as I would board a really cool boat.
There was a time we lost Matia... It almost made me panic but then I followed my motherly intuition and found her at the fish tank watching the fisher try to catch the bass. What a fun night for all of us.

Bowdee's Basketball

So we signed Bowdee up for Basketball and guess what they had no coach volunteer so Terry being the good man agreed to help the team out. Then he invited my dad to be the assistant coach. What fun have they had. At the first of the year they really struggled with every aspect of the game. But I tell you what Terry has started practices and reward points and they are really starting to enjoy the game. They even went to a BYU basketball game to enjoy the game from another view. I love going to watch them play. Bowdee plays with such an aggressive behavior it makes me wonder where he got that from. Yes, he is slightly competitive! But, like my dad says you can't teach that to a player!

Ice Fishing and Ice Castles

So last weekend we tried Deer Creek one more time. This time I caught 2 fish and was thinking I was pretty cool. Ya I know you really have to look hard to see the fish in this photo, but still IT IS A FISH! It was REALLY cold because of all the wind so the kids (including Terry) built this nice little wind breaker and kept warm by the heater. They really didn't seem to care if they even got a bite. After 2 hours of freezing our bahookies off we packed 'er up and headed for Midway.
We showed the kids the smurfs house and then headed to Zarmont Resort to check out the Ice Castles. They were awesome I highly recomend you taking a drive before they melt away. I just have to say it was fun to be with my family. We took this trip for Bowdee who is working on his Weblos badge.
He had to plan a trip and print off a map off the internet and give us all the directions of how to get there. I think that spiced things up for him and he learned when you drive you really have to watch where you are and pay attention. What a great day.

Midnight Snowman

So it was late one night when we were all ready for bed. On our way to bed one of the kids noticed how the snow was really coming down. Our whole family gets really excited about the snow and this year there hasn't been much of it. So Terry takes Tia in his arms and runs outside to take in the amazing view. They do a little dance and come back in. Well it wasn't long before the whole family was outside playing... Making prints, snowball fights, building snowmans you know the works well this is what we ended up with. For me it was a memory that will last a lifetime just watching my family play together and laugh till their bellies hurt! LOVE IT!

Ice Fishing Again

So Terry had this great idea to take the kids Ice Fishing at 6:00am to Strawberry then if we got skunked we would hit Jordenelle. Well, yes in this photo you see the sun just peaking over the mountains and we are on Strawberry we got there at 8:00 and left at 10:00 with no bites no action no nothing. I was kinda bummed because yes it is nice to get out of the house but seriously how many times can we really go fishing and get skunked so badly.

So we hit Jordenelle just to check it out and about 3 minutes after we put in Terry got a bite. So we all got excited it turned out we had 7 fish on our lines and only one came out of the hole so yes I was frustrated again not understanding how the fish just keep getting off right before we pull them onto the ice. Anyway it was fun to finally get some action.

Bowdee and Treg had fun sliding around and Matia of course stuck with her pole and kept trying for that fish. That girl is amazing when it comes to fishing she is our best fisher. Fun Fun just lovin the good life.

Shooting

We headed out west to practice shooting our guns. You see Bowdee and I am going to get our Hunters Saftey Cards soon (we hope) and so we just had to go practice shooting. It was great we called Troy and told him we were headed out past his house if he wanted to come. So here we are shooting our BB's and 22's it was just nice to get out of the house and feel the nice cold fresh air. I know this photo is kinda scary that many kid with guns at the same time, but I have to say they have been taught saftey by the best and only need a few reminders here and there.

Ya here is my hottie with the "NICE HOODIE" whenever he wears it he gets tons of women complimenting him on it so he thinks he is the bomb when he wears it. HAHA funny boy I tell ya.

Gin Blossoms

Terry suprised me with a telephone call one day saying "hey I can get great tickets to Gin Blossoms for cheap wanna go?" Well let me think about that for a minute... "Ya of course." So many people ask us what we go out to Wendover for and this is it... You see we have a nice 2 hour drive that is just him and me and the radio (if we choose). We talk about everything that is going on in our lives. We get to Wendover and we check into our Free Room and get our $5.00 Subway dinner. Then we head off to the concert some are better then others. Gin Blossoms was good if you just didn't watch them perform. After the show we spent our 20$ gambling and headed back to the room. It is just a nice cheap get away that Terry and I enjoy because we can spend so much time talking and catching up with each other. So another fun night in Wendover to be filed away in our memories together bank.

Technology

So I remember specifically going to see Braveheart at the movie theaters for New Years one year along time ago. And on the screen came this funny ad that said www.braveheart.com or something like that and my brother Colt leaned over to me and said. THAT IS THE FUTURE! If I had some money I would invest in the World Wide Web. I personally thought he was crazy at the time but nodded and said yep me too. Well I just have to say I don't know where we would be without it. I love the internet for so many things and I hate it for others. I love e-mail, LOVE IT! I mean today I just got a new home owners insurance and we did everything we needed to do through e-mail. Something that would have taken weeks to get done by sending me this form and then me payin 42cents to sign it and send it back and then send in another payment and then wait for the policy to be written and sent to me to veryify. Anyway you get the point. I LOVE THE Technology of these days. I love digital photos which my brother was also on the wagon before the wagon came around. I love editing my photos and creating with them. I admit it took me a couple years to convert but WOW! LOVE IT. So that is my little shout out today I love the ease that the computers bring to my house.

New Year 2010

So here we are sitting at the beginning of another new year. I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before but I really can't stand the first of the new year. I hate new beginnings because I always want to do so much better in my life. Such as I want to keep my house more organized. I feel the need to catch up from all my scrapbooks from the past year. I always try to do better at everything from eating, working out, to emotional control. Well then every year I let myself down. So this year I am not trying to change myself I am just going to try and make myself just a little bit finer. Just a little more pleasent to be around just a little more healthier. My house will not be perfect but it will be just a little bit more organized and I will destroy at least one dust bunny this year. So that is what I am going to do from getting myself frustrated and depressed. I figure a happier me is more important than being a perfect me. So anyway I wish you all a happy new year. I hope your Christmas was as magical as mine was. We created some great memories up in strawberry ice fishing and spending the night in the cabin there. Then we rocked in the new year with my brother Kye and his fun family. We all tore it up to Rockband then watched the ball fall in NY, in the comfort of Kyes home. Good times. Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving Lights

So I always wonder why it is that we have no couple friends you know friends that Terry can chill with the man and I can chill with the woman and the kids all have a good time together. Well we love to hang with the Callaways although I must say it never happens because they are so busy all the time with all their family and friend activities that it is about once a year that we set a date and actually follow through with it. And when we are done I always wonder why we don't do it more. We had a great time tonight going to dinner at JCW's (which I have to say I was amazed at how well the boys could watch a BYU game and communicate with us women at the same time, it was impressive)and then driving through the lights at Thanksgiving Point which was great because nobody else was there...

Well there were some but no line to get it. Then we went and saw the reindeer at the water tower. All the kids had so much fun together that they decided we were going to have late nights which is great because they get along so wonderfully. Of course I will be spending my late night with Terry;) Thanks Callaways for being able to handle Terry and I at the same time there are not many people that can do it by choice. Most people we chill with are family and they have to love us and be with us. Anyway thanks for a great night and we need to make it a new tradition.

Dad's Surgery

After a little chest pain and arm numbing my dad went in for a check up. They were sent home with no worries. A little later the Dr. called dad himself and said they had found a blockage and to take it easy for the weekend and Monday morning at 6:30 he was going to be in for surgery. Well this just stresses me out like crazy. Everything went well which I am so happy for. We took the kids last night to check in on him and make sure he wasn't just telling us a fib. If you know my dad he has been known to fib when playing cards or talking about his health. Well he was doing great I couldn't believe he had surgery that morning and a stint put in his heart and he was doing that great. Well I just hope he keeps being strong and takes care of that ol ticker because I would just lose it if I lost my dad. Love ya dad!

Covington Christmas

Sunday we had our Covington Family Christmas Party. It was fun to decorate the tables and make it all nice for dinner. I love to have our family over because it seems like all the kids are comfortable with my house and knows my rules. I really enjoy the time we spend together. I know I say that in all my posts.

Anyway we ate a nice dinner then had the nativity program which was put on by all the grandkids. It is so nice to have the teenageers, young adults join in even though they are older and probably wish they could just watch it. I love seeing them interact with the younger cousins.

Anyway it was a classic program fun to watch then some of the kids sang songs. Matia Box of Rocks, Tayla Jingle Bell Rock, and my boys sang I farted on Santas lap. It was hilarious. Then we played games and opened presents. What a good night thank you to everyone for coming and enjoying the moment with us. I must say we sure missed my older bros and their families and our little missionary A.J. Merry Christmas Fam.

Gingerbread Houses

Of course it wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't do our gingerbread houses with Troy and his family. So out to his house we went with our kits and happy hearts. We vowed we wouldn't fight at this gingerbread making event. So we ate pizza first to make sure everyone was nice and happy. Then the blessed event started and low and behold there was no fighting we had a great time.

Although I thought it would be fun to get a minature house village so everyone could do their own. Well lets just say it was a lot of work and the candy to decorate them were alot smaller.

It was fun though and Troys lady friend Jolynn came with her son Jackson. Bowdee thought that to be pretty cool since he is just a few months younger and they could get along so well. Anyway here is our final project.

Ice Fishing

So when we heard the Strawberry Reservior was frozen we just had to get up there. So as soon as Matia's dance performance was over we rushed up, set up our camp there on the frozen lake and off the kids ran sledding. Terry and I started fishing with no luck. I was convinced we were going to limit out because we had a fish finder that is a very special fish finder with great luck behind it. Well we didn't get a bite nothing. Of course we had fun bonding in the tent but it would have been funner if we caught some fish. AUGH so if any of you have any ice fishing tips let us know. I am sure one of these days we will get lucky and accidently snag one. Poor Matia is getting a little frustrated and she is our little fisher!

Christmas Dance Performance

I just look forward to this every Christmas season. This year Matia is taking Hip Hop with her 2 best friends Tayla and Daisy. They have loved the class and they did great up on stage as they all danced to Sleigh Ride. I just wish the dance would have been a little longer and showed a little more of what they have learned. But it was still cute and Matia did wonderful.

Right after the performance Ol' St. Nick was there to congratulat the dancers and wish them a Merry Christmas and Matia was sure to hurry right out to remind him of the camera she would like for Christmas if at all possible.

Townsends Christmas Party

What would Christmas be without Santa taking time out of his busy schedule to come to Grandma and Grandpa Townsends to check up on those kids and get those last minute requests? Well we love and appreciate Santa for all he does for us. I would be so lost without Santa in my life. He is such a great guy who shows us how to give as much as we can and then continue to give even more.

Thank you Kaye and Chuck for having us over even though it can get over whelming sometimes we love it and we love spending time with the family. THANKS! here are a few photos of our great adventure out to G-ville!

Covington's Visit

What a fun weekend we had with the Covingtons from Seattle in town. My big brother Clint and his family came into town for A.J.'s Farwell. So we took advantage of the situation and made sure they didn't spend one moment alone or bored. We filled up the whole week with Dinners, Geo Caching, Princess Parties, Shopping, Jazz games and visiting until we could barely talk. Like I have said so many times in the past I love spending time with my family. I love getting to know my nieces and nephews. I love reminising the days gone by. And I love looking forward to the future with them. Here are a few photos of our special weekend spent together.

Bowdee's Bear

Back in May Bowdee completed all the requirements to recieve his Bear in Cub Scouts. However, we have been so busy we didn't have a change to make it to a pack meeting until now. So here is a shout out to Bowdee to let you know how proud I am of you and your efforts in everything you do. I love how you enjoy scouts and want to excel in it. I appreciate all your leaders for helping you along and making sure you are safe when you are with them. Happy Scouting Bowdee! Good job.

Horses and My Dad

There is something special about riding horses with my dad. I don't know if it takes me back to my childhood or maybe this is an activity we did together in the previous life. I am not sure but it is one of the most dear things to my heart. So for a Christmas Gift this year Terry went with us to capture this moment so I could cherish it forever. It is a time that we laugh, joke, talk and just bond through the quietness within. Dad thanks for always being there for me when I need you. I love your hugs and I enjoy every moment we are together. I love the way you accept everyone for who they are and never ever judge anyone. I don't think I can ever remember you talking ill of anyone. You are such a great example to me. THANKS for these moments.

A.J.'s Mission

So even though all my nephews and nieces are special to me I have this nephew A.J. Bear who is just precious. I guess he is not so little anymore since he is over 6foot and now serving a mission. Yesterday I had the great opportunity to go and sneek some one on one with him right before they took him to the MTC. I meet them at Wendy's in Orem and visited for about 1 hour. They took this photo while I was still holding it together. I have to say in my eyes he is still that little 3 year old who while I was babysitting took 35 minutes to decide the life changing decision of wether to watch Lion King or Jungle Book with me. And now he is all grown up and clipping his own fingernails. It just killed me to think he will not be in the protection of his mother's little wings and some boy might pick on him because he is faithfully a Utes fan because his aunt Kristi went there. Well that is why I think he is a Utes fan but his dad might have something other to say about that. I am so proud of the man he has become he puts me in tears just thinking about it. I would rather he be in his mothers protection because while he was there I knew Kate would never let anything bad happen to him and if it did she was there to take care of my little nephew. But I know this will really turn him into a man and that is the next step in his life. But it doesn't mean I have to like it. I will do my best to support him through this and be there to brighten a few of his days although any where A.J. is the world is a brighter place. I am sure in a short 3 weeks Columbus Ohio will be alot brighter. What a great kid. Love you more then you know J.Bear. Thanks for the great example you are to my kids.