Dec 1-4 Christmas Work Party

Friday Terry and I got to go out on a real date! I know I was so excited I just couldn't wait. I do have to say I have not done classy in a very long time. And I have never met most of the people Terry works with so I was slightly intimidated. But I was so excited to go on an official date with Terry I really didn't care.

We went to the Grand America Hotel in Downtown Salt Lake. It was great they served the most delicious dinner I have had in a very long time. It was so fancy Terry just had to take a photo of it with his phone. With a salad wrapped in cucumber, steak, salmon, and layered potatoes to die for ending the meal with a amazing pumpkin cheesecake.

Then they had a comedian come on stage that was hilarious! Of course I haven't seen a comedian for a long time so to me it was very entertaining! I truly felt like I was back into the dating world where Terry was trying to impress me... It worked... It was so fun to reconnect with him and we couldn't have done it if our kids were such good kids to watch each other and have fun at home without us. Thanks for the date Terry!

Saturday the kids had such great report cards that I promised them a trip to Mr. E's Sport Card shop and Build a Bear so we went and did a little shopping while we were at it. Then we stopped by Firehouse Sub for Terry to share his new found favorite sub with us. They were amazing by the way if you haven't been you definitely should try it.

We came home and did some chores then at 4:30 we offered to do babysitting for the Military Christmas Party. My kids decided to do the babysitting and I would give them all the money to buy their Christmas gifts. Well only 2 kids showed up Jack and Camdyn. It's probably a good thing because they were a hand full. But it taught my kids a lot about babysitting. This little Jack loved going into Maggies kennel and shutting the door. My kids were fine with it to as long as he was happy and not breaking anything.

Sunday we went to Cabela's to do a little Christmas shopping. Even though Christmas is still 22 days away my kids are so anxious to get all their Christmas presents bought and wrapped. I guess I have to say I am thankful they are not procrastinators. So we went and bought some daddy/brother gifts then we headed back up to Strawberry hoping for the same luck we had last week.

So the fishing was not as hot as last week the fish are biting less aggressively. I had 8 good bites and 2 caught fish. Bowdee caught 2, Treg 1 and Terry 3 but they were all cuts and just under the slot at 20 & 21" fish. So they were fun to catch but so hard for us to let them go.

It was also colder, we knew a storm was coming in and we got about 3" of fresh snow while we were there. So the kids spent alot of time in the truck staying warm but did come out and fish for a while.

Bowdee was our most dedicated fisher child of the night. It was fun just to be out in the peace and quite still of the night fishing with snow blowing in our faces.

November 21-27 Thanksgiving Weekend

Tuesday I had my preschool Thanksgiving Feast's. I have all the kids bring something to share for our dinner and then we say what we are thankful for and eat a big feast, play games, read books and just enjoy each others company. I am always so amazed at these kids and how much love they have for life.

Wednesday the kids were out of school "YIPEE" so I got up early did a few errands then came back to get the kids and take them to Trafalga to hang out with their friends. We ate lunch a Chick-f-let which I think everyother family in the valley had the same idea.. took the kids to piano then I headed off with the girls to go watch "Breaking Dawn". It is always so much better to watch with people that want to watch it and not a husband I am forcing to watch. Then the kids had a late night with friends while Terry and I put up the basketball standard. What a job that was!

Thursday woke up early again cleaned like crazy with the help of my sweet husband it wasn't bad at all. Then before we knew it the house was busting at the seams with family everywhere. This was the first year we held a Townsend Thanksgiving not at mom and dads. I think it was nice for them not to stress about kids into everything. And here it wasn't too bad especially with the beautiful weather so nice for the kids to go outside and play. We ended up with 34 people and I think everyone enjoyed it.

After dinner dad pulled out the old 8mm home videos to show the kids what movies were like back when we were kids and to show them a little of what the Townsends were like when they were small. We had some good memories, laughs and light chit chat, we went through the ads. And before you knew it the house was silent once again. I am so thankful this year for my beautiful 3 children and their wonderful healthy bodies and especially sweet spirits. I just don't know what life would be like without them. They make me so happy and then their dad he is another blessing in my life. Even though at times we have a hard time seeing things the same way, sometimes thats good because it opens my eyes to other opinions.

Man I just love my family! "You are the poem I dreamed of writing, the masterpiece I longed to paint. You are the shining star I reached for in my ever hopeful quest of life fulfilled. You are my child. Now with all things I am blessed." I noticed this poem on pintrest and I loved it. Just how I feel about my children.

Friday I woke up early... even though there wasn't anything really exciting in the ads for black friday I just didn't want to be left out. So I hit Smiths at 5:30 and got some towels, fingernail polish, and socks for half price. Then went to Walmart and got a Christmas movie for the kids and candy canes thinking we would start setting up Christmas when I got home... Got home at 6:30 and wow Black friday was over for me.

Saturday we put up Christmas lights outside. This year we took out every other white light and put in red ones. I LOVE IT! The kids were such big helps and Terry was amazingly patient. Not that he isn't always but he was extra-sweetly-patient. That took it out of us and we were done so we went to Smiths to grab a few more lights and called it quits for the night.

Sunday we decided the fish were calling to us so we got our crap together and headed up to Deer Creek... Got there and OOPS we forgot no dogs allowed at that reserviour so we kept on going up to Strawberry. Which I am glad we did. The fishing was good better then usual but not the best. Then about 4:00 this little car pulls up and they were knocking them dead...

The guy calls us over and sets us up with his trick! Bowdee caught 3 fish which he never catches fish so other then being cold from playing in the snow with Treg and Dash he was loving it. At about 6:00 we called it quits and had to head back to the real world again. It is just so nice to take a break every once in a while! We caught 16 fish and only one of them was under 17". I caught the biggest one at 21"! Man I love fishing!

We had a few crazy catches. Crazy number one: I lost my complete setup after getting a bite. I tied on another swivel, sinker, leader, hook and casted back out. Five minutes later, I got another bite and reeled in my line. To my amazement, I had hooked the swivel of my old broken setup and reeled in the fish on the old setup. Talk about lucky, those trebble hooks and sinkers and swivels are expensive now a days )

Crazy number two: I caught the setup of someone else. I thought I had hooked someones old boot, but it was a big chunk of sea weed and a dead 20" cut.

Crazy number three: I got a bite and went to reel in and I was all tangled up around my reel, so I had to break my line and pull in my line by hand. My work paid off, I landed a whoppin 4" crayfish.

Crazy number four: One of our cuts had a crooked body by the tail. I thought it might be whirling disease? It wasn't above the cut, so I let it go. I was a little nervous because I didn't have a proclamation and I didn't know the rules if you caught a fish with whirling disease.

November 14-20 Mesquite Football Tournament

This week was a fun week on Monday for family night we mounted and hung the kids sports posters. We all thought they turned out pretty great. Then we also started working on our Christmas card together. Which if we are being honest isn't the funnest FHE night but it was all good.

Tuesday was Tregs last basketball game which he did great. They played a really hard team but Treg hung in there and played his best. They only had one sub so he was playing pretty much the whole game. Then Terry and Bowdee had scouts which I always thought went for 1 hour but I guess most of the kids don't leave until 9:00 so I can tell that is going to be hard for me to get used to.

Wednesday Bowdee had his last football practice of the season. Pretty hard to believe it is almost over for another year. He loves playing football and says he has found his game! Then I was invited to play Bunco with a great group of ladies. I was so excited to play because I have alot of fun playing that game and socializing. I won the most rounds so I got the main gift which I still really feel guilty about since I am not a regular!

Thursday right after preschool I was a tornado in action going this way and that trying to get everything as packed as possible before Terry got home. Because then we were jumping in the truck and driving to Mesquite which is a 4&1/2 hour drive. The kids are excited to take a road trip and they did great on the ride. I think we could have kept going all the way to the coast and they wouldn't have minded.

Friday so we stayed at the Falcon Ridge Hotel which was great they had a nice swimming pool for the kids to play in and a HUGE breakfast buffet. Weigh-ins were at 10:30 so we just relaxed and killed some time before we went over to the sports complex. That place is amazing, with a fun atmosphere, red rocks, artificial turf fields, beautiful sunsets, fun music playing. Just really fun!

Their first game was at 3:00 against a Stansberry team named Alpha. We played hard and they played hard but they ended up winning 12-6. It was such a close game we just had a few bad plays and we could have had it. Bowdee had one of his best games ever getting in on some QB sacks and hitting like a mad man. Later that night Terry went back to watch a friends son's game and I took Treg swimming and Tia played with her friend Emery.

Saturday we had our second game at 1:00 so we just took it easy and read books watched some football and played us some bunco. Well I taught the kids how to play since Terry's not into games. The second game went really well we won 7-0 against some VERY big Dixie boys. I am not sure these boys were really 6th graders (#99 was at least 230lbs) but we won so I guess it doesn't matter.

We went back for dinner and the last of the Utes game. Then back to the complex to watch the other AF game and Lehi's game. It was fun just hanging around meeting all sorts of nice people. There was a really cool couple from Stansberry that I will never forget. Terry and I didn't feel good at all so we dropped Bowdee off at his team party and went back to bed.

The next day Bowdee's coach was telling us how Bowdee would jump into the pool with his swim trunks on then come out of the pool with just his speedo on and say "ta-dunt-ta-dun". Everyone CRACKED up laughing and coach says Bowdee you just like to do that for the shock factor huh... And Bowdee says "No the chicks dig it"! Way to go Bowdee that's the spirit we love!

Sunday it was clean up pack eat and drive, drive, drive! We got home around 2:00 and Terry and Bowdee jumped outside to try and put up the Basketball standard so it would be up for Turkey Day. But it was missing a piece so we basically hit a brick wall. Then at 6:30 we were invited to a Cabela's dinner/sale. Where you go and they feed you food and drinks and give you employee discounts on everything. So Terry and I made a date night of it and did some shopping. Have I told you lately "I LOVE CABELAS"?

Nov 7-13 Bowdee's 1st Utes Game

Friday Matia was invited to go to Disney on Ice with her friend Lance. She was so excited to be invited. It was so nice of Lances mom to let her tag along with her 4 kids like she didn't have enough kids to shuffle around. But she sure enjoyed ever minute of it, I just wish I could have been there, it sounds like so much fun.

Bowdee and I spent about 2 hours cleaning and rearranging his room. He has a love hate relationship with his room. He knows that is his whole responsibilities to keep it clean so he hates that but he LOVES it when it is clean and organized. Now he just needs to slow down and clean as he goes!

Wow, Treg really tore it up at his game on Saturday morning. He made 3 baskets and just played amazingly. It was kinda like I was watching a little Stockton. He was quick and fast and accurate. They even had him stacked up against the biggest kid on their team and he just took it to them. So much fun to see his talents developing. Way to go John... I mean Treg.

Thanks to my brother Kyle, Terry was able to take Bowdee to his first Utes game. As you probably know Bowdee has always been a die hard Utes fan since he found out I went to school there. But he has never attended a game. Well Kyle had 2 extra tickets and just knew he would make his nephew the happiest boy ever if he passed them on to us. So after Bowdee's practice scrimmage game they dressed warm and headed to the game.

I took Tia and Treg out to Troys house and watch the game with him. Which I have to admit he is a cool cat to hang out with. We had pizza, listened to the kids destroying his house, ate pizza and Troy even got a pedicure!

When the game started and we heard it was the first snow game at Utah since 2008 and the whole stadium was covered in snow I really wasn't that sad to be missing it.

Bowdee and Terry had a great time! The Utes won the game 31-6 against UCLA, they ran into Kyle, and enjoyed a JCW's burger after the game I was just happy for Bowdee to be able to share his first football game with his dad. How fun for them.

Sunday Terry and Bowdee spent the day mixing and pouring concrete for the basketball standard. It doesn't look like it would have taken long but they were out there for a good 4 hours working. I was in the house making these cool posters for Tia and Treg.

When we went to Bowdee's end of football party and they handed out these posters Terry had a great idea to do one for all the kids. It took longer then I thought but was fun to do.

This is what the poster that Bowdee got at his party looked like. The one we fell in love with and just had to have some for the other kids. Thanks again to the wonderful football moms that made it all possible.

Nov 1-6 Girls Night Out & Bowdee Ordination

Friday I was invited to join my friends on a spur of the moment Girls Over Nighter. Terry being the sweet understanding man that he is was instantly excited for me. Sometimes I just wonder if he gets excited to get a break from me. So I went and enjoyed a sweet Village Baker lunch date with him before I headed out with my friends.

Then I met up with my friends for a nice relaxing night in Draper. We stayed at Holly's Aunts house that she rents out. We really didn't have any plans other then to just chill, relax, and just enjoy a night off. We had dinner at Red Robin on of our favorites then picked up a couple red box movies and headed back to the house.

Saturday morning we slept in and stayed in our jammies until 12:00. Which is really unheard of for a bunch of moms. But it sure felt nice not to be on a dead run. Treg had a basketball game, Bowdee had a scouts event, and Terry sent me a text saying 3 loads of laundry, 2 loads of dishes, a batch of apples, cutting deer roasts, made the kids "real breakfast", dug out basketball standard hole, took Bowdee to football championships (which was changed) all before 2:00.

I started feeling guilty but man it sure felt good to not be responsible for all that "stuff". We girls had lunch at Panda Express then made some clipboards for Christmas gifts. Watched Sunday at Tiffanys and then I just had to head back home to watch the Utes game with my boys. I have to say that is something I really enjoy, to watch a good Utes game with Bowdee and Terry. Jolynn and Troy even joined us which ended up with Jaysha, Baylee and Tayla sleeping over.

I do love my nieces sleeping over, we have so much fun. Sunday morning we woke up and got ready for church. It was fun to have all the girls want to be twiners. As I was blow drying their hair and doing it all fancy, with lipstick, and perfume Matia says "this is so fun I feel like we are getting ready for a dance". I just thought in my head heaven help us all it will be here before we know it....

We made it to church and today was special because Treg got to give his first talk in primary. He did so good, he was so brave and Baylee even got up there and helped him in front of all these strangers. His talk was about how reverence shows Jesus we love him. Which is a perfect talk for Treg because he is one of the most reverent kids in his primary.

Right after our classes we meet at the bishops office for Bowdee's Aaronic Priestood Ordination. What a special day for Bowdee to make such an important decision. He had all 4 of his Grandparents there, and his 3 cousins (Jaysh, Bay, and Tay) and of course his immediate family and Bishop Rich. Bowdee I am so proud of your decision, you are such an amazing boy and I just pray you will continue to make good decisions.

Oct 19-31 Halloween

Thursday was my preschool halloween parties. I just love this day because I get to see all my preschoolers dressed up in their favorite costumes.

Then when they come we walk to the Price's Haunted House to see all the scarey props. Then back to preschool for trick or treating to each other, cookie decorating, halloween games and just a day of fun!

I hope all the kids had a good time because I know I sure have fun every time I see their smiling faces!

Friday Terry and Troy took off for some more deer hunting up Strawberry area. So me and the kids ate a easy quick dinner and carved our pumpkins! Bowdee and Matia carved theirs all by themselves and Treg did it all but the mouth. I never thought I would be this close to having all my kids carve their own pumpkins.

They even did 2 pumpkins each! Our pumpkins didn't get planted in time (moms fault) so they were all mostly green so that is why we had to paint them this year. It was a fun new experience for us. Terry had a good time with Troy but no luck on the buck.

Saturday we woke up bright and early for Tregs 8:30 basketball game. This was his first game of the year so he was getting back into the swing of things. His team lost their game but Treg made one of the 2 baskets made by their team and he was even fouled on his shot BIG time! Then Kye came over to pump Bowdee up for his semi-final game in the championships against Lehi-Coopers team. He spent 2 hours going over moves and football talk then cranked some crazy hard music and had him hitting the dashboard on the way to warm up trying to light his fire.

What a good uncle to make time for his nephew and to care so much.... WOW... Our team could have won but they just have a hard time getting their heads in the game to start. They just never seem to play until the 2nd half this year. Which is exactly what they did. Lehi was up 12-0 before we even opened our eyes. Then we came back in the second half and nearly tied them but just couldn't quite land that last touchdown.

Lehi won and we ended our season today. It was sad to see it go we really enjoy watching Bowdee and his team play. They have an AMAZING coaching staff that really know what they are doing. I just can't tell you how impressed I am with each one of his 7 coaches they are some wonderful people. Men I feel privelaged to have Bowdee be influenced by. Thank you to everyone for all you did this year.

After the game I invited my nieces and nephew to sleep over. This is always fun to do because they all get along so well (most of the time anyway). They made crafts, watched Rio, played games, dressed up and ate pizza then when it was time for bed they all went down just like that...

Kami and I had Lakota babysit for about an hour while we went to our friend Claytons costume party. Kye and Emilee were there all dressed up. I think that is the main reason we went was so we could see what they were going to be they kill me especially with those fake cigarettes. Then Clayton walked in and was looking me straight in the face and with his mustache and new hair do I had no idea who he was.... All in all it was a fun short night.

Sunday we had a nice relaxing day filled with church, movies, wii games, and last minute costume preparations. I can't say I remember the last day we had where we just took the day off in figure of speech. Terry saw one little 5" spike and passed him up twice afraid he wasn't legal and then made it home empty handed around 8:30, but he and his brother had a great time just being away from it all.

Oh how I love Halloween! I love waking up and seeing all the costumes come together. I love to see Terry's art work on my kids faces. I love to see the excitement in their eyes. This year Bowdee had a really hard time figuring out what he wanted to be. Then he saw our clown wig that has been at the bottom of the wig box for years just waiting to be worn and cabamo it hit him his really good friend Annie is afraid of clowns so that is what he wanted to be just to freak her out.... So last Wed I made this costume for him.

Matia saw this costume and fell in love with "the pink lepard". I couldn't find the same fabric so we just went and bought it for her. I think this is the first costume I have ever purchased for any of my children. It was nice to have it in the bag with everything it needed since the first of Oct. Just waiting for Halloween night.

Treg thought about recycling Bowdee's Neo costume but then he saw these awesome chaps and vest I made for Bowdee years ago and he knew what he wanted to be. So yes I made his as well just not this year. I also stressed about getting him spurs when in reality he didn't need them but Kye helped me out with them by welding some chain to these cheap ones I bought!

So as soon as I dropped them off to school I ran and got Bowdee the "Right Scarey Teeth" and then back to school for their 1st Halloween Parade. I loved it! It was so organized and fun to see all the creative costumes. Then I came home cleaned got dressed up and hussled back to school to help with Matia's classroom party. I love being involved and going to meet all the kids in her class and see the ones she talks about and put a face to their stories. What a fun party we had with a minute to win it theme.

Back home for a second a little more cleaning and getting ready for the night time Halloween Fun. Then back to school to pick up the kids and head for Doug Smith Auto for Trunk or Treating. We love to go and get the Free kids meals from Olive Garden!

Picked up our traditional Jack-o-lantern pizza. Had dinner visited with mom and dad which was nice to see them again after their long trip to Washington. I was starting to worry that they would forget to come home. But they made it. :) Then we let the party begin.

Bowdee, Izak, Annie, and Adi wanted to go trick or treating alone this year so we sent them on their way with a phone and lots of rules to obey. We didn't see them again for hours! But man they sure had lots of fun!

The rest of the night was pure K-oss with me here to man the trick or treating so I wouldn't miss any of my darling students who came to see me. I didn't get a photo of Troy with his girls before they ran off on a dead run trick or treating so here are his girls with the other girls.

The Garricks cute family with the Peaceful Darth Vador, Corpse Bride, Vampire, In Mate, and Batman. They are all so fun Fisher just kept saying I have enough candy I just want to go play at Kristi's now.

Kyles Darling family all dressed up as Creapy Dolls, Beetle Juice Guy, and a Nice Witch. Emilee sure knows how to throw together a darling costume. She should be a Halloween costume counselor. Thanks for coming you guys are so fun.

Kami just had to get back to the 80's for one night, Izak couldn't go without being a Ute's Fan, and Lakota was the cutest green skittle I have ever seen. Kami is always great for a party she brings the music and tons and tons of energy! We love you Kami thanks for sharing Halloween with us.

Kami, Troy, Kyle, Emilee, Amy, Chad and Terry came and left running kids here and there, snacking on chips and veggies and just having a good time. I loved every minute of it and I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends to me and my family. In this photo you have Troy, Kyle, Terry, and Chad. The boys were so sick of all the photos I just had to take they might not come back next year. :( But I hope they all do!

Then at 9:00 the house became quiet as our friends took their sugar rushing kids home and our passed out from pure exhaustion. It was less then 5 minutes after their heads hit the pillows that we heard the quiet hum of sleeping children. Man I love Halloween Night!