What's On My Mind for 2009....

So it's the start of a new year. It's new year resolutions time. I used to be one for always making new year's resolutions and keeping them (for a least a month or two). Some made it to completion and others I still resolve to do every year. As I have gotten older and realize that some things I take for granted and forget what is really important in life so I decided to make a new year's resolutions list that would help me remember the basics and love life and enjoy it to its fullest..... and some that I work on every year. Here we go.

1. Lose weight. Ok I know this one has been on the list for a while. I have been overweight since about four or five years into my marriage. You seem to let yourself go and then comes the kids and .... ok excuses.. I know but this year I want to take better care of myself. I took my blood pressure a few days ago and it was the highest it has ever been. I am hoping my new puppy will help me accomplish my goal much faster. She has more energy than my kids and will be looking forward for her daily walks... more like two or three. I want to be around when my kids are old and I am really tired of the "fluffy" look.

2. Scream less. I really don't like doing this and I really don't know when it started. I am thinking probably around the time I had kids or maybe when I got married. I miss my quiet, inside voice.

3. Worry less. I seems to worry a lot about everything. The bills, getting the car fixed, what someone thinks of me, blah blah blah. If I have learned one thing from one of the toughest trials last year, it is we do the best we can because we really have only so much control and then the rest is up to God. I truly believe that. Also doing #3 will help me accomplish goal #2 easier.

4. Spend more time with my kids. I seem to nag and scream a lot to just get through the day with my kids. Between homework, lessons, chores, errands and all the rest, I just try to get through the end of the day and then look forward for bedtime. ( I know all of you moms and my friends know what I am talking about...please don't make me think I am the only one.) I want to enjoy more with my kids. Laugh with them, cry with them, run with them, smile with them, love them. I don't want to miss too much before they walk out the door all grown up.

5. Become a better multi-tasker. I can do a lot of things well...at the same time, that's a different story. It seems I get all frazzled and end up letting things slide because I get so overwhelmed. So I am working on that. I mean shouldn't I be able to make dinner, while helping Preston with a math problem, finding Zachary's train, sweeping the floor, taking care of a husband who has back problems, feeding the dog all while talking on the phone?

6. Date more. No not someone else. My husband of course! I envy those that plan date night once a month and envy more those who go out once a week. I haven't dated in a long time. I honestly miss spending time with my honey-laughing and talking and being in love like we were when we were first married.

Let's see I think that's a good list for now. Happy New Year!!!!

The Perfect Pheasant Hunt (As per Allen's point of view)

I was lucky enough to win raffle in which I was allowed to go to a private hunting reserve and hunt pheasants. The place was called Sportsman’s Paradise White ranch. It is located in Cache valley. Just as you come out of Sardine Canyon heading to Logan, there is a turn off on the right that will take you to Hyrum. In that general area, but nestled closer to the mountains is where this ranch is located. I was able to take Preston with me, even though he couldn’t carry a gun/shoot. (he had to be of legal hunting age..12)
We met up with friends from Flexpak (one of them the owner, and it was he that had the membership to this ranch), in Ogden and then headed up to the ranch. Once we got there (and it was actually warmer that day in Cache Valley than in Ogden where we met up) they fed us lunch. This ranch is not only for Pheasants, but deer, elk, fishing, and probably others that I am not aware of. The lunch that we had was trout. Fresh caught trout out of the small pond that was next to the small café. It was very, very good. We also were treated to dutch oven potatoes. They were done in a way that I had never had, and it was so delicious.
After the luncheon, we headed out to the area where we were to hunt. We had a guide from the ranch and he brought dogs. I had never hunted with dogs before and it was awesome. I don’t know how many birds we would have not even seen if it hadn’t been for those dogs. They froze and pointed at the birds and we went in, flushed them up, and were able to shoot. All on the wing. These dogs also retrieved the birds for us. Although occasionally they were roaming far ahead or up the hill, and so a few of the birds we had to pick up. Preston helped carry a couple to the guide who had the bag.
All in all it was a very pretty area that we were able to saunter through and all the time flushing birds and shooting by all members of the party. We ended up getting 19 Pheasants, 3 Chuckers, and 7 Quail.
I will let you know how they taste. It has been a long time since I had Pheasant, but remember how good it was. Shannon, though, might have a differing opinion. (just like the bewildering fact that she doesn’t like Elk…go figure)

Round Up of the Year

The holidays are over. It goes by so quickly. Here is a recap of the holiday fun. I did not take a lot of pictures. Where in the world was I? I did take a lot of video but did not put them on as it took me forever just to figure out the slideshow! Preston seems to be missing in alot of the photos! So hold on here we go.

*Christmas Eve was nice and quiet with just our family. I made a BBQ rib dinner with potatoes and cream beans, along with some sparkling grape juice, which we all thought was BLECH! We opened our Christmas Eve jammies and Grandma and Grandpa Bergquist presents. We then called Grandma and Grandpa B. to thank them and wish them a Merry Christmas.

*Christmas Day was full of surprises. This year was definitely less is best. We were all surpised when Santa brought Zach- Thomas the train Action Canyon. He was thrilled. Preston was estatic when he saw the new puppy in the box by his stocking. He named her Eevee and she is a border collie. We opened the rest of the presents from each other and played for a while before heading to Grandma and Grandpa Madsen. We exchanged gifts and enjoyed a yummy late lunch. We enjoyed visting and playing games with the family. We missed my brother, Derek and his family and my sister, Stacy and her family this year. It sure isn't the same without everyone there.

*New Year's eve, our family went to the Johnsons' house. My best friend was a wonderful hostess, as usual. We ate and played rock band. All the kids managed to stay up til midnight. Allen rang in the new year with a few fireworks he had on hand. It was a fun evening!

*New Year's Day we hung out at home for a while before heading up to my sister's cabin to go sledding, snowmobiling and four-wheeling. Zach liked the snowmobile and I think rode more then Preston did. Preston brought one of his old friends and he was out more than Preston, which is why I don't have a lot of pictures of him. It was all very fun and made for a long day.

It is now time for a new year, new goals, a new start and being a little better each day. I feel blessed to have family and friends and have had a wonderful holiday season. I hope to make 2009 a year to remember and make wonderful memories to cherish for years to come.