Thanksgiving Weekend

I have another reason for loving the holidays--the time off from school! I remember when I first started teaching and some of the "older" teachers counting down until the next break, and I thought, "I can't believe it, how can they say that." But now, I know what they were saying, teachers love the breaks just as much or more than the students! It is always nice to just be able to sleep in and not really have to go anywhere!

Here are some pictures of things that we did during the break:

On Wednesday, the Payson High boys basketball team was playing in a Utah County tournament being held at UVU. The drill team was invited to perform at halftime of the Payson game. The game was with American Fork and it was at 12 noon that day. Here is a picture of the girls that performed. It was a great opportunity for our team because we were able to perform on the same floor where the state drill team competition will be held. They did awesome and were able to wear their new dance costumes. My team is smaller this year because of the new high school that opened in Salem. I lost five girls to Salem. Payson has 14 girls on the team this year. Ten of them perform in our dance routine.


Thanksgiving dinner was at my parent's house in Levan. All of my extended family on my mom's side were there. I think there was about 63 people there! It was fun. There was a lot of good food and it is always fun to see everyone.

Scott helping my mom dish up the potatoes.

Scott and Amanda



Amanda, Jason, & Kaycee--
Relaxing after the big meal.




Hollie--texting and checking out her facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We also worked on the piano benches. On Wednesday night, we painted them. Then on Saturday afternoon we put new pads on the legs and taped them up. We also put some silver trim on one of the benches to see how it would look. We will probably finish that up this week. The drill team has their first competition on Saturday, December 6th, so that is why we were working on them so they would be ready. The drill team uses the benches in our prop routine this year. We also have some flag/kite-like props that we pull out of the bench.

Measuring and putting the silver tape on.

The finished product!

Scott and I also went out and shopped on "Black Friday". We even did the early bird thing. It was crazy at Target. People lined up around the building on both sides! We didn't get what we went for, but we did get a rain check. We did get a few things and we met up with Scott's sisters Heidi and Debbie and went to breakfast.

Saturday we went to a movie and then on Sunday after church, we put up the tree!

What a weekend! Only three weeks until Christmas Break--I can't wait!

Bowling

Last Saturday, (November 22) we went bowling with our friend Cheri and her date, Rick. We also met up with Jason and Rebecca Grow and some of their friends. It was a lot of fun. It was the same day as the big rivalry game between Utah and BYU. We started watching the game there at the bowling alley, then we all drove to the Harley Davidson restaurant out in Lindon to get something to eat. We finished watching the game there. Needless to say, any cougar fans that were there were pretty disappointed!

Here's Scott getting his shoes on. His high score of the day was 194. He even bowled a "turkey", which is three strikes in a row. (I learned something new--three strikes in a row is a turkey).

Cheri & Rick

The "turkey" couple! We both bowled a turkey!

My first time ever--I'm lucky if I get one strike.

You would think the ball was heavy, or something?

Such concentration.

Gearing up for competition season!

This week has been a busy one as far as drill team goes with extra practices and performances. Our first competition is on December 6th.

Friday night, the team performed in the annual "Mr. Payson" pageant. They performed their dance competition routine. It went okay--our space was limited because of the stage. The orchestra pit is open for the school musical that opens next week and there is a large castle on the back half of the stage (the one from Beauty and the Beast--Payson Community Theater let the high school use it for their production of Once Upon a Mattress.) Anyway, it was good practice for the team to perform.

This picture is of the girls just before they performed. Our new costumes were not quite ready so we pulled out an old outfit.

Saturday morning after practicing, the girls stayed after to help "prime" the piano benches that we are using for our prop routine. Scott put the benches together at his dad's house on Wednesday night. Scott's dad, Clark, was a wood shop teacher and he has several tools and saws in his garage that they used to put the benches together. I just hung out and watched a bit and then went inside and talked with Eunice.

It was good to talk to her and learn a little bit about her family. I also heard the story of how she met Clark. She then showed me some old books that they might be getting rid of. They also had found Clark's missionary journal--so we asked him if I could look at it. It was interesting and there were pictures. He even had an actual program from his missionary farewell. I think all of Scott's sisters and Greg would be interested in seeing it. It is definitely something that should be copied and preserved.

Here are some pictures of the drill team helping prime the benches. We will be painting them black sometime this week.

Don't they look like they are having fun?

This Week In Review by Scott

On Wednesday Molly received the Coach of the Year award for 4A Schools by the Utah High School Activities Association. This is the top honor given to a coach for all their hard work. We attended a luncheon at the Willow Creek Country Club where the award was presented.

This is Molly with Mr. Penrod, the UHSAA Region 7 Rep. giving her the award. This picture does not show the shock Molly felt as well as the gratitude.

We are all very proud of her work and that she received this top honor.

This Sunday Hollie received her Young Womanhood Recognition Award at her wards Night of Excellence. Hollie worked hard to achieve this honor before she turned sixteen and the other things entered into her life to take up all her time.

Here is Amanda next to her display at the excellence night.

As for me well I spent Tuesday night worshiping the porcelain throne. I am not sure if it was a virus or just something I ate for it only lasted one night and I was able to eat again at Molly's award luncheon.

Halloween Costumes 2008

This year for Halloween I decided to make some good use of my old 80s clothes that I have saved. The idea actually came to me when my sister Paula called me to borrow some 80s clothes for a 80s party she and Casey were going to. So, as I was getting out the old dresses that I had, I decided to try one on and see if it fit. It did, so I came up with the idea to be an 80s couple going to prom. I told my idea to Scott and he decided to do it. We also borrowed a mullet wig from Casey and then went in search of a tux for Scott. We wanted to get a powder blue one, but we couldn't find one in his size, so we opted for the grey one.

My dress isn't really a prom dress--it was a bride's maid dress that I had wore at one of my friend's wedding in the 80s.

My drill team sweater.

Scott is thinking he should grow his hair out like this--what do you think?

Big hair and lots of blue eyeshadow!

The lace gloves are the ones I wore to my Junior Prom.

The rhinestone jewelry I wore to my Senior Ball.

At our ward Halloween Party.

We got a lot of comments on our costumes!

Here we are at the drill team Halloween Party.

Pumpkin Party 2008

This year's Pumpkin Party was on October 25th. Three years ago, my dad started having a "Pumpkin Party". The whole family goes down to my parent's house in Levan and we carve/decorate pumpkins from my dad's pumpkin patch, play fun Halloween games, and eat. There is also an appearance from the "Hobo", who is a scary dude that scares all of the kids to death! I "stole" this collage from my sister Amy's blog. (thanks Amy, hope you don't mind! I love all of the pictures of the kids--they look terrified!

We actually arrived at the party late and just missed seeing the Hobo. We had been at the BYU football game working concessions with my drill team--that's why we were late. I also posted a few pictures that we took--we didn't take very many. We'll be better next year!

Me holding my nephew Ryan in his festive clothes.

Mandie and Madeline checking out the "witch's brew" that Paula made.

A few pictures of the party.

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!

I have always loved holidays! I like to decorate and do "festive" things for each of the holidays. I don't know why, I just have always liked being festive. Yesterday in our faculty meeting, one of the special needs teachers had on a jack-o-lantern pin, and it made me remember having some holiday pins when I was a kid. I think my mom bought them at Hallmark or somewhere like that. I had a jack-o-lantern one, a Santa, a turkey, a rabbit, and maybe a Valentine one. Anyway, I liked to wear them to school when I was in elementary school. Now, I like to wear "festive" shirts to school for each of the seasons or holidays. I also like to do "festive" activities with my classes at school--yes, even with "too cool" high school students!

I also like to dress up for Halloween! Luckily, I have an excuse to still dress up at my age. My drill team has a Halloween party each year where they can bring a date or a friend. So, I dress up for it. When I was single, there was always a big Singles Halloween dance that was one of the biggest dances of the year. My friends and I always dressed up for it! We had a lot of fun! In college, I also remember SUU having a Halloween dance that was also a big dance. Of course, my roommates and I dressed up for that as well. I even won the costume contest at work--my roommate and I dressed up as "Tweedle Dee and Twiddle Dum". (Thank goodness for old drill team costumes).

Here are some pictures of Scott and I from past Halloween parties. Scott didn't know that by marrying me, he would get the opportunity to dress up every Halloween--or maybe he did, since
the first two parties were before we were married. Scott's work also has a costume contest, so he gets to wear his costume to work also!

2003 - Gangster & Flapper Girl

2004 - Jailbird & Highway Patrolman


2005 - Zorro & Maria


2006 - Clark Kent & my version of Lois Lane

2007 - Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein

This year we are going as a couple from the 80s going to Prom. We just had the drill team Halloween party last night, so I will post those pictures soon. It was fun!

A New Look

Welcome to the Brenchley's new and improved blog!

Scott started this blog about two years ago and I decided to take it over and try and post a little more often. I don't promise much, but I will try to keep things up to date.

I think it is fun to look at everyone else's blogs, so I decided that I needed to join in on all of the fun.

Here are a few pictures of us at Payson Lakes. My family had a picnic there at the end of September.

Summer Happenings

Jason & Kaycee's Wedding - June 2008

Salt Lake Bee's game - July 2008

3rd Anniversary Trip to San Francisco

August 2008

What has been happening at the Brenchleys????

Halloween '07

The Girls in their Halloween shirts.

The second anual Pumpkin Party.

A rare site, - Molly getting messy.

Hallowen is not the same without dressing up.

or bobbing for apples.

More to come...........................

Update

I was told it was time I updated my blog page, so here it is. There will be no photos because for some reason I cannot upload them from work. Life in Provo is moving forward on day to the next. I get up, get ready for work, go to work, spend 9 hours at work, drive home, eat maybe go to the gym maybe watch TV, go to bed at 10:30, sleep then do it all over again.

The weekends are a little different depending on if the girls are visiting or not but mostly its wake up late on Saturday maybe do some shopping if Molly needs anything, finish up the day watching a movie if we rented any. Sunday we get up and go to church, come home have lunch, take a nap, watch a little TV eat something for dinner then get ready for the next day.

Can you all say "rut".

If I could up load pictures you could see the fun things we have done lately. And because a picture is worth a thousand words I will not write to discribe it. I've been told that my spelling is bad and I use the wrong words when I write so this is a good thing.

Well that about sums up July and August without the photos so When I get time or figure out how to up load pictures at work I'll show you some of the fun things I did on my summer vacation.

photo's of Kaycee's Graduation

Busy June

I tried to upload some pictures of Kaycee's graduation but my home computer is sick and I cannot do it from work, sorry. Things have been rather exciting with Kaycee graduation and school getting out for Molly. Makes me wish that I could spend all day doing as I please again. Of course remembering back to my own carefree days as a kid it is only fun for the first few weeks and then boredom sets in.

Molly now has started with summer drill so she is busily going about her drill routine, its a revolving cycle but she enjoys it for now. I am looking forward to the summer movies even if I cannot afford to go. I am hoping that I can at least see the new Harry Potter Movie. The trailers look cool, I'll have to see it by myself I'm affaid, Molly has not gotten into them. To bad I could not go next week while Molly is at drill camp, Oh well such is life.

My work goes the same as always. Drawing lines on a black background hoping when I am done that some can read it and build what ever it is suppose to be. Construction seem to be slowing down a little, at least we don't seem to have as much work as we usually have had during the summer. This does cause me some concern about my job security but I cannot change that so there is no since worring too much.

There you have my life lately, sorry if I didn't spell everything correctly or use the proper form of the word.

I've been tagged....

Three Characters I would like to be:

Alex Hawk - He is rich. (Hawk, Ted Bell)
James Bond - He has cool toys
Belgarion - (David Eddings Series of books)

Three Characters I wish where real so I could meet them:

Jack Ryan (Executive Order, Tom Clancy)
Mitch Rapp (Memorial Day, Vince Flynn)
Belgarth (Belgariad series, David Eddings)

Three Characters that scare me:

King Galbatorix (Eragon by Christopher Paolini)
Mitch Rapp (Memorial Day, Vince Flynn)
The Eye ( Lord of the Rings, Tolken)

tagged people... Wendy, Debbie, and Greg

busy, busy, busy

Its been a busy couple of weeks. I know that is no excuse but the stresses of life have slowed me down.




Last weekend we had a little wedding to attend to. Molly's sister was married last weekend and so here are some photos of the fun.

Just thought that I would update my blog spot. Who can guess the correct year this was taken. and now it is there for the whole world to see. Just look at those teeth.

I was told that i should keep this up until everyone updates their blog but its such a good picture maybe I will keep it up for life.

Another Day

I decided against the spring theme being that while I enjoy the warm weather and sun shine this is the time of year that the trees grass and weed all start doing there thing to insure the continuation to their species. That means pollen and where there is pollen there is sneezing, running nose and watering eyes for me. I have found that unless you suffer from allergies you are not at all sympathetic with those of us that do.

Here is a brief lesson on Pollen.

What is pollen?

Pollen is the male fertilizing agent of plants, trees, grasses, and weeds, consisting of microscopic, powdery granules. The types of plants which are pollinated by wind are responsible for allergic symptoms as the pollen is light and travels in large quantities in the air. Wind pollination is an ancient form of pollination and is much less efficient than insect pollination. It involves the production of large amounts of pollen that go helter skelter with very little going where it's needed, leaving a lot available for inhalation.

Wind-pollinated plants are very different from insect-pollinated plants. The small, lackluster blossoms are exposed to the wind, and many trees like cottonwoods and box elders blossom early before the leaves come out to get in the way. Those things that would attract insects, such as odor, nectar, and brilliant colors, are absent. The pollen grains are small, lightweight, and dry, and include grasses, common trees, and weeds. Fruit trees and ornamental flowers, which are pollinated by insects, pose few problems for allergy sufferers since this type of pollen is too sticky and heavy to be transported very far by air.

Trees usually pollinate between February and May, grasses between May and July, and weeds from July until the first hard frost. The pollen count is high during extended warm, dry periods, and is low when it is rainy and damp. The count also goes up when it is windy.

For those of you that see me around, No I am not crying my eyes are just watering from the affects of pollen. If you listen for a few minutes you will hear me sneeze. I have high hopes that the allergy shots I have started taking will fix this problem in about five years or so.