UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ATHLETE IN THE HOUSE!

Brittani just returned from a recruiting trip to the U on Sunday, and after weighing her options (she wants to go in-state and already visited BYU) she decided on the University of Utah!  They offered her full tuition and books, and with her ACT score she should be able to live and eat and not have to pay a penny!


We are so excited for Brittani and so proud of the hard work she has done to achieve such a lofty goal.  It has been so amazing to watch one of my children achieve her dreams.

GO UTES!

CONNOR LYNN

It was hard to get our sweet Connor here on earth, and he had to fight from the very beginning of my pregnancy to live, but there has not been one day that has gone by that I haven't been SO thankful that he is part of our family.  Connor is funny and kind.  He is sensitive and smart.  He LOVES to talk (and argue - I think it is a 9-year-old thing!) and sing.  Connor loves music and football, eating and TV, video games and friends.  More than anything on this earth though, Connor loves Nathan and wants to be just like him.  If you tell Connor you love him, he quickly replies "I love you more" and that sentence alone can make any bad day better.  Connor gives the BEST hugs, has the sweetest closed liped smile, and still sometimes will hold my hand.  Connor doesn't get upset very easily, but has a way of holding grudges if you cross him.  I love this kid more than life itself.

Thank you Connor for bringing so much happiness into our home.

I love you to infinity and beyond.

ROBERT WALKER BENGTZEN

Robert Walker Bengtzen 1923 ~ 2011 Robert Walker Bengtzen, 88 years old, passed away on June 29, 2011, in Possum Trot (yes, Possum Trot), Kentucky. He was born June 4, 1923, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Wilford Einar and Gladys Walker Bengtzen. He graduated from South High School and LDS Business College. He was an Accountant and worked for several companies. He married Betty Jo Kartchner on November 19, 1942, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were the parents of three boys and one girl: Robert Kay, Gary Lynn, Timothy Einar and Suzanne. Robert was a quiet man. He loved his family. He loved his church. He was a High Priest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as an Elder Quorum President, Bishopric Counselor, High Priest Group Leader and Home Teacher. He had a great concern for others. He helped other missionaries besides his own sons serve their missions. He loved to water ski and did it well. He water skied the last time when he was 79 years old. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Kartchner of 68 years, son, Timothy (Barbara) Bengtzen, daughter, Suzanne Turner, daughters in-law Raynee Bengtzen and Myke Branch, 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grand children. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Bill, sister Lois, son Robert Kay and son Gary Lynn. Services will be held Tuesday July 5, 2011, at the Imperial First Ward, 1560 East 2700 South, SLC, at 12:00 Noon. Viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Buried in Wasatch Lawn Cemetery 




My sweet grandpa passed away this past week and I can't help but to be so thankful that my grandparents have been alive and such a big part of my life.  I am so thankful that my children have been able to know these incredible people.  For most of my childhood my grandma and grandpa Bengtzen lived in California, and once or twice a year my family would load into our custom van and drive to visit them.  We usually would go to the Pier where there was a store for left handers, and Cory, my grandpa and I would always find something that we couldn't live without!  I looked forward to our California trips and the time I was able to spend with my grandparents.  In my later teenage years my grandparents moved back to Utah and just down the street from us, and although my grandpa was a man of few words, I always knew how much he loved Rick and me and our children.  I remember my grandpa teaching Brittani how to say the ABC's backwards, and making rubber band balls with the kids.  I remember him pushing them on the swing in his back yard.  I remember his constant teasing of my children as his way of showing his love for them.  I'll always remember his perfectly slicked back hair, perfectly ironed shirts and the smell of his cologne.  


A few years ago I was making my brothers a memory book for Christmas and I had asked my grandparents some questions for the book.  I will never forget two of the answers that my grandpa Bob gave me.  I asked him what he first remembered about my grandma, and he said "her nice legs!".  I also asked him if there was anything he would like to tell my brothers that they may not know about him and his answer was that sometimes he worries that we don't know how much he loves us because he doesn't say it.  I have thought about this many times, and although he didn't tell us that he loved us, he showed us.


My grandpa Bob was an amazing man.  He was kind, he adored my grandma, and he was an awesome example to me and my children.  He lived a good life and I know he is in heaven with my sweet dad, and I know I will see them both again someday.


Grandpa Bob, thank you for being an awesome man!  I love you.

BRITTANI

Where do I even start?  I have no idea how to even start trying to put into words life with Brittani!  She is the party to our house and the energy to our family!  Brittani's name means sunshine, and that's just what she is, a ray of sunshine.  I have been so lucky to have an amazing relationship with Britt.  We love to hang out and talk and go tanning and shopping.  When it's time for her to be home from school or swim team I find myself getting excited just to have her around.  She is an amazing girl.  She gives 110% to everything she does (except school unless it's finals week) and because of this she has accomplished A LOT in her almost 17 years.  Brittani is fun, energetic, outgoing, confident, and if I had to choose any girl on this earth to be my daughter it would be Britt.

I love you Brittani, you are the sunshine in my life.

NATHAN

I wanted to write down some of my feelings about each of my children, and since Nathan is the middle child, he never goes first, until today!

Nathan has brought me so much joy since the day he was born.  He was a very happy, easy going child, and he still is that way most of the time now.  He is 14, about 6'3", has armpits full of hair, but he is stuck in this crazy stage between a boy and a man.  I LOVE IT!  The other day while we were on his Magical Mystery Tour, the three boys were making farting sounds with their armpits.  Nathan was by far the best at making the sounds, but my very favorite part was every time he would make a farting sound, he would start laughing in this deep manly laugh.  He was acting like a young boy, but laughing like a man.  It was awesome!

Nathan is kind and sensitive and finds the best in everyone.  He is very even tempered, and I think the only people on this earth that can make Nathan mad are his family.  He has a knowledge of his Heavenly Father and the love He has for Nathan.  He doesn't boast of his testimony, he just knows and that is enough for him.

I am so excited to see where Nathan goes in life because I know that whatever he puts his mind to he will achieve.  He is determined, and when he really loves something he gives it 100%.

Nathan's favorite color is blue, his favorite food has always been manicotti (but I think that may have changed recently), he is a clean boy and dirty things really gross him out.  He loves football, lacrosse, saxophone and eating (he ate a whole box of instant oatmeal this morning!).  I am thankful every day that Nathan is my son and a part of our family.  I love him so much and I'm so proud of the young man he is.  He has a football camp next week, and we have heard nightmare stories about boys getting in trouble at these camps, but it is so nice that we don't worry at all that Nathan will make bad choices.  He is strong and knows what's right, and stands up for it, and that makes me proud.

I love you Nathan, you bring my life so much joy.

MY LOVE

Over 20 years ago, a handsome, rebellious, mysterious boy flirted with me at a Highland High football game.  He was one of my brother Kirk's friends, and I knew there was not a chance my parents would approve - that could have been some of the attraction!  We dated a few times but he had WAY too many girls to keep track of, and I was a shy little girl that thought he was the cat's meow but would never let him know!

Fast forward a year or so, and I was working at The Villa, a movie theater down the street from my home.  I was almost 16, a little more confident, still just as shy, but also just as smitten when he walked through those doors.  Looking back I have to laugh that I cleaned the same counter at least 100 times while I talked to him because I was so nervous.  He started stopping by my house just to say hi, and it didn't take long until we started hanging out almost every day together.  I had no idea then that I would spend the rest of my life madly in love with this incredible man.

20 years, 3 kids, and thousands of wonderful memories later, I am way more in love with him than I ever thought possible.  He is kind, loving, giving, honest, strong and talented.  His smile still gives me chills.  I am a little lost when he isn't with me, and I am so much more confident in myself when he is around.  He brings out the best in me and his opinion matters more to me than anyone's on this earth.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the chance I have had to be married to the love of my life.

I love you Rick.

NATHAN'S MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR - 2011

With my sweet Dad being gone, my mom decided to do BIG Magical Mystery Tours this year with her grandchildren.  Nathan's, Zak's and Braydan's MMT was this past week, June 4 -  June 11 and my mom took them to go see a lot of the church historical sites.  I was able to go with them this year and it was fun to get to know the boys so much better, and to visit these amazing places that I have never visited before.  We left early Saturday morning and flew to Ohio where we were able to stay for two nights with Jen Bengtzen's brother and his wife.  The boys were so excited when they saw the hot tub and the man cave downstairs for them to have free reign of!  We went to church with them on Sunday and then visited the Kirtland Temple, the Isaac Morley Farm, The Quarry and the John Johnson Farm.  It was a busy day but interesting to see these different places.  On Monday we woke up early, said our goodbyes and drove to Canada.  We were able to visit Niagara Falls and take a boat ride called The Maid of the Mist which took us under the falls.  It was breathtaking.  Tuesday we went to Marine Land, Niagara Falls and sweet Nathan was able to feed his favorite animal...a baaluga wale.  It was SO fun to see him - he loved every minute of it! We left Canada early Wednesday morning and headed to Palmyra, New York to visit more church history sites.  We saw the Hill Cumorah, Joseph Smith's log cabin, Joseph Smith's home, the Sacred Grove, the Palmyra Temple, and the Book of Mormon Publication Site.  WOW! It was a long day!  At Joseph Smith's home we met one of the most amazing sister missionaries and she quickly became one of the boys favorite things on this trip!  Before leaving to come home, we made one more stop - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and then ran to the airport and came home.

I have such a hard time being away from Rick and my sweet kids for a long period of time, and while I was in Canada I couldn't talk to Rick because of long distance, and I missed them so much.  I'm so thankful for Rick and all he does for me and for our family.  I often wonder how I got so lucky!

                                           Marine Land - Nathan in heaven

                                                        Hill Curmorah

                                             The Sacred Grove

                                            Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

                                                Nathan on Maid of the Mist

                                                  Niagara Falls

                                                      Niagara Falls

                                                        Marine  Land

                                                   Marine Land

Marine Land

                                                     The Quarry

                                                   The Quarry

                                                The boys at the Moss' home

                                                       Niagara Falls

                                                 Niagara Falls

Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls

                                                Texas Airport during our layover

                                                                  The B Spot Resturant

                                                          LDS Historic Site

                                                          Kirtland Temple

Although I missed my family so much, I LOVED spending so much time with Nathan.  I found myself just watching him and so amazed by his kindness, manners, and the respect he showed others.  He is such a good good boy and I am so thankful he chose to come to our house.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - 2010/2011

I went and picked Connor and his friend Collin up from school today and when they hopped in the car Collin said to Connor, "Dude, how did you get the hottest girl's number?" and Connor, being very cool replied, "You have to be tall, strong, and not let anything get in your way!"

MEMORIAL DAY

Our first Memorial Day without my sweet dad... this year will be a lot of firsts.  The head stone was put in just this past week and it is beautiful.  My mom, Teague and his family, Kirk and his family, and my family had lunch and visited the grave - one more holiday down.

EARLOBES, EARLOBES, REAL GREAT!

On February 20 my sweet dad passed away - 3 months ago today.  He was diagnosed with cancer the first week of January, and fought so hard for 51 days.  Our family made a promise to each other when we found out that my dad was sick that we would fight and win, and yet we were fighting against an unfair, cheating opponent. In the last few weeks of his life, with another round of chemo looming,  my dad took time to talk with each of his children, asking us what we thought he should do.  The first and only round of chemo didn't seem to work at all, and the cancer was like a snowball, getting bigger and more out of control as it spread.  My dad was so willing to go through another round and all the sickness that comes with it to make sure that none of us thought he was giving up, but the doctor wouldn't let him - his body couldn't handle it. He fought until the end and gave it everything he had and more.  When the hospice nurse came, I told her that my dad was a fighter, and she said "there is no doubt about that, look at him." (he was bright yellow from his liver not working for so long).  Thank you dad for showing us how to fight.

I was able to spend quite a bit of time up at his house the last four weeks of his life, and that is precious time I will ALWAYS treasure.  During that time he expressed to me and my family the way he feels about us, and I hope I was able to let him know how much I love him.

Three months have gone by, and yet it seems like I haven't been able to see him in so long.  It is crazy to me how I miss him every day.  So many things remind me of him and make me wish he was here with us.  His little song "earlobes, earlobes, real great, I love earlobes, can't wait" has been going through my head all day, and even though it makes me so sad, I have to smile at the funny little things he said and did.  I miss my dad...

Sweet Dad...I love you.  I miss you.  I wish so much you were here.

Love,
Alicia

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm so thankful for so many things today, but if I had to pick one thing it would be FAMILY.  As I'm writing this, I am sitting across the table from Brittani, she's telling me how she has never kissed anyone at school, or at a dance, and then her next sentence is "we should get a fruit dryer"!  I feel so lucky that I can just chat with my sweet daughter, that Rick has given me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom so that I can be with our children.

Each of my children are so different.  The other day, I was dropping Nathan off at school and I just had to laugh - he was in his PJ's (it was pajama day at his school), he had two instruments (one for jazz band and one for band class) - he is in 8th grade and so sure of himself.  I absolutely love everything about that boy.

Connor and his posse have found a vending pop machine at someones house, so everyday after school, rain or shine, they head out on their bikes, pick up friends along the way, and go to get a drink!  He is so dang funny, everything he does.  We are going to have to limit his soda intake so that he can stay healthy, I just think it is so funny though - their new thing!

Rick is the love of my life. I love being around him.  I love the dad and husband that he is.  He is my everything.

Today, on Thankful Thursday, I am so thankful for my AWESOME family!

GOODBYE 5637 WEST 10770 NORTH!

About 13 years ago we built this awesome house.  Brittani was 3, Nathan was 1, and Rick and I were in our twenty's!  We brought Connor into our family in this home, made thousands of wonderful memories, made some great friends, and grew as a family.  Today we closed on the sale of 5637 and cleaned out the last few things that were left behind, and started a new chapter of our life.  I felt so many emotions today; excitement, sadness, nervousness, and relief.  I know that wherever we live, as long as we are together as a family, it will be HOME.  I am so thankful for my sweet family, that they love me no matter what, that together I know we can get through anything.  I'm also so thankful for this amazing home, that in it I watched my beautiful children start to become incredible people.  I'm thankful for night games, wrestling with each other, Nathan pushing Rick into the wall, denting it, and feeling so tough every time he walked past it!  I'm thankful for Halloweens, birthdays, Christmas stockings for 150 children in Mexico, finding out we were FINALLY pregnant with Connor, Brittani turning 16, Nathan receiving the Priesthood, and SO many other precious memories that I have in this home.  I will always, always, always love 5637 West 10770 North.

RED BUTTE GARDEN

MOTHER'S DAY

A few weeks ago Brittani and I were asked to speak in church on Mother's Day (what a treat!).  I asked my mom if she wanted to come down and go to church with us and Rick asked Leslie if she wanted to come go church with us, so we had an audience!  It worked out so nicely when we realized that Nathan would be ordained a Teacher in church also, so both grandmas were able to be there for that.  It's crazy to me how quickly Nathan is growing up.  He is such a handsome, kind, loving boy.  He tries so hard to make good choices and be a good person.  One thing I admire so much about Nathan is that he NEVER talks bad about anyone.  He is about 6'2" and is still growing!!!  I'm so proud of the man he is becoming.

After church Cory, Spring, Jaxon and Brenna came to our house to give my mom her gifts before they went to dinner with Spring's family.  Cory is doing a reality show on the Discovery Channel about small airplanes and has been gone for the past couple of weeks filming for that.  It was fun to have them over and spend some time with them.  Later, Teague, Jen and their family, Nolan, Amanda and their family, Ashlie and Will and Leslie all came over for dinner.  We ate, played games and had a nice evening.

                                               The Mother's Day gift my sweet children gave to me.

                                                                            Cute Brenna

                                                        Sweet Connor and Sweet Jaxon

It was a lot different this year with my dad not being with us.  It still is so hard for me to really believe that he is gone.  Teague graduated from college on Saturday, and when he walked in and was waving at us, it broke my heart that my dad wasn't there to see him.  Kirk leaned over and asked if I thought it would ever get any easier (we were both crying at this point), but I honestly don't know if it ever will.  He will be so missed at graduations, ordinations, weddings, parties, holidays, and every other day of the year...

PROM #2!

2 proms in a row!  Brittani was asked to Pleasant Grove's prom by her good friend Jordan Bramhall.  She had SOOO much fun and looked SOOO beautiful.  I'm glad we are done with proms for a year!