Monday, September 28, 2009

September Photos - including Blaines Bday (Dad)

Hi Ya'll ...  It was so fun being with you all last night.  It was one of those perfect evenings.  I had finished all my big church assignments.  Work wasn't for another 12 hours.  We were going to B&K's new Utah house for the first time.  We were celebrating a very important birthday.  The chocolate eclair birthday cake was a new and wonderful taste sensation.  And everyone was happy...even the kids.  Of course Nick and Stef still had a long drive home...but they are so good to never complain.  Blaine's iphone had a little problem, but we got that fixed.  Thanks to Blaine and Kristi for hosting the fun!  Thanks to Daniel for taking the photos.  Thanks to all.  Loves.  By the way, these photos also include Max in his football uniform.
 http://picasaweb.google.com/bretbassett/Sept09#

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Blaine (Dad)

Hi Birthday boy.  I hope this is a great day for you and your family.  You guys have been working so hard to get moved into your new place, and you've got a long way to go... so maybe that's how you'll want to spend your free time after work...or maybe you'll want to go golfing with your new quorum.  Whatever you choose to do I hope it's great.  And don't forget to take your iphone with you...!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

My letter to the Bark for Aug/Sep (Dad)

 Hi Family - here's my letter to the Bark which covers a lot of ground.  And I thought since I mention ya'lls names you may want to see what I added...loves.
 
 
All,
 
It's been an amazing two months for the Bret Bassetts.
 
Of course the big news has been Blaine and Kristi moving to town.  They finally got out of Texas and moved back to the land of milk and honey.  Peanut butter and honey that is.  I say that because while they lived in our house, our supply of Milk and Honey went down much faster then when it's just the 3 of us, but I get ahead of myself.
 
When they arrived, Blaine immediately started working at his new job - Applied Signal Technology (AST) - which is challenging but great, and the rest of the family started trying to find themselves in a strange new land.  They lived in corporate housing up on Highland drive, and enjoyed it - for 30 days.  After that they had to make some big decisions...sign a contract to live somewhere else (and pay money)...or live at Mom and Dads for free.  They chose the cheaper option and so we have enjoyed having them in our home.  It wasn't very long before they decided they needed to move on (we didn't kick them out...I promise!  They were PERFECT house guests), and they found a wonderful place in Lehi just off the freeway (easy on/off) and moved into it yesterday.  Of course we hope that their stay at our house isn't what convinced them they needed to move so far away.  But at least they are closer than they were when they lived in the Big T. 
 
So they are gone, and we're falling back into our regular routine of living.  But although we have more jelly beans, peanuts, and 'milk and honey' than we had when they were here, we miss them a lot!   We will miss having the energy of our grandchildren.  We'll miss kristi fixing fun and interesting dinners.  We'll miss Gwen's independent spirit that let's her play with toys, play outside, play with brother, watch pbs cartoons for 1 hr, take care of sister, and tell us of how much fun she is having going to her preschool.  We'll miss Bentley's emphatic but oh so loveable:  'No...', 'I don't want to...', and 'I don't like it'.  Of course those aren't the only thing he says - His language is growing everyday, and it is so fun to try to interpret.  But those are the new things he learned to say the day he turned '2'.  We'll miss Ivy's perfect smile.  When she is awake, and you glance her way, you can feel the power of her smile.  It's wonderful.  We'll miss Kristi's ability to find friends everywhere and set up little outings which we then get to hear about and live through vicariously;  The Zoo, The Children's Museum, The Cabin, the Family Fitness Center (Highland), and 100 other places.  Of course alot of her errands were to go to shop for new housing, but she is one who finds lots of good friends so she can take them to fun places and show them how to have a good time.  You may want to get on Kristi's 'friend' list as she even buys extra tickets to places so she can take friends with her.
 
So although they are out of sight now (Lehi) they are not out of mind.... and we hope to see them at lots of the Bassett, Winder, activities.  It's hard to believe they are gone, but we still see little signs that they were here...Blaine's popular mechanics magazine in the bathroom book collection, Gwen's picture on the fridge, photos around, toilet paper rolls which having once been unrolled, are now rerolled.  Etc. Etc.  We miss their pitter patter, and hope they'll be back soon.
 
Rosey continues living life at a frenzied pace.  We don't see her much, but know she is busy doing lots 'o good stuff.  She's on about 4 intramural teams, goes to BYU games, works, serves in her church callings while going to church, dates her man Daniel, and, oh yeah, goes to school.  WE're just thrilled when she is able to join us cause she brings a new passion and excitement into our days.... the last time she was in town she got all of her friends to throw up, by telling them that no one...absolutely no one...can swallow a tablespoon of cinnamon.  So they all had to try.  We've got video if anyone's interested.
 
Janey's life continues forward at a more sane pace even though she's down at BYU as well.  We love it when she comes home and shares life with us.  She is a really good friend to max and listens to all his stories.  She amazes us with her ability to get up at 5:00am or earlier to bake cookies.  And so besides all she does in her church callings, her personal study, her work, her dating and hanging out with friends, she still makes time to come home for dinner on weekends and bake up some rolls, clean dishes, gets her laundry done, and all those important things, and seems to love them.  Her life is complex, but she's good to make it look simple.
 
Max is back in High School...ran for office and lost, got recruited onto the football team and won, had his friend (who is a girl) fall for another guy and keep it in perspective, and play the piano like THE man (the piano man to be exact).
 
Other activities which happened in August included:
  • Wendy and kids hiked Mt Timpanogos
  • Bret took Blaine and Max to Father's and Sons sleep over.  The highlight was when we were sitting out on a mountaintop picnic table (solid metal) with rain and lighting all around us, eating wet "Kentucky Fried Chicken" and Blaine said, "Uh Guys, maybe we should move back into the tent, this seems a little, um, dangerous."  Maybe you had to be there.
  • We went to Mom's party for the Gma and Gpa Remington's 100 year birthday party.
  • and then to the Winder Jamborall at the pool.
 
In September we had the following:
  • Stake Conference
  • Jann and Emery left on their mission and we celebrated Jann's birthday before they left
  • BYU Beat Oklahoma and then got smashed by FSU
  • Max started high school, and joined the sophmore football team
  • We went on a labor day hike to Cecret Lake
  • We celebrated Bentley's birthday #2...and Blaines Bday #28
 
Feel free to enjoy all the pictures out on Picasa!
 
Loves to all.  Sounds like your summers have gone lovely.
 
Be excellent to each other, AND... party on Dudes!

Friday, September 18, 2009

FOOTBALL!!!

Hey everyone!!!!!! Even though Rosey already said it in her post, I thought I would write a little bit about my experience while being on the football team. Yes, I just joined the Granger High School Football team!!!!!
The first Granger football game I went to this year was against West Jordan. When I went to that game, it hadn't even crossed my mind that I could be on the football team. After the game, the sophmore coach, Dave Bateman, (who played basketball with Janey and thought she was amazing.) ;) he was also my basketball coach last year for senior league so he knew me pretty well, he came up to me when we were walking to the parking lot and I said hi to him and he hit me pretty hard in the chest like any football coach would and asked why I wasn't doing football. I told him I think it would be fun but I don't really know how to play.
Since then, I had never really thought about football again until a couple of weeks ago after the game against Skyline, it the night I had figured out that I didn't win Sophmore class rep. and I was kind of sad about that. Coach Bateman came up to me and asked if I had won, I told him no, and he told me that I should come play football. This time, I really thought hard about it, I mean I really wanted to get involved at Granger and I didn't make class rep. so I thought it would be reall cool to do football. I didn't think I would be able to do it this year, so I planned on doing it next year during the summer. The next monday, I was talking to my friend Garrett and he said that Dave was talking to him about joining also, and that we could still talk to the head coach, Coach Holt. So we went after school into Holt's office and asked if we could still join the team. He asked why why didn't do it earlier and we told him that we were busy with class office and stuff, so he gave us the packet that we needed to fill out, and he told us to fill it out before the end of the week, and we could be part of the team!!!!
I was so excited, I went straight home and talked to mom and dad about it. I could tell that mom was really hesitant about it, but me, being the youngest, could convince her a lot easier than any of the other kids could. :) JUST KIDDING!!!! After a lot of talking to her about it, I finally convinced her, and dad said he thought it would be a great idea! I couldn't wait!! I needed to get my physical first and then fill out a couple of other things. So on Tuesday, I went with dad and got the physical exam, and we bought some cleats and a mouth guard.

On wednesday was my first practice!
After school, I gave the coach my packet and he said that I could come to practice but he didn't have pads and equipment for me quite yet. So I went to the practice, but I couldn't hit or get hit because I didn't have any pads. It was good to watch the team play and to see how good they were. The practice went until about 7:00, which is when it usually ends.

The next day was thursday, and thursdays are game days for sophmores.
When the coach and the team said game days, I just expected to go to the football game, come home with a win or a loss, and be done for the day. I was wrong! VERY WRONG!!!! Game days are much more than just the game I learned.
After school, I talked to the coach again about getting my pads, and he told me he still didn't have any pads for me so I wouldn't be able to play. That meant I was going to be water boy!
:( I went to the game at Murray and made sure that all the players got the water they needed.(And let me tell you, that is A LOT harder than it sounds!) Anyways, the sophmores beat Murray 54 - 8! It was about 6:00 when we got back to the school, and the coach told me that there was going to be a team dinner a 7:00. They have a team dinner cooked by the Booster club every thursday night. But that night was the night forum, and I needed to go to that, so I told the coach, and he said that we could come over at the end of the Forum and have some dinner. So I went to the forum, and that ended at about 8:00, and then I headed over to the cafeteria for some pork and crab salad. I WAS STARVING AND THIS PORK WAS DELICIOUS!!!! I mean, mom's cooking is still MUCH better, but you know when you're so hungry that everything sounds good, that's how I was because I hadn't really eaten anything all day! So I ate my dinner while the coaches gave their speeches. It was really cool to see the coaches get emotional, and to know that they have a soft side deep down. (You never see that soft side at practice!) :)
After the dinner, it was about 9:00 p.m. and I was really ready to go home! But then I learned that every thursday after dinner, the team has a little meeting out in the bleachers. It's just the team, with no coaches. When I was talking to mom about it, this is how I described it:
"It's a lot like a testimony meeting, just you clap at the end, and the people are swearing." It really was like that, we sat really close together in like a huddle, and you could get up and talk if you wanted to. I was really close to getting up and introducing myself to the team, but when I finally got up the courage, the meeting was over. :( I will have another chance to do it though, I mean, they have it every thursday! Anyways, I left home at about 7:00 a.m. and got home at about 10:00 p.m.. That is what game days are, not just playing a game of football, but spending a lot of time with the team!
Well, I just wanted to tell you guys about my experience so far. I've been on the team for three days, but it feels like months! :) I'm really liking it a lot! I learned last night that I get my pads on monday! So i'm really excited for that!
Anyways, I hope this post makes sense, and I'm sorry I haven't written for a while!
Thanks and love you all
Max

Quick (2)

Well I decided to copy cat Mom and give you all a quick update on my crazy, crazy life! First of all I want to share my pride with Max for joining the Football team. Seriously Max, I think you made my whole week. I am so excited for you and look forward to going to atleast one of your games, please let me know when they are. Ok well a quick over view of my life, I think it is crazier than it has ever been before, but I am loving it! I got a new position at the bookstore (I am on my break right now),I work at the warehouse as the online sales rep. I know it sounds official and well in a way it feels official too because I am completely my own boss and I have my own desk and space. It is cool, but quiet...I did not get a pay raise but I do fell complimented that they trust me enough to put me in charge of my own destiny, not to mention I make my own schedule which is so nice! Besides my 15-20 hours a week for work I am a Team Lead for my Mentoring group which has been so fun and has taught me so much, but man it is time consuming! I devote about 15 hours to this and then I am taking 17 credit hours. I go to the library almost every single week night with this handsome boy named Daniel (after he gets home from working a full 8 hour day!... at 9 o clock) Anyways we usually go study for like 2-2 1/2 hours a night. I can't really complain though because for some reason even though you are just sitting there doing homework still, it is just more fun with him :) Speaking of Daniel, I am sure you are all wondering what is going on there and lets just say...REALLY GOOD. Everything is just so good because of him, we have kind of discussed the M word but don't get antsy...we both have a contract until April, so nothing will happen too soon. However I think the CD that Jane brought me last night sums it all up (thanks again sis, it is always so good to see you...seriously!) But she named the CD after Buble's new song, "I have not met you yet" but she titled the CD (I haven't ...except for Rosey has met Daniel... you yet". Anyways just a little update...somethign I love about him is that he is such a hard worker, he works full time and is taking 11 credits right now and he never complains at all. It is so impressive to me because i come home kind of tired and grumpy every day. Anyways that is that. The only other major thing going on right now is my baby...Intramurals! I know you all think I am crazy to add more to my schedule if I don't have to, but they really do keep me sane, I live for them. I am on 4 teams right now...although I think I will drop the Ultimate team because it is all boys and they have enough people. But I am on the infamous Cowgirls football team with Chelsy again! And then a soccer and basketball team with random people. THey are my social activity each week. Well thats all I have time for. Back to work. I miss you all so much! Seriously. I can't wait for conference weekend... Keep being righteous, it is so worth it to always give time to the Lord, I know this from experience. :) Loves.

-Rose

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Moose Tracks

Ahhhh. Nothing beats a late summer day at the cabin. A little rock hunting, a little zip lining, changing leaves, friends, food, a delightful day indeed.

We said goodbye to our friends and were just finishing some last minute details before leaving the cabin for the day. Change a diaper, look at some more rocks, etc. I went to swig one more drink of cool spring water from the drinking fountain when I heard a tree branch crack. My eyes shot up to see..


The biggest moose EVER! And that's not all, you see those tree stumps, right there on the bottom left? I had been standing on one of those MOMENTS before and swinging on the swing (you can see the rope cutting across the picture). I very well could have been gored by a moose mid-flight!

I panicked! Beautiful as they are I hear moose can be a bit...tempermental. So I screamed for the kids to get in the car. Once we were all in safe I figured I ought to get a few pictures, lest I be known as the girl who cried "giant man-eating moose".


And then the moose marked his territory, and seconds later gave me a menacing look.

So that was enough for me to get. the. heck. outta. there.


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The end.

Quick (mom)

Dear Family,

I wasn't going to take time to write because the house is quiet and I really, really, really need to prepare my talk for sacrament meeting on Sunday. But I just wanted to tell you ALL how much I love you.

Also I want to tell Blaine and Kristi how much we have enjoyed having them stay here and how wonderful I think they are. It brings back great memories to have Blaine sitting at the kitchen counter eating breakfast when I get up for carpool each morning - even in garments:) Kristi is just the best little mom and takes wonderful care of the kids planning fun activities for them each day. Today they are up at the cabin. She has also fixed dinner the last two nights. Wahoooo!! They are all so good to pick up after themselves and be respectful of "my" way of doing things. I love seeing Ben's sweet little face in the high chair when I come home from my morning runs. I love reading books to Gwen and brushing her hair when she will let me. I love Ivy who gives the sweetest smiles anytime. It has been a joy to have them and I want them to know it.

I can't believe we are in the middle of Sept. I still have tons of canning I want to do and ,well, there is this talk that is hanging over me!! Yesterday I spent from 6:30 am to 8:30 p.m. in the front hall of Kennedy Jr. High as an election judge for the West Valley City Primary election. It went well though voter turnout was low. I got some reading and crocheting done! And I ate school lunch for free!!! I think that is my first school lunch in 34 years.

Good news - Mike Winder will go into the Nov. election for WV Mayor. Don Christensen (I sat next to his wife Necia all day at the polls) and Steve Buehler (in our Stake - dad's exec sec.) made it in their respecive city council primary races. We are happy about election results.

Okay, I MUST prepare this talk.

Love you all. Mom

PS Stef inspired me to write this letter. Short is good!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

more pics (STEF)



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Labor Day Weekend Pics (Stef)



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It's been awhile (Stef)

Well, Bret is napping, and I am doing nothing of great importance, so I thought I would make a posting!

One of our greatest adventures lately is when Blaine, Kris, and the kids came for a visit. Its so funny because Bret kinda picked up on Ben's little giggle and the way he just exclaims stuff all the time (like "Oh"). Its way funny. He has also started doing this thing we have no idea where it came from, when he is in his high chair eating he will close his eyes and feel around like a blind man looking for something. Then of course he peeks to make sure we are watching and he busts out in a smile. Its dang funny. But not as funny as how his little bootie swaggles when he runs so fast! He is a crack up. He loves the water- baths, lakes, hoses, pools, etc. He also loves dancin still, its so funny to watch, he really gets into the beats/songs on his little kiddie educational TV shoes. Love it! He also really likes the new Michael Buble song that I told Janey about!

Well there are just some random tidbits for ya.

We had a great Labor Day here because we got to go to beautiful Zion and hike Emerald Pools again. Oh Bret loves it so much! We missed being with you guys, but we are excited to see you all over conference.

We are sure getting excited for the marathon to come (and then be over :)! I know Nick is tired, but he is still doing so good on his training. He is in the busy season with work and has lots of responsibilities with his calling, (and of course football makes his weekends even busier..) so he will be ready for a little rest from running! I know he is going to be really awesome though :).

Oh yah, the best was Nick in nursery this weekend. He is a natural, all the kids were just sitting around him playing. I have never seen them all gather round like that for so long before. I tried to get him called in there, because he is so darn tootin good at it:)! It was really fun to have our whole family in there!

We had fun seeing Bryan, Chandi and kids down here this weekend. We are also glad to know Stake conference went well again for Dad! We love you guys,

love, Stef

Monday, September 14, 2009

Stake Conference Talks

Hi Family,

This was a big weekend. Stake Conference. If any of you are interested, here are the two talks I gave... enjoy!

Why Obey


How to Make Meetings a Blessing