THANK YOU

Well, we made it through Christmas. It was a nice, fast and hectic holiday this year. Some of the highlights were:
AMY and PJ announced that they are having a baby. Amy's 2nd, PJ's 3rd. July 16th is the due date. (two weeks after our cousin Linda has her caboose baby)

It snowed on Christmas, it was very cozy. A little scary to drive in but cozy.

Everyone seemed happy with their presents, even the missionary.

The boys each helped with the wrapping, delivering and cooking.

My sister-in-law shared a very special gift with "her sisters and mothers" one of her table clothes that she has collected from around the world. I know meant a lot to her and was probably very hard to depart with. I was one of the recipients and am very grateful for such a thoughtful and heartfelt gift. Michelle, thank you.

We had an wonderful experience at the Salt Lake Temple with Amy, PJ and Britton being able to attend it for the first time. We met with the Temple President, old friends of Mom and Dad. It was very neat. Thank you Cherilyn for helping us clean the house so that we were able to go. Sorry that you were not able to be with us, it would have made it so much better if you and Andrea had been there with us.

We have been so blessed this year, even though we have been too busy to realize. It has been an incredible journey that Dave and I have taken together to get to this place in life. I just can't believe that it is already here, the day we have been talking about, dreaming and living for. Our life is in a spiritual transition. I cannot wait for Britton to start experiencing the wonderful testimony building journey that he has been preparing for since the beginning.

Thank you so much for all of your support, your gifts to Britton, your thoughtful calls to ask if there is anything you can do, your help in getting a musical number ready,(Nancy, you are amazing with your talents) your help with the mundane chores to get ready for the farewell, your quiet concern to inquire if I am really OK or just faking it. (Sometimes I don't fake very well) Thank you for the examples that you are to my boys , Dave and I. I am truly blessed with family and friends like you. I am so honored to be the mother of one of the missionaries that will be in your prayers for the next two years. It certainly has become personal to me.

Farewell

Britton's Farewell is on Sunday December 28, 2008 at 1:00pm. We meet at the church across the field from our house on Fort Lane. We are having a get together afterward at our home. Please feel free to come and visit. I can't believe it is already here. Britton is ready. He just found out that he needs an emergency Root Canal and that will happen on the 2nd. He will be set apart on Tuesday night the 6th, I believe and then we take him to the MTC on the 7th. It is a crazy time of year to get a missionary ready. I hope to never do this again at Christmastime. Life comes at you fast.

24 Days To Go

Well this week it has hit me that our lives are about to change forever. We have been preparing for this moment for over 19 years. Britton is leaving in 24 days.

Britton started out in life born to two very young nervous parents. He came in as an emergency c-section to me. I remember feeling so overwhelmed as the doctor's wheeled me into the operating room. I remember telling Dave that I needed my mom there, (they had gone home earlier since I wasn't moving very fast) and I was shaking with fright and anesthesia.

The first night home I remember just thinking, "What have we done, our lives will never be the same." I was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of being his mother, realizing that we would never get a full nights sleep for the next 18+ years. I worried about the world that we were living in and the trials that he would have to face. The first of those being a small hemangioma (blood vessel) on the surface of his nose, the pressure quickly closing off the air passage of the nostril. We traveled to Salt Lake to visit a specialist for a "new laser" surgery to stop the growth. It was very hard to hold your 6 month old down as they lasered the nose.

He was talking sentences at 9 months. He was more of a friend than a child. We could reason with him and tell him the reason that he shouldn't do something and he was very obedient. He was so sweet, yet not a hugger or lovey. He was very independent.

He was a great big brother to Colton. He chose Colton's name for us. He had a best friend at the day care named Colt. The first day home with Colton from the hospital, he changed from my baby to the BIG BROTHER. He loved Colton, I never worried about him being alone with him.

At age 3 we moved to Germany. After we landed in the airport in Frankfurt, he and I went to this awful bathroom, our first sight of Germany. He and I came out and sat on the floor as Dave loaded us up with suitcases and we cried that we wanted to go back home.

At age 5 I loaded him on the Kindergarten bus bound for the Air Base school. He wanted to ride the bus, but I followed it in the car. I was a wreck whenever I thought of him riding the bus home in the afternoon, since the bus started at the High School, picked up students and then traveled to the junior high and then finally to the elementary to get the students. I was alarmed when he told me that a particular Jr High boy had befriended him and gave him his half drunk bottle of Snapple.

At age 8 he was baptized, he told me that he had never felt this clean and new before. He hoped he would always feel this way. He loved scouts.

He excelled in school, science being his favorite. He loved sports, he was especially talented in basketball. He and Colton played on the same football team his second year. Dave and I enjoyed watching them. During one football practice they did a drill where they partnered up and had to carry their partner across the field on their backs. He and Colton paired up and very slowly Britton carried Colton, weaving around under his weight. People yelled, he ain't heavy, he's your brother. Britton and Colton fought as brothers do, but Britton has always protected Colton.

He was an excellent babysitter to Jackson. He loved to spend one on one time with Jackson. He was such a great help to me. I wondered why I didn't wait to have all my children later so that I could have built in helpers.

I worried again as he started 7th grade. He was nervous, but just set his mind that it was better to just face his fears and get it over with than to worry about it. He grew up so fast it seemed to me. At 13 he got his Eagle Scout by building geese nesting platforms in the park.

He tried out for the singing group and surprised himself by making it in the 8th grade. He had to leave his shy comfort zone by singing solos in class. This class started his talent for music. His earlier piano lessons by his Grandma and others grew his love for music and the piano.

In priesthood he was asked to play the piano during opening exercises. He was very fond of a few hymns that the entire priesthood of our ward soon memorized the words to.

In high school his love for music also enhanced his social life by being in the musical groups and the parties that happened afterward. He surprised us all by announcing that he was trying out for the school play Will Rogers Follies. He was so brave to be the one Native American that danced alone on the drum bare-chested. We had to teach him about Spray on Tan for that one.

He also learned how to trick rope as a cowboy in the play, a talent that we hope he will keep for years to come.

After Graduation from Seminary and High School, he pleased us so by paying his way to the first semester of college. His first day of college was very challenging for him. His anatomy teacher told the class that if they were freshman they did not have what it took to take his class, he told them all to look around and realize that over half of them would flunk out of the class. This only challenged him to prove him wrong. Many, many, many hours and hours were spent studying. He did it, 100 % on his final exam and an A for the class.

This brings us to today, my baby is leaving the nest to go and serve the Lord. Dave and I am so proud of him. He is prepared, (not because of anything that we have taught him or done for him in his life,) He is ready. Britton, We have watched you grow, to develop into the man that you are. We love you, thank you for your testimony and endurance. You are going to do well. You have it in you to share what you love in your life with others. Thank you for being our son and one of our best friends, we want you to go and know that we are wanting you to be there doing what you are supposed to do.

Where did the years go? I am sure that two years from now, I will be asking the same question as we prepare for you to return.

By the way, I was right about not ever sleeping the whole night through, we still wait up for the boys all those years later, I am sure that we will continue to for years to come.

Dinner With A Democrat

Family of The Year Award Night

Thanksgiving Dinner

Our view from where we sat

Big little kid table

Colton and Maria wrestling

Dawn told me I should blog about our dinner and title it Dinner With A Democrat. We were so lucky this year to get one of my best friends to come to dinner with us. Her children live away and her husband has a tradition of going to Las Vegas with his Dad. Last year I was slow in asking her and she went to our other friend's house, but not this year. I was quick to ask her before Mary could. (Ha Ha Mary). Our boys just love her. They fought while we were setting the place cards for seating assignments as to who got to sit by her. Britton won, since it is his last year before his mission. Colton was willing to let me sit on the kid table so he could sit next to her. I won that battle.


Our day started by the annual FATB. (Firth Annual Turkey Bowl football game held at Andrea's) It was fun, Anders didn't know what to think of everyone tackling his dad. (I know, it is supposed to be flag football) This year we actually wore flags and the first flag out was almost Jessica's undies. (Nice by the way). Amy and PJ made it really fun. PJ was really playing under his age group. (good job PJ) It was the first year for Brady and it was great to have him there.


We had 31 people at my moms house for dinner. We ate a lot, and then visited. After dinner, we had our Leg Wrestling Contest. I went first against Colton. He knocked me right over. Then the boys went and played basketball. We watched old family videos. It was a wonderful day.

I wonder if my Democrat friend will come to our fun next year? After all our Republicanistic Views.

Everett's a BOY

MUSHU - THREE LEGGED CAT

EVERETT - FOUR LEGGED CAT

EVERETT IS A BOY

As you might have heard, our 3-legged cat Mushu has been missing from our home since the 2nd of November. We all have looked for him, unsuccessfully. We found his little collar and bell unhooked in the field by Grandpa's house. We believe that the local Coyote, that has been seen lurking about, took him. We all have had a very heavy heart about it. After all, we had Mushu longer that we have had Jackson in our family. (We even paid 300 plus dollars to have his leg taken off a few years ago due to a traffic encounter).

Last Friday afternoon, Dave, Jackson and I went on an excursion. We drove up to the local animal shelter. We wanted to look for a new cat, (before the mice made their home in ours) and thought that it might help Jackson get over the loss of Mushu. We went into the stray cats room, ignoring the yelping and very loud confusing noise of the dogs. Just looking at the cats, sent Jackson into tears. He said, "I want to go home, I don't want a new cat, Mushu will come back." Dave and I tried to convince him that it wasn't like we were trying to replace Mushu, we were just looking to see if there was another cat that we could love. Slowly he came around to our thinking as we laid our eyes on a cat that looked just like Mushu, just smaller and with four legs. He said, "I want this cat, can we get this cat," he then started crying again, saying, "I am not sad, I am happy if we can get this cat." It was a touching experience to witness. Long story short...

We brought "Everett" home on Monday afternoon.

Colton was sad, he wanted a dog. He was mad that we got a cat and named him after Britton's mission. I told him not to be sad, after he gets his mission call, we will get a dog and name him after Colton's mission. Britton piped up by saying, "Here Boise, Here Boise, come here puppy."

After a few days of confusion with the boys, it has been confirmed that Everett is indeed a boy and came already fixed. He is fun. We are keeping him in the garage until we locate the Coyote.

THE CATS MEOW IN THE ODLE HOME

POINTS TO BE PROUD OF:

Britton has the second highest score in his anatomy class, Yes even as a freshman! Also according to his CLS teacher, he has the "biggest target on his back" in the CLS class.

Colton was chosen as an honorable mention on the All Region One Football Squad as a junior, and will be inducted into the Honor Society on Monday night.

Jackson received an award of merit in the school's Reflections Contest and has been asked to test for the Davis County Schools Spectrum Program.

Jackson's Reflection Program

POINTS TO BE GLAD FOR:

The completion of the Ward Thanksgiving Dinner Activity. I took Friday off of work to try to make my four pies, jello, and stuffing. Thanks to Gayle, she made my jello for me, and we had enough butter for all.

Colton was answered affirmative for Senior Cotillian.

Jackson, Britton and Dave did not get Colton's stomach flu, I think I might have had it but not as severe.

POINTS THAT REALLY STUNK:

After many, many hours of working on a Eagle Scout Slide Show for my dear friend's son, It bombed. We even bought a new program to fix the problem, but between making pies and stuffing, staying up all night trying to fix the problem (thanks Dave for your help) searching for a new cat, making preparations for that days ward Thanksgiving dinner and then taking my video to the Eagle program, it stopped. It just stopped and skipped and wouldn't play. I had to get up in the program and try to fix it and then the next time I just turned it off and sat down. I wanted to crawl into a hole and cry my eyes out. I went home, gathered my things and went to the Stake Center to prepare for the dinner. I am undecided if it ended my career in videography. I wonder what I am going to do to complete the bank's video that I do each year?

COLTON AND DANIEL

COLTON, THE COPS ARE HERE!

On Thursday evening, (Dave's 43rd birthday) we had a wonderful and very unexpected surprise. After work, I walked around the house looking for our missing 3 legged cat, (white, 3 legs, great mouser, lost his collar-call if you have seen him) picking up random trash that mysteriously appears in our driveway and lawn when I saw my Dad and Megan walking down to my house. As we visited, along comes my mother-camera in hand, Cherilyn and Brady and Melissa and Anders. We all stood outside and froze as we visited. I suggested we go in and they said, they were here to wish Dave a Happy Birthday. So in we went. As we stood in the kitchen and I started to wonder, if I had planned a birthday party and forgot to get a cake. Then all of the sudden we see flashing lights in our driveway. Two cops parked diagonal in the driveway. We went out to meet to policemen on our stairs. One said, "Are you Dave Odle?" Dave said, "yes". Then they said, "Will you please step out here for a minute." As Dave was walking down the stairs he said, "Colton, what did you do?" Britton told Colton, you better get out here. So in the driveway was Mayor Steve Curtis and Councilwoman Joyce Forbes Brown. They were here to present us with the "FAMILY of the YEAR" award for Layton City. We are the category of "family with teenagers". What a surprise. They gave us a sign that we keep in our yard. My friend Dawn Brandvold nominated us. She was very sweet and nice in the nomination. There will be a short program at Central Davis on Sunday Nov 23, where we will have a memento table set up, and our family's picture will be given to us. It is an honor that Dave and I have wondered how did we ever deserve it.
On the flip side of this, it has been a good thing to have that hanging over our head. It is a convenient fight stopper or manipulator to say, "that's not how the family of the year should act." Colton took his turn this afternoon to stand out at the sign in the yard and wave to cars passing by. Just a side note, it is not that Colton is the only one that we would ever think the cops are at our house for, it is just that Britton is always with us, and Jackson is too young to attract that much attention.
Another observation, when a fire truck comes to deliver the HOME TOWN HERO (like they did to Laurel), neighbors come out running with concern. When two cop cars are parked diagonally in the driveway, neighbors drive by but try not to seem like they are looking or just stay in their houses peeking through the blinds.

End of the Line

Well, Friday was the end of the line for the Layton Lancers. Unfortunately they lost their quarterfinal state game against Skyline. Colton played his hardest and did great. My favorite play (this is bad for a mother to say this) of the game was a hit that Colton had against a big player and the other player's helmet popped off like a cork on a bottle. Everyone was fine, but Colton was a little stiff on his neck afterward. What a fun and great season. It was sheer pleasure to be a part of the Varsity Football Team, and fans this year. Colton looked up to many guys that helped him find his place on the line. He really became the player that his fan club knew that he could be. Britton was happy that he was here to witness the season, and was very proud of his big little brother. Jackson loves to talk over the game with Colton and practice plays with him, letting Colton really tackle him in the family room. Dave and I have had so much fun sitting in the stands with all our good friends and family, cheering number #78 on. He is such a great example to us and to his teammates. Win or Lose, he loves the game. We will remember this time with great fondness. Good luck Syracuse!

MISSIONARY MALL

I just want to give a shout out to our local Missionary Mall. We bought Britton a suit there to get his pictures taken in back in August. I haven't really been too pleased with the fit, but I didn't know what I didn't like about it, until we took him to Mr. Macs to get another suit. I felt that his pants were just too short and tight. So, today 2 0r 3 months later, we went back to Missionary Mall with the suit and they gave us two new pairs of pants for free, no questions asked. I thought that was so great. That is great customer service.

REGION 1 CHAMPS

ONWARD LANCERS!, ONWARD LANCERS!, BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE!

Last Friday, the Layton Lancers took 1st Place in the Region 1, 5A Division in Football. Today, on Halloween, Layton High beat Hunter High in the first game of the playoffs. Colton played well. He did come out of the game for a few plays due to a leg cramp. They play Skyline High next weekend.

Firth Family Fright Night

It was the annual Firth Family Fright Night last Saturday. We have this party every year in the Cabin behind Andrea's House. We have a costume contest with a traveling trophy up for grabs, a lot of gross Halloween food, a round of Gestures and we top it off with at very active, dangerous and no holds barred game of Monster Mash. It is played like fruit basket. This year we moved the game outside in the dark. It was a new twist and we usually play until someone gets hurt. It is getting more livelier with the boys getting bigger and more aggressive.

Laurel and Megan won the trophy away from the Odles. (We had it last year for the costumes of Deal or No Deal) This year Laurel came as a teacher/witch from Harry Potter and Megan came as Moaning Myrtle.

The Odles came as Garden Gnomes. Maria was a Gnome Maker, Britton was a Gangster Gnome(Hangin with my Gnomies), Colton was a Gnome Wrecker, Jackson was Gnome Field Advantage, Dave was a Gnomo.

The Speirs were The Wiggles.

The Bitton's -non Harry Potter crew were all Bodies in Motion Aerobics Instructors

The Birds were Thing One and Thing Two

The Draper Speirs were Buzz Lightyear and the gang

The Larsens were Non-Participators and Goofy

The Firths were Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head

Kendall was Batman

EAGLE PROJECT

Yea! Number 2 son just completed his Eagle Project. Colton made a bulletin board for Ellison Park. It is to put information on about the Football Games. The city will put it in the shed when there isn't any games going on. It was a great project that Colton can be proud of. Thanks to Grandpa Firth, Dave, Mitch, Kendall, Nicole, Britton, Brian, Jackson and Megan for their help. Thanks to the city, Dave Price and Bruce Logan for working with us. Just one more to go!

MISSIONARY STUFF

Just to give you parents of young boys an idea, we were told on Monday from a salesman at Mr. Macs that from start to finish, it costs about $1600 to buy the clothes, luggage and accessories to send a boy out on mission. Missionary Mall is pretty comparable to that cost. FYI

I guess it is payback for all those dance dresses, however, my boys always felt "better" going to a dance in a new outfit. (MAYBE THAT WAS THEIR MOM'S AFFINITY TO SHOPPING) Not to mention day dates and dinner costs. Oh well. There is always the wedding that we get out of paying for.

ANOTHER FYI: I recommend Body World, especially for those wanting to go into the medical field. It isn't gross, it was interesting and if anything looked fake.

LUCKY JACKSON GOES TO ARIZONA

A week ago Thursday morning, Jackson was so lucky to travel with Grandma and Grandpa Firth and Megan to Arizona. He got to miss 3 days of school! He went to see his cousin Elli get baptized in our church. He had a grand time. He swam, played, got to go to see The Wiz musical. They celebrated cousin Mary's birthday while they were there. He loved the heat. He totally missed our first snowfall of the season here in Utah. Thanks to Uncle PJ and Aunt Amy for helping him get there, it was a trip that he will always remember. Congratulations to Elli.

NOT SO GOOD

Unfortunately I have to announce that LAYTON LOST TO VIEWMONT. It shouldn't have happened, Layton is a better team (That is not just the football mom talking.) Colton played well. I was VERY upset at some of the varsity players filming Layton from Viewmont that came and sat on Layton's side during the JV game and taunted the fans including one "old man", that was going to get "whip lash for turning around so fast" in shock at what they were saying. (OLD MAN=Dave) and other names to various "mothers" sitting nearby, not to mention yelling crude and derogatory things to Layton players by using their names, which would side track our guys. After they cheered and whooped it up when one Layton player was hit extremely hard and was down on the field, we told them to go to the other side. Of course, they wouldn't, which only antagonized them. It started some bad feelings to fester inside of me towards the opposing team. Boy I wanted to show them up on Friday. By the way, I did find in one of our pictures, one of the boys and I saw the other one that next night. He was number 80 on Viewmont. All I can say is Viewmont obviously studied every play that we had because, they didn't play offense on us, just defense. Score 9 (three field goals) to 0. Next, on to Weber.