Pinewood Derby!

Wednesday was the annual pinewood derby at Scouts. Brock was SO excited about this. When he got his car last month he had me look up plans and was ready to get started. Well, we didn't actually get started until TUESDAY afternoon? Why do we always put everything off? I was super glad I have a handy husband and it all ended up working out, but we were honestly putting the wheels on 15 min. before it was time to go (I have to admit I was not very patient or nice at that point and, well, I do feel bad about that). My dad is the Cub master and it's been fun to have him working with the grandsons. We only had 6 boys there, but that was plenty of chaos for me. It's fun to watch how excited they get. Both Brock and Carson had equally slow cars, at least they were together in that. We noticed that the boys who had done this before, or the boys that had older brothers who had done this, did MUCH better then us greenies! I guess that just means next year we will be spectacular and of course, next year our car will be done weeks in advance!

Brock and his AWESOME car!
Ready, set, go!
That looks like it's a pretty fast car!
Pinewood Derby Keepsakes
Kaleb and Carlie had to join in on the picture fun!

Fun Summer Afternoon!

Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere!
That's a good one K!

Gram and Papa got the boys these big big bubble wands either, for Valentines or Easter this year. It was to cold when they got them then, so I stashed them away and well, forgot about them. The kids found them today and just had to put them to good use. It was the perfect day for bubbles, just a bit of a breeze. We are excited that Sydney still is going to come over a few days a week even though it's summer, they all have fun when she's here! Too bad the bubbles only lasted 15 min tops, but what a fun 15 min. it was!

Summer FUN! Sydney, Kaleb & Brock

This and That....

I guess it's been awhile since I posted....it seems like a lot has happened! The "terrible two" stuck AGAIN on Saturday, I just don't know what to do with those girls. They were playing so good, but then it got quiet. I yelled to Carlie and asked her what she was doing, "Ty's piggies Mommy". What? Oh, yea....Carlie was painting Tylie's toe nails. With the nail polish that I had bought, and put up high I might add, for Kelsey and Cami's birthday gift~ Sorry if some was gone! After I asked, Tylie came to show me and walked across the tile floor leaving footprints and then one step on my carpet (luckily I could just give the carpet a trim).

Look at those PRETTY Piggies!

We got to spend some time with Derrick's dad and the family this weekend. Derrick's Uncle Lon was here from California, so we got together for dinner and spent some time visiting. The kids played together so well. Good food and great company, makes for a nice evening!
Brock has been SO excited for his Uncle Jeremy to come home from Iraq (the rest of us were excited too, but Brock especially). Well that day finally came, and boy was he excited. We put up a poster and some little flags at the house for when they came home. Brock and Carson made me go back later so they could draw on the driveway with sidewalk chalk (using Carlie's birthday chalk). They also wrote messages on ours! It was super cute.

Brock and his sidewalk art!

Kaleb hurt both his wrists climbing on the swings at the park and then falling down. That boy climbs everything....but he swears he won't anymore, we'll see? We just couldn't decide if we need to go have it x-rayed, but everyday it's getting a bit better, so I guess we won't take him in. Brock and Carson bonked heads playing football, and Brock ended up with a pretty good shiner. I guess with boys if it's not one thing, it's another!
I'm glad the long weekend is over and summer school has started, so we can get back to a regular routine!

Pretty tough lookin'~ I think it gets more black and blue everyday!

Mini Photo Shoot!

This next week is going to be an exciting one around here.....My BIL, Jer, who has been in Iraq for the last year is scheduled to come home on Monday! I am SUPER excited for their little family. I have been amazed over the last year how supportive and generous everyone has been. Today, my SIL, brother Dad and 2 of her good friends have spent most of the day helping her with the yard and cleaning her house to help her get ready, since she hurt her back and hasn't been able to do it.
Anyway, that isn't the point of my post. A sweet lady in our ward saw some Americana fabric and wanted to make a dress for my niece Tylie. This lady is an AMAZING seamstress, she looked at Carlie at church (since Tylie wasn't there then), went home and whipped up a dress, no pattern, no measurements. Can you say WOW! She brought it by and realized Carlie is taller than Tylie, so she went home and made another one. Well, she gave Carlie the first one, Yea, lucky us. I just have to say the dress is darling, but I am in love with the slip. It's so old fashioned and well.....just ME! I fell in love with it when I saw it and was going to ask her to make me one, well now I have one. I just had to take some pictures, and I think most of them turned out pretty good for an amateur. I had her sit on an old desk that was taken from the old school here in town. I also added in a suitcase I love, that my Grandpa took on his mission to South Africa, probably 60 years ago, you can see they painted the address right on the suitcase. Some of them totally show her silly personality. My favorite is the one I added to the side of my blog, but I'm adding a quick slide show of a few others. Enjoy our little mini photo shoot!

Flashback Friday!

Monica ~ 2nd Grade

I decided to use my 2nd grade picture for Flashback Friday today, since Brock just finished 2nd grade. I looked for my Kindergarten picture too, but it's nowhere to be found, I'll keep looking. I can't believe how long my hair was. My mom had my bangs all grown out not long before this, but she left us with two teenage babysitters, and, well they decided I needed my bangs cut. You better bet neither of them EVER came back! I don't think my hair was ever all the same length again. That blue shirt with the heart ruffles and buttons was my very favorite. I wore it for every special occasion (which is almost everyday for an eight year old). Fun times! I wish life were as simple now as it was for me then.

School's OUT for Summer!

I don't know who at our house is more excited for summer break, my boys or Derrick....no really, I do know, it's Derrick! He has been counting down for the last month. Well, his count down is officially over, School's Out for SUMMER (so why is it rainy and yucky?). The boys won't get much of a break, since they start summer school on the 28th. I think it only goes until the middle of July, then they will have a little break after that. Derrick won't really get much time off either, since he will be working at Dearden Equipment for his Dad, probably starting tomorrow. I know he is excited for the change, he really gets burned out by the end of the year, and then by the end of the summer, he's tired of the garage and ready to go back to school. I'm excited for all the things we have planned over the summer, but I'm amazed at how fast our weekends have filled up. I think we have something almost every weekend already!

Kaleb's first day of Kindergarten, Brock 2nd Grade ~ 2007

I should have taken a picture today as Brock left for school, to show how much they have changed, but well, I was just to tired to think of that! I really feel like it was just yesterday that I took this picture. Next thing I know Brock will be off to 3rd grade and Kaleb will be in 1st!

Pet Peeve Rant!

Pet Peeves....I know we all have them, right. Well, today I'm going to share, just because this has been bugging me. Lateness. I'm not even sure that lateness is even really a word, but, well it's one of my pet peeves. I HATE to be late to anything. I don't necessarily expect everyone to be as, well, annal about it as me, but it's just my thing. I really panic if I'm going to be late, for some reason it really freaks me out, even when it's something that's really not a big deal. I don't like to be the last one to arrive to things either (maybe I'm afraid people are talkin' about me, I don't know?) I think this dis-like of being late may be genetic. My mom always tells me that my Dad wouldn't go into sacrament meeting late when we were young, he would always say "better not at all, then late".
So, here is the reason I've been thinking about this today. Derrick and I are getting some life insurance (finally). We had appointments scheduled today to get weight, height, blood work & stuff done. The only time that both the person coming and Derrick could work out was during his prep at school. He told her the time frame he had and she said she would be there, she even called and left a message last night to confirm our appointment. Well, 5 min. before his prep ended she hadn't shown up, so he called me and I called her. I'm almost there she says? What??? Derrick was very specific about the time he could do this, and that time was up. She figured it was no big deal to do this mini physical with 30 students in his class? No way, not happening. So, I guess we'll do it another day when she is in the area. I think what bothered me most was, she didn't even apologize for being late and acted bugged when I told her it wasn't going to work out now. We aren't the ones that were late, she was.
I hope this doesn't offend those of you who tend to be late, that isn't my intention at all, just because I am compulsively on time, doesn't mean you have to be. I know it isn't always easy to get kids and yourself ready, and in the car, and things just happen, really I know and I have been late a time or two. It really doesn't bother me much if people are late to a BBQ or a few min. late to an outing, not big deal. It does bother me when I have something happen like we did today, be professional and be on time! Sorry, I just had to rant for a minuite!

Flashback Friday!

Create Your Own

This week I decided to do a slide show for Flashback Friday. I wanted to use a picture from the trip Derrick and I took to Russia in Aug. of 1998, but I needed more than one picture. I have many more I could have used, but just picked out a few. If you would have asked me to make a list of the places I really wanted to travel to, Russia would have NEVER been on my list. But sometimes a chance comes along that you just can't pass up, and well that happened and we were off to Russia. When Derrick was working for Skywest, a co-worker decided to set up a trip to Russia. He had served a mission there and later married a Russian girl. We decided to tag along, and expedited a passport and visa. I almost backed out at the last minute, because my Grandpa Ainge passed away 3 days before we were supposed to go. We went to the funeral and then headed straight to the airport, missing the graveside services. I really would have not gone, but my sweet Grandpa made me promise that no matter what happened I wouldn't miss this opportunity. I can't even tell you how beautiful and green Russia is. We had the chance to see the Hermitage museum (1 day was not enough), Peterhof castle, the Summer Palace and Gardens, and many other beautiful sights. It was great to have people with us who spoke the language and knew the city of St. Petersburg. If I had the chance I would go back in a heartbeat!

Gettin' Down All Around with Mama Goose

Tonight was the Elementary school program, "Gettin' Down All Around with Mama Goose". The kids have been practicing for this at least a month now, learning the songs and dances. I hear from my inside source (my mom teaches 4th grade) how much time goes into this. They have great props and decorations, and it really is a big production.

Kaleb's class this year did the "Big Underwear" dance. They all wore men's boxers held up by ribbon suspenders. We have been teasing Kaleb for the last few weeks that he had to dance in his underwear, he didn't like that too much. He showed us a move before we left and told us NOT to video that part....because he had to dance with a girl. He looked so little on that big gym floor, but he really is growing up fast! Groovin' in the BIG UNDERWEAR!
All the Kindergarten kids, K is in the very middle, back row with blue suspenders.

Posing at home after it's all over!

Brock's 2nd grade class danced to "Footloose". They used jump ropes as props. All the boys had bright green t-shirts and the girls wore pink with a flower in their hair. Brock didn't think it was fair that the girls got 2 things and the boys only got one, like he would have wanted a flower for his hair? Brock and Sydney (Derrick's little sister) have been in the same class both last year and this year. They always seem to end up close to each other in their dances and it's fun to get to watch them both.

Swingin' that jump rope!
All the 2nd graders, Brock is right behind his teacher in the middle.
What a cute grin!

My mom's class did a dance to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and had glow sticks as props and the lights were turned out half way through, it really turned out cool. My mom had to lead two of the songs and wasn't really excited about that....but she did GREAT! At least she didn't have to be the teacher that dressed up like a girl pig in a dress and boa and danced while the kids sang, it took me a minute to realize that it was Mr. Johnson, my 1st grade teacher. It will be fun to see what they come up with next year! I can't believe I almost forgot, the best part of the night.....My great SIL, Julia called and offered to watch Carlie for us! I can't even tell you how much easier it was without her there. Thank heavens for great family!

Mothers Day Sunday

Happy Mothers Day to all you Mom's out there! We are blessed to have some great moms in our lives.....Mom, Jeannie, Sheri, Grandma Beckstrand, Grandma Stevens, and Grandma Neva. We love you all and hope you had a great day! My boys spoiled me this year. Brock made me a cute picture frame at scouts with a picture of the cutest scout in the whole troop. He also made me a card and a butterfly wind chime at school. Kaleb gave me a flower in the cutest pot I've ever seen. It says "Worlds Best Mom" on it, with butterflies and hearts all around it. I'm thinking it must have been made by a great artist, probably the best in the whole kindergarten.
Derrick had me pick up my gift over the weekend. I'm super excited to WALK with my new jogging stroller. I've wanted one for a long time, and I'm thinking that maybe this will motivate me to get out and get some exercise. Carlie keeps asking if we are going to walk and wants to go right now! Maybe this will even motivate me to want to run? I'm just not a runner and I feel like you should only run if something dangerous is chasing you! Maybe, just maybe that will change? Anyway, thanks babe.... I love it!

I also got set apart in a new calling today. I'm not sure yet how I feel about this one......Primary Chorister. I really was quite happy with my Sunbeams. I don't really like being in front of people, or in the spotlight. Aren't primary choristers notorious for being bubbly and happy and fun? Well, that's just not me. I may be ok with the posters and such but, well I need good ideas and you guys can help me I know you can! Pretty Please....help me!

Race for the CURE!

The Beckstrand Girls

Lisa, Monica, Julia, Katy, and Carlene

I just have to say what a GREAT time we had doing the Race for the Cure this weekend with the girls! This is the second year I've done it, & it's just amazing to me. They estimated that there were 17,000 participants. I can't even explain looking over this sea of people as far as you can see, and realizing that all of them have been touched in some way by breast cancer. We didn't end up sticking together, so when we crossed the finish line, the rest of the family was on the sky walk cheering for us! We all went to breakfast/lunch after. I always love it when we get together, it's just FUN! My mom and the girls in my family made a weekend of it, leaving Friday and then shopping Saturday. It was nice to get away from the kids for a bit and have girl time, I love that Derrick makes that work for me every now and again. A big THANKS to my Aunt Suzi for getting us all together to do something fun for a great cause! I can't wait to do it again next year.

DOT'S DARLINGS

(Back) Lisa, Tosha, Leslie, Kristen, Suzi, Nita, Monica,

(Front) Melisa, Stacey, Katy, Julia, & Carlene

Flashback Friday!

Lisa, Monica, Kelsey, Skyler, and Kyle

Up until now I've purposely avoided posting any pictures of my teenage years, but this week I'm going to give in and just go for it. Were all of you as awkward as I was at this stage in your life? I was appalled as I looked through my pictures. This was one of the better ones, but still....you've got to love my Sally Jesse Raphael glasses? I'm thinking this was just before I turned 16.

This picture was taken at my Grandparents and reminds me of all the Sunday afternoons we spent there visiting. Going to Grandma and Grandpa's was just what we did on Sunday afternoons. When I was younger we went to dinner, but then my Grandpa was called as the Stake Patriarch and gave blessings most every Sunday, so we would wait and go visit after. I loved it when any of the cousins were there, but the little ones in particular. Skyler and Kelsey have always been my girls. It makes me feel old to see how grown up they are getting......Skyler is just a little more than a year younger than I was when I got married, YIKES! And, Kelsey is going to be the cutest ceerleader this year.

Big Excitement in our Small Town!

My sister Lisa, my mom, and I went for our daily 10:30 drink run this morning. As I was dropping Lisa off, one of our friends stopped and told us not to let the kids out to play. She had just heard on the scanner that there was a cougar loose by the church in town! The church is right behind Lisa's house through the block, so of course we had to head over and check it out. The kindergarten and pre-school kids were all getting off the bus, so we were trying to round them up and get them in cars. Anyway, as we were driving over we heard 2 shots and there were 2 or 3 cop cars there. Pretty soon the parking lot was filling up, so of course we had to go and check it out too. It's not very often our small town has anything this exciting (and scary at the same time) happen. Come to find out a cute girl form our ward (that I used to babysit) is getting married tomorrow and was at the church getting some things ready for the reception. She had the doors propped open and was walking out to the car to get something and out jumped a mountain lion?!?! She ran back in them church and called for help. What a wedding memory that will be! I guess when the cops got there it had ran to the side of the building and was hiding in some bushes. Luckily they were good shots and everything worked out ok and no one was hurt. I feel bad that it had to be put down, but it scares me to think it's been running around town and my kids have been out playing. You can see from the pictures that it was very skinny and obviously something is wrong with it. I would have never thought this would happen in our small little town, but I guess there's a first for everything.

Writing Practice?

Somehow, somewhere, Kaleb acquired a lovely dark blue marker. Yesterday, his cousin Bryson came to play (they play here or at his house everyday). Anyhow, when he left he had beautiful blue fingernails, and come to find out, marker on his body too. I meant to take the marker away, but well, I honestly forgot about it. Bryson, Kaleb and I just walked down to the neighbors to deliver lemon bread, and I noticed that Bryson had a spot of blue on his scalp. I asked him and he said Kaleb colored on him again. We lifted up his shirt and...sure enough, Kaleb did color on him again. He also thought Bryson's chest was a great place to practice writing the numbers they have been working on in Kindergarten, he got all of them 1-10. I asked Bryson why he let Kaleb do that, he said he couldn't stop him? I don't know who's worse.... Bryson and Kaleb or their sisters, the Terrible Two, who got into neosporin this morning and smeared it all over in Carlie's hair. Just in case you were wondering .....it doesn't wash out very well, ok, not at all. Her hair looks wet, but it's not, just a bit greasy! I'm thinking Lis isn't going to let her kids come over very often anymore, what do you think? I really did throw the marker away this time!!!

What a cute boy, who would write all over him like that?

Who would of thought of practicing number writing there? I guess the 3 and 6 were a bit hard to write on those bony ribs!It's a bit blurry, but that is his scalp! I guess that's one way to change your hair color?

Yummy, Yummy!

I'm going to try something new, and post one of my favorite recipes. I love this recipe because it is SO easy, but still yummy. I can turn on the oven, mix it up, and have it ready to cook before my oven finishes heating up. I needed a quick birthday something for my neighbor, who just happens to also be my visiting teaching partner and one of my camp leaders. I didn't know it was her birthday, and since stores are few and far between here, I had to make something quick. I usually put this into my Pampered Chef stoneware mini loaf pan that make 4 small loafs, but I have done it in 2 regular loaf pans also. I love to do the smaller ones, because there is more to share! If I'm taking it to someone, I usually leave the glaze off and just sprinkle it with powdered sugar, just because the glaze is messy. Anyway, I hope you like it. You'll have to let me know what you think if you try it.

**Lemon Bread**
1 lemon cake mix
1 3 oz. instant lemon pudding mix
1/3 c. oil
2 eggs
1 c. water
Mix all ingredients and pour into well greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 34-40 min. Cool in pans and top with glaze.
**Glaze**
1/2 c. powdered sugar
4 Tbs. lemon juice

Flashback Friday!

Kym (in stripes), Me (yellow), Lisa (blue puffy sleeves), Kristen (in back in red), Stacey (jumping high in pink), Shad (plaid shirt, in front) that leaves either Ky or Melisa climbing up...

I'd have to guess Melisa.

This picture always makes me laugh. I'm not sure if we were trying to time it so we were all jumping at the same time, or if it was just luck. I think this was taken at White Mountain, but it sure doesn't look like that out there now? I guess too many of us filled our sandboxes. Anyway, fun times with the cousins!

8 Things.....Tagged by Laina

This was much harder than I thought it would be!

8 Things I am Passionate About

• Derrick :)
• Brock, Kaleb & Carlie
• Our extended Families
• Stamping/scraping
• Reading
• The Gospel
• Trying to better myself
• Being on time...I HATE to be late

8 Past Books I Have Read

• The Survivors, Gregg Luke
• Finding Faith, Terri Ferran
• Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, Janey Kay Jensen
• The Dangerous Hour, Marcia Muller
• The Eclipse series, Stephanie Meyer
• Suzannes Diary for Nicholas, James Patterson
• Quicksand, Iris Johansen
• The Book of Mormon

8 Things I Say Often

• Seriously????
• Stinkin' Cute
• NO, I mean it (insert child's name) I SAID NO!
• You have GOT to be kidding?
• Nice?!?!
• I'm tellin' you.... I'm not a sporty girl!
• You really didn't say that in class, did you? (to Derrick)
• I really haven't accomplished anything all day. (said daily to Lisa as we talk for the 12th time)

8 Things I Look For in a Friend

• Good Listener
• Sincere
• Can make me LAUGH
• Wants me as a friend
• Challenges me
• Helps me be a better person
• Looks past my many faults and weaknesses
• Has at least some of the same interests and goals as me

8 Random Things About Me

• I'm a truck girl (thanks to Derrick)
• I don't like to be in the water, especially if it's on my face
• I'm horrible at making decisions, especially where and what to eat
• I'm funny about the textures of food, white sandwich bread (squishy), avocados (mushy & slimy) you get the picture.
• I love most anything old
• Cemeteries fascinate me, and when we travel I always want to check them out.
• I've had all of my babies without an epidural (ok, I had one with Kaleb, but it dosed after he was born, so I don't think it counts!)
• I freak out if I don't have a book to read, I always have a stack of both library & bookmobile books, and when I'm down to my last one I panic.

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

• Travel more
• Raise good, fun & productive kids
• Learn the Scriptures better
• Be a more positive person
• Be debt free
• Be a fun Grandma
• Grow old, but be healthy
• Go to the Temple with my Family

8 Things I Have Learned This Year

• Potty training isn't as bad as I thought it would be
• I can go under the water without freaking out (with the famous helmet)
• I have a great Hubby ( I've known this, but he keeps surprising me)
• I'm terrible at racquetball, but it's fun anyway
• Each of my kids are really individual, and what works for one, most likely won't for the others.
• Girls Camp is tons of work! Not that I didn't know this, but I'm seeing it firsthand
• Baby chicks are really cute, but they get ugly quick.
• Pictures don't scrapbook themselves, and I don't ever get time to do it myself!

8 (or more) People I Want To Do the 8 Things (but only if you really want)

• Lisa (now you've been tagged twice!)
• Ann
• Marilee
• Kristen
• Suzanne
• Katie
• Shalise
• Stephanie V.
• Amy
• Marla
• Sarah
• Anyone else who wants to do this