Flashback Friday!

(back) Monica, Eva, Lisa,(front) Kyle & Shad Beckstrand

This is one of my favorite pictures, and one of the only ones I have with my Great-Grandma Beckstrand. This was at the hospital after she moved there. We lived across the street from her, when I was 5 or 6. What a special lady she was, I have some good memories of her! She was the mother of 5 sons, one of whom was my Grandpa, I'm sure they kept her very busy!

Well, I haven't just written about the regular goings on at the Dearden house lately, so I'm going to add that in. It's crazy here right now and will be for the next few days. My sister and her friends from school, go for a girls weekend every year, and this is that weekend....so, it's kid central here. We went from 3 hooligans to 6 hooligans! Really it hasn't been bad, but we'll see if I still feel that way on Sunday! It's been nice that the kids have been able to get out to play. I'm looking forward to summer, and the kids are too. Both the boys will be going to half a day of summer school. T-ball will start for Kaleb soon, but Brock decided he didn't want to play this year. Derrick has a new part-time job keeping up the Meadow park this summer. I know that he'll do a super job. He is such a hard worker and keeps busy with his full-time teaching job, and now 2 part time jobs! I'm stressing about girls camp.....there is just so much to do, and I really don't know where to start! I know it will all work out in the end, but it's hard not to worry now! I think we might finally be over the yucky flu that has plagued us this past week. All in all, things have been good here. I hope everything is good for all of you!

This Week I'm Thankfull For......

It's been awhile since I did a Thankful list, so here goes......

• My sweet Grandpa Beckstrand. It just happens to be his 82nd birthday today. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful example in my life. I grew up just 4 blocks from my Grandma and Grandpa's house and, well, we are just 3 1/2 blocks away now! I'm grateful that my kids have had the chance to spend time with such special Great Grandparents!
  
• Dove Chocolate bars ~ MMMMM, yummy, creamy chocolate....need I say more?
  
• I'm glad I am able to stay home with my kids and be a Mom. I was amazed when I quit working, how hard it was to be home all the time, but I honestly can't imagine going back to work right now. I know it's not for everyone, but I also know it's the right thing for our family right now!
  
• My 2 laundry rooms! I've had sick pukey kids all week and Carlie is potty training, need I say more?!? If only I could get to my regular laundry sometime soon?
  
• The Gospel ~ Sometimes I think I get stuck in a rut and forget how truly lucky I am to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It's such a giant part of my life, and I have much to improve on, but I am truly grateful!

My sweet Grandpa and Grandma Beckstrand with Carlie on her blessing day!

Flashback Friday

I've loved looking at my friend Ann's flashback Friday pictures, so I'm going to copy her. I know it isn't Friday, but isn't Saturday close enough? Plus, I know just what picture to start with, and next week I'll do it on Friday!

Who doesn't love a good 4th of July parade? I know this isn't the best picture, I mean, you can't even see faces, right, but there is a reason I like this one. I am the dark haired girl with ponytails and red ribbons towards the back and in the middle. Anyway, Derrick's mom was looking at my scrapbook one day and noticed that they are in the back watching the parade. I don't know if you can see the boy in the background, that is crouching down with his hands on his knees, next to a girl in a yellow shirt......that's Derrick. How odd! Anyway Derrick's mom went on to pick out some of the Aunts, Uncles, and cousins in the picture too. I guess Derrick was checkin' me out LONG before I ever noticed him, he he he!

I just LOVE a good book.....

I really just love a good book, or even an OK one for that matter. I just love books. I realized tonight as I started yet another new book, that I've read quite a few books in the last week....5 to be exact, and I just started my 6th? WOW! That is amazing even to me. I always have a stack of books from both the Bookmobile or library, and if I'm down to my last one, I kinda start to freak out. I read a little bit of everything, but mostly fiction. I have a hard time with the biographies and inspirational books, every once in awhile I'll read them, but it's not my norm. So, here's what I've read in the last week, in case anyone is interested.

• Delicious Conversations, by Jennifer Stewart Griffith ~ This was a cute LDS easy read that I really liked, it had a little different twist, or style than the same old romances. Plus, it has lots of chocolate recipes in it that sound yummy!


• I Heard That Song Before, by Mary Higgins Clark ~ Really, who doesn't like a good Mary Higgins Clark mystery. They always keep me entertained and are just easy reading.


• Staying in Tune, by Carmen Rassmussen ~ Like, I said a biography every once in awhile. This book is definitely on a more young adult level. I liked it, but didn't love it.


• The Bishop's Bride, by Elizabeth W. Watkins ~ Cute book, fun story, easy read.


• Quicksand, by Iris Johansen ~ This is the one I just started, but I always really like her books....hopefully I won't be disappointed.

There was one more book that I did read this last week that I left off my list. I liked it, but, well, I just wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I really typically don't read this many books in a week, 2 maybe 3. Remember, I was on vacation, and had time to read on the boat and the plane. Plus, Derrick is gone to a Math conference and so, I've not been sleeping so great (I read 2 1/2 of those books in the last 24 hours). If any of you have read any great new books, let me know......I love to give new authors a shot. Now if I could just figure out how to get my boys to enjoy reading as much as I do?

A cruise is the best place to catch up on your reading!

Can anyone tell me how to.....

just be happy with who I am, mostly my weight and just my body image in general? I've been thinking a lot about this lately, and I just really don't know how to do it. I really want Carlie to be happy with herself, no matter what, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be the best role model for her in this area.
In my younger years, I was always the girl who could eat whatever, and stayed super thin. Well, 3 pregnancies later, I'm just not that girl. I have to say I'm a bit jealous of those girls who are still that girl (my sister is one of them, and I love her, but, yea...I'm definitely jealous). I finally threw in the towel and did Weight Watchers last year and did pretty good with it, I have to say! I met my goal weight and became a lifetime member. Well, slowly over the last few months I added one pound, and then another...now I've gained back ten or so of those pounds I worked so hard to loose. I guess I'm just feeling discouraged right now! I really hated most of the picture of myself from my vacation (I know hardly anyone ever likes pictures of themselves). I know what I need to do to get back on track (count points, exercise and drink water), but for some reason I just can't motivate myself to do it. I was playing racquetball with some friends in the mornings, but that sorta fizzled out when kids started getting sick and life got in the way. I know all I'd have to do is call them and we could start again, but do I do it? No. We also have a full circuit weight machine in the basement, and just bought an elliptical machine. Have I used it even once since we bought it? No, again! All I have to do is walk to the basement, turn on the music and work out...so, why don't I? I'm just not quite sure? I know I feel much better when I do.
Anyone have any advice for me? (Besides telling me to cut out soda, I just can't do that one! I really look forward to my 10:00 coke run with Lisa every morning and usually I only have one a day. I have compromised and started drinking diet again.) I'm totally not looking for sympathy, or compliments etc... I'm truly wondering how to motivate myself, and at the same time have a positive attitude, no matter how I look. Does that even make any sense? I'm not sure if I'll even end up posting this whiny little montage, but it has felt good to write it all out and think. But if I do post it, please give me any advice you have!

I Forgot......

Ok, I know I said I knew I was forgetting somethings, but I can't believe I forgot these. I have to give a big thanks to my BFF, Ann for taking us to, and picking us up from the airport (both were late flights) and letting me leave our car in her driveway for the week. Also, thanks to all my great friends and family that helped Derrick out with the kids. I feel really blessed and lucky to have such a great support system!

What a Great Week!

Can I just tell you how nice it was to get away! Lisa and I had such a good time on our cruise to Bermuda. I definitely want to do another cruise soon, but this time with Derrick! I couldn't believe how cold it was when we got off the plane in New York. We definitely were NOT prepared for that. After we got on the boat and had the mandatory life boat drill with the lovely life vests, we were off. Can I just tell you, out boat was HUGE! I was excited that we got to see the Statue of Liberty as we left. I did get a bit sick on the trip over and back, but not too bad. The water was rougher than I expected.
The first day we were in Bermuda just happened to be the coldest day they had had the entire year,great, just great! The next day was nice and we took the ferry into Hamilton and just shopped and walked around.
The next day we went out on a Hartley's Helmet Dive. We were supposed to go the day before, but the water had been rough and stirred everything up so it got re-scheduled. I have to honestly say, I was excited when they called to say it was canceled the first day! For those of you who know me, you know I have, well, some water issues. I HATE water on my face and I get really freaked out to be under the water. So why, you ask would I sign up to do this, voluntarily? Well, Lisa loves the water and really wanted to go, so I promised her I would give it a shot.(it was the least I could do, since she took me on her free cruise). I was super glad I did it. The reef was so pretty and the fish were great. The helmet was perfect for me, I was under the water, but my face didn't get wet. I did have a few panicky moments, but I did it! I think that was my favorite part of the whole trip. After we did our dive we laid out on the top of the boat and of course, I got fried! Bermuda is deceptive....it was just overcast enough that I really didn't think I was getting burned. I should have known, I always get burned! One of the guys on the boat, James, was super nice. He told us the funniest stories about Bermuda and, well, he wasn't all that terrible to look at either!
I could really get used to living on a cruise ship. The food was great, ice cream bar anytime you want it, great service and someone to help with everything, yea, I could for sure get used to that. Our cabin steward left the cutest towel animals on our bed every night. The entertainment was good, but the best was Stampin' Up! karaoke superstar! I can't believe how good they all were. Our favorite was by far this kid named Nick....Hilarious! He had the best outfits, complete with spandex and everything. I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time.
We spent one afternoon in some caves, that had stalactites and stalagmites. They had water in the bottom that came from the ocean. The Bermudian people that we met were so nice, and super laid back. We stopped in the post office to buy stamps and ended up visiting with the lady there for a good 10 min. When we left she gave us a strip of stamps that had been laminated and made into a bookmark. I think that is my favorite souvenir that I brought back, mostly because she was so thoughtful. The water there was the most beautiful shade of turquoise blue. All the houses are painted bright colors....like, pink, turquoise, coral, yellow. The buses on the island are pink, and there are scooters everywhere! I know there is so much I'm forgetting. It was a great trip and I'm so glad my great sister invited me to go with her! We had such a good time together. Oh, and can I just say.....I have the best husband ever! He kept everything running smooth for 8 days, and the house was clean when I got home! Amazing!
I guess now I need to get back to real life! Carlie is ready to potty train, and I have girls camp to plan!