{Catching Up}

I've become the worst blogger? I have good intentions, but I just keep getting sidetracked. We've been busy making the most of the time we had before school started.

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the Ogio show that was in Delta. The kids, ok, all of us, really enjoy the freestyle motocross show and they had freestyle BMX also. The boys HAD to wear their new jerseys and if the boys were doing it, of course Carlie had to too!

They looked so cute all decked out we had to take a few pictures!

They asked for volunteers and of course my boys were right down to the fence, pronto! Brock was one of the first kids picked to lay down and one of the BMX riders did a bunny hop jump over them. They started with 4 and then added more, Kaleb ended up going out with the second group.
By the last jump, there were 12 kids and the announcer! At least my kids weren't on the end! Really those guys are amazing....they were doing back flips, and all kinds of super cool tricks. We had a blast!

A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law was going through all his guard stuff and organizing. The boys were playing and thought it would be a great idea to try it all out. Adorable! I can't even being to imagine a unit with those four in it....can we say chaos?!?! (don't you love the football PJ pants and swimsuit?)

Our friends and neighbors across the street's son flys a Black Hawk helicopter for the Army. Most of the time when they come down this way they circle over the house as they go by. The kids get so excited and run out yelling, "Ryan's coming". Well, a couple Saturday's ago they stopped and said he, and 5 others, were coming and landing at the airport in Fillmore. Lisa and I loaded up all the kids and went to watch. It's so amazing that those thing even fly and the way they maneuver is just crazy. Thanks for the show Ryan, it was great!

Of course no summer would be complete without swimming lessons. We usually try and do two sessions, but only got in one this year. Brock improved SO much this year, and passed level three....YIPPIE!

Kaleb did really well too. He only was missing three things to pass, and was a bit disappointed. But, the next two weeks he gets to go for school. I'm hoping he can pass off those last few things then.

This was Carlie's first year and she is a little fish. She had so much fun and every morning still asks if it's swimming lessons today?

Finally the first day of school! I think I was the only person at our house that was SUPER excited about school. Don't get me wrong, I love having my kids home, but we do so much better with a schedule! Brock is the king of the Elementary in Fourth grade.....how could this be his last year of Elementary? Kaleb is in Second grade and told me today he loves everything about second grade! I had to laugh at the picture of the boys together (I know Kaleb's eyes are closed), of course Carlie couldn't be left out! She is patiently waiting for preschool to start, her teacher on the other hand may be stressing a bit. I have exactly a week to have everything ready, and that includes painting chairs and tables, laminating and many, many other things....I'm sure it will all come together, right?

{I'm Thankful For....}

It's been way to long since I did a gratitude post. It's not that I haven't had anything to be grateful for, I just haven't taken the time to sit down and make a little list. So here goes, in no particular order......

• My Mom~ Yesterday was my mom's birthday, I won't say which one. I have been truly blessed, my mom is one of my very best friends. She is a great listener and gives good advice, but only if I ask for it. She's an example of the kind of wife and mother I want to be. She is an excellent teacher who puts her heart and soul into teaching. She is patient and kind... I could go on and on, but I want her to know how grateful I am for her!
• Eternal Families~ I am so thankful to know that we can be with our families forever. I've had the chance over the last month to attend two funerals. One for Derrick's cousin Trent, who was disabled and passed away at 26, and one for a family friend and life-long neighbor of ours. At both funerals, of course there were tears, but there was such a strong spirit of hope, and also faith in the plan of salvation and the promise that we can be together again!
• My little town~ I'm thankful for my little home town and the opportunity we had to come home! We've lived many places in the 14 years Derrick and I have been married, and 3 years ago we were able to move back to the little town I grew up in. When I say little, I mean little, according to the 2000 census, our population totaled 254! I was never un-happy anywhere else and we were content, but nothing compares to "home" in my book. There is such a comfort to me in raising my children here, knowing my neighbors, seeing my kids grow to love the people who have had such an impact on my life. There is truly for me, "No place like HOME".

May 24, 2003~ Manti LDS Temple

Renae Ainge, Jeremy Teeples, Lisa Teeples, Monica Dearden, Carlene Beckstrand, Robert Beckstrand, Shad Beckstrand & Julia Sigler

• My Temple Recommend~ A few weeks ago I renewed my Temple Recommend and was reminded how thankful I am for that particular slip of paper. I am truly thankful for the blessings of the Temple in my life. I pray that I will always remember to be thankful for, and worthy of this blessing.
• A lunch date with Kaleb~ On Friday Derrick spent the day at the fair in Delta at a booth for Dearden Equipment, and took Brock with him. Carlie went to play with her cousin Addie for the afternoon, which that left just Kaleb and I. When I asked him if he wanted to go on a date, he gave me a funny look and said ummm, NO! But he did agree to lunch at Subway. After lunch, we went to the library and picked out some books for him before we headed home. What fun I had visiting with my little man, he's growing up to fast and I really feel like I need to make it a priority to spend one on one time with each of my kids, before they'd rather not hang out with their mom.
• Good Friends~ I am thankful for all my good friends....my church friends, old friends, bloggy friends, best friends....all of you! I'm thankful for your advice, support, wisdom, laughter, tears. You build me up and encourage me, you make me want to be a better person. I can't imagine where I would be without each of you!
  

{Busy, Busy}

I feel like I've been neglecting my blog, but we've been busy, busy! I've been busy with kids, getting ready for preschool and just life in general. So, I need your help, I'm not sure what I want my preschool kids to call me? I've added a poll on my sidebar and I really want all your opinions. Hopefully life will slow down a bit soon and I'll get back to the bloggy world!

{Camping at Yuba}

Every summer we try to plan a camping trip to Yuba Lake. We try to go during the week, it's not so busy and crazy then. We survived a few dust storms, got to see a gorgeous double rainbow, hung out with the family and some friends, and just enjoyed being there. Poor Bryson broke his elbow just a few days before we went out. He felt so bad that he couldn't get in the water and play with the other kids.

We fished!
We played in the boat!

We water skied! Carson was the only one of the kids that would try and he did GREAT! Some of us also knee boarded and wake boarded.

We jumped on the water tramp!

We played in the sand and water.....LOTS!

Carlie played so hard, she just kept crashing as soon as she sat down!

We tubed.....even Chevy got in on the tubing action. And to eveyones amazement, so did I! We even got my mom on the tube for her first time ever! I'd love to post pictures, but that was one of her conditions if she went....no published pictures!

We jet skied!

We just plain had fun with our family!

You all are welcome to join us next year..... I'll let you know when we are going!

{Randomness}

I can't believe the summer is half over already. Is it just me or is time going faster? The boys finished summer school last week and we've been trying to adjust to our new schedule (or lack there-of, if I'm being honest). We enjoyed a fun Fourth of July weekend. I love the Fourth in our little community. Carlie and I enjoyed watching the parade with our families, while Derrick, our boys and Sydney represented Dearden Equipment. After the parade we spent some time in the park. We ate yummy Navajo Taco's, visited with some friends and waited in long lines. I have to say we had the most generous (and cutest) candy throwers. I think they dumped almost half a box of taffy on the road in front of us!
For a small town we have a pretty great fireworks show, and this year was no exception! After the big show, we had a little one in our back yard, but the rain cut it short.
Carlie finally got her cast off on the 6th. I was proud of her she was super brave!
Saturday the kids came running in the house yelling, SNAKE! Sure enough there was a big blow snake on the patio. I swear it was almost 3 feet long! Somehow, it ended up in the window well, with Obi our cat. He kept batting at it, but the snake got him a few times too. The kids ran downstairs to look through the window for ring side seats.
Poor Obi, can you see his fur-less chin? When he finally got out of the window well and we were looking at the snake, we could see fur in that sneaky snakes mouth. Poor kitty.

Last night was Bunko at Sheri's house. The food was yummy, the company was great, and the prizes were fantastic. Isn't that the funnest, funky, darling apron! It's the one I got and I L.O.V.E. it! Bunko Rocks!

What fun things have you been up to?

{If you're happy and you know it.....Do a Cheer!}

Last week Carlie went to mini Cheer camp. They went for three mornings and she had so much fun! They learned some cute little cheers and a dance. She was so excited that she got to go with her cousins, Tylie and Addie, and that "Telsey" (Kelsey) was her teacher. Aunt Lisa even made all the cousins adorable matching bows for their hair. And on the last day they did a little performance for the parents.

She started out pretty good. She did the first cheer and maybe half the second one....and she even smiled! But, well, it just went downhill from there. For the next 2 cheers she picked her nose! (NO, I didn't take pictures of that!)

And then we were treated to MANY dirty and grumpy looks from our girl! I tried to get a picture with her two teachers and her friend Lindsey, but she wasn't having any of that! So, we gave up and headed for the door, where they handed her a popsicle.
That cheered her up pretty dang quick! Oh well, she said she had fun, we all got a good laugh out of her defiant moodiness, and she looked pretty cute....dirty looks and all! Maybe next year she can have her popsicle before the performance?!?!

{I ♥ a Good Day at the Lake}

I love me a good day at the lake! I DO....(I know what some of you are thinking), but I truly do. We decided to head over to Yuba lake on Wed afternoon. Brock was at scout camp so we invited my nephew Bryson to come with us. As we cruised around the lake, played and enjoyed the day I kept thinking how crazy it is that this girl who really has a phobia of the water really, truly loves being at the lake.

I love Carlie's glee full giggle and that she always wants dad to hit the "bumpies". I love the fresh smell of the water. I love sandy feet (and other body parts). I love that the lake is only 35 miles away. I love the gentle rocking of the boat, as I watch the kids play on the beach. I love the coconut mango smell of our favorite sunscreen.

I love the"O crap" wide eyed look Bryson gets when he sees a big bump coming up. I love the sound of the ski flag whipping in the wind. I love the white capped swells as we ride out a windstorm, and the mirror glass of calmer waters. I love the quick detour to Nephi for yummy Mexican food at the end of the day. I love that the boys are so much braver than they were last year, and that they had a blast riding in the tube. I love the unexpected spray of water that takes your breath away (as long as it's not on my face). I love K's toothless grin. I love the silent ride home because everyone is exhausted from a fun filled day.

I love that he's my man, and that he loves every minute we spend on the lake, whether it's a good day or even the not so good days.

I ♥ a Day at the Lake!
And just for a laugh I had to add this picture! What mean brothers she has!?! "But it's a sanchez, Mom," they say.