Drop 13 Half Marathon

A few weeks ago I decided to run a half marathon... My running has been going good lately so I decided what the heck, why not sign up for a race.  So I did (even though that meant that I'd need to get up at 3:00 am to catch the bus by 4:15 on race morning. Blah!).  

I ran a race called the Drop13 Half Marathon that goes down Big Cottonwood Canyon.  The weather was perfect and I was able to run my best race yet.  I set a new PR and came in at 1:38.  Yeah!

I finished the race and managed to get home before Miles' flag tournament started at 9:30 :)  I love those kinds of mornings.  

Morgan's First YW's Girl's Camp

I was way too excited for her to go that I couldn't even be sad about it.  Morgan just went to her first year of girl's camp.  She was a little nervous, but super excited about it at the same time.  

I drove her to the church parking lot, gave her a big hug, snapped a couple of pictures, and then she was off to have one of the best 4 days of her life.  

The group of girls and their leaders.

I don't have any pictures from the week except this one from when Mike went up to sleep one night.  I think Morgan was thrilled to have Mike up there.  I hope to add more pictures later if their leaders ever get around to emailing them to us...  I'm not holding my breath.  

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to this amazing father!  It was nice to have Mike home all morning before church... No meetings!! (He did have to speak in Sacrament Meeting as the high councilor in another ward.. seriously, on Father's Day???  So not nice of them!  Oh well, he didn't complain or mind.... He's so great that way! And his talk was as inspiring as usual!)

The girls made him some Hootin' Annie Pancakes and a yogurt-granola-berry parfait.   Mmmm!  

Notice how it's the girls that made him breakfast and took care of him on Father's Day... The boys were still fast asleep....   

And since it's Father's Day, here are some things we love about Mike!

He works hard for our family and provides for all our needs (and wants!).  His job is unique and it's exciting to hear about all the fun things he gets to do.  He travels quite a bit and even though I know it can wear him out, he never complains about it.  

Here's a couple of work pictures so you can see him in action.  

After one of his longer work trips, he came home and decided he wanted to pick the kids up from school... On this...

It made their day seeing him roll up on the 4-wheeler.  They felt so cool :)  

Ivy is a daddy's girl!  She adores Mike and she wants him right when he walks in the door...  Then she holds on tight because there is no way she's letting him put her down :).  

I love that Mike is so helpful at bedtime.  He usually takes the 4 big kids downstairs and puts them to bed while I get Ivy ready for bed.  Bedtime at our house is a big job and I'm so glad Mike is such an involved, helpful father.  

He also has a way of making everyone laugh.  He loves being a dad and it shows!  I'm so thankful he's the dad of my children!  

Mike, in case you ever read this, which I actually don't know if you read anymore or not, Happy Father's Day!  I love you more and more every day! 

Beckstead Reunion in Heber

Check out this fun group... We got to spend 4 totally awesome days together! 

This was our sweet cabin.  

A pano of the group during the family history portion of the evening.  

We loaded the entire group up and went to Dairy Keen for lunch...  It's not even that great of food, but for some reason EVERYONE goes there when they are in Heber...  I'm still trying to figure out why.  I know, I know, their shakes are really good...  

You know how Grandma loves to plan these vacations... The kids had a large variety of crafts and games everyday.  They made coasters and the boys were totally into it... Could it have been because it involved fire :)  

Ivy was a little cutie-pie, but she had to be watched all the time...  Stairs everywhere and a 12 month old baby is not a fun combination...  I just have to keep telling myself, "only 1 more year, only 1 more year!".  It will be so nice to move out of the baby phase for good, although looking at these make me remind myself to enjoy every second of it.  She is the cutest!

Morgan's 12th birthday happened while we were in Heber and I'm so glad it did.  It felt like a huge party :)  After Dairy Keen, we all went to ride the Heber Creeper.  

Enjoying the ride.  I wondered how Ivy would like the train ride and I was pleasantly surprised when she loved it!  It was breezy and fun to visit all together.

Meg didn't really like the bandit's that robbed the train... She kept her hands in the air long after they were gone... And then she hid on the floor (see her down there :). 

After the ride, one of the bandits did some rope tricks around the kids.  She made the day extra fun.

Ivy exploring the tracks.... 

The nickel drop game...  The kids could keep all the nickels that landed in their cup... It's much harder than it looks.

Meg was a natural at the nickel game... She tied with Katie for 1st place and she came away with all these nickels :)  

They decorated their Styrofoam airplanes for the airplane throwing contest. 

Then they threw puffy cheeseballs at Jake and James to see who could get the most to stick to their shaving cream covered heads.   

The hot-tub was a huge hit! 

On the last night, all the kids got medals for different things...

Meg's award: Most visits to the hot tub.  (She was in and out and in and out....)

Will's award: Best tree climber.

Miles' award: (I forget - I need to ask him) I think it was something about best all around gamer.

Morgan's award: Newest cell phone owner.

It was such a fun week...  We spent a lot of time doing what the Beckstead group does best - visiting, laughing, eating and playing games.  That is my idea of a great week! I love this group. 

Morgan's 12

Morgan turned 12 and you know what that means..... No more primary!

But she couldn't leave primary without being sung to one last time :)

The beehives welcomed her to Young Woman's by decorating our front porch.  She feels so loved and welcome already :)

On her birthday we were in Heber for a family reunion with my family, so it was a big celebration!

She woke up to the cabin decorated for her special day.

She requested the white cake from Costco, and it's a good thing she did... There were lots of people to feed cake to :)

The best part of Morgan's birthday was her gift... She been begging for a phone forever and we've told her she won't be getting one... Ever... Like never, ever....  

Well, after much thought and lots of weighing pros and cons, we decided to get her a phone.  (A very closely monitored phone mind you :) 

I wrapped the phone up inside a box and as she was opening the present, we called it... Her reaction was the best thing ever.  Priceless!  

I think she was happy with it.

After the reunion, Grandma and Grandpa took her out for her birthday lunch and shopping.  She picked Johnny Rockets for lunch and then they were off to find the best new phone case they could find.  

I think she picked the right case... It's almost as adorable as she is.

Happy Birthday Sweet Morgan.  I can't believe you're 12 and I have to let you start growing up.  What would we do without you??  You are a dream come true!

Will's 7

Will turned 7!!  How crazy is that!

He picked Carl's Jr for his lunch with Grandma and Grandpa and for his gift from them he wanted a talking Slimer from Ghostbusters.  Funny boy!  He loves it and plays with it constantly. It's always so fun to see what the kids come home with from their shopping trip.

He got to open one present in the morning when he woke up... Cotton Candy, his favorite :)

For his birthday dinner we went to Pizza Pie Cafe.  His big present this year was a v-tech kidszoom watch.  He's been begging for one for months and was so happy when he opened it.  I love finding the perfect gift.

Will and Nels didn't forget about their matching birthdays! They celebrated the day after with kids meals and some time in the playland.  Look at those 7 year olds!

Will also took his cousins to Get Air to celebrate.  I don't know how I forgot to get a picture at Get Air, but I'm cutting myself some slack... I had my hands full chasing Ivy all over that place.  

I did get a picture of ice cream afterwards.

Happy Birthday Will!  I'm glad you're my boy and that you're still as silly as ever :)