Texas Trip June '10

Baby Alex was being blessed at the end of June so that meant an excuse to go visit family in TEXAS! While we were there we pretty much did all things Summer.

Here are some highlights...

Kate loved playing in the water and since it is sooooooo stinkin' HOT there we did that A LOT!

I love this face!

This was at the splash pad in a neighborhood near my mom's house.

I miss Abe's happy smile! Doesn't he melt your heart?

Kate's first time in a swimming pool!

We got to visit this beautiful pool in a newer neighborhood that a few of Jill's friends live in. You can't really tell from the picture but there was a fun beach entry and a neat kiddie area.

Abe got down and dirty at the Ward Spaghetti dinner and YW camp auction! They AC was out in the Old Katy Building but that didn't stop Brother Sky from putting on a GREAT Show!

Feeding the ducks by the Library.

Kate is showing us what a duck says.

Riding the carousel at the Katy Mills Mall

Kate loved looking at the animals outside the Rainforest Cafe

Nana bought a kiddie pool that we put in the front yard so we could be in the shade and fit in with our neighbors ;) Kate and Ella loved splashing in the water. Abe mostly enjoyed seeing how many times he could crawl in and out! The party was over when Kate's swim diaper failed us and the thunder could no longer be ignored!

Then there was the whole reason for the trip... THE BIG DAY!

A classic shot of STEVIE

What a good Uncle! Don't let Kate's face fool you... she was perfectly comfortable in those loving arms!

The blessing was at my Uncle Bills house so that we didn't have to travel to New Braunfels like a circus and so Emmie's family could attend. It was really neat to have everyone together and to feel the spirit of occasion.

The next day Marshall and I skipped out of the last two hours of Church and headed back to Bill's for goodbyes and to see the little nugget one more time. He is sooo cute! It makes me sad that we won't be around him more to see him grow and change but hopefully there will be enough trips to Texas to get to know him a little better over the years!

The next day was the only day we were going to have with everyone together with my mom so we had originally planned on a trip to the beach but weather and babies didn't permit. So instead we went to my mom's friend's house and enjoyed her beautiful pool and backyard. Here Kate and Daddy are swimming together for the first time. He was so excited to see her in the water because I had been telling him how much she loved it!

Us being silly when once again, rain and thunder drove us from the water.

While we were there, we wanted a shot of all the cousins together in the matching outfits Nana bought. This was the best one I got. Hopefully Jill caught one too!?

Kate and Abe were born two days apart so we thought it would be fun to get some shots of just the two of them.

That pretty much wraps it up... oh ya... there was also a lot of

Sonic Runs...

Bubbles...

and TONS of BLUE BELL ICE CREAM! Kate didn't know what to do when we got back and we weren't eating a popsicle after every meal. I thought she was never going to forgive me. Needless to say, we had an amazing time and really enjoyed seeing friends and family! Now we are planning our next excuse to return!

Monkey and Mister

We have been living in Nate and Britt's basement for the last month and a half, and although it seems like that would bring with it a lot of challenges, It has been so nice being around family. One of the biggest advantages, (besides meal planning and the fact that I actually get some adult conversation in the middle of the day), is that Kate has a buddy to play with!

She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her cousin Isaac and they have so much fun being together! I worried at first that Kate would get old to Isaac fast, but he has been so patient with her and it's been really sweet to see them interact. Kate has learned so much from him too! I have to admit it has been so nice for me to have a "live in" play date for Kate each day as we have been waiting for Summer to finally arrive so we can venture out into the world.

Here are some pics from some of their summer adventures so far...

Defending Fort Beeson from the evil beast Charger!

Isaac riding the tractor at Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point

Kate saying hello from the play Saloon at Farm Country

A couple of pictures from the Living Aquarium

As you can imagine getting a picture with both kids looking at the camera and smiling was a challenge. But at least we know they were having fun!

Isaac and Brittanie went to Texas to visit her family this week and it makes me sad to see the confusion on Kate's face when we head up the stairs and he's not there waiting to play. It just isn't the same without our happy greetings, "Moeeey", "Keet", "Dadoo", and "Churgerr"!

Hurry home safe Isaac and Britt. We miss our friends!

Summer Resolutions

I moved to Utah the Summer of 1999. I was one of those obnoxious Texans who thought that NO place was ever going to feel like home to me as much as the Lone Star State. I have to admit, I was and still am pleasantly surprised at how much I like it here. It's been over ten years that the Beehive State has been my permanent residence and although I'm still not convinced I want to "put down roots" here, (because ten years of living somewhere doesn't mean "putting down roots" until you own a house and your kids are enrolled in school there), I am still here, that's gotta say something.

I love the mountains and the shopping. I love that there are pretty much two ways to get somewhere: I-15 or State Street. I love the convenience of Church activities (Temples, Clothing, Temple Square, Ward Boundaries). I even enjoy my eating-out options here and miss them when I am away.

I love how Utah has ALL four seasons in their true forms even if they aren't distributed equally,

BUT...

Come February I want to crawl into a well ventilated, well insulated, well heated hole... AND DIE!

Why can't winter be a month shorter here on either end? We do ok 'til Christmas, but every January Marshall and I return to our well-structured routines of sleep, work, hours of TV on DVR and a steady diet of fast food (sometimes three times a day, NO LIE!).

Over five months and five to ten pounds later, I'm ready to make my "New Year's Resolutions". Get ready for Six months worth of back posts and a "Kate's a Year old" post that is full of all the boring first year accounts that sound like they are coming from a woman who REALLY has been thoroughly enjoying every second of being a first time mom. Summer is here, the sun is FINALLY shining, and I have come alive!

So if you have been anxiously checking our blog daily, hoping for some juicy tid-bits of Beeson happenings, all of your wildest dreams have come true! I just completed 12 titles for 12 NEW posts, logging our life events from Christmas til now and my goal is to complete one a day til they are done (this being the first one).

How am I going to do this you ask? No more napping during Kate's naps until my project is complete. Yes, I just admitted, for potentially although not likely, ALL the world to see, that I regularly take two naps a day while my child is sleeping instead of checking things off my LONG ToDo list. How is that for accountability and a whole lotta run-on sentences?

So here we go blogging audience... Keep me accountable and wish me luck!