Marathon

A couple of weekends ago we went to Logan to watch John run in a marathon. We got a hotel room in Brigham City the night before and drove into Logan the next morning to cheer him on. After we stopped a few times and got directions to the marathon route from a gas station attendant and a sheriff, we found mile 18 and waited. It was fun to cheer on the athletes and to meet other spectators waiting to encourage friends and family. When John passed us on mile 18 Lee was on the phone so in the picture, I am running with Kate in my arms and holding the phone up so John could say hi to Lee. After mile 18 Marshall had to head back to Draper with Charger but me and Kate went to the finish line. I forgot to charge the camera before we left Draper so we had to buy a disposable one from the Maverick to make sure we captured the big finish. But unfortunately between my lack of skills and having to wind between shots, the finish line pics didn't turn out as clear as I would have hoped. Oh well, we had a great time and it was really exciting to watch John do something so challenging and amazing! Way to go John!

Cousins

Before my mom had to go back to Texas, while everyone was still in town, we got together with Jill and Lee at the Farmer's house in Centerville. While we were there visiting we got some fun pictures of the cousins all together. Enjoy!

Fun with the Family!

When everyone came for the blessings we had an evening all together with my dad and his family. First John met us at Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove. Me, John, William and Steven ran around racing up and down the inflatable slides while Marshall and Emmie refereed and Dad watched baby Kate. Then we all headed back to the Spring Hills Suite at Thanksgiving Point where we met up with Lee, Jill, Ella and Abe for some pizza and swimming. The hotel pool was really crowded so we went next door to Thanksgiving Point where we has some ice cream and visited the Farm Country. It was fun to watch Ella and the boys feed the animals and ride the ponies with no fear. That visit was also the first time we met Abe and the first time Lee, Jill, Ella, Emmie and the boys got to meet Kate. Enjoy the slide show of our fun evening together! (Also, please ignore any adds that pop up at the end of my slide shows.... it comes with the program and I don't know how to make them stop ;)

Blessing Day!

When Jill and I found out we were going to have our babies around the same time we had NO IDEA it was going to be TWO days apart! Way back when the thought of life with a new little one was still sinking in, we talked about trying to have both the baby blessings in Utah on the same day so all the family could be involved in both. I am sure neither of us expected it to really happen that way but it did and it was an amazing day! August 2, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Katherine Ann Beeson was blessed in the River View 6th ward. Afterward we gathered with friends and family at our clubhouse and had lunch and visited. Later that afternoon we headed to Centerville where Lee and Jill's new little one Abraham (Abe) was blessed in the Farmer home. It was a long crazy day but very worth it to have had the company and the memories! I am planning on copying Britt and doing a "Kate" blog with more details of the meetings etc... I also hope to have it be a little journal of Kate's development etc so look for an invite soon! (Anyone is welcome to view it I just think this one will be "private" since it's all about Kate! So, if you don't get an invite, (because I don't know you visit my blog), and you want one, email me and I will happily include you!) Until then, enjoy some pictures from the Blessing Day!

Afternoon in the Canyon

The Sunday before we blessed Kate we spent an afternoon in Provo Canyon with Mom and John. We packed a snack of PB&Js and Turkey sandwiches and some other treats we had on hand. We met John at a park about half way up the canyon where we visited with each other and made some new friends. The weather was beautiful- I don't think the pictures do justice to our views. As John was getting there he noticed an accident coming out of the canyon so we decided to skip sitting in traffic on the way back and took the Alpine Loop home. Here are some pictures of our afternoon! Enjoy!

I love to see the Temple!

Marshall and I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at the Draper Temple Open House last January, February and again in March. For the VIP days I helped with food service and Marshall worked with the facilities crew and for the actual Open House we both were ushers and Marshall did a stint in the cold working parking. I never had a chance to write about it before because I was pregnant and lets face it, tired and lazy, but I wanted to include our experience with this post.

My favorite part of the time I spent volunteering was when I had the opportunity to usher right outside the sealing rooms. My job was simply to organize groups and escort them into different sealing rooms where married, sealed, couples would explain the purpose of those rooms and what it means to be sealed as a family for eternity. Because I got to both direct people to rooms and then escort them from the rooms to the next exit, I couldn't help but notice the difference in the spirit as they left the rooms then as when they entered. During the quiet times I was waiting in the hall for one room to empty so another group could enter I reflected on the day Marshall and I were married. Maybe it was because I was pregnant, but I was overwhelmed with gratitude for family that came before us on both sides that sacrificed so much so we could have the Gospel in our lives and Temples to be sealed as husband and wife in and so that our children could be born into that covenant. I was ( and am) grateful for a wonderful husband who honors his priesthood and who leads our family with love and wisdom. We never got to actually go through the Open House ourselves but we were both grateful for the experience of serving together in the Temple last Spring.

Anyhoo, last week while Marshall's family was in town we had the opportunity to go through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. It was hot hot this time instead of cold cold, but it was still a great day! The best part by far was the short (10 seconds) we were walking through the Celestial room. Unfortunately it was not exactly reverent during our tour but the short moment we were in the Celestial room together as a little family the spirit was strong. Marshall and I both agreed that that small moment made it worth the whole trip! Here are some pics from outside the Temple.

Leaving the Temple happy!

Marshall's family

Our little family

Lagoon Day- Beeson Reunion!

Marshall's sister Allye and her kids and his niece Meghan were in town this last week so we had a mini Beeson Family Reunion. One of the things we did while they were here was a Lagoon Day. It was both mine and Kate's first time to the Utah amusement park and we had a fun time for the short period we got to attend. Brittanie reserved a pavilion for the family to use as home base for the day so Allye and the older cousins went early and played all day long and Brittanie and I and the babies met up with them for dinner. Wayne dropped in after work to say hi but Marshall and Nate couldn't break away from their work day fast enough to make it. We missed them but we still enjoyed ourselves. Here are a few pics and highlights from the evening Kate and I spent there.

Kate smiling at her Aunt Britt.

Flirting with Cousin Isaac

Happy Baby!

Waking up from nap, just taking it easy.

Grandpa Wayne and Isaac hanging out.

Isaac playing with the car seat toy Marshall bought Kate.

The whole group. (The family in front came all the way from California to meet up with Allye and the kids!)

Me and Kate- our first time at Lagoon! Needless to say we rode no rides- unless you include her riding in her stroller!

Even though Lagoon day for us only meant eating pizza under the pavilion and hanging out with Britt and Isaac while everyone else rode rides it was still fun to be with family and see everyone else having such a great time!