Sunday, December 23, 2012

24 days of Christmas fun...


Well tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I am not ready at all!  We have done a ton of fun things this month, so here is a small recap.


We love to read Christmas books, we take time out each day to just enjoy all the Christmas books. 
after reading one, one day, we decided to make the birds a christmas present.  We spread peanut butter on a pine cone and rolled it into oatmeal.  We hung them all over the back yard.  Kids loved it! Look how serious they are about their work. 
 
 
Got to help Grandpa Smith feed the cows, Bode and Rylie LOVE going and helping Grandpa. 

My niece had a dance recital at Logan High, my mom, Rylie and neice Kylie and I all went.  But first we wondered all over downtown looking at the gingerbread houses, Anderson's decorated Christmas tree's, and then had dinner at the coppermill. 
 Rylie was pretty excited about the whole night out with mom. 



My mom was one of the lucky onesto draw tickets for the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Choir.  She took me and my two sisters to it.  We had a wonderful time and I needed that Christmas spirit, I have had a hard time getting into Christmas, but it lifted my spirits. 
Mike met me in SLC and we went to see his cousin who was in a serious car wreck, we are thankful that she is alive and doing as well as she is.  Lots of miracles! 
We did the gate way, a little shopping, the build a bear and temple square.  It wasn't too crazy packed this year and we found it more enjoyable than the last few years.  love traditions!

 
We were able to go see his Grandma Thelma who is 97 years old! 
 She was making pies and treats, what a lady.

Santa showed up at our ward Christmas Party, Bode didn't want any part of it.  We coaxed him into at least telling santa what he wants for Christmas, a yellow truck! 

 
Rylie has a pretty crazy list this year, she wants a princess dress with an R on it (Good thing, Mrs Clause can sew), and Ipad (meaning the leappad or sometype of gamething) and a misfit toy (she doesn't care if they are not perfect!!  We wrote our letters and sent them off

 
Bode showing me his serious face!  He does have some explaining to do ~

 
And with all the white stuff, ok, just a tiny bit of white stuff.  We were able to make a frosty! 
 
We made gingerbread houses, peanut butter kiss cookies, and sugar cookies.  Wrapped presents, slept under the Christmas tree and just tried to enjoy the season.  There is so much going on around us with people that we love.  My heart goes out to them and their families.  I have been so blessed with my own little family and extended family.  To me, Christmas is about Family.  I am thankful for mine!!
Hope this is the best Christmas yet!  Merry Christmas!

kindergarten program

Rylie's kindergarten program!!  It was so dang cute and she loves to sing.  so she was very looking forward to this day.  She loved having her grandma's there to watch her too.  I loved watching all the kindergarten kids personalities shine during the program. 
 
 
She is on the top row, 3rd from the left!
 

Rylie Dance Recital

Rylie danced to walking in a winter wonderland and did a great job!  She loves to dance!! 
Both Grandparents made it to her big debut and she was pretty proud! 



Thursday, December 13, 2012

christmas jammies

Oh my word..  these two look soooo much alike in this picture.  Posing or doing something with their new jammies.  Nothing better than kids just out the tub, in their jammies, snuggling during a movie, and then off to bed.  Love these kids of mine!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

O' Christmas tree's...

This is the ultimate way for me to start the holidays off, getting our Christmas trees.  We have had this tradition for awhile and I love it.  We bundle up the kids, take a sleigh and hand saw, then take off in search of the perfect Christmas Trees.  We circle round and round tree's until we find the right one or when the kids have had enough, we pick the right one. 
 No matter what I think they are perfect for our Christmas Tree! 
 
Rylie was so excited for the snow, for sure my girl!
 
Bode decided this was a pretty good tree for him!

 
Rylie thought this was the perfect tree! 
 
with mom...

 
and dad...


 Hauling the tree's out and now for the lights and decorations!

Monday, December 10, 2012

first snow storm

Remember like a month ago when we had our first snow of the year!  My kids were so excited for it, today was the same.  we will take every inch of the white stuff we can get.  I love the snow and today when the kids begged me to let them go out in it even though it was freezing, i realized they love it too!!!  It makes me so happy.  How can you not love a fresh crisp layer of snow, the smell of snow, making snowman,skiing, tubing, snowmobiling and all the fun you can have in it. 
Now if we could just get more of this stuff!! 
 

camps

Rylie was pretty stoked when she got to do the vistaun and cheer camp at Skyview. 
She loved doing both, I am just a little slow getting pictures up.



Skyview cheer camps biggest fan!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

fall fun...

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving (Happy Thanksgiving Everyone), I better catch up the old blog with the fall happenings for the Beckstead family.
Tried out the Corn Maze at Little Bear Bottoms, kids had a blast climbing the hay stacks, the yarn maze, but not the real maze!  We lasted a few minutes trying to find out way out when the kids decided that was enough fun!

 Of course we ventured to the Pumpkin Walk, its always so fun!
Posed in front of some of our favorite games...


 
Went on a treasure hike to find all sorts of leaves and then
made TONS of crafts projects with them!  

 
More pumpkin walk, of course we do the face cutouts, Rylie's favorite part. 



 
Look close this is a self portrait of our spooky dinner - worms (spaghetti), bones (bread sticks), witches fingers (green beans), 

 
Ghost pancakes

We completely ran out of time to carve pumpkins, so this year we painted them! 
The kids thought this was just as fun and they didn't have to scoop out the pumpkin guts

 
Got to go help at Rylie's class, pretty fun to see her so in her element.

Trick or Treat - Construction worker and Barbie popstar

 Off to get the loot...

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

random photo ops...

Cute kids all dressed up for church and coordinating... 


I think I have mentioned how much Bode loves his sand box. 
 One of the best purchases we ever made.  It might be fall, but we are still in everyday.  He wanted to show me what a big hole he dug up.
 Such a happy boy!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

1st dam...

 
We thought we would head out one day in the beautiful fall weather to first dam. 
We fed the ducks TWO loafs of bread and had a picnic.


 
Then we headed up the canyon to the Stokes Nature Center trial.  What a beautiful day and the kids had a blast just playing.  


 
Fall is SOOO my favorite time of year!  i love the cool nights and warm days, the color of the leaves,  and the smell of autumn.