February Happenings

Tanner had his first piano recital after being in piano lessons on February 3rd.  He did a great job.  Sister Long does a great job at teaching and has amazing patience.  Tanner is starting to really progress quickly, but finds himself not wanting to practice as much.  After this recital, he was gung ho about wanting to become as good as some of the other students.  Positive peer pressure is awesome!

On February 7th, Camille's choir sang at the Utah Flash game.  We enjoyed going as a family to see this fun event.  Melissa and Grandpa & Grandma Beck also came to enjoy the fun.  Unfortunately there was a pretty good blizzard outside as we were travelling down, which made for an awful commute. 

 Parker, Bradley, Carter, Tanner & Johnathan before the game started.

 Camille with her choir singing the "Star Spangled Banner."  They did a great job!

 After the song they were able to line up as the players made their way onto the court. 

Bradley can't get enough of his Aunt Melissa and Grandparents.

 For Valentine's Day, I helped out in Carter & Parker's class with their party.  I love going into my children's classrooms to see them in that environment.  I helped with a valentine's craft.  Below Parker is making his craft.

Carter busy making his valentine's box.

 Johnathan after school with all of his loot.  I love his valentine carrier.

 Parker with his cool box.

 I love this picture that Johnathan made - very creative child!

Bradley was ecstatic to receive two valentines from Eli and Taylee Wilcox. 

Byron spoiled me rotten and got me an Ipod Touch 4.  I didn't think I would ever be able to get one since they are so darn expensive.  He surprised me and bought it with some of his sky miles.  I am one spoiled person!  I feel like I am in the 21st century now and have LOVED having it.  Of course my kids steal it all the time to play games on.  Byron &  I love to play Scrabble together.  I also love having all of my music in one place where I can take it with me anywhere, my scriptures and all of the other LDS reading materials to read while waiting in the van. 

The Blue & Gold Banquet for scouting was held on February 17th.  We had chili, salad, rolls & cake.  I love the scouting program and loved being able to help with this fun celebration of scouting.  I brought around 30 balloons that I purchased before the party.  I didn't realize how difficult it would be to keep them from popping.  It was very tricky, but I only lost one while transferring them to my house, into my bedroom, then back to my van, and on to the church.   

Carter above and Parker below enjoying their dinner.

For President's Day we enjoyed going as a family to Salt Lake.  We went to Welfare Square and had a tour.  Byron & I went a few years back alone, so it was really fun with our children this time.  The videos and presentations are so informative.  My children's favorite part was the free chocolate milk, cheese and bread following the tour.

We then headed over to the Church Museum.  They have a fun new exhibit.  We weren't able to enjoy it as much as we had hoped due to how crowded it was. 

 Bradley fishing off the side of the boat and playing with paper dolls below.

These computer have touch screens with games - they were a huge hit!

Carter

Camille in her fun Mexican skirt.

Bradley working in the garden picking vegetables.

Parker, Tanner & Johnathan.

I went to the mall with Bradley and paid for him to ride the train.  Boy did he talk about this for many days after.  He loved it!

Johnathan was so excited to attend Clear Creek.  He went from February 23-24th and had a great time.  The snow was about 3 feet deep and it ended up snowing while they were there also.   He loved snowshoeing the best.  He stayed in a cabin with about 20 bunk beds.  Johnathan was on top bunk.  Jackson Eastmond, Jarod Berg, and Randy Jarvis were some of his good friends in the same cabin with him.  He came home around 1:30 on Thursday and was very tired.  What a fun activity the 5th graders get to do each year.

Oregon get-away

Byron was so nice to see that I needed a break and encouraged me to fly somewhere to see family. I decided that I would travel to Oregon where two of my sisters are currently living. I flew out on February 9th and came back on February 12th. It wasn't for very long, but just what I needed.

I started out at Heather's house.  I flew in very late Wednesday night.  It was fun to just see Heather in her home environment.  Rebekah and Elizabeth were working on homework when we got to her house.  It was fun chatting with them for a little bit before they headed to bed. 

Thursday morning the kids all left before I woke up except Rachel who is the only one at the Elementary School this year.  She is in a unicycling club where she practices before school.  Heather & I went to watch her.  It was so fun and fascinating to see these young kids trying or mastering the unicycle.  I remember seeing Michael riding his and can't believe the balance and skills needed.  Rachel was awesome on hers.  She could only start if she was up against a wall or with somebodies help.  Then she was off and did awesome.  The following day she perfected starting on her own and was beaming from ear to ear.

For lunch, we met up with Janessa and cute baby Calvin at Applebees.  We had so much fun together reminiscing and catching up.  I can't think of the last time I had lunch with just my sisters. 

After lunch Heather took me to some Chinese Gardens in downtown Portland.  They were celebrating the Chinese New Year while we were there.  There were very colorful lanterns all over the place.  The grounds are so beautiful.  The details and colors of different things were so pretty.  I loved seeing beautiful flowers in bloom.

These walk ways had the coolest stones with moss growing between them. 

 The Camellia flower was gorgeous!

 I even saw a blue bird that had such bright colors.

We headed back to her house and I enjoyed being with my nieces and nephews.  We have never lived close to the Jamison's so it was so fun to see them in their comfortable environment without any children distracting me.  I was amazed that I never saw them being mean to one another or saying anything mean.  They really got along great and made me yearn to have this same closeness with my children.  Josh and Michael had their first Rugby game that night.  In getting all geared up for it, Josh had his head shaved into a mohawk. 

Heather is such a great cook - we ate some yummy chicken pasta along with homemade rolls. 

We headed over for the Rugby game that evening.  It was pretty cold outside, so we walked around most of the time to stay warm.  Michael and Josh did such a great job.  I enjoyed watching them play.  The only time I have seen a game of rugby is on the movie "Forever Strong."  I loved watching it in real life.  I still am not sure about many of the rules, but had fun watching something so different.

Michael above with the white socks and Josh below.

The next morning Heather took me over to Janessa's house.  We had fun just sitting around and chatting most of the afternoon.  Baby Calvin is such a sweet little guy.  It was so fun to see my sister finally having a boy to call her own.  I loved holding him and being around such a newborn again.

That evening Janessa and I went to a High School production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."  The director was a man from Janessa's ward, so it was fun talking to him about the play.  We had such a great time together.  The cast did a great job.  I think this was Janessa's first time away from Calvin, which was a much needed break for her. 

On Saturday, we enjoyed chatting most of the morning.  Janessa's girls are fun to talk with.  I love watching them with Calvin - holding him as much as they can get away with.   The whole family and I went for a car ride through the beautiful areas around them.  I didn't realize how unpopulated most of the areas around them are.  It was so fun being with them and their sweet family.  They took me to the airport around 2:30 p.m. for my flight home.

 Lindsay could get Calvin to sleep every time - such a cute sight.

I am so glad I had this fun opportunity.  I loved seeing how my sister's run their own homes and how fun it was to just be around my nieces and nephews.  They are all growing up so much and have such fun personalities.  I LOVED being able to spend quality time with my two sisters.  I love them so much and look up to them in so many different ways.  Thanks Heather & Janessa for sacrificing your time for me!  I love you tons!!!!

I had a great break, but was ready to go back home when the time came.  Byron was so sweet to get some beatiful roses for me that arrived while I was gone for Valentine's Day.  They were the perfect touch to welcome me back home. 

Thailand Trip

Byron has so many amazing opportunities through work. Back in January he went to Thailand for a conference from January 25th through the 31st. While he was there, he was able to tour some really cool sights.

Here is an example of the food Byron was able to eat - what an amazing buffet!  Below are some dragon fruit that Byron had in his room.  I have never seen any of this before - interesting things that grow in the far corners of the world :).  Dragon fruit is a very sweet fruit.  It has a spiky outside, but the inside is very sweet and refreshing.

This is a view from Byron's hotel window - just a breathtaking view!

There were some outdoor markets that Byron was able to enjoy along with a couple of other employees from Nu Skin. 

There is also something called the "floating markets."  Byron was able to get into a boat and has a driver (taxi) that will stop at every shop that they want.  They wouldn't get out, but the person who owned that shop would bring the items to them.  Pretty interesting idea - Byron was able to get some pretty inexpensive items.

This cemetery is called Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.  It was created after WWII.

This railroad is called "Thailand-Burma Railway Project."  Many prisoners of war from the US were forced to work on it during WWII.  A lot ended up dying from starvation and bad conditions. 

Byron and 3 other guys were forced to stay in Thailand one day longer than needed due to cheaper airfare prices.  They decided to go to the Tiger Temple and Elephant Village on their last day.  It cost quite a bit per person, but they decided it would be worth it - about $100 per person.

The Tiger Temple is owned by Monks.  They have raised these tigers since they were newborn and allow people to come into their area and pet these tigers.  Byron said this was a pretty stupid thing to do.  He passed a helipad, an ambulance, signed his life away and walked through the gate.  He was told beforehand to not wear certain colors.  He had to abstain from bright reds and oranges - I'm sure the bright colors upset the tigers more than the neutral ones.  He opted to wear blue.  Part of the time Byron had one worker assigned to him that would hold his hand and take him from one area to another.  I guess it was pretty nerve racking for Byron - These pictures tell it all:).  At least at the zoo we have a wall or bars between us and the animal.  Here they only have a small rope or chain.

They look very soft and cuddly, but Byron said their fur is very rough, greasy and dirty.

They were also able to lead the tigers while walking.  They held onto a rope and walked beside them.  Lets just say - Byron will never do this again :).

They also rode on an elephant with a guide.  Byron rode with one of his coworkers.  He was pretty nervous on this as well as at one point the elephants were walking through the water and his kept on going deeper and deeper in.  He was worried they would end up getting wet, but were fine. He kept on having to lift up his feet further and further up.  The seat kind of wobbled back and forth also, which made for more discomfort.

Byron went to the "circus" but ended up being part of it.  Looking back it wasn't one of the smartest things he has ever done.  I'm sure it looked cute when he put the hat on Byron's head, but the elephant pushed down on his head quite hard. 

This elephant even picked Byron up - I guess it was VERY uncomfortable - but an awesome picture moment.

After returning home we all enjoyed gathering around the computer to see the awesome picture he took.  The kids all look forward to this part and the fun explanation of them.

Here are more things Byron brought back .

Byron going through his money and giving two to everybody that wanted one.

Carter with his money and a cool twirly helicopter that lights up in the night sky.

Byron also brought back a laser light for each person - these were really big hits.