Spring Happenings

We got dumped on again in March and enjoyed the snow while it lasted for about one day.  Carter & Parker were great helps to clear the walks along with the rest of the boys.  I love how they enjoy shoveling and are so helpful.  (Carter, blue; Parker, red)

Bradley had an "It's All About Me" poster to fill out for preschool.  He took this assignment very seriously and spent hours coloring and writing about each thing.  I loved how much attention he gave to the details and wanted to make it so colorful.  The poster says:  I am 5 years old!  I live in Lehi.  My friends are: Cadan, Kamry (Jessop), Eli (Wilcox) & Porter (McArthur).  I want to be a dad when I grown up!  My pets: Viento, Tierra, Fuego.  My favorite color - green, orange.  My favorite book - "The Night Before Christmas."  My favorite foods - macaroni and cheese, ramon noodles. 

We had a joint family party with Tanner & Bradley on March 9th.  Bradley had this cool cake that I was really impressed at how cool it turned out.   I would say it is one of my favorite cakes to make and one of the easiest.  Bradley helped me pick out this cake from many pictures online.  Then we went to the store and bought 3 cars that he could put on his cake.  He was pretty excited about it and his nice sister even made him a party hat.  Tanner had a cream cheese cinnamon cake - it didn't look the best but was absolutely delicious.  Since one of Bradley's favorite things to do is cut papers into any shape he can, we made snowflake and had a contest between whoever wanted to participate.  We laid out a sheet and let the kids go at it with the scissors.  There were some really cool snowflakes.  We also played the candy bar game at Tanner's request.  It was a huge hit especially amongst those that got to eat some of the chocolate:). 

Carter

Myles

Melissa

Ashlyn

Rose, Cadan, Bradley & Myles eating their cake.

The next day was Bradley's birthday.  He was so excited to get legos from Byron & I.  He also got some cool lego figures of Toy Story.  He has really been into building things lately and spent a lot of time making cool creations with his brothers.

I am so glad Byron is with the youth so I can get a glimpse every once in a while at what happens at the Joint Activities.  This particular activity was they had $10 to buy a whole meal and make it for the Bishopric to taste.  The adults couldn't help at all by encouraging to do a certain way or to buy certain foods.  There were 5 groups.  Byron's group bought hot dogs.  Camille & Tanner's group did a chicken pot pie, a salad and butterfinger.  It was a fun activity for them.  Pretty fun to see what great concoctions were put together.

Tanner was in track at Lehi Jr. High in the Spring.  He really enjoyed it.  Every day he practiced after school and then was able to participate in 4 meets.  Two of them were in Lehi and it was fun to watch.  He was in the 800 meters and 1600 meters.  A lot of Tanner's friends were also on the team - Michael & Austin Hinckley, Sam Wilcox, Thomas Heaps, Mason Draper, and Kobe Mickelson.  Luckily Mason's mom, Angee, took some awesome pictures of Tanner while running (one day I will get me a nice camera that can take photos like this:). 

Group huddle before the race - they were saying a prayer - pretty awesome to have friends like this.   (left to right - Thomas, Austin, Tanner & Sam)

Carter & Parker after receiving their Bears. 

February second part

Cute Bradley - this was a picture I found on my phone - I love finding those mysterious pictures - I never know what I might find:).

Dad & Mom Beck Came down to give us our Valentines.  The Valentines were all amazing and had so much thought put into them!  The kids all loved their candy bar that came with them.

Each of the kids got to pick their own treat in the grocery store and this is what Bradley chose - such a cutie!

Johnathan with all of his Valentine's after school.

The beautiful roses delivered to our door on Valentines - the colors were so beautiful - they made my day!

Byron & I eating at our favorite place - Chilies for Valentines.

Crazy Bradley making his fun creations.

Carter & Bradley with their valentine boxes and Parker below.

The 6th graders all go through the Nova program - Johnathan had to write an essay on what he learned from the program.  Out of his class, his essay won 3rd place.  He was called up during the assembly and acknowledged. 

Carter & Parker at Pack Meeting.  They received their Bears and were pretty ecstatic as they had been working really hard to get them before we went to Disney World.

Camille got her learners permit on February 23rd.  She was so excited to finally have it in her hands after taking the written twice.  Camille has not taken drivers ed at school because she doesn't have room in her schedule for all that she wants to take.  She is going to take it during the summer online instead.  Since she has not had this class, she has no knowledge of driving at all other than what she has observed.  I went out with her the next day to a church parking lot and thought I might have a heart attack:).  Camille is actually a really good driver as she is a beginner, but I guess it is too high intense for this mom.  I sent Byron out with her the next time and he didn't seem stressed at all.  In the future, I will have to remember that Byron gets to enjoy this fun bonding moment with each child:).

Tanner's 13th birthday - he got a bike from Byron & I and was so excited.  He was nice to give Carter a ride on the pegs.  That morning was absolutely gorgeous outside and then around noon a wind storm started.  Glad he had that morning to ride his bike as you never know what weather it might be in February. 

That evening Byron & I took Tanner out to Tepanyaki (this child has expensive tastes).  Camille talked him into going since she has been previously for her birthday and loved it so much.  It was fun to take him there to experience a great food and entertainment all in one place.  Our chef wasn't the best we have had, but still very entertaining.  Tanner ordered shrimp and steak for his meal.  Tanner loved the steak and even was more excited when the workers came out and sang to him and brought a chocolate sundae for him to eat :).  He actually was very embarrassed. 

Tanner played "Happy Birthday" with his trumpet - such a multi-talented boy:).  He is really good on the trumpet and has excelled very quickly.

On Tanner's birthday - the scouts met up at the church to get the rollerblading merit badge.  Johnathan came along also.  I guess I need to get some better rollerblades for my kids as they weren't very good compared to other kids.  After a lot of practicing they both got their merit badge.  Tanner in the bright orange and grey jacket and Johnathan in light orange (above on right). 

Our second real snow of the season didn't come until the end of February.  We actually shoveled our walks and had enough snow for snowmen and a snowfort.  The kids were outside until really late in the evening getting their fort all finished.  The fort was barely big enough for Tanner to fit in.  I love when the kids spend time outside doing things together. 

Carter in red and Parker in blue.