Friday, December 30, 2011

My Kind of Camping...

Eli and Asher were interested in "roughing it" in the basement, so we set up camp in the toy room.
Their stuffed dogs were placed on top of the tent to
guard from up above and the dog house placed at
the entrance of the tent to keep away any bears or
any other scary thing that may be hiding in the basement.
Eli also kept his Nerf Gun by his side, just in case
he needed to protect he and Asher with his foam darts.

We also set up the camping table and had camping breakfast
all ready for them as soon as they emerged from their tent.
Then Mom got to totter up to her very comfortable and warm bed, everyone feeling like a winner in this camping situation.  Mom would leave a good morning note for the campers at their table each night after they had fallen asleep.  Eli reminded Mom each night after that, "Make sure you leave us a note, Mom.  But wait until after we're asleep!"  How much that boy loves those small reminders of his Mother's love for him.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Six Christmas' in the Making...

Finally, after celebrating his first five Christmas' with any random stocking I could round up, Asher was able to join the rest of the Beeson Family with the rank and file Christmas stocking.  I did purchase the kit the year Asher was born, but it's just taken me six Christmas' to finally get it completed.  Welcome to the club, Asher!

Christmas 2011...

Merry Christmas to All
and to All a Good Night!





Santa did find our house and must have decided the boys were good as indicated by the nice pile of presents he left.  The hit of the season was the iPod Touch each boy received.

The Christmas letter sent to family and friends was as follows:


Wow!  What a year!  We definitely JUMPED IN WITH BOTH FEET!  The boys continue to grow like crazy, no matter how much we tell them to knock it off. This year we thought we’d share with you our Top Ten Quotes of the Beeson Family for 2011.  (Names have been left out to protect the identity of the sometimes guilty party.)
10.  While discussing the Last Supper, we were looking at the painting by Greg Olson.  When we talked about that was when Christ first shared the bread and water, a boy exclaimed, “That’s not bread, it’s a quesadilla!”  Quesadilla and unleavened bread must look the same to little boys.  A Mexican twist on an important story.
9.  Overheard while driving to church from a boy who DID NOT want to be going to church meetings that day, “I wish this church hadn’t been restored.  I wish it was still lost.”
8.  Having two acres to maintain, Scott was researching the best lawn mower to purchase.  Flabbergasted by the cost, he decided to try a used model first.  What a curse that thing was!  It needed two hours of tinkering before each lawn mowing to get it going.  Scott finally decided to break down and buy a new professional lawn mower (One of our children will now have to miss out on a college education since the cost of the mower is equivalent to the cost of receiving a bachelor’s degree.  We haven’t decided which child will remain uneducated…). We were able to find a buyer who figured he could get the old mower working.  During prayer that night, a boy included in his prayers, “...and thank you we could sell that crap mower.”
7.  We had an extended family camping trip planned to Palisade State Park last summer.  After we’d gotten there and set up camp, a boy asked, “Is this Palisade?”  When we answered in the affirmative he responded, “I thought that Palisade was a ship.”  The poor boy thought we were going on a cruise!  It is only a young child who can go from thinking he is going on a cruise to discover it’s actually a week of camping without the least bit of concern.
6.  Our poor children have a 0% possibility of being able to sing, Mom and Dad are genetically deficient.  While Mom was singing, “How Much is That Doggy in the Window,” a boy asked, “Mom, will you stop singing?  You’re making me weak.”  Mom asked, “My singing is making you weak?”  “Yes, it’s making me kinda sick.”  We were not aware he was Superman and Mom’s singing his kryptonite.
5.  As we were driving in the car, listening to Steve Miller Band, a voice from the back seat states, “They just don’t make the quality of rock and roll like they used to.”  His vast nine years of experience on earth has given him the perspective he needs to make this observation.
4.  While discussing resurrection and telling the boys we will be resurrected when Christ comes back to the earth, a boy asked, “When is Christ coming?”  After explaining that no one knows for sure, he responded, “Just like no one knows how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop.”  The two great mysteries of the world, when Christ is returning to earth and how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.  He followed up with, “I’ll bet Jesus knows how many licks… and Albert Einstein.”
3.  While discussing all of the people that we love, including extended family, a boy made the statement, “But you can’t marry your cousin or your kids can’t speak.”
2.  We have called Asher “Ash” for as long as we can remember.  Scott was out winterizing the boat and asked, “Ash, would you hand me that socket?”  To which he said, “Dad, why did you call me a**?  It’s a bad word and isn’t nice.”  Has the boy thought we’ve been calling him a** all these years?  After five years we guess he’d had enough and wasn’t going to take it anymore.  Oh, the things our children will have to discuss with their therapists in the future!
1.  Summer vacation gets long for everyone, I do believe.  When we were reaching the end of the three months of having the boys home all day, every day, Scott, who had had his fill of family togetherness, made the truthful statement, “I feel like I’m living with all of my worst mission companions at once!”

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever...

We hosted the family Christmas Eve party for 2011, which included the Nativity being re-enacted with the darling children filling each of the roles.  I wonder how close we are to being considered "the Herdmans"?




Sunday, December 18, 2011

"Beary" Christmas...

Each Christmas American Heritage collects bears to donate to a children's shelter.  The students are supposed to raise money (i.e., Mom comes up with the idea, spends a lot of time completing the project while the kids stand on the sideline providing minimal help) to purchase the bears.  On the last day of school before Christmas break, the children form "hugging" lines.  As each bear is taken from the collection area, it is passed down the line of students that are forming a chain from the school to the delivery vehicles.  Each child hugs the bear so that when the children at the shelter receive the bear, they are told how many children have hugged the bear and how much love it has for them.

To raise money, the boys called family members and took orders for cookies.  We had an all-day cookie baking experience.  The boys earned enough money to buy eight bears to donate.  Next year's project will involve more child labor and less Mom labor for sure.  





Monday, December 12, 2011

In the Quiet....

As I was trudging up the stairs last night, anxious to crawl into my bed, I heard the voice of a 7 year old quietly say, "Mom?"  At this hour of the night, when he should have been asleep at least an hour ago, I am not overjoyed to hear my name called.  His answer makes me feel guilty for my earlier annoyance.  "Mom, when it's quiet like this and I'm laying in my bed, I can feel the Spirit.  When I feel the Spirit, it always makes me think of my family.  When I think about our family, I always think of you first."

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Happy 12th...

The chance to get out of the daily home life with children is absolutely necessary for husband and wife.  Whenever Scott and I get out on our own, it doesn't take like to be reminded of why it is that we love each other so much.  We were able to take a cruise to celebrate our 12th anniversary.  The cruise was to the Bahamas, so I was looking forward to some sun and warm temperatures.





Saturday, November 5, 2011

What Did You Call Me?

Asher is now 5 years old and we have called him "Ash," for as long as I can remember.  The other day Asher was out helping Scott winterize the boat.  Scott was up in the boat and Asher was down on the driveway and Scott asked him, "Ash, will you hand me that socket?"  Asher answered, "Dad, why did you call me ass?  That isn't very nice and it's a bad word."

Has the child thought we've been calling him ass all these years?  Oh, the things my children will be discussing with their therapists in the future...

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween 2011...

We were so happy Grandpa and Grandma held their annual Halloween Party this year since they were leaving for the Israel trip so soon.  It just wouldn't be Halloween without it!

Oakley "Indiana Jones" Beeson
He bought his Indiana Jones hat at Disneyland.
For the price we had to pay, he's going to need
to wear his Indiana Jones costume for the next
100 years to make it financially worth it.

Grandma Zombie and Grandpa Motorcycle Biker.
Grandma does look really scary- sheesh!

Melissa's fabulous dessert.
The ghosts were edible meringue.
As usual, almost too cute to eat.

Witches Brew

Scott the Nerd, Terah "Dorothy," Oakley Indiana Jones,
Eli Pit Crew for Lightening McQueen, and Asher the Veterinarian.

Melissa the Witch, Colt Scary Man, Carter Monkey,
and Lucas Fireman.

Halloween Lanterns made from milk jugs were made
by each of the kids.

Mummy Game
Bobbing for Apples


We were so sad that Jeremy and Emily's family were sick.  Thank goodness Halloween comes every year!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Lost and Found...

Overheard in the car on the drive to church from a very disgruntled 9 year old who did not want to be going to church meetings, "I wish this Church hadn't been restored.  I wish it was still lost."

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Cave Dwellers...

It is a short 10 minute drive up to the Timpanogos Cave trail, so I like to hike the trail for a good work out during the summer months.  We had been promising the boys all summer we would hike to the cave and take the tour and it was all of a sudden the end of summer and we still hadn't taken them.  On the LAST DAY they were open for the season, I decided I better come through on my promise.  Scott and Oakley had to stay home and complete a due-the-next-day science project that had also been procrastinated.  It was Mom, Asher, and Eli who were able to make the trip.




I was really proud of the boys.  They made it to the top of the trail without complaining and barely stopped for any breaks.  MANY a crying children have I passed on my morning hike up the trail, with very frustrated parents who had the look of, "I had no idea this hike would be this hard," in their eyes.

The Baby is Five....

The highlights of Asher's Fifth Birthday

 

A birthday party with friends

Asher wanted a fishing themed party, so we played Pin the Worm on the Hook...

...had a fishing pond...
...played Shark-Shark-Fish (Duck-Duck-Goose)
which we could have played the entire two hours
and the kids would have been thrilled,
they LOVED game...
...had a pinata..

...which resulted in a tantrum and a throwing of the
stick by Asher when he didn't break the pinata open
on his turn...

...and blue Jello with gummy fish floating inside
and Goldfish crackers for a treat.
Grandma Lee Ann came down for the afternoon.  When we told Asher he could pick anywhere he wanted to go for dinner, he chose Chuck E Cheese.  Sigh... anything for the birthday boy, I guess.






And if that weren't enough, a family celebration at Sunday Dinner at Grandma's
Yet another pile of presents to be opened...

...the truck from Great Grandma Moore was definitely a hit...

...and a fish birthday cake to continue the fishing themed
birthday. Blowing out his candles wearing the Harley
Davidson black leather motorcycle jacket that Grandma
Fotheringham made for him. Asher LOVES going riding
with Grandpa Fotheringham on his Harley.