There's No Place Like Home...

Eli came home from school with a drawing that looked like a house and the beach.  When I asked Eli to tell me about the picture, he said his teacher had them draw a picture of their two favorite places.  Eli had chosen home and the beach.  As a Mother, to know home is where our child loves to be, warms my heart.

A Glimpse into the Future...

While staying in Idaho for the weekend, Scott and I took the boys to Rexburg to see how the little town had "grown up" since I was a student there.  The boys and I strolled around the what seemed like double the size campus.  It was impossible not to be nostalgic as I walked through buildings again that I had walked through hundreds of time before.  I always refer to my years as a student at Ricks College as my "glory years."  I did love the two years I spent living there- I had wonderful friends and fantastic professors.  But it was also the first time I was truly my own, independent being.  No one knew who I was before, who my family was, and how I was "supposed" to act.  There were also the insecurities about the future- now what?  As I walked around campus that night, I thought how much comfort and joy I would have felt if I would have been given a glimpse into the future 20 years- to have a peek at myself and my husband and sons strolling around the campus?  I know I would have spontaneously combusted with excitement- what a happy and blessed life I have!

Good-bye Grandpa Ham...

Each of the Grandkids and Great Grandkids were given a balloon...

...to release into "heaven" for Grandpa!

The casket was simple pine and had a sketch of his Uintah cabin on the fabric liner.

At the family dinner at the church, one of the ladies helping was VERY CONCERNED about Asher and Eli eating too much cake.  When she discovered I was their Mom, she went on and on about how much cake they had eaten and it was too much sugar.  I just smiled and said, "Oh, it's okay- I'm sending them to Grandma's house so she can deal with the sugar high."  The woman didn't laugh at all.

One of the many pieces of cake Asher ate. 

I Miss that Man...

Once again I had the opportunity to don my plastic-covered name badge and tromp around B.Y.U. campus from morning till night listening to inspiring, hysterical, encouraging, invigorating, enlightening, amusing, and well-educated speakers on a variety of topics.  Yes, Education Week, my long-last friend, and I were re-acquainted.  Karen and Mom were also able to attend, which made the experience that much more fantastic.  After a week of attendance, I feel like I can defeat the world- that I will be able to improve myself in so many ways I will hardly be recognizable, that my marriage will be an example to the world and the greatest love story ever written, and that each of my children will be in a near-translation state of being.  Then the Week comes to an end and the reality of my life smashes into my consciousness.  All of those idealistic goals come crashing down all too quickly.  My desire is that each year I can improve on even one thing.  If there is one thing that then becomes a part of my life that brings my closer to my Savior, then attendance has been worthwhile.

One of the classes we attended was a musical group that consists of three women who have been singing together for 25 years.  They were asked by President Hinckley to write a Primary song about prophets.  After the song was completed, they were invited to come and perform for President Hinckley. As they shared the details of this fantastic experience of singing about prophets to the very living prophet of our day, they also had photos to show.  As the picture of President Hinckley were shown on the screen, I became incredibly emotional.  I was over-come with the feeling of missing President Hinckley desperately- like he had been a close, personal friend whose absence has changed my every day life.  This experience brought to mind the "personal" experiences I have had with Gordon B. Hinckley.

The first was when I was attending the sesquicentennial celebration of the Pioneer Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley.  There was a program being held at B.Y.U. football stadium and we were able to secure tickets.  There were thousands of people in attendance and we were making our way through the crowds to our assigned seats.  I could see a golf cart not too far off, headed my way.  I was surprised how fast it was able to move in such a compacted crowd of people.  When it was close enough for me to recognize who the passenger was, I was speechless.  In my speechless state, the cart ran right over my foot!  But my first thought was, "President Hinckley, you can run over my foot in any mode of transportation any time you like!"  Yes, President Hinckley was being whisked away to wherever it was that he would be sitting for the program.  It wasn't a spiritual experience, but a personal one nonetheless.

The next time I remember being that close to the Prophet was during the Mount Timpanogos Temple Dedication.  I had signed up to serve as an escort and received a phone call from someone in charge of organizing the escorts that started with the statement, "I don't know what you did in the Pre-existence to deserve this, but I'm calling to see if you would be willing to serve as an escort in the Celestial Room."  He had no idea who I was, I had no idea who he was, but my name somehow was selected to be able to be in the Celestial Room of the Temple during the dedicatory service.

The day of the dedication each of the escorts I was with were giddy with excitement- it was like being a 7 year-old the night before Christmas, we couldn't even sleep!  As I was standing at my assigned door way, the main doors on the west side of the room opened up and in walked President Hinckley, President Monson, and Elder Eyring.  It seriously took my breath away to see these Men of God walk into the Celestial Room dressed in white.  Tears immediately came and I was completely overwhelmed by the experience.  Each time I attend the Timpanogos temple, I sit on the east side of the room and remember what it was like to see those men enter that sacred room.  It's one of those experiences that continues to be a blessing throughout my life.

President Jensen invited Tana, her sister Tricia, and me up to have lunch with his at the Church Office Building.  There is a cafeteria in the basement that we were able to dine with not only President Jensen, but President and Sister Hinckley, President Monson, Elder Eyring, and other of the brethren.  Eating was the last thing I wanted to do!  I was trying to stare at all of them while not looking like I was staring.  I wanted to see what they were eating and I wanted to hear what they talked about over lunch. 

There are a couple of stories that President Jensen shared with us about President Hinckley that I will always remember.  The first was after a weekend of traveling in Europe, it was all President Jensen could do to keep his eyes open on the flight home.  He felt like he could barely put one foot in front of the other when President Hinckley came and took him by the hand and said, "Marlin, go home and take a nap."  25 years his senior and he's telling him to take a nap!  President Jensen said President Hinckley NEVER stops working.  If they are on a flight, he is constantly writing and reading- no napping for him.  The Lord truly strengthens his Anointed.

The other story he shared was about a conversation President and Sister Hinckley were having and it was obvious they had a difference of opinion.  Sister Hinckley then said, "Well, whatever you want , Gordon."  President Hinckley then turned to the Jensens and said, "This is how a good marriage is run!"

Although not President Hinckley, there was an experience I had while at the B.Y.U. Jerusalem Center when President Holland and President Faust came to visit.  They and their wives stayed at the Center for about a week and it was fun to just "have them hanging around."  I wasn't one of the students always wanting pictures and to be up in their face, but one day I was walking down the hall with three of my best friends, who happened to be three guys.  President Faust came up to me and said, "What are you, the Pied Piper?  Look at how these guys just follow you around!"  We laughed, had some small talk, and it was awesome to see that Apostles live normal lives, too.

More Cookies...

Every Sunday the family joins together at Grandma Fotheringham's house for dinner.  The cousins are delighted at the opportunity to play together and are less than stellar in their actual eating of dinner.  It is a constant battle we've been dealing with for years now.  On the drive home from Grandma's there is a chorus of, "I'm hungry!" heard from the three boys in the back seat.  Then there is a reply in unison from the 2 parents in the front seat, "We just  had dinner!  If you didn't eat, it's your fault.  There is no food until breakfast."  Depending on the week, some times there is much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.  When will they ever get it?  Week after week...

Grandpa is such a fun grandpa- all the kids love him.

The other battle waged concerns dessert.  The standing rule, if you don't eat your dinner, no dessert.  Easy to implement at home, more difficult at Grandma's.  Grandma states it is her house and her dinner, so if the grand kids want to have dessert, she should be able to give it to them.  Last week her argument was, "They are oatmeal cookies.  They do have oatmeal in them!"  When I started to explain, AGAIN, why the kids need to eat their dinner and not be given dessert because we want to get them home and right to bed- not make another meal for them, Grandma put her foot down and said, "The kids can have a cookie at Grandma's house!"  I said, "But I can't stand to get home at bedtime and having them crying and begging for food!"  Grandpa had the best solution to it all, "Well, tell them to eat more cookies next time."

Kryptonite...

I was reading, "How Much is That Doggy in the Window," to Eli and Asher before bed.  At the end of the book it has the music and words to the song and Eli asked me if I would sing it.  I am well aware of my significantly deficient singing abilities, but it is even apparent to a 3 year old child.  After one verse, Asher looked up and me and said, "Mom, stop singing.  You're making me feel weak."  I said, "What?!?!  My singing makes you 'weak'?"  His reply, "Yes, it's making me kinda sick."

I didn't know Asher was Superman and my singing his kryptonite.

Taking on 2010-2011...

It was a long good-bye to Harley dog.

Back to teachers, back to books...Beeson Boys are back to school again!  Something new this year, each of the boys will be participating in some sort of school experience.  Oakley will be taking on 3rd grade at Montessori, Eli will be attending a full day of school at Quail Run Charter School as a first grader, and Asher will be going to Leap and Learn Preschool three mornings a week.  It's a glimpse of a new life for Mom- three mornings a week with a couple of hours all to myself.  What to do?  What to do?

Oakley's school started on 23 August.  The usual complaints about not wanting to go back to school were heard days, even weeks before class was back in session.  And, as usual, the moment he walked through the school doors, he dashed off to his class without even looking back.  Oakley certainly has a love/hate relationship with school.  Scott and I both feel like three years at Montessori is just what Oakley needed, but it's time for a new adventure.  Where that will be is still to be decided- Quail Run? (We'll be able to make a better decision once we see how things go for Eli)  The Districts Advanced Learning Lab?  (We've heard a lot of pros and cons about the Program, so we're still undecided if it's the best fit for Oakley)  Another private school?  Another charter school?  Hopefully the right option will become clear as this year progresses.

Eli had his first official full day of school today.  We have loved watching the new Quail Run School building being constructed right across the street from our house.  When Eli was selected from the lottery to attend, we became even more interested in how it was all coming together.  As I was researching schooling options, there were a number of things about Quail Run that seemed a perfect for Eli.  There are more art, music, and dance in the curriculum.  The students have options for seat learning- stand up desks, exercise balls to sit on, etc.  It isn't a school of "Sit in your desk, don't move, and listen to teacher all day."  They want students to explore and discover their own learning style.  There will be a garden that each student gets to help maintain and enjoy the produce grown.  The overall feeling I had when reading through their information was they recognize and embrace each child learns differently and they will provide opportunities for every kind of learner.  Not to say that I was 100% confident in our decision.  But, as so often is the case in parenting, it felt right and I have to "go with my gut."

Eli has been anxiously awaiting 1 September arrival!  We attended the Open House the night before.  He was so excited about everything!  He was pulling me by my hand, wanting to race around and see everything.  The construction of the building was delayed a few weeks because of an extra-long wet and rainy spring.  There is still finishing touches to be completed in the building and the landscaping outside.  There are a lot of details that are still being worked out.  The staff didn't have answers to every question.  I am absolutely okay with all of it.  I was quite annoyed with all of the complaining parents!  This is the first year and there is a huge learning curve.  Of course there will be growing pains, but it's the parents that are having a problem, not the students.  When Eli is reminiscing about his first grade year, is he going to remember all of the outlets weren't finished and some of the halls weren't carpeted?  He's going to remember how he felt.  Based on his comments on the way home, I know he loved how he felt in his new school.  He told me as were walking back home, "I wish it was 8:30 tomorrow morning so I could just stay there.  I'm so excited, I won't sleep at all tonight."  The major and important factors are in place- Eli is safe and happy in a beautiful new school building filled with optimistic and enthusiastic staff and a lot of new friends to be made.

I have been stating that I will be doing the "happy dance" the moment Oakley and Eli are both in school all day.  After a summer of keeping them entertained, I was more than ready to turn over the reigns for a good part of the day to the schools.  As soon as I hugged Eli good-bye, the tears wouldn't stop.  Our Eli is such a sweet, tender-hearted boy- his loving influence will be missed around the house during school hours.  Yesterday he told me he wished Oakley and Asher were going to Quail Run, too, so they could meet at recess to play together.  Asher will be one lost and wandering soul without his favorite playmate.

I guess Quail Run isn't the only one experiencing growing pains- Mom is, too.

How a Real Man Does It...

Asher wants to do everything that Eli does, because he's the cool big brother.  On our last trip to the cabin, Asher and Eli were catching small fish in a trap they hung from the boat dock.  Eli was trying to convince Asher to pick up one of the fish, but Asher was nervous.  Eli kept telling him, "That's what real men do!  They aren't scared or cry like a girl.  Real men can pick up fish."  I guess at the age of three it's already important to show you are a real man.  Eli wasn't successful in convincing Asher to pick up one of those floppy, slimy fish.  But when Asher came running down the plank of the boat dock, he came to me and said, "Do you want to see how a real man does it?"  and proceeded to run off the end of the dock into the 65 degree water.  His teeth were chattering, lips were purple, and he was happy to get wrapped up in a dry towel- but he was quite proud of himself because Eli refused to jump into the cold water.  So who is the REAL MAN- the one who dares to pick up fish or the one willing to jump into freezing cold water?  I'm assuming the next ten years and beyond will be a continual contest between brothers trying to show "how a real man does it!"

The SCAG...

With the size of our yard, Scott needed more than an average riding lawnmower.  He did his research and decided a used landscaping-type mower was what he needed.  He purchased one he thought would work out, but ended up being a heap of junk from day one.  It required 2 hours of tuning up before each time he needed to mow.  I did not like that Scag mower and told him he just get something new so he didn't have to waste so much time on the hunk of junk.  I don't know if I would have made that statement if I'd realized the cost of a new Walker Mower was near the price of a college education!  Scott was able to find a fantastic deal and what a relief to have a functioning mower when there is an acre and half of grass to be mowed.  Now it was time to say adios to the Scag.  Neither Scott nor I had nice things to say about that mower, which obviously met the ears of Asher.  The night after we sold the mower to some guy who was sure he could get it fixed and running great, Asher said in his prayers that night, "Thank you we could sell the crap mower."  I try to envision Heavenly Father's response to such prayers...

So long Scag...

Palisade, Round Three...

After two years of too-cool temperatures, the annual Palisade trip was moved from the week of Grandpa's birthday in June to Scott's birthday in July.  It was a good decision, the temperatures were perfect for daytime swimming and cooling off for sleeping at night.  This year Jeremy and Emily's family came along for the fun.  When Grace was the only one in her preschool class who hadn't been camping and sat around a campfire, I think the pressure was on to finally take on the challenge of camping with kids.  As Emily as often stated, she is "not an outdoor kind of girl," but discovered it's one of the things you do because "the kids love it so much."
Many of the activities remained the same...

Kayaking...

When just paddling around in the water got too boring, the guys decided to add some variety by trying to stand up in the kayak.  Although not very successful, it was entertaining to watch.

Asher gave Grandpa a pull while Oakley was the motor (his face in the water, blowing bubbles, and making motor sounds) giving him a push in the kayak.

Four-wheeling...
 
"Anyone wanna take me for a ride?"

Golfing...

Playing in the Water...

A swim out to the floating dock

Grandpa held the grand kids at bay with his water squirter

Catching minnows

Craft Projects for the kids...

Making visors

Asher models his final project- worn rap-star style

 Decorating cooking aprons

I just love the look on Asher's face in this picture.  Not so flattering of me, but I love the look on his face, "Yep, that's my Mom and we're making an apron together."

Sitting around the Campfire...

 Enjoying s'mores

And a few things that were added to the week at Palisade that were new...

Having the cousins there to wrestle with

Grandpa's new tent that fit on the back of his truck.  Oakley and Dad got to sleep there this year.

Celebrating Scott's birthday with fruit pizza and SPARKLERS

A trip to the Manti Temple

...which had to include rolling down the gigantic hill.

Turning the hamburger joint in Ephraim into a DISCO as the kids demonstrated their best dance moves to the music they selected to play on the juke box.

Oakley wanting to push Juliet in her stroller and keep her entertained at all times.  The smile says it all, he loves babies!

The big tent being completely blown over and destroyed in a sudden storm.  Thankfully Juliet had been retrieved from her crib just minutes before.

The trailer getting a flat tire on the drive home.  Thankfully Grandpa and Dad had us on the road again in no time.

The old, the new- it was all fun at Palisade!

Memorable Asher quotes from the week:
We had been talking for weeks about our trip to Palisade and had the boys all excited about it.  The first night there, Asher turns to me and asks, "Is this Palisade?"  In my most enthusiastic voice, I say, "Yes!  This is it!  We're at Palisade!"  Asher's response, "I thought Palisade was a ship."  The poor child thought we were going on a cruise and Palisade was the name of our ship.  Thankfully he's only three- his mind went from a week of cruising to a week of camping without a hitch.  Had I thought I was going on a cruise and found out it was actually camping, I would have needed to be sedated I would have been so hysterical.

The beach was right across a small road from our campsite.  When we were setting up our chairs and things for a day of swimming and playing in the water, I noticed Asher didn't have his life jacket on.  I told him to go back and get his life jacket off of the bench.  After he'd been gone for too long, Grandma went over to see what he was doing.  She found him in the trailer and when he saw her he raised his hands in a questioning gesture and asked, "What's a bench?"