Savannah makes it through Kindergarten!

She did it! After a tough start to kindergarten, Savannah finished with a bang! I don't know what helped with her change of attitude, but when we got to California, she did an about-face and really started enjoying school! We were grateful and amazed! We even got a Rock On! at her kindergarten "moving on" ceremony! Way to go, baby doll!!

Meet me in Monterey!

We had the chance at the first of June, to go with Danny to Monterey. He had some work things that he had to do all week, and since his work was already paying for a hotel, we tagged along. So while Danny worked, we played! We went to the beach and built a sand castle, we had our imaginations tested at My Museum, we got some sun at the Dennis the Menace park and we had some much needed down time from school just hanging out at the hotel. When Danny finished his work early, we took a trip down the coast on 17 mile drive. It was beautiful scenery and the kids had fun gathering seashells at Bird Rock. I had fun taking pictures of everything and to top off the night, we got Cold Stone Icecream! Yeah, it was cool! Our final day, we all went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium...which was AMAZING! It was the biggest and best aquarium I have ever been to. The sea life they had was incredible, from seahorses no bigger than your thumbnail to a giant octopus, to several different kinds of jellyfish! I will say it again...Incredible!!! To top it all off, we took the kids and went on a Whale Watching adventure! We saw Humpback's, white-sided dolphins and the largest mammal on the planet...Blue whales! It really made you feel tiny when these enormous creatures are swimming right towards your boat, and then under it! Wow! It was a fantastic trip and a great way to kick off our Summer!

Memorial Day 2011

Don't! You! Dare!!

















Watermelon Football!

We have met some awesome people here in California! They are so kind and generous, it has been wonderful getting to know them all. On Memorial Day we got to go with the ward to the Boatman's home for the annual B-B-Que, swim party with Watermelon Football. Thankfully it was warm enough and we were actually able to get in the pool. Watermelon football was a new experience and since it can be pretty rough, only the men were allowed to play. Danny was a bit apprehensive at first, but in the end he was having a blast! Everyone had a great time!! We also went to a local park and let off our balloons for Brynnley...we had to do it! It's tradition and my kids would not let me forget it! ;) So even though we were not actually at her gravesite, we had to send up some balloons. It was a wonderful day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AVERY LYN!!

Just yesterday we celebrated Avery's 9th birthday! I am so blessed to have such wonderful kids in my life. Honestly I have no idea how I could be so lucky! Avery is a jewel in our home. She makes us laugh and simply sparkles when she is happy. She loves to be with her friends, but lately she has really enjoyed just being with her family...and that makes me feel good! I love that she is a sporty girl and such a good gymnast. It's her goal to be on the United States Gymnastics team in the Olympics! What a goal! We are so proud of her! Happy, happy birthday Avery!!

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

It was perfect kite-flying weather a couple of weeks ago and there is a huge park not far from where we live, so we took Morgan's airplane kite and had a blast flying it up to the highest height! (you can barely see the plane up at the top of the picture...) ;)

Maddie is a TEENAGER!!!

Yup, Maddie is now officially 13 years old! Can you believe it?! Why do they have to grow up so fast? I remember my parents saying the same thing, but I never really listened. Now their oldest granddaughter is 13 and we are all wondering where the time has gone! Don't get me wrong though. I am so excited for this phase of our lives. Maddie is beautiful inside and out and so incredibly talented! I marvel at her talent in art as well as her ability to sing and dance and act and write poems, stories, songs...you get the idea! She is a vital part of our family and I'm so privileged to be her mom! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

AFTER DAYBREAK Update!!

So my darling husband has had his fingers in a lot of pies. He has been working with After Daybreak's producer in Nashville and they are getting ready to release their first FULL album! It will be out on June 7 and you can pre-order a copy at www.brickmanmedia.com/afterdaybreakstore. There will be about 12 songs on this album. 2 of the songs were on the previous album that came out at Christmas, but all the rest are brand new. It will be worth it to have in your collection!! ;)

Danny has also been working on a new solo album of a more religious nature. There will be about 10 songs on this one and they are all hymns or songs about the Savior. They have done an incredible job...being the wife of the singer I've already heard all the songs after they were mixed and mastered! A-MA-ZA-ING!! You can look for it to come out around August 2nd! Yay! For more info. you can visit Danny's website at http://www.danielbeckmusic.com/.

Avery the Pioneer...

Avery's 3rd grade class has been studying Lincoln's history for the last several weeks and had the opportunity to go to a museum where they got to dress up in pilgrim costumes and be apart of a pilgrim family. Avery "McBean" was 7 years old and enjoyed doing her chores and playing with her family. At the end of it they had a concert where the whole 3rd grade sang and played on recorders a bunch of songs from pioneer time. It was so fun to watch and I was amazed that these kids had about 15 songs completely memorized!

MoRe fUn PiCTuReS oF OuR tRiP tO UtAh!

"UP" ;)

The two cutest "Men" in the world!

Those were some yummy chocolate cupcakes! Right Abby?!

Ash & Staven are expecting their 2nd baby soon! Can't wait!

"Smile!"

Goof balls galore!!

Gorgeous Family!

and Gorgeous Girls!!

Our Trip to Utah!!

We had so much fun spending a snowy weekend in Utah with my family! We got to go and see Danny in the production "Lamb of God" by Rob Gardener. It was an incredible show about the Savior's atonement. I didn't get to take pictures during the show, but here is a before shot of the tabernacle in Salt Lake...

Then we had the opportunity to go and see my nephew Ethan baptized. What a wonderful experience...life really goes by fast! I remember being in the hospital when E.J. was born and now he is 8 years old!! Crazy! Here are a couple of pictures of that day... Jaxon, Ethan and Morgan hangin' out at the luncheon, and then all of the cousins (minus Gabe, he had left already) Morgan, Maddie, Abby, Kenya, Jaxon, Savannah, Mia, Avery, Ethan and baby Vance.

Then it was time to have an Easter celebration because everyone was in town. It was cold, soggy, muddy and the snow was coming down, but we had a great time finding all the goodies that had been hidden in the yard! There is nothing like being together as family, nothing in the world! Thanks to my parents for their kindness in letting us stay at their home and eat all of their food! ;) Love you, mom and dad!

We had a Great Weekend!

General Conference was wonderful....as usual! I had so many favorite talks that I wouldn't be able to list them all. But there were many that seemed to apply specifically to me and I am so grateful for those wonderful men and women who lead our church and who pay close attention to the spirit so that they can say what we all need to hear. My faith and my testimony have been strengthened. And my desire to improve myself each day is stronger than ever. I have "sat at the feet of the prophets" and my life has been blessed! What a great weekend!! xoxo

First Pics in California!

My super yummy hunk of Man-Candy! ;) Morgan, the Rip-Sticker, Darling Avery, Model Madison, and Sweet Savannah!

Danny got me a camera for my birthday, so I thought I would try it out! It's a really nice one and I love taking good, clear pictures. I'm really excited about it! The kids were outside yesterday enjoying some of this warm weather that was a long time coming...uh, sorry to Mom and Dad and everyone else still in Utah. We've been getting rain, but by the time it gets to Utah, it's snow. Anywho, we were glad for the sun, so we went outside to enjoy it. And I got to snap a few pictures of pure joy as we basked in the warmth!! ;)