My pictures. {aka Florida Chronicles}

Remember, I told you about those pillow mints? Well, there was a goodnight "thought" to go with it. Something about your sleep being restful and dreaming of seashells....

I took this picture for the boys. This was an ice cream shop called the "Jolly Roger". Arrggh!

Love ya big brother!

My recent whereabouts.

I was here:

But, more specifically, here:

And here:

Also spent some time here:

{I do not know these people.}

Steve had a business conference in Clearwater Beach last week, and after I batted my eyes a few times, he bought me a plane ticket too. {Including lap-child, Gavey-Goo}. We left our other 3 munchkins with Steve's parents, {bless 'em}, and off we went.

We spent 2 1/2 days at this uh-may-zing resort, and while daddy worked, we played. Gavin and I enjoyed much laziness and gluttony...shame on us.

White beach, white shells, white bathrobes, white slippers.

Chocolate mousse, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate pillow mints.

So, this is how the other half lives....interesting.

And yet, the best part of our trip was still to come!

Next was 2 days, well, 24 hours really {quality vs. quantity}, with my big brother, Jason, and his family in Coconut Creek outside of Fort Lauderdale. This is where the fun began! If you are looking for some fun in Coconut Creek, this is what you do:

* You find my brother and his fam. {Please don't really do this because they don't appreciate stalkers--but let's move on.}

* Get a tour of their beach-themed home, right down to the light-switch covers and shower curtain hooks.

* Then you go and play at the beach when it's real misty-like, and get nice and wet from the tide. {Also, have my brother bring his fancy camera and take lots of pictures of your cute little, blue-eyed baby}

* Then go home, get in warm, dry clothes and play "Rockband" and get schooled by my niece and nephew.

* Keep playing "Rockband" until the tendons in your hands and forearms are sore while my brother grills/smokes a mouth-watering dinner of steak, chicken and red potatoes. Stephanie will also make delicious asparagus on the side. Ask him about when he was a chef in the Coast Guard. Then ask if he will share his bodacious marinade secret with you. {Also, find out how he learned to sing in that Rock-Falsetto like that!}

* Then see if my brother will tell you and your husband story after story of his death-defying childhood and thrill-seeking antics {front flips off the roof anyone?}, and marvel that he is still alive to serve you Banana's Foster dessert. Oh. My. Good. Ness. I'm still dreaming of it.

* Oh, don't forget to sit on their back porch {in the hammock swing if you want} and listen to the rain and breathe in the healthy moist air.

* Then stay up late talking--and wondering why you haven't come sooner.

{Pictures of this bodacious trip are forthcoming. I'm going to bed}

Benefit Concert that will benefit you.

I have been so inspired by the story of the Nielson family. I check Stephanie's sister's blog frequently to check on their progress and healing. I have a pretty bracelet that I bid on for their fundraiser that reminds of being a better mother, a mother like Stephanie. Her blog is now being updated by her family with favorite posts that remind me to enjoy the mundane beauty that is the life of a mother. Next weekend, Mindy Gledhill, amazing LDS singer/songwriter (friend of Stephanie) is having a benefit concert at Mountain View HS in Mesa. It will be October 25th at 7pm. All proceeds to go to their fund for healing and rehabilitation.

Honk shoo...honk shoo...

Last night, there was only one person in our house that kept his head on his pillow all night:

See?

This one...
...was walking in his sleep.

This one...
...ate something that didn't agree with him. The end.

This one...

...well, I'm used to this one, but our nightly rendezvous are usually more pleasant. Last night, poor baby Goo was kept awake by his stuffy nose and aching ear.

This one...
...had a bad dream. Something about a volleyball...

And now, this is me:

Except for not so stylish and vintage.

Can't....stop....laughing...

For sale on Craigslist, if you're interested.

An autumn portrait.

Bragging rights.

This is my lovely niece, Alissa.She is on the BYU Ballroom Dance Touring Team and is phenomenal. Forget "Dancing with the Stars"--she is the star! In fact, she made it through several rounds of auditions for "So You Think You Can Dance". (I think she was too wholesome for them!)
Also, her mom, my big sis, is the one who painstakingly applied each one of the rhinestones you see here. Forget the "Bedazzler", she is THE original Bedazzler!
Gorgeous girl!! Just remember: I changed your diapers so don't forget me when you are famous.
Also, don't forget where that natural ability came from.

It's in the genes.

{See dancing genious here}

Missionary Farewell

For the past three years, my parents have been serving a mission for our church in Salt Lake City, in the Church Office Building. They have loved it and have had an unforgettable experience. This next week, these missionaries will bid farewell to their mission. I just wanted to post a few photos {that I stole from my sister} of them in their faithful service:

Can you spy two objects that don't belong in this picture?

{Give up? One chills their healthy lunch and one pops their popcorn: This epitomizes my parents, who take the comforts of home with them wherever they go.}

Cute story: My parents were standing near the Church Office Building and were posing separately to take some pictures of each other, when they heard a man say, "Here, you stand together and let me take a picture of you both". They turned and saw a friendly, white-haired gentleman in his unusually casual attire, and didn't take but a second to realize it was Elder L. Tom Perry.

Elder and Sister Tanner are great examples of service to me and P.S. they are a couple that still holds hands and goes bike-riding and roller-skating together--how cute is that? They have always served and have instilled the importance of the Gospel in me. Love you both!

Blessed by Adoption

These are our friends, Jeff and Jaimi (and Ray of Sunshine, Summer), who are looking to adopt another child. They live in Arizona where Jeff is currently a medical student, and as they so beautifully put it:

"We feel that it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to find our next child. As families blessed by adoption will attest, the way the Lord leads these children to their families varies and we feel that we cannot close our minds to resources available to us. That is where we need your help. We ask that with your awareness of our search for our child(ren) that you will share our desire with others. We are asking you to forward this email to the contacts in your address book in case that is the pathway our next child will be connected with us. Another helpful resource would be including links to our adoption profile and our adoption blog on your own blogs.

We begin this process again with humility as we recognize the eternal ramifications of adoption. We have an absolute testimony that adoption is a miracle and give thanks for the miracle of Summer in our lives. We are so excited for our next little miracle. We thank each of you for the love and support you have given us through the years as our family has grown from 2 to 3 and as we pray for number 4. With love, Jeff and Jaimi"

Blessed is the child that is placed in the arms of this wonderful family. Maybe you know someone who is searching for a loving home for a precious baby and would benefit from hearing about our friends. If there is anyone who you think might be interested, let them know and forward their story. The following links help you get to know them better:

Here is the link to their adoption profile:

http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/viewsingleprofile/0,12272,2133-1-10271-1-1,00.html

Here is their adoption blog: http://onepotatotwopotatothreepotatofour.blogspot.com/

"I Love to See the Temple"

I have a great love for the Salt Lake Temple. Last Sunday, while the kids and I waited for daddy to get home from his church meetings, we watched "Mountain of the Lord", which is the wonderful depiction of the building of this beautiful temple. It's a marvel to think that it took those faithful pioneers 40 years to build it. I was reminded of all of the opposition and tribulation they endured, even in completing the foundation alone. Yet, they persevered in doing what God wanted them to do: to build a temple, after the temples of old, where people could come and make covenants with Him. I have the picture above, hanging in our living room. I love it, especially because it's raining, and we all know how I feel about rain. I always tell Paige that I like to pretend that is she and I walking around Temple Square with our red umbrella.

{Trevor just informed me yesterday that he really thought that was us, so I had to clear that up. }
This is a picture I took of Paige when she was three. She is standing at the foot of the temple, looking up at those grand doors. Someday, when she gets married, I want to take a similar picture of her in her wedding dress, looking up at the temple doors. Wouldn't that be sweet?

Tour of the Autumn-ness

Come on in!

If you fall going up the stairs because you have nothing to hang on to, I apologize. The price for creating autumn here.

You look gorgeous--but let's move on.

This is our front room, which is our fave cuz it is so rich and warm it feels like fall year-round. {Raise your hand if you love my deal-of-the-year Craigslist find which houses our computer.}

Just a close-up of the harvest growing atop the computer abode.

Bookshelf pumpkins. Do you love the "found-object" photos behind? Here's a better look:

Preston and his cheeks are displaying my efforts to spell our last name with photos. I know it might not look like it, but hey, it's art!

{Note: This cost me approx. $20 to make, but I got the idea from a more pricey version HERE.}

Piano wreath. Nothing more.

I know, it's getting a little ridiculous...

...see what I mean? {Yes, this is my garage door}

And now, behind these doors and for your viewing pleasure--we currently have playing on DVR any number of episodes of "Dancing with the Stars", "The Office", and "Food Network Challenge". All the while being reminded of the current season.

I just found this on clearance at Deseret Book, but I think I'll keep it up year-round.

Mmm...can't you just smell the pumpkin candle?

And this is the end of our tour. {Don't mind the young pirate snoozing at the kitchen table. He's a little tuckered out from all the looting, swash-buckling, and shivering his timbers.}

Autumnal Glee!

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you bouquets of sharpened pencils, if I knew your name and address. "

~Joe Fox to Kathleen Kelly in "You've Got Mail"

Tomorrow is October 1st and I am thrilled to announce that I will officially be displaying my fall decor. I force myself to wait every year, even though I am itching to do it as soon as two things happen simultaneously: 1)football season begins and 2) back-to-school supplies invade the stores. This is the time of year when I actually, physically ache for some semblance of a season change. Because while the majority of the country can enjoy changing leaves, foggy breath, and warm layers, we southwesterners are still suffering as the temp hovers around the 100 degree mark.

Oh, Fall, Autumn and Harvest, how I adore you. You are cool and fresh and vibrant AND you are just the beginning of annual greatness that is The Holiday Season.

So, I will thoroughly enjoy myself tomorrow as I do the following:

*Bring out the berries, leaves, wreaths and pumpkins.

*Bake an Apple Crisp with my children.

*Make a Fall-inspired craft with them, too. (coincidentally, it is also Craft Wednesday)

*Sip Stephen's Hot Cocoa.

*Turn the A/C down to 70 and wear fleece and slippers...is that taking it too far?

Last week's run-down.

1. Steve had his 32nd birthday--Happy Birthday person of great awesomeness. Another year better.

2. I watched the Relief Society General Broadcast and was sufficiently inspired to become a better mother, wife, servant, and daughter of God.

3. We had our primary presentation at church, and it went great. Trevor owned the mic as he recited his memorized part. Our sweet Paige had a tender moment as she was reciting her part and had many people digging for their Kleenex. Love you Paigie.

4. Let's see, what else, what else...Oh that's right, I got stung by a scorpion. I have now dubbed the area, "Numb Thumb". It happened while I was doing dishes and grabbed a damp rag from the counter. Steve has now vowed to take over dish duty so he can get stung next time...

5. Steve and I saw a fantastic movie, Forever Strong, this weekend. We HIGHLY recommend it. It was entertaining, inspirational, funny, tear-inducing, motivational...and nary a swear word. Loved it. It's on a bit of a test run, so go see it so they won't pull it from the theatres.

6. Our funny family inspired a funny cartoon, so check it out at BeckstromBuzz. He has been published in "The New Era" and also has some other "comical" websites, inspired by LDS culture. (Because of this, I'm now re-thinking the idea of going private--I mean, I'm the last person who would want to inhibit our chances at fame.)

Birthday fun for the husband and the munchkins. Man, do I have a crush on this guy! Among his gifts: A marvelous book by Jeffrey R. Holland and this picture that he's always loved.

Taking names.

Yes, we are taking names. It's privacy time. So, friends and family, please leave your email address in the comments and we will add you to our VIP list :)

And, here's the deal. Even if you are a friend of a friend of a friend who has stumbled upon our blog and like to check in, that's cool. We all go a-lurking, so I get it. If you would like to keep peeking in on us, please leave your email address in our comments.

I have loved this avenue of finding friends and being found. It's awesome. But, alas, there is opposition in all things and the opposite of awesome is identity theft (oh, and also wierdos).

Thanks!