Cam the Man... 9!

Great bday for Cam... Fun day at school, picture with Mr. Cassler, party with friends. Unfortunately cam got sick at the very end of his party and came home and slept for 3 hours. By 10pm he started feeling better and wanted to open his presents.

Run...

Track season again ... Lolo decided to try shorter runs this year. 400 200 and some medleys. So far she had taken 1st and 2nd, they dominated in the 4 x 400 and she was the fastest in her 200 by of their medley. Hopefully I'll have some good south end times!

Happy B Day... Love you!

Love this little man!

Raingutter regatta... And moving on up!

Cam enjoyed his 1st Raingutter regatta at Scouts... Much more low key than pinewood derby ... And took 4th place.

He also moved on to become a Bear. He has loved Scouts and had great leaders!

Just another day in paradise... or at chemo!

Kind of strange -- I had chemo this morning.  I didn't obsess about it for the last few days, Dave is out of town and oddly enough it just felt like another day.  (Not sure this a good thing by the way.)

But it is nice to have it be familiar.  I've gotten to the point these last couple that the only time I actually get nervous is right before they start my drip of the study drug.  I just have a different reaction each time so I'm not sure what to expect.

Last time was normal.

The time before I got sick to my stomach and hard to work hard not to barf.

This time I seeemed to have a bit of an allergice reaction to it.  As soon as the drip started my face went flush and hot and felt swollen and I had a lot of pressure in my chest.  Not panicky - I can't breathe type pressure, just tight and swollen.  My eyes got red and my head got all stuffed up. 

It did worry me a bit so I stayed for a few minutes after to make sure I could still breath.  And took a Claritin just to be safe... my arms were getting a bit itchy.

Cute Sue and I then went to lunch to celebrate her birthday.

I do think Sue (and my sisters or whoever takes me) is part of why it seems so "ok" right now (that and I'm not so dang sick and am in remission I hope).

But Dave called this morning when I was on my way in and said "Oh you'll be great.  You always come home in such a good mood cause you and Sue have so much fun." 

True.. .wish my fun "girl time" wasn't while I was at chemo.. but true!

You're a Good Red Head Kenzi Hess

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown was great.... And you are definitely "a great red headed little girlI" Kenzi Hess.

Go Kenzi!

Yay kenzi... New 8th grade officer! 

She had a great theme and did a super fun 30 second "skit/intro" -- I think the basketball player one if my favorite. 

Love this year how she has tried so many new things, takes risks and works so hard (and thanks Grandpa and Wendy Steenblik!!).

Kenzers you really have been making the world, and my world, a better place since 1999.

One handsome mini Dave... Love the Beckstead fam

Easter Sunday... Love the Becksteads. Loved the bow tie. Reminded me of Dave when we were dating.

How Do We Know it is Spring?

When Lauren was 6 months old, I bought Dave a hammock for Father's Day.  For 15 years the sure sign of Spring is Dave breaking out the hammock and enjoying the sun.

When the kids were little he would rock them to sleep in the hammock, and the kids still beg for "hammock night" with Dad. 

This year Zoe was the one catching some Vitamin D with Dave -- we snuck these pictures through the screen of the kitchen window.

Easter 2013

Few photos from Easter -- amazing how much a difference a year makes.  Last Easter was right after my stomach hole opened up and infections started... I was pretty frustrated and not feeling great to say the least.

This year I got to enjoy a neighborhood hunt, some YW egg dying and door bell ditching Easter eggs, a couple of family Easter parties, some super cute eggs dying chicks, and a great Sunday morning brunch with crepes and Strawberries and Cream (probably best Kenzi and I have made yet), a wonderful day at church and Peeps Wars... Kenzi's microwave game with Peeps. 

My Favorite Valentine

On Valentine's Day Lauren found this slipped into her locker.  

The envelope was made of a piece of sheet music titled "Valentine's Day."  It was a lovely ballad... we played it on the piano.

The inside read:

"Even with the Liahona I get lost in your eyes."

"Are you a Gadianton Robber?  

Because you stole my heart."

She never figured out who it was from -- but we all had a great laugh!  With the very thoughtful musical score envelope and the cheesy inside -- probably my favorite valentine ever.