Ice Castles

This past Saturday we drove up to Midway to see the ice castles. Justin's cousin Noelle and her darling family live there and blogged about how cool it was so we thought we'd go see for ourselves. It was pretty awesome and Beck seemed to like it. After touring the castles we explored Midway a little and went to visit the Olpins. They took us to dinner at a super yummy mexican restaurant right across the street from their house. We had so much fun catching up with them and watching Beck taste a lime for the first time. We couldn't stop laughing. On our way home we stopped by Jordan's going away party at Belmont but didn't stay long due to a very sleepy baby. I forget how late single people like to party! It was a fun day also including a morning run for me to babies r' us and Justin was able to go shooting with Jordan one last time before boot camp. Lucky for us, the weather was perfect for a fun day out and about! Saturdays are the best!

Driving into Midway we saw these four giant elk sitting in a field.

Needless to say, Justin thought it was the coolest thing.

Jordan

We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country. Even with the war in Iraq and many feeling there is no end in sight, there are still so many young people excited to serve. Justin's brother Jordan left last night night for boot camp in San Diego. We are so proud to have a future Marine in our family and pray for his safety and success. GOOD LUCK JORDAN!!!

"light" and food storage

Little Beck is my world. Being a new mom and a stay at home mom is more than a blessing. Even on difficult days, like today, with teething and lack of sleep it is pure bliss because of all the little special moments. Todays special moment happened after nap time. I noticed a couple of days ago that when I get Beck out of his crib, the first thing he does is franticly look up and try to find the light fixture and stare at it until I flip it on. Then he usually smiles. It cracks me up. Today after finding it, still groggy from his nap and satisfied after turning on the light I sat in the glider and said the word "light". He looked up and stared. I did it again and again he looked. He knows the word "light" and I love it! What a wonderful word right?! Light. It seems like such a small thing but it seriously made my day.

4 new teeth coming in on top

On another less exciting note, last sunday we had a combined relief society/priesthood lesson on food storage and financial security. It hit me hard. I walked out to the car after class totally stressed out about how unprepared we are. A list of things we needed ate at my brain all day. A fire escape ladder (we live on the 3rd floor), food, water, first aid kit, 72 hour kits, copied personal documents... just to name a few. So I've decided to start with 72 hour kits and to start building my food storage supply by buying a few extra cans of food every time we get groceries. I went to the store this week and also pulled a few cans from my pantry and stored them in a separate place. If disaster strikes tomorrow we have about 12 cans of green beans and corn to live off! I went through our stuff and found some extra back packs to use for the 72 hour kits but thats as far as I've gotten there... I have a long way to go but I figure I'll just make a list and start collecting things when I can and cross them off. The bishop talked about the importance of not only being prepared for what my family needs but having enough to help others as well. I'll get there. If anybody has any tips on this subject I'd love to hear them!

and we're back

Time to get back into the blogging world! Its been a while...

Happy 2011! We had a great 2010 with Becks birth and the recent holidays. Thanks to all who sent us Christmas cards! We loved getting your pictures and family updates. I was hoping to get one out but ran out of time. So here is our picture and update.

Beck is almost seven months now! It has gone by so fast. He already has his two front bottom teeth and more are coming in. He is finally getting his hair back. He rolls all over and is about to crawl (time to baby proof my house!). Its so funny to watch him get up on his knees and push off with his feet diving an inch forward. He loves to bounce, yell and play with anything! He loves when we sing him songs and read him books. He LOVES watching "baby einstein" but I try to limit TV time as much as possible. He chews on everything (including his feet) and will eat whatever we feed him. He especially likes prunes, peas and oatmeal. His new favorite play place is a cardboard box my friend Jesse gave us while I was helping her unpack in her new house. We set him in the box with some toys so he wouldn't escape and he sat there playing so contently we had to take it home. Thanks Aunt Jesse! I decorated it so it wouldn't look so white trash! Beck is a great traveler. Since his birth we've been to california three times, Idaho and St George. He is great in the car and in the air. I hope it stays that way!

Beck's "play box"

THANK YOU Bunten family, Hodge family and grandparents for all my books!

Mommy's two favorite things!

Teeth!!!

Beck is a very lucky baby. He gets more love than anything in the world. His aunts love to smother him and his grandparents cant get enough, not to mention all the hugs and kisses he gets from his daddy and I. You can sit and kiss his cheeks over and over while he is busy playing with something and he wont even flinch, he is so used to it.

Christmas was so fun this year. Beck and I flew out a week early to visit my family before heading to Sonora where we spent actual Christmas with Justin's family. My parents spoiled him (and me) and we loved all the attention. My dad is so sweet with Beck, sneaking him into his bed at night to cuddle causing me to almost have a heart attach when I snuck into check on him and he was gone! My mom couldn't even get mad when Beck knocked a candle off a shelf spilling it all over my mom, her phone, grand piano, walls and carpet making a huge mess. Beck loved visiting with his other grandparents too snuggling and playing with new toys. He got to know is cousin Easton better and it was so fun to watch them interact and play together. Christmas is so much more fun with babies! Everything is.

Beck with his Christmas presents

Grandma Smith

Grandpa Smith

cousins

Clark Family Christmas Photos by Aimee Brown

Justin and I are also doing well. Justin is doing great at work, working with doctors, and is now thinking of going back to school to do something in medicine possibly next year. A CRNA is at the top of his list but we will see. I LOVE my job... a mommy! And try to read, craft and exercise during any down time I have. Soon we will be moving to Salt Lake to be closer to Justin's office. I cant wait for the day he can be home before 6:30 and we can meet him for lunch but I am honestly going to miss Provo. We love our home and our friends and having sibling close by.

Our goals for this year are to move, get ready for another baby, attend the temple more often, become more organized, get back into shape, and to grow closer as a family doing fun things.

We hope everyone is healthy and happy and that you know how much we love and appreciate you!