Happy Birthday Alexa!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXA!! Today is my cute niece, Alexa's birthday. She turned 9. It's always been so much fun to celebrate her birthday on Halloween. This year she was dressed as Cleopatra, and she was a very beautiful one I might add. Lexi, we love you and think you are a very special girl...

Flashback Friday...

Flashback to Halloween 1988. These pictures were from Russ' sophmore year at ASU. This is my husband's wild college gang he hung out with. Two of the pictures are of Russ and his best friend, Chad Tidd, who he grew up with in Minnesota, and both came to ASU for college. By looking at these pictures, you probably would guess these guys wouldn't succeed in business and in life as much as they all have. Chad now owns an engineering company in Boulder, Colorado. His other good friend and roommate, Casey Smith (the pirate on far right), is the head trainer for the Dallas Mavericks. The stories that I've heard from their college days and halloween parties through the years, make me wonder how they are all still here, and made it through those crazy college years alive ...

Happy Birthday Melissa...

Today is my sister Melissa's birthday. She lives in Arizona, and will be moving to Virginia soon to be closer to my other sister, Heather. Melissa and I did everything together before we moved to Utah 4 years ago. I really miss the every day interraction we had with each other, and our long talks. I love you Melissa, and hope you have the best birthday ever!!!

Happy Birthday Chad... Flashback Friday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!!!!! I can't believe my little Chadders is 18 years old today. It seems like just yesterday that he was born. I love Chad very much and he amazes me all the time with what a kind, caring, good young man he has grown into. Chad wanted to go out for Italian food tonight, so we all did that, and then he took all of his birthday money, and we went to Best Buy and he purchased his I-Pod he's been wanting so badly. He decided he wanted his birthday party with his friends in a few weeks, and it will be a sleepover. Stay tuned for the slumber party he's having in a few weeks with a bunch of his buddies. We'll see how that goes with a bunch of 17-18 year old boys sleeping over....

For flashback friday I'm flashing back to Chad's younger, more innocent years....



4 months old

7 months old

19 months old











4-1/2 years old











You are a very special person Chad ----- we love you and cherish each moment you've given us!

I was tagged...

Ok, I was tagged again, this time by my friend, Keely. I'm supposed to go to my 4th picture in my 4th folder, and post that. I was nervous, wondering which picture would be the lucky winner. I was very pleasantly surprised to find this picture to be the winner....

This picture was taken right before we moved from Arizona to Utah, in September of 2004. Taylor is 5, and this is her BFF Hannah, who was 4 at the time. My friend, Bree, Hannah's mom, babysat Taylor and Madison. This picture was taken right before a dance class they had. They are so cute, and they've grown up so much since then. We don't get to see Hannah as much as we'd like, but we can't wait for the next time we go to Arizona for a visit so we can spend some time with her. We love you Hannah!

OK --- so I tag Bree, Turia, Angie, Noriane, and my new blogging friend, Melinda....

Flashback Friday...

I've had these refrigerator magnets of Chad on my fridge since I got them years ago. He was about 5 years old. Isn't he adorable? Look at that cute smile.... Too bad they don't smile more when they are teenagers.. (haha!) I can't believe this was 12-13 years ago... Wow am I getting old!

Witches Brew...

This is what I did Wednesday night...... Fun, huh?

Smilebox slideshow Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Lori...

Today is my sister, Lori's, birthday. Her and her family are the only family I have here in Utah, and I'm so thankful that we've grown so much closer over the last 4 years since I've lived here. She was the only one I knew when we first moved here, and she took me in and introduced me into her circle of friends and made it much easier on me to adjust, after living in Arizona my whole life. She is a very kind and giving person and I love her for the person she is. I love you Lori! Happy Birthday!

The Tooth Fairy...

Madison lost her 3rd tooth this weekend. We were in Home Depot when she lost it. She's such a little trooper. Later at night, she neatly placed her tooth in a little ziplock bag so the tooth fairy wouldn't have a hard time finding it, and placed it under her pillow. She was so excited. Kids are so cute, and I love how the littlest things make them happy. My baby is growing up...

I have been tagged...

I've been tagged by two people --- my cute friend Bree from Arizona and my cute friend Noriane who is also my neighbor. Bree tagged me to give 25 facts about myself that people who know me may not know, and Noriane tagged me to give 5 facts. So to fullfill my responsibility to both, I guess I better give 25 (even though I'm not sure I can think of 25 interested facts about myself --- I'm really not that interesting-- ha ha!) Ok, so here we go:

1) I was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona
2) I have 3 sisters, no brothers -I always wanted a brother, but never had one ):
3) I played the violin in elementary school for a few years (didn't say I was good, but I did play)
4) I played the piano from 1st grade through high school, and then moved out of my house where the piano was, so I'm a bit rusty now, but still like to play.
5) I was on the pom line in Jr. High (Yea Crusaders! Go!)
6) My first car was a 69 black volkswagen bug with red vinyl seats and no air (being in Arizona, in 120 degree weather, it wasn't fun in the summer, we had to sit on towels so our butts didn't burn)
7) I met Russ on New Years Eve of 1994 (and if you ask Russ the story, you'll get a completely different story about our first meeting than if you ask me, as those of you who got the story the other night found out!! haha! If you want the REAL story, just come straight to me)
8) My girlfriends and I ditched one day in high school and drove to Rocky Point, Mexico for 24 hours. One of my friends parents were out of town and I was supposed to be staying at her house. We came home with an awesome tan, but got called up to the principals office the next day at school because everyone knew we went. I'll never forget the principal handing the phone to me, after calling my dad and saying, "Mr. Beckstead, your daughter is in my office, and she'd like to tell you something" (I swear, I didn't get in that much trouble growing up, but this was one of the times!)
9) I have never been in a car accident that was my fault, and I've been in three (oh, except when I rear ended someone in the icy snow last year, I forgot --- but I swear, that's the only time it was my fault)
10) I always wanted to be a school teacher when I was a kid (doesn't every kid?) But my second choice was a private investigator.
11) Mayonaise, not miracle whip
12) All 4 of my kids have always been great sleepers - they slept through the night from 2 months on ---- I love my kids, but I also love my sleep, so I didn't get up with every whimper or cry when they were babies. (is that mean?)
13) I HATE camping! (sorry, Russ) I'm much more of a 5 star resort type of a girl. If there's not a resort, showers, shopping and fun around, I'll tolerate it, but don't love it.
14) I don't worry about alot of things each day. My attitude is -- if you can't do something about it, why worry about it. If you are going to complain or whine about it then do something to change it.
15) I cry in most movies that are sad or even remotely touching. Ask my husband, he laughs at me. Even in kid movies, my whole family usually looks over at me to see if I have tears in my eyes.
16) I have a hard time asking for help or favors from others (yea, I know I know --- except my husband or kids). I would rather do it myself, or figure it out myself, than ask for help.
17) I love roller coasters
18) I'm very scatterbrained, but very organized at the same time. I live with lists, and write everything down, or else I will forget with my crazy schedule.
19) I don't buy many things for myself. I love buying things for other people.
20) The first time I ever had to buy a airline ticket was when my sisters, Mom & I went to New York last year. Coming from a family that has worked for the airlines, I've flown for free since I was a senior in high school. I have to say, I'd rather pay now, than fly standby.
21) My paternal grandmother was from South Africa. And her great, great grandfather (I'm not sure how many greats, but a few) was the president of South Africa. So yes, I am royalty! (ha ha!)
22) I am a reality show junkie --- I love Survivor, American Idol, Amazing Race, Bigest loser, etc. It's really the only TV I watch. (sad I know, I can't tell you what's going on in the world, but I sure as heck can tell you who was voted off Amazing Race... haha!)
23) Anything boys can do girls can do better!
24) I am very loyal to my friendships... I love my friends.
25) My husband would say I'm the best wife and mother (right honey?)

There you go. That's me. If you don't like it then you don't have to read it. J/K --- I love all you guys! So I tag Holly, Angie, Keely, Wendy (which means you actually have to make a post!), and Jess..

Flashback Friday...

I was looking through some pictures today and ran across these pictures from one of the most memorable days in my life. The day Russ proposed to me. It was August of 1997. We had flown to Minnesota to visit his family ---- One afternoon we were all sitting out on his mom and step-dad's deck visiting, the whole family - about 10 of us. Russ walked out from the house with a dozen roses. All red except one yellow right in the middle. Like the gentleman he is, he got down on one knee, and talked about what the roses mean, that red stands for love, and yellow stands for friendship. Then he pulled out the box with the ring in it, and proposed to me. Oh, I almost forgot, when he took the ring out of the box, it slipped out of his hands, I was looking at his eyes, and noticed the look that went from excitement to fear, then looked down to see the ring rolling, and luckily it stopped right before it went through the gap between the slats of the deck. It was pretty funny. This was an incredible day, and he completely surprised me with this moment, I wasn't expecting it to happen on this trip. Moments like this I'll cherish forever.
Thank you honey! I love you...