This is what happens when you walk away!

Well, yes, when you have 2 burners on, trying to cook sunday dinner for 12, life is a bit out of control. So, I ran out of salt, left the cookbook on the burner that was not "on", then turned "on" the back burner and went downstairs for the salt. I hear this, "mom"...................................."mom"...........................

"I'm downstairs"

"mom"......................................."mom"............................

Ahhh, I'm getting the salt

"mom"......................................"mom".............................

I"M DOWNSTAIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OK WHAT!

so I do upstairs to flames under the cookbook!

"AHHHH THE COOKBOOK IS ON FIRE!!!!!"

Shawn ripped it off the stove. and all the windows opened.

So, we had a lesson on fire saftey. First, if there is a fire, please yell, "FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" that will get my attention lots more than, "mom"

Second, do you all know where the fire extinguisher is, and how to use it?

ok,

wheeew!

The Mesa Verde Adventure!

Mesa Verde, when I mentioned that we were going there for Spring break, people either had never heard of it, or "THAT'S THE COOLEST PLACE" We were sure hoping for the later, and I have to say, it has held up to that title!

This is at the Tree house near the visitor's center. Just amazing at the work the people put into their homes

This is the Square House and it looks small, but it's the tallest dwelling in the park, about 40 feet up, and that's way way down there, and you should of seen the cliff they scaled to get to their home. They came down from the top, over the edge!

We hit all the highlights of the park that were open. The dear lady at the Visitor Center was so kind to remind me that it was still winter here in the Rockies. And not wanting to disappoint her, I just smiled and nodded (I wanted to tell her that Snow in April is normal! but didn't want to give away my Utahness)

This snow picture is what we woke up to after our day at Mesa Verde. We were a tad bit wet, and the rain/snow didn't let up till we got to Blanding. We did the ultra cool thing and got us a cheap Motel and even took the kids out to a restaurant. That's high living kids!

The boys had an awesome time building this tent pad artwork at our site at Deadhorse. You can't see the fine detail in this sculpture, they have embedded cacti quills in the wood! SWEET!

We also made it to Canyonlands and to Newspaper rock. That was the only place where we heard, "We drove all this way for that?" But they quickly were satisfied when we let them loose on the surrounding rocks to explore on. We had to on this trip hike to Delicate Arch in Arches. We have missed that one before so that was our whole focus for Arches. And well worth it. In April that is. I can see where that's be a hot one in July!

Weeze is flying off Dead Horse Point, just happy the kids aren't near the edge.

We also had to visit the 4 corners, just to now saw the whole family had been there. And by the way, bring cash to the 4 corners, the Navajo Indians run that place and there isn't any electricity out there so no VISA option. We had to go into town for cash!

All in All, one great trip Family, I Love YOU!

The Garden, part 2

Well, let's see, it's March in Utah, so that means, the garden will look like this one day, and this the next.

I did get the peas, brocolli, and spinach in and they will do fine with a blanket of snow. It doesn't last long. Hope the soil will warm up soon. I tried something new this year, the bamboo stake with twist ties and string for the peas to climb on. I like how the stakes look in the garden. Hopefully it will ward off the neighbor kids from tromping into the garden. The next goal is to paint some signs to mark what I've planted. Just a cute thing.

We have a 1st place winner!

Hyrum Beck,

First Place Science Fair Winner!

Is the Iron in Breakfast Cereal Magnetic?

Well, Hyrum takes the win for the whole family seeing that we've done 1/2 doz. science fairs and were just "participants"

And he gets to go onto district.

Well, getting a project off the internet never seemed so easy.

and ps the iron in your breakfast cereal is magnetic!

The Flower Garden, part 1

Ok, Here's a shout out to all you gardeners. My cousin Shannan and I (and anyone else who wants to post pics of how their gardens are coming you're welcome to!) will be doing a gardening tip of the month or so. So far, I took some pics. of the bulbs coming up. Aren't they pretty? They should be seeing that they all came from the Boise Temple grounds.

I laid down 3 inches of wood chips/mulch as well before the bulbs came up. And we put it down in a horrendous wind storm as well, so there it probably 3 inches there. And I'm going to have to take pics every other day, the flowers are much bigger already.

Three Forks Hot Spring

This was an adventure that was wonderful...after we met a fellow with a snowmobile. We went looking for these hotsprings up Spanish Fork Canyon. We didn't know the road was closed, so we started walking. 5 miles later we gave up when we encounted a fellow going to the said springs. We told us he's shuttle us in on his snowmobile...yea! We usually meet the greatest people out doing the same things we love doing. Needless to say, the soak was worth the 10 miles of walking. Hot spring in the winter is the Best! And Idaho still rules in this area, but we'll take this Utah one.

Draper Temple Open House

We took all the family into their first Temple Open house. I remember my first temple open house and it was the Jordan River Temple in 1982 or 81. The kids had lots of questions and it was so neat to be in there with my whole family. This is Dallin and Sierra 2nd. open house. They went to Timpanogus several years ago. And we all are going to the Orriquah temple open house as well. Man, I'll really have to learn how to spell that one. And we are also all going to the Draper Temple Dedication. Wow, lot of spiritual high here. And we recently all started writing in our journals the first Monday of every month, so this should all be recorded!

The Boys and Daddy went to Montana

Samo & Hyrum, in the Pen!

Samo & Hyrum up on top of Clark's Lookout, in Dillon

For track break, the little boys went with Shawn up to see Grandma in Montana. Great Samo, Hyrum, Daddy time. And they love how dad travles----McDonalds, Burger King, Gas Station treats, and they even went out for dinner twice in Dillon! Needless to say, that is a record in my family. We just aren't the eat out type...you guess it. I'm a cheapo!

Well, they had a wonderful time and the highlight of the trip was the Beaverhead Musuem. Lots of stuffed animals, a large bird display, along with everything you can make out of horns, and the works. Grandma is doing great, just misses Grandpa dearly.

Sorry for the absence

Well, I have recently found out the joys of FACEBOOK! And that's fun and all, but that's where my time has been as of late. Along with my training sched. and work, this has lagged a bit. And I do need to post a few new pics.

25 run and random things you may not know about ME!

Rules- Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If i tagged you, its because I want to know more about you.

1. I have been on top of 27 of the United States High Points with Shawn and a handful of other friends/family. We really love this hobby. IT has taken us places we would never venture to travel if there wasn't a reason.

2. Shawn and I have also been to 27 temples in US and have been to every temple in Utah so far. We love doing that sort of thing.

3. All of my kids have been born in different states. Dallin--CA, Sierra--UT, Hyrum--WI, Samuel--ID

4. I have competed in 3 olympic dist. triathlons, and 1 sprint and am training for my first half-ironman. that's a 1.2 swim, 50 bike, 13.2 run. Oh baby!

5. We just had to say goodbye to our family dog. Well, he went to a new home to live out a happier life. Shawn and the dog had had enough of each other.

6. I becam a working woman. Sorta. Part-time reading coordinator at the kids' elementary school counts. IT's 17 whole hours a week.

7. I now know truly the struggles of a working mom...to a small degree yes.

8. I have only been to a chiropractor once. all good there.

9. This is the first one of these kind of survey things I have ever done. Sorry to you all that send them to me and I read and delete. Here's you payback.

10. I can make good chocolate chip cookies...my kids think there're awesome.

11. I am planning on going to my 20year high school reunion...everyone need to come

12. I broke a 15 year old BYU swimming record in the 200 fly. Time of 2:03.64? Then it was broken the next year.

13. I'm thinking about going back to school and doing something in the medical field...like surgical nurse, or rad. tech.

14. I played at duet with Hyrum at a piano recital. He's way beyond me now

15. I learned how to play the trumpet for the parent's band.

16. I have broken 6 bones and 6 sets of stitches. Nothing has happened really since I was 16.

17. I have only had the flu once. And that was when I had 2 kids, one infant with a double ear infection and a husband working in a different state.

18. I absolutely dreaded working with the young women 6 years ago and now they are my favorite!

19. I love MT. Dew. My Shawn got me hook on that in college. I used to call it pee water...oh not anymore. That's my get things done drink!

20. I have mailed out Christmas card every year of our marriage except this one...that bum economy ya know. sorry about that.

21. I can take the kids dirt bikng. That's a feat loading the bikes on the trailer, starting them, and putting them back on the trailer. Just don't ask me to back up the trailer. I'll just abandon that in the street.

22. I can now play the guitar on Rock band. I am also the token singer for the group. because no one wants to sing.

23. I just completed my food storage update and found that we are sitting pretty for 4 months....need to keep adding to that.

24. I am so sad that ER is in it's final season...you've been a good friend.

25. I helped the boys learn how to do a back flip on the tramp. Oh the Olympics were so inspiring.

so now everyone that I always delete those fun survey thinggys, sorry and here's my penitence.

Winter Ascent of Mt. Borah

This is Shawn & Brothers Paul & Jared ...Weeze didn't go on this adventure
Enjoy!

Last week, Paul, Jared, and I went for a walk on Mt Borah. These are a few pics I took. I don't have Jared's yet, but thought I'd send a few out so you could see the fun we had. It was worthwhile doing, but as Paul and Jared had to listen to me complain, I'm not as much for the suffering as I used to be. I like the skills and adrenaline rush of using them, but I like them offset with time to eat, drink, and rest.

As practice for future, larger expeditions, we pulled a sled for about 1/2 hour. Paul's pulling in this picture. It pulled well on easy terrain like in this picture, but we left it when the terrain was not so nice, which is the rest of this hike.

For those that know the route, this is between the gnarly tree where we often take a break and a picture, heading straight up to the top of treeline. Even with snowshoes we'd sink to our knees, and without it was even worse. This is Shawn. It took hours to cover this short section of the route.

This is Jared. He just downclimbed the snowy rocks you see, which is the end of Chicken-Out-Ridge, and is now making his way across the snow bridge. It is a LONG way down both sides.

This is Jared again, now on the summit pyramid, just about to the summit ridge. The summit is still several hundred yards to the left (and higher). You can see by the way he's standing above me how steep it was. This is the opposite side of the pyramid from where the normal trail goes in the summer. Nothing looked easy for the final push to the top so we decided to try it here and it was difficult and slow going. It was largely rock slabs covered with snow and not as many holds as we'd hoped. We used our ice axes alot to drag through the snow, hopefully hook some 1/4" protrusion and pull ourselves up another foot. We later descended the "normal" route. If we did it again, still don't know which way we'd go up. Neither was easy.

Give me those sad eyes Rascal

Well, how does this go?

Rascal has found a new home. With much thought and sacrafice on the kids part and mine, we now will have a much happier Daddy and in the end, a much happier Rascal. He departed this afternoon at 2pm back to Idaho...kinda funny--Nampa, ID. Close to his orgin. He is going to a 14 year old who is dog crazy and is ready to spoil him with love. And let his sleep in her bed and just be loved to death. That's the only way I was going to let him go...not the pound. So, just keep Dallin, me and Sierra in your doggie thoughts and we will all be good. And Shawn isn't evil here everyone, he has struggled with the dog for years and when I was in a threatening mood it went like this, "Fine, toss him out now!!!" Well, we talked and talked and he didn't want to be the bad guy in the kids eyes, ( I was already ok with him going to a new home, I needed a happy Shawn). So he was like, "Don't get rid of him if all they want is another dog..." Shawn is climbing Mt. Borah now in Idaho and I told him before he left that Rascal may not be here when he come home. He was still thinking if this was the best thing...it is. Just accept the sacrifice and we will all be good.

Oh pets, man, they are cute, you try and train them, they disobey, they come back for love, and then in the end, you cry when they leave.

We're good, but this is a bit hard.

YEA!!! I got it back!

And note to self...don't delete all the HTLM things when I change backgrounds.
I was using Thecutestblogontheblock.com site and now I don't see the free backgrounds. Am I just not seeing it ...anyone please if ya know something I don't.

Also, I added a few gadgets..hope they make things more interesting.

And I started working in the mornings now...8:30-12:30. Now I feel like a part-time worker...a big 17hours a week now...all goes for that dreaded mortgage ya know!

Dang!

Great! I messed up my blog! So I'll be back with hopefully a new playlist and other gadets. MAN!

Christmas 2008---is just great! Rockin Great!

Samuel & his sweet ride

Hyrum and his new sled

Sister sweetie and the new Skates

GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!

and the Cereal....

excellent!

Merry, Merry to one and all.

Here are a few of the excited faces on that magical morning.

And here's one of the Best ones! ROCKBAND! The kids had to figure out what was in this gift from Santa with a Crypotgram...oh, Santa is a creative genius!

And here's our family's favorite

The Nirvana song--In Bloom

Mississippi Queen--Mom's favorite

Dead or Alive--Shawn's fav.

We'll be going on our first World Tour so be on the lookout...tickets will be available.

Our Winterwonderland---Herriman style

Hey all, here's a lot of snow that fell Christmas eve and throughout the day on Christmas day. We, of course, had to try out the new sled we got for Christmas...in a blizzard. We came home from being snow beaten and dug out the driveway...way more than a 2 person job. Samuel even learned how to earn money shoveling snow...the others were forced into servitude.

enjoy

Think of Christmas, Think of Snow, Think of Santa

HO! HO! HO!

Merry Christmas to one and all with the warmest of holiday wishes to each and everyone of you cool blog/email people. And thank you for letting us electronically send greetings this year...ya know...the budget cuts and all are a good reason to be thrifty. Just gather the family around the glow of the computer to catchup with the Becks.

Where to begin, and what to share???? With some inspiration from some Christmas letters, I think I'll take my thoughts from them.

What book or story do you like to read right now?

Shawn--Hawaii

Weeze--Breaking Dawn

Dallin---reading stinks

Sierra--Fablehaven

Hyrum & Samuel---Magic Tree house

What was you favorite movie this year?

Shawn--seen a bunch and can't decide

Weeze---will be the newest Harry Potter....(Twilight was good )

Dallin--Batman and Ironman

Sierra--Prince Caspain

Hyrum--Wall-E

Samuel--Kung Fu Panda

What is your favorite candy?

Shawn--All and everything Chocolate

Weeze--gum

Dallin--skittles

Sierra--Butterfinger, skittles, snickers

Hyrum--airheads

Samuel--gum

What is something that really makes you laugh?

Shawn--the Get Smart movie where he shoots himself with mini-crossbow

Weeze-the Sonic commercials where the punch sound at the end

Dallin--Chuck Norris Jokes

Chuck Norris doesn't sleep...he waits

The BoogieMan checks his closet for Chuck Norris

Superman wears Chuck Norris underwear.

Sierra--being tickled by Dad only

Hyrum--Gas, toots, the toilet functions in general

Samuel--being tickled

What you you like to be when you grow up?

Shawn--that one guy who gets to make all the decisions

Weeze--that awesome mom

Dallin--Travis Pastrana part 2

Sierra-- something that involves books

Hyrum--drive monster trucks

Samuel--Paleontologist

What is the most fun thing you did with your family this year?

Shawn--dirt biking with Jared--outstanding!

Weeze--re-hiking Utah's highpoint--Kings peak with Dallin

Dallin--Hiking Lone Peak---that awesome mountain outside our backdoor

Sierra--going to Idaho and playing with the cousins and friends

Hyrum--Zions Nat. Park---all the hiking and playing in the river

Samuel--taking the canoe at Utah Lake

You all can check out some of these fun things on the blog with the pictures and write ups. We love to share with you all and we absolutely LOVE hearing from you all. Email and put your new addresses in your letters so we all can stay up to date...isn't that why we all do Christmas letters really?

Hi Everybody,

This is our Thanksgiving adventure! After chowing down with the April and the fabulous family, we decided we had wanted to go see a southern Utah park in the winter. We had not yet been to Bryce Canyon National Park so that became the choice. We didn't do much investigating beforehand. The park is situated between 7000 ft to over 9000 ft. Only about 3/4 of it was open because they were still clearing the snow off the roads from the previous storm for the remaining 1/4. That said, the weather was nice. Teens at night and 30s during the day with sun all day and incredible stars at night. Here are a few pictures.

It's sometimes surprising how different the National Parks are in southern Utah. They are located so close together yet are featured differently. Geologically, Bryce Canyon is the highest, then Zions is below it and then the Grand Canyon is at the bottom, meaning that the bottom layer of Bryce Canyon is the top layer of Zions, and the same with Zions and Grand Canyon. There has been some upheaval and shifting so parts of Zions are higher than Bryce now, but its layers belong below Bryce.

The main feature that Bryce Canyon is know for are the Hoodoos, pronounced just like it looks, a made up word just for these features and a variant of voodoo. Their formation story is similar to the arches and natural bridges but turns out looking a little different.

Samuel and Hyrum making a snowman at camp.

Hiking the Hat Shop trail. This is only about 200 yards into it and already ours are the only tracks. We went the entire 1 1/2 miles (each way). We called Hyrum 'TB' for TrailBreaker because he liked to lead the way. The kids were impressed with how used the trail looked after we went in and came out and though that others might follow now.

Hyrum above the Hoodoos we are about to drop down into

Dallin and Hyrum

Staying warm in tent with propane heater. Taking the canvas tent was part of the plan to keep everyone happy. We'd all gather and read and play games at night then we'd shut the heater off and half of us would go crawl in the other tent.

Sierra and Samuel hiking down Navajo Trail in between hoodoos.

Whole family (except Weeze taking pic) where hoodoos get close together.

Can you tell it's cold?

This is how the house looks for 2008 season!

ps Shawn wrote this as an email to his family then I posted it to the blog.