Idaho Canoeing trip down the Payette

Here we start the Canoe trip. We are canoeing down the Payette river in Idaho, which is about 2 hours north of Boise. We all named the canoes, our big silver canoe was called the Bahama Mamma. It was very low and grounded a lot in the shallows. The other canoe was the Wood, which was grandpa Beck's homemade canoe, and the happy Canoe which was light and fast.
Here Dallin and Hyrum and a paddling. We were are after a lunch stop. When ever we would see a great spot to jump out of the canoe, look at the birds, or swim,we would. Mom ususally got into steering trouble when I was looking at all the birds. Samuel and Hyrum actually found a log to jump off of and Samo even did a front flip!

We had a few tricky situations. We taught the kids you never on purpose of under trees/ debree on the river, well, the river was slow here and this was the only way.

Here was our awesome campspot and river playland. The kids would float down the river and jump back and do it again! We fished here as well.

Hyrum thought the hammock was the best!!!

HEre's the little fish grandpa caught. He was so great with Hyrum and Samo teaching them how to fish. Shawn and I are not fishermen.

Here was a great spot to try spear fishing. There were some big fishy down there, we just needed something better than a sharp stick. Dallin and Samuel trying it out.

At our last camp site, we had plenty of fine sand, so what else do you do???? Bury each other!

Our Bahama Mamma canoe sure took a beating! That bottom used to be smooth! Well, it's tough! When we stopped at the resivoir, Hyrum, Samuel and I jumped off the bridge! Grandpa has those pictures. We had a great time and the kids have a new respect for canoeing.

SPUDMAN TRIATHLON!

The beginning of the Swim, 1 mile down rivcr in the Snake River.The current totally helps you and I swam me best 1 time ever! 17 min! There were 10 other people from our ward that did this triathlon and it was so great to be participating with them! IT made it so much more enjoyable. Shawn and the kids came, and we camped out right by the river so it was so easy to be there for all of the transition points, and take pictures for everyone. And then the kids totally played in the river! Wonderful triathlon, well organized and lots of fun energy there! The Spudman is a great race for anyone who wants to do an olympic distance triathlon!!!

This is me coming out of T1 or transition run where you go from swim to bike. This year, I did the whole race in my bike shorts and compression top. The weather was wonderful so no wet suit needed!

Here I am coming in off the run! We end on a golf course so the grass was wonderful!And I got my best time ever! 2:28! I cut off 10 minutes from my last one I did.

My family is very supportive. I think Dallin likes to brag about me. So funny!

Here's the group Back: Me, Cherice, Kenny, Paige, Cameon, Annette, Joe, Mishawn, Shawn

Front: Cherice's sister in law, Brandon & Callie

There were 7 first timers!!! Everyone did great!

Fun in the Summertime!

Dallin made this Kayack for his High Adventure scout trip. It's a wood frame, stretched out canvas, and paint. He made it look like the Best of Both Worlds album by Vanhalen. And every boat needs a name. You'll have to ask him about where is name came from.

Sierra 14th Birthday party!!!

Sierra's Family Party! Everyone came to the party, even her new pet bird Tuilo

Samuel in his dance festival at school. He's doing the Cotton Eye Joe!

Hyrum is doing a groovy 70's dance. He's in his Kun-FU fighting stance.

We went to the Hogle Zoo and Hyrum found a new buddie!

My Samuel became a Bear!! Yea for Scouts!

The Hyrum was the Bestes goalie ever! His team loved how far he could kick that ball!

On the 3 of July, Shawn and I went hiking up Bells Canyon. Great waterfalls.

This has been the condensed version of our summer so far!!!

Memorial Day

We actually did a very Memorial Day thing this year! My parents and April and her family and my family went to visit the ancestors up in Perterson and at the Ogden Cemetery. My dad is clearing out the spot to put the flowers. This is my mom's mother and father. My grammy Erma and Grandpy Jack. My kids didn't get to know them very well. Dallin was 4 and Sierra was 2 and we were in Wisconsin when they passed. I haven't been to their graves in years. It was good to visit and hear some verbal family history from my mom. My grandpy Jack's family is buried there. His brother and the Cranors. My dad is all excited about the New Family Search and my goal is to get on there and see what on there. I want to learn about my history.

My Grammy Annis just passed away in November. Now her and Grandpy are together.

This is us up at the Peterson cemetery in Peterson. That's near Morgan, Utah. There is so much to learn about my history. I need to make it happen while my mom and dad are still here.

Vegimite!!! Man, that stuff is GROSS!!!!

Ok, I asked a friend to bring me back from Vegemite from Australia. I've never tried it and everyone says that it's like Australian peanut butter. Ok! So, judging from my face, that stuff is by far the grossest thing I have ever tasted! It's made from brewer's yeast, beef bullion, vegetable extracts and something very salt and bitter! Yikes! It took about a half hour to get that taste out! Ummm. never again!

Sierra's Bird Tulio--The family bird

This bird is a family bird. Tulio attends scripture study with us,

He loves to perch on top of your head. Shawn takes the bird out all the time and just does everything with him. This is an animal I think he likes.

This is when Tulio crawling on Samuel's neck...it tickles a bit.

Tulio loves to peck at shiny things. He found that Hyrum's classes are good pecking material.

Sweet Sierra whistles to her Tulio and Tulio sings back to her. So cute.

Tuilo is a great bird. He loves hanging out with me when I get on the computer.

Tulio...the Super Bird!

Idaho FUN!

We got Samuel up on the platform. And funny story, I managed to get up there with Carolyn's help from BEHIND!

IT really is as hard as that looks to do!

Over the Snake River

Jared, Dallin, Shawn

Hi all,
I have a super great husband! He told the family that one of his former YM from the Sunnybrook ward was coming home from his mission and that he wanted to go to the Homecoming at church! He asked us if we all wanted to go and that was a YEA! Justin did an amazing talk. Those are just the things to help remind my future missionaries what it's all about. Especially Dallin who is the closest.

And of course we always find lots of fun to go along with anything. Uncle Jared decided that trying to retrieve a basket 200 yards away over the Snake River would be an awesome thing to do! YEA! So Dallin, Shawn and Jared got on the rock gear and shimmied on the cable. That basket was really too far away to shimmy to it, so of course, they were thinking about a pulley to buy so they can get across. Meanwhile, we had a bit of an audience, so we were kinda of waiting for the sheriff to show up, they must have been fishing.

Hyrum says we must go skiing!

Sierra

Sierra

Dallin

We Becks have become a Skiing family! Thanks to our Hyrum, who went skiing with the scouts. He and this troop went to Alta where you can ski for free! Man, I didn't even know about that! You can ride the tow rope free all day every day, then the Sunnyside & Albion chair lifts open from 3:00-4:30. We got in 3 runs! The tow rope was the perfect place to review some skills, and teach Samuel for the first time. Note to self, don't take a beginner up to the very top of the tow rope and hope he remembers that snowplow thing. Samuel had a very exciting 1st run down, followed by a crash. A nice gentleman suggested that we only take him half way. Well, long story short is Samuel is a quick study on skis, and by the 3rd run down, he could turn, stop, and ride the tow rope successfully! Wow, now my whole family can ski! All we need to do now is find some cheap equipment.

Dirt Biking at Little Saraha

The boys

Hyrum

Samuel

Hi all,
Pres. Day was a great day for riding at the dunes. It didn't even rain on us! Dallin and Shawn just tear it up through the sand. Samo and Hyrum didn't have a problem with the sand either. Mommy and Sierra no likey the sand. I just was praying I wouldn't crash and I was going so fast so I wouldn't sink down in the sand. I don't have that float over the top of the sand feeling going on. After my ride following Dallin, I had to come back to the truck and relieve my heart! I haven't been that scared in a while! So, Sierra and I found some more firm earth and rode out in the desert. We have 4 bike and 6 people, while the boys were out riding, I got to study for my Anatomy exam. Can't wait till Tues. to see how I did!

Lava Hot Springs

Hi 2010!

Well, what a better way to welcome in the new
year than some spanking hot water in IDAHO!!!

We ventured up to Lava Hot Springs for Martin Luther King day off of school day.

The kids loved the rock wall at the indoor pool there! Dallin, of course, touched the top and Hyrum was so close! Samo said that it was way to hard!!

Samuel and Mommy in the hottest pool! And it was almost too hot for me!

There was a good crowd there for the holiday. The kids were wiped out with the hot water. They need a cold pool at the springs for them. I loved it.

Beautiful scenery! Snow, hot water, and my kids!