Florida Thanksgiving Trip 2010!

We missed Advanced Auto!!

 


Luckily there's an Autozone down the road!

It's Paigey

From Eagney girls Visit November 2010 Videos

Donut Math

From Eagney Girls Visit July 2010 video

Click on Paige to Play the video

October 14th

I have become a little obsessed with The Hunger Games book trilogy. I even have a cute story about buying the books. I think it’s a cute story at least, that isn’t the word Greg would use. J Anyway, I devoured the books and then asked Greg for the audio book to listen to during my commute to work.

The story is about a girl named Katniss and how she becomes part of a survival game to amuse the Capital citizens and keep the Districts from rebelling. Nothing at all that would interest me, but once I started, I couldn’t put the books down.

Throughout the story Katniss recalls memories of her father. He was killed in a coal mining accident when she was young. In one scene she is describing what it is like for a miner to die trapped. The description was so similar to the effects cancer had on Dad; it was a bit hard to read. But what she recalls most about her father is the good things and it was the sweetness of the relationship I could relate to most. How even now when he is gone, she still feels him watching over her and how the memories of happy times with him can make painful times now more bearable.

Today I woke up late and in my haste to get out the door in time, what day it was barely registered, let alone the date. Greg leaves before me and this morning he left the TV on and a plate of eggs and as I was shoveling in the eggs a few things happened at once. I notice I had a couple of text messages. When I flipped open my phone, I realized they were from Tim and Shell. The reality that today is Dad’s birthday brought me to a stop. I sat down and when I looked up the TV was going from a commercial into the news and it was all about the rescue of the Chilean miners. I just sat there and cried and thought, what a nice thing to happen on Dad’s birthday; 33 families will be able to do what we can no longer do – hug their father.

I miss my father, miss his hugs and his humor, how he loved to spoil his family, the car rides and the dinners on the deck. I will miss coming to him for advice, watching the game with him, then looking over and him being sound asleep -- then turning up the TV over his snoring. :) I miss how he would never say no to food – especially dessert. I miss how he would reach out and hold my hand whenever he could. I miss sharing with him the latest project at the house and his ‘help’ and his never ending support. I miss making him proud and making him laugh. The list can go on and on – but it’s because I miss so much, that I know how lucky I was – how lucky I am to have such wonderful memories of the greatest Dad in the world.

Happy Birthday Dad.
I Lub You!

Tater Tonsils

 

Cutest Nieces in Town

 

Florida Trip July 2010

Some of my favorite shots from my trip.

Something, Something, Something, Timmay!

I Did It

Today I completed my first 5k. I figured it would be a good idea to get one under my belt before the sprint triathlon next week.

I ran with my friends Amanda and Kerri. Amanda is an overachiever who has been running for years so she ran the 15k. Kerri and I are newbies so just the 5k for us. Kerri was a great running partner - we ran a 12:11 mile and finished at 37:55 minutes.

Here is a before photo.

And after.

It was so nice of Dad and Margaret to join Greg to cheer me on. Pretty awesome of them to wake up that early.

Kerri was cleaning house recently and gave us one of their old cat trees. The Fissell kitties LOVE it!

Especially Kittie Flo. I moved it over to the front window and they haven't moved from it all day! Thanks again Kerri!

Next week is the Sprint Tri in Hampton, VA. I have been training with Chris since early this year for it. Too bad the maniac decided to break a couple fingers BMX biking last week. Hopefully he will still be able to run with me, cause that is where I will need some help. One of these days I may actually like running. I am borrowing a friends road bike for the tri - it's the kind where your feet clip into the peddles. So everyone say a little prayer that I don't eat it. I already took a spill on it and have a pretty sweet bruise on my leg, but it's not IF you fall, it's WHEN you fall - so hopefully I got that out of the way. The best part of all this - and by best, I mean for others to point and laugh, was renting a wet suit. The give you a visual of me attempting to put on a wet suit, watch the episode of Friends where Ross is trying to put on the leather pants (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRLJXhlOf1M). OMG it was a workout in itself just getting that sucker ON! But once you get it zipped up you are even more jazzed to do the tri - mostly because I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. ACK! Maybe I should step up the running a couple more days a week. Or cut out the brownie, pudding, ice cream parfaits for dessert. NEVER! More running it is. And to give you a visual of me running, watch the episode of Friends where Phebe runs. Greg loves calling me Phoebe when I go running (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_0Ta_DIWuU). I would get upset if it wasn't true. :)

Check back next week for pics of the Tri. If I make it out of the Bay that is.

listen to coach

the michael jordan of kids soccer

Tates Magates

Eye of the tiger

Photo Finish!

nala wins by a nose...

Sunday With Tatum

We had quite the day on Sunday with Taters.
Beginning with her very first soccer game. We were all pretty jazzed for a couple reasons, on is that this is her first bout with an organized sport – the other is that she is number 8 which holds some significances in the Beck family as it was Tim’s and Chris’ (and don’t forget Cal’s) number in soccer. But the best part was that Tim is the team coach.
Along with the stress he put on himself, he said he had a lot of fun. That might have something to do with the fact that Tatum scored a goal! Yes, we have a little Beckham Jr. on our hands. It was quite an eventful goal too as she came across the half field to score – but it was the Wrong goal! So we were all waiving her to the other goal and she turned around, controlled the ball and scored into the correct goal post! So technically she ran an entire length of the field for her first score. It was pretty sweet.
Sadly, Uncle Greg forgot the camera – so the only photos we have are from my crappy cell phone.
Here’s Team Blaze.

Then we went over to Tim & Jenel’s were Tatum did her best to entertain the crowd. If she wasn’t putting puzzles together like a little puzzle wiz, then she was doing the cutest Miley Cirus rendition of The Climb.

After that, her tooth decided that it was time to come out – much to Tatum’s excitement. Apparently it’s been a long time coming. Cannot wait to see what the Tooth Fairy is brining.

Then to cap the evening, Tatum did a face plant into the chair stool and took quite a bite outta her bottom lip. Here’s a tip for you. Don’t mention blood to Tatum. Good Lord, that kid doesn’t like blood at all.

After the brilliant idea of giving her a Popsicle instead of using ice, Tatum didn’t mind so much.

Even with a fat lip – the kid is a cutie.

Next week Aunt Karen will bring the camera and we will have lots more pics to share.

Clean Benny Boy

and Kittie lovin life...


Get me outta here!

It's My Moonbounce, It's My Birthday!!

I am having a wonderful day of calls, text's, emails, facebook shoutouts and even cookies for my birthday.

I even got this awesome photo from the Eagney Girls!

I LOVE my birthday! Thanks everyone for making it so special!

Hoppy Easter!

On Friday morning I went into work a little late to spend a fabulous morning with Mom and Tatum to dye Easter eggs.

Combining everything I brought and everything Mom had - it was going to be a very full, fun morning.

First Tatum got to enjoy all the goodies in her basket.

Jenel took this picture of me, Mom, Tatum and Diva. Mom missed the memo to wear her Easter egg outfit like Tatum and me.

One thing Tatum knows how to do well is pose. Here she is posing after making more hard boiled eggs. Mom foolishly thought 12 eggs would be enough. Maybe for just Tatum or just me - but both of us?! Heck no.

Me and my girl

The bright colors were our favorite.

I wish they had all these fun things when I was young. These egg wraps shrink in hot water. So much fun. Good thing I will never grow up.

Mom didn't do much decorating, but she sure did have fun. Just look at her.

Here is a special one with Tatum's name in glitter. She did one for her Mom and Dad too.

One of the other new ways to have fun with the eggs is to use a white crayon to draw on it before dying - the dye sticks to everything but the wax. I drew this awesome bunny that looks like a chick when you turn it on it's side. Who knew I had such talent?

Here's a slide show of all the fun. Hope everyone has a happy, happy Easter.

New Message

The Fairest of Them All

So behind in posting - but I had to get something up besides that horrible photo of me and my St. Pats Baja Burrito. Who knew Mexican food chains were so big on St. Patty's day - but any excuse for a Free Burrito!

Last MONTH - Mom and I took the Tot to see 100 Years of Disney Magic.

Self Portrait!

I am either tired in this photo from trying to trick Tatum into posing for a picture or I am about to blink. Unlike the Eagney girls, getting Tatum to pose takes effort.

We met up with the Bennett's and had a blast.
Melanie is awesome - and even only a few months old Brandan was so good. And super cute.

Tatum was smitten

What a cute family.

Since Dan is the Man we had no problem getting backstage - not as much fun as backstage at the Circus with all the beautiful animals - but Taters was amazed at all the costumes.

And Tatum got to impress everyone with her Tatumness

And I got to see Cory who I haven't seen in years.

Lot's more photos in the slideshow - including some where Tatum HAD to take some photos - I left the best ones - there were A Lot deleted. The kid is a goof. :)