Beecher Family Our Happy World

As Matt has been working in Rochester, MN for the past few months, we (the kids and I) decided to accompany him on one of his trips there.  We definitely had more fun than he did, playing with my sister, Alissa and her little boy, Tate while the Matts (both dads) were at work.  We enjoyed a great fall week of crisp temperatures, fresh-off-the-tree Honey Crisp apples, lots of cousin time and fun kid activities and some great Halloween fun.

Wish they were always getting along so well! It's hard to share toys and living space when you're two, but when they were nice, they were adorable together.

On the tractor ride at the apple orchard.

Maren loving a fresh Honey Crisp - so much better right off the tree than from the grocery store.

Riding a crocodile at the playground

Celebrating Matthew's birthday with a chocolate pomegranate torte.

My little animals.

Tate and Christian at Matt's office Halloween lunch

Matt was the master artist, carrying out Maren's demand for a pumpkin with a happy face, sad face and even a penguin.

This is another of my favorite photos of the year:

Taking a little break from sidewalk chalkinig for a snack.

I hope he'll always be this happy to have a vacuum in his hands.

Yes, that outfit definitely needs some sassy heels.

Can’t resist the bathtub photo:

Maren and Christian with cousin Tate.

Alissa and Tate came in town for a visit – well, really, Alissa had a college reunion and then she played with us on either side of the reunion.  We always LOVE having them around.

Maren and Tate watching the ducks at Wheeler Farm

I like to think my Grandpa Larsen smiled down from heaven when he saw his prim little great-granddaughter on a John Deere:

Saturday afternoon excursion to Temple Square - to see where Mama and Daddy got married.

Matt is very tall, but those doors are enormous!

We took the kids to the temple a few different times this summer, trying to teach them little by little at a young age about why we love the temple.  Of course, we loved taking them to Salt Lake because we were married there.  The first time we went to the Jordan River temple, Maren fell down and scraped her knees and now, anytime we bring up anything about the temple, she ensure we remember that she “sthcraped her kneeths at the temple” (imagine a perfect 2 year-old lithsp).  Hopefully, something else a little more significant sunk in.

We ALWAYS love visits from friends – we were so delighted to have Kristin and Patrick Hoggan and Kyler Kronmiller (we missed Melyn!) in town at the same time – a great excuse to get the gang together.

Kyler making smoothies

Patrick, David and Jenn (Lloyd) Amott and Anne

A few fun photos of the kids:

Fresh peaches....slurp!We're not quite ready to let Maren babysit Christian, but she does take pretty good care of that baby doll!

Red Butte Garden - 3 years after celebrating our wedding there, I took the kids on a hot summer afternoon. My, how quickly life changes!

Christian and his friend, Benson.

She’s just adorable.  The expression on her face captures some of her zest for life, curiosity and a little bit of her mischievous nature.

One of my favorite photos of the entire year - we are grateful for happy kids!

We were delighted to have a visit from Matt's cousin, Crista and boys Gavin and Isaac.

We made a quick weekend trip up to Idaho for Matt’s 20th High School reunion and then drove to a few other parts of the state to visit family.

Matt enjoyed reconnecting with old classmates and I loved meeting them for the first time and hearing lore of Matt’s younger years.  We walked through the school, saw the new basketball gym and library, but we were most entertained by this  door that is probably still there from 50 years ago:

We enjoyed an afternoon in Rigby with Matt’s Aunt Rhonda and Uncle David, who were babysitting grandkids for the day, so that gave Maren some companions.

We also had a steak dinner at Uncle Dan and Aunt Karen’s house with many of their children and grandchildren, but I guess we were too caught up in all of the action to pull out our cameras!  It was great to see everyone!

A major highlight for this month was our dear friend, Jenn Lloyd’s marriage to David Amott.  It was a long time coming and we were so happy to celebrate with them and to gather with friends in from out of town.

Pre-wedding gathering with Mike and Norah Wasden, Cathy Ackerson, Hanalee Hawkins Hemmersmeier and Anne Clayton

Fourth of July parade:

Pre-parade breakfast at the Jenne’s –

Maren with "Grandpa Forest"

At the parade – Maren’s highlight was seeing a man dressed as a chicken who waved to her – she talked about it for the next 3 weeks non-stop!

Christian enjoyed fruit all summer long despite having no teeth thanks to this little mesh “popsicle”

Visit from Matt’s friend, Geoff Collins – learning how to saber a champagne (or Martinelli’s) bottle at the St. Regis in Park City – Matt will have to tell that story.

We’ve gotten used to celebrating an extra holiday while living in Utah – Pioneer day – 24th of July ….different parade, but same pose:

After our week at the beach, Matt went home to work and the kids and I continued our adventures at my parents’ home in Cincinnati.  We had a fun week playing with the kids and trying to get Maren to stay in a “biggirlbed” (all one word) for naps and bedtime – fun.  Here are a few highlights:

Christian at the Butterfly Festival at Krohn Conservatory.  A beautiful black butterfly landed on his ear and stayed perched there for about 10 minutes….he could not understand why so many people were pointing at him and taking photos.

Maren finally got brave enough to touch my parents’ dog, Tillie, on this trip:

Maren and Tate spent many hours in the kiddie pool  – serving as the landscaping crew ensuring that all of the plants (and everything else) was adequately watered.

Love the smirk on Maren's face here.

Maren is pretty transparent with her emotions – guess how she feels about being with her Nana and Tate… (click on the photo to make it bigger so you can see Maren’s face more clearly)

Baby Christian even got some action in the kiddie pool – more than he hoped for!

Our first airplane travel as a family of four - of course, Christian didn't fall asleep until after we landed.

We were back to our old stomping grounds for the Bradford Family Vacation this year – we really have been looking forward to it all year (see last year – it’s fun to see how much everyone has grown up since then!).

Ahhh! When I'm told to think of my "happy place" this is where I go...this view is only made better when swinging in the hammock from which I'm taking the photo.

Beechers at the beach!  We all loved it!  Matt loved the cooler temperatures in June compared to August and July, Christian easily adjusted to vacation mode- happy and pleasant all week, Maren was enthralled with the waves and endless sand and  I was delighted that everyone else was so happy in a place I love so much.

When this group first started coming to this beach, the “kids” were all in high school or college.  Now, all of those “kids” are the parents and the little ones have brought a new dimension to what used to be a relaxing vacation.  Most of that new dimension is fun, hilarious and adorable:

It's so fun to watch all of the cousins play together!

We adults still have fun, too…

(L) we never lacked for good food in the kitchen, (C) Alissa's beach fitness class, (R) Surprise celebration of Alissa's birthday at the beach

Middle generation's traditional outing to the Blue Point Grille. Thanks to the Grandparents for watching the kids!

In May, we took a get away to St. George to visit Matt’s Aunt Alayne and Uncle Larry.  We enjoyed a few days away in warmer weather (we had a very late start to summer this year) visiting with family and seeing the area.

Alayne and Larry were kind enough to watch Maren and Christian while we went to the temple one day

and they watched Maren another full day while we took Christian with us to do some hiking in  Zion National Park.Maren has always loved Aunt Laynie, but it was especially adorable to watch her fall in love with Uncle Larry on this trip:

Every time we go to St. George, we always tell ourselves, “we need to come here more!”  It’s not that far away and there is so much to do there, especially the hiking!- and, of course, it’s great to visit family.