Day at the Park

Kempton loves the park and the outdoors which is perfect for snowless winters!

I'm loving these bright blue eyes!

27

Bleh, I hate getting older, but it is what it is. Happy Birthday to me!

Can't wait for tonight, Curt's making me an awesome dinner, and OMG finals are over!

Yeah for Christmas Vacation!!!!!

{Merry Christmas}

This year has been a challenging yet fulfilling one for our family. In January we made the decision to sell our home in Queen Creek and move back to Mesa so Curtiss could be closer to school and work. It was a hard decision but it made the most sense for our family and it has been a wonderful blessing to be closer to everything! Curt went back to school full time and has been busy getting through a tough semester with 3 science classes, which he (and I) can’t wait to be over.

Our son Kempton celebrated his 2^nd birthday this July. He is growing so fast and learning something new everyday. He is a very sweet, caring and hilarious kid. Kempton is constantly making us laugh with the silly things he does or says. He has a gentle nature, but loves to play, rough house, and to run; the kid would run in circles all day if we let him. He loves helping his daddy with whatever he can, and has been quite the little helper for his mom too. We love this kid and don’t know what we’d do without him entertaining us daily.

In September we welcomed a little girl into our home. Brooke is such a blessing to our family. She is a very happy baby who is so easy to care for. She has the sweetest smile that just lights up her face and we love making her laugh. Kempton has been an amazing big brother and just adores his “baby Brooke”. He is quite the helper and we love catching him in the moment when he’s playing or caring for her. He is always trying to pick her up or drag her where he wants to play with her. She is definitely a tough little girl and puts up with all his antics. He just loves that he has someone to hide out with in his forts and to watch movies with now. We couldn’t ask for two better kids or two sweeter spirits to bless our home with.

This January Curt and I will have been married for six years and we have enjoyed “growing” old together. We have learned a lot about each other as we have made and changed goals we had for our family and ourselves, and we have grown closer because of it. We are excited for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead for our family as we start over and start a new journey.

We are deeply humbled by the countless blessings we have received and the love and support that has been poured out on our behalf. We couldn’t ask for any more this Christmas and hope this holiday season finds you happy and healthy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Curtiss, Jen, Kempton, & Brooke Beals

I just want ...

...to nibble on these cheeks all day

11/11/2009

2 months old

{Mama's Holiday Giveaway}

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Giveaway

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

An apron, a fruit stand thingy, a cricut expressions, some cute scarves, & a couple beaded watch bands

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

A "The stockings were hung..." board for our family stockings

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

Handmade ornaments

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

A trampoline

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

A bike

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

Stuffed french toast with buttermilk syrup

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

Still working on that

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

9. Favorite holiday song?

O' Holy Night

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

Going up north to play in the snow (when we get some)

Click here to see an example.

Send us a link to your post to [email protected] with “Wish List Meme” in the subject line. You can even tag a few friends to participate in the meme. (Spread that holiday cheer!)

Thanks to all of our generous sponsors that helped make Mama’s Holiday Wishlist possible!

Want to see those prizes in more detail? Click here.

The deadline to post and send us an email is Sunday, December 13th. We’ll annouce the winner on Monday, December 14th. Good luck!

Some Random Pictures

I just can't help myself, she looks so ridiculously cute. Got to love GIANT bows on little girls. She puts up with me.

Love this smile, she's been "singing" and cooing and smiling like crazy. She's such a happy baby!

2nd cousins, 1 week apart, and complete opposites. So cute and chubby.

Random Moments with Kempton:

He thought he needed to help work on the car. He was serious too with that socket wrench.

This is hilarious, he loves to put Curt's riding gear on and lately rides around on his motorcycle. This giant helmet on this tiny body is a crack up!

Ahh, I am so proud of this moment. So I went in last Wednesday (before "Black Friday") because I had a 15% off coupon one item in the store that expired that day. I've been wanting a double stroller forever and in particular this $220 Kolcraft one that has 4 different seating options and a huge basket. Curt and I have been toying with it for the last year and liked it regardless of it's size and sometimes, pain to put in the car. Well I was excited cause it meant it would be under $200 and I had a little less than that amount left over from my shower. After going around and around with the sales lady trying to find out if there would be any better deals that Friday (she was no help), we were on the fence about purchasing this one versus something cheaper. Then, a manager walks by and asks how I'm doing and mentions that this same stroller was just returned the other day by a couple who didn't realize how big it was. Brand new, already assembled and not a scratch or dent on it. Apparently everything in the store was 30% off (thanks lady for not mentioning that) and because it was "used" he took off another 15%. But, wait for it, he said I could also use my coupon which brought my savings to a whopping 60% off (no Black Friday deal could match that). So I walked away with my stroller for $90, oh yeah, I was giddy! Thanks BabiesRus, you're the best!

Ribbons and Bows

So a month or so ago I had the idea that maybe I should start selling some hairbows. I've really enjoyed making them, it's been a fun stress reliever, and since I only have one child wearing them, I don't have the room to keep them all.

*If you are interested in purchasing any of the ones shown (these are all B's so I would be making you a new one based on availability of supplies), or would like to order a custom color scheme just leave a comment and let me know the style, size, color(s), and preference for center if any.

*Centers range from buttons, rhinestones, knots, decorative brads, seashells and anything else you might want.

*All are attached to a ribbon lined alligator clip.

These make great shower gifts, birthday presents, and work for infants, toddlers, and girls of all ages. Thanks for looking!

{Large} Ribbon Flower Bows $4.00

shown: {Pink/Brown, Blue/Brown}

{close up}

shown: {dark pink/white, turquoise, hot pink/white, lavender/light green/multi dots}

{close up}

shown: { red/white/blue, turquoise/white}

Mini Ribbon Flower Bows $2.00 each or 2 for $3.00

in pairs great for pigtails

shown: {black/white, pink, white/multi stripe}

{orange/white dot, lavender/green multi}

{close up}

shown: {pink/white}

Bows (any md-lg)$4.00 (for single ribbon)

shown: {red/white polka dots with sparkly center}

Stacked Bows (more than one ribbon choice) $7.00

shown: {Fuschia /Black and white, sparkly center}

Large Flowers $5.00

may be more if a fancier center is chosen

shown: {hot pink, white, blue/lavender, pink}

{close up}

Small Flowers $4.00

shown: {white w/ blue/brown center, lavender/blue, sparkly white, white w/ pink center}

{close up}

Small Paper Flowers $2.50

Medium Paper Flowers $3.00

shown: {small pink, md orange/white, md purple/white, md teal/hot pink}

close up: {small teal/white, pink/white}

these little ones are perfect for infants

Large Paper Flower $3.50

shown: {red/white} great for Christmas

Clippies $2.00 each or 2 for $3.50

(in pairs, great for pig tails)

shown: {blue/brown, hot pink/ green}

{Dark pink/teal, white/teal}

Stretchy Headbands (any color)$2.00-4.00

{depending on fabric choice and size}

shown: {simple- white/pink, crinkle-lavender, lace-black}

For headband orders I need to know color choice, size of child's head, and what kind of material

i.e: lace, ruffle, crinkle, or simple

9 {Weeks}

I had fun taking some new pictures of Brooke last week. She's a fun little subject to shoot and tried to get her in different positions, but too bad she's so all over the place with her head wanting to hold it up all the time, she rarely relaxes.

I love this one. She was holding her body up so well and then she gradually started falling over. It was funny to see the pictures as she was slowly going down.


My little helper. He was there "helping" with our little photo shoot. He sure loves his sister.
Brooke had her 2 month check up and is growing perfectly and continues to be a great baby.

*She is now 11 lbs 9 oz and 22 1/4 inches long. Basically, according to statistics, she's short and chubby, sorry missy, I think that's my fault. But, she has a small head. Go figure K was the complete opposite, big head, small body! A

*She now eats about 5 0z every 4-4 1/2 hours

*Sleeps through the night going down around 10 and waking up around 9-9:30 am

*Smiling all the time and starting to coo more and more, she especially loves when Kempton is entertaining her.

*She doesn't seem to mind when Kempton is all up in her business, squishing her, shoving the pacifier in her mouth, or trying to pick her up and hold her.

*Rolled off the couch yesterday (she's ok) so I guess she can roll now.

*She's tough (both my kids are). When she has to get shots there's just the initial crying and then she's done, not like the kids down the hall screaming for 3 days. Also, not affected (again) by Kempton's antics. There have been times when K has done something (accidentally) and I'm waiting for her to freak out. She doesn't, she's tough!

*According to the doc, she is as alert and able to hold her body up at the level of a 3 1/2 month old. Go Brooke, K was lazy until about 4 months.

*She's a great sleeper, wakes up around 9 am, takes a nap until about noon eats again, and then goes back down when K takes a nap at 1:00. I have a good amount of free time.

*Loves to snuggle, but when it comes down to it, would rather be left alone on her stomach to relax. She's a stomach sleeper.

*She still has all her hair and then some, because of the above reason, don't think she'll be getting that nasty bald spot.

*Still not loving the carseat, but now that she sits next to K, he entertains her and it works great.

*Brooke likes reading time at night when we're putting K to bed, I think she pays attention more than he does.

*She's definitely a fun and easy baby with such a sweet spirit about her. She just makes you smile and I love that she has that same effect on her brother. He can't wait to see her in the morning and is always trying to take care of her. It's fun to watch him run over to the couch and just want to play with her even though she's napping. They're a great duo and I can't wait till they can play together.

*And my favorite, she's a mama's girl. She loves me and calms down real quick when I pick her up. Love that she love's me since K is a daddy/grandma's boy, I'm 3rd or 4th on that list.

Love this girl and loving watching her grow, just maybe slow down a bit please!

Trick or Treat

It seems like I'm always a day (or week) late posting my post holiday wrap up, so as per usual, here's the post on our Halloween festivities.

Friday night we had our ward/community trunk or treat and boo bash. Kempton scored a ton of candy and wouldn't part with the bounce houses once he found his way in.

He loved being Buzz Lightyear, and will probably continue to play in that costume till it's a dish rag.

Brooke was cozy in her little Halloween sleeper and witch hat, she slept for most of the night in her stroller.

It was freakishly cold that night so I wore gloves, I'm a wimp!

Saturday (much warmer), we spent the evening at my Aunt's who always has a great party for Halloween. All the kids get together to play, pass out candy, and trick or treat her awesome neighborhood. The first part of the evening K stood in front of her bubble machine trying to catch them in his treat bag. It was hilarious and sad at the same time because he would look inside after to see if he had caught any.

Brooke and her Great Grandpa Charlie

Classic

After dinner, and way to many homemade donuts, we took the kids around for some candy. Kempton ran from one house to the next and had no problem holding his bag open and attempting to say trick or treat, it came out kind of jumbled, but he was having a blast anyways.

Once again, B just hung out in her stroller, though this time she was annoyed by her tutu, it was in her face most of the way.

My little punk rocker

We had a great night and loved watching K spend time with all his cousins (2nd, and cousin's cousins).

I love this time of year and grateful to have great family to spend fun holiday's like this with.

Enjoying a post treating movie and apple slices, the only food they ate that wasn't candy.

Kid in the candy bowl, we tried to hand him out.

Silly girl!