Blogging Semi-annually

At the beginning of the year I was really gung-ho about blogging, but...(you all knew the "but" was coming) I got wrapped up with weddings, the stake musical, Landon becoming mobile, and...I was sick for a couple of months. Yes, MONTHS! No fun now, but it will be in 4 1/2 more months because I'M EXPECTING!!!!!! We are so excited for Landon to have a sibling! We won't know for a couple more weeks if we're having a boy or a girl-but I'll be sure to announce.

So, a major catch-up post is in the works. Sorry to those who hate long posts. :) Just scroll down and see the pix of the cutest boy in the world. He really is our pide and joy. And...he's a big boy now. He's in his new car seat, walking around everywhere, sleeping through the night, and playing in the dirt with his daddy. We celebrated his birthday (along with grandpa Dance's birthday) on Memorial Day. I can't believe my baby's one! Here are pictures to fill in the gaps for my delinquent blogging. Enjoy!

Landon with Uncle Tanner on his 1st birthday!!

Takin' care of business!

Trying out his new b-day presents

Landon was born on Grandpa Dance's birthday.

I got brave and cut it all off!!

Landon's first popsicle experience

Landon's first pinewood derby. They lost EVERY
race until Ben started cheating. :)

His cousins love him!

With Great Grandma & Grandpa Landon on Easter

The cute Beck boys

First snowmachine ride

Kissin' cousins

Our trip to see Uncle Tyson

So Proud to Be an American!!!

I have felt so blessed, especially these last few days, to be an American. I love our country! I have watched in awe at the support President Obama has received from the Nation. I hope he can live up to all of the expectations America seems to already have for him!!! I hope he will be strengthened by our prayers-he will definitely need them. So many people expect so much from him. I feel blessed to have witnessed the historic event of the first African-American President in my lifetime. I think about my son's future and wonder what it will hold for him. I hope he grows up feeling pride for his country and a bright hope for the future.

When I was in college I was fortunate to intern on Capitol Hill. I learned so much about our Country, and loved meeting friends from all walks of life. My internship stands out to me as a highlight in my lifetime. I had the BEST experience in DC. I'm so grateful I took the opportunity to see the government in action. Interning in the Nation's capitol instilled in me a fascination with America's leaders past and present. Here are a few pictures from my experience on Capitol Hill.

The Holidays in a nutshell

It's been a while...I know. We have been really busy with weddings, family, traveling, and a sick little one. Oh, and did I mention that everything went so fast that I woke up the day after Christmas & couldn't believe it was already over! I always DREAD the day I have to take the tree down. I feel like the "Holiday Magic" just came and went! But, this year I got the decorations down early because I was excited to start the new year & set some new goals for 2009. One of my new goals is to keep up with my blog!!! I'll let you be the judge of how well I do that. :)

One of the beautiful things about marrying a man from your hometown, and living in that same hometown is that there is family GALORE! And we eat it up. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with both sides of the family. I love Thanksgiving food!!! Not as much as Ben, but pretty close. I even tried a few little recipes of my own. It was fun to add to the meal. Ben and I have the best chefs in our family!

After Thanksgiving dinner we headed up to my mom and dad's cabin in Island Parkwith my family. We had a blast watching movies, hanging out with family, and playing games. And, not to rub it in, (Bubba and Olivia) but Ben and I dominated at POUNCE! (An insane game that our family gets WAY too in to.)

On Saturday the Dance side of the family came to the cabin too, and we went out in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Landon was such a trooper! It was fun to bundle him up and take him with us. Ben found the perfect tree, and we took turns cutting it down. And, just as a disclaimer, the tree next to us in the picture above is NOT the tree. :)

December 2nd was our two year anniversary. Yay!! Two years! It was in the middle of the week, so we decided to celebrate during the weekend. So, that Friday night my mom (who loves nothing more than having Landon all to herself) watched Landon, and Ben and I escaped. We got a room, (thanks dad) ate take-out from our favorite restaurant, watched movies, and enjoyed a good night's sleep! It was so fun to relax and be together. When we got to the room, there was a huge basket of yummy food, sparkling cider, candles...etc. Thanks mom. We had such a great anniversary.

Also in December we took a fun trip to Salt Lake City to celebrate Ben's sister's graduation. Emily received her Master's Degree from Utah State. Yay Aunt Emily!!! We are SO PROUD of you!! We went to the Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square for dinner, and then we jumped on the Trax and headed to Temple Square to ohh and ahh at the Christmas lights. They were, as always, so magical.

Early the next morning the weather was crazy. It was snowing non-stop, and we got a frantic call from my business partner, Mel, saying that she rolled her Durango on the way to set up a wedding. Thankfully, nobody was hurt-but the SUV was totaled. So we packed up our stuff and cruised back to Idaho Falls to help. No more traveling in snow storms for me. Good job Ben! He was completely calm & collected. Overall, our trip was a complete whirlwind, but it was so fun to be with family.

Ben's company Christmas party was the 15th. Becky and Byron are so good to us. We had dinner at the Sandpiper with the whole Byron Beck Builder's crew. Again-such good food. Are you seeing a pattern here?? We love food at our house!

The next few days were a frenzy trying to finish getting ready for Christmas. We tried to spend as much time with family as possible. We took Landon to visit Santa-and he loved it. He sat down and started pulling on his beard. :) I thought Landon might be a little afraid, or even apprehensive to sit on a total stranger's lap. I was wrong.

We have a couple Christmas birthdays in our family. Deanna (Ben's mom) is the 23rd, and my mom is the 24th. It's actually really a lot of fun because we get to celebrate for 3 days! On Christmas Eve Landon got really sick. So, Ben and I took turns trying to comfort him and help him sleep. By Christmas morning he was feeling a lot better, and Ben and I were SO EXCITED for him to open the things Santa brought him. It was so fun to watch him get excited over the paper. His grandparents spoiled him rotten. I can't wait until next year!

I know it's overdue, but we loved your Christmas cards and letters! Thanks you for remembering us. We hope you had a wonderful, memorable holiday season!

***Sorry about the random pictures...they are completely out of order-I'm not a savvy blogger... yet. Maybe with my resolution to be a better blogger I'll figure it out.

Twilight

Okay...it was fabulous! I LOVED IT! I only read the first book because I had a brand new baby, and a brand new business-so I didn't have time. But, I was so excited to see the movie so I could understand what all of the psycho/can't hardly wait/I'm in love with Edward/ hype was all about. And tonight I discovered why the movie made 33 MILLION dollars on opening night. A bunch of girls in my ward got together and we went to see Twilight tonight. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! The hubbies stayed home to play "dad", and we went out for a night on the town. And, I have to confess that I don't think I've been up this late since Ben and I were dating! Oh geeze! I sound so old. There were times in college when I would pull all-nighters no problem. Right Kymmie? I think those all-nighters are finally catching up with me. Now I'm going to bed so I can dream of Edward-Ohhh, actually I hope I don't have nightmares. All that blood-sucking/vampire kung-foo got pretty intense. Can't wait for the next movie!!!

Random Thoughts

Tuesday I spoke at the baptism of a woman named Brandy. I was lucky enough to get to know her over the last few months through the sister missionaries. We met at one of her first discussions, and we were instant friends. She is amazing! She already knew so much, had great questions, and wanted to be baptized. She has the most wonderful family. Her husband was very supportive, and her daughters (still too little to be baptized) will be so thankful someday for their Mother's decision and example. This recent experience with Brandy made me remember a lot of feelings from my mission in Bulgaria when I was able to see someone I helped teach be baptized. There was a time after I came home from Bulgaria when all I wanted to do was go back. And even though it's been five years (I know! Can you believe it??) since I've been home, I still miss it every day. I miss teaching the gospel 24/7, my great companions, and most of all- the Bulgarians!!
Anyway, I was looking through some pictures on my computer, and found a couple pics from the summer. It was so fun when three different times this summer I received a phone call from mission friends saying they were close to Idaho Falls for a wedding/vacation/farewell, etc. I was SO EXCITED that they thought to call me. There are only two pictures (I know there is a third somewhere-sorry Hazel) , but here they are! Thanks for taking time out to see me!

This is Elder and Sister Brown from Washington. They took such good care of me in a city where we served together. This was the first time they got to see Landon after he was born. I think he was 3 months here. Anyway, they are two of my very favorite people-so giving, caring, loving...just wonderful. They came and took me to lunch when I was pregnant, and they were as excited as I was for me to be a mama!

This is Chelsia. We were companions in the capitol in Bulgaria. We had such a great time teaching and learning how to get around that crazy city! We had all sorts of random experiences. (One of the people we were teaching was being held hostage in her home one day when we went to give her a discussion!!!) Anyway, this isn't the best picture because you can't see the babies, but my Landon and Chelsia's LucyMae were born on the same day just 2 hours apart. It was SO fun to see them!! Thanks for calling Chels!

It's Official...fall is gone and the snow is here!!

Sunday night in Idaho Falls got me so excited for the holidays. It was FREEZING cold, so Ben and I turned up the fireplace, made some hot chocolate, and cranked the old fashioned Christmas tunes. It was so much fun planning for the holidays. Earlier in the week I saw this tree when I was out running errands and thought it was amazing. Fall is so beautiful here in Idaho, I almost didn't want the snow to fly. But, after Sunday night I decided it would be okay to have a skiff here and there. Monday morning we woke up to a white blanket all over the ground. It was so beautiful!
We were in Portland for Halloween, so Landon didn't go trick-or-treating, but we dressed him up anyway. Ben and I were both born and raised in Idaho Falls, but he grew-up as a Bonneville "bee", and I grew-up as an I.F. "tiger". So, of course, Ben wanted Landon's costume to be a bee.

And I wanted him to be a tiger. So, I took pictures in both costumes, but in the end...

Mommy won! Yay!!! The little nose and whiskers lasted just long enough to show uncle Tyson & then Landon decided he'd had enough. He doesn't look like himself without his curls showing-but he makes a dang cute little tiger. :)

I just threw this picture up because I LOVE the little ringlet hanging over his ear! I don't do anything to his hair except put a little baby lotion in it and let it go. He gets called a "girl" all the time, but I can't bring myself to cut his beautiful curls---ever!!!