Christmas 2008!!!

Okay here is our Christmas rundown- and the photos are totally in backwards order but I have been told by someone, HOLLY, to update my blog already so here you go!

Berk opening his Elmo Kitchen- can you tell he was excited?
Braden & his new drawing thing, that once his Dad figures out how to install, will be really cool.
Right before we let the boys come down in the morning, and also the last time you could see carpet at my house for a few days...Both boys got scooters from Santa. Braden also got a TBall set and Berk got the softest Wall-e blanket.
Berk sleeping in on Christmas morning, in my bed- yes his feet WERE  right in my face all night.
Christmas Eve at the Beck's
The boys loving on their Auntie Kels.Berk & I eating Eve dinner. They even made me Chicken Chicken legs (you Mortensen's understand that one)

Rusty and I each got what we really wanted this year, I got an IPhone and he got a Blue ray player. So I am relearning how to use a cell phone again. We had a very blessed Christmas season- even with our attempts at doing less getting and more giving.   We are headed up to the snow in a few days so I am trying to get Christmas down, but not very fast. Oh well. At least my blog is up to date...

Merry Christmas!!!

Hoping this year's end finds you wishing 

to see more of the Earth's wonders.

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season- Soccer that is...

Actually our soccer season just ended. And none too soon. Braden had an injury* the morning of our last game and couldn't even play (too much pain killers to walk straight let alone run!). The Sharks had another great season. Of the 16 players we had last season 9 were back again and we got a few new friends, making it a family of players. I have to say our girls players are hands down awesome. We did have one kid who had never played before just tear it up. Amazing that kid was, when he showed up. I loved Wednesday practices because after one afternoon of chasing Berk out of the field and across the entire park 700 times I had the brilliant idea to stay home and have other Mom's spend practice there. So Steph and Randa would come and keep the craziness confined to my house and we had the bonus of chatting time! The kids all play well together, except when Berk threw a wooden building block at Blake- resulting in enough blood for us to summon Pops to see if stitches were needed (nope). Other than that we had so much fun.

The games were always an adventure. Either Berk would or would not run into the field. Generally he did, unless someone was there to entertain him with a ball on a nearby field. And Braden either would or would not decide he liked soccer and either he did or didn't make an effort. Crazy kid.  

We just had our end of season party and Coach Rusty got to give out the trophies. I love all these kids- they are so funny! Braden is the oldest on the team and will move up in age bracket so most of them won't play under Rusty anymore. I am super sad!

Berk got a trophy out of the box- he can't wait for his turn to play!

The best Soccer Mom's out there- Randa, me & Steph

We think we may try T-ball next, since there is a lot more sitting and a lot less running- sounds right up Braden's alley!

*Braden's accident-He was riding his electric scooter around the yard and across to the neighbors drive as well and turned to sharp and went right into their rock slicing his pinkie finger in half sideways from his fingernail coming out. It is hard to explain what happened (Pops used the word evulsed---ICK!), and frankly I still can't look at it without throwing up in my mouth. Luckily Rusty's dad has an AMAZING first aid kit and has been patching him up all week. Not so lucky it was his right hand so he has trouble getting dressed, writing and basically everything else. Oh well. BOYS!

The Trip Begins...

Ok, I know I have been home for a few days, but this jet lag thing is no joke! The nights are the worst, the boys wake up at 4 am and think it is play time! I will post a few posts a day for the next little while until I have the whole trip done..

On to Venice!

First of all, thank you is not even a big enough phrase to let the Beck's know how much we appreciate going on this trip. It was incredible. But let's start at the beginning. The night before we left, I was packed and ready. Berk had just gotten an ear infection and Braden had some little flu bug so I knew we were gonna have a fun time. We left our house at 4:30 am on Wed. the 9th. We flew from here to Philly and had a three hour layover. It worked out well because the kids were able to stretch their legs before the long trip. The flight over was long, almost 9 hours but the boys slept off and on and were super fliers.

Once we landed in Venice, cleared customs and got our bags we headed to our ship. It was really wired that our taxi was a boat, and that along the way we passed all kinds of other boats. A DHL boat even went past. Once we got on the ship, ate lunch and got settled in our state rooms it was time for a nap. While the wiser ones of us (Russ & Bill) explored Venice, we chose to sleep. But we did get up in time for dinner and headed into Venice that night. We did a little shopping but didn't stay long because we had left Braden aboard in the kid zone. The next day we spent the entire day out and about in the city. The St Mark's Square was were all the action was. Tons of shops, gelato (yum), shops, gelato, shops--ok you get the picture. By evening we were back on the boat and headed to Croatia.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Nothing Broken = Good Trip...

Well, the moment Braden has been waiting for since Christmas morning arrived this last weekend. Rusty, his Dad, his sis Kelcie & bro Ryan all headed down to the Dunes. Pretty, sure I did not want to go, fearing I wouldn't let him have any fun what so ever. Plus, Berkley has been cranky and I didn't want to deal with the 8 hours in the car in one day thing... One thing I have learned about the trip, Braden can do a nice Superman and loves actual Sand in his sandwich. Oh, and Kelcie is about the craziest girl quad rider I know. No fear, seriously...

The met up with good family friends the Whiteners- Jim, Stephen, Sharon & Jayne. Good times were had by all. Glad they all got home safe, extremely dirty and exhausted. Enjoy the pictures.