Eleven Years!!!

 Before I get to the Snowbird post I have to mention that on June 30, Rusty and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.  We had a nice dinner at Kona Grill and then we saw the new Transformers movie. It is always nice to get  time to ourselves. I also got surprised with an unexpected gift!

A Dyson Slim! I have been drooling over one of these ever since I saw it. I have been lugging out my regular Dyson nearly daily to clean up the wood floors after the boys- now I have this quick lightweight one! And it comes all apart and is perfect for cleaning out the car. It is sad, but I really, really, really do love my vacuums. But not nearly as much as I love the man that gives me them!

Aloha Tenth Anniversary Trip...

Can I start by saying how nice it is to travel on a plane with out kids??? We flew out Monday morning and I read, slept and watched movies on the plane. So nice! One of my favorite things about the Big Island is that at the airport you walk down a staircase to deplane, and then across the tarmac. I just think it's fun. The whole terminal is outdoors. Then we wandered over to the baggage claim where we were greeted with a Lei. After a quick trip to pick up our rental car we headed to the resort.

If you've never been to Hawaii, the Big Island especially, it may surprise you that this is mostly what you see...

Lava, and little shrubs, and more lava...Until you get to the coast or near a resort and then it is all green and lovely, just like you picture.

(the lobby)

We checked in, greeted with cold towels and a yummy guava juice drink and we headed to our room, checked out the view and then changed and hit the beach. 

(our view)

The resort we stayed at was the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, which is right next to the Hapuna State Park, so while just down the way the beach was crowded, our beach was practically deserted- so nice!

When we got back to our room the hotel had send down Champagne to celebrate our anniversary. After a little chat with the concierge, they send us down more of the juice that they'd given us at check in instead.

It was a week of amazing food- that looked a little like this... (click to enlarge)

My favorite Hawaii food would have to be 1.) Chocolate covered Mac nuts and 2.) Lava Flows- the yummiest strawberry/coconut drink. We ordered one everywhere we went.

So day one was basically the flight, and relaxing on the beach.  Day 2, we woke up at 5:00 am local time - we tried our darnedest to sleep in, but our body clocks didn't adjust. So we had an early start to the day. We ate breakfast at the Ocean Terrace with the most amazing food (and tons of birds who'd try to steal your food when you weren't looking)

We spent the most time driving around the island this day. We found a few shopping areas, and I was amazed by the beauty everywhere.  These were some of my favorite shots. The yellow flower was the size of my head, I swear! (click to enlarge) We actually had such a long day what even after a number of trips to the beach, we even drove into Kona to go see Knight and Day at this ramshackle theatre.

That night we went to the Mauna Kea Resort- next door to the HBPH for a Luau! It was a beautiful night, and a fun time. We received our leis from the cutest little girl, and had the best seats of not just the show, but the sunset too. (click to enlarge)

Waiting for it to start (above) and the sunset (below)  I took a ton of photos and videos of the show, but none of them really turned out.  We sat at a table with two couples from Australia, who were born in Denmark- needless to say, they had the COOLEST accent. And at the end, I got to take a picture with one of the guy dancers.

The next day was our actual anniversary.  We woke up crazy early again, ate and had the beach all to ourselves for a few hours.  (a 360 view- click to enlarge)

We wandered over to the neighboring resort for lunch and then did a little shopping. We got all ready to head to our big adventure of the day, a helicopter tour of the Kona side of the island.

 We were all ready to go, I was nervous as crap, but it sounded cool so I was being brave. We did the safety brief, got our life jacket pouches on, and watched the two helicopters land. We found out the first tour that was going to the other side of the island was being canceled due to weather over there. We were just about to walk down to the mat and they called us back and said the weather was too deteriorated on the coast for a good view, and the tour was canceled! BUMMER! (this actually happened to us 13 years ago too.) Glad they don't fly when it's unsafe, but it left us with a gaping hole in our day---so back to the beach for us!

We had made reservations for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner. It was so nice, the food was amazing, and of course, the Lava Flows were yummy! They dressed up the table, brought us desserts and champagne (I love the look on people's face when you tell them No to free liquor) and since we didn't drink- they brought us chocolate covered strawberries instead! Yummy food, good company and a great view, who could ask for more?

Our last full day on the island we took our time at breakfast, watching the bazillion birds trying to eat every one's food and listening to the waves crash outside the terrace. We headed to the pool, and read for a while and then moved down to the beach. I chased schools of fish in the crystal clear water for like an hour. I am way to easily amused. I loved that our hardest decision the whole trip was weather to go to the beach or pool first... We packed and wandered the hotel grounds and took a ton of photos. A lot of them in the same spots we had years before. 

Finally, we headed up to Hawi for out last big adventure. A Ziplining tour! I was super excited about this one.Once we got there, we met our crew who got us all geared up, and we chose helmets. Mine said "Queenie" and Rusty's said "Zippy". 

We were with 6 other people, who were all pretty cool. We drove about 30 minutes up the mountain in a 6 wheel drive Swiss army vehicle. That was almost as fun as the actual zip lines! They told us stories about the island, and growing up and it was so fun. We laughed a lot, and then laughed more. 

I cannot even tell you how fast the five hours flew by- ha, no pun intended. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. We went over waterfalls, and huge canyons and the views! Beautiful! They start you out on small courses to get you ready and by the 8th and final line you have to run gung-ho and jump off the cliff and then do a running landing. I was having too much fun to video the last ones in flight, so I videoed two of our three guides. The first guy is a pro, he's also responsible for jumping out of the trees sounding like a wild boar, and scaring the crap out of me.  He was so funny. The next guy was on his 2nd day of work, and needless to say, I think he will do just fine.  The guy you hear talking was our main guy, his name was Shanon, but we called him 'Cannons' because he didn't have guns- he had cannons! They were so much fun. If you ever go- use the Big Island Eco Adventures company. Love love love. 

 After that, we drove back to the hotel, got our bags, changed and did last drive to the coast to watch the sunset. We went to Cafe Pesto for dinner. It was one of those hole-in-the-wall places with the best food (we also ate there in '97). Yummy. So, full, rested and relaxed we headed to the Kona airport to wait for our red eye. How cool is this airport? Yup, that was our plane! 

Thanks for an amazing trip Rusty! 

And a huge, enormous, gigantic thanks to Kelcie who watched our boys while we were gone! You are a Super Aunt!

Happy Anniversary to US!!!

Beck Family

Established June 30, 2000

Ten years ago today, I married the man of my dreams, my high school sweetheart, my best friend- and I couldn't have made a better decision.

So, to celebrate our TEN years and three kids, my hubby has taken me to Hawaii for the week.  Last time we were here I was 17, he was 18.  (I got to go with Rusty and my future in laws on his senior trip, it was so fun.) So I can't wait to get back!

Man, if you think we looked like kids in our wedding pictures, we're practically toddlers in these...

I could go on and on and on about the may amazing qualities he has, but if you read my blog often you know most of them-- so I'll just hit the highlights... He cleans the kitchen up every night, he does laundry without being asked, and when I do the laundry he puts it away (true love, right?), he is meticulous about taking care of our house, yard and the things we have, he loves our boys, he is the hardest worker, he is a loyal friend, he spoils me and he still loves me after all this time! Rusty, you are more than I dreamed of and I love you forever and always.

Happy Anniversary!!!

9 Years, 2 (almost 3) kids, a dozen passport stamps, 2 houses, 5 cars, 1000 tears, a million laughs & countless adventures- Thanks hon, you're the best!

Happy This and That...

So this really should have been a Happy father's Day post but it will be more a recap of the last week of madness here. My hubby Rusty has been off the charts amazing lately. Bless his heart, no matter how tired he is, he knows I am more tired, more fed up with kids and more stressed than ever, so he is always doing the least expected things for me. Plus he has crazy willpower. He has been working out like a fiend and has lost 30 pound in the last few weeks. Pretty sure if he looses any more, we will weigh the same and I will cry. A lot. And don't get me started on how he does the laundry and clean up the house every night. But he does and he does. Love you!

But anyways, last Saturday after Braden's dive meet (more on that later), we came home and he said, "we're gonna paint today." I have been wanting to put Braden and Berk together for months now, and since Baby B is coming WAY faster than I feel like I am ready for, I have been anxious to get this first step done. So, he spent all day Saturday priming, painting and -just for kicks- putting crown molding up, as well as molding around the window. To top that off, since I couldn't be around the fumes for too long - he did all the clean up, taping, sanding, sawing, ect ect. And as an added bonus we got the stripes painted in the kids bathroom as well. (Don't get me started on how flipping textured my walls are, or how bad the lines bleed, I might hit you.)

So Monday, I get a text from my friend Steph, who knows I have been hunting for bunk beds for AGES, and she tells me they have a super cute one, just like I want at Costco. So that night for family night, we hopped in the car, went to "just look" and wha-lah-- 4 hours later we have a new twin over full bunk bed, mattress and bedding for the boys room. I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of the disaster that happened in my house during the 90 minutes I was getting the mattress and bedding. But let's just say, it looked like my boys had quite a fun time with the 85 billion pieces of Styrofoam that came with the bed. It looked like it snowed in my house. In fact, a week later, some of it is still flying around...

(I really need to get a photo of the room once all the picutres are on the wall, but for now...)

Well, Monday's project resulted in a little Tuesday project. We had to take down the ceiling fan and get a standard light. We put a tower fan in the corner and it seems to keep it cool just fine. Poor Braden had to turn the fan off and push the blades aside to climb up to his bed. Thankfully, Berk is finally out of the crib and sleeping and napping in his very own bed!!! YEAH! Cross that off my list.

So later in the week Rusty mentions to me that he already has his Father's Day gift as well as our anniversary present. I am thinking, ok awesome! Since I had a few things already for Dad's Day I knew I needed one more thing or two and I'd be all set, but little did I know he had this up his sleeve... A Nikon D5000!

That's right, I am finally a card carrying member of the Big Girl's Camera club. In truth, the camera was my anniversary present (on the 30th- 9yrs!) and the accessories, lenses, case ect. were his presents. I am still speechless. I have secretly been coveting an SLR camera for ages, but never actually talked about my desire for one! He is the best. Now, if he will let me do more than just hold it. Because according to my slightly OCD hubby, I have to read the manual before I can use it. And frankly, since it does HD videos as well as photos the stinkin manual is like my old Art History textbook. So for now- Rusty is the shutterbug. And yes, he has read the manual.

Well, the camera came in handy the next day at Braden's third dive meet. It was the last regular season meet, Prelims and Finals are in a few weeks. They upped the required dives from 3 to 4 and it threw him for a loop- at the last minute he refused to do his 4th dive (a front flip tuck) and had a melt down. I think it may have had something to do with the kid that did a back flip and totally hit his head on the board- but that could just be me. Anyhow. At last weeks meet Braden did three dives. A front dive, an Inward dive and a back dive with a 1/2 twist. He rocked them all and ended up in 2nd place!

This week he did the same dives, and even with his low score on his "flip" attempt, he still walked away in 3rd place! We are so excited. He looks like a natural.

These are my favorite photos from last week, and then I am putting a slide show of video clips and the other pictures at the end. It is short, but he is crazy good. To think one month ago he didn't even know how to do the approach and now this...we love ya buddy! Can't wait to see how you do in finals! These two photos are of the same dive. His back dive w/ a 1/2 twist. I love that he looks like he's flying! So cool! I love the new camera!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Home Sweet Home...

This month marks 6 years since we moved from our first home in Mesa to this home in Gilbert. Six years. It seems so crazy. Braden was only a few months old, we were weeks away from his first surgery and this house seemed so big.  Over the years you change things and adjust. You get more stuff, more people and more stuff. A once playroom gave way to a new nursery when Berk came around. A guest room was sacrificed so I would have an office of my own to 'girlify' and leave a mess if I wanted to. All white walls have been painted in the last few years so that the only white that remains is in the bathrooms- and that's just cause I can't decide how I want to paint them.  Ok really, the kids bath I want to paint in stripes-but the texture on the wall makes it impossible to get a clean line- so for now it is white. We've put crown moulding up in nearly every room, framed the windows and changed out all the light fixtures, nearly.  

Poor Rusty changed out three ceiling fans just today. About ten times. Is there some sort of law that says a box CAN'T have either a)the directions in it or b) all the parts included??? I swear we have made 10 trips to Home Depot and Lowe's today! Anyway.

And outside there are so many changes. A pool fence was one of the first additions, followed by a bigger grass area, and eventually chairs by the pool, a tramp and an ever popular sandbox. Out front we still have a list of 'eventually' to do, but we did cross a big one off early last year when we removed an UGLY tree and put in two new shade trees.  I really really really want to paint my house.  I have the color all picked out, I have a painters number- now I just need the OK from Rusty to spend the money! (hint hint)

It seems so funny how you can feel like you are bursting at the seams with toys and clothes and stuff and yet there is always something to be bought! We love this house. We thought it would be a temporary thing, only a few years at most. But we love this neighborhood, school, friends, ward and now we wonder if we can ever leave.  Now if we can just figure out where to put everything we've outgrown... I am praying for a storage unit for my anniversary, how romantic, right?

So Happy Moving Day Anniversary House- we love you. 

Eight Down, A Million To Go...

This week Rusty and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary on June 30th. Sometimes it is strange to think it has 'only' been 8 years, since we have technically dated for over 12... Anywho. I thought it would be funny to list 8 things I never thought growing up I would EVER do or try---and thanks to my sweetheart I have not only done, but loved, mostly...

1. Swimming with dolphins. Rusty took me to Miami last year, it was so much fun. Just the two of us for 5 days. Nothing better. I am not going to lie. I totally screamed and freaked out right before we got in the tank, but by the time it was our turn to ride them I was all in it. I even kissed the cute little, fish smelling thing. We also held alligators that trip, I was breaking all kinds of barriers!
2. Visiting Disney World. Hey, that may not seem like a big thing, but I only went to Disneyland once as a child, so getting to go to Disney World for 8 days was amazing. It was so fun to ride all the rides and have Rusty let me buy all the stupid nick-nacks I couldn't live without. I think the best part though, was watching Braden experience it all.
3. Lake Powell. I know I just posted this, so you are thinking, What? But I get very, very motion sick, in cars, planes and especially boats. So for me to not only go to Powell, but LOVE it and look forward to it, shows just how much fun we really have (and how great Dramamine is).
4. Biking down a volcano. Ok, so technically, this was before we were married, but it still counts. Rusty took me with his family on his senior trip to Hawaii (BAMSanFran, I don't wanna hear it) and while we were there we biked down the Haleakala. I can't say I was looking forward to it, but I did enjoy it-after.
5. Babies. Ok, so of course I didn't aim to be single and never have kids, but what I didn't expect was that for one; how hard it would be for me to actually get pregnant (both times). And secondly, how much I would hate every minute of each pregnancy. I am NOT one of those lucky girls who has no problems in pregnancy, and looks great the whole time. I eat and puke, I think about food and puke, I sleep and wake up to puke. The ENTIRE nine months. I truly believe that Rusty is the single person on this Earth that is capable of understanding my quirky needs and ensuring I endure the pregnancies. I really think he would take my place if he could. It think that's why I love the actual birth so much- it means I am DONE.
6. Skiing. If you are cringing because you know I grew up in the ski-nation of Utah, with a family condo at a Snowbird Ski Resort, so sorry. I actually never learned to ski until I was 18 and a long time Arizona resident. Of course, Rusty grew up skiing so when we went, he skied backwards showing me what to do. I guess when Braden picked up snowboarding at 4 years old, I shouldn't have been shocked.
7. All things sports. Not that I am not a sports fan, I just would prefer to do other things, given the choice. Thankfully, through his persistence I have learned to love watching football, basketball, baseball and even (gasp) Nascar. Thanks to Rusty I have watched more games from the suites at Chase Field than I have seen from the seats. I have even watched a game from the pool (remember that?). I have even been to the World Series Game 6 the year the D-Backs won.
8. Traveling. I never thought as a kid, "I would love to go to on a cruise through Europe." For two reasons, the flight and the boat. I used to hate the 90 minute trip to Utah! But again, Rusty grew up flying everywhere, big planes and small (I cannot tell you my happiness that his family sold their plane before I ever had to ride in it!!!) so he has been so encouraging about getting me in the friendly skies. Slowly we have worked me up to longer and longer flights, so I really don't hate flying anymore. I can hardly believe the trip we have been planning for over 6 months will be over before school starts! Italy, France, Greece, Croatia, Spain-here I come! I really think once I have this trip under my belt, I can go anywhere! But I won't lie, the Zanax & Prozac help a lot too...

Rusty, thanks for opening my eyes to new things, for making those things not so scary and for not laughing when I still think they are terrifying! Despite all my worrying and planning, I know we will have the trip of a lifetime! Thanks for putting up with me for all these years, and still loving me despite how well you know me! Happy Anniversary! I can't wait to see what gifts we buy each other on the trip...