185,000

Well driving down the road today I happened to glance down and notice that my little grey Saturn car had just turned 185,000 miles!! That is a lot of miles for one little car and it made me start thinking about the places and adventures it has gone during all those miles!! Thane and I bought the car when we got engaged in early 1997. Thane really wanted a Saturn and I really wanted a stick shift, so it met all the requirements (and believe it or not it still has its ORIGINAL stick shift!!)

This car started out by driving us from our apartment to USU, back to apartment, to work, and back to apartment. REPEAT!! (And often it would stop at the Richmond Maverick for a nacho run along the way!) Many times over I would cram for a test in the front of this cute little car. Thought we might never graduate - but we did!

Then my plastic machine on four wheels drove us to Boise, Idaho where we got to spend the next 9 years of our lives. It has driven the road from Boise to Salt Lake City so many times it could probably take itself now. It was my ride to the hospital during two of my labors, and got to bring both beautiful Alexis and handsome Ethan home from the hospital. This is about the time when Thane and I decided we needed a bigger car for our growing fam!

It has become the back/forth to work car, coke run car, and faithfully takes me to the gym everyday car (ok - most days.) It has seen gas prices from $.99 - $4.00/gallon. It has gone through A LOT of oil. It is now an orphan as Saturn is out of business. It climbed aboard a truck to make the journey to Ohio with us. This car holds lots of memories and is worth WAY more to our family than anyone else! I should take it to the carwash and give it a hug....Here's to another 185,000!!

The rumors are true!

Look at me, blogging TWO days in a row!! Maybe I will get addicted as I am told :) Well we have been hearing and hearing rumors about "all the snow" that Ohio gets each winter, but since a measely 1/2 inch fell just after Thanksgiving there has been nada, zip, zilch...nothing. It even went as far as to spite us on Christmas day by raining! But, finally, FINALLY we have some snow! A good 5-6 inches at least I would say, and more is threatening to fall. WAHOO!! Kids decided to make the most of it and got all bundled up (we are talking Christmas Story worthy bundled up!)

We have a small hill in the backyard that A and E thought made a great sledding hill...

Can't miss Ethan in the bright orange sled...

I'm not going to lie though. Mostly I took these pictures to try out my BRAND NEW CAMERA that Thane got me for Christmas! (It was WAY past time, my old one didn't even have an LCD screen!) I'm finally learning how to use it and it is great - thanks honey!

I am LOVING having the kids home this winter break. This is the first winter break that I haven't been working and it is so nice not to have to worry about who was going to watch the kids, or be sad about all the fun stuff I was missing. I definitely miss my job, but it is way more fun being at home! Who knew?!? :) I kinda don't want to send them back to school next week. Kinda.......

First and Last Ohio Christmas...

This was a very bittersweet Christmas for us as we knew it would be our first and last Christmas in Ohio....so we decided to make it a great one! We started off Christmas Eve with our favorite yummy treats, followed by the traditional opening of one gift (which always consists of pj's!) and then we had a party with the Henze crew via webcam to let the kids see cousins open their gifts from them and vice versa. Got to love technology!!

After making sugar cookies for Santa and getting the kids prepared for the sleepover in the basement, everyone was to bed! Then the big morning arrived. Alexis and Ethan were SOOOOO disappointed that they had to wait for Brylee to wake up since she slept until 8:30! (Mean old mom!)

Alexis received a pink SNUGGIE....among many other gifts. Most of her gifts were clothes this year (she is getting "too old" for toys! Sniff, sniff)




Ethan LOVED every gift he received this year! His thankful attitude is much appreciated :) I love the look on his face when he opened this present...problem is I can't remember what it was! Oh well. I think he enjoyed playing with Brylee's gifts as much (if not more) than Brylee did!




Christmas was complete this year with our newest addition, sweet Brylee. She mostly loved eating and playing with the ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper but it was soooo much fun having her crawling around this Christmas!! Her favorite gift was Sillytown!




I love spending time with my family, but probably even more so at Christmas. I love gathering together to read from the scriptures about the birth of Christ. I love having a special time of year to remember Christ and his sacrifice for us. I just really LOVE CHRISTMAS!! And it was a good one....

Just call me a Blogger...

WELL...I did it! I have been feeling the pressure for a VERY long time and I finally sat down and threw together a Beckstead blog! The world is now complete :) I honestly don't know if anybody will read it or care, but I have decided it will be a great way to record the journey of our family! On your mark, get set, BLOG!!