For some reason, we are feeling particularly grateful this Christmas season. Perhaps it is because we are reading A Christmas Carol or just watched Polyanna. Or maybe it is because we haven’t spent a week in the hospital with Joseph since January. It could be the joy of being halfway done with law school, the smell of diesel fumes from the Beast (yes, that 18-year-old gray van still runs), or the staccato of gunfire at the range. It might be the comfort of food storage, the invigorating aroma of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls, or the peculiar pleasures of simplicity and frugality. The feeling might be inspired by the views we take in when we run up our nearby mountain with the children bundled up in the stroller, especially when the cold weather keeps others inside.
Joseph, no doubt, is grateful for his one-year-old legs that can get his hands off the cold floor and move him quickly to fun buttons that he can push (i.e. the computer) or books that he can pull off the shelf and peruse. He tells us how grateful he is not through words, but through smiles. For Caroline, gratitude is directly related to having plenty of dresses (since that is all she wears), music to dance and twirl to, and lots of good books to read. Shaela is glad to have helpful friends all around the village, a saxophone that she has started playing again, and an Institute class that brightens her week (the calculus class is nice, but it doesn’t brighten much). Of course it helps to have a husband who is home and helpful except for the summer months when he is in exotic, distant Marine Corps locations like Twentynine Palms. Eldon is just humbled to have great classes, outstanding professors, good friends, and a wife and children who make coming home the best part of the day. “Boogey man” beats “law student” any day. But as we wind down at the end of the day with dinner, baths, stories, scriptures, and prayers, we invariably recognize the true reason for our gratitude: the Babe of Bethlehem, even Jesus Christ.
He brings light to our dark and dreary world. He brings hope to our failing hearts. He brings peace to our troubled souls. He heals us when we repent. He is the Way and the Truth; Life, Light, and Salvation. Each day, we find more reasons to be grateful for his birth, life, atoning sacrifice, and continuing care for us. We hope you do too. As we celebrate his birthday this year, we are reminded now more than ever that He will come again soon. It is our prayer that we will receive Him now and be ready to receive Him then.
Love,
Eldon, Shaela, Caroline, and Joseph Beck
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
December 2008
This month started out with a great lesson: clean the filter between batches of grinding wheat and don't try to multi-task too much. Otherwise, the kitchen may look like a winter wonderland by the time you catch a problem.
"Mom, I'm going to the store in the car, ok?" I found Caroline vrooming in the fridge like this a few moments later.
Eldon loves to ride his bike to school if at all possible. So, unless there is snow or possible ice... he rides, cold or wind alone won't stop him.
Joseph's favorite way to entertain himself in the kitchen: playing with the pipes. We call him "Joe the Plumber."
Wanting some attention, the kids begged me to take another picture. This time they agreed to at least look at the camera.
Caroline reads to her dolly (that was also her Mommy's dolly).
"Mom, I'm going to the store in the car, ok?" I found Caroline vrooming in the fridge like this a few moments later.
Eldon loves to ride his bike to school if at all possible. So, unless there is snow or possible ice... he rides, cold or wind alone won't stop him.
Joseph's favorite way to entertain himself in the kitchen: playing with the pipes. We call him "Joe the Plumber."
Wanting some attention, the kids begged me to take another picture. This time they agreed to at least look at the camera.
Caroline reads to her dolly (that was also her Mommy's dolly).
Caroline's 3rd Birthday
We made the long-awaited "Princess Castle Cake," complete with Cinderella figurines and frosted spires. Caroline loved it!
The family:
Caroline's friend Clay helped blow out the candles successfully!
The family:
Caroline's friend Clay helped blow out the candles successfully!
November 2008
November rolled around and the leaves were coverring the gorund. At first the kids weren't quite sure what to do with the piles everywhere, but they soon got used to it.
Joseph has reached that lovely developmental milestone where he can move faster than I can think and destroy faster than I can clean.
That smile just warms my heart every day. He thinks he can get away with anything with that smile and he might just be right.
Eldon's cousin Cherie lives nearby while attending LDS Business College. We have enjoyed having her over frequenlty and getting to know her better. Caroline has really enjoyed having her over because Cherie is willing to read and read and read. We are grateful parents.
Joseph can climb almost anything now, but he doesn't always have a good way down.
Joseph has reached that lovely developmental milestone where he can move faster than I can think and destroy faster than I can clean.
That smile just warms my heart every day. He thinks he can get away with anything with that smile and he might just be right.
Eldon's cousin Cherie lives nearby while attending LDS Business College. We have enjoyed having her over frequenlty and getting to know her better. Caroline has really enjoyed having her over because Cherie is willing to read and read and read. We are grateful parents.
Joseph can climb almost anything now, but he doesn't always have a good way down.
October 2008
Caroline loves to iron. She specializes in Dad's handkerchiefs and placemats for fancy dining on the kitchen table.
Caroline and Joseph sitting in their own chairs between General Conference sessions in October. They are capable of playing very well together and can be quite entertaining. Joseph adores his sister, especially when she makes him laugh.
Caroline and her good friend Hannah dressed up like princesses, their favorite playtime activity.
Caroline and Joseph keep themselves busy while I fold laundry in the morning.
Caroline got paints for the first time this week. She was so excited to use them, I let her paint while I was making dinner and not closely monitoring her. I turned around to see what she had done when she exclaimed, "Look Mom, I painted the wall pretty!" In the instant that I had to choose, I realized I had not given her the rule to "not paint the wall" and chose to take a picture, then laugh and have her help me clean it up. She never has painted on the wall since. Thank goodness for Mr. Clean wipe ups!
Joseph is so cute.
Caroline dressed like Cinderella for Halloween with her reluctant handsome prince.
Caroline is ready to go trick-or-treating. You notice the shoes in her hands, but the real story is that she wore those plastic heels for two hours of trick-or-treating at the shopping center in the afternoon. She refused to take them off even when she had blisters forming on her feet and her toes were squishing through the front. She is a true girl.
Caroline and Joseph sitting in their own chairs between General Conference sessions in October. They are capable of playing very well together and can be quite entertaining. Joseph adores his sister, especially when she makes him laugh.
Caroline and her good friend Hannah dressed up like princesses, their favorite playtime activity.
Caroline and Joseph keep themselves busy while I fold laundry in the morning.
Caroline got paints for the first time this week. She was so excited to use them, I let her paint while I was making dinner and not closely monitoring her. I turned around to see what she had done when she exclaimed, "Look Mom, I painted the wall pretty!" In the instant that I had to choose, I realized I had not given her the rule to "not paint the wall" and chose to take a picture, then laugh and have her help me clean it up. She never has painted on the wall since. Thank goodness for Mr. Clean wipe ups!
Joseph is so cute.
Caroline dressed like Cinderella for Halloween with her reluctant handsome prince.
Caroline is ready to go trick-or-treating. You notice the shoes in her hands, but the real story is that she wore those plastic heels for two hours of trick-or-treating at the shopping center in the afternoon. She refused to take them off even when she had blisters forming on her feet and her toes were squishing through the front. She is a true girl.
Family Pictures 2008
As is usually the case, taking family pictures was a somewhat stressful experience, but it all turned out well and we are grateful we did it. It was hard to choose which ones to get with the package.
If any of you have a "Portrait Innovations" near you, we highly recommend them. They were fabulous to work with, very affordable and it was a quick process.
Notice Joseph's shorter hair... I really like it like this.
If any of you have a "Portrait Innovations" near you, we highly recommend them. They were fabulous to work with, very affordable and it was a quick process.
Notice Joseph's shorter hair... I really like it like this.
Joseph's First Birthday - October 15, 2008
On Joseph's birthday we received a chin up bar in the mail for Eldon and I. The kids have never had so much fun making a mess in the house. It was a terrible mess to try and clean up, but it was worth the fun!
Joseph had a minor trauma as we celebrated his first birthday because he burnt his hand on the candle. Mom and Dad both thought the other was taking care of it... we'll communicate a little better next time.
On the second try, we didn't even light the candle. Poor kids. We are learning on them! Joseph seemed to like this much better.
Joseph had a minor trauma as we celebrated his first birthday because he burnt his hand on the candle. Mom and Dad both thought the other was taking care of it... we'll communicate a little better next time.
On the second try, we didn't even light the candle. Poor kids. We are learning on them! Joseph seemed to like this much better.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
September 2008
Joseph really likes his food now and can sometimes even out-eat his mom! There is no guessing why he is so big.
Joseph shows signs of loving tools. He is a young man after his father's heart.
Caroline loved decorating cow cookies that Aunt Kathleen (Kow) and Uncle Tony gave us during their visit.
Joseph shows signs of loving tools. He is a young man after his father's heart.
Caroline loved decorating cow cookies that Aunt Kathleen (Kow) and Uncle Tony gave us during their visit.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Summer Vacation: Our August Adventure
All great vacations must begin with a squared-away haircut. This was Joseph's second.
Hiding in a cave on our hike in Snow Canyon near St. George, UT.
The family in Snow Canyon. Those clouds almost rained us out of Tuacahn's presentation of The Sound of Music the night before. But the prayer of a two-year old availeth much. The rain stopped just in time for the show to begin.
Eldon and Shaela celebrating their old age (29 and 28 years, respectively) with Shaela's parents in Las Vegas.
Visiting San Diego's Balboa Park while spending time with Mike before his deployment to Afghanistan.
Eldon and Mike with Charlotte Rose, Joseph, and Caroline.
Bobo and Caroline had a tea party with two random boys at Grace Ada Park in Modesto while Eldon and Shaela tossed a frisbee.
Caroline, Joseph, and Shaela with Snow White at Fairyland in Oakland, CA. Joseph is particularly attracted to Snow White's nose.
Caroline as the little pig who built her house of straw. I'm huffing and puffing...
Shaela and Caroline climbing Hyde Street in San Francisco after eating a wonderful dinner at McCormack's. We walked almost all the way back to our hotel, much to Shaela's consternation, because every passing cable car was full... or at least two full to take on two crazy adults with two crazy little kids.
Eldon and Joseph climbing Hyde Street. Right after doing this, we walked down and back up the famous windy section of Lombard Street.
Shaela looking at the OIF/OEF Memorial Wall at the Marines Memorial Hotel where we stayed in San Francisco. We found all 16 of the men that 1/5 lost when Eldon was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq from March to September of 2005.
Caroline and her cousin Neal Pettit playing at the Oakland Temple. We were there for the wedding of Eldon's cousin Valerie Nicolaysen to John Brody. Mazletof!
Shaela and Joseph on the beach at Lover's Point in Monterey, CA. This was the southern leg of our bike trip.
Eldon and Shaela on the sand dunes overlooking Monterey Bay from the north end of the city. This was the turnaround point of the northern leg of our bike trip.
Joseph and Caroline fast asleep with their helmets.
Joseph and Caroline waking up in the bike trailer. We thought this photo was priceless. Look closely for the moisture seeping out of the mouth and eyes...
Our last stop before returning our bikes was at Dennis the Menace Park. Shaela did a re-enactment of a scene that originally occurred in October 2005 when she was about 8 months pregnant. She had a little more space this time.
Here's Shaela doing the same thing in October 2005, a month before Caroline was born. 
Joseph being cute while back in Modesto.
Grandma Beck (Bobo) and Joseph playing together in Modesto.
Neal and Caroline eating watermelon in front of Bobo & Papa's house.
Caroline and Shaela watching the geese on the southern end of Silver Lake at Plasse's Resort in the Sierra Nevada of California.
Joseph got tired on our little hike to the lake. Very, very tired. He slept like this for a while after we got back.
Shaela and Joseph in the kayak on Silver Lake.
Eldon returned to shore with Caroline asleep.
And Shaela returned to shore with Joseph asleep. It was a grueling kayaking trip around the lake's island.
Our campsite in the background with kayaks and The Beast in the foreground. Old friends from Davis will be interested to know that The Beast is still going strong with more than 260K miles.
Caroline roasting marshmallow's over our campfire.
Joseph eating dirt and marshmallows. Yum!
Caroline being a ham. She had just been imitating a bear. What is this? Who knows, but its funny.
Caroline and Joseph playing around the resort's tractor tires.
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