Camping Adventures

This weekend Tory took the three boys camping.  They had been talking about it for a week and the boys were sooooo excited!  That's all they could talk or think about.  In fact when Friday finally came around, Tory went to eat lunch with Dallin at school and all of the teachers and kids in his class knew he was going camping that day.  They had packed and unpacked their backpacks a million times and had lists of what they needed to bring all made out.  Tory picked them up from school Friday and brought them home to change into their "camping" clothes and off they went.  Claire, Beckham, and I were left to fend for ourselves.  It was actually a very quiet evening at home for us which was very nice.  The boys had a blast and Tory gets major points from all of us!

The Brave and Wonderful Dada

Austin

Dallin

Coen

By the Lake

Hiking

Getting the Fire Started

Time to Roast Hotdogs and S'mores

Checking out the woods.  Look at the pretty green leaves coming in everywhere!

I had to put this one in because it makes me laugh.  Dallin looks like he's flying again!

The Announcement

Today while everyone else was at church I decided to make Beckham's birth announcement.  It was pretty fun.  Here it is!

As far as how we came up with his name...here's how the story goes.  We (well I) heard the name Beckham and LOVED it before we even knew we were having a boy.  I didn't even know that was the last name of a soccer player until I googled it.  Ha.  Not really a sports-watching family and since we don't have TV I don't hear much of what's going on out there I guess.  So he's not named after the soccer player.  Just happens to have the same name.  So anyway, after we found out we were having a boy that name jumped out again and I asked Tory, with fingers crossed and breath held, if he liked it.  He's the one with the "veto" powers I guess.  I come up with the names and he gives them the thumbs up or thumbs down.  He gave it thumbs up!  Yeah!  Our next big decision was how to spell it.  We debated whether or not to put the "h" in.  With our very long last name every letter counts.  As you can see, the "h" won. 

For Beckham's middle name, I wanted to use Mac or Lane for a middle name ever since we were expecting Claire.  It would be short for my maiden name McFarlane.  This way one of our kids would be named after my side of the family.  Lane just seemed to go with Beckham perfectly.  I think it sounds like a place you could find in England.  So that's how Beckham Lane became Beckham Lane!  I can't think of a name that would fit him better.  Love that little boy!

Pinewood Derby

I knew I was forgetting something important.  Wednesday, March 3, was Austin's first Pinewood Derby for scouts.  He and Tory worked hard getting his car ready a couple weeks earlier.  It turned out really cool and they had tons of fun making it.

Austin wanted it to be red and black and wanted it to have the number "8" on it since he's 8 years old.  From there it evolved to become "The Black Widow".  Pretty clever!  Black Widow...8 legs...black and red.  Not bad!

There were two heats of cars and he won 3rd in his group and maybe 6th or 7th overall.

He won an award for "Best Formula One Racer".  The top three cars got trophies.  You know how Austin feels about trophies.  All he can think about now is how to make a better car next year so he can win a trophy.  We have a lot more Pinewood Derby races in our future.  Four boys with about four cars each...yep...quite a few.  Tory wants to make a big display case for all of them.  Might as well!  We're going to have quite the collection!

3 Weeks Old

Today I had a nice sunny morning and a handsome little baby so I had to take some pictures.  And then I realized today Mr. Beckham is 3 weeks old!  Such a wonderful baby boy!  There are lots of pictures because I couldn't narrow it down any more.  Enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day

We love St. Patrick's Day around here and usually have plenty of fun "green" things to do.  This year I wasn't quite into it as much as usual.  I think a general lack of energy and sleep did it for me.  The kids did get all dressed in green and even made sure Beckham was in green and Tory made them green muffins for breakfast before he left for work. 

Then my friend Carrie saved the day and picked up the three big boys for  play time at the park with her two boys.  But not only did they play at the park, they got to look for hidden gold coins (which they loved!), have a picnic lunch, and even got to make the cutest little leprechaun vests and hats I've ever seen. 

Can you tell Carrie has been an elementary school teacher?  She knows how to make things FUN!  And fun the boys had!  They loved it!  I have to share something funny.  Carrie watched Coen and Claire a few days before Beckham was born and then the day he was born, too.  Well, after the first time, he came home and I asked him how it was, etc.  He told me about the fun things he did with Tyler and then said, "His Mama is sooo pretty.  She's a pretty, pretty woman!"  This is so Coen.  He loves to point out all of the "pretty ladies" at the grocery store and if he ever thinks I might be upset with him he runs over to me and says, "You pretty Mama!  Don't be mad.  You pretty!"  But he REALLY thought Carrie was pretty because he kept bringing it up days later!  Funny boy!  We're going to have to keep an eye on this one!

Claire and I had a little bit of "girl" time.  We took showers and painted our nails bright pink.  I think Claire needed a little Mama time all to herself.  Beckham was a good little baby and slept for most of it.

My Birthday

I'm a little behind but March 15 was my birthday!

33 years old!

Whew! 

It was also the first day of Spring Break and the first day that I was all alone with all five kids.  We made it through and had a really fun day.  (The kids were great all during Spring Break which was very nice of them!) 

When Tory got home he made carrot cake cupcakes for me.  He even made paper cupcake liners to wrap around them!  Very fancy!  He made the kids spaghetti for dinner and then we played a game that Dallin made up. 

We each had to take turns walking along the tape line with our eyes closed.  Dallin was the judge and awarded us points according to how far we got. 

After the kids went to bed Tory had his front office lady deliver food from Pei Wei for us!  He had the table all set with candles and everything.  It was really nice and felt like we got to go out to eat without even leaving.  I had lots of calls from family during the day and evening.  It was a great birthday!

The Big Boys

Spring!

I think Spring is finally here.  It's been a long time coming this year!  Such a L-O-N-G winter for us.  Lots of snow and lots of cold.  Usually I'm not quite ready for Spring to show up because it feels like we haven't had a nice long winter but this year I'm more than ready!

We've got some yellow flowers on one of our trees.

And some more yellow flowers on our honeysuckle plant.

And our tree in the front yard is all leafed out!  Here's how fast it happened.  The morning we left to go to the hospital for Beckham's birth (Friday, March 5th) we walked by the tree and noticed it had little buds on it.  We were excited that Spring was on his way.  Two days later (Sunday, March 7th) when we came home the tree was covered in white blossoms!  And ONE week later the blossoms were all replaced with big green leaves!  One week was all it took!  I don't think I've ever paid that close attention to how long it took but this time I had some major events taking place at the same time and I guess I just noticed a little more.  I'm so ready to have more sunshine and warm days!

Swinging

Claire has found a new favorite way to swing.  She always wants to swing on the big swings like the boys so she figured out how to swing on her stomach.  It's pretty cute!  She got to going a little too fast and face planted but it didn't even phase her.  She's one tough cookie!

Now we just have to figure out how to rotate 4 kids on 2 swings.  I think we need more swings!

Some Beckham Yumminess

Since I know there are some of you needing more Beckham pictures...here you go!

First we have the cute front shot.  He has a little bloodshot eye from birth.  Don't worry, it will go away soon.

And a side shot.  Check out those big hands and forearms (with the cute saggy, baggy skin!)  His palms are about the same size as Claire's.  She just has longer fingers.

And a profile shot.  Don't worry.  Those cheeks get lots of kisses.

And we can't forget the back of the cute little man.  You can't see it, but right under that little collar is a very kissy spot.  It's probably better that it's hidden.  You wouldn't be able to resist and kissing your monitor would not be the same.

And the wide-awake-just-before-my-bedtime shot.

And look what we have here!  A thumb sucker!  I haven't been able to get a single one of my babies to even take a pacifier!  Beckham takes his thumb AND a pacifier!  I don't know how long it will last but it's very cute!

And last but not least we have this picture that I took last night.  It's a little blurry because we only had a lamp on in our room but I love the look on his face!  So CUTE!

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Friday Beckham had his 2 week appointment.  He was 2 oz. away from his birth weight.  (He went from 9 lbs. 11 oz. at birth to 9 lbs. 1 oz. when we brought him home two days later.  Most babies should be close to their birth weight again by the time they are 2 weeks old.)  He is such a good baby and I just can't get enough of him!  Good thing he likes to hang out with Mama because I just can't put him down!  I do love this snuggly stage and it only lasts for such a short time so I have to make the most of it.

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3/19/2010

2 Week Stats

Height:  22.5" - 96%

Weight:  9 lb. 9 oz. - 73%

Head:  38" - 70%