...End of December

Okay, MAJOR PICTURE OVERLOAD! I am TRYING to get caught up, but it just isn't happening! Since I uploaded all the pictures and Blogger put them backwards, that's what I'm working with...I don't want to move ALL the pictures, so just bear with me!!

So, working from Christmas back to the middle of December, here we go!!

Christmas was great!! We ended the Season off by going to my parents house on Christmas day. It was good food, great fun, and we were majorly spoiled...THANKS EVERYONE!

Here is Lilee in her cute fur coat!!

Keat about to sink a 20 footer...haha, he loves this basketball hoop though!

Don't mess with a man and his car...WE LOVE THIS JEEP!!

This was perhaps Keat's most favorite gift this year, a train from Grandpa...and it helped that Carsten got a matching one also!!



Before heading to my parents, we opened up the gifts that Santa brought for the kids at our house. Keat was pretty bossy and we were worried that he was getting TOO into the present idea, luckily he mellowed out and we enjoyed the rest of the day.



Here is the scene the night before...boy is that room in need of some organizing!

Christmas Eve is ALWAYS spent at the Becker's...it's tradition! It's always fun to get the gang together and this year was extra special because Nick was home to enjoy all the fun! We even had a special visit from the MAN himself! Keat, as usual, we SO excited...and Santa told him he had been EXTRA good this year!


Here is Lilee not too sure about this guy...and Keat was happy as a clam!

Uncle Nick with the babes in their new Christmas pj's, courtesy of Nana!


Here is Uncle Justin and Uncle Nick with ALL their nephews and their niece! This was the best we could do!

Nick brought back these great jerseys from Argentina, so we decided to sport them on Christmas Eve...mainly because I was a slacker and didn't manage the Christmas PJ's this year...time just got away from me!

Also, I should note that this is where I spent most of the evening...on this chair...because I had JUST had my cerclage placed the day before...Merry Christmas to ME!! The procedure went great, except for the MAJOR bruising from the MULTIPLE IV attempts. Here's praying the stitch holds and we have no complications!!





The Sunday before Christmas we got together with my aunt Vicki and uncle Jerry at their home in Cave Creek. Vicki did an amazing job with dinner and we all had a great time with the gift exchange!!

Here is Lilee playing with her new aquadoodle...she LOVES this thing...it's so amazing the toys they have these days!!









Uncle Jerry with the Little Miss!

Here we are all dressed up and ready for church!







Not trying to brag or anything, but do I have the most BEAUTIFUL looking family or what?!

Awwwww, my kiddos just melt my heart!! They are the very best of friends and I'm so grateful for the tiny spirits Heavenly Father has given to me...what a blessing!

My new calling in the ward is as the co-activities day chair. The Ward Christmas party is ALWAYS a big event and this year was no exception. We had a great time and everything turned out wonderful! Here is Santa visiting all the good little boys and girls...Lilee is STARTING to warm up to the idea of this big guy...and Keat was THRILLED about the Candy Canes!

Back in AUGUST we bought tickets for the Polar Express in Williams! A week before Christmas was the big day and Keat was practically peeing himself with excitement! Unfortunately, my parents decided not to make the drive since Flagstaff was getting DUMPED on with snow. Thanks to Nick and Tyne for joining us and helping maintain the chillin's!

Here is our FREEZING COLD little family after the train ride...we just wanted to get outta there it was like 11 degrees or something...brrrrrrrrr!

Have you ever seen a sweeter picture than this?! This kid was IN LOVE...the whole movie just became real for him and it was such a special experience!









Our bundled up little family!

The GALS...tyne, lilee, and myself

Uncle Nick and Keat-Beat...he's got his robe on and everything, he was ready to go!

Little Miss Sunshine!!

So, I'm not sure how all these pictures are gonna post, but just excuse the mess this once...Now onto January...just in time for February!! Updates on the baby and the big gender ultrasound to come soon!!:)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Beginning of December...

Christmas festivities began early this year! We were so excited to have SO many wonderful parties and events to go to. Keaton REALLY understood this whole, Santa, Christmas, presents thing this year and it made everything THAT much more fun! Even Lilee got really into all the lights and decorations around town!

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First, we were invited by the Wright's to attend their annual Christmas Block Party. What a fun time it was to chat with friends and neighbors(not ours, but you get the sentiment)! The only thing that made it even better was a visit from the MAN himself!!

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Here is Keat giddy to have a picture with "Santa"...he had NO IDEA what was coming...

All of a sudden, Santa comes walking down the street...all the kids went krazy!! Everyone ran to where he sat and all kneeled or sat waiting to see what was in his BAG! Keat could NOT contain himself at this point. He waited SO patiently, but was bouncing on his knees and rocking back and forth...so cute!

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Lilee's turn...NOT TOO SURE about this guy...2 seconds later she realized it was NOT someone she knew and I thought she was going to give him a knuckle sandwich...she's a bruiser!!

When Keaton's name was called he was SUCH a big boy...got up, politely walked past the rest of the kids, took his present and said, "thank you"! He was SO graceful...of course, if you know my kids, you know they are the most CLUMSY little's you will ever meet, so on his way back, it wasn't surprising that he tripped over...well, nothing...and slid about 5 feet on his present...good thing his book was still wrapped!!:) But, in grand Becker form, he simply stood up, and ignored all the parents asking if he was okay!!:)

It was a great night and we are so thankful that we were invited! Thanks Wright's!

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Later that month, another Christmas tradition took place. For pretty much as long as I can remember, my dad and I have attended some sort of Christmas Music "performance"! It started out as watching the Phx Boys Choir every year, but after a while, their show got too "unique" and lacked the traditional songs we both enjoyed. From that point on we tried to find something we would like. The past two years we have decided on a performance of Handel's Messiah. Last year we went to the sing-a-long. While it was fun and I know my dad enjoys belting those songs out, it is a bit much to hear people, some of which have NO musical talent, singing their lungs out! So, this year we opted for the PROFESSIONAL version. The phoenix symphony put on an amazing performance and truly, I was in awe. I have always been very TOUCHED by music and this performance was no exception...tears were in my eyes...don't laugh! This year, I bought the tickets and my dad treated me to dinner. We went to Durants, an UBER fancy restaurant in PHX. I don't think I've eaten anywhere that pricey before. It was a nice treat, although I'm not sure how many people thought I was the "mistress"...I always try to make mention of my mom and loudly say, DAD, so people don't get the wrong idea!! Thanks Dad for a wonderful evening! Next year, same bat time, same bat place!!

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This one was just for fun because she was TOTALLY stuck. Instead of HELPING her, I yelled for Keat to grab the camera!! She was FURIOUS! That's what you get when your bum is big and you get your tiny head stuck!! I truly think she thought she was going to die...look at that face!

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Then it was time for the annual "picking of the PERFECT tree" event! After a LOoooooooooNG time of searching, we found it! Here is Seth being wonderful and tying up the tree! It was SO NICE to have the van this year instead of people laughing at us all the way home with a tree hanging over the front and back of our car!!:)

And here are the kids while daddy does the MANLY work...at least they stayed quiet!

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The next day we headed over to my parents for family pictures! (I'll post those in a later post). Thanks Riss for volunteering your camera and your skills! While we waited for our photographer to arrive, my dad took the kids around in the Model T! It was Keat and Lilee's first time. Not sure how Lilee enjoyed it, but Keat thought any time spent with Carsten was a blast!

That night my parents watched our munchkins while Seth and I went to his work dinner party in Scottsdale. I was VERY excited about this party. I had been feeling very PREGNANT for a while and decided to treat myself to a new outfit that actually FIT! I was looking good, Seth was looking good, free dinner and dancing, we were stoked! Until we go to the resort. The party was OUTSIDE...by the pool! Had it been 2 days before, it would have been 65-70* outside, but on this particular night, it was FREEZING...I had NO jacket, because, let's be honest, when you have a new outfit, you don't want to cover it with a jacket...duh! I was freeeeeeeeeeezing. Seth didn't even bring a jacket! Luckily for me, one of Seth's co-workers was there and had a sweater and a vest on and a jacket and let me wear his jacket. It was depressing to have a jacket 4 times too big on over my adorable new outfit, but I was SO grateful to not be shaking from the cold anymore!! All in all, it was a fun time! Thanks mom and dad for a night out!

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By the time we got the tree, the kids were spent, so we didn't decorate till a few days later...for your viewing pleasure...the placing of the star on the 2008 Becker Family Christmas Tree...brought to you by RUDOLF himself!!(I apologize if anyone is offended by this picture...it was just TOO funny...and it is NO surprise that my kids spend more time than probably usual NAKED!!) Be glad I edited the photo...the original will be a GREAT one to show his future wife one day! Bwahahahahahha!

Welcome Home...

I'm sure you thought I forgot about the Homecoming of Elder Becker, but you are wrong...I only forgot my camera...the day he stepped off the plane! Doh! We've gotten a few pictures, but are waiting for some more. Check back at a later date to see the reunion!

And what a reunion it was. 9 Adults, 7.25 kids, 4 signs, 1 banner and LOTS OF HUGS!!

As I've mentioned, we are SO SO proud of Nick and what he has accomplished! We are grateful for his example, especially for Keaton. We are grateful for the time we've spent with him since he's been home and wish him GREAT SUCCESS at NAU!

...don't forget to check back for pictures...in the meantime, you can find pictures on AMIE's blog just scroll back a bit...she actually keeps up with her blog!!:)

day after Thanksgiving

BLACK FRIDAY

has become one of my most favorite days of the year! I will admit that it is NOT for the faint of heart...or the weak kneed...or even those that don't like to be in crowds...but it is QUITE the event.

My dear friend, Lindsey and I, have made a tradition of Black Friday. (we can call it a tradition now that we've actually done it two years in a row) We go through the ads, we make our lists, and then we leave the house at 5am!!

Typically, our adventure begins with Walmart and then we continue on to Toys R Us and by the end of the day, we've typically gone to 8-10 different stores! It may seem krazy, but Lindsey and I have a secret...I know you are DYING to know...we have FUN!

We don't care if what we want is sold, we don't worry if three people have cut in front of us in line, we don't mind when the lines take a bit longer than usual. And MORE important is what we DO...

we DO stop for bagels at Einsteins for a pick me up about 8am, we DO go to a TASTY lunch and gab for an hour(this year was PFChang's), and we ABSOLUTELY end the day by treating our toes to a much needed pedicure!

It's wonderful!

So, this year we were out from 5am to 5pm, and we came home with a car full of presents...we were BOTH glad I brought the van this year...last year's pushing and squeezing bags into the back seat was a bit ridiculous!!

Of course, there is NO time for pictures, so the only thing we have to show for our wonderful day is our loot...