A few weeks ago, we had a beecroft family reunion in California. Here are some pictures of it plus a link to all the photos that I took.
I believe I heard Gage yell for his Mommy on this ride. Couldn’t quite make it out though over the shrilly girl scream.
Here is the link to all the photos:
The kids and I had so much fun at the Heritage Park village we didn’t even have enough time to see everything. It was like going back into pioneer time all the employees were dressed in pioneer clothes. The kids got to see what some children’s chores were back then. They each took a turn ironing, washing clothes, hanging out to dry and beating a rug. That big house the kids are in front of was one of Brigham Young’s homes. They had an old icecream parlor we ate at. We learned a lot of neat history and a train took us around the village which made getting around the little town much faster. they had crops and animals and horses to ride. The kids went into an original school house sat at the old desks and had a teacher and played school, It was a really cool place.
Welcome to the family Madden Rae! 
I got word late last night that my Grandpa Curtis peacefully passed away. Rather than fill this post with words that couldn’t even begin to describe how much I will miss him, I decided to post what pictures I have of him.
He ‘hated’ those dogs of his 
And last but not least my favorites:
Well yes this is Juliette writing and not Brandon. Surprise surprise. So, I’m thinking this is going to be my therapy as we go through yet another hard spring with Hailey. I probably should just write this all in my journal so any one that might possibly read this won’t think the worst of me but I’m going to save my mom hours of phone time by just letting her read it instead. P.S. Just to warn you I believe in run on sentences no time for periods.
A few weeks ago the thought hit me that it was time to start doing things a little different. Sometimes I’m like a robot feeding, dressing and keeping my kids alive but sometimes not really living or being in the moment. After a not so normal (but typical for my life) shopping trip at Walmart, I decided enough is enough, whatever that means. I had just made it to the checkout and was about half way through buying my 2 weeks worth of grocery’s, when Hailey starts shouting she has to go potty. I tell her to hang on we’re almost done but of course she doesn’t listen and took off for the bathroom. There was a long line of people waiting behind me and the bathrooms are almost directly across from the checkout so I as patiently as I could waited for the cashier to finish scanning the rest of my groceries. Well Hailey apparently needed to go the big number 2 (yippee for me). Any normal person is thinking big deal she’s almost 11 Well as most of you know she has Autism and this type of stuff is really hard for her. For quite a few years we as well as her Occupational Therapist have been trying to teach her to wipe when she goes the BIG 2! Just haven’t mastered that one. So anyway she starts screaming for everyone behind me, in front of me, pretty much the whole store to hear ” MOM WIPE ME”!!!! You know I’ve pretty much learned to have tunnel vision put on a smile and everything and everyone else around me just goes blury. (If I can’t see them they can’t see me, That’s my motto)!!! I turned to the cashier and said hang on I’ll be right back. I ran in there wiped her and you can imagine what everyone was thinking as I escort a 10 year old out of the bathroom and back to gathering my groceries. You know I pretty much have no problem with the whole “pride goeth before the fall” thing. Really I have NO PRIDE. I don’t even get a chance of thinkin I’m (somethen else) I’m tripping before I even get a chance to feel prideful.
I’m happy to report that one week from Hailey’s 11th birthday I am wipe free. I still hear “MOM WIPE ME” at 4:00-5:00 A.M. but now I just yell right back “wipe yourself remember, you know how now” without so much as getting out of bed. Awwwww pure bliss what more could a gal want.
Wow! this really is theraputic I’m feeling much better thank you very much. Now let’s see if I actually publish this.
In our home NORMAL Is just a setting on the dryer.
Noah and I recently took a trip to Arizona to pickup my Dad’s jeep. I decided the best way was to fly and take Noah with me. He has never been on an airplane and so I wanted to make sure that I recorded his reactions, even under penalty of law to turn off all electronic devices. Yeah, I’m a rebel.
A few points about this video.
Other than those items, enjoy!
More is coming regarding our adventure on the way home. Let’s just say the flight was the only good traveling part of the trip…
Hey all. Just a quick post. Juli and I are in New York City this week and getting ready to go to Washington D.C. today. We are having a lot of fun (without kids … thx mom and tia!)
The picture is from yesterday in Central Park. I will write about this trip when we get home. Just wanted to say hi and that we are still alive. We’ve only been mugged twice so far.
Happy 4th of July everyone! Because the 4th fell on a Sunday, we celebrated with a BBQ and fireworks yesterday. The day started with a parade and ended with fireworks in Riverton. All in all a great day that we got to spend together as a family and with our great friends the Benjamins.
To commemorate, I made a quick video on Juli’s phone. Sorry to inundate you with home video. It will end once the novelty of the iPhone 4 wears off.
Juli says that the music in this video is bad and cheesy but I say it’s great. It’s a song from the movie The Patriot. Quite timely, if you ask me. What do you think?
2 of my favorite pics:
Pictures from our recent garden planting effort. yes! Joslin IS wearing a coat.
What gives old man winter!? We woke up this morning expecting a nice warm spring day and instead we got snow. Notice the poor tulips under the light. How sad…
