Summer's End: The Best of 2013

Tomorrow marks the official start of fall. Bring on Utah's mosaic of autumn leaves!

Looking back, this has been the best summer of our Beck treks so far. I'd plotted out 13 staycations for this summer, but our time together turned out better than I could have hoped. Rather than write an individual post about each event, I'm rounding them up list-style to remember good times with people we love. We're so blessed to have wonderful health to enjoy these adventures:

My favorite passenger and me!

Crystalee's final flight with wings
Memorial Day weekend was my final time in the jump seat. The rest of this summer couldn't have been so wonderful without the decision to turn in my wings. I'd gotten to a sticky point where I had two full-time jobs (they took away the part-time flying option) AND grad school. Talk about overloaded! It was 100% the best choice for us at this time. Ry had encouraged me for a long time to let it go, and I've honestly never looked back since. I love finally getting to enjoy weekends! Little did I know, I was already a few weeks pregnant in this picture...

June
New position at work
Within three weeks of leaving the airline, I was promoted to Social Community Manager at MarketStar. Amazing how, like Helen Keller said, "When one door closes, another opens." It's challenging and also a lot of fun. I love my job!

Millie's Princess Run
My favorite fun run of the year is in honor of a little lady named Millie Flamm. I wrote about this year's race here. Hope you can join me next year!

July

Sarah Jane + Gil = ❤
On a beautiful summer day, Ryan's cousin Sarah Jane became Mrs. Marchant. He was able to attend the festivities the whole day, and I joined the reception that night. They're a really fun, happy pair.

Primary party at the park
Ry and I hosted a party at a nearby park for our five- and six-year old Primary class. We played kickball, hide and seek, blew up balloons (of course, making funny noises with them), and played "monster" on the playground. Ryan's such a big kid himself. Now we have different church callings, but we loved our two years with these little monkeys!









Snowbird weekend for Ryan's birthday
Ryan turned 29 and we celebrated with a quick getaway at Snowbird. Wrote about it here.

Sandlot Bees game

Remember Squints? Ham? Yeah Yeah? We saw their adult counterparts at the Salt Lake Bees game for the 20th Anniversary since the classic movie "The Sandlot" was filmed in Utah. ALSO: This was the day (July 19) we found out we're expecting our first baby! We'd soon find out we were already at 11 weeks at this point - I've been so fortunate to feel well.

Ryan's Spudman Triathlon
Ryan had been training for months for the Spudman, which is held each summer in Burley, Idaho. His sister, brother-in-law, and brother Randy competed too - yeah team! While they were pushing it, I was filming for a class assignment:

August
Riley Returns!
Ryan's brother Riley returned from his LDS mission in Mexico City the first week of August. He did such a great job serving the people there and speaks Spanish so well. We were all so excited to see him. While we had the whole group together for a picture shot, we announced our baby news...and that night, Rob and Jen shared their Kensi will be a big sister! What a happy day for the Beck bunch!

Lava Hot Springs
A few days later, the Beck Bunch made the yearly trek to Idaho to the beloved tradition of Lava. Ryan did his annual backflips off the ultra-high dive (which always makes my heart stop), and we enjoyed being with family. Ryan and company went the next day to Jackson Hole where they river rafted.

Keala and Mike's wedding
A few days after our three-year wedding anniversary, my beautiful cousin Keala married her man Mike in the Salt Lake temple. It was one of the happiest days I've had in a long time. We got to "relive" the memories of our own wedding day and see my cousin so radiantly happy. I've written before about my auntie Melanie who passed away, and Keala is her first daughter. It was such a special experience to feel her mama's spirit throughout the day - Melanie was watching from heaven and we could feel her love.

I'd waited to tell my mom and sisters our good news until I saw them at this wedding - it was wonderful to share there will be TWO new grandbabies in 2014! (My sister is also expecting and had already announced.)

Mama, Erika (who's expecting too), me, and Emily just after we shared the news.

I loved that they included Melanie's cookies at the reception. She was there in spirit!

Color Run
On August 24, we did the Salt Lake City Color Run with way fun Tami and Mavin. LOVED IT. I ran the entire 5K in about 30 minutes - not too shabby for a pregnant lady!

September
Backpacking trip
Ryan's been wanting to take me camping since got married. We figured we'd better get out there before my baby belly grows too big and it gets cold. Over Labor Day, we had my very first "practice" backpacking trip in the Uintas. Being 17 weeks pregnant, we only hiked about 40 minutes (and I was proud of myself to carry my own pack!) We camped for two nights, and explored little lily-padded lakes and I felt our little baby's butterfly-wing kicks for the first time.

Arizona visit
We spent a weekend with the Webb/Marson family in Arizona. Dad and Sue were kind to take us out on Lake Pleasant. Ryan and Emily's boyfriend showed off their wakeboarding prowess, and my dad even gave it a go. Ryan displayed mad skills hanging on to the tube - I've never seen anyone whipped so fast across the water. Sue was so sweet to take Erika and me maternity clothes shopping, and we celebrated Crysti's birthday together at dinner.

Ryan, realizing he survived the wicked ride, gives a victory grin.

Emily's boyfriend Quincy teaching dad how to wakeboard. Love it.

Cute couple!

My sisters.

While all of this has been wonderful, the BEST part of this summer has definitely been BABY BECK. We're finding out the gender next week. We're excited that next summer we'll have a little one with us! If you haven't seen it already, here's my favorite project from the past few months:

What has been the best part of YOUR summer?

Ry's Birthday Weekend at Snowbird

We kicked off the last year of Ryan being in his twenties with a Snowbird staycation this weekend. Twenty-four hours of cool, clean mountain air sent us both away feeling refreshed.

Are you in Utah? Looking for a creative, free date night? - check out Snowbird's Family Flicks. We happened across "Cool Runnings" and couldn't help but watch the Jamaican bobsled team.

Saturday we made good use of our all-day activity passes, feeling like little kids trying out the Alpine Slide, Mountain Flyer, Ropes Course...I'm pretty sure Ryan set a new record for height on the Bungy Trampoline - he got lots of air as he did double backflips. We brought a picnic lunch on the Aerial Tram, eating it up at the top of the 11,000-foot summit of Hidden Peak. On top of the world! 

Happy birthday, Ryan!

Happy birthday, Ry guy! 29 looks good on you.

Check out all these fun movies - free date night!

We love how Snowbird is nestled right into the mountains - so beautiful.

Ryan got pretty excited when he was strapped in.

This was only about 60 seconds later - he launched himself high!

Crystalee on the ropes course.

Something pretty romantic about riding on a summer lift.

I just got done running, and we're both loving the mountain scene.

Our Last First Kiss

Three years ago, on a sunny afternoon, Ryan and I had our first kiss. We took the photos above just minutes after, and you can see we were pretty dang happy with ourselves! The sappy girl in me can't resist...here's my journal blast from the past:

August 26, 2009

Ryan and I went on a picnic to Murray Park. We both have childhood memories there and I was glad to see it again after 10 years. We both brought yummy, healthy food (I love that he’s so healthy) and it was perfect weather – beautiful and green. We had a great talk (I love talking to him!) and I snuggled close to him.

There was chemistry in the air and he just looked so good. When we heard the National Anthem playing in the background at the Babe Ruth World series (13 year olds), he scooted closer…and in the last little bit of the song he surprised me with a sweet kiss. It was gentle, with underlying emotion, and I kissed him back smiling. When the crowd was cheering he whispered, “they are cheering for us.”

GREAT first kiss and I remember thinking, “this could be my last first kiss.” We’ll see…

Yup, I called it. Muah! Countless kisses and just short of a year later, we were married.

p.s. I remember Ryan getting a text that his cousin had her baby that day. Happy 3rd birthday, Jett! 

Birthday Wishes to My Studly Backflipper

Happy birthday to the love of my life.

You're the most fun, free spirit I know.

Yet you still buckle down and responsibly take care of the daily grind.

You're genuine and true to yourself - even when I want you to see things my way.

You're always learning, filling your mind with fascinating new thoughts and ideas.

Thanks for being born and sharing your life with me.

You have my heart.

On Her Birthday, Quotes Melanie Loved

I love and miss my Auntie Melanie. She passed away just over two months ago. Wish I could call her on heaven's phone. Do they have free long distance there?

I think of Melanie often, and wish we could go running together. She was always so good at blazing the trail, a super hero with sweet feet. As she did for so many, Melanie touched my life in many ways. For example, the earrings she wore for this picture were my "something borrowed" on my wedding day.

Anyone who has visited the Kau home knows Melanie loved inspirational quotes. A few years ago, I asked Melanie her favorite quotes to make a personalized Christmas gift. The following were the three she chose, and I believe they symbolize how she lived her lovely life: a happy disposition, a forgiving heart, and the faith to endure hard things. Love you Mel, Happy Birthday in heaven.

Never Too Old to be the Birthday Girl

(I've never been one to let my birthday go unannounced. Wink!)

I love having my birthday at this time of year.

You see, it's always an especially exciting time with Christmas/New Year's/Birthday all in a row. On top of that, early January is a built-in system to keep track of my mortal sojourn. New year? New year of my life - literally. By the way, today I'd need six hands to show "how many fingers" I am - 26.

I've got more than a girl could ask for - a loving husband who can backflip, keeps things fun, and knows how to cook. Amazing family and friends who inspire me, (you're likely one of them, if you're reading this) my health, and my faith. Life is good. Thanks for being part of mine.

Would you mind doing me a teeny favor that would be a big deal on my birthday? Will you please click on "Join this Site" to the right and become a member of our blog? It's an easy (free!) gift to me, one that makes me smile big! (Ryan can attest to this.) It is just so nice to know who's out there "listening." I love your comments, too.

If you've already joined, here's a {hug}. This writer girl thanks you for reading.

6 Months Without Sugar

That's right. Tomorrow marks six months without sweets...I did it!

On 4th of July 2011 I decided to declare my independence from sugar. I realized I'd become more dependent on the sweet stuff than I wanted to be. Since I'm already practiced in self-restraint as a gluten-free girl, I figured waiting until my birthday (Jan 4) would be a worthy challenge.

The first week was the hardest - I'd crave chocolate like mad woman, my previous downfall. I've only made it these six months by finding healthy substitutes - fruit smoothies save my life. That's one way to recharge your taste buds; take out the artificial stuff, and the natural sugars in fruit suddenly become more sweet.

Ryan says I oughta keep it up forever, (while he's eating his personal ice-cream carton in front of me) although I think I'm just going to be more selective in what sweets I eat from now on. Keep them rare. Tomorrow: birthday SHERBET!

p.s. As an almost-birthday girl request, will you please join our blog? I can see many of you often come back for more Our Beck Treks, and your follow would be a most appreciated gift. :) Just click on "Join this Site" on the right side of the screen. Many thanks.

p.s.s. Did you notice the new sections I added yesterday? One's called "Best of Treks."

Never Too Old To Slip 'N' Slide

Ryan and his friend Travis have been co-hosting their own birthday party for the past 6 years.

This year, the Slip 'N' Slide Party lived on. Saturday was another success: 200 feet of slip 'n' slide, 150 of their closest friends, 4 hours of sunny skies (and a random summer storm), good food, and soap. Lots and lots of soap....all the better for slippery-ness.

We had our some little Primary friends come...


Baby niece Kensi made her grand appearance as well. Quite adventurous for a 3 month old.


Happy Birthday, Ryan my love




....you too, Travis!