The Faces of Chloe

Our Little Lady is 3 months old

Pacifica Beach

Memorial Day means beach day!

getting ready for the beach:

spend the morning packing a bag -
diapers & wipes

food & drinks

sunscreen

hats

changes of clothes

towels

sand toys

blanket

take an hour drive:

realize we're on our way to a different beach than my sister

drive another 20 minutes to correct beach

starts to rain

girls sleep in car - hallejuah!

arrive at beach:

cloudy, windy, and cold - no more rain

Riley screams with joy at seeing her cousin Camryn

Riley runs straight towards the waves, FALLS, needs to change clothes

Chloe begins to cry - have to rock to sleep for 20 minutes

butt gets wet from sitting on wet sand

windy!

Riley falls again, need to change shirt again (good thing i brought 2 changes of clothes)

we see dolphins swimming close by

watch surfers try to catch a wave

cold!

Conner chases after Riley so she doesn't fall again

Chloe asleep in my arms, my back starts hurting

Mike and Riley run and play in the waves

Riley sits with Aunt Traci, because she's so freezing cold

kids dig in the sand

they don't care that they're shaking from the cold and their lips are turning blue

arrive home:

spend an hour washing all the clothes and giving the girls baths

shake sand from all the shoes and towels

accidentally wash Mike's phone - phone ruined

put the girls to bed

crash on the couch at about 8:30

What a MEMORY we've created!

The Beall Family

About 4 months ago we got a call from one of Mike's long lost cousins. Apparently, Dave, who tracked us down, was planning a trip to the Seattle with one of his brothers (Jim) to visit an uncle who they had never met (or if they had it may have been once or twice in their youth). Dave knew his cousin Bob (Mike's dad), who had lost touch with the rest of the Beall family almost 40 years earlier, was out in California somewhere. So Dave decided to see if he could find him before the trip in hopes that he and Jim could visit on their way down to L.A. (from Seattle) to visit another cousin. Dave went through a pretty long list of leads that he got from internet people finder sites and on a search for Bob was given a list of possible relations. He saw a "Michael Paul" and based on the age listed for him, and knowing Bob's father's name was Paul, decided to pursue these this person. After many dead ends and bad phone numbers (Mike's has moved around alot and had quite a few phone numbers) Dave was ready to give up but on the last phone number he had left to try, he got a break and reached us!

After much anticipation, Jim and Dave arrived on Friday evening and we got to spend most of Saturday with them. Jim lives in Michigan, where most of the family has lived for a few generations. He flew down to Florida, where Dave now lives, and the two of them flew out to Seattle and visited their Uncle John for a few days before driving to the Bay Area for a visit. It was really exciting for Mike because he has never really known about his family, he loved hearing old stories and seeing pictures of extended family. We had a really great time sitting around the table talking, eating cookies and chinese food, and getting to know each other. Dave and Jim are great guys and we hope we can see them and their families again before too long.
Here is a great picture of Mike's family (a couple of generations back) that Dave copied for us. In the top row, beginning on the left, is Louis (not married at the time) who is Dave and Jim's father and Mike's great-uncle, next is Paul, Mike's grandfather, then Charles, Mike's great-grandfather, then Bill (William) and George, two of Mike's other great-uncles. In the bottom left is Bea (Beatrice), Paul's wife and Mike's grandmother, then, in the bottom middle is Bill's wife, and finally, George's wife. We can't remember their names at the moment but we add them later.

Willow Glen Ward Talent Show

So, the activities chairperson asked that each auxillary presidency do something in the talent show. Mike and his presidency performed "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" with their own little bell choir. It was totally cheesy - but super funny! We had a fun time watching the rest of the ward and their performances. Mostly, Riley had fun sprinting around the gym with the other kids, watching some of the performances and eating popcorn & root beer floats. Good times for all!
Mike's on the far right - what a stud!
Riley was lovin one of the songs and began to clap along - so funny!
All of the kids sat up front... Riley sat on another girls lap, who isn't much bigger than she is, but was lovin it anyway.

sisters first, friends next

I have been waiting for the day when Riley would be entertained by her sister - that 5 MINUTES came and has since to return- but we got some pictures. We have this walker for the baby and this evening, Riley was having so much fun pushing Chloe around, and it even looked like Chloe was enjoying it too! (by the way, please disregard the messy house in the background)



I normally don't try and match my girls outfits, but since they both have jean overall dresses, I thought I'd try it for Sunday. We think they are too cute, I just might try it again. I am lovin the way Chloe's hair sticks straight up - its crazy.

Jaime's diggin Mike

My good friend just sent me this picture that she had and I am so happy she did. This picture represents the first time I ever "noticed" Mike. In this picture we were celebrating a b-day, and we all went to eat at Todai (yummy sushi!) I remember Mike had been dating a girl, but he showed up without out her this time. I just remember looking over at him from across the table, and thinking "hey, he's cute." So I asked someone about him and they said that he just broke up with that girl. I got my guts up and walked over to him and asked him if he wanted to hang out with all of us that evening in San Francisco. He declined!!! - but only because he was driving to Utah that night. With the assistance of a few friends (what up Tiff and Jared) we finally got it together and fell quickly in love, and were married just a little over a year later. I can honestly say that Mike is the single most important person in my life, and that he has been so good for me, even when he's being a big stinker! I am glad that I glanced across the table this very important day. I love you Mike!
Jaime is on the right side in front, Mike is poking his head out on the very back left.

Our First Swim

Summer has begun! However, as most Moms have already figured out, you never tell a 2 year old that we're going swimming 2 days before they actually are, because for 2 days all I heard was "swimming tomorrow" (which actually sounded more like "simming morrow"). I even went into her room to check on her at about 3AM - after I had finished feeding the baby - Riley was wide awake and guess what she says to me??? That's right - "simming morrow" The weather this week had record highs, it was terrible, it makes you not want to even step outside. However, we braved it to go swimming. We got together with a few friends and had a blast at the pool! Last summer, Riley wouldn't even touch the big pool, but thanks to Maddie's & Brinley's example, Riley jumped right in, was kicking all around and having so much fun. Meanwhile, baby Chloe slept for most of the time in the car seat. I know I can't wait to go again, and Riley is STILL asking to go swimming tomorrow

Parts & Pieces

Our baby girl had a photo shoot today by my friend, who is an amazing photographer. She calls these pictures "Parts & Pieces" We love little Chloe so much, she had a difficult month this past month, but is now doing so much better. She laughs, talks, coos, and stares at us all the time. We love every inch of her, from toes to fingers to the fuzzy hair on her head that sticks straight up. We already know just what a sweet spirit she is, and I think that she is just the cutest thing ever (well just as much as her older sister Riley!)

my little fruit head

So Riley is officially obsessed with fruit of any kind. I guess its a good thing, except for the damage it does to her digestive system (ya know what I'm sayin). We have to make her eat her other food before she gets any fruit. This weekend, my sister Traci came to visit with her kids, we had a great time! Traci and I went to see Baby Mama, which was hilarious! Anyways, while Traci was cutting the strawberries, Riley in true 2 year old fashion cried and whined to get up on the counter next to her, and sweet aunt traci let her. And my little lady went to town on the strawberries, one after another, after another...

My Mom

I just wanted to wish my Mom a very Happy Mother's Day. She always use to say that if we were back in Heaven and all the kids were lined up for her to choose from, that she would always choose me. I feel exactly the same about her! I'm so glad that we were put on this earth together. She is an incredible example of spirituality and strength to me. I really hope I can do as good of a job as she did with me. Here are some things that make me think of her:
chocolate chip cookies
cute butt
country decorations
exercising at 6 AM
reading her scriptures
craftiness
interrupting her saying her prayers countless times
apple dessert
I Love Lucy
scratching arms
great hair (back in the 80's a kid even asked her if she was a Charlie's Angel with her feathered hair)
Stylish suits for church
DI
Phantom of the Opera
Rush Limbaugh & Sean Hannity
"My last born in the wilderness..."
Calling me Dawny
Excellent cooking

Always being supportive
Always unconditionally loving
Always being beautiful
Always staying close to the gospel and passing that on to her children
Always being a fantastic Mom
I Love You Tons