A trip to Utah

Emma and I just got back from a weeks long trip to Utah! It was great to see everyone, especially my family. My "little" (yeah right, all 6'6'' of him), ok my youngest brother was leaving to serve his mission, so we thought we'd go see him before he left for 2 years! Matt wasn't able to go this time, so he was brave and took care of himself for a week. Good thing his mom's close right!!! No, but we really, really missed him, and are glad to be back here with him.

While in Utah we did some fun things:

Emma helped grandpa feed the horses. Emma would beg him to go to the farm, and grandpa couldn't quite resist her begging!!

Grandpa and the boys found this cool elk antler which Emma thought was too cool. She even got to hear what an elk sounds like...courtesty of grandpa's elk call!! There's good ol' Boots. He's a great dog...I just can't believe his still alive!!!

We made a quilt for our baby brother!! 9 more weeks...whoa baby!!

Played dress up in Corbin's helmet and goggles. Where's the 4-wheeler!

And went sledding and made a "Snow Emma" up the canyon with grandpa, Unlce Lance (my sister's husband) and Lindsay! Thanks Lance...you really are the best! I didn't now how much I actually missed the mountains.

We had a really fun time seeing everyone, aunts, uncles, and cousins! We hope to see you all again soon!

Open wide...

It was always great having my father be a dentist while I was growing up. It's a little bit farther for us now to travel to the dentist :) but he always loves to check out our chompers when we're there. Emma had her first experience...and loved it!! Grandpa's GOOD! Picking a prize out of the treasure chest was pretty fun too!! Thanks dad!

Good Luck Elder Beckstrand!!

My youngest brother Tyrel entered the MTC yesterday and will be serving the lucky people of Billings, Montana!

We had a great time with him during our visit. Emma especially loves uncle Ty Ty. She followed him around and drug him everywhere. They even did their exercises everyday. Gotta keep those muscles, right!! Hands off all you Montana cowgirls!!

One of my mom's friends gave her a plaque with this saying and I think it's perfect:

"A missionary leaves his family of two years so those he teaches can be with their families for Eternity."

I'm so proud of you Ty. Good luck. I love you!!

We love our daddy!!!

Emma and I are the 2 luckiest girls around. Matt always makes us feel so special, and we love him so much. He came home from work on Valentine's day with flowers for both of us. We are so thankful for our daddy, and hope he know just how much he means to "his girls!" We love you Matt!!

Snowy snack!

Emma loves when it snows, and we received our second batch of the wintery stuff last night. So this morning, she was asking for a snack and I kept getting distracted (that never happens to any of you, right!!!), and when I finally remembered that she wanted one, I walked in the kitchen and she was already helping herself...with the snow from off the deck!! You do what you gotta do sometimes, right!! Yum, yum!

Curly or straight?

Emma has the greatest curly hair, but every so often it's fun to see what it looks like straight! People don't recognize her when it's straight. Funny! I don't do it very often, but she thought it would be fun this time!!

North Carolina...

Two weeks ago, Emma and I took a trip with Matt to North Carolina for some business he had there. Being from "small-town-Utah-USA" I like to go and see different places! It was beautiful while we were there.

On one of the days Matt had meetings, Emma and I found this great little park on a lake full of ducks. She had a great time and made some new little friends that let her feed the ducks with them!! So cute!

The three of us really had a fun time, but like always it was nice to be back home!!

Emma's first hair cut...

Yes that's right, she's 31/2 and she got her first hair cut yesterday! She was sooooo excited, because she likes to go with daddy when he gets his hair cut, so now it was her turn to "sit in the spinning chair and spin so they can get the back," as she said!!! She loved feeling like a big girl at the beauty salon where mommy goes!! She sat so still and mommy was so brave too!! Daddy thought she looked so grown up!! It probably looked a little silly having mom and dad standing over the chair the whole time...oh well Emma loved it and it looks so cute!!

Christmas at the Coleman's

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! Santa did his thing at our home that's for sure. Emma was surprised with a new wagon among many other things she piled in with her when we took it out for a test drive. Play-Doh, her own cleaning set (broom, mop, and everything else she needs to really help mom!!), a new princess game, and some new books topped the list! Uncle Nate also surpised her with Fred Bird (who Emma loves) He's the reason she goes to the Cardinal games, to catch a glimes at Fred Bird!! We hope the New Year brings happiness to you all and you spend it with those you love!

Christmas Girl

Emma couldn't wait to put on her Christmas dress and go to church. And since she's going to be in Sunbeams next year she also was able to sing with the primary kids during sacrament meeting. That was a big deal to her and she sang her heart out!! What a big girl!!

Snow fun!!

We woke up to snow last Saturday and couldn't resist!! After a fun morning of sledding and eating "handfuls" of snow Emma had a hard time calling it a day. She's like grandpa Beckstrand and could be outside alllllll day. Some yummy hot chocolate finally won her over! All the snow is gone now (yes, welcome to Missouri...), but we can't wait for more!!

It's A...

BOY!!!

The Magic House

We have one of the greatest places for kids here in St. Louis. It's called the Magic House. We went there to celebrate Emma's friend Clemintine's birthday. There's sand and water stations (that Emma really couldn't get enough of...) and a little child size village where the kids can go grocery shopping, fishing, serve in a restuarant, be the librarian, and even do the news!! We had a blast and can't wait to go back!