Hello Everyone,
This is the day before the day before Thanksgiving, and we have so much to be thankful for! We have a good family and everyone seems healthy and happy! That is good. We all are blessed with good jobs, and we are able to meet our obligations, and that is good. We all enjoy the convenience of phones so we can talk to each other, and that is good. We all have a roof over our heads, and cars to drive, and that is good too!
We have had a good month and warm weather! Ron and Kevin were able to put up some frame work on our shed, and it is looking so good, hopefully on Friday they may even be able to put up some trusses for the roof. We need to get some ply wood but not sure when. They want to go cut Christmas trees this weekend too. That is always a fun!
Emily has had the canning bug this year, and we have canned chicken and jam, and our latest adventure was potatoes. We had 100 pounds of potatoes that Emily got, and so Emily, Amy, Sarah and I spent all day Saturday putting potatoes in jars. Kevin and dad helped too, before they went out to build on the shed. 150 bottles later we were done. I know if you go on Amy's blog she tells the world that I stole her potato peeler, but honestly she lost her and was trying to put claim to mine. I know that they were here last summer and I didn't watch her good enough I guess for now mine is gone. So Saturday we went to the sale of the pans at the grade school and we bought some new peelers. I came home and marked mine right away so we know which one is mine! Good luck stealing this one!
Ron has started making the pies for the feast! He is such a good cook and I am so thankful for him. We have the turkey thawing and will be making rolls for all those left overs! Some of the kids will be here tomorrow night, and I can hardly wait.
Dad remembers going over to Denver one year for Thanksgiving to see his Aunt Joyce. He remembers a real bad snow storm, and that it was very ugly. They had to look out the side windows to see the lines on the road to make sure they were still driving where they should be. There were 10 children in Ron's family, and he was number 5. I think Ron must have helped do the cooking at home, and that is why he is such a good cook.
I remember the bread dough my mom would make in a big Tupperware, and how she would knead that dough and then we would watch for the lid to raise up, and then we would roll the dough out on the table and cut it with an empty tuna can. Then we would use a butter knife and make a small cut in the center of the circle, then take melted butter and with a brush put that butter on the dough circle and then fold the circle in half. Then put that roll in a pan that was greased with butter, and then when the pan was full, we would put more butter on top! Oh they were so good. We do that now and my family just loves them, especially my Emily's Matt. He has taken a lot of ribbing but he is such a good sport, and still comes for those special dinners. Sometimes we make a pan of rolls just for Matt. Love you Matt! I think their little Dylan will be a lot like his dad!
I also remember saving all the ends of bread and old rolls for a week or two before thanks giving so my mom could make dressing to stuff the turkey. I remember grinding that bread and celery and my mom dicing the onions for the dressing, but I don't make my own dressing, we just use stove top. Oh for the smells of Thanksgiving!
Well this is forever long, but I must mention the movie Twilight that a few of us girls went to.
It was a fun night and a good movie. Edward at first was very ugly, but his vampire ways make you fall in love with him at the end. I still think that Jacob is my favorite of the two!
May we all be a little more grateful for the many blessing we enjoy!

Here is a little picture I took of Mom and her friend Joy and Joy's family. They sure do laugh a lot! Love you Mom!

Saturday Mom and Dad came over and took some of our leaves... thank you... but after this weekends storm you can't even tell we did any work :[ We did have lots of fun!

we loaded a bunch of leaves in Dad's truck so they could work them into their garden.. I think when they got home they had WAY more than they bargained for!

We hope you all had a great Halloween and we are looking forward to all the hollidays and get togethers!

Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole
Prep Time:20 min
Total Time:1 hr 10 min
Makes:4 servings
What You Need

1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cholesterol-free egg product
1 cup fat-free milk
3/4 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 slices whole wheat bread, torn
Make It

SPRAY medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add peppers and onion; cook on medium-high heat 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Place in large bowl. Add egg product, milk, cheese and seasonings; mix with wire whisk until well blended.
SPRAY 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Place bread in prepared casserole. Cover evenly with egg product mixture, making sure all bread is coated.
BAKE at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.


Breakfast Casserole
Morning Sausage and Veggie Strata
Prep Time:5 min
Total Time:40 min
Makes:6 servings
What You Need

6 slices wheat bread
1 pkg. (8 oz.) frozen BOCA Meatless Breakfast Patties
1-1/2 cups chopped fresh vegetables, such as zucchini, mushroom, broccoli, onion and/or bell pepper
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cups (16 oz.) cholesterol-free egg product
1 cup fat-free milk
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese
Make It

PLACE bread slices in single layer in 13x9-inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Top each bread slice with 1 breakfast patty; sprinkle with vegetables and Italian seasoning.
MIX egg product and milk with wire whisk until well blended; pour evenly over vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.
BAKE at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned.
Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute
Substitute 8 eggs, beaten, for the cholesterol-free egg product.
Quick & Easy Egg Casserole
Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:55 min
Makes:8 servings
What You Need

6 slices white bread, coarsely torn
1 lb. bulk sausage, cooked, drained
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
6 medium eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Make It

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 13x9-inch baking pan or oven-proof casserole. Place bread into bottom of pan; sprinkle with sausage and cheese.
BEAT eggs, milk, salt and pepper in medium bowl with wire whisk. Pour over bread mixture in pan.
BAKE 40 to 45 min. or until mixture is set in center and lightly browned.
Kraft Kitchens Tips

Size-Wise
Need an idea for brunch? This easy, savory casserole serves 8 people.
Substitute
Substitute 1 lb. of diced cooked ham for the cooked sausage.
Purchasing and Storing Eggs
Buy only refrigerated eggs with clean unbroken shells. Open carton and gently move each egg to make sure it is not stuck to the carton because of an unseen crack. Check the Sell-By Date on the carton. Store eggs in their original carton on an inside shelf of the refrigerator as soon as possible after purchasing. Avoid placing near foods with strong odors that can easily be absorbed. For
Bacon Breakfast Casserole
Prep Time:20 min
Total Time:2 hr 30 min
Makes:6 servings
What You Need

8 slices white bread, crusts trimmed, divided
8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1 can (4 oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
2 green onions, sliced
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
4 eggs
2 cups milk
Make It

PLACE 4 of the bread slices on bottom of greased 8-inch square baking dish; top with bacon, mushrooms, onions and cheese. Cover with remaining 4 bread slices.
BEAT eggs and milk with wire whisk until well blended; pour over bread; cover. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
BAKE, uncovered, in preheated 350°F-oven for 1 hour or until center is set. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting to serve.
Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute
Prepare as directed, using KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese and fat-free milk.
Crowd-Pleasing Creamy Casserole
Prep Time:15 min
Total Time:2 hr
Makes:8 servings, about 1 cup each
What You Need

2 cups cubed ham
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed, drained
2 cups KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 pkg. (6 oz.) seasoned croutons
4 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
2 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. dried basil leaves
Make It

MIX ham, broccoli, cheese and croutons; place in 13x9-inch baking dish.
BEAT eggs and milk in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add dressing, flour and seasonings; mix well. Pour over ham mixture; cover. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes or until center is set.
Kraft Kitchens Tips

Great Substitute
Prepare as directed, using MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing.
Safe Food Handling
Refrigerate cooked, perishable foods as soon as possible within 2 hours after cooking. Discard food which has been left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

This is a picture of my dads barn from across the mighty Bear River. One of these days we will go to moms and the barnyard will be gone. We went down and got some old junky stuff from the barnyard before it goes away, and next year I hope to ad some of it to my yard. Some days I really miss my dad. His birthday was Sept 29, and there are alot of good memories from the old farm. Dad taught us all to work and work hard. He was a very honest man and he built the farm up with alot of hard work. He was a gentle man, spoke soft, but at the same time you really did not want to make him angry! He loved animals and he had a couple of dogs I remember. Tag and Skeeter. I remember him cutting hay with a tractor and a cutter bar. Back then we didn't have a swather. Tag was out in the field with him running around waiting for any birds to fly up out of the hay, but Tag got to close once and got his foot caught with the cutter bar. Dad took him to the vet and had his leg bandaged up. A few days went by and the foot started to smell bad, and Dad felt the bandage was on too tight so he decided to take the bandage off. I remember that as he did so, it hurt Tags leg and Tag put his mouth on dads arm, as if to bite him, but Tag never did clamp down on dads arm. I think Tag knew that dad was only doing what was best for him. Tags foot had started to rot, and after that he mostly ran on three legs, because his other leg was deformed. I had a really good dad.
Thanks Emily for showing me how to blog, and thanks Amber for getting this going and thanks to Julie, and Amy, and Sarah for adding your touches too!
We did have fun this weekend and it was good to see so many of you and to see the little ones again. How they have all grown! Amber drove up the other weekend for a couple of hours, and it was good to see her, we did miss seeing little Sesha though. It was good too on Wednesday night and Thursday to see Julie. Both Shane and Cody are just working, working, working!
Brian and Melissa came up and they have set a date for April. We are excited to have her join our family, and it was good to see Kevin, Amy and the girls. We got a bed for the spare bedroom, but Maddy and Brookie love to kick Papa Ron out of his bed. He is a good sport about it, and slept on the couch, because Kev and Amy had one bed and Sarah was in the other. Nick was suposed to come up Sat night but had truck trouble. Luckily it was just the fuel filter and not the fuel pump. We had home made chicken noodle soup, and rolls and cinnamon rolls for our lunch on sunday. I think everyone had a good time. I know we did. Thanks to you all again. Dad and I love you all so very much.

Check out my new skills...

I am rather proud of my son!! I might be obsessed, but all the same He is so cute!! We are doing well! Thank you Julie for taking some great pictures! It was so good to see you. As for the rest of you minus Amber it was great seeing you this past weekend! We SO need to get together more! All of us! Amber we missed you greatly!

Mom and I are going to juice some tomatoes!! YAY! We have turned into quite the caners this fall! I am rather proud of that accomplishment! I have never been very domestic, but I am SO grateful for Mom and Dad and their help. I also am feeling a small amount better about our food storage! I still know there is NO way it would feed a family for 2 years.. Not even one person for 2 months... but we are working on it! I really think we should all do 72 hour kits for Christmas. We NEED to get prepared!! Love you all, The Shumways!

Hello everyone! I must have A.D.D. because I can't get myself to stay on task at work so I thought I would post real quick and tell everyone that things are going great for Matt and I. Dylan is growing and getting SO big!! Mom and I have been canning chicken and making jam. I have to say I am rather proud of my new learnings and the chicken is great to have on hand! Thanks Mom and Dad for your help!

Hello all from West Valley.

Hope all is going well for everyone. Not much to report here. I have been doing some yard work but I have so much more to do. I want to get some bulbs in the ground before winter sets in. Can you believe that it is almost October.... I am getting excited for Halloween. I am going to start decorating my house on October 1st. This will be the first time since I have lived in West Valley that I will really be able to decorate since my landlord doesn't really care what kind of decorations that I put outside. I am excited about that.
Sesha is excited for Halloween too. She wants to go trick or treating as a princess. She isn't sure which one just a princess. So we have been looking at costumes for her but haven't decided on one yet.
Work is going good. We are almost to 4th quarter and that means lots of OT. That will really help with Christmas this year. Santa is starting to really cost allot and I am not sure that I like the idea of paying him so much money.... Well I guess that is what happens when ya have 5 kids and 3 of them TEENAGERS.... UGGGH.
Amy, congrats on your last purchase. I was watching them and they sold out at Walmart and Kmart down here in less than 4 hours. I can't believe that item is so in demand.
Well, as far as Christmas goes this year, I am not sure what everyone has planned. I know that I am going to be working every Sunday from Nov 15 until Feb 1. I would like to do a family to family gift exchange this year. This works best for us. I think we should have like a $50.00 limit and exchange the gifts at a family get together. If we want I can see if I can secure a condo up Park City or Snowbird to have a family get together. If this sounds like something that would work for everyone just let me know and if ya have an idea of a date that would work. Our Family is getting so big that it is hard to get everyone in one of our houses for a sleepover.
Well that is my two cents on the whole Christmas thing. I would like to get the whole family together on a Saturday or Sunday night to go up to Temple Square to see the lights this year. Let me know if this sounds like something everyone is up to.

I am going to close now since Sesha thinks that I need to count with her.
~Love, Amber

Hello to all from Idaho,
Dad is doing much better now and has gone back to work. He gets tired by the end of his work day and usually comes home and has a nap! We are just grateful that everything went so well and that he is back to work.
I am doing good too, and I get tired at the end of my work day too, but I don't have any reason! I sometimes take a nap too!
It was fun to go and watch Ty play soccor the other day, and then to hear that Brooklyn is riding a bike all by herself! wow! how time does fly.
With all the excitement we have not even thought about christmas, and we dont have any plans. I know that dad is looking into having his knees operated on and is just waiting for a return call from the Dr. Hopefully tomorrow. So I will put some thought into it, and if anyone else has any other suggestions then post them on the blog. Maybe with all of our heads together we can come up with a super duper party!
We went to my moms last saturday night for a cookout. The weather was very nice but the flies were so o o o o o bad, and then the smell from the pig farms was so o o o o o overwhelming that it was difficult to enjoy the food. So we went into the house and had a good laugh, if you can imagine me and Evelyn and Ann having a good laugh, and a good visit. They say to tell everyone hello. Julie, Evelyn got her letter about the races and you should see her talk about it. She is so veryexcited.
Best close for now. Our Love to you All. Love Nana and Papa

CHRISTMAS

Hey I know you all don't want to think about Christmas but I was wondering what we are planning for on the gift exchange this year. I would like to do families instead of individuals.

If we have decided let me know and if not maybe we better think about it as Christmas is getting close. :)

~Amber

The Beckstead Family

Hello all, I just wanted to say hello. It has been a while since I posted to the family blog. Things are going good here in West Valley. Shane is still busy at work. He is learning new things to help him do his job better. Austin is still working with him. Shelby and Jake are doing great in Northern Idaho. They are getting excited for Christmas. (Me too sortof). Sesha is growing big and she is really getting ready for Christmas. She still wants to put up the Christmas Tree. I am starting to run out of things to get her distracted. I am working nights now until after Christmas. It is okay. Allot less stress and Shane is finding out who's the real boss around here. It isn't him :).
Well there isn't much else going on so I am going to close for now.
~Amber

Happy Brithday Papa Ron!!

Hey everyone!! I just thought I would post the picture I took of Dad last night before he went in for his surgery! What a way to spend your birthday!!! Poor guy! It was good to spend time with him for a few moments! I was there when they brought him back!! I guess Dad was a "wild one" the nurses told Mom and me that he was on all 4's trying to get away!! LOL sorry for sharing that Dad!! But I HAD TO!!!! I talked to Dad this morning he is going stir crazy! He just wants to go home! I can't imagine Dad sitting still for very long! I hope he will relax enough to heal! He has been walking the halls. He told me he has been walking as far as his leash will let him! OH DAD!!! I love you so much!

Amber.. sorry about your luck! You will have to post the story!! We want all the juicy details! Now that Mom can relax I think she could maybe laugh at it too. Last night I think she was too uptight with Dad to be able to be okay with what was going on with you!!! I think it is hilarious!!!!! ... However if it was me I would have been VERY upset!!

Dylan is grumpy! He acted just fine getting his first tooth.. well we thought! He has not slept good the last couple nights! I'm guessing it is just his teeth! Poor little guy! He has started giving kisses! Well what we can call giving kisses! He just opens his mouth and presses it to our cheeks.. arms.. every where!! It is absolutely adorable! He has also been in love with JUMPING! He will not sit STILL he is always having to be jumping!! It will be a good thing I guess when his legs are so strong that he can dunk the basketball by the time he is 7! LOL

Matt has lost 2 straight games in Football.. but considers last night a win.. even if the score didn't. They played Pocatello. THEY ARE GOOOOOOD! Matt was super nervous, but said he could not have been prouder of the boys! They played right along with them, and played real well!! Good luck to the Varsity tonight! It should be a GREAT game.

One more thing on Dylan!! He is loving his new sitter. She is great! She has a little boy that is home all day and Dylan LOVES him! As soon as we get there Dylan is squealing and kicking and so excited!! I love it! I know she takes good care of him and I do appreciate it! I HATE leaving him.. so having someone good to leave him with makes it a little better!!

Love the Shumway Family!

hey guys that sux about grandpa ron i hope that he is ok. well jake and i r now in bonners ferry. we started school the second. i am having a good time at school i have been hanging out with Aspen and his older brother Jacob. well i miss you all and i love you
love shelby jo

hey guys that sux about grandpa ron i hope that he is ok. well jake and i r now in bonners ferry. we started school the second.

dad's birthday

just so you know dad is as i am writing this in the hospital getting his appendix out ya happy birthday dad. that stinks. well we are doing good i started stringham's realtor school today it is ok a little hard but ok am glad to be done soon. three weeks and then you will all have to tell your friends about me well i am going to go so i can go see dad love ya all love sarah

The Beckstead Family

Hello, How is everyone doing? Not much is going on here in the big city of West Valley. We took Sesha to see the movie WALL-E. It was a different show. It was cute but Sesha lost interest in the movie about 1/2 was through and was running through the theater. So I don't know that we will take her to another movie for a while. They played the preview for Madagascar 2. We can't wait until 11.07.08. (we are going to see it on opening day hopefully)
So you all saw that Shelby and Jake are moving. Hopefully they will keep posting to our blog. Shelby has her own blog now. It is pretty cool.
Well not much else is going on. Keep smiling and Keep in touch.
~Amber

Well Jake and I are going to be moving on Sunday and our Internet and phone will be disconnected. We will keep in touch over the blog when we moved. I should have a computer when I get there. I am also getting a laptop for Christmas so when I get that I will be able to do more with my blog and put more pictures. I have glasses now they are so cute. Life here has been very hectic, with the packing and all. In case some of you don't know my e-mail is sportygirl70@yahoo.com and Jake's is jake4horses@yahoo.com We really miss all of you. When we get more pictures I will try to post them to the blogs mine and this one. I hope that you all have fun camping for Grandpa's birthday, I wish we could be there you guys will have to take lots of pictures and put them on here. Well I have to go pack some more. We love you all
Love Jake & Shelby

Hello Family,
It was good to see so many of you at Brooky's party. I took some time on Saturday to go see my sister Dauna, and to get some plants for my yard. She has a nice yard with alot of plants, and her and Richard enjoy the garden. She even has a milk weed in her yard. They are supposed to draw a certain kind of butterfly to the yard. I haven't seen a milk weed for a lot of years. It reminded me of Benson.
We are getting ready for the camp out and so I just wanted to know who is coming and when you are coming. Dad got the trailors water pump fixed and he is trying to fix the door tonight so hopefully we can get it to the camp spot by thursday. Sarah and Nick are coming friday night, and Matt and Em are coming up on Saturday. Nick is going to hall our 4 wheelers up to the camp. Thanks Nick!!!!!
Our grass is looking better in our back yard and our fence does look good. We haven't finished it yet but what else is new. Time just seems to get away from us! Well, let us know when or if you are coming. We love you all and hope to see you all there.

Okay.. so I ended up getting some help from my friend Trisha.. she is actually our cousin! Small world! But I now know how to do a little more!! YAY!
Yesterday Dylan started his new sitter! I was nervous how he would do.. or rather how I would do! It went real well!! I feel so good about where he is and how Merinda is with him. She said how much fun he is.. and asked like every one else if he is really this happy ALL the time!! It made me so proud and YES he really is!! We have been blessed with such a good little guy! He is getting so big and enjoying eating! HE is a PIGGY (just like his Mom)
I hope you are all enjoying these cooler nights!! I know I sure am.. cooler weather means FOOTBALL. Matt has his first game this Thursday! Good luck to him. He thinks they should be pretty good this year. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it or not but Matt was named the Preston J.V. Head Football coach! Congratulations to him!!
We love you all and are so excited for the camp out this weekend! My boss Paul Davis just got back from Alaska and yes he brought all of us back some fresh halibut so I will be bringing some for us to try out!! Love you all
the Shumway family

hey guys

Hey if you dont kno already Jake and i are moving to sandpoint on saturday. we will miss you all. we love you guys
love Jake and Shelby

Okay, So maybe we all need to get together and figure out this blog thing. I am working on trying to figure it out and if I figure it out I will let you all know. Hopefully with all of us working on it we can get it figured out.

Later~Amber

GRRRR

Okay so I need help!! On my blog.. I totally messed it up! I don't have a clue what I'm doing.. I just pretend, well today I wanted to change my template.. and now I am pretty much having to start over!!! Does anyone have some suggestions for me?? PLEASE?!?! Oh and I am trying to get MUSIC on my blog as well.. as you can tell I'm super unsuccessful. But I found the cutes blog templates at thecutestblogontheblock.com I just don't know how to get them to work. GRRRRR I can from PYZAM.COM What am I doing?? Please help!
In desperate need~Emily

WE JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR BROOKLYN!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE!!!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU SATURDAY! WE HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Matt is busy as ever coaching! He is loving the heck out of Football this year! The boys he gets to coach this year are some fun and fast kids! Matt thinks they should be pretty good he guesses the season will end 6-2 I guess we will see how that turns out!!! I hope he goes 8-0 :) okay okay but lets get real! Poci. has a mini college and they are dang good! We love and do miss all of you!
...Amy you should post pictures of your lawn and all the hard work you put into it!! It looks FAB!!!

hunting

hey all nick did not get an elk yet he is up there almost every night i hope he gets one soon. because i am sick of him going through what it will be like while he is asleep you can always tell what nick is thinking he never shuts up in his sleep urg! but i also finished breaking dawn. so good could not put it down. mom and dad's fence looks so good dad is a hard worker. and everyone needs to come camping we will have fun and we well i am working on something like a craft for the kids to do and the grown ups can to if they want. mom really wants us all there and to have us as a family so please come and the christmas party too we owe it to mom it is 2 weekends out of the whole year. i think we owe her that just think how many of our poopy dipers did she change ya that makes it even. so come she loves every one so much and you are all in her prayers i spent the last weekend up there with maddy and brooklyn and she did bless you all. so come if you need a bathroom nick and i have a toilet type thing you can use and i would even be the one to change the bag if that is what it takes to get you up there k. i will let me know. also we saw pictures of kevin and amy's lawn it looks so good they do a good job and to hear amy talk about how sore she is well lets all skip the gym and start laying sod for a business. ha ha i love amy. well we will talk to you later and i promise about the camping we will have fun with who comes but it feels a lot better when we are all there we have a good time and all the kids get along and love eachother just come it will be fun. i am talking mom into letting me do it next year and if i do it we will camp where it is free and you can get trailers and it is in logan canyon and we will go to bear lake one day so be ready for next year k. love you all. love the thompsons.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Well I hope you are all doing well. This past weekend was a killer for me, or should I just say my thighs. We have worked so hard in the yard all summer(I like to include myself in all that hard work because I had to work hard at being patient.) Finally the day has come. We layed our sod on Friday and Sat. What a beautiful sight to be seen. And Briggs is in doggie heaven now. The girls went and spent some time at Sarah's house, then they wondered up to Nana's. We missed them but got so much done with them on vacation. Brooky has a birthday wednesday. I think it is to hard to get together during the week. We are planning a B-day cook out on Saturday evening if you could all make it. Please just let me know. Thank you so much Sarah for offering to take my kids and help out. It was also our 9th anniversary, so we were able to go on a hot date to some steakhouse... after 9 years, he still doesn't know that I detest steak. So I had a beer instead. Hope thats ok. HA HA!! Well love you all and I look so forward to opening up our blog. keep them coming. See you soon!!!

Amy

The Beckstead Family

Hello
Just wanted to update everyone on what is going on in our family. I just got news that Shelby and Jake are moving to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. They will be leaving in 2 weeks. They are really excited about it. Jake is the most excited because he loves the outdoors and there is more room to roam there. Shelby is excited because she has a lot of friends there.

Yesterday, Sesha and I went and got our hair cut. Shesha held really still and they did a great job. Then she laughed at me getting mine cut. It was fun. Then after that we went and watched Kung Fu Panda. That was a cute show... And guess what! Madagascar 2 is coming out this Winter. We are excited about that.

Well, I would post more but Sesha is getting demanding and she wants to play.

I will post more later.

~aMBER

So normally on a Friday I would be so excited it is Friday.. but today it makes me a little sad. I have LOVED being home with Dylan all week! He is so much fun!! He has started to really talk. I guess that is what he is doing I'm glad he has moved on from his squealing (if that is even how you spell it???) days and now just rambles. His squeals really hurt our ears! Just so all of you know I am feeling great my surgery went real well and now life will be much better!! I hope! I go back to the dr. on Monday so we will see what he has to say!

We have been enjoying life of laziness. Dylan and I have taken many long naps together on the couch.. I think my pain med. must make him sleepy too!! We LOVE watching Phelps clean house in the swimming too!! He is a freak of nature we think..

Last night I talked Mom in to doing some coupon shopping with me in logan.. while we were there we ran into Sarah, Nick, Maddy, and Brookie!! It was so nice to see them all! I do miss them! Good luck hunting Nick! Bring home a BIG one!

We can't wait to see you all at the family camp out!! We will soon find out how fun camping is with a baby.. good thing he is a good boy! We love you all, the Shumways!

Hello Again,
Thought I would try this from my computer. It seems to be working.
Thanks to those who set this up and are keeping it going. We love you all.
We are watching the olympics too. THey are exciting. I will ad more later.
Love Mom

WOW!

Well all be. Mom does know how to use her computer... Just kidding. You did a great job. That is a great picture of you and dad. Sesha says you are pretty! Even you dad. She is going through her stage of everyone is pretty.

We are enjoying the Olympics in between episodes of Flapjack and Spongebob. It has been tricky but I think that we have a schedule worked out now. We just got done watching Phelps win and she was cheering. "Go guy. You can do it. Get the good. Go guy Go" and she was waving her hands in the air. It was classic. Poor Shane is trying to sleep. Oh well.

Well I am going to close for now because they are doing the ceremony and I want Sesha to see it.
Love Ya All,
~The Beckstead Family

Hello from Nana and Papa

hello everyone,

we have had a hot sunday, and a preview of what the afterlife could be. Hot and sweaty!

Dad and I worked on putting up some of our fence today, and it was very hot. it will sure look good though when it is done. We did not go to stake conference so all our blessings will be canceled for this week.

The camp out we hope will be fun and I am working on getting a map out to everyone. I am so slow so i thought I better get the letter out first. There is a small stream we are hoping to be by so the kids can get wet and maybe catch cold.

Dad went to scout camp this last week and thought he was camping with a bunch of yw and not ym. One kid got mad and started walking home. Dad gave him a half hour and then went after him. It was just enough time for the kid to start walking back to camp. Then the kids were making a torch with their bug repellent and a match. Dad says he is too old to go camping with the scouts anymore.

we did get out back lawn planted and it is turning a nice hint of green. by this time next week we should see a big hint of green, and not just weeds.

We love you all and hope you will all be to our camp out! Love Nana and Papa

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Hello All,

I know I should be more organized and all but life happens while you are making other plans. I have lost all my birthday and anniversary information for everyone. I was wondering if everyone (or if any one knows everyones bdays and anniversaries) could post the birthdays and anniversaries of our family. I am trying to get my calandar marked for next year and the rest of this year. I am going to get better at sendin out cards and such.

So is everyone getting excited for the family campout? I don't know about this. No potties. This is going to be interesting but I am sure it will be fun.

Well I need to get some work done. It seems like it never ends around here. I will post more later when I have more to report.

~Amber

This is the Thompson's again and we have made it a year on sunday wow and we had our first struggle yesterday. our car broke down on the freeway on nick's way to work. ya it pretty much sucks 700 dollars wow bend over but now we are selling it. and we are staying home for our 1st anniversary and having a picknick in our living room and probably watching hunting movies YAY! ha ha life goes on. then i had to talk to mom last night and she told me about her anniversary's and wedding wedding the starter in the car goes out and then the next two she was 9 months pregnant then the next one the starter goes out again so maybe i have mom's luck minus the pregnant part (knock on wood). Amy your girls are getting so big. and they are beautiful. so are you. i miss you guys and you have it good. i would have stayed down there if i lived where you do. i love you guys. we will have to keep you posted and keep us posted. o also chester was adopted by my father in law. he is doing very good and is getting fat and enjoyiing it. he will come see us still. i love that dog and so does scott. well must go love you all love the Thompson's.

Coupons Coupons Coupons

I heard about a new coupon website.

www.couponsuzy.com

It is pretty cool.
~Amber

The Beckstead Family

Hope all is going well and everyone is surviving RODEO weekend in the big city. I have to admit. I would have liked to been there for about 10 minutes, just long enough to get me a lions burger. We are looking forward to camping over Labor Day. Is everyone going to meet somewhere and go camping or are we just going to meet at the camp ground? Please let us know. I am not sure where we are going. Do we need to bring anything special for food or are we all just going to be responsible for our own meals? Please let us know. ~Amber, Shane & Gang

It's Official!!

Well today was a very sad day for me down here in the big city. I am now the latest carrier of a Utah drivers license and that precious pilot of mine is sporting ski utah plates. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...They gave me the bill. Yikes!!! Being a Utard is going to take some getting use to. The girls and I went to Lagoon today. It was nice. I finally talked maddy into the Wicked. I could not believe it, so we are standing in line and I'm freaking out. Then the really cool guy with a messure stick comes and gives us the boot. Maddy was devastated, she was short about 1/4 in. Big bullies anyway. Kevin got slammed by a back hoe in his shoulder and head. As far as I can tell, no permanent damage. Just a new slight studder! J/K. He was very lucky. Well if anyone needs me this weekend, you can find me at the corn dog stand and the rodeo. Go Amy Go! Love you all, See ya

Hello all!! I just thought I would take a second and give a real quick update! I found a new sitter for Dylan. Her name is Miranda Hicks. I'm very excited about her. I feel real good about her, she will be great!! And she only has 3 kids including Dylan and one of them is hers!! So that will be super nice.
Sarah and I have been cleaning a house in Logan that some people were kicked out of.. it is gross! but we should finish it tonight! It has been fun chillin with Sarah every night! I think I could pick up a part time job cleaning! It pays well and Dylan can come with me.. so that is a bonus!
We went to Bear Lake this past weekend. Mom and Dad came along. As did Sarah and Nick and their two dogs! We had a very good time. I didn't take very many pictures, but I will post the ones I did take another time. I'm at work and my camera is home!!
We are all doing very well! We received a blessing from paying our tithing!! Matt was granted a grant for school for $5,000.00 that will pay for ALMOST this whole next year!! I love grants.. Well We love and miss you all! I hope we survive this weekend there are so many crazy carny's in town!
AMY!!!!! OMG it is corn dog time!! I can't wait!! Love ya!
~The Shumways!!!

Busy Busy Busy

Hello All,
We have been very busy. I started a new venture with my sister in law this weekend and I hope that it goes really well for me. She has been selling travel for about a year now and she was getting overwhelmed. She asked Shane and I (mostly me) to help her out with it. So I work all day at Overstock.com and then come home at night and work from home. With any luck I will be able to stay home and work doing this travel. If you want to check it out go to http://stores.ebay.com/Get-A-Vacation_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm
This is the store that we post things on. There are a few vacations that I would like to take myself. Alaska isn't on the list but maybe if I keep at it I will be able to go there next summer. :) We keep adding things. I am pretty stoked about it.

Sorry it has been a day or two since I posted last. I hope everyone is doing great. I am not so sure about all this heat but fall is just around the corner and then dare I say it WINTER!

Amy you did a great job on your post. Your girls are so cute.

Gonna run to be now... Keep Smiling.... ~Amber

Hope this works!

Summer Fun!

Hey guys,

I'm hoping this works. As you all know, this year has been a doozy for us. Living in the big city has been a challenge. We have had a great summer though. Our yard is coming along and we have done many fun things. Kevin is always working but the girls and I are keeping busy. One of my goals is to become computer savy so thanks Amber. This is fun! Well keep us "posted" !

Pictures!

I was just thinking that I had some cute pictures of the family.. So I added them at the bottom of this blog. I know I have more on my camara and for some reason they are not on my computer here at work. I will add more when there is more time. Just thought I would add them quick while I had a second. ENJOY!!
Emily

The Thompson Herd

Hello every one this is the Thompson's we have been hounded to post well i actually did but i did it wrong so my first one is in our family blog down on the left hand bottom of this page. well we are doing good we moved back to the valley and are loving it we live down on the island. nick is still working down in pleasant view and i am doing property management and am working for my realitors licence. we are enjoying the summer nick is scouting for a big elk so we are in the mountains a lot. and we now have chester and i love him. he is so much fun and a great addition to our now family of five. we now have three children or what seems like children lucky teal and chester they are fun and they all have their own unique personalities. it is crazy that next month we have been married a year. wow scary. well i love you guys all so so so much and i hope you are having a great summer. and if amy reads this happy 29 birthday ha ha love you. love the thompson's

I THINK I JUST THREW UP A LITTLE IN MY MOUTH!! Amber seriously.. lets enjoy SUMMER the thoughts of winter freak me out right now!! I just want you readers to know that I did my first BIG coupon shopping last night and saved close to $100.00 I saved over $70 in one store!!!!! It was GREAT!! I have to thank Arnica for everything she is awesome.
Today Matt is going to the Rocky Mountain Review then to the "Dark Night" I have heard amazing reviews on it that Heath Ledger is AMAZING!! Has anyone seen it???
Rodeo tickets go on sale Saturday the 19 if anyone is interested! I think all the good seats are gone because I just found out that they went on sale by "mail in" on something like May 1 so that sucks for us! Every year that Matt and I have been together a bunch of his mission companions come to preston to the rodeo. It is way fun!! The last couple years they have stayed the night and we just stay up way to late and get up early and have a Delicious breakfast!!
I hope everyone is having a good week and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!! YAY!! WE LOVE WEEKENDS no sitters for 2 days!!!!!! I love it! I love you all! MUAH!!!

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

ONLY 160 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't that exciting.
Amber

Sorry Em

Sorry bout leavin Dylan out of the list. It has been a long summer. I knew I was forgetting someone but ya think I'd be better at remembering. SORRY :( Please forgive me.

Hi

hi everyone

Hey Emily,
Where is the coupon information....... :) I am waiting for my coupon sites so I can go shopping.


Love Ya,
Amber

Hey just a real quick update! Dylan did have an ear infection.. so sad he actually had one in both ears! He is doing pretty good Dr. Jorgensen put him on some meds. so I hope withing the next couple days he will start eating!! The little squirt! Well I hope all is going well with the rest of the family!! We love you and miss you all!!
The Shumways!

Shumways

Hello everyone!! Today I am having to take Dylan to the Dr. We think he has an ear ache he won't eat and my very un-cuddly boy just wants to snuggle.. and not lay down he screams when we lay him down. Poor little man!! There are so many stresses about being a Mom that I never even thought of until I became one!!

This past weekend we went to Bear Lake with Matt's family, and we had a BLAST!! Along with Amber sunscreen only works if you put it on.. Hahaha or in Matt's case if you put it on evenly.. we used the "spray on" and well lets just say maybe you should rub it in after you spray it on. Matt has some very unusual sun burn lines.. it is rather funny looking, I really should take a picture but I don't think Matt would appreciate it! His poor head.. the middle of his forehead got sunscreen but that is about it and on the sides there are blisters that are oozing.. it is sick!!

We are having a wonderful summer I'm sad it is already the middle of July. Matt is going to be the head J.V. football coach this year at Preston High.. so that is pretty exciting! Football starts very soon so life as we know it is just going to get busier.. is that possible??? Matt has been working very hard on the farm!!

Right now I am working at Northern Title and loving it!! We are actually very fortunate and have been staying busy.. there are many title places that are having their employees take leave because the work is slow.. I guess we can thank Mr. Napoleon Dynamite for making people want to move to P-town!! I love it here and it is growing.

This is a rather unorganized post, but I have so much I am trying to get going before I leave for the dr.. but just wanted to share a bit.. I love you all so very much!! Can't wait to see you all again!! Post Pictures!! We love LOVE pictures! That goes for you Amy now it doesn't take you 45 min. to load them.. you can work on your i-tunes and blog at the same time!!!!!!!

Shane and Amber

Hello,
Shane and I live in West Valley City, UT and have 5 children. I work at Overstock.com and Shane works for All Seasons HVAC. Our oldest Austin lives with us and works with Shane. Sesha, our youngest lives with us and "works" with her friends at Kiddie Kollege. Keirstin lives with her mom in Preston. Shelby and Jake live in Gooding ID with their dad.
Our lives are pretty hectic at times. We had a great summer with all our kids here. Shelby and Jake came down to stay with us on May 31 and they stayed until July 5. Keirtstin came down for a couple of weekends. We spent most of our summer in the sun. We got "FRIED" at Utah Lake on Fathers day weekend. Sunscreen was a wonderful invention, but only if you actually put it on. Sesha was the only one that didn't get sunburned. We had waverunners and played all day. The kids had a blast.
Then the Lagoon trips started. We bought season passes and boy did we have fun. Some of the rides were very bonding rides. Shelby couldn't hear for the rest of the night after we took Kevin and Amy on Wicked. But, sorry Amy, we are still laughing about that day at Lagoon. (the carts don't just come undone on the fire dragon).

We did some scrapbooking this summer and had some fun. Shelby got some pages done. I think that she had fun. I am still trying to get my Alaska book done so I can go again.

Jake played the game systems and watched allot of movies. He also was a big help at Lagoon with Sesha. He could still ride the kid rides with her when she was to scared to go alone. He taught her to put her hands up in the air on the roller coaster and that was the end. She doesn't hold on to any rides now.

I dont' have much to report on Keirtstin, she has alot of friends in Preston. I hope that she will post to this so we can know what is going on with her.

Sesha is a sweetheart. She enjoys her "Work" with her friends. She gives me directions to the daycare everymoring and she gives me directions home everynight. She is pretty smart. She has dance class once a week but hasn't been for 2 weeks. Maybe tomorrow she will go. She likes it. She loves being out side on the swings and trampoline.

Hope to hear from you soon.......

Amber, Shane and Family

Our Family Blog

Okay, So something happened and I was unable to use my work email for this blog. So I had to change it. Sorry about all this. It is a work in progress. I hope that this one will work. I created a gmail account to use instead of my work email.

Please post often and sign it so we now who is posting to our account. Please add as many pics as you want and if anyone wants to change the layout feel free to do so.