WHY DO I BLOG?

So this is kinda fun. I have been "tagged" by my wonderful sister-in-law Cassie. So now I have to answer the question "Why do I blog?"...

Need I say more????

So now Katie and Kjersten...you're it!

SPUDMAN TRIATHLON 2007

So I really wanted to do the Spudman triathlon this year, but I didn't get in on time (they capped the total participants at 2,000 this year and it filled up in a matter of hours after it opened). I was bummed, but the triathlon was the last Saturday in July and we were moving that Monday, so it would be really tight. Anyway, Sidney was leaving to China the day after the Spudman and wasn't going to be able to make it. She was doing the Biking in a team with Mckell Blake and Melanie Haddock. Sidney asked me if I would do it for her. figuring I could squeeze it in, I decided to do it. I only had a few days to train, but I felt good since the bike is my strength. And I had plenty of those bright red energy beans!

We had a blast and actually ended up finishing FIRST PLACE in the team category. Mckell swam 1 mile in 20 minutes, Melanie ran 6 miles in 56 minutes & I biked 26 miles in 1 hour 9 minutes. We all did great and had the best time!

What is goose tape?

Okay, this is great! I was inside making dinner (yes this is a true story) and Brooks and Mylee were in the garage playing with our moving boxes. Brooks came in and asked me for some "goose tape."

"What?" I asked.

"Goose tape!" he replied.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Brooks."

"Mommm, I neeeed some goose tape, I know you know what it is."

"Oh do I? What is it then?"

You know Mom, the real sticky stuff that holds things together."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing when I realized that what he wanted was not in fact "goose tape" but duct tape or "duck tape"!

FLOW RIDER BABY!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=13659575

So my friend Danna Roberts is an instructor at gold's gym. She was telling me about the new "flow rider" at the gold's gym in Ogden. It is basically a simulated water current that you can surf/boogie board on. It sounded pretty fun, so McKell and I went with her and her hubby Tyson last night. IT WAS AAAWESOME! We totally sucked at it, but I can't wait to go back. Everyone should try this at least once(but you'll want more I promise). Check out these sweet pictures. The top one is me in the middle of a barrel role. Make sure to click on the url below the picture's so you can see some rollin' in action. Watch out ocean city California, here I come(hehe).

FORTUNE COOKIES - ARE THEY TRUE?

Okay, so when I was in high school(isn't that the best way to start a sentence?) Anyway, I was at a volleyball tournament and we had an hour to spare before our next game. My friend Verla and I walked over to the grocery store and purchase a box of fortune cookies. As we were walking back to the high school I decided to open a cookie. Just as I opened the package, the cookie inside fell to the ground and broke in thousands of pieces, okay more like 10-15 but who's counting? We were going to just keep walking and let it go, but turned around not able to just leave my fortune laying on the ground unread! As I picked the mysterious white label from out of the cookie wreckage it read (and I can still quote it to this day )"Your clumsy and inquisitive ways will get you through life." From that day on, I swear every fortune cookie I open has some truth as to what is to come! So, the reason for this story from over 10 years ago...Uncle Mike treated us to some yummy Chinese food the other night and we were left with a pile of extra fortune cookies. Mylee opened a cookie and the fortune read "A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon." Hum, fun :) Just as she finished reading the fortune a knock was at the door. As she opened the door, it was our neighbor standing there. To our "surprise" she was holding a plate of "pleasant" looking peanut butter bars. We were definitely overdo for a plate of cookies...but so "soon"?

Less than 24 hours and one down!

So, I had had my new nails on for less than 24 hours when we had a house fire at work. I was doing great and no one even noticed because I had my thick fire gloves on. After over 6 hours of fighting fire, it was finally out, and all 10 nails were still attached. When we started to clean up (usually everyone's air packs, helmets, coats, gloves, etc. immediately come off to lessen the weight), I (of course) left my gloves on (heaven forbid any of the guys see that I had my nails done--I would NEVER hear the end of it!). But one of the guys happened to notice my gloves were still on. He jokingly asked me, "Why are your gloves still on? Did you get your nails done?" "Ha ha ha , yeah right!" I replied. He laughed too. Whew! Got past that one--barely!
As we were taking apart each hose section preparing to leave (we use a wrench-type tool) the tool slipped and one of my nails took the fall. It came completely off. Oh the pain!!! What was I thinking doing acrylic nails???
I came straight home and cut every single nail. There's no way I'm going through that pain and humiliation again!

tat,tat,tat

So, I have nothing new to add, I've been spending most of my time trying to figure out this blog thing! I just wanted to type with my brand new acrylic finger nails. That's right-I HAVE GIRLY NAILS (or sissy girly nails as Kristin put it)! A bunch of us girls went to a nail salon for pedicures and they didn't have enough pedicure seats, so 2 of us decided to do acrylic nails. I went with the more traditional site, the fingers. Lisa went the more adventuresome route and had them put them on her TOES! It actually turned out really cute!! Normally this would have taken me about 30 seconds to type--I think it's been over an hour now trying to figure out how to type with these things. How in the world am I going to work? I don't think they work very well pulling hoses or starting IV's--what was I thinking?

BECKSTRAND FAMILY

We are the Beckstrand family. There are 6 of us...holy cow, when did that happen? Dwight is a corporate attorney--he loves confrontation! Actually, he will do anything to avoid confrontation if possible (which has been known to frustrate his wife when they're shopping for "deals"). Hence the corporate work. He gets to work with people and stay out of the courtroom. PERFECT! He spends his leisure time (when he has it--remember, he's an attorney) playing Sudoku and watching/following sports (he especially loves baseball). Anyone that knows him will attest that he is a freakish fountain of useless trivia (okay, fine--"fountain of knowledge"). He has a memory like an elephant, which is good and bad (usually bad for me--dang, how does he remember that stuff and I don't?). He also likes to hack it up on the golf course. :) Hopefully that opportunity will come along more when we move to sunny California! Melanie is a full-time mom and a part-time firefighter/EMT. She likes to drag the kids to the gym ("playland" as she refers to it, to make it sound more enticing to the kids), usually kicking and screaming, for her daily dose of exercise. She loves being outside and her latest loves are triathlons and cycling. She can shop like nobody's business (if you ever pass a kiosk in a mall, tourist trap, etc., that sells jewelry or other trinkets, she cannot help herself--she has to stop, even (especially?) if you're running late). She also loves to clean the house and cook, yet unfortunately rarely finds the time to do it. (Thank you take-out and cleaning services, what would I do without you?!) Mylee (6) is out of school for the summer and livin' it up. She plays with her friend Savanna from dawn until dusk. They love to take ALL her clothes out of her closet and model them while dancin' to her ipod. How old are they??? Brooks (4) is a "little pill" (Melanie's name for him). He is so sweet and has a good heart, but needs as much attention as he can get, so he gets it however he can. He loves Spiderman and Batman. He also loves to give hugs and kisses--lots of them. :) Annika & Mia are 18 months. Where has the time gone? They are getting so big! Mia sings and Annika dances to her songs. They both are climbing and getting into EVERYTHING! In the beginning, everyone with twins said it gets easier as they get older. So far, it hasn't! That being said, they were the best babies ever! (Thank you for letting mom get her sleep!!!) So this is us. We live in Layton, Utah, but are moving to Southern California (Orange County) in a few weeks (Dwight's been working there since mid-June). Hence the blog! We hope that you will check in often and keep us updated on all of your many adventures and we will be sure to do the same! We love you!!!