Saying Goodbye to 2009!

In 2009:

Tad (age 14)~
became a Freshman in HS!! ~ where have the years gone?
was 1 of 20 students invited to be in 9th grade AP Human Georgraphy ~ and loves it!
won 1st place in his age group at his first triathlon!
joined the HS swim team and is the fastest backstroker on the team.
is currently working on his Eagle Scout Project.

Jared (age 12)~
started middle school!
played 3rd baseman & catcher on a travel baseball team.
joined ROTC.
competed in a tennis league and has declared tennis as his favorite sport!
got 1st place in his school Social Studies Fair, and 3rd place in the county.
is currently playing basketball with Danny as his coach.

Reed (age 9)~
baseball, baseball, baseball... played Spring ball, All-Stars this summer, & Fall ball.
learned to snowboard and wakeboard this year!
is currently playing basketball with Katy as his coach.

We enjoyed 2009 but it also had it's challenges. We have learned from them and hope we are better because of them. We look forward to a great 2010 and wish everyone happiness in the New Year!

Merry Christmas!!

In case you don't know, you can click on any pictures on the blog and they will enlarge.

Wide Open Spaces

Dec 21st
We only had a few days to spend in Taylor so the boys squeezed in riding quads, shooting shotguns, and burning tumbleweeds (their favorite of course, because it involves FIRE!)..

Dad helping Reed

Jared
Tad

Jared

Tad

Uncle Tony is throwing the clay pigeons while Gpa Day shoots.

FIRE!






Reed helping Gpa Day round up the tumbleweeds. These boys from Georgia just love this.. although to Gpa Day it is just a chore :)












Gpa Day & Tad
Jared



Reed and cousin Easton


Their grandfather, Day, is the biggest kid of all so he keeps them busy! And then in the evenings, they all sat around the kitchen table with Gma Nola playing cards.

It's hard to leave such a warm and inviting place. Thanks Day & Nola, as always!

The Day Ellsworth Family!!

I have recently been wanting to get a photo of Danny and his siblings, and one with his parents as well. We were able to get some beautiful shots last week.

Day & Nola Ellsworth


Their five children, in birth order from youngest (left) to oldest (right)
Tony, Kathleen, Danny, Amy, Bonnie


The Day Ellsworth family ~ what a stunning group!

Spending time in Mesa

When we went back to Arizona for Gma Beals' funeral we were able to spend some quality time with our family there.


The boys playing at Tempe Beach Park (trying not to get kicked out!)


Breken, Asa & Reed

We spent a few days in Mesa visiting the old dairy and saying our goodbyes.

Tad and Ivy sharing headphones on our travels.

We also got to ride Thumper, Koay's plane. He took us over Mesa to see the Christmas lights on the Mesa Temple. It was an amazing ride!
Reed, Breken, Miya, & Kaidi
Tad riding shotgun!

Jared, Reed & Breken squeezing in the backseat.

Koay was nice enough to take two loads up.. Katy riding shotgun! This was the first time I've been up in a small plane since I went skydiving in HS. Wow, did I LOVE it!!
Koay & Danny outside of the plane.


Our trip was brief and we wish we had more time to spend with all of our family there.

Remembering Grandma Zola Beals

Danny and his grandmother, Zola Fuller Beals. (06-2008)

Tad, Reed, Jared & Danny with Gma Beals. (06-2008)


Zola Fuller Beals was an amazing woman! She had a full, happy life until her death at age 92. She returned to her Father in Heaven, her parents, husband, and baby daughter on December 10th. Those of us that she has left behind will always remember her.

We will remember her everytime we see a smile, a stack of cards, or a cow.

She has given all that knew her more than she will ever know. May we all be happier because of her.
Family saying goodbye at the Chandler Dairy Farm House .






















Her great grandsons.. Asa, Breken, & Reed at the old dairy.
We love you Grandma/Great Grandma Beals!

The Thanksgiving Feast ~ Hamilton Style!

It's always a party at Thanksgiving because every year we spend it with my Mom's family

~ the Hamilton's! This year Aunt Cyn hosted it in Washington D.C. and 40+ were in attendance from all over the country. What fun!!

Thanksgiving in DC '09

The Smithsonian Museums:

We went to the typical Smithsonian Museums but added two new ones this year... we went to the new Air and Space Museum that is located off the Mall.

It is HUGE and was the building where they filmed part of Transformers 2.
Reed, Kassy, Asa, Shea

Yes, this is the Blackbird that transforms in the movie.

Uncle Danny & Kassy

We also saw the Native American Museum, which is new to the Mall. Kassy, Tad & Danny.

Kassy & Reed

LOVED it!!


Last but definitely not least was the Natural History museum - a favorite!

Danny & Reed in the museum. The kids always love this museum!
Tad, Jared, Steven & Laura in the Natural History Smithsonian.

The group walking the Mall....
Steven, Tad, Laura, & Rett

Any day walking the National Mall is definitely a good day, even if it is rainy :)

Reed & Jared by the Washington Monument






















Danny & Katy at the north end of the Mall... with the Capital Building in the background.

It was a great trip, as always!!