The Perfect Gift

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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About a month and a half ago Chris took us all to the Utah Bookstore in search of a little Utah basketball jersey for Beckham.  He was frustrated to find nothing.  It was shocking the selection they didn’t have.  I assume they might have one during basketball season.  I would hope at least.  For the time being however, we went home empty handed and a little bummed out.  Our search in other stores was also without success.

Chris and I dated while he was playing basketball at the U and we lived about a block away from each other.  His oldest brother Ben lived right near us with his wife Cooper, and their little girl who was 1.  They had purchased a Utah basketball jersey with Chris’s number 34 on it that was being sold in the bookstore at that time.  They now have 5 kids, and each of them had their turn wearing it.  Since their youngest is now 3, the size 2T jersey has run it’s course for them.

A month ago, when we met up in California for Chris’s little brother’s wedding, Ben & Cooper presented Chris with a little gift.  The size 2T Utah basketball jersey.  Chris could not have been more excited.  It was perfect timing.  It just fits Beckham.  It makes it a lot more special and fun than a random Utah jersey would have been, because it has Chris’s number 34 on it and was being sold because of him.  Thanks Ben and Cooper for the perfect gift!

The First Day of School

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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Just like everyone else, I am doing the good ol’ First Day of School post.  This year I didn’t do a very good job of pictures.  I didn’t get any of the kids standing by the front door.  I didn’t make a sign for them to hold that says what grade they are going into.  They don’t ride the bus, so there is no waiting in the bus line or jumping off the bus with a smile pic.  Oh well, here is what I did get….

Kelli Jo & Zoey posing on the playground.  KJ is entering 3rd grade and Zoey 1st.

A couple days later Ava had her first day of preschool..

All three chose exactly what they wanted to wear and the way they wanted their hair done.  They all LOVED their first day and are very excited to be going to school here at home with their friends.

Happy 10th

21 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Today is Chris and I’s 10 year wedding Anniversary!

This was us 10 years ago….

This is us today (or rather, a couple weeks ago)….

A lot has changed in 10 years.  One thing I know for sure?  I absolutely love my husband.  We dated a few years before we were married so we knew each other very well before marriage.  However, we started this whole traveling the world lifestyle immediately after being married.  This really threw us in the fire when it came to our relationship.  There was no escape.  We didn’t have family or friends, or even familiar places to run to when we found ourselves in a disagreement.  We figured out very quickly how to work through them.  We had each other to lean on and that was it.  We needed each other, so we grew closer together.  Back then we barely used e-mail (in a smoke filled internet cafe) and used a calling card once a week to speak with family.  It wasn’t like today where there are so many options for communication all those miles away.  I honestly think that we grew as a couple in the first couple years of our marriage what it might take others much longer to do because we only had each other.  It was even more important when we started having children and skirted them around the world as well.  As a new mom I didn’t have the support of friends or family.  I had my husband.

These last 10 years have been so wonderful, challenging, adventurous, tough, crazy, amazing, and so many other words.  I can’t believe we are about to have our 5th child.  I can’t believe how much I love my sarcastic, funny, understanding (most of the time), handsome husband and that he still loves me. 🙂  I can however believe that we happen to be 6,000 miles away from each other on this special day… because that’s our life… and as challenging as that can be sometimes, I love it too.

I’m so happy that I chose to marry my best friend and happier still that he chose to marry me 10 years ago today.  I love you Chris and miss you and can’t wait to join you once again all the way across the world.  Happy Anniversary!!!

Dave’s Wedding Day

06 Monday Aug 2012

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Chris’s youngest brother Dave got married Saturday August 4th.  Chris was a groomsman and Zoey was a flower girl.  Grandma Burgess bought all the girl cousins matching dresses and they all looked adorable.

Ava, Kelli Jo, Beckham, and Zoey.  The best one I could get of my 4

Flower girls

Cousins

Zoey walking the aisle

My sister-in-law Asheigh’s dad Lex was such a sweet sweet man and helped me with Beckham during the ceremony

Being still for more than 2 seconds is quite the challenge for him lately

Love the handsome boys in my life

This wedding comes just before mine and Chris’s 10 year anniversary.  Reminded me of our wedding and how much our lives have grown and changed since then.  6 weeks to go before our 5th child.  Love love love my husband.

Congratulations Dave and Sarah!  So much to come.

Knotts

06 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by in Family, Kids, Summer

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We traveled to California for Chris’s youngest brother, Dave’s wedding.  We got in a few days early so decided to spend one of the days doing something fun for the kids.  We decided on Knott’s Berry Farm.  Chris’s oldest brother Ben and his wife Cooper joined us as well Chris’s mom Sandi.  Later in the day Chris’s other brother Josh and his family along with his mother and father in law met up with us.  It was a fun day for all involved. 

At the entrance, the girls met some of the Peanuts gang

Grandma Burgess hanging out with Beckham

Zoey wanted her face painted so badly.  Chris promised her and Kelli Jo they could have it done if they joined him on the Extreme Scream.  Kelli Jo only needed a bit of prodding.  Zoey was so terrified and did not want to go.  You could visually see her weighing the options before she ran off to go get in line with Chris and Kelli Jo.  She really wanted her face painted.

Before the ride up

Way up there… about to be dropped

All finished.. in their words “so scary, but so fun” 

and the reward…

Beckham was able to go on the Log ride. That’s him in Chris’s lap in the front

Ben and Cooper after going on the Xcelerator

Poor Ava was sick and had a fever and spent the majority of the day like this.  Poor girl was really a trooper.

I’m not going to lie, it was a hard day for me.  I LOVE these type of rides and being 6 weeks from my due date,  I wasn’t even allowed to go on the log ride that Beckham was allowed on.  I did a lot of watching kids and purses and taking pics.  However, It was still a great day with family.

ONE

28 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Birthday, Kids

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My little man is 1 today.  It’s amazing how much they change in that first year.  He has rocked my world and honestly I am quite glad that he is moving out of the baby stage.  A year ago he was so precious and tiny.

Now he is walking, trying to run, has a full mouth of teeth, jabbers, laughs, screams, never wants to sit still, sleeps much better, and is getting quite a little personality.

Happy Birthday Becks!  We love you!

Irvine Boys BBQ

28 Saturday Jul 2012

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A number of guys that Chris grew up with in Irvine, CA went to college in Utah.  A few went to the U and some went to the Y.  Either way there are a number that have stayed put and made Utah their home.  Others married Utah girls and come to Utah in the summer for a visit.  Each summer this group of guys tries to throw a BBQ together or some sort of gathering.  It’s fun to see everyone’s family growing.  We hosted a BBQ get together this time.  It was a lot of fun.  Kids running all over, lots of food, laughter, and stories.  We missed a couple families that couldn’t make it, but had a good time with those that came.

L to R: Jeff Jensen, Scott Ford, John Emmett, Eric Persson, Jameson Roberts, Chris, & Paul Barlow

Back to South Korea

26 Thursday Jul 2012

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Some quick facts:

  • The Korean Basketball league has their own draft each summer.
  • It takes place in Las Vegas.
  • They have a 2 day try out period.
  • You have to be invited to participate in the try-out and draft.  Actually there were  250 invites.
  • There are 10 teams.
  • Each team can carry 2 Americans.
  • During games, only 1 American is allowed to play on the court at a time, therefore, they basically sub for each other.  Because of this, you can deduce that both of those Americans would be big guys since that’s what they are lacking in S. Korea.

The 2 day try out is actually just a bunch of games.  The players are divided into teams and play 2 games per day each consisting of 2, 10 minute halves.  Each team is provided with a Korean point guard who is in the league.  You can imagine the chaos with a point guard and 4 big guys running around all wanting to do the same thing.  Luckily since Chris has already played in the KBL (Korean Basketball League) he had a bit of an edge because they already knew what type of player he is and what he is capable of.  Also, he is more mature and smarter than most the guys and was able to showcase himself very well.

The KBL draft is just like a mini NBA draft.  10 teams, 2 rounds.  5 minutes for a team to announce their pick.  Chris was drafted 2nd round, number 15th pick to Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.  This is the team that he played for 5 years ago when we were in S. Korea.

To say the least we could not be more excited. There were a lot of guys to pick from and I’m so proud of Chris and his constant hard work.  It is a terrific opportunity and blessing in our lives.   Saying this, however, it is still uncertain what the kids and I will do.  There are some determining factors yet to be finalized.  This is how much we know;  Chris leaves August 15th for South Korea.  They fly back as a team to Los Angeles, California August 25th for 7-8 days for part of their training camp.  They then fly to Japan for 7-8 days where they will finish training camp.  They continue on back to S. Korea from there to start the season up.  I will remain here with the kids and have a baby sometime the first to middle part of September.  Kelli Jo and Zoey will start school September 4th. I had Zoey without Chris around so I’m not worried about doing it again.  We are accustomed to doing what has to be done and that’s just what we will do.  What we will do after having the baby and some recovery time… well, it is yet to be determined.

Beckham and the Basketball

12 Thursday Jul 2012

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Beckham has a new love… the basketball.  I don’t know if it’s fate or second nature or coincidence or what, but he just loves carrying it around.  Chris showed him how to dribble.  He thought it was funny.  Now he picks the ball up, carries it for a few seconds then throws it down and bounces his right hand and arm up and down as if trying to dribble.  It’s pretty funny.  He also loves to carry the ball to Chris.  When he is in another room and it’s quiet, there have been many times we have found him playing with the basketball.