Tag Archives: Chris

Snuggles, Hugs, and Kisses

31 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in Family, Kids, Travel

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Saying goodbye is always hard.

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Usually it’s just Chris saying goodbye to everyone else.  This time I had to give one more goodbye hug and kiss than usual.  After a lot of thought, discussion, and prayer, Chris and I decided it would be a great thing to have Beckham stay in Abu Dhabi with Chris.  I know that a lot of people won’t understand this, and think I might be a bit crazy as a mom to do this… but that’s OK.  We feel that this decision is what is best for our family right now and that’s what is important.  During our month’s stay in December we worked out all the details for the help that Chris will need to take care of him while he is working.  He will be attending a day care from 8:00-2:00 three days a week to give him some social time with other children and also give Chris some extra time to rest as well as get schoolwork done, etc.  Even though I knew it would be hard to leave him there, I felt great about the day care and about the nanny and know that Jenn Florentin, my new great friend, will help make sure he is taken care of and give him lots of momma hugs.  Beckham craves attention and he will get a lot being there with Chris.  I’m excited for the father/son bonding time that will be available and know Chris will do a great job with him.

We left the Florentin’s house to go to the airport at 4:30 AM so we left him sleeping at the house with Jenn while Chris took the rest of us to the airport.  Therefore, I gave my Becks goodbye snuggles and kisses the night before when I put him to bed.  I held him extra long and didn’t want to let go.  He eventually reached for the bed and wanted in, so I reluctantly let go and rubbed his back some more.  I finally let go and left him knowing he was in good hands.  So far I just keep feeling like I’m missing something.  Because I am.  I miss my chunky little monster so much already, but am so happy that he’s with his dad and so happy that Chris has the chance to be with him.  It will be months before I see them both again and that’s hard to swallow, but I just know it’s right and that it’s good.

I will miss my little man so much.  Chris will have to send me pics every day.

His little brother will be a lot bigger when he comes home

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Beckham and his dad.. quite the pair

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I love my big boys and can’t wait to see them again… whenever that may be.

Our trip home this time consisted of 2 legs.  One was a flight from Dubai to Los Angeles which just happens to be #5 on the list of world’s longest flights, only 1 hour less than #1 on the list.  It totaled 16.5 hours.  It was LONG.  Our flight from SLC to Dubai we flew East.  Then this time, our flight from Dubai to LA we again flew East.  So… in the last month we technically flew all the way around the world.  We then had a long layover, which ended up being a good thing because one of our bags didn’t make it and it was 2 hours after we landed when we finally cleared customs and were headed to our next gate.  We had to go through security again, which took it’s normal amount of forever.  Then at the American Airlines desk there was an issue because of the whole changing of paper tickets on our way over, blah blah blah, what’s new.  We made it on the flight which was only 1 hour 45 minutes and finally made it home 27 hours after leaving.  Now to conquer jet lag once again.  Love it.  Hopefully tomorrow my lost bag shows up somewhere.  Inshallah!

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The Perfect Gift

06 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Basketball, Family, Kids

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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!

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!!!

Back to South Korea

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in Basketball

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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.