Christmas Spirit

Okay so there hasn't been any snow (you can't call the little dusting we received the other day snow, as it disappeared before 10am), but I have really been feeling the Christmas spirit! I love how everyone is inspired to perform acts of service this time of year. It would be wonderful if this was a year around thing, but I truly see the blessing in having a yearly reminder of what life is about and the importance of giving to others. Jeff and I were really excited when we were blessed with the chance to anonymously help a couple in our ward. I really needed this experience as I was so overwhelmed with trying to get Jeff the "perfect" presents and make our first Christmas together, a memorable one. Receiving the chance to give our Christmas to someone in need, helped me to see what this season is about, and what makes a memorable holiday. I can't remember the majority of presents I've received in my life, but I know that Jeff and I will remember this service for the rest of our lives. Santa Clause is wonderful and truly brings happiness and joy into our homes this time of year, but lets remember what it is we are celebrating, it isn't a jolly man with a snow white beard and bag full of presents. But a little baby boy, surrounded by hay and bringing the greatest gift of all to mankind. I found the picture below on Pinterest and feel in love with it!

Jeff and I also got the chance to decorate a gingerbread house with the family! It was SO much fun and I think the end product turned out very nice! :)

 The front, decorate by Jeff and I. 

 The left side, done by myself. 

 Back side done by David and Alex. 

 Right side done by Jeff and David. 

The finished product! We put a DC on top and wore our DC shirts for a Divine Comedy photo contest. Just in case you were wondering. :) 

I hope you all have a VERY merry Christmas full of lots of yummy treats, baked goodies, family, friends and memorable experiences! 

Pumpkin Season!!!

It's finally here! The season of pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin carving! Until around three years ago I did not like pumpkin (still had the notion that it was a nasty veggie mom tried to get us to eat) but ever since I re-discovered it, I have been in love! Needless to say there has been a lot of baking going on in the Bean home. :) Last night however was not devoted to baking pumpkin cookies, but in carving pumpkins with our new friends Deanna, Bryce, Anika, and Derek! We had such a great time with them and produced some pretty good looking pumpkins. :) Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on me while we were carving the pumpkins, but below are a few pictures of the ones Jeff and I carved.

Jeff stole my idea of carving a pumpkin behind bars, but I forgave him as he did a way better job than I could have! Mine tend to break or become something unrecognizable. Haha

Yes those are tooth picks holding it together. Haha my brilliant idea taken all I could think of was carving BOO! with some bats, and I even ruined that. :P 

Our amazing pumpkins!

I love Jeff's! He made it look so cool! 

I love the fall and cannot wait for Halloween! While I'm not a fan of the cold, it's worth it to see all the beautiful colors that come out at this time of the year! Jeff and I will definitely be going for rides and walks in the canyon a lot before all the leaves fall. :)

"A Grandfather is someone with silver in their hair and gold in their heart."

Last year my Grandpa was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and has been fighting it like a bull ever sense. However, his body could only take so much and yesterday he passed away. Grandpa was the most stubborn, yet loving man I know. He lasted far longer than the doctors said he would and I am very grateful for the extra time we were blessed with him. He got to do some really fun things before his passing. Which included riding in a race car at Miller Motorsports Park. I will miss him so very much, as will many people who knew and loved him. He was the biggest tease and could always make me laugh, no matter how down I was. I am so grateful for the time I was blessed with him. Due to heart and kidney problems, some doctors thought he would have died over a decade ago. But he sure showed them! :) I cannot wait to see him again, young, no pollo, no kidney and heart failure and no cancer. But still the same stubborn cowboy full of love and jokes to share.

 Grandpa out our wedding. There was a little while we didn't know if he'd be there. But he said he would, and I am SO grateful that he was!

I could never be around Grandpa without him making me laugh. :)

Grandpa getting ready to go riding in a race car for the first time. This was on his "bucket list" and all his children pitched in to make this possible for him before he lost his chance.

Before they chose their cars, Grandpa told the people in charge that he wanted the fastest one. Nothing could go to fast for Grandpa, he lived for the thrill!

He always brought so much laughter and character to our family functions. I will miss his kisses and hugs, but look forward to seeing him again some day! I love you Grandpa!!!

College Once More

Yes I am back at UVU and loving it! It feels so good to be learning again and I simply adore all my professors here! They have helped me love every subject (yes even math, though still less than the others. ;) ) My spanish profesora is enchanting with her lovely accent, humorous outlook of Americans and the way she is always quoting Gloria from my favorite TV show, Modern Family! Yeah she is awesome! I would love to become fluent in this beautiful language and plan on keeping my classes going until I really understand it and can carry on a conversation. :) Geology is also interesting and Mrs. Lamas is very good at engaging you and making the material less complex. Overall school is awesome and i'm loving being back! Even if it is nerdy to say that. ;)

Swensen Sisters!

Yes I know that we all have different last names now, Taylor, Beddes and Bean, but we will forever be the Swensen sisters! So I have created a post about my amazing sisters and how much I love them! Why the sudden urge to express this on my blog you may ask? Well it all started with a little dream I had last night. In this dream I was a little girl, an only child. I was spoiled beyond belief with ponies, vacations, and sugary sweets gallor! However, I felt sad the entire time and eventually woke up crying. Strange? I didn't think so. Even in a dream full of so many exciting and fun things, I felt lost and alone without my big sisters with me. It was with relief I woke up and remembered that I did indeed have sisters and they are the greatest any girl could ask for!

So here I am sending a shout out to my sisters that I LOVE YOU! I am so grateful for all the laughter you have blessed my life with, the strength you have always given me and the wonderful, if not more than a little embarrassing, memories. :) I will forever be your seasome cracker sister and you two will always be my scalded milk and desert tortoise sisters! (Sorry to those of you not in our family and have no idea what these mean,  you are all wonderful to always be putting up with our inside jokes! :)) It has been really hard not living close to Katie, but I am grateful we have stayed close and get to visit often! I am also super grateful that I love around the corner from Abbie and get to work with her! You were my rocks growing up and continue to be my support now that we are grown. I LURVE YOU!!! Now for a trip down memory lane. . . .

Hiking all day and then sticking our bare ans smelly feet out the windows on the way home.

                                          Disneyland sword fights and Buzz Lightyear rides.

Matching pajamas!

Tube rides. Wait, where are we? Oh that's right, we're in the water because our father is CRAZY!

Getting me ready for Prom in half an hour and in a tiny bathroom. Go team! :D

"You know what is really funny?. . .or will be in about two seconds?"

All the Girl Nights at Olive Garden!

Shooting with the family and not being princesses, but mean, rough shooters!

Golden Coral! With "high calorie" rolls. You guys SURE you wanna eat that? ;)

My wedding. Which you both were a rock through for me and helped me so much in many different ways!

Abbie

and Katrina

The bestest sisters in the ole wide world!



A little catch up. . .

Like my sister Katie, I am slacking in the blogging department. I apologize to you all and to make it up to you, here is a little update. :)

So about two weeks ago our basement was flooded. :( Jeff and I woke up around 5am to our windowsill letting in a steady stream of water that had quickly soaked our bedroom floor. We hurriedly grabbed some towls and laid them out along the window seal, then maneuvered them so that all the water would go down one and into a bucket. We then checked all of the other rooms. They had minimal leaking, our bedroom got the worst of it. Our bedroom floor is finally dry and the smell has left. Jeff tore up the carpet along the wall and we were very happy to see that there was hardly any mold and that only in the padding.Which surprised me because the smell was awful! :P We hope to have our bedroom back soon, but in the meantime, we are camping out in the family room. Which is actually quite fun. :)

I can't find the camera with all the flood pictures on it, but I thought this comic was rather funny and that I'd share it. :) 

We also took off in the mountains with our good friends Jake and Rachel. As all of you know, Utah has been having some rotten weather lately, so we took advantage of the first nice weekend we've had for a while.

The gang.

I love this man! :) 

Jeff had a lot of fun throwing rocks at bears (aka Trees) and seeing how far he could through large ones across the river. I love how he turns into a little boy everytime we get outdoors. :)

Last, but definitely not least, was our fabulous trip to St. George for memorial weekend. The Steadmans, Katie and Brandon were also there and we all had a fabulous time hanging out at the river, playing ultimate frisbee and steal the flag in the sanddoons.

The dam the dam crew. 

Daddy had a lot of fun watching the kids build and destroy their cities.  

So he and Jim joined in. :) 

Madre and Jodie!

Jim and dad got REALLY into the game! haha 

We bought a skim board! Jeff had so much fun on it and was getting really good at riding it. :) 

Trying to get Isaac surfing on the skim board. 

Next up, Dax. Sadly, it seems that skim boards simply were not made to be surfed on. :P haha

St. George Trip

This past Wednesday Jeff and I decided to go to St. George and visit my family for five days. He was to start his internship on May 2 and I had some paid time off to use, so we jumped in the car and headed out for a week in the sun! :) We had such a fabulous time hiking in Zions, playing dam the dam on the river shore, (actually Jeff and Isaac were the most enthusiastic about this, I liked too watch and listen to them play. :)) mountain biking, and just spending time with the family! Katie and Brandon came down on Friday to play and then again on Sunday when Paige and Colton came over for a games and Sunday dinner. (Which was DELICIOUS! Thank you mom!) Jeff got a sunburn on his back and I got a good tan myself. I also chopped off my hair! Believe it or not, but Jeff thinks short hair is very attractive. Never before have a heard a man say those words! Haha But he did and I am loving having my hair short again! :) Overall it was a wonderful weekend and we cannot wait to go back again!

The boys at the lake playing dam the dam. They played this everyday, save one, and that was only because it was Sunday. Haha They were so fun to watch and listen to! 

 Isaac adores Jeff and Jeff loves Isaac! They get along so well and spent hours playing dam the dam and LOL (League of Legends.)

 Jeff: "Don't worry, the dam will hold!"

Isaac: "Said the stupid president!"

Haha I LOVE these two!

. . . .  Yeah the dam did not hold.

 Angels Landing! My favorite hike in Zions! Jeff had never done it before, but loved it and we will definitely be doing it again. :) 

 I love this man. :) 

 I had never noticed before, but there are a TON of silk worms in Zions. You literally could not take more than a few steps without stepping on several. 

 Jeff trying to lure the chipmunks. Apparently in Poland they say "Bocha Bocha Bocha!" When trying to get the chipmunks to come over....

 And it really did work! I admit I was doubtful as well, but pictures never lie. Of course the food may have had something to do with it as well. ;)

Jeff likes to catch lizards. :)