Month: November 2025

12/24/24

There is still snow on the ground and we got more last night:

Our Airbnb is right on the Erie Canal!

Snowball Fight!!

Break for a snow angel!

And visiting with the ducks:

Dad came out and restarted the snowball fight!

It was quite a battle!

After an epic snow-ball fight we went to Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce’s house.

We built Grandma Joyce a snowman:

Grandma Joyce loves snowmen!

And had another snow ball fight!

Then we went inside and played Monopoly!

Lizzy was stressing out:

Rachel calm and cool because she is very good at this game!

Another fun day!

12/23/24

Today we went ice-skating!

We all started off hugging the wall:

Dad was struggling to stay upright:

Rachel was doing well pretty quickly:

Lizzy and Dad were still holding on!

After several falls, and landing on a random guy, Dad was happy to get out of the rink!

Rachel was getting better by the minute:

Lizzy was on her way as well:

Although there were no pictures of Mom skating she hugged the wall at first and then was able to go around without holding on but close to the wall. We had a great time (well, perhaps not so much for Dad).

Next we drove to Stanley NY to visit Aunt Alice and Uncle Ted (Trapper). Uncle Ted was Mom’s mother’s brother.

We shared a small gift with them and they shared some yummy cookies with us:

Mom shared some of her Italian Pizzelle cookies with them too:

We had a nice visit there and then we went to Canandaigua, NY to visit our cousins (Mom’s side of the family):

We brought a present for Gabe (Eric’s son and Aunt Gail and Uncle Chuck’s grandson):

It was a space puzzle:

We brought gifts for the new little ones in the family:

He loved his little push duck:

The littlest baby too:

We had a very nice day visiting family today!

12/22/24

We made it to Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce’s house! Time to decorate Grandma Joyce’s cookies:

The competition was fierce this year!

We also celebrated Dad and Lizzy’s Birthdays!

Birthday cards first:

Classical music Cd’s:

Such a sweet card for a sweet Lizzy!

A Shark Tracking Bracelet!!

Beautiful Earrings:

Happy Birthday Dad and Lizzy!

12/19/24

Road trip!

Following another tradition Mom got us window clings!:

This year Mom found some with lights. Lizzy was sure having a good time:

Rachel managed hers quite well:

12/20/24

Mom also got us some surprises for the next driving day:

Nap time!

Snowing in Pennsylvania:

This year we decided to go through Ohio and stop at the Kirkland, Ohio Temple!

The visitors center had a nativity display!

We also went on a tour in the Kirkland Temple:

Beautiful!:

While we were inside it snowed! Of course we had a snowball fight!:

The snow was sticking!

12/21/24

We got to NY and stopped at The Eternal Flame Trail for a little hike!

It was cold and there was a snow covered ground!

Our first winter wonderland hike:

A small waterfall:

We hiked next to the river and we even had to cross it!

The main waterfall was ahead but it was not easy to get to:

Sullivan and Lizzy set off to see if there was a way to get closer:

They had to cross the stream again.

Mom and Rachel decided to watch from a distance:

The flame was no longer lit and to relight it you would have to swim in the frigid water. So that was a no:

Don’t fall!

It was a bit treacherous:

They made it back and we headed back up the trail:

There was a lot of snowball fighting going on the entire hike!

Lizzy got one to the head:

Rachel used stick swords to fend off the snowball attacks:

Man down!

Watch out Rachel!

That was the longest snowball fight ever! Great hike too (although the flame was out it was still pretty cool):

Our next stop…

It was incredibly cold:

Have you ever been this cold?

That was a short stop because it truly was too cold!

Mom gave us another treat in the car:

That was an action-packed Beck family adventure!

12/17/24

Lizzy’s friends Fiona and Finn stopped by to bring Lizzy a birthday present:

12/15/24

We saw the Araque family at church today and we exchanged gifts. We weren’t able to open them until we got home from church because they didn’t stay at church for the second hour.

We also exchanged gifts with the Tanners at church and brought it home to open:

Chocolates!

A gift for Lizzy’s birthday from Grandma and Grandpa Beck came too:

She was gifted a personalized bookmark:

They wrote her a nice personalized card:

Gave her a jade lion:

And beautiful a handmade runner with her name embroidered on it!

While we were on Lizzy’s Birthday, Lily Tanner gave Lizzy a beautiful jewelry box for her birthday!

By the way, Lizzy wanted Taco Bell on her actual birthday so we got her that too. Happy Birthday Lizzy!

12/13/24

For quite a few years now the Tanners have invited us to join them in their Christmas recital at the Atrium senior living center.

There were quite a few piano performances and other musical performances as well. Our family sang What Child Is This and we participated in group songs: O Come All Ye Faithful, Deck The Halls, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells and Silent Night.

Lizzy and Rachel helped out with the musical instruments and accessories for the audience participation portion of the program as well.

It was a very nice and we enjoyed participating again this year!

12/09/24

First we all went out to dinner to celebrate Dad and Lizzy’s birthdays. Japaneses is always a good choice!

After dinner we went home for gifts and dessert! Gifts for Dad first since his birthday comes first:

Why does Dad have a confused expression on his face?

Lizzy asked Mom how old dad was this year and she said 59, but Lizzy heard 69!

It was a funny card inside and out!

Wow!

He got a nice gift from Lizzy too:

Rachel’s turn:

And a CD from Rachel!

Mom’s turn:

Dad mentioned to mom one day that he needed a new mallet:

Luna thought it was a treat for her:

Mom also gave dad a new pan set:

No one, and no dog, was injured of course.

Lizzy’s turn for her birthday gifts:

Best of Friends Sisters!

Lizzy has a sweet tooth and Rachel supplied her well:

She wasn’t sure what it was a took a strange, yet humorous guess, they shared only with themselves.

More treats:

And some copy cat thin mints that are actually better than the girl scout kind.

One final treat!

Now from Mom and Dad to Lizzy:

A very nice card first. They gave her a bracelet that follows and tracks an actual dolphin.

Yet another water bottle (Lizzy has lost quite a few of these).

And then thee was this…

Happy Birthday Dad and Lizzy!

12/07/24

The Loblolly Ward Christmas Party:

Of course we had to go see Santa!

After the party Lizzy decided to put up her Nativity Scene that sister Grace Hawkins gave her back when she was her sunbeam teacher in Primary:

The cross was a gift from her friend Yara several years ago:

12/01/24

12/02/24

12/3/24

12/04/24

12/06/24

12/07/24

12/08/24

12/10/24

12/13/24