St. George with "The Club" 2009

Well it's that time of year again...YIPPEE! Once again I headed to St. George with my girlfriends and had a great time! We stayed in a beautiful condo and enjoyed lots of shopping, eating, laughing, movies, bingo, and especially each other. Thanks for another great trip my dear friends!

Getting gas and a drink at Fast Gas in Salem

before we hit the road - can you tell it was a

bit windy? (Shellie Jensen, Alison Peterson,

Cindy Nelson, Jennifer Hanson and me.)

First stop...a pedicure - aaahhhh!

The results...

Dinner on Friday night...delicious!

Alison getting jammied up...

Cindy getting ready in the morning - she will

hate me for posting this picture! :-)

Jen getting her hair done...

Surprise - me ironing - yes even on vacation!

Pretty ladies, all ready for the day... (Shellie)

Cindy - with dry hair!

Shellie, me, Jen and Cindy

Me...

Cindy and Silly Shellie with her sunglasses

on upside down...

Allie and Jen - do you notice the sick thong in

the background? If you know about this trip,

then you know my friends buy a nasty thong

every year and hide it in my stuff and just wait

for me to find it. I try not to react but I just can't

help it! I usually end up finding it when we are

in a public place! Some of the old ones find a way

of showing up on our trips for some laughs...

just for the record I do not and will not EVER wear one!

Jen making us laugh in one of the thongs from

years past...

Shellie trying on the thong they bought this trip!

(and hid in my wallet - which I found as I went

to pay for my dinner at a mexican restaurant!)

The hilarious thing was we didn't realize the window

right behind her was a window into the restaurant.

We thought it was a little shop that was closed

because the windows were dark, not the overflow

room for the restaurant! Then we noticed people

laughing from inside! I guess you had to be there,

but it was very funny!

One of our fun stops...

Jennifer and an interesting statue at TJ Maxx

hmmmmm...

Trying to pose like the statue...but I couldn't

bend like that...try it!

I dared Jen to get in this giant pot...she could

have gotten all the way in and hid!

Another dare...Shellie and the geisha woman!

We met up with Cindy's mom Connie and her

sister Jill. They came to dinner with us...

Oh the snacks...we won't go hungry that's

for sure!

Watching a movie at the condo - Shellie and Alison

Jen all snuggled up in her blanket...

Getting ready to head for home, the final pose!

Loaded down! Alison bought us all a cute big

bag to keep our purchases organized, but we

over-flowed even those! But we got a lot of

Christmas shopping done!

Awww - it's over so soon?

Jen our driver...

Thanks for a relaxing and fun trip my dear friends!

And thanks to the great hubbies we left behind to

take care of all our kids! You're great!

New Family Photos...2009

We had some new family picture taken - they really turned out great! Thanks to Amber for sharing her talent and being willing to take our pictures. What a great looking family if I do say so myself!

The whole fam dam...

Larry and Charleen with their 5 kids

(Brian, Jason, Bradley, Cynthia & Christine)

The Tim & Christine Beardall Family

Christine and Tim

My beautiful Courtney girl...

My handsome Alec boy...

My sweet Matthew

Reflections Contest 2009

Alec and Matthew both submitted projects in their school Reflections Contest. Alec did 2 projects and took 1st with his 3D clay project. Both received free tickets the the Clarke Planetarium and a certificate. Alec's project will now go on to the district level...we will see how he does. Good job boys!

The theme was Beauty Is...

Alec with his certificates

First Place project...to a boy, beauty is a good

game of ball!

The eye is made of beads - it didn't place but

he did a great job.

Matthew made an awesome rocket!

Halloween 2009

Well - Halloween as come and gone once again. It seems like I just posted pictures from last year! It's always fun to see the costumes, but a pain in the rear to come up with them! Here are a few pictures of the fun...

Matthew at his Kindergarten program -
telling about the letter B... B is for boo in a
scary scene, you will hear it on Halloween!

The Red Power Ranger without his mask...
no masks at school - it might scare the
Kindergarten kids!

Alec and his friends Nate and Kayson - all dressed
up like girls this year - too funny!

Kayson Oss - seriously a cute girl/boy!

My slender ballerina boy Alec...

I thought this picture was so funny - they all

had boobs and just couldn't stop poking each

other - nasty little boys anyway! :-)

Oh My!

On G'ma & G'pa Vest's porch with the scary stuffed man!

Alec - notice the pink painted fingernail!

Our ward Trunk or Treat produced some great

costumes - here are a few of my favorites.

Jason Stewart (our Elder' Quorum President)

as "Dog the Bounty Hunter" cuffing Tim...

Clay Cushing as the Wheaties Man

Alyse Cushing as a wicked witch -

quite glamorous too!

The McEwan Pirate Family!

Sister Sean Weight - from bare chested

Nacho Libre' last year to totally covered up!

The porch and pumpkins...

Tim and his sister Karen - I took this Halloween

morning as they were going over some papers.

They both had to wear a pair of reading

glasses to see anything...geez it stinks to get old!

My Release...

After 3.5 years I was released today (Sunday, October 25, 2009) as Young Women President. I have loved this calling with all my heart and then some. It has given me the opportunity to strengthen my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ and has blessed me with the opportunity of serving with the most amazing women. I have learned so much from them through their examples. And best of all I have had the pleasure of knowing and loving the most spectacular girls. They are strong and beautiful and give me hope for the future! It has been the busiest calling I have ever had and has brought the most joy as well. I will miss my weekly association with everyone and feel a bit lost. It's hard to remember what I used to do before my time was consumed with planning and attending weekly activities, organizing meetings, attending meetings, girls camp, youth conference, and having so much fun in the process! Jan Anderson, my former 2nd Counselor is the new president. She will be fantastic and I know the girls are in great hands!

I have loved being so close to Courtney and so involved in everything she does with the YW. It's hard to believe that she will be 16 and a Laurel in April - she turned 12 a month after I was put in the YW in March 2006. I have been hoping for a change for a while and know it's the right time, but now that it's actually happened my heart is a bit sad. Tim and I have been called to be the Activities Committee Chair people - basically planning the ward parties and some other activities. I'm looking forward to working with Tim and having a bit more free time to pursue the things I love to do.

I am so grateful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have grown from my opportunity to serve the YW and for that I'm so blessed! Thanks to all those in my life that have helped me the past 3.5 years. Like they say...it takes a village. I couldn't have served without so many people to help with my children when I have been gone for days at a time during the summer months, for Girls Camp and Youth Conference. Between my family (my sweet mom and my Tim-man in particular) and friends they have given countless hours over the years. So, thank you so much!

It's been quite a ride and life is good!

My Presidency - Alyse, Jan, Me and Neely
How I love these ladies - we have had such fun
together!

Alyse, Cindy, Me, Neely and Jessica

My many sweet and beautiful girls...

Our last activity together - Laser Tag

Having fun after laser tagging -

Gonna miss you!

This and That #2

Grandpa Larry took Alec, Matthew and Tim fishing a few weeks ago. It's always a great time to go fishing with Grandpa and the boys love it! Especially the snacks...nippy cheese, sweet pickles, green olives and a nice salty cracker. A breakfast for champions!
G'pa with Alec and Matt

There were some Salmon spawning that the
boys watched - they thought it was cool!

Riding in the fishing boat! I like your pink life
jacket Matthew!

Timmy giving us his best smile! Ya goof ball!

Grandpa Larry waiting to catch "The Big One"

or have his pole pulled in by it - which did happen!

My boys...

Sitting around the camp fire - it doesn't get

any better than this!

Beautiful Country...

Catching craw fish - yum!

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This year Alec played flag football for the first

time. He had a great coach, learned a lot and

also had tons of fun. They took 2nd place overall

after the other team scored with 12 seconds left in

the championship game! It was a painful loss

but still a good experience!

Alec sweating after running during the game!

Good Play!

Huddle...

A little blurry, but shows Alec's strength - he

is a big kid and the tallest on his team!

Clipping on their flags.

Grandpa & Grandma Vest watching the game.

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Alec earning his Bear award in Cub Scouts!

He has been working on this for almost a year

and finally got it accomplished - we are so proud

of him!

At Pack Night - Tim is the Cub Master and was

able to present him with his award. Good Job!

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These are some random pictures that I thought were cute - Courtney loves to mess around with her camera and I thought I would post some of these cute pictures!

Courtney and Matthew -

How lucky can you get? Matt doesn't

give these out easily! I hope it stays

that way!

My Pretty Girl...

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Next is...The Dew Tour! Alec has begged and begged to go to the Dew Tour for a couple of years now, so Tim took the boys and spent the day in SLC seeing all the sights. The boys are still talking about the great day they spent with dad. For those of you not familiar with the "Dew Tour" it's a big skateboarding, BMX bike competition. Total testosterone!

Inside Energy Solutions Arena watching the

skaters warm up.

Monster Trucks...

Autographs with skaters who hope to be the

next Ryan Scheckler!

Rides on dirt bikes...this was the highlight! I

think Alec was about to burst he loved it so

much! He wants a bike so badly!

Even Matt got to ride!

I think this is Matthew trying to ride alone -

he later crashed and had to have a little help as

you can see in the next photo.

Getting some instructions!

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Next random picture is my new very short haircut...

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And last of all...Tim building the club house this

summer. It's a work in progress and the boys have

really enjoyed working on it with Tim all summer.

I think they will still be working on it next year too!

Shingling...

You can't see it, but the club house is raised 6

feet in the air on posts. The kids have to climb

a ladder to get up into it. They love it!

YW Leadership Retreat - Park City

After a long and busy summer, we decided we needed a Young Women Leadership Retreat! I am so blessed to serve with women whom I love, admire and also really enjoy spending time with.

We have served together for 3.5 years...which means we have been together through 4 Girls Camps, 4 Youth Conferences, 4 New Beginnings Programs, 4 YW in Excellence Programs, approximately 200 weekly activities and 200 Sunday meetings. Whew! As you can see we really spend a great deal of time together! These women have become my dear friends - they are great leaders and the young women are so blessed to be able to look to the example these women set.


We stayed at the Westgate Resort in Park City, had dinner at Baja Cantina (and had the displeasure of sitting next to a table full of girls having a bachelorette party. It took a minute for us to realize that they were drinking their drinks out of penis straws and the bride-to-be was wearing a headband with bobbing penis's on top. Needless to say it made for an entertaining dinner! We were actually amazed they would have such a public display with no regard for the families and people dining.) After we hit Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory we went back to the condo and played a game, watched a movie and talked until about 2:30 AM! It was so much fun to laugh and have fun without the regular everyday pressures.


We were up at 7:30 AM, got ready and headed out for breakfast. (The highlight of breakfast being a trip to the restroom and noticing while I was washing my hands that there was a urinal on the wall!!! What the?! Then it hit me..."Oh my gosh, I'm in the men's bathroom!" I heard the door open while I was in the stall and then who ever came in quickly left. There was a man and his wife whispering as I walked by and he said" That's the one..I recognize her toes!) Oh my how embarrassing!! I really needed more sleep I guess! Then we did a little shopping and headed to the Alpine Slide and Coaster.


Sadly, our advisors and assistant camp director weren't able to make it, but Karen Weight, our camp director came with us. She had to head home a little early on Saturday to take her daughter to a soccer game, that's why she isn't in any of the slide and coaster pictures.

Thanks ladies for a wonderful time...whew, I need a nap!

Riding the Coaster...I loved this ride! Next time
Jan needs to go in front of me. I like a nice
easy ride and she's a WILD woman with a need
for speed! She bumped into me and told me to
get the lead out! LOL
(back to front: Neely McEwan, Alyse Cushing,
Jan Anderson, Me.)

Jan getting ready to ride like the wind baby!

Neely at the end of the Alpine Slide...She did it!
She was so nervous that it would be a wild ride
but it was just great!

Me, Neely, Alyse & Jan

Riding the ski lift up the mountain...

Alyse, Jan, Me and Neely at the condo.

Neely getting ready for the day.

Karen Weight and Alyse Cushing

Playing the Cowgirl Game...really fun!

Alyse, Neely, Karen and Jan