Some kind of update!

Hello All, this is Tia. I kinda hacked my mom's blog to give some kind of update to the world! When her last post was over a year ago, I decided that it was time I step in!
So a quick update!
Kelli:
She's busy trying to keep up with her kids and husband! She is still teaching piano lessons is helping out in Relief Society.
Rick: has exciting new prospects with his lab that he does on the side. He recently moved his lab to a new location and is working on several projects that will hopefully have wonderful outcomes :)
Presten: On a mission in Paraguay! He left in May of last year (2011) and is doing great! You can read his weekly emails and see pictures Here.
Naomi: has been busy with school, volleyball, choir, and this past week ran for Executive Student Council. She is so busy but still finds time to be amazing at the piano........and everything else!
Austen: just finished his freshman season of Basketball. During the season he was asked to play up on the sophomore team. He recently just got job working on a nearby farm. And he loves to ride horses.....and the motorcycle too. So crazy that he get's his license this year!
Larson: just started playing basketball on a border league team and is doing an awesome job playing defense! The year at school, he also decided to start playing the cello and he has caught on so quick! Before you know it he and I (Tia) will be playing duets! That will be so fun!

I know it's not much of an update but hey, it's something!
I'll try to get on my mom and support her in re-establishing her blogging again! thanks all! See ya!

Austen is the Bass-masta!!

Whether it's jazz band or the orchestra, Austen puts his talents to good use. He loves playing his bass and and guitar. The only draw back is hauling the gigantic thing around, you almost have to rent a moving van...

Preference Dance 2011

Naomi decided to ask someone to Preference this year since she is now 16 and ready to start dating. She bought a bunch of banannas and strung them on curling ribbons. She hung a bunch of them in his locker and had some hanging out. Inside on a big bananna leaf she wrote: "I'd go banannas if you would go to Preference with me". Then she signed her name on one of the banannas.

He answered her back with a big bottle of cheese balls! "Hope this isn't cheesy, but I would have a ball at Preference with you"

They went repelling for their day date. It was Naomi's first time to repell and her dates as well. They had a fun time and only came home with a few scraps and scratches. Then they had a really nice dinner at one of her friends house and went off to the dance. She really had a great time and was excited that it went well.

Naomi's First Date!!

Naomi turned 16 this year. She is such a sweet, adorable and kind girl. Dad has a little tradition that he got to carry on with his last little girl... he gets to be their first date. He leaves the house and comes back in a while. He comes to the front door with a rose and tells me where they are going and what time to expect her home. Also, at some point during the evening he gives her a brand new CTR ring to remind her that in her dating times she needs to always choose the right and other little tidbits of advice. Such a fun tradition and marks the beginning of a great time in her life!

Austen's first love!!

Austen has really been busy improving his skills in basketball. He loves that he has grown to 6'2". He finished city league ball in January, played a little church ball in February, even helping them to a regional win! Now he begins his season with the border league where they play every weekend at different places around this area.

Presten's New York results!

Presten has returned from the Great West Conference Championships in New York. They were held in the National Armory Building which also houses the Hall of Fame. The track was on the third floor of the building. He placed in the Triple Jump!! Not bad for a freshman in his first collegiate indoor championship meet. He had a really great time sight seeing in New York.

Presten Goes to New York!

Presten is going to New York for the GWC Indoor Track and Field Championships! It will be bitter cold there this weekend so thank goodness it is all indoors.
He is competing in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and maybe High Jump!
Go Presten..... We love ya!

Start of a Great Year!

Tia was teasing me about not keeping up with my blog, .... I'll show her! :) I'll blog about the most exciting month EVER! (warning: this is lengthy... but soooo worth reading!)

A year ago I planned a girl friend getaway with my college buddy Loni. We set aside four days at a nice hotel in SLC to scrapbook and visit as late (or early) as we wanted. This was all going to begin on Thursday Feb. 3rd.

Everything was going fine until Wednesday morning we get a call from our friend at the Post Office. He said... "hey, I think there is something down here that you guys might be waiting for. Would you like to come get it?" I was shocked! I thought that Presten had his mission call sent to his college apt. So... Rick went to pick it up and there it sat on the shelf... waiting for Presten to find his way home to open it. Unfortunately a whole big mess was about to begin....

The plan was that I would miss my first day with Loni, go get Presten and bring him home to open his call on Thursday night, then I would take him back early Friday and join up with Loni. Then Rick called and said... " I thought I would be back from this trip to California by Thurs. night, but it's looking like it won't be until Friday. Just go ahead and open the call without me. Just call me." Then half an hour later Presten called and said... " Mom I can't come home on Thurs. cuz I have a lab early Fri. morning. Can you just get me Friday afternoon?" I tried to be positive and happy as I told him that I would be leaving my getaway, Naomi wouldn't be there, and Dad wouldn't be home til late. Needless to say... Presten was exasperated. He finally gave up trying to find a solution and hung up frustrated. I was so sad for him. I was trying to make it all work out so that the family could be together for him to open his call, but these were some big hoops to jump through. I called him back and told him not to worry about anything... I would be there to pick him up on Friday afternoon when he got out of class.

So here's the run down of my "four day getaway-missioncall opening-volleyball tourney-husband traveling-daughter turning 16-and a surprise on the end" weekend!


Left first thing Thursday... drove to north side of state... scrapbooked and visited until 2:30 a.m.... Friday...scrapbooked and visited until 1:00 p.m. drove to Presten's... then drove to south side of state... collapsed on the couch while everyone went to the basketball game... smiled big and hugged my son after he announced he was called to serve in the Paraguay, Asuncion mission... stayed up late talking with family... Saturday...got up at 4 a.m. and drove to north side of state...Presten back to school, and Naomi to her volleyball tourney... returned to my girlfriend getaway and scrapbooked and visited until 2:30 a.m... Sunday... got up took a long bath... packed up my ginormous suitcase of supplies... drove to the south side of the state... got home in time for the superbowl... at half time Tia and Ben announced that I was going to be a grandma!!!!!!... got the best night sleep in four days... Monday...took my youngest daughter at 7 a.m. to get her drivers license cuz she turned 16 that day!!! Whew... what a weekend... I can't stop smiling!!!!

May 2010... part 5

Presten received General Sterling Scholar for HHS!



Presten was the Senior Class President and conducted the graduation ceremony. The funniest moment came right after his singing group (The Rising Sons) sang an awesome arrangement of "Go the Distance". Presten sings this amazingly high note at the very end. Right after that he had to announce the next speaker... he started to speak and his voice was still in falsetto mode, he then cleared his throat and spoke in a more bass/baritone range. Everyone laughed!!!
He was a highly decorated graduate and we are so happy and excited for him. He is going to do great things in the future.


Presten is presented one of the National Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarships. It was a great evening. The Elks Club really gave out some amazing scholarships and awards to students!

May 2010... part 4

Presten and his teammates take the
STATE TITLE in Track!!!!
This is Presten's second consecutive year
with a title!
He performed well individually also
earning 2nd in the Long Jump.

Presten's 4x100 relay team set
a NEW SCHOOL RECORD!!

Tia and Ben have "his & hers" fishing poles!

Tia was thrilled to show off the flashing lights

as she reels in her catch!!!

May 2010... part 3

We spent Memorial Day at the Ranch!

Naomi practiced up on her bow skills!

She is really getting good!

Presten had fun target shooting with the 22 single shot.

He still has good skills!

Austen showed us his amazing skills by hitting

the pop can targets... 12 times in a row!

Tia and Naomi passed time playing cards.

Why does Tia have a spoon in her mouth?

Rick took some of us clear out to the knoll

to check on his wind monitor. He is really

excited about the possibilities of having a

wind generator someday.

(a side note: Naomi rode the 4 wheeler out

there, and Austen rode the motorcycle... that

was no small feat considering it is mostly sand

the whole way. :)

May 2010... part 2

Ashli and Josh moved to Logan. It was a fast and furious weekend of packing, traveling and unpacking. Their house is so cute and fun. They are so happy and excited for great adventures!!


Austen was the lone bass player in the Spring orchestra concert. He really enjoys playing the string bass and the electric bass!

Let's try a new format here...May 2010 recap part 1

As a freshman, Naomi really did well this year. She enjoyed running the 2 mile. Ugh... who could enjoy running that far? :) She would beat her own record nearly everytime she ran. She has such tenacity and grit and perseverance. She also wanted to throw the javelin. This proved to be a bit more challenging only because there were a lot of girls trying to practice throwing and only 2 javelins to use. By the time she would return from her long distance running and training they had locked up the equipment and she wasn't able to practice much. That didn't deter her. She would throw when she could. Gradually through the season she was improving and doing well in the meets. At region she was unexpectedly asked to throw for Varsity. She did great and ended up coming in 6th overall in region.

2010... RECAP... April

So... the Beatty family was feeling really musical at the beginning of April. Both of the boys were able to be a part of the Grad Night fundraiser... Broadway Magic!!


Larson and his friends were the most adorable lions! Doing a dance to "Gonna Be a Mighty King"!


Larson discovered the box with all the Bows in it. Of course his curiosity took over from there. Rick was excited to show him how they work. They ordered a new string for the recurve bow and Larson couldn't be happier. Surprisingly.... Naomi really took a liking to shooting the bow and has really become good at it. She got to show off her skills at girls camp and loves going to the ranch to practice up.

Austen was working on his camping merit badge and got to do some repelling this summer. He was the first one off the top and did a fantastic job. He is definetly an outdoor adventure lover.

Austen was also in the Broadway Magic show. They performed a dance to the High School Musical song "Gettcha Head in the Game". He and his buddies were right in the middle of the Border League Basketball season so this was a way to have fun and workout too!!! They had so much performing and especially loved the screaming fans! It was really fun to watch.

Recap... 2010... March

Naomi has decided to throw the javelin and to run the 2 mile for the Track team. She spent an afternoon with her state champion big sister getting some great tips for throwing. (Just a side note... Naomi ended taking 6th overall in the region. Not bad for a freshman!)




Naomi was also playing on a club volleyball team. She is becoming quite a good passer and Coach Q. teases her about her "ice" serves. They are impossible to return. She loves, loves, loves volleyball!!

Occasionally we capture the really silly side of our dad. It was fun for us to see him smiling and feeling good enough to joke around with us.

Austen played in a basketball border league. He really is becoming a great post player and developing some awesome skills. He isn't smiling here because he was so stinkin mad that they lost to the Snow Canyon team.

2010 Recap... February... continued!

Presten participated in the Simplot Games this year.
It's one of the largest indoor track meets for highschool students.
He had to jump 21 feet just to qualify for the finals.
There were only about twenty that made it out of nearly 100 jumpers.
Presten did great considering it was some of his first jumps of the season.
It was a great experience, and lots of fun to watch.

2010 Recap.... FEBRUARY

Something musical.....

Kelli held a private recital this year for her piano students.

They all worked really hard and performed fantastically!

Something to smile about.....

Naomi got her braces off the same day as one of her best buddies... Tory!

Don't they look pretty and straight?!

Before.....

After....

A Quick Recap of 2010.... so far!

January....

Austen makes it into the Hurricane Idol finals... and does a fantastic job!!!

He sang... "I Just Haven't Met You Yet" and "SOS". Way to go Austen!




Rick and the boys play a little two on two after one of Austen's city basketball games.
What's up with the wolverine shorts Presten? :)

Life is Good!

I know, I know here I go again trying to play catch up. It was a busy couple of months and time is just slowing up and it's already February.

Tia and Ben's wedding was amazing and beautiful. They are such a cute couple and so in love!
Christmas was...somewhat subdued, but still a joyous and fun family time. (photos next time)

Then came Hurricane Idol in January and that nearly took over my life. My poor family was just about to throw me out a window, but we all survived and it was an awesome fundraiser.
Austen tried out this year and was selected as a finalist for the final night in his division. He was so fun and energetic on stage. It was a thrill to watch him.

Ashli and Josh are just starting into winter semester and making plans to transfer up north so that Josh can pursue his career in wildlife management. Ashli is hoping to teach History and coach soccer.

Naomi is full into club volleyball and has frequent tourneys up north (which I hate in bad weather)! She just completed a training course called fast track. She was running up to 19 MPH. Isn't that so cool??

Presten is gearing for track season by competing in the Simplot Games next week. I think he will do really well, and will surprise himself.
He has had a couple of colleges interested in him for track and a couple for academics and leadership. I hope something good comes of it!

Larson is non stop entertainment and I love having him around. He keeps me happy and smiling. His happy personality is so fun to hang around with!

Rick has spent the last week (plus one more week to go) at a Health institute in San Diego trying to find solutions and options for himself and his condition and pain. We are hopeful!

As for me I am working part time, and teaching piano to 20 students and trying to keep the fort standing (among a few other things).

All in all... Life is Good!
Sure glad for good friends and an amazing family to keep me going!

TIA'S ENGAGED!!!!

Is it really any surprise to you who have been following her blog this past year? Yes, it has finally happened... Ben popped the question!

They surprised us with the news last night and we are thrilled! Tia was floating around on a cloud (probably still is :) )

Ahhhhh.... love is so grand!

We will let you know when the date is (hopefully not Christmas weekend, hahahaha)

{ I'm serious Tia... not Christmas weekend}

Love to all the family!!!