Adam - Shelley Beatty

Salt Lake City and fun times!

April 28, 2014 by shelley

We arrived in Salt Lake City and knew we would have to wait a few minutes at the airport before our ride arrived. The Salt Lake airport is not a bad place to spend a few extra moments…it is a place you can witness a moment (and secretly share) the joy and happiness of perfect strangers.

We watched families welcome home and joyfully celebrate their returning missionary. These missionaries were returning home after serving a two year mission somewhere in the world for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). They had not seen their families for that entire time. Only Christmas and Mother’s day are they allowed to call home. Weekly emails were their only form of communication. Cheers would erupt as a young man in a suit would appear at the top of the escalator and slowly descend to the waiting group below. The cheering would continue, signs would wave and people would jump up and down. But when the young man reached the bottom, and it never failed, the first person he would embrace was obviously his mother. It was always a long, sweet and very emotional embrace. And then his dad would receive a big hug. And then siblings would “glom” onto him and create a mass hug. Other relatives and friends followed. So very heart warming. We knew no one, spoke to no one, but we witnessed, shared and thoroughly enjoyed, the sheer joy and happiness of perfect strangers watching their sons come home from their missions at the Salt Lake City airport.

Joyful reunions at the Salt Lake City Airport

And then it was on to other activities and a full few days we enjoyed with Jen, Adam and kids in Salt Lake City.

It was a busy time in Salt Lake City.

One of the reasons we came to Salt Lake City was to see the kindergarden production of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. More specifically the Queen in Sing a Song of Sixpence. We had to see her in the parlor eating bread and honey!

The Queen!

The Queen awaits

The Queen shows us her classroom.

We spent a fun day at This is The Place Heritage Park.

First a quick look at the map…

looking at map

One of the things Becca, Henry and Caroline were excited to show us were the baby animals. First stop the baby chicks.

Henry, Becca, Caroline, Bob and Myself viewing the baby chicks at Heritage Park SLC

Becca holding a baby chick

Bob holding a baby chick for Caroline

Henry holding a baby chick

Henry, Becca and Myself at the baby chicks

Becca and myself with the baby chicks

Next stop the baby goats.

Becca and Caroline with baby goats

Becca with the baby goat

Caroline feeding the baby goat

And of course the pony rides!

Craft making:

Making an Easter Craft

Making a craft at This is The Place Heritage Park

Henry’s craft

The blacksmith…

Visit to the blacksmith shop

The rope maker…

Becca and Henry helping make rope

Henry and Caroline watching Becca make rope

Tooling leather…

Becca showing her tooled leather

Henry and Becca working on tooling leather

Jen and Caroline tooling leather

Henry, Caroline and Becca working on their leather.

Train rides…

Jen and Caroline taking a little train ride

Train ride

But we came for gold, so pan for gold we did!

Becca panning for gold

Gold Rush!

Caroline panning for gold.

Henry and Becca hard at work.

Henry finding gold

Henry counting his gold.

Jen, Caroline and Becca at the stream.

And we struck “GOLD”!

Gold!

and Brigham’s doughnuts

Becca enjoying a Brigham doughnut

Brighams Donuts

And then it was time to go.

Jen and Bob

We enjoyed seeing friends.

Lunch with Carole and Sam Cowley

We built recycling trucks at Lowe’s.

Building at Lowes

Becca building at Lowe’s

Henry

Caroline

Building team

Building at Lowes

Henry

Ballet class.

Becca at ballet.

Soccer game.

Henry at soccer game.

Caroline enjoying soccer game.

We checked out Adam’s office.

Daddy’s office

Went to City Creek.

City Creek

And played in the park.

Caroline

Becca

Henry

Caroline

Becca

Bob watching Becca

Adam helping Caroline

Henry and Caroline

Henry

Becca

Henry

Becca

Becca and Caroline

Jen helping Caroline

All in all a busy wonderful time!!

Jen and family stop over in Kansas City on their move to Salt Lake City.

June 24, 2013 by shelley

Jen and the kids (and Izzy) flew to Kansas City and stayed a few days while Adam was driving (and moving their household) to Salt Lake City. Adam stayed the weekend and then was on his way to Salt Lake City. We enjoyed going for yogurt, Prairie Village Art Fair, playing and swimming in the pool.

Kansas City Art Show 2013

A fun visit from Jen, Adam, Becca, Henry and Caroline (and Izzy):

Becca, Henry, Caroline and Jen enjoying yogurt.

Becca and Henry in front of fountain in front of the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza, Kansas City,Missouri

Me, Becca and Henry and Bob in front of fountain Kansas City Plaza.

Adam, Caroline, Shelley, Becca, Henry and Bob

Henry in the restaurant Blue Moose Antlers, Prairie Village Art Fair

Becca in the restaurant Blue Moose Antlers, Prairie Village Art Fair

Henry at Prairie Village Art Fair

Becca feeding Caroline

Caroline and Jen

Jen, Caroline and Becca swimming

Henry getting ready to swim.

Becca on slide

Becca having fun in the pool

Becca showing us how she can do “cannonball”.

Henry “thinking” about doing a cannonball.

Bob and Carl watching swimmers.

Becca showing us how she can do “cannonball”.

Henry and Becca paddling along.

Jen and Caroline watching Becca and Henry

Henry peeking out.

Duke graduations!

June 20, 2013 by shelley

Two Duke graduations, one by each of my two sons-in-law made me a very proud mother-in-law. Becca’s husband Carl graduated from Duke Business School and Jen’s husband Adam graduated from Duke Law School. I traveled to the Raleigh-Durham area to enjoy the festivities.

My first stop on arriving in Raleigh Durham has become almost a tradition. We all went to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Followed by the second traditional of tossing of pennies into the fountain at the Southpoint Mall.

South Point Mall Durham North Carolina

Throwing pennies in the fountain.

Henry and Becca making wishes at the fountain.

Henry and Becca with pennies to make wishes.

Caroline and her mom.

Becca, Caroline and their mom.

Henry.

Carl’s Graduation From Duke Fuqua Business School

Fuqua Duke Business School.

In its relatively short history, The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has established itself as one of the leading business schools in the world. With talented faculty and renowned research centers, the school sits among top-ranked U.S. business schools.

Carl and Becca

Carl Graduating from Duke’s Fuqua Business School

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013, Carl waving.

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013, Carl receiving his diploma.

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013, Carl receiving his diploma.

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013, Carl receiving his diploma.

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013. Carl returning to his seat.

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Duke Fuqua Business School Graduation 2013

: Carl and Becca at graduation.

Adams Graduation from Duke Law School

Duke Law School is an ambitious, forward-thinking, and innovative institution whose mission is to prepare students for responsible and productive lives in the legal profession. As a community of scholars, the Law School also provides leadership at the national and international levels in efforts to improve the law and legal institutions through teaching, research, and other forms of public service.

At Duke Law School, students and faculty experience academic rigor in an interdisciplinary environment where creativity and innovation rule. Bold, strategic expansions in faculty, clinics, interdisciplinary centers, law journals, public interest opportunities, and high-tech facilities ensure that the Law School stays on the cutting edge of legal scholarship. The Duke Blueprint to LEAD is a powerful set of principles for leadership growth that informs the development of committed, ethical lawyers who are well-equipped for the 21st century.

Duke Law School

Adam Graduating from Duke Law School

Not everyone made it through graduation. Adam’s dad and mom holding a sleeping Caroline. Henry with ipad mini with Carl helping to entertain.

Becca on my lap and Caroline.

Henry wearing his Go Daddy You Are A Star glasses

Adams Dad and Mom, Carl and Bec, Bec on my lap and Jen and Caroline, and Henry

Adam graduates from Duke Law School

Caroline, Jen, Becca, Adam and Henry all in Duke colors…GO DUKE!

Adam and Jen

Adam and Henry at Law School Graduation

Becca and Henry walk with their dad at his Law School Graduation from Duke.

: Adam at Duke Law School Graduation 2013

: Adam at Duke Law School Graduation 2013

: Adam at Duke Law School Graduation 2013

: Adam at Duke Law School Graduation 2013

: Adam at Duke Law School Graduation 2013

: Duke Law School Graduation 2013

We enjoyed other activities in conjunction with the graduation.

Barbecue at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University

One was a barbecue at The Sarah P. Duke Gardens which was founded in 1934 and now considered one of the top 10 public gardens in the United States.

Becca and Henry at the barbecue at Duke Gardens.

Duke Gardens is a 55-acre public botanic garden on the campus of Duke University. It is a place of beauty, dedicated to learning, inspiration and enjoyment through excellence in horticulture.

It features four distinct gardens, each with its own focus and flavor: the Historic Gardens, including the popular Terrace Gardens, dedicated in 1939; the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, a representation of the flora of the southeastern United States; the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, devoted to plants of eastern Asia; and the Doris Duke Center Gardens, including the new Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. There are five miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the Gardens, and many shaded benches.

The kids enjoyed the walking and discovering:

Henry and Becca making a discovery.

Becca and Henry at Duke Gardens

Becca with her dad Adam

Becca at fountain Duke Gardens

Henry exploring at Duke Gardens

I loved this gate at Duke Gardens

Gate at Duke Gardens

Becca and Henry

Adam, Henry Becca and Jen

Adam’s dad and mom, Adam and Becca

Becca and Henry

and the beautiful gardens…

Flowers at Duke Gardens

Butterfly release.

Butterfly release

Another activity was the butterfly release at Henry’s school.

Butterfly release at Henry’s school.

Butterfly release at Henry’s school. (Henry is in black.)

Building at Lowe’s

We did building at Lowe’s (I did a previous blog on this activity). It is a fun activity. (And it is free.)

Building at Lowe’s

Caroline with her mom

Building at Lowe’s

Horse Back Riding

Henry and Becca both enjoyed the opportunity they had to go horse back riding on Jennifer’s friend, Kimberly Isley’s horse.

We went to have yogurt but it seemed that tree climbing held more interest for Henry and Becca.

I got to be there for the last soccer game of the season:

Becca Playing Soccer

And the end of season awards:

Becca and Henry with awards

And some other fun photos:

First Thanksgiving ever away from home…

February 15, 2013 by shelley

Beautiful baby Caroline.

Becca

Caroline and Jen

Becca preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

For the first time since we have been married, nearly 35 years, Bob and I did not have our Thanksgiving dinner in our home. B.J. and Jenn were heading to Los Angeles, Becca and Carl are in Sweden, so Bob and I agreed to travel to North Caroline. It would be two people traveling, Bob and I, vs. five people traveling; Jen, Adam, Becca, Henry and Caroline. We enjoyed a beautiful traditional Thanksgiving at Jen and Adam’s home.

Thanksgiving dinner

Beautiful Thanksgiving dinner.

Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner cookie turkeys!

Henry enjoying a turkey drumstick!

Our traditional cranberry jello salad.

We enjoyed a few other activities:

Eating at the Cheesecake Factory.

Becca, grandpa and Henry.

Thanksgiving Turkeys from Cookies, a holiday tradition!

November 25, 2011 by shelley

I am not sure how it got started, but a few years ago I made turkeys from cookies to place at each place setting. My children got involved, and year after year it became a holiday tradition. However, as my kids grew older they did not want to make “typical” turkeys and it became a contest to see who could make the most “unusual” turkey from cookies and candies and frosting. This year was relatively tame, since we were involving a two and a three year old…and we did not have everyone home. But we still made our turkeys from cookies. Jen made a special turkey for Carl with a big bandage on his leg, representing Carls repaired achilles heel and post surgery dressing. (Becca and Carl are celebrating Thanksgiving post Carl’s surgery in Durham, North Carolina.) It was quite true to form. She also made a “Mama” turkey with a new baby for Jen and B.J. who are enjoying Thanksgiving in California with almost two week old Jack.