The Van Becks

Maria's Cross Country

2013-09-21T21:59:00.000-05:00

Maria's first year in Cross Country and her team went to state. She had an amazing year and loved every minute of it. I love that some of the nieces are getting into running and finding out just how enjoyable it can be.

Graniteman Half Marathon

2013-09-07T21:40:00.000-05:00

The half marathon of the year was the Graniteman Half Marathon in St.Cloud. Carrie and I ran it together again. It was a SUPER hot and humid day so our expectations were very low. We wanted to just make it through and enjoy the run. The run started out ok but it got worse and worse as the temp was close to 90! Carrie's sister in law, Kim, was running the race as well and she did not fair so well. Around mile 11 Kim ended up having trouble with the heat and she ended up not finishing the race. Carrie and I stayed with her for a while and then finished the race about a half hour later. It felt good to finish, but I will NEVER run in that type of heat again. This finishers medal was definitely earned!

Jenn ran the 10K and stayed to cheer us on for the half.

TKD

2013-09-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

Avery is loving Tae Kwon Do. She just started in September and she moved quickly to her white belt. It is fun to watch her be so disciplined and practice her pattern and teach the girls at home. I can't wait to see where this takes her.

First Day of School 2013

2013-09-03T21:10:00.000-05:00

First day of school 2013 at the Van Beck house. Izzie started Kindergarten, Olivia is in 1st Grade, Avery will be in 4th Grade and Ethan will start his last year at Sacred Heart School as a 6th Grader. All four kids are in the same school for one year! And Mom gets to go to school with them all every day as I will be working as a para professional in the Kindergarten room. I am so happy I get to see Izzie for half the day each day, I would really miss being with her otherwise. Last year it was just the two of us while everyone else was in school. Here's to a great year!

Visiting the Moravchik Family

2013-09-01T17:35:00.000-05:00

While we were in duluth we spent some time visiting a friend of mine, Sarah Moravchik. They live out in the country on an amazing farm. The kids were so excited to see their dogs, cats, chickens, cows and most of all horses! We had so much driving around in the gator to see everything on their farm. What a wonderful family to let us invade their Sunday. We had a great time enjoying the great outdoors.

Aren't these the most beautiful cows you have ever seen?

Duluth Fun - Gooseberry Falls

2013-08-31T17:24:00.000-05:00

Gooseberry Falls is one of our favorite places to go!! We had such wonderful weather again this year that the kids could go in their swimsuits and actually play in the water and climb on the rocks, etc. It is such a beautiful and spiritual place. I love that the kids enjoy the outdoors and appreciate places like this. We may not be back next year but I can't wait to visit again soon.

Duluth Fun - Tom's Logging Camp/Two Harbors

2013-08-31T17:14:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of our Duluth trip started out at Tom's Logging Cabin. What a neat place. We got to see how they used to do everything in the "old days". The kids really saw some cool things and had lots of questions. It was a very fun place to start the day.

The wood chopping Van Beck Family

Next stop of the day was Two Harbors. Last year we didn't take any time here, we just passed through. It was such a beautiful weekend so we decided to spend some time in Two Harbors to see what they all had to offer. We had a picnic lunch, walked out on the pier, watching a train come in and played on the rocks and in the water.

2nd trip to Duluth as a family

2013-08-30T16:56:00.000-05:00

We took our first trip as a family to Duluth last year and the kids really wanted to go back again this year. We decided to camp it this year and Macy even got to go with. The weather was PERFECT again and the kids had a great time doing some of the same things we did last year and some new things too.

Here is our campsite - at Spirit Mountain

One of the biggest hits of the weekend was going on a group bike ride. I was very suprised at how much work it was but the kids loved it and it was such a beautiful night to try it out.

The kids at the campsite

The kids still loved climbing on the rocks this year. They spent so much time doing it last year that I thought they wouldn't want to again but it was a huge hit again. Izzie really loved playing in the water too, of course.

More fun on the rocks!

Playing in Canal Park

Girls growing up so fast!

2013-08-29T16:17:00.000-05:00

The kids are growing up so fast and I am noticing it even more now as Izzie will go to school this year and I will go back to the workforce again.

I usually tuck Izzie in on the couch with her blanket every morning when she wakes up and I will sure miss that when she goes off to Kindergerten. I am very lucky though that I get to be in her class. It will be fun to watch her grow and learn in her first year of school

Avery is LOVING her Macy. She is officially her master and when Avery isn't home she is sad and waits for her.

The little girls are officially ready for school. I can't believe they will be in Kindergarten and 1st Grade.

This is a sweet note from Avery. I was so touched. She has such a genuinely big heart!

Gotta love girlfriends

2013-08-28T16:22:00.000-05:00

I am SO grateful for my wonderfull girlfriends! We try to see each other as much as we can, but for sure every few months even if it is just for dinner. I love these girls and don't know what I would do without them. They are all good friends from elementary school and junior/senior high and we have all stayed in touched. Love you all, ladies!

Summer Pool Fun!

2013-08-28T16:06:00.000-05:00

We are so lucky to have so many friends that invite us over for pool fun. We had a very busy end of August going from pool to pool cooling off in the hot August sun. The kids are at such fun ages and love the water!

Bueckers Cousin Pool

Dehmers Pool

Dusha's Pool

Spash pad fun after the dentist and school shopping.

Family fun weekend

2013-08-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

It was a hot week and we tried to spend as much time around water as we could. We went to Quarry Park for the first time in Waite Park and the kids had such a fun time. I was surprised that they jumped from the cliffs but they did and loved it once they did.

The day after the quarries we spent a family day at Cedar Lake in Upsala. The lake is as beautiful as I remember from when I was kid. It is so shallow too so the girls could come out pretty far with us and they thought that was so cool. It was a great weekend of family memories!

More Birthday Horse Fun

2013-08-24T15:39:00.000-05:00

Ethan and Avery have really been in to horses this summer so for Ethan's birthday and to use up Avery's gift certificate she got for Christmas, we took them to the horse farm near our house. They had an absolute blast! I was very impressed with how well the trainer helped the kids and teached them so much!

Ethan was SOOO excited to be on the horse. I don't think he stopped smiling all day.

Happy Birthday Ethan

2013-08-23T15:22:00.000-05:00

Ethan wanted to go on a birthday outing for his 12th Birthday so he got to choose a friend and they spent the day at Summerland in St.Cloud. Luke Dehmer and Ethan had so much fun go karting, swimming, playing mini golf and going down the waterslides. It was a perfect day to have some fun in the sun!

Grandma Joni's birthday is just one day before Ethans. Happy Birthday to both of you!

Happy Birthday 12th Birthday, Ethan. I can't believe the years have gone so fast and now you are a young man. I love your passion for sports, your brain for learning and your tender heart for your family and siblings. You are a great person and have a big heart. We can't wait to watch you grow to up to be an awesome young man!

Mud Man Birthday Date with Ethan

2013-08-17T15:03:00.000-05:00

Every year Mike and I try to do an individual birthday date with the kids and this year I took Ethan to the Mudman Race in Kimball. It was an extreme mud 5K. We had a blast! It was tough but we stayed together and helped each other through it. We will definitely be doing it again!

Annual Como Zoo trip with the Beelers

2013-08-14T15:00:00.000-05:00

Every summer we take a trip to Como Zoo with the Beelers and friends. This year is wasn't SOOO hot, which was great. The weather was just perfect to spend the whole day at the zoo and take in all the animals and the rides. The kids look forward to it every year.

The kids favorite ride was the swings, they went on SOO many times! I love they they can all still have fun doing the same things. I know it won't last too much longer.

Green Lake Tri

2013-08-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

I was really looking forward to the Green Lake Tri this year. Kristin and I did it last year with some other friends and she decided to do it again as well. Jenn had one Tri under her belt but this was her first outdoor Tri and she did amazing. I am so grateful to have such great friends that like to do these things with me and push me to be a better athlete. It was a perfect day and the race went very well!

We are all ready for the race!

Love my KB

SOOO Happy the whole family could be there with me to cheer me on

Ethan and Avery's First Triathlon

2013-08-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

Ethan and Avery participated in their very first Triathlon in Spicer - The Green Lake kids tri. They were very excited and scared too. They both did amazing well and the weather was just perfect! Ethan ended up coming from behind and winning his age group! It was so fun to see both of the kids really push themselves and work hard until the end.

Getting ready for the swim

The kids loved sharing the day with our friends the Beelers. They were so generous to let us stay in their cabin and Cora and Ella participated in the Tri as well. Such a fun family day!

Celebrating Summer Birthdays at the cabin

2013-08-09T21:38:00.000-05:00

Celebrating family birthdays is always a great time. And summer birthdays get to have a little party while we are at the cabin. Deanna, Deb, Ethan and Izzie all have summer birthdays.

I love this picture of Ethan and Izzie! They look so much alike here.

Happy faces all around

Peter's Sunset Resort 2013

2013-08-09T21:29:00.000-05:00

It was another perfect week with the family at Peter's Sunset resort in Glenwood, MN. The weather wasn't hot, but it wasn't too cold either. We had plenty of lake time, relaxing time, golf, volleyball, cards, food, drinks, bean bags, walking, running, etc. It was a great week and we look forward to next year already!

The boys!

The beach was beautiful and we have so much fun on the water toys.

Cousin fun!

It was a little chilly by the lake so we sat in the sun behind the cabin :-)

The Sunsets were beautiful at the cabin!

Cabin Fun

2013-08-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed playing in the rain puddles one night at the cabin It was so fun to watch the girls just go crazy in the water and get as dirty and wet as they wanted!

I got Deanna and few of the cousins to do a workout with me :-)

Greenwald Barley Days

2013-08-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

After Heritage Days, we go right to Greenwald Barley Days. It is a busy weekend but so fun to go to both of the hometown days and see old friends and let the kids play all the games, etc. that we used to do as kids.

I-94 League Baseball Tournament

2013-08-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

Ethan LOVES baseball and this one his very last game and tournament of the year. They played in the I-94 baseball tournament in Albany during Heritage Days. It worked out great for us to take in the festivities and watch Ethan play. He did a great job and they ended up with 4th. I love to watch him play and to see the passion in his eyes. He loves to play sports and of course likes to win, but it is nice to see him grow and learn from each game too.

All dressed up - no where to go!

2013-08-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

Michelle and Allen and Mike and I were all ready to go and planned to go out in Greenwald after the Heritage days fun, but we were all too tired from the day, so we ended up staying in and calling it an early night. Maybe we are getting too old :-) Either way, we had a great day together and were well rested for our week at the cabin!

More Heritage Days Fun

2013-08-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

The kids always have a great time at Albany Heritage days. We usually do some games, go to the parade and then let them dance for a while before heading home. It's a tradition that we look forward to each year and it marks the start of our week vacation together as a family.