BEAVIN

Cynthia's 8th Grade Graduation

2009-06-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Cynthia graduated from SMM on May 21st. It was a wonderful evening. She looked beautiful with her Taylor Swift curls. She was also honored several times for her academic achievements. The vice-principal also announced that Cynthia has won the Ann Kalmey Christian Scholar award. The announcement spoke of many of Cynthia accomplishments as well as read some wonderful passages from her letters of recommendation. The award comes with a $500 scholarship as well! At the end of the ceremony, Cynthia and her friend Megan sang a duet. I continue to be amazed by her voice. If I can figure out how, I will load the video to the blog as well. I think one of the best parts of the night for her was her grad present - a cell phone finally!

Pioneer Day

2009-06-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

SMM has a pioneer day for the 4th graders every year. The kids and parents dress in period attire and learn to make candles, wash clothes the old fashion way, have a picnic lunch, etc. It is great fun and this year the weather was great! I had the costumes made when Cynthia was in 4th grade.

8th Grade Trip Preparation

2009-06-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Chris took Cynthia to Walgreens to get the necessary supplies for her 8th grade trip. She ran into several classmates that had the same idea.

Amanda is a soccer star

2009-06-03T10:01:00.001-07:00

Amanda did not get to play much soccer this year due to the unusual amount of rain we had this spring. She does a great job on defense!

SMM Field Day

2009-06-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

Rachel was in charge of the concession stand for field day. She did a great job. I did not know that it was going to be so hectic. There were 20+ kids in line almost the whole day. All the girls enjoyed the day.

Bruce's Birthday

2009-06-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

The girls made a 3 decker cake for their grandpa Bruce's birthday celebration.

Dance Recital

2009-06-03T07:26:00.001-07:00

Amanda Joins the Tennis Team

2009-06-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Amanda joined the SMM tennis team this year. She really progressed alot over the season and even won her doubles match at the end of the season.

Spanish Breakfast

2009-06-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

Eleanor enjoyed breakfast with her classmates. The food all consisted of words they had learned in Spanish class.

Show Choir

2009-06-03T07:20:00.001-07:00

Derby Day 2009

2009-06-03T07:18:00.001-07:00

The Beavin girls enjoyed the Derby at their grandma's house. Amanda, Bridget and Eleanor created their own hats for the occasion.

1st Communion

2009-05-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Bridget's 1st Communion was wonderful. She looked beautiful. The mass was very special since Cynthia and Rachel were the cantors and Grandma Tess was a eucharistic mininster. The celebration afterwards was very fun. It is so nice to have all our friends and family at the house. A big thanks to Chris' brother Mike for helping with the food.

Mark and Britt

2009-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of Bridget's 1st communion was that Chris' brother and sister-in-law and their daughters came for a week long visit. We loved getting to know the girls better and visiting with them. Amanda especially bonded with her cousin Emma. I would like to say THANK YOU for making the trip. Bridget really appreciated it as we all did especially during such a busy time!!!! LOL Andrea

Bridget gets her ears pierced

2009-05-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

It is a Beavin tradition to get your ears pierced for your 1st Communion. Bridget took it all in stride and she looked beautiful with her new earrings.

SMM Presents Oklahoma

2009-05-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Cynthia (Aunt Eller) and Rachel (dancer / farm girl) as well as the rest of the cast did an awesome job in Oklahoma. The costumes, set, dances, singing, lights, etc were just top notch. We are very lucky that SMM has such a talent drama teacher. Cynthia was very emotional on the last day because she loved being in the plays every year. By the way, Chris designed and built the farm house.

Easter

2009-05-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Easter was a fun day especially since Chris' dad has some real bunnies for the girls to play with. Chris' great niece seem to have a great time hunting easter eggs as well.

Spring Break

2009-05-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

We were a little scattered over Spring Break. Andrea worked most of the week. Bridget went to Florida to visit Andrea's brother David and his family with Andrea's parents. Cynthia went to Brandson MO with a friend's family. The rest of us stayed home. One day they went to a fun park for some fun!

Beautiful Sky

2009-05-08T11:16:00.001-07:00

There are times when a very simple thing really makes you stop and realize how wonderful nature is. One sunday afternoon I walked out the front door and saw a beautiful rainbow and awesome sky.

U of L in NCAA Regional

2009-05-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

Since we were in Indy for Rachel's volleyball tournament we took advantage of the fact that U of L was playing in the Regional Tournament just down the street. Andrea's parents and Chris went to the game on Friday. Rachel went with Chris and Bruce on Sunday. Friday was fun as they won big. Sunday was a lost but still a neat experience.

Rachel volleyball team wins tourney in Indy

2009-05-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Rachel's volleyball team travelled to Indy for a small tournament. They took the Gold but also had alot of fun. We went the Cheeseburger in Paradise to celebrate.

Cynthia is 14!

2009-05-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

Cynthia's birthday fell on the first Sat of Spring Break. She was leaving that Friday afternoon for a week long trip with her friend Melanie so we celebrated her birthday as a breakfast before school.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-05-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

I love the blog because it allows the whole family to showcase all the important events in our lives. Since we are all so blessed however I am always behind on my postings. Since Cynthia's confirmation in March here is a small sample of the blessings we have had.

Cynthia's 14th birthday
U of L in the Regional Tourney
Rachel's volleyball tourney in Indy
Spring Break
Easter
SMM Musical Oklahoma
Bridget gets her ear pierced
Bridget's 1st Communion
Mark & Britt come home for a visit

Check it all out!

Andrea

Confirmation

2009-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Cynthia was confirmed this weekend. Most of the family was there to see her special day. We are so thrilled she was willing to express her faith in this most wonderful rite of passage. Her Grandma Tess (Andrea's mom) was her sponsor. They did several service projects together in preparation. The Archbishop presided over the ceremony. I felt like his homily spoke volumes to the kids as well as me. Cynthia is pictured with the Archbishop as well as Fr Steve Pohl, SMM's new pastor.

St Pat's Day 2009

2009-03-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

We all had a little fun on St Pat's day. Chris bought several green hats and fun items that we all enjoyed. I think Chris and Bruce had the most fun!

Young Author Winners

2009-03-23T11:11:00.001-07:00

The Beavin's had two winners in the Young Authors competition that the Louisville Catholic schools host. They both wrote, illustrated and made covers for their books. Bridget was a 2nd place winner and Amanda took Honorable Mention.

Boat Show

2009-03-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Chris and Bruce had cabin fever during the ice storm so they took Bridget and Eleanor to the boat show.

Chris and Papa

2009-03-23T10:54:00.001-07:00

Best grandfather on earth.

Cynthia and the trombone

2009-03-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

Most girls in band class play the flute or clarinet, not Cynthia.

Amanda Green party

2009-03-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

She says she wanted a green birthday party with her friends. All of the parents called ahead and asked if she meant the color green or something to recycle.

Science Fair

2009-03-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Amanda received an A+ on her science fair project - Do rats learn faster under peer pressure? Obviously having the rats there made it one of the more sought out attractions. Sadly, her friend Ali's rat died a few week after the fair. Amanda's rat appears to have handled the day well.

Governor's Cup

2009-03-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

SMM enjoyed great success in the Governor's Cup competition this year. The picture below is of the team after their overall District win - 1st in Quick Recall, 1st in Future Problem Solvers and Cynthia received 2nd in math.

Ice Storm January 2009

2009-02-21T19:32:00.000-08:00

We had some severe weather at the end of January. The ice was absolutely beautiful but it did some damage. The seal on our front window broke and we had water running into the house. Chris did all the repair work himself. Like millions of others, we lost power from Wed to Sat (thanks to Andrea's mom and dad for providing a warm house during that time). We are kind of getting use to no power for extended periods of time. At least this time we didn't have to worry about food spoilage since you could just put it in a cooler outside. Andrea's mom and dad lost the top of their tree and Eleanor took a spill on the ice and busted open her chin. Before the storm got bad, Chris took a couple of the girls sledding down near the pond in our neighborhood. Amanda jumped off the sled just before she went out on the frozen lake. I have attached footage of them retriving the sled.

Preparation for First Reconciliation

2009-02-11T06:01:00.001-08:00

The Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation is where we find God's unconditional forgiveness which helps us forgive others. Bridget took her preparation for her first Reconciliation very seriously. This was posted inside her cubby for easy access.

Tess foot surgery

2009-02-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

Tess had foot surgery in October and was hobbling around in a boot for a few weeks.

Child Prodigy

2009-02-11T05:23:00.000-08:00

Eleanor taking piano seriously...

Check It Out!

2008-12-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving holiday finally gave me the chance to catch up on the blog. I have posted pictures of the girls at Halloween, a video of the final moments of Cynthia's volleyball team winning the City Championship, special memories of PaPa's 90th birthday and one of my favorite Thanksgiving poems. I have also added two new links under the Andrea's Favorite section. One is to my friend Jennifer Albright's blog. Jennifer lost her husband to cancer this summer. The other link is to a women at church who is fighting heart cancer. Both of this stories are truly inspiration and once again help us see how thankful we should all be for our health.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T12:40:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving was a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of our normal lives. The older I get the more I appreciate this holiday. Speaking for myself, it is difficult to not look around and see how many things we have to be thankful for.

I love this poem taken from Anne Landers' column (2001).

Things to Be Thankful For
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it means you can hear.
Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means you're alive.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday as well.

PaPa's 90th Birthday Party

2008-12-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Right after Cynthia's big city championship win, the whole family headed down to Paducah for the annual Halloween bonfire. This year was really special because on Sunday we all came together to wish PaPa (Chris' grandfather) a happy 90th birthday. He still shows everyone up on the dance floor.

Cynthia wins City Volleyball Championship

2008-12-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

Cynthia's SMM volleyball team won the City Championship in October. They were undefeated all season and it was great fun to watch them play together.

Halloween 2008

2008-12-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

We had unseasonably warm weather for Halloween this year. This combined with the holiday falling on a Friday night made it a wonderful event. Each of the girls did something a little different this year:

Cynthia dressed as Tinkerbell. She invited a large group of friends over to trick or treat with her in our neighborhood.

Rachel's costume was Minnie Mouse. She went out with a friend in her neighborhood.

Amanda's final costume choice was an M&M. She started out as a vampire but liked this funky look better. She also went out with a friend in a neighborhood close by.

Bridget was Demi Lovato from Disney's Camp Rock and Eleanor was a very cute Madeline. I took them through our neighborhood.

Everyone received too much candy and had a great time!

Andrea runs the half marathon

2008-10-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so she didn't save any Greek soldiers, but Andrea ran a lot further than most of us can. The Metro Parks hosted the run yesterday. Chris and the kids met her at the finish line.

U-505

2008-10-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Chris and friend Joe French went to Chicago last weekend. The German U-505 submarine was the only U-boat captured in WWII and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry opened a new exhibit with the boat a few years ago. Very cool thing to see.

St X / Trinity Game

2008-10-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weather contributed to the record crowd at the game which drew over 38,000 people. We had fun tailgating before the game. It was Bruce's (Andrea's dad) 50th class reunion which was all the more special since St X was victorious in the game.

Blessing of the Rats

2008-10-11T19:43:00.001-07:00

Amanda brought her pet rats to SMM for the Blessing of the Animals. Father Steve did a great job in when he was interupted by someone when he said "we bless the Trinity" and someone yelled out "Can you bless the St X". Of course, this was 2 days before the big game!

Beavin Family Reunion 2008

2008-10-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

We had a great turn out for the Beavin Family Reunion despite the fact that it fell at exactly the same time as the U of L / UK football game.

Rachel's Birthday Sept 29

2008-10-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Rachel had a sleepover with 5 friends to celebrate her birthday. She had a great time. She was very excited by her gift from the Jeff Beavin family and Uncle Mike - an ipod shuffle.

Eleanor's First Day of School

2008-10-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

We now have all the girls at SMM. Eleanor has adjusted to SMM very well. All the girls are doing very well in school. Rachel was invited to take the ACT through the Duke Talent Search Program. Cynthia took the ACT last year. We were very proud and amazed at her score. She has again been asked to participate in the SEEK program which is an exchange program between the Catholic schools.

David's Visit

2008-10-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

"Uncle" David (Andrea's brother) stayed with us during the Ryder Cup. Even though we did not have power most of that week, it was great to have him around.

We won the Ryder Cup!

2008-09-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

Chris and Bruce attended the final day of the Ryder Cup, held at the PGA's Valhalla golf course just a few miles from home. It was a great experience!

The lights are back on!

2008-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Finally we have power - yea! We got power back about 4:30 on Sunday after almost exactly one full week without it. Going without power really makes you appreciate how wonderful our modern days lives are. We are considering a no power day once a month just to keep us mindful. Thanks to all who have helped us during this time! Andrea

Still Without Power

2008-09-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

We still do not have power after Sunday's strange category 1 hurricane like winds that hit Louisville on Sunday afternoon. The girls went back to school today but had a 3 day break due to power outages across the city. We had already planned on having a special week with my parents and brother staying with us for Ryder Cup. It feels like we are camping. Mom is getting very good at cooking on the grill. Chris has taken advantage of the lack of lights to get some great views of Jupier with his telescope. Keep your fingers crossed that we are lucky enough to get power back today! - Andrea

This is a picture of a car that Chris saw when he was trying to get home during the storm!

Jeff and Debbie lost a tree during the storm. Chris enjoyed helping them cut it up!

Cynthia's 8th grade year

2008-09-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Cynthia's friend had a big 13th birthday party the weekend before school started. Cynthia and her friends (including her "boy" friend Nicholas) had a ball. Cynthia is loving being the top class of the school. She is also still exploring her high school options.

Vacation #2 2008

2008-09-04T04:34:00.001-07:00

Gulf Shores is a very relaxing vacation. You get up in the morning, eat breakfast and then decide whether the day will start at the beach or the pool. The beach is beautiful and the condo that we stay at is very nice. I personally like to get up early and walk the beach. - Andrea

Click the link below to see all the pictures from our Gulf Shores trip.
http://picasaweb.google.com/beavinfamily/GulfShores08#

Vacation #1 2008

2008-08-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Annual trip to Barren River Lake. I get to pick the bathing suits next year. - Chris

I love Barren now as much as when I was a kid probably more since we now have access to a wonderful house instead of camping in a tent. Chris, I, the girls and my mom and dad all love being on the water to tube, swim, boat, solo on the wave runner, etc. The state lodge is just a mile away by car and we can horseback ride, golf and swim there as well. We can see plenty of wildlife (deer, bugs, turtles) while enjoying all the modern day comforts in the house - dishwasher, microwave, TV, etc. This year, Chris' dad and niece joined us for a couple of days. which was very nice. - Andrea

Click the link below to see 141 pictures from our Barren Lake vacation.

http://picasaweb.google.com/beavinfamily/Barren08

Big Bang

2008-07-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

Look here to see where they plan to build the new arena and why it takes longer to paint a bridge than get rid of a 9-story building.

Softball Tourney Time!

2008-07-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

This week all the kids have their first tourney game for Lyndon Rec ball. We had a pretty good standing in the regular season: Cynthia's team placed 1st, Rachel's team ended up in 3rd in their division but had a shot at first, and Bridget and Eleanor's team (coached by Chris) ended up 2nd in their division. What will we do next week when we won't have games every night?

Bridget's 7th Birthday

2008-07-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Bridget had a great birthday celebration on Sunday June 22nd. We actually got to celebrate on her actual birthday. First, a couple of her school buddies came over. They gave her all kinds of great presents and then spent some time jumping in the bouncy we rented for the day. Then the family came over to partake in a wonderful chicken meal complete with cake and ice cream. Amanda did the decorations and "Happy Feet" cake. It was a very special day for Bridget.

Father's Day

2008-07-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Father's Day was spent with Andrea's dad on the boat at Taylorsville Lake. Then we headed over to Chris' dad's house for the traditional Father's Day cookout.

Cicada

2008-07-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

Louisville was cicada central for a couple of weeks this summer. These are pictures from Henry's (Chris' dad) yard.

Break Time at the Pool

2008-06-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

The YMCA right by our house has built an awesome water park. We have really enjoyed it. However, break time can get dull. This is what Cynthia and Amanda did to past the time.

Piano Recital

2008-06-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Andrea 40th Birthday Video

2008-06-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

While Andrea was off in Italy being holy, I took care of 6 kids (the girls and Bruce), kept the house somewhat clean and found time to put 200+ pictures into this video. Never could have done this with her in the house cleaning up my stuff.

Eleanor's Graduation

2008-06-07T09:23:00.001-07:00

Eleanor graduated from Tiny Tots! It is hard to believe that after 13 straight years we don't have a daughter there anymore!

Spring Break - Amanda & Cynthia

2008-05-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Amanda had a great time in Florida with my parent over spring break. She even sent us this unusual postcard.

http://postcards.go.com/mexico/retrieve?card_id=F014F36D1402FD5CC47705E4BA458597

Postcards From Mexico requires the latest version of the QuickTime plug-in. If you do not have QuickTime, simply click here (or copy this ENTIRE link and paste it into your Web browser) to download it: http://disney.go.com/help/software_center/index.html#quicktime

Cynthia went to the Caymen Islands with her friend Mary Rose Mullins. I think she had a great time despite the scary parasailing event.

2008-05-26T14:21:00.001-07:00

Bruce Zaepfel (Andrea's dad) celebrated a birthday on May 18th. We took him to Texas Roadhouse. It was so much fun. They had him sit on a sadle and everyone in the restaurant shouted out Happy Birthday!

Dance Recital

2008-05-26T14:04:00.001-07:00

Call to the Post

2008-05-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

Rachel had the opportunity to play the call to the post at Churchill Downs. U of L School of Music was trying to set a world record for the most trumpet players to play call to the post at a race. I am not sure if they set the world record or not but it was a fun day for all.

Funny Kid Quotes

2008-05-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

I had to take Eleanor to the doctor last week. The doctor wanted to swab her throat for a culture. She told Eleanor to open her mouth real-wide and say "Ahh" real loud. Eleanor opened her mouth real-wide and tried to say "Ahh real loud". The doctor started laughing so hard she could not get the swab.

Here is another cute kid story that I saw the other day:
(Memorial Day weekend) One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed 7-year-old Alex staring at a large plaque in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names and small American flags. Alex asked what it meant and the priest replied, "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service." Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, "Which service, the 8:30 or the 11:00?"

2008-05-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day weekend started off with the 1st grade Mother's Tea with Bridget's class. I love this event. It always brings a tear to my eye to see these loving 1st graders so happy to have their mothers there to spend time with them. My mother's day was very nice also especially since it rained all day long and all our activities (soccer, softball) were cancelled. It made it nice to all be at the house to make dinner together and then actually have time to sit down and eat together as well. I also got time to spend with my mother which I cherish since she is the best mom on earth. I am so unbelievely blessed. The only downfall of the day is that with the rain we could not go out to the cemetery to see Chris' mom's grave. We did go this weekend and planted several flowers including her favorite - daisies. All of us really miss her especially on Mother's Day.

Once Upon a Mattress

2008-05-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Cynthia (Lady Jessica) and Rachel (Chorus) both did an awesome job in St Margaret Mary's production of Once Upon a Mattress (which is the story of the Princess and the Pea). The costumes were incredible and the set was spectular. The set was designed and made by volunteers (including Chris). It was a castle with two staircases and a balony which held 20 dancing cast members. Many, many people told me that it looked more like a high school production than grade school. It blows my mind that these children are not nervous at all on stage singing and dancing.

Just a swingin'

2008-05-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

Eleanor is so shy!

2008-05-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Spring Break

2008-05-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Rachel and her friends discovered this huge turtle in the park over Spring Break.

Cynthia is a teenager

2008-05-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Chris and I are too young to have a teenager.

Andrea In Italy

2008-03-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

I got the opportunity to go to Italy in February. It was a wonderful trip on so many levels. I wish to thank my mom for taking me on the trip. It was so nice to spend time with her. I would also like to thank Chris and my dad for taking such good care of the girls while I was gone. I felt a little guilty (and selfish) leaving for so long. However, the trip really energized me. The churches, countryside and historical places in Italy are spectacular. Matthew Kelly (retreat leader) was his usual extraordinary speaker and leader. We saw and heard the pope speak (in six different languages). The people we met were inspirational. We had masses with the most wonderful priest in many of the churches including St Peter . It is an experience that I will always treasure. Oh my the way the food was wonderful (I ate gelato everyday!!!!!)

Eleanor Turns 5!

2008-03-07T04:40:00.001-08:00

Eleanor turned five in February! It is a good thing that we celebrated a little early because she was sick on her actual birthday and slept through the whole thing.

Daddy Daughter Dance

2008-03-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

Chris and Bruce took 5 lovely ladies to the SMM daddy daughter dance. Bridget and Eleanor got a special treat by arriving in a stretch hummer. They all were so beautiful in their fancy dresses.

Christmas celebration

2008-03-07T04:11:00.000-08:00

We had Beavin Christmas over at Chris' dads, then we headed down to Paducah for a quick visit, back home for Christmas morning and Andrea's family over at her mom's house and then after Christmas we headed to Brandenburg.

Christmas

2008-03-07T03:59:00.001-08:00

We had fun decorating for Christmas and sending out our annual Christmas card including the picture of the girls and a lengthy letter. Of course, we all received wonderful gifts (including a couple of rats that Santa brought Amanda). The best part of Christmas is still seeing all our family and friends.

Christmas visitors

2008-03-07T03:52:00.000-08:00

David, Andrea, Nolan and Lydia came for a short visit before Christmas. We got a couple good family shots.

Baby Madelyn

2008-03-07T03:43:00.000-08:00

Madelyn's cousins love her.

Eleanor's Lost her First Tooth

2008-03-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

Eleanor lost her first tooth in Dec - a couple of months before her 5th birthday. She is growing up way to fast.

100,000 Miles

2008-03-06T18:21:00.001-08:00

We all rode around in Chris' car one night so we could all see when it turned 100,000!

Amanda Turns 9!

2008-03-05T19:13:00.001-08:00

Amanda celebrated her 9th birthday in November. She had a few friends over to celebrate over the Thanksgiving break.

Utah Visit

2008-03-05T19:09:00.001-08:00

Chris and Andrea visited Mark and Britt in October 07. They hiked a lot (actually more than they planned!)

The Pepsi machine

2008-02-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

I will never forget this Pepsi machine from Papa's garage.

Note the water fountain on the right. If not adjusted properly, it would shoot you in the face. Just another body shop hazard.

Halloween

2008-02-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Amanda decided that we should all go as Snow Princesses this year (Cynthia refused the costume - Rachel just opted out all together). Unfortunately, it was one of the warmest Halloween's I can remember and we were all sweating the entire time. We gave most of the candy away to charity.

Go SMM!!!!!

2008-02-14T14:34:00.001-08:00

Amanda is not much on ball but she really likes cheerleading - she definitely has the volume for it!

Rachel's 11th birthday - Sept 2007

2008-02-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

Vacation #3

2007-12-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

Skinny Henry shows off to the grandkids. Rode some horses, a boat and a waverunner

Vacation #2

2007-12-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

Gulf Shores, Alabama. Nine of us (Andrea, Chris, CRABE and Bruce/Tess) met there in three shifts. Cynthia was already in Destin with a friend, Bruce/Tess took Bridget/Eleanor a day early and Chris/Andrea finally got there with Rachel/Amanda. Everyone went back at the same time, no one got left behind.

Vacation #1

2007-09-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Took several trips this year. Surprised the kids with a trip to Kings Island first. Amanda did not understand what the 'Beast' did to your body.

Beavin guys birthday party

2007-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Celebrated the July birthdays at the Falls of the Ohio. Jeff did his best Tom Hanks impression by trying to navigate a raging current and Mike and Dad threw rocks at each other (circled).

Chris turns 42

2007-07-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Eleanor made the cake, showing her mother that baking and cooking can begin ar early ages.

Things to do when your uncle turns 70

2007-07-29T08:35:00.001-07:00

Chris' uncle Junie (Russell and Virginia Corley) turns 70 this August and his kids threw a surprise birthday party in Owensboro. So what does the second generation do when a great-uncle they barely know has a big birthday party? Why, bury themselves in the playground rubberized mulch, of course! Didn't even get a picture of Junie.

"Horseshoes"

2007-07-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Andrea's cousin was baptized July 7 and we celebrated with Ray and Andrea (seems like all of the men in Andrea Beavin's family are also married to an Andrea). Call it 'corn-hole' or 'horseshoes for drunk people' or whatever, but Andrea's uncle Bob Peake took it to us.

Tournament Action

2007-07-07T05:18:00.000-07:00

Amanda's Angels lost in the softball tournament last week and her season is over. Rachel and Cynthia were a high seed in their tournament but could not get their pitching together and lost Thursday night. Bridget's team won their regular season division and their first tournament game last night.

Hamster On the Loose! How much property damage can one rodent do?

2007-07-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Twinkie, the hamster, has escaped from her cage numerous times considering she is a partial hamster genius. Every time she escaped though, we found her at a maximum of 3 days. On day 4, we started to get worried.Chris had to rip through his beautiful drywall again to catch the mischevious hamster. We found her in the heating vent but she would not come out. A day later Eleanor ran up the stairs yelling "I found Twinkie!" Twinkie jumped through the hole in the drywall and crawled back in her cage!

Bridget's big pool party

2007-07-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Bridget turned 6 in June. We had her party at a friend's house and celebrated the pool theme. The pool part worked well but the beer chickens were a bit over-done!! (don't you have flames under your chicken when you grill out?)

Lion King

2007-06-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Andrea, Chris, Tess and all of the kids went to see The Lion King. Great show, but the real show was the backyard re-enactment the next day!