Corn on the Cob Survey

How do you eat your corn on the cob? In rows across, or in circles around?

Taking up a New Sport

Looks like we're going to have a ton of fun with this this summer!

What is everyone doing for memorial day?

Family Reunion Food Assignments

Hello All!

Here are the assignments for the meals/snacks/desserts for the family reunion.  If the meal/other you were assigned to doesn't work, just leave a comment.  We will try to make everyone happy.  Thanks!!!!

Friday Dinner: Greg and Hayley
Saturday Breakfast: Mike and Liz
Saturday Lunch: Adam and Stephani
Saturday Dinner: Blair and Jenny
Sunday Breakfast: Josh and Alisha
Snacks: Jeff and Cailey
Dessert: Lee and Julie

Hope this works for everybody!!

-Hayley

Family Pics

I admit, I have a problem with pictures.  But it's a good problem to have.  This week we hired someone to come our family pictures, which hasn't happened in the last 9 years.  Leaving Missoula though, we wanted a set of fun pictures that didn't require Blair running back and forth from the camera.  It was SO NICE- and she did a great job.  Lucky for us, she comes through Idaho Falls a couple times a year, so we'll just have her continue taking our pictures.

 

Just life...

I admit that I am bad at keeping family updated on life events.  But I am trying to do better, so here is what is going on in a nut shell.

Jen- lucky me and my super over the.top dentist anxiety.  I got to have a tooth pulled and a bone graft today.  It went well, drugs are great and I am just thankful it is over!

Blair- loading a uhaul truck tomorrow to take stuff to IF and put into storage.  He does a week of training in Provo next week.  He is excited, and nervous.  We are super thankful mom and dad for letting him crash at their house.  No real lookers at the house yet, but its only been a week

Brooke- has a solo next week in her choir comcert and 8th graduation is Jume 5th.  Feels weird to have a freshman.  I feel like my brothers should all still be in HS

Brant- stayimg busy with baseball and scouts

Alex-  so excited to move.  When we go to IF she would like to try out a new name.  She is going to be Lexi, so get used to rolling that one off. ;)

Dane-  last week of preschool.  He can npt waot for kindergarten and living by Jaxon and Issac...  cousins is all he keeps asking for (and Bailey)

A bit more on Stress and anxiety

I really wanted to share these links with Greg or anyone else who can use it. I found them while trying to help Sarah along with life.  I like them because they are exactly what I learned in my college courses.
Link to relaxation scripts for children. I use the first two bullets: Relaxation for children and
Breathing relaxation for children.
Also teaching kids how to problem solve empowers them and gives them the ability to help themselves in situations when you aren't there.  This power greatly reduces stress and anxiety.
Link to teaching children to problem solve. Again in complete alignment with what I've learned in my courses.

Seeking Advice

Yesterday, Emiline's class went to a biosphere in their school to look at the animals they had there.  They have a parrot, turtles etc.  However, Emiline was the only kid that was too scared to go: Because there is a dead tarantula framed on one of the walls.  This isn't atypical either: She is afraid of a ton of stuff and often cries uncontrollably at things that we don't feel like are a big deal (like having to try something new to eat). Has anyone had a super sensitive child? Any advice on how to handle it? Thanks.

YESTERDAYS HIGHLIGHT

Nothing better than watching the second episode of the new series "24".  Love that show. 

dad

NAME THAT BABY

Since Brian and Juliana have not yet selected a name for their baby, I thought we might give them some help.  Please tell Brian and Juliana what they should name their baby.  I thought Ima Lima would be a good name, but mom nixed that one.  So Charles Xavior Bean sounded good to me.  What do you think?

Dad

Family Reunion Colors

Hello Bean Family!

Greg has informed me that he had a conversation with a few of you about the colors for the family pictures and that I should probably elaborate.  I found this random family on Pinterest, and I loved how all the colors popped:

You'll notice that most of the colors are generic colors, with the exception of the mustard yellow and eggplant purple.  I was hoping with the colors being: white, navy blue, and jean we could add a splash of pop with the mustard yellow and eggplant.  Obviously, I understand that many of you do not own eggplant or mustard, but I am hoping that is where the navy, white, and jean come in.  There will be enough of us in the yellow and purple that it should all blend nicely.  Please don't feel like you have to buy the mustard and eggplant colors.  Between all the colors, I hope we can have a fun picture!  Thanks!!!!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the most wonderful mother! You are beautiful and funny and happy and kind and just the best! Hope your day is tremendous!

In response to the previous post on close families

I have done a lot of thinking and studying about this over the past 6 months (It's the social worker in me).  Funny the question should be brought up.  Here's my answer:

A family's group relationship and the intrapersonal relationships that occur within that group are two different things, although they do effect each other, they are not mutually exclusive.   Also the definition of "close" is very subjective.  How I view close may be completely different than what someone else feels is close based on personality, personal experiences, and our opinions created from the comparison of other family units we see.
A family group relationship is one viewed as a whole.  Do we hold regular family reunions?   Do we try to establish communications as a whole?   Do we celebrate and understand our heritage? Does everyone  in the family participate in such said activities?  The type of strength our family group has depends on the willingness of family members to participate or not participate in these areas.
Intrapersonal relationships between adult siblings can fit into several categories which can span from intimate, to loyal, to congenial, to apathetic, to hostile.
A relationship is based on the fact that both parties are receiving something from it and giving something to it.  For example, one would not have a friendship if that relationship was not helpful to them. We all glean something from our relationships from others whether it be self- validation, companionship, physical help, emotional support, etc.  If you are not receiving anything from a relationship, it will not arise or even survive.  A sibling relationship cannot grow if neither person is getting anything from it.
One might ask, what would be the point of trying to have a relationship with a sibling if we have nothing to offer each other?  How can we offer anything to each other if we are hundreds of miles away?  How can a brother and sister have a relationship when there is nothing in common to hold onto?  What would be the point?  These are all questions we need to ponder.
My observation is, that those intrapersonal relationships within our family have developed between certain siblings because they have found something to offer each other.  Found is the key word.  First, communication had to happen in order for the finding to begin.
All of this said, now to my opinion:
I think we have a strong family group relationship.  It could be stronger, however, if all parties had a desire for it to be so and made it a priority to participate in the family blog, group texts, and family reunions.  You will find that actively participating in and being a part of any type of group is very satisfying.
I cannot speak for any other intrapersonal relationships in our family except for my own, although I know they exist.
The intrapersonal relationships I have with most of my siblings would be categorized somewhere in between loyal and congenial.  Some siblings are easier for me to talk to than others because of their personalities and the things we have in common.  I do desire a deeper relationship with all my brothers and sisters and get frustrated that it's not that way.
In conclusion, I feel that a family's ultimate closeness may rely on the head of household's desire to foster it. Each adult child needs to have their parents reaching out to them on a regular basis (even though a child might not convey that desire).  I also feel that each member of the family has a responsibility to foster their intrapersonal relationships with each other if a closer family is the goal we are reaching for.
I love you all collectively and individually.
-Steph-

  Okay so I was talking to one of you and was asked if I thought that our family was close.  I thought that was in interesting question and since I grew up NOT close to my brothers, I could honestly say that we are close as a family.
  Since then, I have thought a lot about being close and what close means.  I know that each of you grew up not knowing your cousins that is not close.  I could probably count on one hand the number of times that I visited Larry or Bill as you were growing up.  Bill maybe never.  That is not close.  Before Larry moved back to SLC I had virtually no contact with him and Bill and I exchanged calls on birthdays and Christmas. That is not close. 
  Now that I have told you what I think close is NOT, what is close?  I have to admit I do not have an answer for what is close.  I do believe that what is close to one may not be close to another.  I would be interested to know how you would define a family being close.

Dad