Where in the World is Elder North Going?

Family, friends, and neighbors gathered at the North residence last

night to find out where my sweet brother Colby will be headed for 2

years to serve an LDS Mission

There were so many people there to support him, it was really awesome.

Colby is one of the greatest people I know.

He is generous with his time and his heart and is always willing to lend a

helping hand if he can. He is awesome with Riley and I am

grateful to Colby for all the time he spends with him.

I know Riley is going to miss him so much. He loves going to Grandma

Teri's to play tractors and Bob the Builder with Uncle Boby.


The Kitchen was filled with treats and more people. By the time everyone arrived
it was standing room only.

Colby hanging out with his friends awaiting the reading in just minutes to come

The anticipation is just about killing everyone

Trying to act laid back but you know he's nervous as heck!! Ü

Waiting around some more

Taking a turn at the guessing map

HMMMM where do you think Colby is going?

The Moment of truth. Colby Richard North has been called to Serve

in the Richmond Virgina Mission. FYI Chelsey guessed right

so she got the prize of the night

The Proud Parents!! And they should be. They have raised one of the best

kids I have ever met. I am really glad that Riley has him to look up to.

The Proud Grandparents

His super proud sister. I can't believe he is going to be leaving us all

but I am also so excited for him and all that he will get to do

and experience.

Amy, Riley, Colby, Sadie, Justin & Kinley

Just Chillin with the friends.

Colby checks into the MTC on April 1st and I hope for all our

sakes he is back before we even know he's gone.

Colby we are so proud of you and wish you

the best of luck on this Chapter of your life.

We know you will make an awesome Missionary!

Lots of Love!!

Amy, Mat & Riley Joe Taylor Beck North

Back to reality

It's my first official week back at work and all things considered it is going really well. My feet and lower back would beg to differ, but it feels good to get back in the swing of things. I am learning a lot of new things and luckily everyone is being really patient with me while I ask the same question at least 5 times before I finally remember it. You ladies are awesome!!! ( and you know who you are)
I also want to give a special thanks to Teri, Diana, Grandma Colene and Jamie for helping me out with the babysitting. Without all of you this wouldn't be possible. So thanks again for all you do for me and my family.
And I promise I will get up some more stuff of Riley ASAP, We have many stories to share.

XOXOXOXO

Breaking News:

After 3 months at home with my cute little boy, I got the great news that I am heading back to work. I am delighted to say that I am headed back to work at Capital Community Bank at the Pleasant Grove Office. Now for those of you who know me well, change does not always come easy for me. I like the familiar, the routine, but being home for three months with lots of time to think, I have realized that change can be (and most often is) a good thing.
So with my new job I am going to embrace all the changes that come with it, and most importantly be grateful for the opportunity to go back to a place that I really didn't want to leave to begin with. Granted I will be at a new office, but I have had the pleasure of working with most of the people there and I feel lucky to be surrounded by them again. And I am especially happy about being in the same building as my dear friend Lacy, who I can now see everyday, and perhaps lunch with at least once a week. (This is me embracing change)
I want to thank all my family and friends who have offered me words of encouragement, called me with job opportunities (even if they didn't pan out) and have just been there for me. Your love and friendship mean the world to me. But for now I am going to enjoy this week at home with my sweet Riley, and worry about the checkbook next week.

XOXOXO
Ames

The Happiest Place on Earth

Last week Mat and I got to take a trip to Disney World in Florida with Mat's work. We stayed at the Coronodo Springs, one of Disney's resorts, and it was so much fun. From getting our grove on at the dance club at the hotel, to a digital scavenger hunt in the Magic Kingdom, it was never a boring trip.

Jack with Tigger and Pooh on the Digital Scavenger Hunt
Here we are at Hollywood Studio's in line for the Rockin Roller Coaster

Matt & Lisa Before the Rockin Roller Coaster

Kyle, Karen, Mat and Aubrey

The Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Riley is pretty sure there is a dragon in there.

Amy & Aubrey in Line to ride Buzz Light Year. Of course the boys beat all the girls.

Jack, Karen, Kyle, Aubrey, Mat, Amy, Lisa & Matt after our first ride

on the Rockin Roller Coaster....good times were had by all.

Mat & Buzz at the Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios

Amy and Lisa at the Rockin Roller Coaster

Oh Look!! It's Mr. Potato Head...or is that Mat?

Kyle and Aubrey and the Tower of Terror Behind them.

We had so much fun, and it was nice to get to hang out with people outside of work.

But I must give a special thanks to Mat who worked his tail off all year (and every year)

and got invited to the Presidents Club. He works really hard, as did all those who were invited.

And every one who knows me knows I love Disney Land, and roller coasters.

It was a great little get-a-way, with a lot of fun people.

Un-Christmas

I want you all to be proud that I am taking down my Christmas stuff before January ends....I know hard to believe as much as I love the holiday and all. You will be glad to know that my son is following in my footsteps. His cries of protest as I pulled the ornaments off the tree could surely be heard as far as Provo.
"But Mama, you can't take the tree down, what about our Christmas?"
Trying to explain to a three year old that in less than 10 glorious months we will get it out again is a little harder than I thought....Oh well.

Happy Birthday Riley

It's hard to believe my baby is 3 today. Where has the time gone?

It seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital

and now we are trading his crib for a bed and trying to get him to hold still

long enough for a hug and a kiss.

This little boy is the light of my life, and I am so honored to be

his mother. He is sweet and kind hearted. He loves animals, his favorites being elephants

rhinos, horses, dragons and dinosaurs.

When I am sad he makes

me happy, he makes me laugh and he makes me grateful for all that

I have and all that I am. Being his mother makes me

a better person.

I love watching him learn and grow. You can almost see his mind working.

he is so smart and witty even for three. I am amazed by him every day.

I hope he always knows how loved he is by so many people.

I love you up to the moon and back my sweet boy.

Love,

Mom

Stetsons & Wranglers part II

We spent the next two days of our trip, shopping at Cowboy Christmas,

Bass Pro, Zappo's and managed to get in a little of my favorite site-seeing

We drug everyone to Margaritaville for Nachos and as you can see Riley

Slept through most of it. Power naps are awesome!!

After Margaritaville, Mat, Chelsey, Riley and I headed over to the Bellagio

to see the dancing waters.



Riley loved it just as much as he did last year.

Riley pointing out a duck in the water

When the show first started it scared Riley to death, I was glad I had a good hold of him

He can't take his eyes of of it!!

Inside the Bellagio, they have a garden you can walk through.

You can't really tell from the picture but the snowmen are made of fresh flowers.

Rudolph and the other reindeer, pulling Santa's Sleigh

This tree was beautiful! The picture's don't do it justice.

They had these beautiful arrangements at the front counter.
The entire hotel was decorated so beautiful

We then took Riley on his first ever bowling adventure.

And it was an adventure.

I did it, I did it!!!

The smallest ball they had was 8 lbs which was still pretty heavy for

a two year old. Me and Chelsey and Riley had the lane with bumpers.

Riley beat me and Chelsey....SAD!!!

Apparently if you lay on the floor it makes the ball get there faster

And Uncle Boby (Colby) looking for a strike.

After bowling, we headed to the ice cream shop for a very large

ice cream cone, compliments of Papa Bill. Riley loved every minute of it.

We had a great time and it is a trip that Mat and I look forward to every year.

Thanks again to all the family, for making it so much fun!!

Stetsons & Wranglers part I

For the last 4 years we have gone to Las Vegas for the NFR Rodeo.

I have been to Vegas many time in my life (it is one of my favorite places)

but the atmosphere is a little different this time of year. And not in a bad way

People are more polite and men will tip their cowboy hats to you if you smile their way.

We go down with my step mom's family, and we love them dearly

and are so glad to be a part of their family.

Me, Mat , Riley and Chelsey headed down a day early and went to the aquarium at

Mandalay Bay. Anyone who knows my son knows he loves sharks


He was not to sure about this large Lizard however

A great big shark.....
If you have never been to the aquarium they have a section with a glass tunnel
and glass floor, so the fish swim freely around you. It's pretty cool




Here we are at the touch pond. Riley and I opted not to touch
anything

However Chelsey and Mat touched a stingray and some sort of weird crab

They took this picture as we walked into the aquarium. Mat just

had to buy it. The pose is perfect.

Ahhh the big event. We were there on opening night and this is the 50

year anniversary of the rodeo so they showed some cool

clips from the very first NFR, and years working up to now.

Riley being a good boy and sitting in his seat. This year Mat and I actually

got to watch the entire rodeo from our seats

It was awesome

My two cowboys

Riley waving his hat to the crowd in the parking lot,

just like the cowboys inside had done after their ride

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Miss Rodeo America

practically grabbing him out of Mats arms. He's a little flirt

New Family Pictures

Here is a sampling of our new family pictures.....enjoy!