The Family Newsletter

Vol 1,  2008 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Editor: David B.

BIRTHDAY PARTY:  3/9/08

BANJO LESSONS: 3/14/08

On Sunday night we celebrated Bella's, Dad's, and Mom's birthdays!  Dad came back from Japan to spend the weekend!  It was a great day.  Bella had 15 of her friends come to the party!  Uncle Jon and Aunt Audra, and their kids came all the way from Syracuse to come to the party.

  David has been learning to play bluegrass banjo from Grandpa.  He is working on his rolls and learning some new tunes. 

Sarah has been going to story hour at the library.  She participates in everything.

LIBRARY VISIT: 3/14/08

SKI TRIP: 3/19/08

On Wednesday we loaded up the van and headed north into the heart of the Adirondack Mountains to have a great adventure at the Gore Mountain Ski Resort!

TRIP TO MUNSON WILLIAMS PROCTOR ARTS INSTITUTE: 3/15/08

EASTER CELEBRATION:  3/23/08

On Sunday we all headed to uncle Jon's house in Syracuse for an Easter egg hunt.  We all found eggs ~ about 30 each!  It was a fun day!

SARAH WINS 1st PLACE IN THE POETRY & ILLUSTRATION CONTEST FOR GRADES K-4: 3/25/08

Sarah won 1st place in the illustration division for her painting titled, "Adirondack Animals".  She is very excited to see her picture on the front page of the Weekly Adirondack Newspaper!

MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITION: 3/29/08

Karate Championships

On Saturday David & Bella participated in the 25th Annual Copper City Karate Championships held in Rome, NY.  They were representing their Karate school ~~ Cady's Academy of Martial Arts of Boonville, New York.

Bella received a Gold Metal for her Kata Chon-Ji and she earned a Bronze Metal in the Sparring competition.  David won a Bronze Metal for his Won-Hyo Kata.

David has earned his Green Belt and Bella is now a White Belt with two stripes.

CHARLOTTE "VERY FINE" BOOK GROUP: 3/28/08

Bella and David have been participating in a Book Group for young people over the past eight weeks held at the Old Forge Library.  At the last session the children voted for their favorite book in the Charlotte Book Award program held across New York State. (from left to right: Robin Smith, David Beck, Helen Ferrick, Bella Beck, & Megan Greene)

SPRING BREAK:  April 2008

On Monday, March 31st we loaded up the van and headed south for our annual spring vacation in Florida!  Its a 22 hour drive.  We hope to drive straight through so we can check into our condo on Tuesday, April 1st.

We have made it to Florida.  We have settled in, and are now enjoying ourselves in the warm Florida weather.

Welcome to Florida THE SUNSHINE STATE!

April 1st, 2008

Bella and Dad working on the puzzle of the Adirondack Mountains.

The three children in the car on the way to Florida!

The family on the day Dad left for the airport.

David, Bella, and Sarah in the East Wind Condominium pool.

Sunrise 4/10/08

Sunset 4/9/08

While we are in Florida having fun, Jim Williams is busy putting a new roof on our house back home in New York!

Our Florida friends Ron and Ronni Royal

A final picture before our Florida Friends leave on: 4/29/08

On Sunday, April 20th,  we visited The Marine Science Center. While we were there we entered the "Butterfly Tent" where there are hundreds of Butterflies flying around.  They land on you and you can hold them.  It was really cool.  See how many Butterflies you can find in this picture!

                     Bella Beck

Mom's friend Sophia Shannon came to visit us for our last week in Ponce Inlet, Florida

We all loved spending time with Sophia and we were glad that she could come and join us in Florida.

Pickin' and "grinnin" in front of our hotel - the Hampton Inn in Rock Hill, South Carolina!

During out stay at Rock Hill, North Carolina we went out to eat at Harry and Jeans.  "Located in the photo behind us."  Mom had Lemon Chicken while we kids had Chicken Fingers.  Yummy, yummy!!!

We finally made it to New York in the luxury and in this picture we are in the Hampton Inn hot tub!!!

After winning 4 Blue Ribbons at the regional gymnastics trophy competition, Bella boarded a plane headed for Japan on June 10th.  She will get to spend three weeks with her dad and also to spend time with her very special friend, Ryoko.

This will be Bella's first time taking such a long trip all by herself.  It will certainly be a great adventure.

JUNE 2008 ~ BELLA GOES TO JAPAN!

After some delay due to weather conditions, Bella arrived safely in Japan on Wednesday, June 11.  Ryoko's mom, Yumiko,  is helping Bella get ready to start school on Friday.

            Best Friends!                                         Home Again!

The view from the top of Mt Fuji, the highest Mountain in Japan ~ 12,388 ft., or 3,776 meters !

Grandparents

Bella And Mom Go to the Hair Dresser!

On July 9th, Balla and Karen had their hair cut.  They donated their hair to "Locks of Love"

David Wins His Blue Belt on 7/31/08:

David successfully passed the test for his Blue Belt at Cady's Academy of Martial Arts in Boonville, New York on July 31st 2008.

Bella Wins 2nd Place in the Regional Gymnastics Competition on December 14th:

           In December The Family Gathered at Uncle Jon &                Aunt Audra's House For Some Christmas Cheer!

Sarah, Bella, & David Performed in the "Nutcracker" at our Town Theater on Dec 6th & 7th

To see pictures of their performance click on the above photo: