Benson Family Adventures

And It Came To Pass

2012-01-02T11:53:00.001-07:00

Luke 2:1-5 * O Little Town of Bethlehem

Luke 2:6-7 * Away in a Manger

Luke 2:8-14 * Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Luke 2:15-16 * Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful

Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11 * With Wondering Awe

John 3:16 * Silent Night

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas!

2011-12-27T16:32:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I let the entire month of December (okay, okay... and most of November...) slip by without posting anything, so here's a quick peek at some of the fun before I backtrack a bit.

We started the month out right with our annual Christmas Tree Family Home Evening. We decorated all evening and then stretched out under the lights to open our first Christmas book ("The Tale of Three Trees") and read it together.

We spent a Friday afternoon at The Festival of Trees with Grandma Carol, Aunt April and the boys seeing the trees and doing the kid crafts. This year I checked Olivia out of school a little early so she could join us, and the funny girl was so torn about missing anything important or fun that she cried when I picked her up!

Even though Livvy is still a Santa enthusiast as far as letter writing and cookie leaving goes, she decided this year that she was just way too big to sit on his lap, so it was just the boys.

A typical evening during the month of December: dinner and homework done, pajamas, Christmas tree lights and a movie from our collection. This was the night we watched "Polar Express" and they were both enthralled. We had a bit of Christmas magic as well when the movie was done and Olivia looked out the window and screamed "IT'S SNOWING!" (It was just a flurry and only lasted ten minutes, but we'll take what we can get!)

Then we followed the movie up with our new tradition of opening up one of our wrapped Christmas books and reading it together before bed. They both LOVED being able to open a present every night and even though it was a book that we already owned, they hadn't seen it in a year so it was pretty much like new. It was a great way to bring a little Christmas magic each evening and all it cost was a roll of wrapping paper out of the Target dollar aisle!

My little Christmas elf! A week or so into the month Caleb went to a preschool activity at a friend's house, who happened to have a train set up around their tree. So of COURSE he had to come right home and put a train around our tree. (The effect was lessened by the fact that the only trains in our house are from Ikea and Target and were absolutely dwarfed by the gigantic-ness of our tree.)

The week before Christmas we went with Grandma Carol, April and the boys to "A Candlelight Christmas" at This is The Place Heritage Park. I'd never even heard of it before, but it was one of the highlights of my month. The live nativity was so beautiful and touching (especially after a tough and hectic week) and I can't describe the feeling of seeing my children just feet away from the gorgeous nativity scene, reverent and taking it all in. We saw the reindeer, rode the train, had hot chocolate at the hotel and then roamed through the village doing all of the activities and seeing the displays.

Making Christmas houses at Grandma Vickie's! We love this tradition of my mom's and look forward to it every year! We had a yummy dinner, made our houses and had so much fun playing with the rest of the family!

I love this time of year so very much and all of the time we get to spend with our family and friends. I loved all of the especially meaningful family home evening lessons and activities, performing with The Sterling Singers in our Christmas concert at Libby Gardner, and making and delivering gifts with the kids!

Caleb Airlines Flight 1120

2011-12-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Caleb Man is officially FOUR!

We celebrated by inviting all of our little friends and cousins to take a flight on "Caleb Airlines flight 1120"


boarding pass invitations


He worked all afternoon making the welcome sign and three weeks later it is still hanging up because he is so proud of it

I tried to keep it simple (partly because of work/holiday craziness, but mostly because I've found that 2 - 4 year olds are pretty darn easy to please!)

We had Caleb's collection of dollar aisle airplanes set out on his traffic mat for the kids to play with as they arrived. From there we moved on to the craft (painting little wooden airplanes) and the games (I-Spy and landing paper airplanes on a runway target.)

They LOVED slopping that paint all over their airplanes (we spread our camping tarp underneath the table to keep the carpet safe)

We pinned blue tissue paper, cotton clouds, glow-in-the-dark stars and clip art pictures of airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, rocket ships, etc. (Caleb colored them all in) to the ceiling. Then we had all the boys lay on the floor underneath it, gave them all baby flashlights, turned out the lights and played I-Spy.

This game definitely ended up being the hit of the party!


Cute little boys with their paper airplanes and aviator caps (1$ winter knit caps with felt sewn on for the goggles and ear flaps)

After the games Olivia and her friend Beth (our official flight attendants for the afternoon) collected boarding passes from each boy, settled them into their seats, served airplane snacks (baby water bottles, pretzels and string cheese.) Then we watched an "in-flight movie" (Mighty Machines: How to Build a Jet)

Not a one of them had the attention span to make it through the 25 minute movie, so when the wiggles got the better of them we turned it off and ended our day with presents and cupcakes (yeah - we broke the tarp back out for this part too.)

Oh the chaos of 7 little boys, 2 "flight attendant" girls and an assortment of aunts, uncles and grandparents! But it was so worth it to see our little birthday boy having so much fun with his cousins and friends!

Love you buddy!

The Wish List

2011-11-29T17:07:00.000-07:00

Olivia always has a hard time coming up with Christmas wish list ideas

("Just surprise me Mommy!") Which is nice in a way (I love that she hasn't been consumed with a "give me" attitude yet), but a little tricky when I have a hard time coming up with ideas for her. Luckily I have had some brilliant ideas (if I do say so myself) this year.

However, two days after I finished Christmas shopping for the kids Olivia received a "Justice" catalogue in the mail and fell in L-O-V-E with a pair of ear muffs on the cover. Her Grandma Carol was hanging out with us that night and told Olivia to go through the catalogue and circle anything else she really liked to give Grandma a few ideas for presents.

After dinner Livvy handed back the catalogue, full of pen marks and dog-eared pages, with this note on the front:

"Dear Grandma - These are

my favorites. You don't haft to

get all of them for me,

but I am going to need

the ear muffs and the note book."

Nice.

Time for New Church Clothes...

2011-11-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Geez, kid! Grown much?

An Apology

2011-11-23T09:28:00.001-07:00

Dear October: I'm so sorry that I've neglected you!

Thanks for the gorgeous colors and the beautiful harvest.


Little Cottonwood Trail


Petersen Family Farm

Thanks for good friends and the 3rd annual "Spooky Lunch"


This little group of kids were some of Olivia's first friends in the neighborhood when we moved in 4 years ago - they are great and we love our little "Spooky Lunch" tradition with them

And thanks especially for 2 wonderful grandmas who throw the funnest parties, and great cousins and friends to share them with!


Grandma Carol, 2 firemen, a cowboy and Hermione the witch

Best buddy Daniella

newest little cousin Hadley (and the cutest mouse ever!)

Grandma Vickie's Halloween flashlight hunt in the backyard


Grandma Carol made the kids trick or treat bags this year

Until next year (when we promise to pay more attention to you!)

Love, the Bensons

My Grand Plan (and how things really turned out)

2011-10-17T09:44:00.000-06:00

I had such a beautiful plan for this autumn! It involved shipping both kiddos off to their respective school classes (Caleb attends the preschool that is run through the school district and it just happens to be located in the same school Olivia goes to) and using that time alone to exercise and whirl-wind clean my house and finish projects so that when they got home we would have lots and lots of fun, relaxing, wholesome family time together. It was gonna be great! After school piano students would come and go and then we'd get busy with homework and cooking dinner together and enjoying our evenings. My church calling right now is relatively low key, we had survived all of Cam's crazy summer bike races and our family vacation stuff, and even though both kids are involved in a few activities outside of school, I had somehow envisioned them just seamlessly fitting into our daily routine. (Because - insert sarcasm - Girl Scouts, Activity Days, Up With Kids and Toddler Sports Clinics magically exist in their own alternate universe and don't take any hours out of your real day! And of COURSE being in school = calm and peaceful evenings devoid of all stress, right?)

Anyway, things were floating along generally peachy like for the first few weeks of school when out of nowhere the opportunity to teach in the preschool classroom next door to Caleb's class presented itself and from the get go it just felt so incredibly right to me. I haven't been employed outside of my own house in almost nine years and I certainly wasn't looking to be right now, but a 17 hour a week position doing something I LOVE with all my heart, in a situation and schedule that completely coincides with my kid's school schedule, just a mile up the street and surrounded by some pretty lovely and amazing ladies was just too good to pass up! My original plan was to teach less piano once I started this job, but I just love my sweet students too much and couldn't let anybody go, so after working from 9 - 1:30 Caleb and I come home, have a little bit of down time and then by 3:00 it's up and back to work teaching. I've been working for two weeks so far and even though we haven't dropped the ball too badly with Livs doing her homework before dinner, and I am pleased to report that my mountain of laundry has not fallen over and squished anyone (yet)... my visions of everyone doing homework and talking and cooking together every evening (or even one evening) have failed to pan out. "Mac and Cheese anyone? Cereal? Quick - get in the tub! Quick - brush your teeth and jump into bed because nice mom is exhausted and grumpy mom is about to make an appearance!" I am crossing my fingers (toes, elbows, knees and eyes) that we will all be able to adjust to this new routine quickly, that life will calm a little and that my kids know I love love LOVE them more than anything and they are still my Numero Uno priority and the best gifts I've ever gotten, despite a job thrown into the mix.

I make light a little of how chaotic things are sometimes, but really truly I am SO GRATEFUL for my sweet family and for the blessings that Heavenly Father gives to us. I know this is an opportunity from Him to help our family and allow me to use my talents (and perhaps test me a little along the way as well?) I am so grateful for Cameron who supports me even amidst craziness in his own career right now (he's just been transferred to a new store - it's thirty minutes closer to our house and we are so grateful for it, but the transition has of course been stressful for him) and my good friends who watch Caleb on his off days from preschool and those who have offered to be back up.

Years ago (I won't say how long) I went to EFY with my friend Erin and the theme for that summer was "Joy in the Journey." I am trying oh so very hard right now to remember that. I don't want to miss the daily joys in our life because I'm trying to look beyond a little bit of chaos and see a less stressful time (that quite possibly won't ever show up!) My Grand Plan for this autumn was pretty good, but I have a feeling that the New Plan is going to be even better if I can just have the faith to let it.

Thoughts? Pearls of wisdom to share with me? How do you remember to still enjoy the moments among chaos?

Lotoja 2011

2011-09-30T19:07:00.001-06:00

In 2007 Cameron rode his first Lotoja, managed to survive it all in one piece, and then swore to never ride it again.
Five years later and here we still are, making the yearly pilgrimage to Jackson Hole to cheer him on!
And once again, he was AMAZING!!!
12 hours to the finish line and he didn't throw up once! :)

Happiness Is:

2011-09-29T07:14:00.002-06:00

I love my little man for an uncountable number of reasons.

One of them being that he is so cheerful and easy to please.

For Caleb this last month, happiness has been:


A "plain ba-nilla cone"


His very own backpack


Holding new baby cousin Hadley


An hour at the park with good buddies


Getting good and dirty at the cabin

And of course...

A day out with dad!

School Year's Eve

2011-09-16T15:17:00.000-06:00

School Year's Eve this year began with our special family dinner full of favorites and a Family Home Evening lesson, and ended with Father's Blessings for each of the kids to help them get off to the right start.

We talked about a scripture that I hope my children will always remember - especially as they get older and spend more and more time outside of our home. I want them to always know and have faith in the fact that they are children of our Heavenly Father (a Prince and Princess!) despite how others may treat them. (And hopefully they will remember this in the way they treat others as well!)

Psalm 82:6

"I have said, Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the most High."

I made them each a royal crown and then they colored reminder posters to hang in their rooms.

They also each set a goal to work on this year - Caleb is going to be a "Super Helper" and Olivia is going to remember that "A is for Attitude" (and have a good one!)

Dear Prince Caleb and Princess Olivia: I hope you will always remember who you are!
Love, Mom

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-09-15T16:56:00.000-06:00

This summer I got to be an assistant teacher for a "Kids on Broadway" summer workshop that a good friend of mine teaches. Every Thursday evening we'd meet in her studio and teach the kids the background and basics of musical theater, play games and prepare our little Broadway Review.

Our class performed selections from "The Sound of Music" ("My Favorite Things", "Do Re Mi", "The Lonely Goatherd" and "So Long, Farewell") as well as a few scenes of dialogue in between each song. Then they combined with the Wednesday class (who performed "Annie") for an opening number ("There's No Business Like Show Business") and a few selections from "The Lion King."

It was fantastically fun and if I could do it full time I would!

Olivia was in my class and made an excellent "Louisa" - she had a solo in "My Favorite Things" that made me want to cry I was so proud of her - and she had so much fun performing with her friends. I'm always amazed at how shy and uncertain she can be in real life sometimes, but then she steps out onto stage and it just all disappears.


And may I add that she looks far too grown up in stage make up?


My awesome Thursday kids in their Lion King costumes


Monkey #1 and Monkey #2 (AKA: Maria and Louisa)


The Lonely Goatherd puppet show - I waffled back and forth on having them do this song because teaching kids to yodel just made me soooo nervous, but they picked it up just fine and it ended up being my very favorite piece. (I was quite proud of my puppets too!)

She sang the "girls in white dresses" verse of "My Favorite Things" and did an absolutely BEAUTIFUL job!

So Long, Farewell!


The whole goofy gang - I LOVE these kids - they were all so fun!

I wish wish wish that I would have gotten more pictures of their actual performance, but I was too busy directing Sound of Music and accompanying the other songs.

You get the idea though:

Kids on Broadway

Awesome Olivia

Lots of fun

I want this as a full time job!

In Twenty-Four Hours

2011-09-08T17:16:00.000-06:00

If all goes as planned (fingers, toes, elbows, knees and eyes crossed), in about twenty-four hours, my honey will be crossing the finish line of THIS monster.

(Preferably he will be all in one piece!!)

Summer 2001

2011-09-06T00:40:00.002-06:00

In June of 2001 I went on a hike with this guy I sorta knew. We climbed Twin Peaks up Big Cottonwood Canyon and ten hours later he dropped me at my front door tired, filthy, cold (there was still snow up there) and feeling like I had known him all my life. Mount Timpanogus, Bell Canyon, Lisa Falls, Cecret Lake, Zion National Park, Mirror Lake, a few concerts in the park, probably a hundred different climbs and repels, a few movie nights and at least twenty picnics later and by the middle of August we were engaged.

The rest, as they say, is history.

And for family night a few weeks back we decided to introduce our kids to a little bit of it.

Lisa Falls isn't even really a hike, just a short little jaunt up an unmarked trail a few miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon where some pretty fun times with friends and a few long talks took place. If you climb up the rocks on the far side of the falls you can sit up on top and look out over a pretty spectacular view. (The kids will just have to take my word for it - because visions of stitches and concussions kept me from letting them try it out...)

The kids LOVED having a picnic in the shade and then splashing through the stream for a bit.

Then we loaded them back into the car and drove up to another favorite place: Albion Basin at the top of the canyon. I remember one perfect Saturday taking the trail up to Cecret Lake with a picnic and a book and spending the whole afternoon on the shore reading together.

Finding (and practicing with) their magic wands

Albion Basin is located at the top of Alta ski resort - where in August of 2001 Cameron and I rode the tram to the top of the mountain and he proposed.

That was a pretty great summer!

(And so is this one!)

A Camping We Will Go!

2011-09-01T21:39:00.000-06:00

We headed up Spanish Fork canyon last month to the Diamond Fork campground with our friends the Inglebys for a few days. One little blog post (and the fact that I slacked on taking photos after day 1) will not do justice to how MUCH FUN we had, but I will sure try!

The first order of business after setting up camp was cooling down in the river - because man was it hot!

Andrea had the brilliant idea of having the kids all bring their bikes and they spent the afternoon riding their bikes around the campground, finding kindling for the fire and playing together while the grown ups relaxed!

After tin foil dinners and dutch oven peach cake Bruce took us Geo Caching (or on a "treasure hunt hike" as the kids called it.) The kids (okay, okay - Cameron and I...) had a great time following the GPS and tracking down the cache.

And then it was back to camp for "Delicious Hot Shmose!"

At this point I tucked my camera into the tent to keep it safe, and... never took it back out again. So there are no pictures of all of the yummy meals we made, the Johnsons who joined us later that evening, the morning we spent swimming with the kids in the river, the gorgeous canyon drive, or the beautiful (but much longer than expected...) hike to the hot springs.

I guess that means we will just have to do it again!

Bell Canyon

2011-08-30T21:45:00.000-06:00

Bell Canyon is by far one of my most favorite hiking spots in all the world and so a few weeks ago I decided to introduce it to my kiddos for family night. It's been an awfully long time since I've been up there and I had forgotten how steep and rocky (think boulders as tall as Caleb) the trail is. It made for a serious workout, heaving him and his short little legs up that trail, but they both did great and we had a ton of fun.

View of the valley about half way to the reservoir

We found a nice spot by the water to have our little picnic

Made a few duck friends (check out all of the trail dust on that boy)

And dipped our toes!


This is the reservoir just a mile or so up the trail. After the reservoir is when the trail gets really gorgeous and takes you up the canyon to several waterfalls, but this is where we decided to stop. Someday when Cameron can come along to help with the Caleb man we'll venture all the way.


So proud of my little troopers!

At this point Olivia decided she needed a bathroom ASAP (great timing, right?) so we booked it back down the trail with the promise of a slurpee spurring us on.


Taking a quick rest by the river on our way down (she is seriously about to pee her pants and Caleb thought it was so funny watching her squirm)

They were OH-SO-DIRTY, hot and tired by the time we got home, but it was a GREAT evening!

My Dog Has A Doppelganger

2011-08-16T14:20:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago while Olivia was at camp Caleb and I spent the day playing with cousins at Grandma Carol's house. While we were there I got a text from a neighbor saying that Daisy was running around the neighborhood (our dog is kind of an escape artist and more than a few times I have had to chase her down the street barefoot and in my pajamas - so my neighbors know what she looks like.) I was 100% certain she was in the house when I left, but I had her check the collar anyway and it turned out not to be Daisy. On my way home that evening I had a few more texts from neighbors saying my dog was loose and running the neighborhood, but I knew she was safe so I forgot about them. Got home, checked on the dog (yep - still there), let her out to run in the yard and then went about the business of getting Caleb bathed and ready for bed. A while later I went out to get the dog and there was Daisy...

And DAISY!!

Hello giant double take! Somehow (I think a helpful neighbor thought he was ours and dumped him over the fence) this little guy ended up in the backyard and by some crazy miracle Daisy hadn't tried to eat him. (She has a little dog complex like you would not believe and as kind and gentle as she is with people, she goes berserk in the company of other dogs.)

They were so funny together, and had this happened any other day I would have maybe enjoyed it, but for goodness sakes I had a house to clean, bags to pack and four different schedules to coordinate through the weekend so that we could leave out of town for Cameron's bike race the next day and I couldn't decide whether to laugh or to cry!

I threw both dogs on a leash, Caleb back into his clothes and we headed out on a little wild goose chase trying to track down the other family in the neighbor who we knew owned a westie (it wasn't theirs), tried to get a hold of the Riverton City animal control (the dog had a city tag but no other identification), left a message and finally gave up for the night.

I couldn't believe how much they looked alike! While we were walking around the block Caleb kept turning to me and saying "which one is ours again mom?"

This guy of course fell completely in love with Daisy's look-a-like.

"Emily what if we..."

"No!"

"But if we don't find..."

"No!"

"Well how about if we...."

"NO!"

So long story short, Daisy and her new little buddy had a doggie sleepover before I was able to get a hold of Riverton City and then the owners the next morning, just an hour and a half before we ran out the door to go out of town.

The Almost Camping Trip

2011-08-05T12:58:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago Cameron and I planned a little mini camp out with some of our family. The plan was to go up Big Cottonwood early Friday and get a walk-in spot (don't laugh - I've learned my lesson now), make tin foil dinners and dutch oven dessert, and then all of the non-tent-sleeping people (aka - grandma and grandpa) could head back down the canyon to their own comfy beds and the rest of us could stay the night, make breakfast and hike a little Saturday, and then head home.
Before kids Cam and I used to take off on a random camp out all the time. But apparently in the years since we've gone to AZ, moved back and decided to pick up camping again, the Wasatch Mountains have become very popular because every last spot up Big and Little Cottonwood as well as American Fork and Provo canyons was taken!!
I had a little meltdown in my mind (all of those hours of planning and shopping and packing and cleaning WASTED!) and then decided to make the best of it. We headed back up the canyon and found a day use spot up at Ledgemere (my favorite picnic place up Big Cottonwood) to make our tin foil dinner, dutch oven peach cake and s'mores.


Something about cooking food outside makes it taste amazing!


1 yellow cake mix, 1 can of cream soda and a bottle of peaches in a dutch oven for 25 minutes makes an AMAZING dessert!


Assorted siblings and siblings-in-law


The whole gang!

Wyatt and April had the foresight to bring along some diggers and dump trucks and the kids had a grand time filling them with rocks and racing them down the mountainside that backed up to our picnic spot. Adam, Cameron and Andy took the little ones hiking up the side of the mountain after dinner and then they came back and finished off the night with some "delicious hot shmose!"

Wyatt and his construction zone

The after dinner entertainment


The hikers!

She was on a quest for the perfectly roasted mallow

Colby's First S'more - I think it was a hit!


Sugar + messiness + sticking things in the fire = total bliss for this boy

After the cook out we headed down the canyon to our make shift camping spot (otherwise known as "Camp Grandma and Grandpa's House")

Livs and Grandma Vickie (my awesome mama!)

and amazing dad!

For anyone with little kids who is nervous about camping, can I just float the idea of a backyard campout? IT WAS GREAT!!! The kids had such a riot helping set up tents and sleeping bags and then running around on the lawn under the stars playing t-ball and flashlight tag! I am a huge fan of camping, but can I just say how fabulous it was to have a bathroom twenty feet away and semi-clean children in the morning?

Now that is an excellent campground!

Wrastlin' with uncle Adam in the tent

Our little campers: Caleb, Olivia, Colby and Wyatt (who of course came prepared with a headlamp!)

I wish I would have gotten a few shots of their late night t-ball game in the dark. Wyatt could see to hit the ball because of his nifty little headlamp, but the rest of us poor unsuspecting souls laying out on the lawn in the dark... watch out! I think we all got at least one welt from a t-ball on the fly! The kids would switch off and run around trying to find the ball in the dark laughing all the way. In the morning my mom cooked us all breakfast and even though it wasn't what we expected out of our camping trip, I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time and "Camp Grandma and Grandpa" has been unanimously voted in as a summer tradition!

My Baby Went to Camp!

2011-08-03T17:43:00.000-06:00

I am OH SO GLAD that Livvy loves Trefoil Ranch as much as I did as a kid (and still do by the way!) because guess which lucky mom got to tag along to horse camp last month?

ME! And we had such a great time! There were 17 amazing little Brownie Girl Scouts at troop camp this year and we all had a ball.


Low Ropes Course activites

Olivia riding Chief (the horse I rode at age nine when I went to camp)

Trail Ride

Friendship Bracelets


Helping with the cook out


Getting a little messy during the cook out....


Marshmallows and silly skits


Flag ceremonies and campfire songs

Hiking


Singing bedtime songs with Miss Heather our amazing troop leader


Our awesome troop!

I think she's officially hooked on camp. Last week she went up for a full week of resident camp with two other girls from her troop (and no mommy to tuck her in at night!) and loved every second of it. (I think I was more homesick for her in fact, than the other way around!)

Oh July!

2011-07-19T15:57:00.000-06:00

You're not over yet and I'm already pooped!

What Heaven Sees in You

2011-07-12T15:46:00.002-06:00

"Sent to this earth
You were saved through the ages for this day and time.
Child of great worth,
Child of promise, daughter of the Divine.
Pure and holy in a little white dress
You were held in a circle and you were blessed.
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place.
They knew the truth, all that you could do
And you will too
If you have eyes to see what heaven sees in you."

"Dressed in white once more

Making promises to follow in God's way.

So much lies in store

For the little girl who enters at the gate.

Pure and holy in a little white dress

You were led into the water and you were blessed.

And the Father looks down

And the angels surrounded that place.

They know the truth, all that you could do

And you do too

If you have eyes to see what heaven sees in you."

- photos by Aimee White -

"Do you understand who you are
Part of the Father lives in you.
And if you continue on this path
Every promise God has given will come true."

"Heaven on earth
In the house of God so much fills your heart and mind.
Woman of great worth
Woman of promise, daughter of the Divine.
Pure and holy in a long white dress.
You promise forever and you are blessed.
And the Father looks down
And the angles surround that place.
They know the truth, all that you can do,
And you do too
Cause you have eyes to see what heaven sees in you."

- Doug Walker -

I can't believe her baptism day has come and gone already! It was a beautiful day and I'm such a proud mommy thinking of my sweet girl, the good decisions she is making and the life she is building for herself.
Miss Olivia - We love you so much! We are so grateful to have you and so blessed to be your parents! We hope you will always remember that you are a daughter of God and that He loves you and is always with you.

Dinosaurs and Cousins

2011-06-30T22:07:00.000-06:00

So many fun pictures from our day out at the Ogden Dinosaur Park with our cousins that I just had to share! WE SURE LOVE COUSIN TIME!

Fun Was Had By All!

2011-06-29T22:12:00.000-06:00

On Monday, June 6th my baby girl turned eight years old PLUS it was the official start of summer. We did it up right with swim lessons, a pizza party, the most amazing "Tangled" cake we've ever seen, lots of family time, her favorite foods, and later in the week the Luau party to end all Luau parties.


Livvy loves sharing a party with her aunt Andrea ever year


SO excited about her pillow pet and art supplies


Great grandma always brings "consolation prizes" for the non-birthday children - this year they got ring pops!

Grandpa Mark

Great Grandma Rollins

Another work of art by Aunt Ashley - is this not the best Tangled cake EVER?

The Birthday Girls!

Candles!


And... consolation candles!

Lunch at her favorite restaurant with Grandma Carol

Seashell macaroni and bread sticks!

After two days of non stop birthday fun we buckled down and got ready for the Luau Party. Of COURSE the weather was gorgeous every other day that week and then the morning of our fabulous outdoor luau the storms began rolling in. I fretted about it all morning long and finally we gave in and just decorated the basement.


She worked so hard making posters and signs for all of the different games and stations.

The kids strung their own leis with beads and foam flowers

Played Limbo

Played Freeze Dance to the "put the lime in the coconut" song

which then turned into a conga line...

Played Pin the Nose on the Tiki Mask


A hula contest

And presents!

We topped it all off with cupcakes and a stop at Olivia's "Tiki Hut" smoothie shop. This was her pride and joy and thing she was most excited about at her party. We made pineapple smoothies and she served them in coconut cups with little umbrellas to all of her friends.

Cheers!!!

Luau party success! The kids were all super fun and sweet and had a great time. My mom, sister and Cameron were amazing helpers with the food and games. We sent the kids all home with their leis and hula hoops and then collapsed in a heap from birthday party overload.

Where We've Been

2011-06-25T19:31:00.000-06:00

Busy with all things BIRTHDAY! (Our celebrations deserve their very own post. Definitely next on my to-do list!)

Sprinkler park playgroups, art-in-the-park playgroups, fire station playgroups and Wheeler Farm playgroups

A girl scout cook out (troop camp here we come!)

Frontrunner, Ogden dinosaur park, Hill Aerospace Museum and Treehouse Museum with our visiting cousins. (Boy did that week wear us out!!)

Celebrating Father's Day with the BEST dad ever!

Livvy started the "Harry Potter" series (and apparently there's no turning back!)

Potty Training.

(I have no words to adequately describe what an ordeal this has been.)

Just three weeks into summer and we are TIRED!

Dear Wheeler Farm -

2011-06-22T15:21:00.001-06:00

You never fail to disappoint! (Well, except for maybe the promised hayride that didn't happen. Twice.) But other than that we had a great playgroup! The baby goats were divine and the sunshine was perfect!

My Macho Man

2011-06-21T08:08:00.000-06:00

Growing Up

2011-06-16T15:03:00.000-06:00

What a whirl wind year! I can't believe summer is in full swing and that my sweet Olivia is already EIGHT and so grown up!

August 2010 - first day of 2nd grade


June 2011 - last day of 2nd grade

Is it just me or does she all of the sudden look just about ready to drive a car and then head off to college?

For the Playgroup Moms

2011-06-14T13:21:00.001-06:00

We have had some F-U-N playgroups so far this summer! I especially loved the fire station a few weeks ago and the amazing turn out we had (scroll down a little farther - there were so many kids I couldn't even fit them all in one photo!) For those moms who requested pictures here are the ones from my camera - feel free to copy them. And THANK YOU for the playgroup support so far! I am so excited for our upcoming activities this year and I am loving getting to know you all!

Memorial Day

2011-06-10T14:05:00.001-06:00

Our Memorial Days are usually pretty low key. We stay in the area, sometimes do a hike or a movie (this year it was "Kung Fu Panda 2") and then barbecue for dinner at Grandma Rollin's house. The last few years we've made a conscious effort to teach the kids about why we celebrate Memorial Day and to spend time visiting the grave sites of our Utah grandparents and talking about them. This year it was extra memorable because Caleb is now big enough to start understanding and we had a great afternoon and evening, despite the rain, honoring our family members.


Cameron's Maternal Grandparents - Gerda and Peter Hansen

Cameron's middle name is Peter, after his grandfather. Cameron has some great memories of this man and loves to share them with the kids.

And the tradition continues. Cameron Peter and Caleb Peter placing flowers by their namesake.

Cameron's Paternal Grandparents - Glenn and Virginia Benson

We think it's pretty cool that their wedding anniversary is the same day as Olivia's birthday.

My Maternal Grandfather - Arden Rollins

I have so many wonderful memories with this amazing man. And even though he passed away before Caleb was born, I am so grateful that Olivia was able to know, and still remembers, him.

I'm also grateful for the service my grandpa gave to this country and the opportunity this gives us to teach Olivia and Caleb about patriotism and service. He was an amazing man and continues to be a strong example and presence in our extended family.

It was a great day!

Backtracking a Little...

2011-06-10T11:10:00.001-06:00

I'm just now sitting down to catch my breath - these last ten days or so have been absolutely jam packed! Cousins, end of the year field trips, adventures with grandparents, a new calling, the neighborhood playgroup and birthday celebrations galore. First up: Riding "Thomas" up in Heber with Wyatt and Garrett. Olivia was less then impressed (I think next year we'll leave her home to do something fun with a friend) but a good sport to tag along and help with the little boys. It was so fun to spend an afternoon with Carol, Richard, April and the boys - we just love them!


Waiting patiently to board the train


Enjoying the ride (we all had a hand on the back of each little boy's belt loops because they were leaning out so far!)

Loved the day with my sweet kids!

Climbing in the old train cars at the station.

THOMAS!

There were a lot of fun activities and booths back at the station for the kids to try out.

The hands down favorite was the mini golf course!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Spring is Here! (Kind of....)

2011-06-02T17:51:00.000-06:00

Spring has definitely been a little tricky to locate around here. But we've managed to have a little outdoor fun despite the weather (and even because of it in a few instances!)

It's looking like these two have inherited their father's love of storms and all things weather-related!

Last week we finished a long over due project. A few years ago when we finished the backyard we thought about doing a sandbox but then decided against it. (Piles of sand throughout the house... a gathering place for the neighborhood cats... It just didn't sound appealing.) Turns out I have resourceful kids and without a sandbox to dig in they turned any and all flowerbeds/garden patches/planting boxes into their own personal digging ground. After two years of this we decided to just give into the digging and attempt to contain it. Thus, the gravel pit was born! A friend offered us the genius suggestion of using pea gravel instead of sand and so we emptied out one of my planter boxes, filled it with gravel and VOILA! Caleb's own personal construction site!

A few weeks ago my dad had back surgery (right in the middle of a big backyard project he had started) and so last week we took the kids over and had a family work night at grandpa's house.

While my mom, Cameron and I dismantled the old fence, Andrea was put on kid watching duty.

(I love this picture of she and Livvy goofing around...) Follow it up with dinner and dessert and we had a great evening together!

Introducing Pillbox!

2011-05-26T10:06:00.000-06:00

For the last nine months Olivia has been involved in a little children's theater group called "Up With Kids." They meet at the local dance studio every Friday afternoon for an hour and play acting games, learn songs and dances, did monologues and "auditions" and were assigned parts for their play. This last week they performed their variation of "Alice in Wonderland" (I say variation because it somehow incorporated music from Glee, scenes from "Toy Story" and "Cinderella", as well as the basic story line from the 2010 movie version of Alice in Wonderland.) Olivia was cast as "Pillbox" (a guest at the tea party) as well as one of the princesses and one of the army of "tweedles." And she did great!! She's never been one to seek attention, or even like to speak in front of people or be put on the spot, but she loved every second of this experience and I can see how much she's grown and how much confidence she's gained this last year from being involved in this group.

Ready to perform

A primping princess

A tweedle (center back with her arms crossed)

Pillbox saying her lines

(with much enthusiasm and character I must say!)

The whole theme of the show was about having dreams and imagination. At the end of the show, after their bows, they all sang and did the sign language to John Lennon's "Imagine" and it was awesome to see! (I didn't get weepy at all... nope, not one little bit....)

A cast hug for Miss Stephanie their amazing director (this woman has the patience of a saint and is so encouraging and FUN!)

The whole family came to support at her Saturday show and she was so glad to have everyone!

Love you Miss Olivia! I am so proud of you and how hard you worked and how brave you were!

Oh the Places He'll Go!

2011-05-22T10:37:00.001-06:00

Caleb has been a very busy boy this month. I just don't know how he keeps up with it all!

On Thursdays he is busy training - with hard work and dedication Coach Heidi thinks his natural, raw ability to run and jump will someday morph into that of a world class track athlete. Olympic gold here we come!

Check out the balance!

The form!

The speed!

The camaraderie

and the team spirit!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, this kid will go far!
He handles his stardom with dignity and grace, humility and composure.

And yet still finds time to support his family,

help around the house,

encourage his big sister

and prepare for the future.

He's thinking city planner, architect or engineer.
(But he's keeping his options open.)

Quiz Time

2011-05-17T20:00:00.000-06:00

For those of you who live in my neighborhood, or who have visited, what do you think Caleb was talking about when we were driving home this afternoon and he told me that he could see the "CD castles"?

It took me a minute to figure it out and I had the answer right in front of my face. He meant that he could see the RADIO TOWERS!

Olivia and I cracked up.

Radio.... CD.... towers.... castle.... same thing, right?

Back in Gear

2011-05-16T07:36:00.003-06:00

I don't know why I've had such a hard time getting back in gear with blogging these last few weeks! Still lots of pictures from April that I had planned on sharing, but I've decided to just move on to May. May is good. May is busy. May is counting down to what I hope will be a most amazing summer.
I am slowly adjusting to life without primary (I was released on Easter Sunday) and even though I didn't feel quite ready to be done when it happened, and I was pretty much a mess the first few weeks, I think I have officially recovered. (What? No more trying to coordinate forty different callings and one-hundred some odd children? No more laying awake nights worrying about Cub Scouts or the primary program or baptism programs or substitutes or wanting to hide under the bed every time the phone rang on a Sunday morning or trying to figure out how I could possibly get away with duct taping the mouths of a select few ten year old boys shut during sharing time? Awesome.) Okay - so maybe I was ready to be done and just didn't know it...
Anyway - things are looking up now that I've recovered from the shock. Yesterday I was sustained as the Relief Society activity chair (So excited about this! Is it weird that if I don't have something to plan and make lists for I feel a little lost?) Playgroup is planned and ready to go for the summer. I'm teaching a six week summer session of "Musical Me" for preschoolers. Singing with the Sterling Singers continues and is going well. We don't have any big trips planned, but we do have a few camping trips coming up with family and friends. Cameron has a few bike races he's participating in. Olivia has a few Girl Scout camps and activities she's excited for. Family from back east will be coming for a visit in June and Olivia will be getting baptized in July. Now if school would just get out so we could jump into this busy summer with both feet!

April Was a Doozy: Part 2

2011-05-05T22:08:00.000-06:00

On the Friday before Easter we loaded up the car and headed down to Zion National Park (otherwise known as my favorite place on earth.) Cameron and I have so many wonderful memories of Zion, but between babies and the move to Arizona it's been forever since we've camped there and Olivia and Caleb have never camped before (sad I know.) It was definitely time to give family camping a test run!

It's kind of a drive (in kid time "two movies long" with a lunch stop in the middle), but of course we hadn't been on the road more than twenty minutes before the "how long until we're there"s started. And of course Caleb waited until the last thirty minute of the drive to give us all a little peace and take a nap...

But it was all worth it - just check out these views!

We set up camp and then while we waited for our friends who were meeting us for the trip we explored around the camp, headed down to the river and then took a little drive up the canyon. Of all of the great things we did on our trip Caleb's favorite part by far was the mile long road that tunnels straight through the mountain that we drove through on our first day. The road winds up five or six very steep switchbacks (Livvy and Caleb were both blown away by being up so high and seeing so far) straight up the mountain and then tunnels straight through to the other side.

By the time we got back to camp our friends Alla and Arkadiy (who went to pharmacy school with Cameron and have just recently moved to Utah) and their kids Lexi and Rylee had made it. We finished setting up camp, made dinner and had a great evening. The kids especially loved running around with their lanterns and flashlights and roasting marshmallows.

The next day was filled with hiking. We drove back through the tunnel and did the scenic overlook hike on the other side, then took the shuttle up the other branch of the canyon to hike to the base of the narrows and have lunch at the Zion Lodge Cafe. After lunch we let the kids play around back at camp for a bit and then headed back down to the visitors center, cruised a few gift shops, saw a movie about the park on the giant IMAX screen and then explored the town of Springdale just outside the park gates.

We were a little sad Sunday morning when it was time to pack up and head home! It was such a great weekend and the kids did really well. This will definitely be the first in a long line up of summer camping trips for our family!

April Was a Doozy: Part 1

2011-05-02T19:19:00.000-06:00

How did this month fly by so darn fast? My picture file for April is HUGE because we did so many fun things (we ignored the crazy weather, pretended it was spring and broke out of the house!)

The first weekend of the month I found these super cute kid shovels on clearance for $1.50 each and the kids were so excited about them, but incredibly bummed that there was no snow and they'd have to wait til next year. (Little did we know what would arrive just two days later!)

We kept with our General Conference tradition of cleaning the house top to bottom on Saturday morning and then decorating for Easter before settling down to enjoy the sessions together. (As always, Olivia and Caleb found quite a few ways to entertain themselves when their attention began to wander.)

We celebrated my beautiful sister Katie's 24th birthday

And then made the trek up to Logan for "Baby Animal Days" (which was so stinking fun I've decided that it will be an April tradition from now on!)

So many sweet little animals - chicks, ducks, goats, pigs, calves and ponies. Caleb was surprisingly brave about petting and holding them and Olivia was surprisingly shy! I even had to do some major talking to get her on the ponies. (If I wasn't already nervous about packing her off to a week of horse camp in July, now I am doubly so!)

And then there were the bunnies... OH HOW I LOVED THE BUNNIES!

We capped off the day with a train ride around the farm and some famous "Aggie" ice cream (never again can I eat store-bought prailines and cream!)

Touchdown!!

2011-04-27T12:06:00.000-06:00

Who knew that football for preschoolers could be such a hit? I was seriously nervous at the beginning of the month when the rec center called to tell me that the t-ball preschool clinic I thought I was signing Caleb up for... was actually a football clinic. (Yikes!) I had visions of three year old children running crazy through the gym and steamrolling over each other, but he seemed excited about it so I figured we'd give it a try and ask for a refund if my visions proved true. I'm happy to report that they didn't! This has been the perfect little introduction (just a 45 minute class one day a week) to sports for my clingy little Caleb Man and he LOVES it. Every morning he wakes up asking if it's a football day.

Lining up to run some laps

Doing some stretches

Learning the Down/Set/Hike positions

Getting the hand off

And scoring a TOUCHDOWN!

Good Bye Clean(ish) House

2011-04-15T11:30:00.000-06:00

I have tried many a different cleaning method since moving away from home for the first time.

First it was the "Ignore It Until It Can No Longer Be Ignored" method with my roommates in college. (I still have nightmares about that kitchen sink...)

When Cameron and I got married it was the "Choose One Room a Day" method which lasted for quite awhile but had two drawbacks. 1) To spend so much time cleaning a room only to turn around and witness all of the other messy rooms in the house... was kind of depressing. And 2) If we had family plans or a super busy day or plain just didn't feel like cleaning... it threw off the whole week.

Tried "Fly Lady" - great for initial organizing, but too rigid to stick to for any length of time.

And several others that just fizzled out after awhile. And really, truly (I'm ashamed to admit this) after Caleb was born and then the Primary came knocking I reverted back to the "Ignore It" method and then cleaned like a mad woman when A) we ran out of laundry/dishes or B) my visiting teachers/parents/friends were coming over.

This year I have discovered that I really, truly love and can live with (mostly) the "Saturday Marathon." On weekdays it's the bare minimum - load the dishwasher, make the beds, start (and *fingers crossed* finish) a load of laundry, sweep the kitchen when needed and have the kids keep their clutter out of the way. But on Saturdays (dahn dahn dahn...) Olivia and Caleb each have a list they must complete and a list of extras they can do for quarters while I (and Cameron when he's home) sweep/mop/scrub/vacuum/dust and organize. It takes a chunk out of our day and is a major workout (I rarely exercise on Saturdays because I'm beat by the time we're done), but we can usually be done by lunch time and then plan something fun for the afternoon.

Please don't be under the impression that this is a perfect system (many of you have seen my house on any given weekday and know that it's not!) But the Saturday Marathon at least gets us through Sunday (and really what better way to enjoy the Sabbath than relaxing with your family in a clean and peaceful house?) and lets me feel less guilty through the week when I ignore a smudge on the bathroom mirror or a splatter in the microwave or a dusty piano.

So the system has been rolling right along, the kids are earning quarters right and left and I have been basically satisfied with the state of our living situation. Until today when I looked at our calendar for May and realized that each and every Saturday is booked solid (and not with cleaning!)

May 7th - AM baby shower for a friend and then drive to Logan for my sister's college graduation/lunch.
May 14th - I GET TO SING IN THE SALT LAKE TABERNACLE WITH MY CHOIR (more info later for anyone who wants to come.)
May 21st - Olivia is performing in "Alice in Wonderland" with Up With Kids (again - more info later for anyone who wants to come.)
May 28th - Andrea/Olivia birthday celebrations galore.

I am so, so, soooooo excited about all of the above, but a little depressed that my Saturday routine is going to fall out the window. Will I be able to get back into the routine once we're through the craziness? Will my house (my family!!!) survive? Perhaps a professional cleaning job mid month is called for? (And honestly, would that not be the BEST Mother's Day gift ever?)

Question: Anyone know of any reliable and trustworthy cleaning companies/people out there that I can hire for a one time job, will do a good job and not clean out my savings while they're at it? And while we're on the subject - please feel free to share any time saving things you do in your own cleaning routines!

Good Parenting

2011-04-13T13:37:00.000-06:00

Today I perpetuated the falsehood that "Life is Fair" by driving through three different McDonald drive-throughs looking for the Rio bird on a skateboard toy. Three out of four of the kids that ate there with us today got that particular toy in their Happy Meal and guess who really, reeeeeeeeally wanted it enough that crocodile tears became involved? In exchange for the Rio bird I have bargained a wiggle free haircut out of my little man for later this afternoon.

(Look at me - I'm on a roll! In just a little under an hour I've not only skewed his view of fairness, but resorted to bribery as well!)

I think he forgives me though.

Monday, Monday...

2011-04-11T16:43:00.001-06:00

3:40 AM - Caleb wakes up crying and needs to be tucked back in.
3:50 AM - Cannot fall back asleep. (Me - not Caleb. That lucky boy drifted right back to sleep.)
4:30 AM - Still laying in bed not sleeping while thoughts of backyard projects, the never-ending to-do list, primary craziness and family stuff roll around in my head.
4:50 AM - Realize that our rec center opens up at 5:00 AM so I jump out of bed and figure I'll make use of this useless insomnia.
5:10 AM - Dressed and ready to jump in the pool when I am informed that the pool doesn't actually open until 5:30 (at this point I have already showered so I stand there in the locker room for twenty minutes, shivering, while I wait for the door to be unlocked.)
5:40 AM - The lifeguard finally comes to open the door and informs the line of swimmers that there is a problem with the pool and it is closed. (I wore flip flops not tennis shoes so I can't go do anything else while I'm there.)
6:00 AM - Stomp in the back door (can you guess how grumpy I am by this point?), write off the morning and fall back into bed. (But still can't sleep!)

Talk about a great way to start off the week!

The Tiny Ninja

2011-03-31T22:04:00.000-06:00

Today was a super hero kind of day.

We call him "The Tiny Ninja" and he is quite amazing!

He can navigate without the sense of sight

Discover the secrets of the earth

Rescue damsels (lead the way Tiny Ninja!)

Three-wheel at super sonic speeds

And converse with web footed wildlife.

The Tiny Ninja loves picnic lunches, spring afternoons and adventures at the park.

And we love him!

Nothing Runs Like a Deere!

2011-03-28T09:09:00.000-06:00

FINALLY it is done! The long awaited "John Deere Room!"

I couldn't bring myself to paint the walls a true John Deere green (a little too dark for a small room and because it would have meant getting rid of all of the cute red and blue wall art from his baby room that I am still in love with), so we went with a softer green that I hoped would be "John Deere" enough for Caleb, but still let us mix in the red and blue. (Super pleased with how it turned out - When I get tired of the tan that's in every other room of the house I just go hang out in Caleb's room to put a little color into my day.)

Found this cute clip art online and had my good friend Katie (of www.vinyldesignsbykatie.blogspot.com) create it. Caleb is in *L*O*V*E* with it!

Took down the baby pictures (sniff, sniff...), bought two $5 frames and matted two tractor pictures out of a John Deere calendar of my nephew's (thanks Wyatt man!) on white poster board that I had laying around for the new art work.

Found the John Deere road signs on sale at Hobby Lobby.

I framed a few black and white photos of Caleb and the tractors at the pumpkin patch that I took last fall. (It's hard to see unless you enlarge it, but I love the picture in the middle of him sitting on the tractor.) Opinion please: should I paint those frames white?

John Deere bedding courtesy of Grandma Carol. He saw this fleece from across the store at Joann's last fall and literally shrieked with excitement (then hugged onto the bolt of fabric and would not let go he loved it so much!)

And this little picture hanging inside the bedroom door is just for me, because I can't let my little man grow up too fast, right?

Empathy

2011-03-24T21:50:00.000-06:00

Once a month Olivia's school focuses on a different value - this month was empathy - and then at the end of the month they give out "Principal's Pride" awards to the students who have gone the extra mile in living that value. Of course there are many, many values that I hope my children will learn and live by, but my heart is extra happy today that at age seven Olivia has already begun to live by one of the tougher ones to teach.

I am so proud of this beautiful little girl and the path that she is choosing to be on!

My mom, grandma, nephew Colby and Caleb came to the assembly today and it was just such a fun afternoon! The little boys were especially cute clapping and cheering for the kids. (Look how proud Mr. Caleb is of his big sister!)

The Object Lesson

2011-03-19T12:45:00.001-06:00

Last Monday night Cameron took charge of the Family Night lesson and ran with it. He talked about Lehi and his family having to leave Jerusalem, what they were allowed to take with them, how hard it would be to leave our home and where they traveled to. Of course no decent Family Home Evening lesson is complete without an object lesson, right?

So he set up our new tent and let the kids play "camping in the wilderness" for the evening.

(Personally I think he's just very excited that we finally have a tent and wanted a chance to set it up.)

Furniture had to be moved (this thing can hold two queen sized mattresses side by side and is tall enough for Cameron to stand upright), we spent the evening tripping around the sides (because it literally took up every inch of floor space in that room) and maybe it defeated the lesson's purpose in teaching about Lehi and his family's courage in braving the wilderness because these two turkeys just had WAY too much fun.

******************

I can tell just by looking at them that visions of our upcoming spring camping trip are dancing in their heads.

(Honestly - I've got a few dancing visions of my own...) Zion National Park here we come!

6:40 PM

2011-03-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

Yup. Bedtime tonight was lots of fun.

Boy do I love the spring clock change!

This Weekend:

2011-03-02T17:17:00.004-07:00

I will break out my new quilting supplies and put them to good use.
(Thanks Carol for the early gift - I have fabulous plans!)
I will enjoy lunch out with my sweet husband and try not to think about the fact that I have been on this earth for three decades and graduated from high school twelve years ago.

I will take a trip to the nail salon with a few of my girlies and ignore the fact that my little girl is getting baptized this year and going to the same girl scout camp that I began attending twenty-one years ago.

I will get out my scissors and rip into this surprise package.
(Okay - truth be told it's not actually a surprise. I found a super deal two months ago, ordered it online and informed Cameron that my birthday present was taken care of. Proof again that I am getting old - I'm not so adamant about being surprised.)

And I will thoroughly enjoy my family dinner at my mom's house along with homemade apple pie - a dessert I have been requesting every year since my eighth birthday (doing the math....) twenty-two years ago.

That's right - I'm old enough that I have to do the math - because this weekend I hit the big THREE - OH!

Today We Had a Car Wash

2011-02-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

My Star Student

2011-02-18T13:58:00.003-07:00

Olivia was VERY excited to be the Star Student in her classroom a few weeks ago. Perks of the Star Student job include being the special helper all week, decorating and presenting a poster about yourself, and filling the estimation jar with a treat of your choice.
Her list of favorites and things she loves

Olivia doesn't often get an entire blog post all to herself, so in honor of her "Star Student" status, here goes!

*She is a read-aholic. We have to record minutes for school and this kid averages around 1500 minutes a month.
*She is saving up her allowance to go to a full week of horse camp at the Girl Scout ranch this summer. (She is very excited about being big enough to stay a full week. Her mother on the other hand is kind of a nervous wreck about it...)
*She is in a theater group called "Up With Kids" and will get to perform in "Alice in Wonderland" in May. (Ladies and Gentlemen - presenting "Pillbox" a guest at the tea party with six whole lines!)
*Still hates layered clothing, all socks, most shoes and having her hair done (had to throw in a little reality with all of my mom bragging.)
*She is the most patient 7, almost 8, year old I have ever met. Caleb thinks he is The Boss of Everything and Olivia is great at handling his not-so-polite demands/commands/orders.
*She is amazingly helpful around the house. Her resume includes emptying the dishwasher, cleaning her bathroom, organizing the toy room and dusting (actual, really good, not miss a speck, dusting!)
*Livvy Loo Hoo we LOVE you!

Still Here....

2011-02-10T08:21:00.003-07:00

No pictures to post today, but I thought I'd check in because that picture of my kids and neighbor friend standing in the snow makes me cold and it's time for an update. We are plugging right along in the Benson house. Why is it that I love my routines and schedules until January/February-ish and then it all begins to feel like one endless "Goundhog Day"? Up at the alarm, breakfast, kids ready, Livvy to the bus, exercise, jobs/errands, lunch, "quiet time" (aka: an hour of me telling Caleb to go lay back down on his blanket with his movie or books or I'm putting him in his bed, darn it!), primary stuff, chipping away at the old "To-Do" list, Livvy home, piano students, homework, dinner, family time, bedtime, fall into bed myself... all just to do it again the next day?
We do occasionally add in some excitement though. Like yesterday when Caleb and I went to the Valentines Day party for the neighborhood playgroup and I got to wonder all over again at the amazing moms I get to live by. And then later in the afternoon when a high school kid trying to earn money for prom knocked on my door and offered to take down my Christmas lights for twenty bucks. "Hallelujiah YES!" I said, because the few days Cameron has had off of work in the last six weeks or so have all been way too icy and cold to scramble around on our ridiculously steeply pitched roof. And then when my sweet husband came down with a raging case of kidney stone while at work and we spent the evening at the Insta-Care in Orem and then the pharmacy and radiology lab in Riverton trying to figure out what on earth was happening to him and then if they'd have to break it up and or just medicate him and hope for the best. (They chose the latter which I've decided is probably the best thing for our insurance/finances, but really not so fun for poor Cameron...)
From this experience I have decided a few things. A) when push comes to shove my kids really can behave themselves and be helpful and patient (Olivia and Caleb - I will remember this next time you're acting up in sacrament meeting you stinkers!) They were amazing to spend so much time driving in the car, waiting in the waiting room and then going to bed for Grandpa while I was with Cameron at the hospital. B) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Cameron's sister April (who lives in Orem and was willing to bag her evening and wag her two little ones out in the cold to take Cameron to the insta care) and Cameron's dad for coming out in the dead of night to watch my kids and put them to bed for me. And C) Maybe I don't mind my normal, routine of an evening after all.

Can Winter Please Be Over Now?

2011-02-04T16:01:00.002-07:00

These were taken back in December when the snow was white and fluffy and still a novelty. The snow is now gone, the temperature twenty degrees colder and every day after school Olivia asks when spring will be here. I concur! Bring on The Spring!

All Aboard!

2011-02-03T17:14:00.004-07:00

Last Friday Grandma Carol treated Caleb and his cousins Wyatt and Garrett to a ride on the train at South Town Mall. Trains come in at a close second to John Deere in Caleb's book, so of course this completely made his day!

Thanks Grandma, April, Wyatt and Garrett for such a fun day together!

A Day at the Spa

2011-01-26T08:35:00.002-07:00

For Daisy. Not me. Unfortunately.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

2011-01-24T11:50:00.005-07:00

Olivia dragged the box of dress ups into the living room a few nights ago while I was busy on the computer. They played soooo nicely together while I finished up some primary lists and e-mails and then the giggling started. I just had to take a break to check it out and this is what I found.

And yes, she really did pull him around the house like a good Santa's reindeer.

Checked Out!

2011-01-14T12:49:00.002-07:00

A few weeks back the kids were having a hard time settling down to bed. Cameron had just finished a four or five day stretch of work (remember he doesn't get home until around 10 PM) so it was the first night all week the kids had him around for bedtime and they were seriously wound up about it. Reading turned into wrestling, bedtime prayer turned into giggles, teeth brushing turned into a splash fight in the sink... you get the picture. I finally announced that I was checking out for the day and Daddy was in charge of bedtime. Cameron was nice enough to play along and told the kids to kiss me goodnight because mommy had checked out and was officially off the clock. A few minutes later Olivia came skidding into my room, held up her hands to stop me from speaking and blurted out "Mom - even though you're all checked out, can I still read before bedtime?"

The Daddy Sandwich

2011-01-13T21:05:00.003-07:00

Christmas Wrap Up

2011-01-08T16:24:00.003-07:00

This is the last of my Christmas catch-up posts (maybe one of these years I will actually post during the festivities instead of after.)
Olivia was up at the crack of seven (we have rising rules on Christmas morning at our house) to check out the success of her banana bread and carrot sticks.
After waiting very patiently for Caleb to wake up, helping me get breakfast in the oven and setting the table we finally let her open up her stocking.

By 8:30 Caleb was still a no-show for Christmas morning (we were all soooo sick the week of Christmas and he was needing some serious catch-up sleep) so we went ahead with breakfast (how cute are my place settings?)

Finally at 9:00 AM (even Cameron and I were impatient by this point) the Caleb Man made an appearance and the morning began!

The afternoon and evening were spent at the Bensons: Christmas brunch, movie/nap/playtime, Bingo, talking on the web cam with Cameron's brother Patrick and his family, appetizers and Christmas dinner and playing with cousins.

We finished the night with the Danish family tradition of singing carols while circling the Christmas tree, reading the Christmas story, exchanging gifts and having dessert.

Every year I am blown away all over again at how blessed we are - it was a wonderful Christmas season filled with lots of traditions and lots of family. We are so grateful for the Gospel in our lives and how we are guided and blessed through our knowledge of it.
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

You Know the Afternoon Naps are Numbered

2011-01-04T22:29:00.005-07:00

When you lay your son down in a clean room and two hours later come back to all of his favorite treasures strategically arranged around the bed. I'm pretty darn positive no sleeping takes place in this little nest of toys. Sigh....

Nine Years Ago Today...

2011-01-03T15:30:00.002-07:00

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-31T12:49:00.003-07:00

After Santa cookies and a little "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" we headed down to Grandma's house for pizza and some Christmas Eve fun.
Poor Caleb with his croupy cough and ear infection didn't last long...
But we still enjoyed jammy time by the fire listening to Perry Como Christmas songs and the Christmas story.

And then headed home for what I thought would be a
Christmas music listening,
stocking hanging,
cookie plate setting,
story book reading
kind of evening with the kiddos.

Until I pulled in the driveway
and turned around to see

sugar plums dancing!

How To Decorate Santa's Favorite Cookies

2010-12-30T13:43:00.003-07:00

Step 1: get out Grandma Rollins' cookie cutters (these things are amazing - super detailed and extra large!)
Step 2: yummy cookie dough, lots of flour and someone nice enough to help you roll it out.

Step 3: Get to work!

(Shirts are optional if you're under two and really messy...)

Step 4: egg whites + food coloring + paint brushes.

Step 5: paint your cut out cookie dough.

(add a few sprinkles if you're feeling extra adventurous!)

Step 6: bake, cool and add frosting and candy to any unpainted areas (or all areas if you're Caleb.)

Candy Houses

2010-12-30T13:32:00.002-07:00

Candy Houses at Grandma Vickie's are definitely on our Top Ten list of favorite December traditions. This year was nice for me because except for a little guidance with Caleb's house, they pretty much did their own thing and I just got to take pictures and enjoy the process.

Oh the anticipation - they were very patient waiting for everyone to arrive (and only sneaked a few pieces of candy beforehand and licked a little of the icing out of the graham cracker seams...)

They especially loved the marshmallow peeps my mom found in the shape of snowmen and Christmas trees. Adam and Ashley always contribute "Ginger Boys" from the bakery and this year they brought the super sticky, high-quality decorator's icing in the long baggies too, so none of our candy slid off the roof and everything stood up nice and straight.

Oh so proud of the finished product! (Can you tell he's partial to pretzels?)

Welcome to the The Neighborhood!!

"Hoppy" Holidays!

2010-12-21T15:14:00.001-07:00

Caleb and I had a crafty morning yesterday and made froggy beanbags for all of the little friends and teachers in our life. Super easy and super cute. (And they smell good too cuz the birdseed I bought to fill them up with ended up smelling like citrus!)

"How does a guy like Santa Claus, who's built like a dump truck, come down all those skinny little chimneys?"

2010-12-17T09:50:00.003-07:00

If you have never seen this little sixty minute Sesame Street Christmas special from 1987 you are missing out big time!
We had the audio version when I was a kid and every Christmas Eve, after an evening at my grandparents we would come home, snuggle up among a mountain of pillows and blankets on the living room floor, beg and plead with my dad to build a fire (he would eventually give in), turn out the lights and listen to this.
I've missed giggling with my brothers and sisters over this story every year and then TA-DA!!! The other day I found it on Amazon for $8.00.

And this year the tradition will be reborn!

Peace on Earth

2010-12-15T21:28:00.001-07:00

(or at least our house)
begins with Christmas jammies

We had a seriously fabulous evening tonight (no hitting or screaming and minimal whining) and it all started when they put on the jams.

Kicking Off the Holidays

2010-12-11T21:43:00.006-07:00

Every year after decorating our Christmas tree we turn off all of the lights and read this book by the light off the tree. Something about this book hits me just right and for the rest of the month I can't look at my Christmas tree without thinking of this story and all of it's symbolism. My hope is that when my children look at our Christmas tree, instead of looking down at the gifts they will first look up and think of Christ.
For our first Family Home Evening in December every year we pull out this little wooden manger and a bundle of straw.

We talk about what kind of present we could give to Christ for Christmas. And then when the kids realize that it wouldn't be possible to actually wrap up a present and give it to Him we talk about service. Our goal is to fill Christ's bed with straw before Christmas Eve - one straw for every secret service we render. The kids love it and get so excited every time they add a straw.

Shhhhhh!

2010-12-04T17:11:00.002-07:00

I'm going to let you all in on the secret to truly enjoying the Festival of Trees. Ready?

Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM.
SERIOUSLY!
Do this especially if you have little kids (especially, especially if you are planning on pushing a stroller!) Carol, April, myself and our mix of little boys (even Cameron got to tag along this year) have done this for a few years now and aside from the gorgeous trees and quilts we had a blast in the nearly deserted Kid Section.

We tried out the bubble machine,

and the fishing pond.

Made candy cane tree ornaments,

had fun cousin time

and saw Santa (to name just a few.)
It was a super fun day and no one pushed us out of the way to see a tree or blocked our stroller. We followed up our day with lunch at Chic-fil-a and were home in time for a nap!
It's just too bad we can't enjoy the lights at Temple Square mid afternoon...

Hallelujiah!

2010-12-03T19:39:00.002-07:00

Goodbye Binky!
Hallelujiah he is DONE!
(we are on day #4 and so far no kicking or screaming - I think we are officially in the clear!)

It's Tree Time!

2010-12-02T08:29:00.003-07:00

Our tree is a beast to store and haul up the stairs. It is also a pain in the rear to assemble and get all of the right cords plugged into the right places so that all of the strands will light up. This year it took extra long to get going, so by the time it was lit, fluffed and ready for decorations the kids patience had about run dry and it was an hour past their bedtime.
And let's not forget the amazing Jazz/Lakers game that happened to be on as well.
So this year did not quite fit the bill in terms of the happy, peaceful, relaxing family time it usually is. Screaming at the Jazz (Cameron) a few fights over ornaments (the kids) and just your basic late night grumpiness (me) accompanied the decorating of the tree.

But when all is said and done we sure LOVE our tree!

And I got my dose of peace and quiet last night when we had my most favorite Family Home Evening lesson of the whole year (coming soon!)

My Caleb

2010-11-26T16:37:00.003-07:00

My little Caleb loves (L-O-V-E-S!) John Deere farm equipment and any sort of construction vehicle (and apparently there isn't a soul among our family and friends who doesn't know it, judging from his birthday loot.)
He is tall and thin like Dad.
He would spend every waking minute out in the dirt if possible, but by contrast is also a huge fan of baths.
He is sweet as pie at preschool and in nursery, but plenty spicy at home! (Poor Olivia is his usual punching bag, which escalates to a time out, which escalates to a tantrum and then a heartfelt hug and apology... only to begin the cycle again.)
He is fiercely and stubbornly addicted to his binky (I know, I know - we're working on it!) and his Blue (you know, the bear/blanket thing that has been loved to pieces?)
He is fiercely and stubbornly opposed to any and all methods of potty training.
He is fun-ny! Hilarious! Cameron and I almost always have something to laugh about at night after we've put him down to bed.
For the moment (I count my lucky stars every single day that this continues) he is still napping two hours a day and sleeping eleven hours every night.
He is Cameron's little shadow. I am not allowed to pour his cereal, brush his teeth or tie his shoes if daddy is home to do it instead.
He thinks he's in charge. Of everything.
He is a jumping, rolling, tackling, spilling, digging, smiling, snuggling ball of all boy.
And the dimples (the DIMPLES!) are still awesome and melt us all.

Happy Birthday Caleb Peter - WE LOVE YOU!!

He's Three!!

2010-11-22T14:10:00.003-07:00

It was an adventurous birthday weekend for the Caleb Man.

We started it off with a haircut,

then moved onto the fire station birthday party,

a yummy lunch out

and topped it all off with a snow storm!

He was one happy camper!

On a Long and Lazy Saturday Afternoon:

2010-11-08T12:21:00.003-07:00

I added "boy dress-ups" to the birthday list

Happy Halloween!!

2010-11-01T18:29:00.007-06:00

Bless their little hearts,
my kids sure made it easy on me this year.
Behold the $5.00/20 minute costumes!

Miss Livvy the Kitty

And construction worker Caleb

Or in Caleb dialect: "a struck-shun yerker"

Trick or Treat friends!

Our Trip was Heaven!

2010-10-26T22:49:00.008-06:00

Could not have asked for a better vacation with my sweet Cameron and his wonderful parents.

Now we are home and trying to get back into the swing of things (it's been a rough week...)

I took far too many pictures and we did far too many great things to really put together a post on it all. So here's the short list:

Sleep - oh glorious, GLORIOUS sleep!

(Seriously, I got from 9 - 11 hours a night. That's like three night's worth of sleep for me when I'm at home!)

Sandy beaches, sunshine and snorkeling (a huge highlight!)

Banana Macadamia Nut pancakes

Gorgeously GREEN scenery

Pearl Harbor, the Laie Temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center

Pineapple whipped icecream at the Dole Plantation (cannot describe this dessert and do justice to it's wonderfulness!)

The most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen

and of course the sound of the ocean pounding in my ears (just thinking of that sound puts me into LaLa Land...)

A heartfelt thank you thank you THANK YOU to my amazing mom and dad, and aunt April and uncle Kevin, for helping with the house, dog and kids (and making it so darn fun they barely even missed us!) WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Kauai

2010-10-12T09:24:00.003-06:00

In the midst of fighting off a lovely little stomach bug that came my way yesterday (why oh WHY can we not all be healthy at the same time in this house?!) I will spend the next two days cleaning my house, stocking my pantry, catching up on laundry, altering a few skirts, writing out lists and instructions for grandma and aunt April, returning over-due library dvds, breaking in a new pair of hiking sandals, high-lighting in the guide-book and trying to work up some airplane courage.

At this point it's all I can do to keep my breakfast down and get Caleb out the door to preschool, plus fight off the bad mom guilt about leaving my sweet kids for an extended period, but in fifty hours we will be HERE and it will all be worth it!

A Few More of My Favorites

2010-10-06T20:38:00.006-06:00

(Sorry Mom, but I couldn't resist this one - Caleb's face just makes me toooo happy!)

The Siegel Family Tree

2010-10-04T17:16:00.005-06:00

Mom and Dad

plus sisters
and brothers

Add a few more

and then some others

and here's the whole crew

we've got quite a few!

********************************

Wheeler Farm - August 2010

Thanks Teresa!

A Good Day

2010-10-02T10:51:00.005-06:00

October General Conference is quite possibly one of my very favorite days of the whole year. Cameron had to work, but the kids and I had a whirwind cleaning party this morning and pulled out all of our autumn decorations. We finished decorating just in time for me to print out some conference activities off of The Idea Door, park the kids at the kitchen table with their crayons and activity printouts, and settle down (still in pajamas of course...) in my clean and autumn-ish living room to enjoy the morning session. Other than Cameron being gone I am love, love, loving this day!

Again?!

2010-09-28T17:17:00.003-06:00

For the second time in seven days Caleb has the stomach flu. Last week the rest of our family somehow escaped getting sick, and he got better pretty quickly. But today we were in the dollar store stocking up my piano prize bag when he suddenly went completely white and... well, you know the rest. It was a sad, sad afternoon for the Caleb Man.

For Andrea (who was also there!)

2010-09-24T19:15:00.004-06:00

This is my gorgeous littlest sis Andrea - my car support partner in crime.

Thank you Annie for making awesome road trip mixes, filling the water bottles, keeping me awake, buying me a snickers bar and smothering my kiddos with love. They love you lots and lots!

(And so do I!)

Good Ol' Jackson Hole

2010-09-22T13:10:00.003-06:00

We love, love, LOVE our annual trip to Jackson Hole! Despite the rough start to the weekend, we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it - watching movies, eating yummy food, playing games, enjoying the gorgeous views, throwing rocks in the river, playing at the park and wandering through the town.

As of Yesterday...

2010-09-20T17:45:00.000-06:00

THE PRIMARY PROGRAM IS A WRAP!

The Race

2010-09-20T17:13:00.002-06:00

This year's Lotoja did not go exactly as planned. Which was too bad because Cameron had trained extra hard for it this year and was all geared up to shave an hour off his time.

Since I was car support this year I got to see him at the start line (something I've never been able to do before.) It was crazy and very cool to see all of those riders taking off.
Feed Zone 3 in Montpelier, Idaho (around eighty miles into the race.)

On the road between Afton, Wyoming and Alpine, Wyoming. This was right after I missed him at the feed zone in Afton (thank you long and winding traffic jam!) and the beginning of the end when his stomach began to rebel against the unfamiliar food he ate at the neutral feed zone because he couldn't find me. (Dang traffic jam!!)

Last stop for the car support in Alpine before the riders go up and over the mountain into Jackson Hole (around 170 miles into the race.)

This is where I left him and headed up to the finish line (where I got a call from Lotoja support in the canyon telling me Cameron couldn't stop throwing up.) At one-hundred and eighty miles into the race (with a measly twenty-six left to go!) his body just wouldn't put up with it anymore. Kind of a stinky end to something he devotes himself to training so hard for each year, but I am SO PROUD of him!

Now that I've actually seen a good portion of the race course first hand I cannot even begin to FATHOM how he does this!

(I can barely make it the mile and a half up the hill into Herriman and back on my bike!)

Here's to next year my sweet!

(I promise to drive faster!)

Ready, Set, Go!

2010-09-14T21:18:00.004-06:00

I think I have another cyclist in the making.

Every time Cameron headed out for a ride this summer Caleb would ask to come along.

"Daddy I come with you on mine bike pleeeease?"

So last week they both put on their sunglasses, filled up their water bottles and headed off down the street.
There go my boys...

Weed #1 and Weed #2

2010-09-02T15:31:00.004-06:00

They are growing too, too fast!!

(Like weeds!!)

I still can't believe this one is in the second grade.

And THIS one!

The one I was counting on to remain a baby when the big one shot up like a weed and trotted off to make decisions and have adventures and overcome peer pressure, etc etc....
is now sleeping in a BIG BOY BED!
He wouldn't even do me the courtesy of being even a tiny little bit reluctant about it!
Not that I'm complaining about his tendency for eleven uninterrupted hours at night and two hours in the afternoon... but a little extra snuggling at night would have been appreciated.
Pleeeeeease???

One Last Hurrah!

2010-08-31T21:45:00.002-06:00

Despite the very autumn-ish weather on Monday we decided to indulge in one last burst of spontaneity and head up to Strawberry Reservoir. When Livvy walked in the door from school we threw a picnic dinner, the fishing gear, both kids and Olivia's homework into the car and took off up Provo Canyon. The scenery was gorgeous, and even though it was a long drive, the kids did great and we had a fun little evening.

We started out picnicing on the shore while Cameron got the fishing poles all set up, but it was WINDY and our plates kept blowing away.
So I backed up the van, popped the trunk, and tucked the kids and their dinner into our makeshift wind shelter.

We never did end up catching any fish, but they both had a great time watching the birds, throwing rocks and running around in the wind.

Ready, Set, GO!

2010-08-25T15:01:00.004-06:00

This is it - Olivia's last day of summer before starting second grade. (WHAT?! Second grade?!) I took a moment to lament her growing up so fast this morning (but just a small one) and then we hurried to do our jobs and piano practicing so that we could go see Shrek in the dollar theatre this afternoon. (It was just "eh" but the kids seemed to like it and I had Caleb shoulder deep in the bucket of popcorn sitting next to me for my own entertainment. Seriously, there is nothing funnier than that dimpled little man grinning and bouncing along to the music with a mouthful of popcorn...) But I digress.

Dear Olivia - I love you and hope you

have a most excellent year!

I hope you will ignore the kid who

so helpfully pointed out

that your teacher is "a big meany."

I also hope that you don't mind being

in the 95% in height

and towering over one and all

(stand tall kid - one of these days

they'll catch up!)

And I hope that I'm not too

utterly embarassing to have around.

Because until you tell me not to

I will continue to be

the holiday-mom

or the spelling-mom

or the whatever-your-teacher-asks-me-to-be-mom

every single year.

(Just to catch a glimpse of that sweet face of yours!)

Love your Mom

Music Anyone?

2010-08-17T12:13:00.002-06:00

This is for the locals. I'm starting up my music classes again this fall. Last year I taught with the Musikgarten program, but it is expensive to maintain a license with them, and I found myself coming up with a lot of my own stuff to supplement a curriculum I wasn't super crazy about.

So... this year it's all my own and I am so excited! If you know anyone in the Riverton/surrounding areas who would be interested in this, please pass it along.

And wish me luck!

The Countdown

2010-08-11T12:43:00.003-06:00

Only FIFTEEN MORE DAYS until Olivia goes back to school. (And she is definitely as ready as I am!) I need structure to survive and Olivia going to school forces me to stick to it. Also - she is sick and tired of me and Caleb all the live long day. I can totally tell. Eye rolling has increased, as well as the begging for TV or friends. My Summer Stations have lost their appeal and she only grudgingly wanders into the kitchen for craft time. It's the beginning of the end... friends are more exciting than anything I can concoct at home... :(

Horseshoes

2010-08-10T13:39:00.002-06:00

Is Horseshoes an Olympic event? I don't know. But if it is, ladies and gentlemen, we have a future gold medalist on our hands.

My little man threw nine horseshoes at our little family reunion last week and did not miss a single one!

He was quite pleased.