Big Boy Benji

Benji boy is getting bigger and more fun. He loves being outside, being read too(he'll pick out a book and crawl into our laps), coloring(he's going to be the kids who writes on the walls), playing football with dad and getting into sister's stuff.

He also got his first haircut. Bye-bye wispy mullet! If you had curls I would have kept you.
BEFORE: (He's reaching for the clipper)

Adam and I did the cut, using clippers and then scissors, distracting him with dark chocolate M&M's. It's not professional but so darn cute!
AFTER: (He's reaching for more M&M's)

He seems to like it!

Merry Christmas Mood

I'm very anti-Christmas before Thanksgiving, but the day after I'm ready to get started and this year I was very ready. We got a tree before December, hung our lights, put out my nativity scene, decorated the house and have been playing Christmas music since. As you can see we had to "elevate" our tree this year because of Mr. Grabbers. It's working out nicely.

I started baking up a storm and making peppermint bark. I love giving away treats or bringing them to work during the holidays. We started December off with a family night reading the Christmas story and then we made a service tree. We have a mini Christmas tree(I'm talking 10 inches tall) and every time we serve someone (family or not) we put an ornament on the tree. Our goal is to have it decorated by Christmas. We feel so blessed in our family to have what we need and hope we can share the true spirit of Christmas with others. Merry Christmas to all! Don't be alarmed when you don't get a Christmas letter from us. We are sending a New Years letter this year.

Thanksgiving Was Last Month

Yes, I know, but I'm behind again as usual. Thanksgiving was delightful, except for the lack of sleep I got (I'll explain). We went to the same hotel we go to with Adam's family every year. This year we had about 40 people. I hardly got to have a full conversation with anyone because we were trying to socialize with everyone. Of course I was so busy doing that, chasing after Benjamin and scolding Olivia for riding up the elevator alone, that I didn't get any pictures. After everyone left we stayed the night at the hotel. Normally we would drive back home, but that always stinks because we are full and lethargic and who wants to drive for two hours feeling like that. Adam's mom generously got us a room. So we hit the pool and then planned to order in some of our favorite pizza but it was closed so we ended up with Mickey D's. Benjamin had a cold and was really snotty and he never sleeps well when we travel anyway, so he ended up in bed with us and I CANNOT sleep with a baby in my bed! So I tried sleeping with Olivia on the hide-a-bed. She elbowed, kicked and scratched me numerous times during the night. Needless to say I got less than three hours of good shut-eye. The breakfast buffet was even better than the Thanksgiving buffet. We then drove to the Marin Headlands and went on a great little hike. It was cool and a little misty. The hike was around a lagoon and went down to the beach and back. It was quite enjoyable. While we were on the beach we witnessed something pretty scary and I shudder to think what could have happened. The picture of Olivia below standing next to the log on the beach is where it happened. About a minute after this picture was taken Olivia hopped up on the 20 ft log and was kind of balancing on it. On the other end of the log were two men and two boys. Olivia jumped off the log and started walking toward us. All of a sudden Adam said "watch out". Out of nowhere this rogue wave headed up the beach, we are far enough away to take a few steps back and nothing more and Olivia ran up to us. The guys on the log however weren't so lucky. One man jumped off and picked the smaller of the boys up as the wave crashed into them. They were clear of the log and stayed upright, only getting wet. The other man had also cleared himself from the log and got wet but the other boy jumped off the log with his back toward the ocean just as the wave crashed into it. The force of the water and the log knocked him face down in the sand and water covered him and the log rolled completely over him. Luckily the log didn't rest on top of him when the water receded. The other man ran and helped him get out of the wet sand and as his face got above the water and sand he was spitting mouth fulls of sand out. Of course he was screaming bloody murder. It all happened so fast. The boy ended up being OK, although undoubtedly scared witless and completely soaked with freezing water, we could hear him crying two hundred yards away. Scary and I'm glad it wasn't us! When we got back to the car we had a little snack, Benji loves bananas!

After the hike we saw Adam's sister Amy and family for a couple of hours and then stayed the night at his brothers family's house. We ate yummy ribs and had an outdoor fire before the night was over. Benji was even sicker and the same scenario happened again, only this time Adam was the one who didn't get any sleep, and actually ended up with him in the car at 4:30 am sleeping in a parking lot of a restaurant. Poor guy. The next morning we got up and I went with my sister-in-law, Shelby, to her Pilates studio and did a class. I've never done pilates before but I loved it. It was all about flexibility and strength and core and totally relaxing in a hard way. Then I helped her pick out her Christmas tree (which got me in the mood to get one of our own sooner than planned). Before we headed back home we had lunch with Adam's mom. It was a fun family weekend, but I need a nap!

Thankful All Month Long

Like many of my blog followers I try to be thankful all month long. Some people blog (nearly) everyday about what they are thankful for. I'm not that ambitious but I consciously make an effort to examine the blessings in my life and express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father and others who have blessed my life (husband, kids, parents, etc.).

Of course, we all look forward to eating the delectable delights of the season (myself included). However, I venture to say that we all end up over stuffed and mildly regretful after it too. I find that it is because I love everything. I want to have some of everything and it's so good I want seconds, and sometimes thirds. Then by the end I'm sick and sick of it. No more! For the last five years Adam and I have been having Thanksgiving with his family and since his family is so large we have it at a hotel, catered. It is nice to see everyone in one sitting and no one has to stress cooking or cleaning. It's definitely not home cooking, but it's good. Actually I usually find a dish that is completely non-Thanksgiving and that is what I eat more of. But, I still love the Thanksgiving food. In the past I've just done my own Thanksgiving on a Sunday before or after Thanksgiving, but I still end up in the same dilemma of too much food! So last year and this year I started doing my own Thanksgiving cooking in stages or zones or whatever you what to call it. What I mean is, every week I choose one pie to make and/or one main dish and one side dish to make. For example, three weeks ago I made pecan pie and ham and candied yams. I don't make a ton of food so I'm not swimming in leftovers. Two weeks ago I made a coconut cream pie(real, not from a box). Last week I made turkey, pan gravy and dressing and real cranberry sauce (not from a can)and real pumpkin pie(also not from a can). I was never overwhelmed with cooking and I didn't over stuff myself and I got to eat and enjoy all my Thanksgiving foods throughout the month. Novel idea? I think I'm going to make this a permanent thing. Of course, "Thanksgiving isn't here yet" you say, ahh, but I plan on eating crab claws anyway.

Soccer and Nutrition

This is Olivia's first year playing soccer. We decided not to do fall swimming since it was always at dinner time and it was a pretty big commitment. She has enjoyed being on a team and "playing" with her friends. She doesn't quite get the game, besides get the ball in the goal, but that's normal for her age. It is kind of fun, but sometimes really painful to watch the kids scrambling on the field since Adam and I are athletic and a little competitive. It has also been hard to give up two hours on a Saturday for soccer, but as our family grows and gets older it's just part of life. I don't mean to complain more but the other thing I don't like about soccer is the snacks. The kids play four-ten minute quarters and someone is assigned a half-time snack and a post-game snack. I'm sorry, but I'm sort-of opinionated about my children's eating habits. I'm particular about what and when they eat and I don't like the idea of my kid munching on snacks during and after "exercise". My personal opinion is that kids eat way too many snacks and get too little exercise already. While a little fruit after the game I think would be appropriate, it usually is fruit at half-time, and some sort of goody(cupcakes, donuts, etc) and a juice box after the game. High sugar and fat and no protein is not my idea of great nutrition. So, on my snack day I brought watermelon for half-time and then low-fat blueberry muffins I made and bottled water (not a bottled water fan either-don't get me started-but better than juice). Anyway, my two cents.

Benji did not enjoy the game!

Happy Halloween!

The Trunk-or-Treat at our ward is pretty good, so we enjoyed that Friday before Halloween this year. Chili and cornbread is served, the YM put on a pretty good haunted house, there are crafts and games for the kids, including a cake walk, a costume parade and then the trunk or treat. It's a great way to get a ton of candy (just what my kids need) without a lot of effort. Halloween consisted of take out pizza and hanging out at a some friend's house and taking the kids around the block to trick-or-treat. I think the kids had fun and it's always fun to socialize with other adults. Olivia was a black cat and Benjamin was a minion(from Despicable Me). Olivia got her costume from my sister-in-law and I just added a tail and a painted face. Easy! Benjamin's was pretty simple too. Thrift store overalls, a long sleeve T-shift and I made his little safety-glass/eye-ball. My friend made the hat out of some fleece I bought. He sounds just like a minion too, with the way he jabbers. Very cute, I think.

Daddy Daughter Date

For Young Women's we did a Daddy-daughter date dinner and games for mutual one night. Olivia wanted to go but instead Adam and Olivia went on their very own date. They went to dinner at In-N-Out and a movie. She was very cute and so excited to get dressed up like Mom and wear make-up. They had a great time!

Pumpkin Patch

All the things I love about fall found in this one place: pumpkins, squash, caramel apples, train rides through a farm, corn mazes, farm animals, cooler weather.

Our Last Race

Adam and I completed our last half marathon Oct 8. It was up in Susanville, CA, where I have an Auntie. It was such a gorgeous race. Only 185 people ran it. It was a cold start at 9am at 55oo feet. We ran on an old railroad, turned trail, that went through small canyons, by a river, occasionally looking over in valleys. Just beautiful. Neither of us trained for this race. We were still working out and running some, but no distances over 5 mile. I actually think that is the key, because I had no IT band problems this time and I felt much more fit and I ran sub-10 minute miles. It was a quiet race too. There were a couple of miles when I didn't pass or get passed by anyone. Only the sound of wind through the trees, the river and my feet. Actually, I only heard those things when my ipod battery died(at first a tragedy) and I actually enjoyed it. Who needs music to distract you when nature can do it? Adam did great as well, beating his other two times. We were wicked sore the next two days, but I love that kind of soreness. As for our last half marathon, I'm not sure that will be the case, but it will be for a while.

Benji turns 1

Our little guy is one year old. How fast the time has flown! I had him on conference Sunday last year and this year we went to Conference on Sunday and he turned one on the road home. We had a little party at my grandparents before we left. I made him an adorable "minion" cake, but he wasn't too interested in it. He loves the balls we got him and loves to play catch and "tackle" football with daddy. I got him the vacuum because he loves the real one, but hasn't really liked the toy(don't let the picture fool you). He can't pick it up and throw it. At his one year appt the other day he grew three inches and only gained three and a half pounds since he was 6 months old, so he's a little lagging on the growth curve. We aren't too worried considering his appetite is pretty good. He loves just about all we give him but cheese, carrots, beans, pasta and chicken seem to be his favorites. He just runs non-stop all day, with only two very short naps. He does go down great at night and sleeps through it(Yeah!). His vocabulary is taking off. We are trying to do a small amount of sign language with him, but it is hard to be consistent. So far he can make the sign for milk and more. He can say Dada, Mum, Sis, nana (for banana), hot, baa(bath), nu(no), and sus(shoes). He has a very sweet temperment most of the time, but is learning how to be disaggreeable and even occasionally throw a mini tantrum. He adores his Mommy and always wants her when she's home, but Dad and he are best of pals, and is usually the one who can get him down for a nap. He is very affectionate and gives hugs randomly and on demand. Olivia and he can be a little jealous of each other and sharing Mom and Dad has been hard, especially for her. He is such a joy to our family. We love him! Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Our Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: UTAH!

It's been about 4 years since we've been to Utah. Adam has no family there. I have grandparents and aunts and uncles there, but since my parents live so far away now, trips to Utah just don't seem to fit into our vacations. We decided to take a quick one out there for conference, see my brother Jared who got back from his mission two weeks before he started back at the Y, and to see my grandparents too. We took Olivia out of school for a few days and left Wednesday evening. We thought we'd be geniuses and drive out overnight while the kids slept, but that didn't work out well. One, I don't sleep anywhere except a bed (my bed preferably), so sleeping in the car was not on my agenda. And two, Adam randomly stopped for a pack of bubble gum (after we'd stopped an hour before) and the kids both woke up. Benjamin didn't go back to sleep for three hours and Olivia didn't go back to sleep the rest of the drive. Neither Adam or I slept a wink, so when we pulled into SLC at 7:30am we were both red eyed. We ate breakfast at a cafe that was about one step below Denny's and then went to my Aunt Marde's for some R&R before we headed out to Temple Square. Adam got about three hours of sleep, but Benjamin wouldn't nap and I only ended up with one hour of sleep. Nonetheless, we were determined to go see Temple Square before conference. We ate at Cafe Rio first-I had the best taco's I've had in ages there. The weather was nice, low 80's and parking and the drive was easy. We saw most of what we wanted to see, but not as much as we would have if we didn't have kids. Olivia really enjoyed seeing everything and didn't complain about all the walking. The grounds are so beautiful there and the temple really is an amazing piece of work.

That evening we went back to my Aunt Marde's. Olivia fell asleep in the car, with her head dangling forward off the seat(She didn't nap at all that day.) We put her to bed at 6pm and She didn't get up til the next morning. Adam, Benjamin and I ate some yummy garden fresh food at dinner, played a couple of games and hit the sack and I think I got the best night of sleep in days and for the whole trip.

Benji loves his veggies!

We drove down to Provo to see my grandparents (Dad's side). They have aged so much since we've seen them, but still seem to be in such good health. My grandmother is now blind and has a hard time getting around the house she's lived in since my dad was a kid. Grandpa helps take good care of her. After unloading and having lunch we headed to the campus with my brother. It was so fun to see him. Olivia remembers him well from before he left and she always adored him. When she heard his voice she ran and jumped into his arms and couldn't have hugged him tighter. So cute! He brought us some cool gifts from Chile, and an interesting one for Adam. I'll post it sometime. Of course, on campus, we all had to get some Y gear and a snack from the Cougar Eat. Then we went to the Bean museum. Benjamin developed a fever and was pretty out of it in the stroller (poor baby). Then we went back and enjoyed watching the stellar win the Cougar's had over Utah State, much to my husband's and Grandpa's pleasure. My cousin Rachel came by with her girls and they just had a blast playing together. On Saturday Adam and I went for a run to the Provo Temple and back (totally winded from the altitude). We did our best to listen to conference (it's hard when you have rug rats). Benji seemed to be better despite running a fever overnight. We enjoyed playing in their back yard under the shade of their aspen tree and searching for goodies in the garden. We went for a quick jaunt up to Bridal Veil Falls, where Olivia promptly became soaking wet playing in the water. Back at my grandparents, after dinner we had a little birthday party for Benjamin (another post) before the boys all went to the priesthood session of conference. My cousin came by again and the girls took a dip in the hot tub (I forgot my suit-I never forget my suit!) It was so great to see my grandparents. It had been too long, but it was nice thinking about all the fun we had as kids with them. Even though they are not as spry as they once were they still helped us have a great time and of course were brave and generous to let us stay at their house with kids. Benjamin didn't cause too much trouble and I think Olivia was polite as she can be. Hopefully we'll get asked back someday.

On Sunday we left in the morning to make it to the Sunday afternoon session of conference. It was a little bit of a struggle because of parking and bathroom and eating lunch issues. Then we found out that kids under eight can't go in. I figured they couldn't go and sit, but I thought maybe someone could stay with kids in the hall if necessary, but no. I was actually pretty mad. So, Adam has been to a session of conference before so he took Benjamin down to the theatre to watch it and Jared and I snuck Olivia in. Well, she looks eight so it was no trouble. Let me tell you. It is a magnificent venue. It's huge and beautiful. But also let me tell you conference is way more fun when you are watching it from the comfort of your own home. It was super cold in there. You can't get out of your seat because it is a big disturbance. There are no water fountains anywhere. Plus, there were all these dating couples and newlyweds that kept clinging to each other and one couple sitting in front of us kept kissing, not just pecks, but one step down from making out. I wanted to smack them on the back of the head and say "I don't even want to know what you guys are doing when you are alone." Anyway, while I'm glad to say I've gone to a session, I'd still rather watch at home.

We changed after conference, said good-bye to Jared and then headed back to Cali. We stopped in Wendover for dinner and a hotel in Elko and finished the drive the next day, so glad to be back home. Tired, but also glad we got that one under our belt.