HAPPY!

Bentley reminded me we needed to say a prayer before lunch today by folding her arms, squinting her eyes, and smiling big until I noticed.  I helped her "say" a prayer in which she said "juice" "dada" and "HAPPY!" I don't know where the last one came from, but it got me thinking.....

I'm so happy!  I'm happy to have a great husband and a daughter that our whole world revolves around.   There is so much sadness and craziness going on all over and today I have been reminded what matters most.  These two!

I couldn't get any luckier:) I'm so grateful for every moment Heavenly Father gives me with my little rambunctious, snack-loving, alphabet singing, hip shaking, blue eyed, mess making almost 2 year old! 

Home

Back in March, Bentley and I went home to Rigby for a week.  It was so nice to spend time with family and just be with other people, during tax season I feel like a single parent and Bentley misses her daddy so much.  She was so much happier there during that week and it made me even more glad we went.  It helped us get through the last few weeks of not having our husband/dad.  I'm so grateful for him.  I'm even more grateful for those of you whose husbands leave for months/year(s) at a time for the military...I don't know how you do it.  While we were home we spent alot of time with grandparents, which Bentley loves.  She can't get enough of both sets she has.  

After church she took off her dress and headed outside with grandpa Schaat.  She wasn't even wearing shoes and she loved it.  She was out there with him for quite a while.  She was loving it! 

Franky Lou!!! Used to be our dog....now they keep him.  Miss him.

Bentley also had her first big "Owee." She tripped and hit her head on the corner of some trim around a bench at my moms.  Blood was everywhere!  It was so sad, she cried for a long time.  The pictures dont do it justice.  It's still healing right now, and I'm pretty sure she'll have a scar.  Bummer.  

Gpa Hymas took her on a bike ride...which she loves. He was also the first person she'd go looking for in the mornings.  She calls her grandpas "papa."

Ate plenty of cookies...

Got to play with her cousin Jersey! Bentley calls her "Jers"

and ride an alligator.

She did great on the ride over/back.  As long as she has a necklace, blankie and some snacks she'll do just about anything:) 

Chocolate Pudding

Bentley had chocolate pudding for the first time a while ago.  She was eating it so good with her spoon that she's so proud of herself with.  For a minute.  I folded some laundry with her right behind me eating her pudding.  I turned around to a kid I didn't even recognize.  HAHA.  So funny....she loved it.  Obviously.

Love her.

26 Things Schaat

No, no, the title of this post is not meant to be taken literally;).

Waaaay back in February,  Travis turned 26.  TWENTY-SIX people!  He is officially closer to 30 than 20.  I, on the other hand, am very much closer to 20.....for one more month:)  I actually think I'm closer to pulling my hair out one strand at a time due to tax season making a widow out of me, but thats another post.  And since I am one of the few people who actually call him Travis (I made that transition sometime while dating) Here's to you, SCHAAT! 

26 Things Schaat

1. He hates tomatoes and mushrooms.

2. Loves Code Red Mountain Dew

3. He likes his socks just barely folded together. (I became aware of this after he asked WHY I had to roll them into a ball)

4. My flat iron drives him crazy (Doesn't get why I don't put it RIGHT away...needs to cool off duh)

5. He works soooo hard. (Note:me ready to pull my hair out)

6. He is very driven, and VERY smart. 

7. He turns up the heat. (says its for Bentley) I turn it down.

8. An English accent surfaces when he talks to people from his mission. (I love it)

9. Grilled Cheese is one of his favorite meals.

10.  KU bball holds a dear spot in his heart. (Seriously, he can't even watch from the couch. Has to sit indian style on the floor in front of the TV)

11. As does Boise State Football

12. He is pretty clean/organized (NOT his car)

13. He is a great Dad.

14. He can impersonate a black woman like nobody's business.

15. He is super competitive. (So am I, but no need for cheating is there?)

16.  He is my "perfect height" - 6'4"

17.  He is the best deal finder. EVER. Just ask his friends.

18. Numbers, numbers, numbers.  (We have spreadsheets for about everything.)

19.  He has a lot of people who look up to him.

20. He is an amazing basketball player. 

21. Has dislocated his left arm 4 times in about 2 years.  

22. He sometimes tries things he shouldn't....

23. He has broke both arms, one of them twice. Sliced his knee open, cut off his fingers, had knee surgery, and many, many other things! Pray for our children.

24. Is asleep before he lays down. (Pretty Annoying)

25. Has the best wife EVER 

and last but not least....

26. He's a great kisser:)

Here's a couple pics from his birthday:

He was having Bentley blow out his candles.  So funny.  Happy Birthday Travis, we love you so much!! 

Cruise Part 2

First stop was Ensenada, Mexico. 

Not the most beautiful place on earth, but we had a great time!  Rented four wheelers and drove on the Mexican highway for soooooooooooo long to get to La Bufadora.  A Blowhole.  Seriously we were wondering where our guide (who spoke ZERO english) was taking us.  We finally got there and it was pretty cool!!! I don't have a pic, but they were selling stuff like crazy, and we picked up some of our favorite quotes of the trip here from the locals:).  They would always yell "NADA NADA ENSENADA!!" HAHA. The best part were all the free, non-alcoholic (we were told) pina colada samples!

The blowhole...pretty sweet.

This was actually before while we were waiting to get off the ship.  Travis is keepin it gangsta....obviously. 

Steve ridin dirty.

The whole crew

Please notice the "Prohibit....insert Spanish ending". We saw this on our way  back to the ship, which was another journey in and of itself.  Travis got sooooo sunburned this day because it wasn't that warm, and none of us felt like we were getting lots of sun. WRONG.  Four wheeling at the beach, Travis tried to literally climb a steep hill with me on the back, even after I was yelling at him it wouldn't work.  Well I had to bail, and didn't get back on:) Us girls watched our men ride (get stuck) to their hearts desire, until it was time to board the ship.  

The only thing I'm leaving out is that Steve and I were both by stung by a Mexican Meanie.  Know what that is? Us either, hence the name.  Didn't see the stupid thing, just felt it as were were driving on the highway. OUCH.  My skin is lighter where I got stung.....still.  Steve's isn't.  Perfect!  Anyway so much fun, I'm ready to go on another vacation yesterday! And this was only our first stop!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am counting my blessings, for many reasons.  I'm especially grateful for my little girl and the happiness that she brings me!  Already today she has....

Somehow peed on her cute Valentine's jammies, so I put her into the tub.

Where she pulled her towel into the tub with her before I could grab it.  

She is always trying to climb into the dryer when I take clothes out of it, so this morning I just put her in there.  She loved it for about 1 minute, then got scared:)

It's hard for me to believe that this was Bentley last year at this time. She has grown and changed so much since then!! My niece Karli was here with her basketball team for state....and she will be here again tomorrow!!  

I hope you enjoy your loved ones today.  I know I will.
Happy Valentine's Day! 

Cruise Part 1

Back in October, we went on a cruise with some of our friends.  We had a blast!!!  It was really hard to leave Bentley, I thought about her the whole time but not so much that I couldn't enjoy myself:)!  The last day or two Travis and I were more than ready to see her!  She was in good hands, and had fun while we were gone.  

We flew from IF to Cali, with the Abrams' and the Dutcher's.  Let the party begin....which is exactly what we did!!  Everyone else came from other places and we met them on the ship.  First things first.....a mini golf competition while we were still in L.A.  

Anderson's/Rodriguez's

Dutcher's/Abrams'

The Champions. Of course. ;)

Our Ship

Us acting like mature, responsible adults with kids at home. (Dutchers were prego in this pic, now they have cute little Lincoln!)

And us acting like we did......pretty much the whole trip! Such a fun group!  

We were just getting started!!