Ben-tee

Bentli at 2 yrs old. Just a sweet sweet face!

Ben-tee. That is what we heard constantly from Tate up until about a year ago. He can now pronounce Bentli's name correctly, and that is the name ringing throughout our house. Ben-tee has stuck though, and we love to affectionately call her Ben-tee every now and then. As I sit down to write this post to Bentli, I'm a little unsure of how to phrase things. I don't want you all to think that I am one of those moms. You know, one of those mothers who think that their child is the most amazing, smartest, cutest kid around. But, lets face it, I am one of those moms. Because I do have the most amazing, smartest, cutest kid!

I have to be one of the most blessed mothers. Bentli is the best big sister. I have seen the 'mama-bear' in Bentli come out when her little brother was being picked on. A little part of me wanted to help calm her down and teach her a rational way to solve the problem. But honestly, most of me was just so proud of her. So proud that she would stop her own game and jump in to help her brother, that she viciously came to his protection. She loves her little brother, she spoils him more than I do, she's always picking up his toys for him.

Bentli loves to draw, she is our artist. Give her a sketch pad and pencil or markers, she will be entertained for hours. I don't know where she got it from, but I love it! She is a wonderful reader. She has taken to it so well. I feel a little bit like a fake because we really didn't have to do much for her to learn. We have started her on chapter books now and she is currently reading the "Junie B. Jones" series. She is a wiz at scripture and article of faith memorization in church. One morning I woke up to hearing Bentli teaching Tate the 2nd article of faith in their bedroom.

Bentli loves clothes, shoes, fashion, she is a true girlie girl! And she has the sass to go with the outfit. We have already had a first 'crush'. I can't believe we are entering this stage so soon! What am I going to do?! I have a feeling that the teen years are going to give me and Jared a wild ride. I'm trying to keep her from growing up too fast. Speaking of growing up, we found her first loose tooth this morning! She is pretty excited.

Most importantly, Bentli is sweet and kind. She cares about other people's feelings, that alone makes me so proud of the girl she is growing into. Bentli knows how to love people. She loves her family and she adores her younger brother and sister. I can't even begin to write about how much I love her, about how much she has enriched my life. How can I be so lucky?!

Lucky Birthday #6

St. Patty's Day is always great fun at our house. Doubly so, because our Bentli was born on this lucky day! I can't believe she is six already. She has been waiting for the the big '6' for awhile now. Since she turned 4, she talked constantly about turning the big amazing age of 6. We had a lot of fun that day. I normally make a big green breakfast for St Patty's Day, but I made a big breakfast the day before, so we hit Micky-D's. They were pretty pumped to go out for breakfast. We came home and opened presents. She got lots of fun gifts, spoiled girl!




Springfield township has a huge St. Patty's Day parade. It was CrAzY! There were people everywhere! But it was lots of fun, lots of green and fun Irish music.

This year we cut out the big parties. As much as I love getting together with friends on these special days, it was getting to be just too much. Growing up, I loved having small family parties. Plus, my kids were getting too spoiled and expecting too much. Bentli did invite one friend over to have dinner and cake with us. We were very glad Ashley could come and celebrate with us!

Bentli's birthday dinner consisted of chicken pillows (chicken roll-ups), corn on the cob, and green milk.

I like to make fun cakes for their birthdays. This year, I sat Bentli down and we scrolled pinterest to find a fun cake. Her decision: one with tall candles. Really? Nice and easy! I decided to dress it up with a banner. I used a recipe for a key lime cake with key lime cream cheese frosting. The frosting was awesome, the cake was okay. Bentli was happy with it.



We all had a fun day celebrating this big day with Bentli. She is one amazing girl, we are so blessed to have her in our family!

11 Things

I've been tagged! Thanks Bridgette! This is the first time I've ever been tagged, so I thought- 'why not'. I need to post pics from Bentli's birthday weekend, but since those are sitting on the camera right now and would require me to actually stand up to go get them, I think I will do the tag tonight ;) So here goes:

Game Rules:
1. post these rules.
2. post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them
5. go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them

*Picture from 2 yrs ago in Hershey PA

11 Random Things about Me:

1. I love tennis. I never picked up a racket until I met Jared and I am now hooked on it, watch it, play it, whatever!
2. In high school I was very self-conscious about my height (I'm 5' 10") and wouldn't wear heels. Now I don't care and will sport the heels, sometimes towering over 6 feet, I'm a bit of a gommer.
3. I have a shoe addiction. I love pretty shoes. I never have enough. I love love love DSW's clearance racks!
4. I come from a big family. I am the 3rd child of 8, I am the oldest girl and love each and every sibling of mine! I love my husband and children fiercely too! My family is the reason for all I do.
5. I am a huge clutz! My husband laughs at me all the time because I am always stubbing my toe, hitting an elbow, knocking my head on things.
6. I miss Teagan everyday. I don't really like this new me, but I am learning my new normal and trying to become the best I can be.
7. I love the book Pride and Prejudice. There is just something about Lizzy and Darcy.
8. I love planting my flower garden. I dug up a hill in our yard and made a flower bed last year and I am getting so excited to plant the bulbs this week. Last year, it was mostly Dahlias, this year I'm throwing some other ones in the mix too.
9. I taught myself to crochet while in college. I picked it up so my hands would be busy while I watched t.v. at night so I couldn't eat and watch t.v. Last year I started picking up on knitting too.
10. I got so far behind scrapbooking that I gave up. I don't even attempt anymore. I just do the photo books now... and I'm behind on those- crap!
11. Feet kind of gross me out. Jared is in podiatry school, but I can't handle feet. Unless they are baby feet, those are cute.

11 Questions from Brigette

1. What is one thing you wish you could do but havent yet?
I wish I could sing. I am horrible, like my kids tell me to stop singing... unfortunately I don't think this will ever change- its genetic, the rest of my family can't sing either.
2. What is your favorite food?
I'm from Idaho- I love potatoes! Mashed, twiced baked, cheesy, french fried...
3. What is your biggest fear?
Jared or any more of my children dieing, it literally gives me a panic attack thinking about it.
4. What is one thing in life that you regret having done or not done?
Not practicing the piano more, I wish I could play better than I do.
5. What is your dream job?
I would like to be a counselor. I know it is a hard job, but I would like to help people.
6. What is your favorite season?
Spring! I love when it starts to warm up and I can open my windows and enjoy the breeze
7. How do you like to spend your free time?
I love to read, sew, and play with my kids.
8. Who do you wish you could meet?
This is a hard one! I really don't know.
9. If you could have only 1 thing in the world what would it be?
My family, as long as I have them, that's all I need.
10. Where is your dream vacation?
Too many choices! Its a tie between Italy and an African safari
11. Who do you look up to the most?
My Grandma Anderson. She was amazing! She had 8 kids and my grandpa died when my dad was 3 and she never remarried. She did what she had to for her family and she knew how to work hard and love. She has 51 grandchildren and she made everyone feel like the favorite.

11 Questions for those I tag:

1. Morning person or night owl?
2. Favorite fairy tale/ children's story?
3. All time favorite movie or t.v. show?
4. What do you like to do with your free time?
5. Where is your dream vacation?
6. If money wasn't an issue, what one thing would you buy?
7. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
8. What is your least favorite food?
9. What is your most favorite thing about yourself?
10. What is your most embarrassing moment?
11. Name 3 things on your bucket list.

And now I tag: Lora, Courtney, Amy Sp, and Dez. If anyone else would like to do, go for it-- I would love to read everyone's answers!!

Another month

Another month has passed. Friday marked seven months. I could stare at those little feet all day.

Honestly.... it really punched me in the gut. It was the pain in the chest, hard to breath, on the brink of tears all day. I think I had been trying to avoid all those emotions for the last few weeks and they just bubbled over that day. It was the first time in awhile that I just didn't even want to get out of bed. I miss Teagan. I miss her with such intensity. There is a unique hole in my heart that only Teagan will be able to fill. I was telling Jared the other night that I wish I knew when the Second Coming was going to be, so there would be an end date of sorts, so I would know exactly when I was getting my baby back.

I decided that if it was going to be one of those days, I would just fake it. I got cleaned up and even put on a little make-up. Once we got Bentli out the door to school after lunch, Tate and I went to do a little shopping and hit the sales. Can I just say again, that I just adore my little boy? He, in true boy fashion, moaned at every store we went into. We shared a pretzel at the food court and he entertained me with his fantastic imagination. We talked about Teagan, and he told me I need to get another 'Teagan necklace'. I was hurting so bad inside and this one-on-one time with Tate was a balm to my soul.

That night it was time for more comfort food, so the whole family hit Dunkin Donuts and for donuts and hot chocolate. I love my family. I love all three of my kids. I am so grateful of all they do for me and the love they give to me.

My crazy nose problems

If you have been graced by my presence in the past two or three years, you will probably remember me having a cold/sinus infection/runny nose/etc... And if you met me within the past few years, its probably the only way you can remember me. Haha. I like to joke about it because really is completely ridiculous. My first pregnancy symptom is congestion and it never really went away completely after Tate, but I thought it was either allergies or whatever.

Well, a couple weeks ago, I got another cold and had what felt like the mother of all sinus... issues. It traveled into my left ear and I had a constant, loud ringing in my ear, followed by sporadic echos. I made calls to get into an ENT and scheduled an appointment for 10 days later. The ringing lasted a week before it switched to the other ear. Seriously! Jared was going to have to check me in to a psychiatric ward soon because the noises in my head were driving me crazy! I would just beg the kids to play quietly. Luckily, it improved and I went into the ENT so they could see what was going on.

The verdict? Nasal Polyps. The doctor's exact words were, "Well, no wonder you are having problems, you have huge nasal polyps". They are pretty much growths in your sinus cavities, just taking up room and making breathing difficult. I am on a steroid to see if they will make a difference. My doctor thinks it is unlikely the steroids will fix them. I will get a CT scan in a couple weeks to see how things are going on inside my head. (Well, at least with my sinuses, Jared would argue that there are whole lot of issues going on in my head. haha) I will most likely have to have an outpatient surgery to remove the polyps. I am just so glad there will be a fix!

So, next time you see me, it could be a whole new me. One without a congested nose! And a lady who is spending less on Kleenex tissues.

*just to give Jared his due as a doctor, he did give me the diagnosis of polyps before the appt.