Trip Home

I was able to find some cheap airline tickets home, so I packed up the kids and took off for ten days. It was a whirlwind visit, we were able to see a lot of family and friends, including my brother Jacob that home from London and Britteny, one of my best friends visiting from Germany. It was great. Here are some pics highlighting the trip.






Bentli and Tate with cousins Kayda and Kenzie and Uncle Jake



Bentli making her gingerbread house with Grandma Robbie



Tate cuddling up with Grandpa John

Grandpa Chris gave the kids whatever they wanted! It was hard for them to come home.

Tate with Grandma Robbie

Tate with Grandma Connie, opening Christmas presents

Bekah painting Bentli's fingernails.

I had to include one of me with the kids in the snow!!

Uncle Jake playing Guitar Hero with Tate.

Me and the girls, it was so much fun getting together with all my buds: Tenielle, Desirae, Britteny (and Lexi), Julie, Rachel, and Carrie (and Parker)!!

Bentli loves the dress ups Grandma Connie made for her!!

A Black, Black Friday! (and a tag)

I had a fabulous Thanksgiving, filled with food, family, and friends. The three great Fs right?! It was a lot of fun and we were able to gather together to celebrate and give thanks. I can never say enough how grateful I am for my family, both near and far.

It was a busy day, and I have no to blame but myself for agreeing to go to Midnight Madness at the San Marcos outlets. It was fun, but my body is making me pay for it! I am just too old to be pulling these all nighters. We got up to the outlets at about 11:00 and we literally shopped 'til we dropped. Luckily I was with some really peppy ladies that kept me moving. I was able to finally get to my bed at the same time Jared was getting up to leave for work, about 7:00. It was a lot of fun and it made me grateful that 1) I don't work in retail 2) I have a nice comfy bed and 3) Bentli is easily babysat by cartoons.

Here's a pic of some of the crazy ladies that braved San Marcos with me.

Okay, Michelle tagged me, so here goes. This one was kind of fun, I got to see some old pics when Bentli was just a babe. You post the 4th folder and the 10th picture. This is obviously a picture of our graduation and Bentli was just two months old. We found out later that Jared didn't really graduate, he was one credit short. He took a P.E. class the next semester so he could get a legit. degree!
I tag Amy, Laura, Britteny, Carrie, and anyone else who wants to do it (come on, it's easy and fun!)

Elmo Live

Bentli and Tate received a package this week, from our loving family in Utah. As I opened the package and pulled out the contents, Bentli let out an excited giggle. She started jumping up and down as the red Elmo doll was revealed. Our home was full of smiles and laughter as they enjoyed this new toy together. I posted a little video to share. Tate is fasinated by the doll and knocks it over, frustrating Bentli. Tate didn't even mind Bentli's protective hoover around the doll, he took it in stride and looked for various ways of getting around her.

A Pirate and her Parrot

Halloween is always so much fun! This year was no different. We started out the week with a fun FHE of pumpkin carving and pizza at the park with lots of friends. Jared carved us a skull in his pumpkin and Dana carved a ghost in the other pumpkin for Bentli. I held Tate and took pictures.

On Wednesday we had our preschool, and boy what a party! Tiff and Abigail sure know how to have fun! Bentli was on such a sugar high and judging from all the candy in our house right now, it will probably take a couple weeks to wear off. We decorated pumpkins, covered cookies in candy and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Tate was a ducky for this party, he was one cute duck!

On Halloween I decided to brave Sea World, and expecting more crowds, instead found a very empty park! It was the perfect day for the trip. The dolphins in the cove were very active and even let us pet them without any food (a $5 value)! The kids were beat, so we got home just in time for a little rest before the ward Truck or Treat. Jared won funniest costume in his 70's suit (thanks to the Platts). Tate was a parrot (you have to use your imagination) he had fun chewing on his beak. Bentli loved trick or treating and was very enthusiastic about the candy she got. We had a great time.

Comrades

On Sunday Bentli and Tate were quite the little pair. Bentli has discovered how much fun she can have with her little bro. She has little tea parties with him, of course it can be complicated when he doesn't do it right. Anyways, Sunday night Jared made some Orange Julius for our evening treat and Tate was crawling from person to person trying to get his hands on some too. Bentli noticed her little brother's quest and while we weren't looking she helped him out. I think he probably got more down his shirt than in his mouth.

We cleaned them up and got them into bed. Bentli was usually quiet, normally there is pleading and crying for anything that will delay bedtime a few more minutes, and then I heard some giggling so I went in to check on her. She had crawled into Tate's crib (blanket, pillow, and all) and was set on sleeping next to her little pal. As cute as it was, I decided to protect the safety of my youngest and put her back into her own bed with threats of the harshest discipline if she climbed in again.

You can't really see all the O.J. that was all over his clothes. Tate was pretty proud of himself.

The kiddos giggling in bed, caught red-handed.

Just another pic of them together that I really like.

This was a sweet photo of one tuckered out Tate. He never ever lets me hold him like this, so I had Jared take a pic so I could always remember the moment.

Mom, Jesus Loves Me

Bentli has been talking about Jesus a lot lately and it brings tears to my eyes with all the simple truths that she already knows. The other day, upon seeing a picture of Jesus she looked at me an said, "Mom, that is Jesus Christ. Jesus loves me."

I replied, "Yes, he does"

"Mom, does Jesus love you?"

"Yes, he loves me too. Jesus loves everyone"

"Yeah, I love Jesus too."

I know that I have not taught her these important principles on my own. The primary program and patient, loving nursery leaders have contributed so much to her life. They have helped to teach her that she is a Child of God and that our Heavenly Father loves her, this is such a simple truth, yet so important for everyone to have a knowledge of. Not everyone has been taught this and my heart is filled with gratitude for all the help and love of friends to help instill this knowledge in my daughter's life. I could go on and on with thanks to everyone we know and the positive impact that they each have had in our lives. After that simple, yet profound conversation with my little girl I knew that I had to thank all our family and friends for the many ways in which they bless our lives. Thank you!!

Standing Up, ABCs, and More

This week has gone by fast! Tate suprised us this week by pulling himself up and stood by the couch. He was so proud of himself that he forgot to hang on and fell right over. He is mastering his new skill and really likes to pull himself up by using Jared's leg hairs. I think it is hilarious, Jared... not so much! Here is a pic of our little guy showing off. Bentli successfully sang her ABC song all by herself and didn't miss any letters! We have been working on this for awhile, it was tricky because she doesn't like me to sing with her (she considers that help and heaven forbid that I help her). We are so proud of her for learning it!

I went through all the kids' clothes this week, putting away old clothes, and pulling out hand me downs that now fit. In those hand me downs were a pair of glittery, pink, princess shoes... every girl's dream. Bentli had to wear them right away. We went to Costco and as we were walking in, she told me, "Mom, my shoes aren't nice," sure enough little blisters were forming. It doesn't keep her from wearing the fasionable shoes, a true girl!