My kids

Jett and Celie

Brothers - best friends.

Celie doing one of her beautiful, on the spot dances.

This handsome smile is what greets us every evening when Daddy comes home, cranks on the music and cuts a rug with the kids. All three kids beg to be swung around by Daddy. I have the best husband in the world. He lives life to the fullest and loves with all his heart. I love you hun.

Celie decided to start doing her own hair. It has been like this for many days now. I am trying to teach her how to match colors and use sparingly, but I think it will just come with practice. She says she feels beautiful. I think she is. I am proud of her being so independent.

This is Jett's Birthday cupcake. What a big boy he is now.

I didn't have a battery charger when we had our good friends the Larsen's over for the 4th of July week end. This is the only picture I took. These kids had so much fun together. They only see each other twice a year at most, but they played together so well like they were together everyday. We went blueberry picking, swimming, to a movie and of course played settlers of catan (one of my favorites). It was a fun holiday. Thanks Larsen's! We love you guys.

Due Date Come and Gone

Well, here we are again on my due date. I wonder how long this baby needs to cook? I hope it will be done soon. I think this relates to my cooking directly now that I think about it. I over cook everything. I was hoping that it was a sign when I cooked my first pot roast perfectly (thanks to Derek and Becca's expertise) that the over cooking streak was finally over, but alas, it is not. I still cook food too long and keep my babies in too long. I am bouncing on my exercise ball and I like to think it helps. We will find out tomorrow at my appointment if a weeks worth of regular contractions has made any progress! Hopefully my next post will have a cute picture of a baby!

Friends

A couple of Celie's friends from kindergarten.

Summer time

Happy Birthday Jett! He turned 2 on the 13th of July. He had a fun birthday. We had a few friends over to help us eat cupcakes. Thanks Grandma for the pillowcase and tool set! Jett is potty trained after a couple of weeks working with him. He is such a big boy now. I think he is ready to be a big brother now.

Here is Jack at 3 1/2 years old. He is loving his gymnastics and swim lessons this summer.

Here is my clan! Aren't they cute?

I got some yellow and red peppers this year from my garden. The tomatoes didn't turn out so great this year. I am officially done with gardening this season as I am too big to bend over now :)

Here is Celie's update on her elbow wound. This is a picture of her after 3 months of healing. I think she will have the scar forever.

Happy Fathers Day! I can't think of anything else in this world that these kids love more than their Dad. He is the best dad in the world!
Their father's day present was to walk on his back for a nice massage.

Lisa came for a short visit. The kids cried when she left. She was the best game player.

Celie - 6 yrs old

Happy Birthday Becca!

Celie's kindergarten teacher. She had a great year of school.

Celie's favorite work station. Reading and book writing.

Some of her close friends.

Remembering Mom

I can't believe it has been a full year since the passing of my dear mother from the unforgiving disease of pancreatic cancer. It was a grumpy day for me. All of the memories flooded back and overtook my mind. I felt like I was reliving the pains over again. I don't know how to get over the negative thoughts of 'what if I had done this' or 'if I had only done that'. I will never forget the way she looked at me before she slipped into a comatose state before passing away. The only way I can describe it is the perfect love of Christ. That moment is branded into my memory. She was such a fighter throughout her sickness. I am so proud to call her my mom. I love her with all my heart and I am looking forward to the day that my family and I can see her again.

Laura Robinson Benson 1952-2009

Mom with me after Jack was born.

My favorite picture of her because I know this is where she was most happy.

End of Kindergarten

I can't believe it is time for school to be over. Celie has grown so much socially and academically. She wants to be an author and has the personal drive to improve her talents. I am so proud of her. I am also excited to have her home for the Summer. We are enjoying our own "lesson time" at home and of course swimming at the pool (not as academic).

Celie's favorite school work.

Celie and Jack made a play-doe creation and surprised me. It is a sky with white clouds, a sun with yellow sun rays, a deer running and patch of red dirt with worms. I thought it was fairly creative. I don't know what the "snowflakes" are doing, but good none the less.

Jack fell asleep during dinner time - mid chew

He had a work-hard, fun-in-the-sun filled day. The kids work outside with Daddy a lot and it is pool season too. We have too much fun.

This is the favorite "doggy cage" spot. The kids will "lock" themselves up and just giggle and bark. They are hilarious.

May Moments

My Ballet Class (minus one) getting ready for their recital. Aren't they so cute!

Photos of my little ballerina

Sprinkler fun

Lunch time at our house.

Jack pretending to take a bite of our family sandwich.

Our Garden in May

Last day of Ballet Class. I let them dress up in what they wanted and they planned what we were to do. Balloons, popcorn and makeup. I will miss them.

Celie's Stitches

While I was at my Sister's wedding in Utah Celie fell out of a bike cart and scraped her arm up really bad. Marty took her to the emergency room and she got 4 big stitches. We had to treat it like a burn and keep it wrapped up because there was so much skin missing around the laceration. I really was a hole in her arm not a cut. It was painful for her every time we replaced the bandage. It is a large scar now, but Celie enjoys telling the story.

Check up on her arm about 6 days after the incident.