Finding Joy in the Journey: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Curious? Happy Birthday Benji!

What happens when you get 8 kids together for a Birthday Party?

We see alot of monkeying around...Playing on the swing set, bouncing balls, reading Curious George plants a tree, followed by a Bug craft, and Planting a Pear tree in our Yard(yes this is exactly what Benji wanted for his birthday...He was bound and determined to plant his own tree for his birthday-our yards first tree.)

One Happy Boy to Get his Own Fruit Tree!

Everyone worked together shoveling dirt to plant our 1st tree...

Then each of the kids got to choose a seed to plant and take home in their own pot with their little bug label.

More monkeing around followed by our attempt to have the kids have a water balloon toss...

turns out 6 year olds don't have the coordination to work a balloon toss...

But a water balloon fight is always a winner!

Aunt Chelsie was the most soaked-Thanks Dan!

Banana Splits with their choice of toppings-Banana butterscotch Curious George Cake-

The Party's not over till the Pinata Busts!

Great Times Thanks Friends! Happy Birthday My Little Monkey Benji!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Slightly crass...But made us Laugh!

Imagine our Surprise when we opened up the bag of cookies intended for Benjis Valentines and found...LOOK CLOSE....

"Happy F*%ts Day"!

Benji got a big hoot out of it too..For the next week he would say "Happy F*%ts Day!!!"and Giggle up a storm!

Our special Valentines day Family Night Dinner... followed by a special candle lit chocolate molten lava cake dessert for my mom, 4 sister, niece Ryelle and my sweet hearts Dan & Benji.

LOVE YOU!

Puppy Love-Nelly- We Love you!

(Benji took about 5 photos of Nelly on V-day)

Did I mention my latest project. I finally got the black antic table I wanted...After many coats of paint, and lacquer. I love it!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Autumn Gratitude

Benji and Ryelle take ring side seats & hand out pointers on carving the Bird

The anticipation...

Silly Sisterly Love.... It has been so fun to have Nanna and my 3 of my sisters move closer to us this fall. Here Charitie, Cortnie and Chelsie get goofy together before dinner. We hosted Thanksgiving for the 5th time in our marriage. It definitely gets easier the more you host. Thanks Familiy I love you all!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Families Supporting Adoption

Another great family supporting Adoption activity we went to in November was a free day at Boondocks. There were posters of waiting children through Utah Foster Care along the walls of the party room. We had free chili, milk or juice and donuts balloons, tokens for the games and free rides. The kids had a blast. It was fun to see how many families were gathered together who have been blessed in some way by adoption. Benji brought his friend A.J. and collected lots of tickets for their free prize at the end. What a blast. This is definitely one of Benjis favorite family activities. We went last year for his birthday and a few times after but never for free. Thanks Boondocks and Wendy's Daves Foundation For Adoption Props to you!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Family Supporting Adoption Walk

November is National Adoption month. To celebrate and bring awareness as a family we spent the Saturday at a Walk for Families Supporting Adoption. We met up with some friends and my 16 year old Sister Charitie & had a good time.

Adoptive families walked with signs stating who they were walking for a birth mom or child. Birthmothers & supporters were there too with signs as we walked around the park. After the walk the kids really enjoyed running after the orange candy shot out of a candy cannon. Then there was a drawing and we actually won two free meals to Cafe Rio one of our fave Utah Restaurants. It's so good!! Dans Favorite is the sweet pork salad smothered burrito or salad, mine is the veggie salad with black beans & house dressing.

Cannon Shooting Candy for the kids.

After the walk we were happy to find the leaves piled up so high we were able to indulge in one of our Fall family traditions of playing in the leaves together.

Benji was very excited to disappear in the leaves.

The feud begins...Game on Dad!

Benji -No leaves in my eyes!

Dan & Benji Decide to sneak up & get mom...

I love the Autumn leaves!

Tid Bits

March 2010-

After we are all in bed for the night, Benji comes in...
B- will someone get me a drink?
A- You know how to get a drink go ahead.
B-Please, I am scared!
A- O.k . (I take him and lead him to the kitchen) What are you scared of, we are all here with you, your safe!
B-Im scared of BANANAS!
A-(really?) Why are you scared of bananas? (thinking he has to be pulling my leg)
B-(completley serious)Because they can spin around and karate chop me!
A-Really?(I Wouldbe scared of bananas too if they could do that but I dont think they can)
B- YES!!!
I do not make this up...You can not make this stuff up! Where do kids get this stuff?!

February-
While listening to Fredric Chopin
Militar Military Polonaise No.3Op 30 #1
Benji says with Sappy eyes..."when ever I hear this music I always miss who ever is not here"
M- Oh so do you miss Dad?
B-Yes I miss Daddy
February-
While talking about all the different lovies (favorite things) Benji has attached himself too over the years... like the pink elephant block at 18months-Benji looked up at Daddy and said " Im your pink elephant Daddy!"
September
While looking at a map of the US today Benji asked me...
B-"Mom are there any of these that are HANAH MONTANA?"
June
B-Im not the badest kid!
A-Who said that?
B-Nobody's the badest kid!
A-No one said your a bad kid, you just have to choose the right even when other kids are not
B-You guys just got a kid who was born to be curious!!!
Born to be curious like Curious George!!!

May

Wearing his superman/batman cape, batman side out
B-Ouch!!!
A- did you get hurt?
B- NOOOO!!!
Nothing hurts superman!
Im not scared of anything!!!
A- really?
B-Yep, hot sauce in my mouth or anything
Nothing can hurt superman!!!
April
B-Ouch I smashed my huge toe!
D-Your huge toe? Not your big toe?
B- My hugest toe ever!
Feb
B-Mom, I wish I were a monkey!
If I were a monkey then I would eat bananas all day and I wouldn’t have to ask for a drink I would just climb down to the river to drink. I would wear my red sun glasses and flip them up like this (on top of his head) and karate catcha the water like a power ranger and use karate on the crocodile in the river! If I were a monkey…I would do that.
Feb
B-I ate a man size batooty
B-I mean I ate a man size corn on the cob
like 16 elephants!
Jan
B- I wish I were a pumpkin!
A-Why do you want to be a pumpkin?
B- If I were a pumpkin then I wouldnt have to wear any shoes!!!
Dec 2008
Benji and pink pepermint ice cream
B-"This icecream, this pink ice cream!!! Is like what the heck good!!!!"
B-I am going to eat this dinner, lunch and morning!!! Oh man... yeah you and me mom!
A- is it better then vanilla?
B-both good!
Sept 15 Monday
While checking in on Benji's art project that he was making on the floor he looks up at me and says, “oops, I lost something...dont worry, the vacuum will come and pick it up soon!

September 2 Tuesday

Benji was being silly running around the house and Chelsie said

C-Your being a crazy boy

B-No, I am a crazy pig!!!

July 20th Sunday

During packing up the rental for our up coming move I thanked Benji for bringing me a requested basket,

A- “Thanks my little helper!”
B-“I’m not your helper I'm Dads helper
A-I don’t get your help
B-No I'm Dads helper, you have all the skills and I have all the skills too! Dad needs my help!
He walks away with his slinky up his arm to help Dad, Dad inquires on the conversation…According to Benji Here s the ranking of skills in the family
Benji-Top Skills ready to assist with any trouble
Mom- Capable to perform tasks on her own
Dad- Desperately in need of a little helper
Sometimes I love children’s logic

June 20 2008

After placing the last pin in the tent Benji said,

"Mom, were Men Now!!" This is a result of too Much SpongeBob The Movie - SpongeBob and Patrick grow mustaches and start to sing the "Now that we're men" song.

June 17 Teusday

While we were making sandwiches Benji my Helper, lets out a big Sneaze directly on Moms sandwich, then says,

"well, its good I missed mine!!!"

Thanks Benji Mom wanted sneazening on my sandwich.

June 13 Friday

"Dad, Mom cut my toast into circles shes awesome!"

April 1oth Thursday

As I was sitting on the computer Benji comes up and asked

B-Mommy can I play word world games on the computer?

A-Sorry no, mommy is using the computer now

B- What are you doing?

A- Learning

B-Learning how to get babies?

A-Yes

B- Do you want to know how to adopt a baby from Benji?

A-Yes I do.

B-(taking my face in his hands with a big smile) first you take some scissors and then you cut, cut, cut, your tummy and that’s how you get a baby…

A-oh is that how it works, Hmm…(I think he is mixing up the C-section stories Dad told him and the adoption journey we are on)

B- But don’t tell Daddy cause it’s a secret, K Mommy?

A- OK, thanks Benji

April 10th

When I was heading out the door for a YW's activities and I was calling out goodbye to my boys, Benji comes running up and says in an accusing voice, "aren’t you forgetting something?" …Quizzicaly I look at him, “what”, he spreads his arms open and reaches up…and repeats again, “aren’t you forgetting something!?”

Yes a kiss.!! He laughs and said, you forgot!!

I have such a sweet boy!

March 30th Sunday

As we walked into church on Sunday we were a tad bit late, we could hear the announcements in the foyer, In a high pitched excited voice Benjamin exclaims, “Mom Heavenly Father is Talking!!!”

I reply with a smile, yes dear we need to whisper so we can hear him.

March 12th

Just another confirmation that we need siblings for Benji. He cant stand it when I am on the computer, hence why it has taken me so long to get going on this blog. He dose not know how to share mom.----Latter that day after talking a friend on the phone & getting help with the blog I went to discover what Benj was up too. He had previously been whining at me to let him play PBS games on the computer but it was Moms turn, so what did he do Any guesses?He went and piddled on the floor & on his quilt in his room behind his orange chair. This is what I get for blogging AHHHH.