The Black Eye!

If you're wondering what happened, here is our "story" - Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Benson plays basketball at the church. One Tuesday morning, at about 7:15am, the kids come running into my bathroom yelling, "Mom, Dad is bleeding all over!" I ran to the front door, trying to figure out if he was in a car accident or what happened. But it turned out that someone palmed his nose (instead of the ball) as he came down from making a basket. This picture was taken a week and a half after it happened, and it still looks this bad! Unfortunately, it looks like he will have to have surgery on his deviated septum, from talking to those that have had it - it's worse than giving birth =(. Poor Guy! At church, everyone thought it was the funniest joke, that I had had enough with Benson and finally let him have it. I don't know what's so funny about a 5 foot 3 inch woman taking down a 6 foot 5 inch man. All, I have to say is, "Honey, next time take the garbage out the first time I ask you to!=)"

Unfortunately, the other guy doesn't look worse

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, we all drove to Riverton, Wyoming. Spencer and Shayla just moved into their new home about three months ago, and so they invited everyone there for Thanksgiving, and everyone was able to make it - I don't think they thought we would all be there =). All in all, there were 32 people in one home. I have to admit I was curious how it all would turn out, but due to Shayla's good planning and organization skills, we had a great time! Thanks Spencer and Shayla!

All the grand kids on a beautiful day before a hike.




The kids ran around so much they literally crashed at night (Talie).

We Wish You a Merry Christmas '09

This year, Christmas was a little more quiet and slow paced than in the past couple of years. We actually had Christmas by ourselves with no extended family coming in to town. It was a little quiet, and of course we missed family, but it was very relaxing, just being us. We did the normal things, like decorate Gingerbread houses, bake and deliver goodies, visit Santa, read Christmas stories, and open Christmas presents on Christmas morning, but I think one of the highlights for me, was Christmas Eve, where we gathered with friends and acted out the Nativity. Kennedi actually played the role of baby Jesus and took it very seriously, as she would lay there, very stiff like trying to be very still, but she also made sure she always had her little blanket on, because that was her costume. She seemed to realize the great importance of role that she played. And it helped us truly focus on the true meaning of Christmas and the great & important role our Savior plays in each of our lives. Merry Christmas to ALL!

The Nativity re enactment.

Ashlynn loves art projects, and what's better than an edible one!

Santa came to the library and did story time. He did a great job and it was a lot of fun, but the wait to see him was a little long.

Thankfully, we had good friends

and cousins to hang out with while we waited!

Talie is very into music lately. She even has her American Idol audition song all picked out.

Apparently, Christmas morning arrived very early this year, as our morning child still looks half asleep.

Who knew that true happiness could be brought by a $6 alligator. . .

. . . and a basketball too, I guess.

And, of course, a girl can never have too many baby dolls to love.