Todays Thoughts...

1. You know how you put something "somewhere" so that you won't lose it. And then you completely space on where that place was? That's what is going on with my camera right now. Being 30 is not treating me so well today...

2. The love of a mother is rarely captured quite so poignantly as when she cleans up the result of her child's 13 bouts with nausea in the night and then holds him close as he tries to sleep despite the yucky tummy. All the while knowing that she too will probably be catching this bug, but not caring in that moment. You wish they would remember these times when you are hollering at them to stop leaving their backpack and shoes all over the entryway and to share with their sister... :).

Ode To Sisters

They say you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. Well- I know if I weren't related to my sisters I would still choose to be their friends (who knows if that's reciprocal :). Here's why:
Brittany is the ideal mom and homemaker. She puts us all to shame but what is so endearing is that she wants to help us lesser folk rise higher!
Bonnie makes everything all better. She is a good listener and is so sensitive to others needs and feelings.
McKenna is our spunky gal who knows her own mind. She can do anything she tries and makes you want to be more too.
Briley is our baby- but she is also very maternal. She puts others before herself and is wise beyond her 16 years.
To my sisters, fellow sappy romance movie watchers, expert old movie line quoters, who desperately love being mothers (or desperately want to be one :) and my dearest friends. I love you.

My super-kids

I made these adorable capes (picture doesn't do them justice) and that sweet tutu and had big plans to make the rest of their costumes BUT when I found these warm PJ's at $5 a pop I decided to let Walmart do the work for me :). They were very excited about their costumes, and it was fun to have them BOTH be so into the trick-or-treating this year. To bad Halloween fell on a Sunday (I never remember that happening when I was a kid, though I'm sure it did) but our ward had a fabulous trunk-or-treat complete with chili cook off and hayride- thanks activities committee! Hope you all had a very happy Halloween!

ps...isn't that pumpkin sheer awesomeness?!

Tooting my horn...

So, my sister Brittany has been here and the time has flown with many fun activities. My favorites were the days we just let the kids play and sewed like crazy. My sister made 4 intricate Peter Pan character costumes in the time it took me to make 2 superman/girl capes but it's not a competition...right? Brittany always inspires me and gets me to try new things- 2 examples being that after 30 years of being blond, yesterday I became a brunette AND I made these super cute pants for Ellie, and the headband! LOVE them!

Are you watching this?!

I have been enthralled with these Chilean miners stuck 1/2 mile underground for 69 days! I've even sucked Carter in (by telling him about them as a bedtime story :) and we have both been checking the news all day for updates on when the first miner will be pulled to safety. So if you haven't checked it out- do so. It is such an amazing story, and it makes you really grateful for your blessings.

Todays likes and dislikes...

DISLIKES:


1. opening and closing the blinds every day (I know, how lazy am I)


2. emptying the dishwasher (don't mind loading it though)


3. cockroaches- dead of alive





LIKES:


1. doing school with Carter in my new office! I don't know if it's because my office is now in the playroom (thanks for the tip Jessie) or if it's because we got a treasure chest with gold coins in it to bribe him (thanks Aunt Laurie, you will never be forgotten) but Carter LOVES to do school now.


2. baseball- practice and games. And I love that we have friends on the team (yea Brad) and that after practice Joe and Mike will play ball with the boys (and girls) and pretend like they are still high school athletes (no disrespect intended :).


3. my sweet, sick, snuggly Ellie. I am sad that she has been sick, but I LOVE that she has been so snuggly these last few days. My kids aren't snugglers so I take what I can get.


4. I have to add how much I LOVE the CHILL IN THE AIR! Bless you Fall for finally getting here, I've missed you.

Date Night

Here is the typical Benson date night:

Dinner and a movie

Real original. So, I decided to mix it up a little bit and planned a super fun date for last night- we went to an art class! I know a lot of dudes would find that super lame but it is right up Joes alley. We were all supposed to be making a group of trees (which I did, though I changed the colors up to match Ellie's room) but Joe marches to the beat of his own drum and chose to do something completely different. The man has got natural artistic something, what he might lack in talent he makes up with lots of confidence! The teacher took a picture of Joes painting at the end so he's kind of on an ego trip right now. But honestly, it turned out awesome. We spent three hours on our masterpieces and had SO much fun. I highly recommend it and am sure we will be doing it again. And not just because Carter is a little sad I didn't make something for HIS room :(.