marc and michelle

2012-02-03T00:43:00.001-07:00

Bennett and Stella.

January 2012

These two are the funniest. Bennett is obsessed with Stella (...well, who isn't. ha!). He loves to have his picture taken with her. Poor Stella is balding and well, needs a headband at all times, as you can see here, but we still love her bald-i-ness! :)

Some of the quotes from Bennett the last few weeks.

Bennett LOv-es to "talk" for Stella. I will say something to Stella, not even thinking Bennett is listening and the next second he starts responding for her. I get some great responses from "Stella" all the time. Oh, and we know when he is talking for Stella, because he uses a really high pitch voice.

Some of my favorite comments:

Me: "Stella are you hungry?"

Stella (Bennett): "Yes Mom, but can I have tacos this time?"

Me: "Stella, you are such a good girl."

Stella (Bennett): "I know Mom, I know."

Me: (I kinda sorta, half dropped Stella in her carseat a little faster/harder) "Oh Stella I am so sorry!"

Stella (Bennett): "What the heck mom?! That's not comfortable."

Bennett is Potty Training. ....finally. He loves Curious George, so I made him a curious George Potty Chart and once he gets all the way around he gets the game he is sitting on.

Bennett loves to have Stella lay with him in his nap. Yes, he still naps in the crib, but yes, he still naps (need I really say anymore?). Anyway, while I sing songs to him before his nap I let her lay by him. She actually really snuggles up to him and he usually puts his arm around her. They have so much fun together.

Other funny Bennett comments...

Driving home from Costco we go out of our way to go down an amazing hill that makes the boys stomachs drop. When we went down this time Bennett said, "That makes my heart dizzy!" (Jan, 25, 2012)

Bennett came out of his room dressed like a cowboy and said, "I am a cowboy. Lady, where is my horse?" (Jan. 28, 2012)

2012-01-26T22:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Three Months Stella

January 17, 2012

This little girl has stolen our hearts. We really love her.

Stella is very happy. She really only cries when hungry or tired and if I catch the signs quick enough she doesn't even cry then.

Loves to lay on a blanket in the middle of the carpet somewhere. She will kick and coo and entertain herself for a really long time sometimes 30-45 minutes and then occasionally she will just settle down and quietly fall asleep. (Did I mention what a good baby she is?!)

Stella is soooo close to laughing.

She loves to be messaged on her legs and feet, she gets so calm and happy.

The boys love making Stella smile.

Stella makes the cutest coo's and has just started to learn how to pull out her big lip for a sad face. The boys instantly want to fix any problem when she makes this face and so it doesn't usually reach a cry.

Stella Does NOT spit up, not even a little bit. I think I have pulled out a burp cloth once or twice (since she was born), but that's all.

Still loving her pacifier.

Stella LOVEs her baths. She kicks and coo's and is so happy, unfortunately, since she is the third child, bath time is usually rushed and she doesn't get to enjoy it for long.

12 lbs. 6 oz.

24 1/2 inches long

2012-01-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

Boys. Boys. Boys.

January 7, 2012

I was trying to get some pictures of Stella when a common occurance took place.

See below.

They were playing happy and content in the back room, but suddenly our little photo shoot took a different turn when they realized what was going on. These boys crack me up. And the whole time they are posing and saying, "Okay, now take a picture and now etc."

Stella wasn't so happy to have her photoshoot interrupted. ha. Her face cracks me up.

But she got over it and joined in. Jackson told Bennett and Stella to pretend like they had just won a race and were cheering. hahaha.

Bennett was worried that Stella was going to tickle him here. :)

2012-01-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Bennett Our Photographer

January 2012

Bennett has taken a recent interest in our camera and I find the most random pictures on it when I upload photos. Sometimes they make me laugh out loud, and sometimes it gives me a little glimpse into his world and what he sees.

2012-01-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

New Years
Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 2, 2012

After Christmas we had a few days to hang out with just our little family and then we headed out to Hemet to stay at my Grandparents house with all of my siblings, except Ryan, Brittney, and little Lucy (we sure missed them). We picked up my parents and Craig at the Long Beach Airport and met up with Rachael and Jonathan, and then all drove to Hemet together. Kevin and Amy drove in from Arizona and met us there. We didn't have much on the agenda, but just being together and it was perfect. It was so relaxing! The kids had a lot of fun being together and Stella, of course, loved meeting all her cousins. :) The kids enjoyed bike riding and playing in the fountains, running around in the grass, throwing a football and playing the Wii. Marc discovered a hill, that the kids quickly named, Tumbleweed hill, and had so much fun riding bikes down.

Marc enjoyed early morning runs, every morning. He also supplied the party with Salsa and Sugar cookies (I knew there was a reason I married him. ha.). Marc also enjoyed a paint balling with all the boys (my cousin Chad and his brothers got it organized).

One of the nights we were there Chad projected the movie Dolphin Tale on a large screen and invited a bunch of people over to watch. Marc took the boys down to watch. Jackson loved it!

On New Years Eve we went over to the Jergensen's for some Bingo, where Jackson and Bennett each won a prize. Then we went back to my grandparents house where we had a countdown for the kids and played with sparklers. Stella tuckered out before the kids celebration, but we still had to get a good New Years picture of her too. :)

At church on Sunday Bennett lost his little Beary. We spent all day tracking it down. At 10:00 pm we finally got it and Bennett finally went to sleep. Thank goodness! Heaven help us if we ever really lose that little bear. Yikes! I went to buy a back up beary and found out that they don't make that little bear anymore. Yes we are in trouble!

2012-01-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Christmas
Dec. 22-26, 2011

For Christmas this year we decided to stick around here. We invited Marc's parents to join us and had our first Christmas at home. It was a lot of fun to stay here and just enjoy what the area has to offer. There is so much around us to do and explore, but because Marc is so busy with school, we tend to not do it and then during a break we leave town, so it was fun to be here to do some of it. The few day leading up to Christmas we had fun hanging out at home at trip to Solvang and a trip to the Santa Monica Pier. We rode the ferris wheel at the pier, something that we had never done before and walked along the beach.

Christmas Eve we had Marc's Sister's family around and Marc's parents. We mainly just hung out all day. Then in the evening we had dinner at our Community Center and the kids acted out the nativity. The kids had fun being together and running wild in the Community Center. After all the fun we came back up to our apartment and let the kids open up PJ's that we had gotten for them. We said goodbye to cousins and then Jackson and Bennett set out a plate and note for Santa. Along with some lettuce for the reindeer. We need to get reindeer dust from Tyler and Susie (The boys kept asking for it. It is something we have done with them in the past).

Christmas Morning we woke up and opened presents. Santa brought Bennett a Bike and Jackson a Knights Tower/Fortress and Stella got a few new books. We quickly got ready after opening presents and then headed to church. After church we came home and just relaxed and enjoyed the day. The next morning Marc's parents left to go back to Utah.

2012-01-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Marc and a trip to Solvang

Dec. 21, 2011

On Marc's birthday we started to morning out my opening up a present that the boys and I had been working on, a UCLA blanket and then jumped in the car and headed to Solvang California with Marc's parents who were here for Christmas. Solvang is a small Danish town north of us. You can't imagine a more picturesque location at Christmas time. It is such a charming little town. We had fun wandering the shops and streets. Then on the way home we stopped for a birthday dinner and Joe's Crab Shack. We had Texas Sheet Cake (Marc's favorite) waiting for us at home.

2012-01-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

Happy Two Months Stella!

December 17, 2011

I can't believe Stella is already two months! She is such a cutie and has already found herself a few choice nicknames after only two months...

Stellacopter

(Marc's nickname of choice...not sure where it came from)

Stellie

Stella Nae Nae

Ste-LaLa

Stella Manila

LaLa

Coconut Pants

(For some reason Coconut is the word of choice with the boys right now and they like to throw it together with any other word and think it is HILarious when they call Stella this)

Princess Silky Sheets

(Because she sleeps on a silky blanket, rumor has it that babies get less

of a bald spot if they sleep on silk, we will let you know how this goes)

Punky

(It started out as Pumpkin, because Jackson said she was

born in October when all the pumpkins are here, but has evolved, as many nicknames do :)

Other things about Stella.

She is so dang cute.

We all adore her.

She is Super Smiley

The MOST mellow go with the flow baby.

Loves riding in the baby bjiorn.

(good thing too with how on the go we have to be)

Likes to sleep next to me in bed

Happy.

Loves to be swaddled.

Loves her Pacifier.

(as do I)

Healthy.

Still growing...not sure her stats, but she looks good. :)

Has her brothers wrapped around her little finger.

(Anytime I need something done for Stella, wet wipes, diapers, blankets, throwing something away, if I say it is for Stella they jump right up and help.)

2011-12-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

A Christmas Miracle

Dec. 13, 2011

You think I am joking, but seriously, look. I got both of them smiling and looking at the camera, and not wiggling (making them blurry) at the exact same moment, and look cute all at the same time! I was amazed!

2011-12-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ward Christmas Party

Dec. 9, 2011

I made Reindeer shirts with the kids for Christmas. They have loved wearing them, so we dressed them all matching in their shirts for our ward party. The Christmas party as a lot of fun and the kids looked really cute. They acted out the Nativity (Jackson was a Shepard and Bennett was a Cow) and Santa came to visit.

2011-12-22T15:01:00.002-07:00

So Happy Stella.

Dec. 8, 2011

Stella is smiling all the time now, and I LOVE it! It is so cute to see her face light up. She is a constant bundle of happy. She gets fussy when she is hungry or tired,.....or if I eat chocolate (her stomach doesn't agree with the chocolate) , but other than that, she is a happy little girl.

2011-12-20T21:48:00.001-07:00

What You Don't Watch T.V. like this?

Dec. 6, 2011

2011-12-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

The Boys Love Their Free Amusement Park.

Dec. 11, 2011

Please note: Marc spotting as he is trying to not get dizzy as he is spinning around (he would've made a great ballerina). ha.

2011-12-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Video of Bennett

Dec. 8, 2011

He loves to sing an he absolutely knows ever word to ABC's, Baa, Baa, Black sheep, and Twinkle Twinkle (he loves that they are all the same tune. He sings them right and he also sings them all mixed up)

2011-12-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Quilt from Grandma Nae

Dec. 7, 2011

I haven't ever taken pictures of Stella and the Quilt that my mom made her. It is so cute! And Stella decided to try on a little bling (she is wearing my wedding ring, since I no longer can. Strange story, but it makes my finger break out in a rash every time I wear it)

2011-12-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

Stella's Room

I just realized I had never posted a picture of Stella's cute room. All the decorations were decorations from my Baby shower. They are just going to through them out, when I asked if I could keep some of it for her room. I thought it turned out pretty cute.

2011-12-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Are we obsessed?

(End of Nov. 2011)

Yes, Yes, we are. We all love this little bundle of cute.

2011-12-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Stella's Blessing

Nov. 27, 2011

We blessed Stella the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We figured with this much family in town it was the best Sunday to do it. Marc's sister's family came up from San Diego too. I got better pictures on Rachael's camera, but need to get them from her. It was a good Sunday and Marc did a really nice job blessing her.

2011-12-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving

Nov. 23-26, 2011

We went out to Gr. and Gr. Tibbitts' house in Hemet and had so much fun! The boys couldn't get enough of the outside world! They loved that they could come out and in as they pleased (the amazingness of having a fenced in backyard all of your own...one day. one day). They had fun "swimming" in the fountains in the backyard, running around the grass, catching frogs and lizards, and riding bikes. Oh the joys of being a little kid again! We had fun watching old movies in the evenings and talking. We got to see the Jergensen's while we were down there too. The boys adore Lindsey (the girl with the yellow shirt), we really wish we lived closer to them! They are so much fun.

2011-12-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

The Grove

Nov. 22, 2011

We went to The Grove (an outdoor mall) close to our house. During the Christmas Season, they have a snowfall on the hour at 7 and 8 every night while they play Christmas music. It was so magical feeling when the snow fell and the boys seemed to love it! We also went and saw Santa that night (I need to get the picture from Rachael).

That was a lot of action for little Stella

Stella and Lynnlee hanging out.

2011-12-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Dinosaur Museum

Nov. 22, 2011

Gr. Mark and Gr. Nae came for a visit before Thanksgiving and took Jackson and Bennett to the Dinosaur Museum. Jackson has been dying to go here since the exhibit opened in July. It was a really lived up to everything the boys hoped it would be. We had a lot of fun looking at all the bones. Jackson really like the fossiled dinosaur eggs, and Bennett loved the fossiled dinosaur poop. There was a guy walking around with a piece of the poop and Bennett kept wanting to touch it.

Bennett touching dinosaur poop

2011-12-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Rain Rain.

Nov. 20, 2011

We had one of the craziest rainstorms, were it just poured rain and in about an hour this is what our playground area looked like. It was a Sunday and the kids and Marc had walked to church, so I went and picked them up, but as soon as they got home they put on their rain clothes and ran outside! They had so much fun playing in the rain and I seriously couldn't believe how deep the water was puddled.

2011-12-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Princess Birthday Party

Nov. 19, 2011

We have been invited to some fun themed birthday parties, where the kids have been encouraged to dress up. Our boys love it! However this birthday party was princess themed for a little friend of Bennetts (Audrey), and I wasn't sure how I was going to get them to dress for the party. Bennett had been talking about dressing like a Princess all week, so finally I just had to let him know that was not going to happen and the morning of the party Marc and I whipped up these costumes. Jackson was a knight in shining armor (we wrapped him in foil. ha.) and Bennett was prince charming. :)

2011-12-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

Smiling Stella

Nov. 18, 2011

She has just starting giving us the biggest grins the last few days and we are all in love.

2011-12-19T17:14:00.001-07:00

Stella One Month

Nov. 15, 2011

We love our little Stella and couldn't imagine life without her. This first month has been the Quickest and Longest month of my life! It has been an adjustment to have three kids. With Jackson in all day kindergarten I spend most days with just Bennett and Stella, so it isn't too hard to manage the two of them. It is our morning time from about 6:30 am-8:00am that we are running around in circles trying to put everything together. Since Stella isn't on a strict schedule yet, I never am quite sure what time she will wake up and if I will have to be feeding Stella and trying to get Jackson out the door to school. So that can being some craziness, but luckily I have good friends who have been so helpful and kind and thanks to Nancy I haven't had to drive carpool once since Stella was born. Luckily I can show up to her car totally dishevled with Bennett just in a t-shirt and undies, knowing we can just run right back upstairs and finish getting ready. I have a 2 out of 4 ratio, I feel really good if I can show up to her car in the morning with 2 out of the 4 of us ready to go. Usually, they have all had baths or showers, but only Jackson and one of the other two are competley ready to go. :) 2 out of 4, pretty good odds if you ask me.

Anyway, Stella is a really happy baby. We are starting to see little smiles and we all love it! The boys light right up when they see her grins. Stella is sleeping through the night...most nights, yeaa! She sleeps from about 10:30pm-6:30am, it is wonderful. She is a very easy going baby. I think she knows she has to fit into our lives and that we can't just revolve around her schedule. She attends Music Makers with us, helps in Bennett's co-op preschool, runs errands etc. She just sleeps through it all, attached to me in the Baby Bjiorn (thank heavens for that wonderful invention). :) She keeps a pretty normal schedule, eating every three hours and sleeping most of the time. She spends about 30 minutes after each feeding awake, but other than that she is sleeping. We sure love our little Stella!

Marc was taking care of Stella while I got the boys in bed one night and this is what I came out to find. A little mermaid asleep in her clam shell. :)

She told me she thinks we are doing a pretty good job taking care of her (hence the thumbs up)

Eyes open?! What, that is a rarity. We call her a Kitty Cat because she mostly keeps her eyes closed.

2011-12-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Veterans Day
Nov. 4, 2011

Marc had school off for the holiday, so we decided to take advantage of the day and cross some of the things off our "To Do Before We Leave LA" list. The kids and I have done quite a bit of exploring the city during the last 3 1/2 years, but with Marc so busy in school he hasn't always been able to come with us, so we decided we would take him to the Cabrillo Aquarium, it is a small, but free aquarium down in Long Beach. The kids of course loved going back to see everything again. The touch tank is one of their favorite parts of the aquarium and we got there just as they were opening it up (we couldn't have planned it better). After exploring the aquarium for a little while we took the boys out to the beach, so we could walk around the tide pools and see what we could find. It wasn't low tide, but we were still able to see quite a bit--Starfish, Crabs, and Sea Urchins. Then we took the long way home and drove a scenic coastal drive around the point of San Padro and back into Los Angeles. It was a lot of fun.

2011-11-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Stella's Photoshoot

Nov. 5, 2011

My extremely talented friend, Onjali, took these amazing pictures of Stella and the boys. I was really wanting some newborn shots of Stella and she also threw the boys into some of them. I absolutely LOVED how they turned out.

2011-11-30T15:10:00.001-07:00

Random Pictures of Stella

November 1-7, 2011

Stella Three Weeks Old

Bennett loves Stella and wants to sit next to her or get her pacifier every chance he gets. If I ask him to pick up his toys I get a blank stare and no answer, but if I ask him to grab a diaper and wet wipes for Stella he immediately jumps up and says, "Okay Mom!"

Marc and Stella

2011-11-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Halloween Trick or Treating

October 31, 2011

Marc was busy with school and studying, so after conquering the mall trick or treating I braved the trick or treating around the neighborhoods by myself. I strapped Stella in the baby bijorn and headed out. It was really cold, so I bundled a blanket over the bijorn to keep her toast--It was great. I was shocked at how great the boys behaved and that Stella slept through the whole thing! Yay Stella! And Marc was able to meet up with us for some of the fun at the end.

2011-11-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treating at the Mall

October 31, 2011

Our Mall just 5 minutes down the street had free trick or treating for the kids, so we decided to check it out. We went with our friends Ava, Elsa, Pierce, and Hallie. The kids loved running from store to store and since we were some of the first people there it was perfect and not too crowed, as time went on it was really crowed. I couldn't believe how much candy the boys walked away with.

2011-11-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Bennett's Preschool Class Party

October 31, 2011

Bennett goes to a little co-op preschool and we had a Halloween party during class on Halloween day. It was really fun. Courtney planned some great games and we all brought food. I brought a tray of monster teeth and monster fingers--they were fun and festive.

Bennett with his friends: L to R: Jersey, Ava, Audrey, Weston, Austin, Bennett, Caden

2011-11-30T14:55:00.001-07:00

Stella Halloween Morning

October 31, 2011

Two Weeks old

2011-11-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Ward Halloween Party

October 29, 2011

On Saturday evening we had a ward Halloween Trunk or Treat party. It was really fun! At the last minute Marc and Stella dressed up as a Ventriloquist and his doll. Now remember this was at the end of the night because we were so late getting out the door and the black lines on Stella's face had gotten smeared--so I think she looks more like a vampire or something, but it was a really cute costume at the party.

2011-11-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Carving Pumpkins

October 29, 2011

Saturday morning we promised the boys we would carve pumpkins. Jackson had drawn both his and Bennett's pumpkin faces a few days before, on paper, but it was Marc's job to transfer them onto the actual pumpkins. The boys had fun gutting the pumpkins and I enjoyed carving Stella's tiny pumpkin.

Bennett making the face that his pumpkin is making (not sure why it is sideways...sorry)

Jackson making the face that his pumpkin is making (not sure why it is sideways)

Not sure what they were doing...but they both kept sticking their heads inside their pumpkins

Stella with her pumpkin

2011-11-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Cover Ave. Halloween Carnival

Oct. 28, 2011

Jackson's school had a halloween carnival. I stayed home with Stella and Marc took the boys. It was the beginning of our Hallo-weekend. I felt like we had so many parties and halloween celebrations this year, it was nuts. But the boys loved it all. They had a magic show that everyone loved and then they had fun running around and seeing friends.

2011-11-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Stella: One Week Old

October 25, 2011

Stella is already proving to be a great baby. Most nights she sleeps from 10:00pm-6:00am....love that about her. I know this may change as she wakes up out of her sleepy stage, but I am sure enjoying it for now. I will take it foe as long as she will give it to me. Stella doesn't cry. When she wakes up and is hungry she groans and moans but never really crys. When Stella was born and we were at the hospital one of the nurses commented on her lack of opening her eyes saying, "Does she think she is a kitty and can't open her eyes yet?" We have laughed about this a lot and call her a kitty cat, because she rarely opens her eyes. She really prefers to keep them closed. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this about their newborns, but I can always tell how my newborns must have spent a lot of their time curled up inside of me looking like. For example, one of Bennetts legs was always folded underneath his other leg after he was born, he would revert back to this position all the time. And now with Stella she sits with both her legs folded together around her bottom. It is really cute...you can see it in one of the pictures below. Stella also loves her sponge baths and is super calm during them....so unlike my boys who cried a lot during them.

2011-11-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Stella and Lynnlee

October 23, 2011

While my parents were here Rachael and Jonathan came out the visit us too. It was fun to put Stella and Lynnlee next to each other and think about what great cousins and friends they will be one day. Stella is lucky and will have 4 girl cousins within a year of each other. Amyah will be about a year older, Lynnlee is 4 months older and Lucy is about a month younger

2011-11-28T15:19:00.002-07:00

Visit from Grandpa Mark and Grandma 'Nae

October 19-24, 2011

After Stella was born my parents came to help out for a few days. I was really lucky, because we were't sure that we would get to have them come and help and it turned out Stella came at THE PERFECT time and they were able to come. The boys had so much fun playing with my parents and I was able to get a little more relaxing time in with them around. My parents took Jackson to and from school everyday (something that I am realizing is going to be my biggest challenge with Stella. My recovery etc, has been VERY smooth, but I am realizing the challenge with three is going to be keeping a tight schedule. I feel like with the other two I had to adjust to other things, but keeping a routine up, when I have no idea what Stella will be doing each day is a major challenge). Anyway, sorry for that tangent. It was great to have them here.

The boys enjoyed a trip to get pumpkins from the grocery store and a doughnut stop one of the days. Many trips down to the playground to play and Jackson loved showing them his school. Bennett followed my mom around every morning. He would sit by her while she got ready and play with her make-up bottles and "chat" with her (very unusual for the boy who tends to favor the males in the house rather than all of us females. ha.). I was sad to have them leave a few days after they got here. However I knew I needed to get things pulled together on my own again. I knew that whether they left a few days after they came or a month after they came I would never feel ready or want them to go. :) I also was able to take comfort in the fact they would be back in a month for Thanksgiving celebrations.

Stella getting her first Bath at home.

Grandpa Mark and Stella

Grandma 'Nae and Stella

Bennett Styling Grandpa's hair

Dad and Stella

Going to Pick out a Pumpkin and get Doughnuts from Primos (the best Doughnuts!)

2011-11-10T15:25:00.001-07:00

Introducing....

(since people are dying for pictures, I will post this and then come back and edit it later with the birth story...so you can come back and read that later, if you are interested) :)

Stella Janae

Oct. 17, 2011

7 lbs 12 oz

21 inches long

2011-11-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

Before our computer crashed I uploaded a few random photo's to Marc's laptop so I am going to go back and make a few quick posts. I will have to come back and write a little, but I have had so many requests from people wanting to see pictures of Stella, so I will quickly get caught up and then just come back to these sometime... :)

2011-11-09T17:53:00.002-07:00

Disneyland with Dad.

October 2011

2011-11-09T17:29:00.002-07:00

The Adamson House in Malibu

September 2011

2011-11-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Bennett's First Day at Preschool

September 2011

2011-11-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Griffith Observatory

September 2011

2011-11-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

Disneyland (with Dad and Rachael/Jonathan/Lynnlee)

September 2011

2011-11-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

Rapunzel Birthday Party.
September 2011

The boys were invited to Elsa's Rapunzel Birthday Party, where everyone was invited to dress up. The boys insisted on being characters from the movie, so I quickly made these hats for them to wear to the party. They had so much fun.

2011-11-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten.
September 9, 2011

So before our computer crashed I uploaded a few random photo's to Marc's laptop so I am going to go back and make a few quick posts. I will have to come back and write a little, but I have had so many requests from people wanting to see pictures of Stella, so I will quickly get caught up and then just come back to these sometime... :)

2011-10-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have been delaying all the posting because our computers hard drive crashed and from now...I have absolutely NO PICTURES!!! Am I freaking out, yes. Was I relived to hear that they can get all the pictures off of the hard drive, yes. But was I completely depressed when I found out that it would be for an extremely steep price...yes. I know I should have had these backed up on an external hard drive and I know I am a complete idiot for of not doing it. Yes, yes, yes! I know. But I just had to explain why there have been no posts as of late and why all the posts below don't have pictures for now.

Sheesh. Just a wake up call for anyone show doesn't have their pictures backed up. Don't do what I did.

Michelle

2011-10-12T21:39:00.004-07:00

Visit from Grandma Nae and Grandpa Mark
August 3, 2011

My parents came down to spend a few days with us and Rachael and Jonathan. I picked my parents up from the airport and then we headed back to our apartment. Rachael and Jonathan came out from Loma Linda and spent a few days out here with us. Marc and Craig unfurtonatly had school and couldn't join us for most activities, but we did get to spend a little time with them too.

We had a fun day at the beach with them the first day. We also enjoyed a night out to dinner at the Cheesecake factory...delish! Bennett was trying so hard to figure out how to chew with his mouth closed, it was hilarious.

The next day we went to the Getty Villa (in Malibu). It was beautiful. We enjoyed wandering around and then ate our lunch in a picnic area. We had to get home so that Marc could get to school and we could drive out the see Craig and eat dinner out at his place in Pamona. We enjoyed exploring Chino Hills a little and eating a Subway. Then headed back to LA to sleep.

The next day we drove out the Rachael and Jonathan's place and then out to Hemet to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Tibbitts. We had fun seeing them and of course had to make a stop in the Candy Closet. My boys know all about this one and are ready to head into the closet as soon as they are given the go ahead.

That night my parents stayed out in Loma Linda with Rachael and Jonathan and I headed back to LA with the boys.

Marc and I drove out the Rachael and Jonathan's place on Saturday Afternoon. My parents went to Craig's White Coat Ceremony that morning and then on Sunday Rachael and Jonathan were blessing Lynnlee.

Sunday Evening we drove my parents to the airport and said our goodbyes. It was sad to see them go, but we were glad we go to spend some time with them.

2011-10-12T21:39:00.003-07:00

Rachael's Birthday.
August 11, 2011

Rachael and Jonathan came out to our place to spend Rachael's birthday. It was really fun! We went to the Hollywood Bowl Summer Sounds Concert in the morning. The kids LOVED this! We came home napped and hung out, until Marc got home from school. Then we went out to dinner at Islands. We L-O-V-E their hamburgers, fries and onion rings! Ridiculously good. I will be missing this one when we move.

2011-10-12T21:39:00.001-07:00

Company.

We spent the next two weeks with family coming and going. Craig stayed with us and Rachael and Jonathan would come and visit off and on. We also went out there to help them set up their places of several days. It was crazy busy, but lots of fun.

2011-10-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Rasmussen Family Reunion:
Park City, Utah 2011

We spent 7 days with Marc's Family up in Park City. We stayed at the Marroitt Resort and throughly enjoyed ourselves. Marc flew in for this portion of the trip and we drove up and joined the rest of his family. We spent time swimming and sitting in the hot tubs all day long (it was heavenly). The boys enjoyed doing some of the free activities offered through the resort...storytime and crafts. They also enjoyed getting to know some of their cousins they had NEVER met, since most of Marc's siblings live on the east coast.

We enjoyed a trip down the Alpine Slide one afternoon.

We made the traditional Rasmussen Family Videos.

We had fun Hiking and finding Geodes.

We Celebrated Jackson's real Birthday Day.

We took Family Pictures.

We celebrated Free Slurpee Day.

We put puzzles together and played games.

And swam some more.

It was very relaxing. I think everyone enjoyed spending time together.

We said our goodbyes and headed down to Alpine for one day. We drove backroads/canyons to Alpine and spotted two Moose and some beautiful scenery. It was a fun drive and I saw parts of Utah I had never seen before.

The next day we drove home with Nancy and her girls. That same day my Dad helped Craig, Rachael, Jonathan, and Lynnlee move to California.

2011-10-12T21:38:00.001-07:00

Road Trip to Utah
June 30, 2011

Nancy and I loaded our kids into the van and headed to Utah for two weeks. The road trip went surprisingly smoothly. The kids were relatively good. We made very few stops. We did make a stop in Southern Utah at Grandma and Grandpa (Nancy's girls great grandparents) house, that was really great! It gave the kids a chance to get out and run around, have a bathroom break, and eat some fresh fruit. Bennett was certain that they were his grandparents too and when we got there he followed Ava and Elsa's lead and ran right to them yelling, Grandpa, Grandma! and giving them big hugs. :) Funny boy.

Nancy and I enjoyed chatting and catching up on life, while the kids enjoyed sticker books,movies, books on tape, and coloring. Luckily, the Johnson's share our love of Taco Bell and we stopped and got ourselves some for lunch. We made it in good time and really had fun.

We then seperated and went our seperate directions as Nancy and her girls met up with her mom and spent time with them, while we headed to Alpine for a few days and up to Park City for a family Reunion with Marc's family. We really had a lot of fun and did a lot of great things. We were sad to leave Marc at home over the 4th of July, but were excited that, that weekend turned into a mini family reunion for all of my siblings and parents. It was fun to see everyone for a few days.

We were also able to celebrate (early) the three July 9th Birthday's, while we were all together. Jackson loves sharing a birthday with Craig and Ryan. And some how everyone ended up in the pool (on Jonathan's brithday celebration) a family tradition to throw the summer birthday kids into the pool.

We of course enjoyed some Cafe Rio.

And some fun Fireworks of the 4th of July.

2011-10-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Jackson's 5th Birthday Party
Science Party
June 24, 2011

Jackson has been planning this party for the last year. He typically picks his new party idea, the day after (literally) his party for that year and really sticks with it. So last year he decided that this party was going to be a Science Party. I was a little nervous on how I would plan it, but is was a lot of fun and practically planned itself, once I decided to do a bunch of science experiments with the kids. I was able to plan it on a day when Marc was going to be around to help and thank goodness for good friends, my friend Nancy, took pictures of the whole event so that I could just concentrate on the party and getting experiments ready. Thank you Nancy!

When each "scientist" arrived we gave them their goggles, lab coats, and gloves. They looked so cute! It was hilarious how excited they were about everything going on. Then we sat down at the table and got started with the experiments.

The List of Science Experiments:
-Cleaning Pennies with Hot Sauce
-Making Grape Soda from Grape Juice
-Slime
-Making Snow
-Finding Iron in Cereal with Magnets
-Ivory Soap in the Microwave
-Elephant's Toothpaste
-Magic Sand
-I know there were a few more, but I can't think of all of them.

For the cake, I decided to just make cupcakes and make them experiments too. I made one "mad scientist" for the top of the cake and then on all the other cupcakes I put a little cup of pop rocks on top and the kids dumped them over their cupcakes and then ate the "exploding" cupcakes. They thought this was great! And I thought doing less work on a cake this year was great! ha.

Jackson had a blast! In their party bags we gave them "test tubes" filled with Skittles, all their scientist apparel, their little bag of slime, and a jello and worms petri dish. It was a really fun party and will definitely be convincing Bennett to do this party in the future.

2011-09-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Jackson is 5.

Wait what? I have a five year old?! Crazy.

I wouldn't change anything.

We love having Jackson in our family.

Jackson is so sweet to Bennett (they give each other brother snuggles or like to snuggle wrestle...whatever that means, it usually looks just the same as wrestling).

Jackson is intense. Meant in the most loving way. ha. No really, he is very focused and dedicated to things when he puts his mind to it. He knows what he wants and he knows how to let us know. He is much more of a worrier than Bennett. I think poor Jackson takes after me in this reguard.

Jackson is kind hearted. He really looks out of others. He likes to make sure that everything is always alright for everyone around him. If someone is upset, I don't like it. If someone tries to do something to Bennett, Jackson is right there to protect him. He wants everyone to just get along. The other day he said, "people can be so mean to each other, so when I see this, I try to just tell everyone to just be friends with everyone. But sometimes I just be nice to the kid who is being sad."

Jackson is always worried about others feelings. He is a very loyal friend. If he thinks someone is trying to hurt or by mean to someone he cares about (family or friends) he will take a major stand. Sometimes I have to remind him that being mean or rude to someone else, doesn't necessarily help a situation, even if they are being mean. ha.

Jackson is a diplomat. He knows how to word things to make us give him things. We might say no, but then eventually we end up saying yes, because he knows how to twist things in his favor. He never takes no for an answer. He won't always through a major fit, but he will stop and say, 'Okay, okay mom, well we could do it this way then...." or "I know you don't want me to do it now, but like after I eat lunch could I..." etc.

Jackson told us a few weeks ago: "Why does everyone call me Jack?" "Well, it is a short version of Jackson. What do you think about people calling you Jack?" "Well, I like Jack, but I like Jackson better. Its okay if you want to call me that sometimes, but I like Jackson mostly."

Interview with Jackson:

What is your Favorite Show?
-I think I have 3 or 4...the Pirate Show (Jake and the Neverland Pirates), Wild Kratts, Phineas and Ferb--that's all.

What is your favorite Color?
-Blue definitely blue...and red.

What is your Favorite Toy?
-That must be all of them! ...Any stand outs?! "I said ALL of them!...okay, so maybe I like my remote control cars a little more than the rest."

What is your Favorite Thing to do with Dad?
-Wrestle, when we is like a Bulldog and he wrestles us. He crawls around and makes funny noises and we try to get on top of him when he doesn't notice.

What is your Favorite Thing to do with Mom?
-Is to go to the playground with you, and also my favorite thing at the playground is the swings.

What is your Favorite Food?
-Lets just do what I like right now, because what I like is Pasta right now. I don't know what I really LOVE right now.

What is your Favorite Book?
-The Magic Tree House Books

What is your favorite Shirt to Wear?
-My favorite shirt to wear, is that BYU shirt with someone that is awesome at Basketball at BYU....you know which one? I can't remember his name right now. (His BYU Jimmer t-shirt)

What is your Favorite Ride at Disneyland?
-You know what it is...it starts with.. "PPPP...." ....It is Pirates of the Caribbean.

Who are your Friends?
-Ava, Pierce, Elsa, Donavin, Chloe and Lia...oh and my little Justin.

What do 5 year olds like to do?
-I like...well, I like riding on the school bus to a museum or to a place to do something fun...like a field trip.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
-A firefighter. Definitely a firefighter.

Favorite Phrases:
-No, No, No Mom, I know. I have another idea.
-I didn't mean right now, I mean, like, lets do that sometime.
(Both of the above phrases come when he gets turned down for getting/doing something)
-Oh Benny. Bennett is such a funny boy.
-Snuggle Wrestle Time!
- (name of someone) is going to LOVE this!
-Yeah, I will do that when I am a bigger boy.
-Are you serious? Or Are you being totally serious?"
-How does_____ work? (insert earthquakes, volcanoes, sinks getting water, lights, science things of any type)
-Totally
-Definitely
-I know, I know.

Some Favorite Places to go...
-The Beach! He could stay there for hours and hours (...and we usually do when we go). He loves to collect Sand Crabs and play in the water (he laughs so hard when a wave knocks him over).

-Museums. He always asks when we will go to one. He loves learning and seeing new and old things. We have gone to the California Science Center more times than I can count.

-Disneyland. We have been so lucky to have Season Passes to Disneyland for the last 3 years! It has been so fun. I feel like we really have been able to explore all the fun things there and be apart of the "magic" at least once a month.

-The Playground/Pool. We usually spend all afternoon (while Bennett is napping) down at our playground or over at our pool (when it is warm enough).

2011-09-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

Jackson's Pre-K Graduation.
June 15, 2011

Jackson had such a fun year attending Clover Ave.'s Pre-K program. He would go 4 days a week (mon.-thursday) from 8:00-10:30. We carpooled to school with our good friends and neighbors, Nancy and Ava. It was nice for Nancy and I not to have to drive everyday and the kids had fun riding together. Jackson met a lot of new friends (Chloe, Lia, and Caiden) were a few of the stand outs, but with a class of only 15 kids I think they were ALL friends! It was a fun class. His teacher was teachers were Renee and Ms. Kim, they were firm, but loving. Perfect for getting these kids ready for ALL DAY kindergarten. I have been so nervous about about all day kindergarten! For his graduation they put on a really cute program, singing songs and dancing. They also had the principal presented each child with a diploma. It has been a fun year. It is crazy how fast this year went!

(Also, our camera was broken this day, so I need to get pictures from friends, that I had helping me out,

but for now enjoy this video).

2011-09-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

Updates are coming!

I know, pathetic, but this pregnancy, combine with family coming and going, a broken computer, and another broken camera has made posting on this little blog slightly tricky the last two months! But I think I am almost in the clear and things are getting back to normal.

--michelle.

2011-06-25T12:28:00.001-07:00

....did I mention we are having a BaBY!
June 25, 2011

...And did I tell you that its A GIRL!? Yes, I know I am terrible to have not already posted this. So I apologize. Anyway, we are having a girl in October and I couldn't be more excited! It's funny though, because I really didn't think it was a girl and now it still doesn't feel real.

I feel like it might be wrong and it may end up being a boy at Labor and Delivery, I just didn't get a really confident its a girl from the ultrasound technician. It was more along the lines of..."well, I don't see anything to lead me to think it is a boy, lets call it a girl." yea, I am not sure who would be confident with a response like that.

However, she told me she is NEVER wrong! I almost laughed out loud when she said that, because I wanted to ask, "Really, so you follow up with all your patients after labor and delivery?" Right.

Anyway, I am not sure how to plan for a MAYBE its a girl. So I may have to bite the bullet and pay the extra money to have an additional ultrasound done. I mean, we know how to handle and dress boys around here, but a girl is another story. We may need a little preparation for that. If I ever get a more definite answer from an ultrasound, I will let you know. :)

2011-06-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

June 21, 2011
Jackson's Thoughts

Today during lunch I was talking to Jackson and asked him "What is the hardest thing about being a kid?"

Jackson: "It is hard that I always get in trouble and I don't know how to not get in trouble. Its like I don't know all the right rules or something"

2011-06-20T13:12:00.001-07:00

Sunday June, 19, 2011

Jackson (during Sacrament Meeting): "Mom, I used to think that the church just gave out food (the bread and water) as a snack to be nice to us, but now I know that the food has the spirit in it, so when we eat it, the spirit inside the food, helps us remember Jesus."

(This probably should be a post about Fathers Day, but with Marc out of town, it didn't feel much like fathers day. We did give him a few things before he left, but all the pictures we took are also on the camera he took with him. So I will post about it when he gets home). :)

2011-06-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

Favorites with Jackson and Bennett.

June 5, 2011

I asked Jackson and Bennett a series of questions (I asked Bennett first and Jackson second) and these are the answers I was given....

Favorite Fruit:

Bennett: Banana

Jackson: Apples

Favorite Cereal:

Bennett: Donuts (Fruit loops/apple jacks)

Jackson: Lucky Charms

Favorite Candy:

Bennett: Tootsie Rolls

Jackson: Licorice and Lolly pops

Favorite Food:

Bennett: Macaroni and Cheese

Jackson: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Favorite Word:

Bennett: Hold on

Jackson: Smart

Favorite Toy:

Bennett: 2 Lightening McQueens (it is true he always has to have one in each had if he is playing with them)

Jackson: My bike

Favorite Activity:

Bennett: Playground

Jackson: Bowling

Favorite Book:

Bennett: Duck, Rabbit and Elmo book

Jackson: The Friend Magazine

Favorite Animal:

Bennett: Giraffe

Jackson: Elephant and Dogs

Favorite Color:

Bennett: Orange

Jackson: Blue

Yuckiest Food:

Bennett: Mushrooms

Jackson: Squishy Baby Food

Who are your friends:

Bennett: Mom, Dad, Papa, Beary

Jackson: Gr. and Gr., Tyler, and Susie, Chloe, Ava, Taylor, Caiden, and Jacob

If you could go anywhere in the world:

Bennett: Mountains, fly with birds.

Jackson: Gr. and Gr. house

What is your bad habit:

Bennett: Picking Bennett's Nose

Jackson: Picking my nose and then eating it.

2011-06-05T22:22:00.003-07:00

Two things about Jackson.
June 5, 2011

Okay, so Jackson brought home a homework assignment from school to draw a picture of what he wants to be when he grows up, he has wanted to be a firefighter for about the last year. I am not exactly sure what triggered this desire, but it has definitely been at the top of his list for a long time. Anyway, this was the picture he drew and I thought it was really cute. So it is a Firefighter with his dalmatian dog, a green hose to put out the fire on the building. There are blue clouds and a sun in the sky.

Second. Today, I sat him and Bennett at the table to draw and do artwork of all kinds, when I was fixing dinner. He brought a picture of his outlined foot to me and said, "This is so Bennett can see how big his feet are growing and when they get to be my same size. And it is for you so you will never forget how little my feet used to be."

2011-06-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Disneyland.

We have been trying to squeeze in a few last days of Disney before it "blacks-us-out" for the rest of the summer. We love Disneyland and may not renew our passes, what with our crazy life changes ahead, so we have to get as many days in as possible.

Before we left for Disneyland a few days ago, Bennett kept on saying, "Bennett, get 'busy' on the 'sippy cups'!" I truly couldn't figure out what this little child was trying to tell me, but eventually I realized he was saying, "Bennett get 'dizzy' on the 'tea cups'!" So of course we had to go on the tea cups that day and when we got off he pretended he was sooooo dizzy and said, "Bennett get 'busy' on the 'sippy cups'!" and tipped over on the ground. He is developing quite the personality.

Jackson spent almost the entire tram ride back to the car in serious silence, when suddenly he piped up and said,"Oh, I get it now! (and immediately rushed into saying) So, that long part down the middle of the car has poles that come out of the sides that have 4 wheels attached to them. So when you turn the steering wheel all the wheels can turn and you can drive the car or this tram. Right mom?!"

yes, jackson, yes.

Hanging out by the Tiki Room

A little buzz lightyear.

The Carousel

The Tea Cups

As much fun as Disneyland is, apparently there is still time to take a break

and take care of some business once in a while.

Bennett get 'busy' on the 'sippy cups'!

2011-06-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day.
May 29, 2011

We spent our Memorial day lazially at the beach. Marc played football (in the morning) at the beach and then we came out and met him later. It was a fun day. Jackson wasn't feeling so great and we could tell because he usually spends ALL DAY in the water at the beach, but he wasn't hardly getting in. We asked him why and he said, "I kept trying to get in, but my body kept telling me it was too cold for me and making me feel dizzy." Sad, but also very cute.

We spent the evening BBQ-ing with friends (wish I would have snagged a few pictures, but it was a lot of fun).

2011-05-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

Jackson, Jackson, Jackson.
May 23, 2011

This morning I helped in Jackson's school classroom and while we were painting pictures of flowers, he looked at me and said, "Do you know why Heavenly Father made flowers so pretty?"

Why?

Jackson: "So that it would keep kids busy. Because kids look at them and run around from flower to flower and smell them and pick them for their moms."

Later, Jackson was talking to my Dad on the phone about buying something and my Dad was saying how things cost money and we can't buy everything etc. Then Jackson said, "Well, parents have to buy their kids things, because kids get bored all the time."

2011-05-17T17:38:00.001-07:00

Funny kid.

I have been working on Jackson and Bennett's baby books and Jackson walked in the room and from over my shoulder I heard him say...

"That's a picture of me and Dad talking about our day, without

having to use any words, because I couldn't talk yet."

2011-05-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Jackson's Latest Dance Moves.

Jackson and Bennett LOVE to dance. Jackson turns on the music and plays DJ at least once a day.

2011-05-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day.
May 8, 2011

2011-05-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Haircuts.
May 5, 2011

I finally took the boys, to Kelli, for some much needed haircuts. By the time we got there, Jackson was refusing to get his cut (he apparently likes his longer do). I did get him to get a trim, but it wasn't much. Bennett got a crew cut and looks really cute. Not that Jackson doesn't look cute, but I really like how clean and fresh Bennett's hair feels. :) Jackson definitely looks like a "California Beach Dude" as he says. :)

2011-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Rachael and Jonathan.
May 6, 2011

We were so lucky to have Rachael and Jonathan stop by out house and spend a day with us on their way to Long Beach for the weekend. It was so fun to have them! We didn't do much, but it was a fun day at the beach and just being around out apartment. Bennett definitely favors the boys over the girls, we are discovering. It seemed that anytime Rachael asked if she could help Bennett with something he would say no. But right after Jonathan would volunteer and Bennett would quickly say, "Okay Jonafan. Tank you!" And he would smile at Rachael as he would say it. The little stinker.

2011-05-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Beach Days.
May 3, 2011

We went to be beach non-stop last week. We went 5 out of 7 of the days that week! We had temperature in the high 80's and we couldn't resist going! It was beautiful! Bring on summer, please. My boys both love the beach, so it makes it even easier to go. Neither of them ever want to leave, but Bennett is definitely a little more nervous about the water than Jackson. As we are walking up to the water he will start screaming and say, "Bennett, no water!" But then after digging in the sand for a little while, he will slowly approach the water and loves when the waves come in up to his tummy. Jackson, on the other hand, jumps right in...the minute I tell him he can. He dashes down to the water with lightening speed. It is really fun to have the beach only 10 minutes away. We are very lucky.

2011-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

California Science Fair.
May 2, 2011

My cousin Lindsey was in California's State Science fair (extremely impressive, if you ask me! She made from her school, through her district, through regional's, and then into the State Fair). It just so happened that the State Science Fair is just 15 minutes away from us, so we got to see her and her project and explore the Science Center. Her project was impressive, maybe not to Jackson, he was expecting an exploding volcano.... :) But I really was impressed with everything my Aunt told me she had done with it.

The Science Center is a fun place to explore too! We have been there on 3 other occasions and still have yet to see it all. And to top it all off, its a FREE museum! The kids loved being with Lindsey and she was so nice to them. She would lift them up and tell them to hurry over to see something constantly. We need to live closer to her, she would make the BEST babysitter. :) My boys haven't stopped talking about seeing her since that day. Jackson had always referred to Lindsey as "the girl in the yellow shirt" because the first time he met her she was wearing a yellow shirt, but this was the first time that he kept calling her Lindsey and has been calling her that since. :)

It was so fun to see family and to top it all off Lindsey took 3rd in her division at the Science Fair. Way to go Lindsey!

2011-05-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Soccer Clinic.
April 27, 2011

Jackson really wanted to pay soccer after basketball ended a few months ago, but soccer isn't offered for kids under 5, so I found a Soccer Clinic at our rec center. He loves it! He is doing the clinic with his cute friend Chloe. They have a lot of fun and I get to visit with Kris during practice, win, win. :)

2011-05-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

More Easter Pictures....

I swear I already posted these a few days ago and they magically disappeared?! Weird. Anyway, here are a few more pictures of the boys in their matching Easter outfits. :)

2011-05-13T10:36:00.003-07:00

Underwood Family Farms
April 26, 2011

I was so excited to go on Jackson's school field trip with him a few weeks ago. We went to Underwood Family Farms and picked strawberries! We took a 45 minute bus ride to the farm, good thing I had my friend Kris with me, it made loud, crazy kids on the bus a little more fun. :) Once we got there they taught us somethings about growing vegetables (which was actually quite interesting...I think I learned a few things too). Then we took a wagon ride out to the strawberry fields/patch and picked and ate and picked some more until our containers were full. I loved watching Jackson get so excited about picking them or finding an especially red/ripe one. We ate lunch after and then went to their petting zoo and slid down the most awesome slide they had made out of an old tractor! It was really cool.

2011-04-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday.

I set out the boys easter baskets so they would see them in front of the t.v. in the morning when they woke up. I heard Bennett's little footsteps run across the floor and stop suddenly. Then I heard him run back towards his bedroom and yell, "Jackson! Candy! Candy, Jackson! Wake up!" Then his little feet ran back out into the family room followed soon after by Jackson's heavier footsteps. I was smiling as I got out of bed and snapped a few pictures of them. We had church at 9:00, so we had to get ready quickly and Marc had meetings, so I was left with the boys, trying to get us all ready and fast.

Easter afternoon we spent lazily together and then that evening we had a dinner with some of our friends in one of the courtyards. It was really fun. Brent (one of our little friends) pulled the fire alarm, making the event especially memorable. All of the kids were scared the firemen where going to take Brent to jail and were crying and upset (it was actually quite comical). We followed dinner with an Easter Egg hunt.

They let Bennett and a few of the other kids head out first (to get a head start) and then let the bigger kids come. Bennett would pick up eggs and then shack them and drop them or put them in his basket. At first I wasn't sure what he was doing and then I picked up one of the eggs he dropped back down on the ground and it felt empty. I opened it up and found a few stickers in inside, but apparently without the jingling candy in the egg he thought it was empty and was dropping it back on the ground. funny kid.

2011-04-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Coloring Easter Eggs.

I know I am late on this, but I still need to get it up here.

On Saturday morning we had a Ward Easter breakfast at a park nearby. It was a lot of fun and someone from the ward brought their pet bunny, which of course stole the show. What a perfect pet to bring to the easter party. Our kids couldn't get enough. Bennett kept laughing and saying, "Bunny, soft!" And Jackson kept telling everyone the Easter Bunny had come to our party, but would then turn to me and say, "This isn't really the Easter Bunny. There isn't really a real easter bunny I am just getting the other kids excited." ha. That kid kills me.

After the party we headed to Costco and bought a camera! yay. I really didn't want to miss out on getting Easter pictures, as sad as I was to choke down the money to buy a camera.

We colored Easter Eggs in the afternoon Saturday and had a lot of fun. I was surprised that the kids really could have gone on coloring forever. As soon as Bennett would have one egg done, he would scream, "More, Please!" (At least the shouting had a please in it, right?!)

Jackson was very thoughtful about the colors he was picking or how he would color on the eggs with a crayon. He was most proud of the egg he wrote his name on, because it was so tricky to do to with the clear crayon.

Bennett sneaking candy, before the coloring of easter eggs began and he broke 4 eggs before we began...who, what, me?!

2011-04-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Due to the loss of a camera (at Disneyland), I have had nothing exciting to post. However, we did finally get another camera a few days ago, so I will get Easter up asap.

2011-04-19T09:31:00.001-07:00

Poor Bennett.

He woke up like with this big puffy eye this morning?! Not a clue where it came from. Last night the boys spent their first night in their bunk beds (Bennett sleeping on the lower bunk bed), and so I asked him if he fell out of the bed and

he said, "No, Bennett not fall. Bennett comfy."

Then I said, "Well, do you know what happened to your eye?"

"Bennett, don't know. Bennett can't see, mom. Bennett go Doctor."

*Update: It is getting worse not better and when we saw the doctor this morning they told us to be back to the office bright and early tomorrow morning if the eye drops they prescribed him didn't improve the situation. Dang.

2011-04-05T15:12:00.002-07:00

Bennett's Tonsils and Jackson's latest funny.

So A. I didn't realize how many of the people in my very own family didn't realize all the issues we have been having with Bennett's tonsils. I mentioned it to two different people and was surprised that they didn't realize. Anyway, poor Bennett has had these huge tonsils in his mouth since the middle of January-ish. He doesn't eat very much and sometimes gag's on them.

I feel so bad for him!

The doctors solution?

Keep sucking out his nose and make sure he doesn't have mucus in it, so that eventually the tonsils will go down.

Should we remove them?

No, he is too young, is the doctors other answer.

So how long do we go on with this?

I don't doubt the doctor knows, but seriously, there has to be some end to this. At what point do they draw the line and do something for him? Poor guy.

So B. Here is a picture of him (this was taken Feb. 8, but his tonsils still look them same)

Jackson is such a great kid and we always enjoy his perspective on the world. Here are a few of his latest...

(This picture was taken just a few days ago while we have been

enjoying our 80 plus degree weather. You have to love southern california).

"My teacher told me that we come from eggs, so when Bennett came out of your tummy did you have to crack his egg open?" (April 4, 2011)

(Wait what? In all seriousness, his teacher really did tell him that we come from eggs, I sidestepped the topic and told him that his teacher made a mistake. He came home with a paper showing birds, snakes, etc, the things that come from eggs and it included us?! weird.)

"Did you know that Jesus is just sitting around in heaven waiting for us to call him? Like pray call him, you know mom?" (March 21, 2011)

"Mom if I swallowed this cheese quesadilla in one big piece (triangle shaped) it would get stuck sideways in my throat and stop all my other food from going down, but it might be a little choke-y." (March 17, 2011)

"Rain clouds get super heavy when they have rain in them. But when they have snow in them they are light and fluffy." (March 16, 2011)

2011-03-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Bennett Movie

I was trying to catch him saying a few things, but this movies catches a bit of his goofiness too.

2011-03-21T21:50:00.004-07:00

Happy Birthday Bennett.

Gosh, we love our little two year old Bennett. I don't know how the rest of you are, but I LOVE this stage. I feel like kids hit 18 months and then they just get more and more talkative and fun. Not that I don't love my babies, but I just really love toddlers. I think I am a lot more relaxed the second go around too. I think I was so worried about "Terrible Two's" that I got paranoid about everything Jackson did and thought he was going to be the worst kid ever, if, I didn't get everything straightened out and fast! Poor kid. Now I just realize it is a stage they don't understand everything, they are quite hilarous, they need some disapline, but they aren't the worst ever.

They are just testing us, the little sneaks.

Anyway, we celebrated Bennett's 2nd birthday this last week. We had a Teddy Bear Picnic theme, since he is obsessed with his "beary"--it goes just about everywhere with him. We have had a few scares of thinking the bear was lost forever and those were bad moments. Real bad moments.

The cake was made out of homemade fondant--a first for me to work with and very interesting. I learned my lesson of using marshmallow fluff versus actually melting marshmallows and just take it from me, don't try to cut corners. :) We had a good turn out at Bennett's party.

For the last few weeks when we would ask Bennett how old he was turning he would say 5. We had to keep correcting him and telling him 2. He had his age down by the party, but I think seeing all of Jackson's friends turn 5 in the last few weeks he just thinks that is the age you turn next (he really thinks he is as old as Jackson and friends).

By the time his birthday rolled around he was saying he was two and if anyone said "Happy Birthday", he would quickly add "Bennett!" It was really cute. At his party when he was opening gifts he would say, "Thank you, next. or Thank you, Bennett's present." It was really funny. He got so many nice things! Thank you to everyone!

(Jackson's present to Bennett. He was really worried he didn't have anything to give Bennett for his birthday so he hurried and made this cardboard dog the morning of)

a little bit about Bennett.

He is such a jokester. He likes to be funny and loves getting a laugh (especially a laugh from Jackson). In Bennett's prayers he will say funny things like, Thank you for Daddy Monster, (then peek up with a smile to see if anyone will start laughing).

He loves to swing. Loves to swing. He could be pushed on the swingset all day long.

He is a daredevil. He likes to hang from the monkey bars and cross the rope bridge (I will get a picture of this, because it is nuts he does this and scares me to death).

He says sorry, please, and thank you...constantly! He is a pleaser and likes to make sure everyone is happy and he has done all the right things.

He is very easy going. He has a great personality, laid back, but also knows what he wants and can let us know when he needs too.

He loves to carry around socks. Not sure what to say about this, but we find socks stuffed all around the apartment. :)

He thinks he is as old as Jackson. He thinks all of Jackson's friends are his friends and he can do everything they can. The other day I went to drop Jackson off at playgroup. Bennett ran in and up to Jacob (a little boy Jackson's age) and tried to tackle him and said, "Jacob wrestle. Wrestle Bennett!" It was really funny.
or when Jackson is doing his homework after school Bennett says, "Bennett homework" and we will make him a copy and he tries to do it just like Jackson and will try to act like he is asking me questions about it, like Jackson will.

He likes to play pretend: Some of his recent favorites...
-He crawls around the house meowing like a cat or barking like a dog. He will only come out of character to ask me to pet him.
-He like to walk around the house with tinker toys and "pow-pow" everything. Like the sticks are little guns. He got in trouble on the playground by a bunch of moms the other day from shooting their kids. Bennett was half the age of most of the kids he was "shooting" and he was about 5-6 feet away from the kids.

He loves tinker toys. He will carry them around the house and put them in my back pockets while I am cooking or busy cleaning (that is if he is not using them to defend himself and using them as a weapon).

He loves books. He will gather a bunch of books and sit on the couch to "read". Then when he is done with a stack he will gather more. It is really cute to be to watch him do this. On his birthday one of our friends gave him a book. I found him reading it at one of the tables later in the evening. He had found it on his own and was just enjoying the read.

This probably goes without saying, but Bennett LOVES Beary! He carries him EVERYWHERE I will let him. The first time we had to wash him I let Bennett stick him in the wash thinking it would make him feel better to know right where Beary was at and we could talk about him getting a bath...but by the time we got upstairs he was VERY upset. I tried to lay him down for his nap, but he would not go without beary. He cried and yelled for beary for 45 minutes. We finally got him out and took him down to the laundry to show him beary was okay and we would put him in the dryer. Bennett grabbed beary and did NOT let go of him and when anyone came near beary for the next 24 hours or so he would scream at them and say NO! Then run with beary in the other direction.

He is a major snuggler. And gives the BEST hugs on demand to almost anyone.

He will wake up in the middle of the night and yell, "Blanket's Mom blankets!" Until I go in and cover him up and he will grin and say, "Thank you mom." and go right back to sleep.

Bennett loves George. Or curious george as you might know him. It is his favorite show and really the only show he will sit and watch. He talks about george and I really think he understands george and feels like they can communicate in "eei eii ahh ahh" talk.

Some of the things he says the most often.

-I love you.
-Candy, mom, Bennett need candy.
-No, Bennett do it
-Hold on...hold on
-milk please
-hurry jackson
-Bennett help
-Thank you
-Sorry

Anyway, these are a few things about Bennett right now. I am surprised if you made it this far and apologize for all the stories etc, but I need to remember these things, so the blog is where they are going.

2011-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patricks Day.

I was helping in Jackson's school class yesterday and so I wanted to take in something a little St. Patricks Day-ish. Jackson and I worked hard on these rainbow cupcakes and they turned out pretty cute. Not as cute as the picture I was following, but still cute (and next time I would use a white cake mix so my colors would be more vibrant). The kids were super cute as they unwrapped them and found the surprise rainbow. Jackson also took a few things to his classroom from Ireland (they were things my Dad got while he was on his mission). He was so excited to tell his class about the things he brought and he did a really good job sharing it all.

For dinner we had green french toast, green milk, green apples and bacon (I opted to not color the bacon, it just didn't seem right).

2011-03-16T20:14:00.001-07:00

Jimmered.

I soooooooo wish this picture was in focus! I tried to get a picture of Jackson dancing around to "Teach me how to Jimmer" in prep for the "The Big" game tomorrow night and I just couldn't catch it. And when I asked him to slow it down a little or freeze so I could get a picture he said, "I don't have enough time to get all my moves in if I stop."

Go Cougs!

2011-03-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have to laugh because today at my Parenting Class (the LAST class), Bennett pulled out another great line. He threw a toy, yes my little boy is such an angel, so I went over to talk to him about it when he looked at me and yelled, "Hide! Hide! Mama's coming!" ...again I smiled, but quickly went over to talk to him about throwing things.

This is a classic Bennett grumpy face. He was saying, "no!" when I snapped this picture.

Anyway, I put him in a time out and then we was great for the rest of the class. After the class the teacher pulled me aside and asked me, "This is two weeks in a row. Why do you think he is reacting that way when you come towards him?"

Wait. what? Did she seriously just ask me that question? Is she trying to get me to say something...? What is she trying to get at? What does she want me to say? I just don't even know where to begin.

I just calmly said, "I think that is normal. Thanks for the great class. Bye." And quickly walked away from the classroom, before I said anything I might regret later.

I think I could have poked her. I was so upset!

She might be a teacher, but she knows very little about real life parenting sometimes.

2011-03-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

Parenting Class.

Jackson's preschool is offered free through the public school--it is a lottery process to get in and only 15 kids get into the morning class and another 15 get into the afternoon class. I was quite worried we wouldn't get in, and with kindergarten being full day here I really was desperate to get in and let him have something to transition into a school routine with. So, we did get in and have been going since september.

Anyway, the only price to attend the preschool is that you have to attend parenting classes for 12 weeks. It has been brutal, at times. The teacher is...weeeellll, not my most favorite person, she has strange advice, at times, and enjoys patting herself on the back (which can be humorous too).

So the reason I tell you this, is to tell you a funny story about Bennett. They ask you to not bring children, if possible, but I have to bring Bennett, so he has come along week after week with me. It is a 3 hour class and...well, I thought sacrament meeting was long. :)

Last week Bennett was playing quietly with another little boy when suddenly he dumped a huge box of blocks. 1. making a mess and 2. making an extreme amount of noise. After dumping the box he grinned at the little boy and started hitting some blocks together. I stood up to go talk with him. When he suddenly jumped up and said, "Oh no! Mama's coming! Run!"

It really was one of those shinning moments of parenthood. And I am sure the parenting instructor had some choice thoughts directed at me, but truly I couldn't help but laugh.

2011-03-11T12:18:00.004-07:00

blogging again.

Yes I am behind on this blog by over a year now.

Yes that is pathetic.

Yes I am sorry.

And Yes I vow to be better again.

I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law and realized, now that they live so far away, they won't get to see how cute (ha) my boys are on a regular basis, so I have to change that. I am blogging again. just forget this last year, because I can't be overwhelmed by it and I will start now. Bennett was just about to turn 1 last year at this time and now we are only days away from his second birthday, so hopefully you will recognize him (a lot has changed in a year :) ). Well, here's to a renewed sense of blogging.

I am going to take some things off an then I am going to make our blog public again too. SO much more simple that way. So in the mean time...while I update the title of of the blog and everything else, enjoy one new picture of the boys. And Jackson's thoughts about the tsunami today.

Jackson: "Mom are we going to die?"

Me: "No, it is really far away from here in a place called Japan."

Jackson: "But the news people said it was coming here."

Me: "Well, some waves will come here, but they won't be extremely large like in Japan and we aren't at the beach today, so we will definitely be okay. Don't worry about it, its okay."

Jackson: "Well, it might be okay for us, but what about all the people that it is NOT okay for! You think everyone has a place to sleep tonight and everyone is happy?! Well, you are wrong!" (as he ran in his room and slammed the door).

.....I guess we need to talk about this a little more.

On a bit of a lighter note, here is a picture of the boys from a hike we went on a few weeks ago.

2010-05-06T16:08:00.005-07:00

February 18, 2010

Marc had Preisdent's Day off from school, so we packed up the kids and headed to Leo Carrillo Tide Pools. Jenn and her two kids (Davis and Kate) joined us. We had a lot of fun and saw TONS of starfish. It was a bit of a cold day, but a lot of fun. We were only disappointed, when we got back to our car and found someone had broken into our car! I am putting the post from my other blog, just for remembering sake.

I feel like I have been a step behind this whole week. My family came to town (yay!) and then our car got broken into (boo!), I am hosting a baby shower tonight (yay!), and I have been trying to get things organized around the house (boo!), but today just has to be the day that Jackson wants to drag everything out of his room to play with. I feel like it is the days I am the most busy or worried about keeping the house clean that Jackson decides to be his messiest. Like this morning when he decided to do a water experiment and plug up his bathroom sink with tissue while I was in the shower (ahhhh!). My little friend J.T. I blame you for this. I just know some how you taught him about water experiments. joking.

Anyway, can I restate the most horrible part of everything...our car getting broken into! Seriously and all for some stupid ipod. Luckily we didn't have anything of real value in our car, but what a horrible feeling. You come back to your car after a fun day only to find the passenger side window bashed in (glass EVERYWHERE!) and a riffled though car. Your personal things being touched by a stranger and a dirty and disgusting stranger at that. Who breaks into a car? Only really creepy yucky people! Are you kidding me?

Let me just share the stupidest thing about this guy, well he left a 10 dollar bill sitting on the car seat. Maybe that was our payment for him violating us, breaking our window, and stealing the ipod, but I actually think it was a $10 bill that slipped out of my pocket and I left in the car. What an idiot. Glad he didn't take it, but what an idiot.

And Jackson was really stressed by the situation, poor guy. But when he climbed into the car and got cut by a piece of glass (I really thought I had checked everywhere, but apparently not), a flood of tears came and it was hysterical crying. It took a good portion of the ride home for him to calm down, but eventually he did. And his conclusion was, If he could have been there he would have pow-ed the guy into the ocean, before he decided to pow our car. ha.

Anyway, the window has been replaced $200 dollars later (booooo!), but at least the car is functional again (yay!) and now I can run the errands I desperately need to run before tonight. Wish me luck.

2010-05-06T15:54:00.005-07:00

January 24, 2010

The great big move.

We were offered a three bedroom apartment on the Sawtelle side of the University Village. We spent time over Christmas break and a few days before the big move packing up. It was a crazy move to go from the Sepulveda side of UV to the Sawtelle side, it is so close, but yet just far enough that you have to pack up. I was really sad to leave the Sepulveda side, but I have LOVED living on the Sawtelle side. Just as an FYI: The Ucla University Village is divided by the 405 freeway, so half is on one side and half is on the other side of the freeway. Here are a few pictures the night we said goodbye to our old apartment.

2010-05-06T15:50:00.004-07:00

January 10, 2010

Poor Poor Bennett. I was vacuuming in the kitchen with the hose and I knew Bennett was close, but I also thought that the inside of the vacuum stopped spinning if you were using the hose. I was Soooo wrong. And poor Bennett stuck his hand under the vacuum while I had my back to him. This looks Sooooo much better than it did a few days ago. It was awful and I felt really bad.

2010-05-06T15:47:00.003-07:00

January 9, 2010

We introduced Bennett to raspberries and he LOVED them!

His love of them lead to a bath in the kitchen sink for him....and Jackson.

2010-05-06T15:35:00.005-07:00

January 2, 2010

Jackson and Bennett love to swing. If let them they could stay there all day.

2010-05-06T15:26:00.009-07:00

December 31, 2009

New Years Eve.

2010-05-06T15:21:00.004-07:00

December 22, 2009

Jackson saw snow falling and before I could stop him he was out the door.

December 22, 2009

Jackson saw snow falling and before I could stop him he was out the door.

2010-05-06T15:16:00.003-07:00

December 21, 2009

Marc's Birthday. iphone and cafe rio. need i say more?

2010-05-06T14:57:00.004-07:00

December 14, 2009

Disneyland.

We took a trip to Disneyland with Marc before headed back up to Utah for Christmas Break. It was a lot of fun. Jackson loves going on rides with Marc (he definitely picks to go with him over me, but truthfully I am glad. It is fun to watch Marc get to experience the fun things we do at Disneyland all the time). We stayed for the Christmas parade after dark and even splurged on a few churro's. It was a great day at Disneyland.

2010-05-06T14:15:00.003-07:00

December 11, 2009

Ward Christmas Party.

Marc and I were in charge of decorating for our ward Christmas party. It was a fun night with singing, decorating gingerbread houses and Santa.

2010-04-01T22:07:00.003-07:00

December 2, 2009

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time for a moment. Yes, many days I spend wishing for the next one to come, for the day that I won't live in a tiny apartment anymore or the day when Jackson and Bennett will truly be able to play together (and I will not have to spend hours pushing cars across our carpet), but for today I just want to freeze time. It's been one of those mornings where most things have gone right, where Jackson has been wearing a crown all day long (talking being the king of Mars and wanting Alien food for lunch....somebody help me know what that is?!) and Bennett has been far too happy and snuggly. I thought I may have kissed his chubby checks off, but then when he woke up from his nap I found they were still in abundance. :)