Provo in Logan

Oh how I love Spring and nice weather!!! I'm up in Logan right now with Cole and Dayne watching my brother's 3 boys for 9 days while they're in Hawaii. SOunds scary I'm sure but they're actually incredibly easy. My most important job (according to their mother) is to pry them off the Play Station once in a while so we can go outside. Cole loves it here 'cuz the house is huge and there's a never ending supply of toy cars, trucks and his favorite, airplanes. On our way up here Dayne threw up twice in the car. I was so worried that all 4 of the others would catch whatever she had and then I'd be watching 5 sick kids all week....ugh. But she seems fine today and I'm just counting the minutes down until Geof. gets here after his camping/rockclimbing trip he's on. Cam and Moni, I can't think of a radder name than Beck. I'm serious. I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!! However, I'm really into one syllable names (hence, Cole and Dayne) so you'll always get me with those. I'm sorry about moni. I was SOO sick with Cole. Maybe it's a boy thing. Who knows though, everybody's different. I just hope I'm not pregnant. I (like Dayne) was feeling a little under the weather all day and it made me SOO not miss that period in my life. And as you all know, Geof. said he would shoot us BOTH in the head if that was the case. Isn't he so sweet? Gotta go. I think it might be time for recess. Darla

ColoradoBennett

If you ever get the chance to visit Washington/Oregon in April, I really recommend it. We seemed to catch everything in bloom (except the roses) and I've never been more impressed with the beauty of that area. Sierra can't stop talking about how much she misses her cousins and every once-in-a-while Kaia will look at me and say "Pimmers?" (meaning Wilohm).
We are now battling getting back into the groove of life at home. A garbage disposal repair-man said he was coming this morning between 8 and noon. I was really counting on him being closer to 8 so that I could go to a jewelry making class with my mom, but now it is 11 and he still isn't here. Such is life.
Cameron, I still think you guys should use the name Tristan. I don't see any problem with having two of 'em running around. I'm so sorry to hear that Monica was so sick. It is really difficult to keep up with two kids and everything else when you feel crummy.
Chels, that picture of your new baby sister is amazing. I'm sure our Tristan is that size right now. I hope those babies are doing well.

Crabb's

You have to think that the Crabb family has fallen off the face of the earth. I'm sorry we have been so bad at writing lately. A lot has happened and I'm not sure where to start.

About 2 weeks ago Monica had another Doctors appointment. We were told then that we would be having a little boy! She was about 85% sure anyway. We'll be able to see more when we go back in 2 weeks. So the jury is out trying to decide what the name will be. We need to decide do we want 2 Tritan's in the family or do we go with our next choice which is Beck Marc Crabb. Let me know what your vote is. If by some chance it is another girl I think we will name her Amelia. Monica is doing great. She hates this in between stage where she thinks she looks fat and not pregnant. I keep telling her she's crazy. She is finally feeling better. The first 12 weeks were really bad. She had not really been sick with the other two kids and this time it has been aweful. This last two weeks though she says it hasn't been too bad.

So, we took the kids down to Las Vegas over Easter weekend. I was ready for a nice relaxing weekend off, we left Wed. afternoon and came home on Sunday. So Wed. night Monica heard some kids outside my sister Emily's house but was really more than half asleep so she just rolled over and went back to sleep. The next morning she told me about it and the first thought that came to my mind was that our cars all got egged. I ran outside to see what had happened and my brother in law Tom was already out there. My car was the only one that got egged, however, they shot out 6 windows from the 4 cars parked in front of the house. They shot out the driver side window of our car and hit the paint above the driver door too. After being on hold with the Police department for about an hour we finally got to talk to someone. There was well over $1,000.00 damage to all the cars and the police refused to come out and look at our cars to make a report. They told us if we wanted to make a report that we would have to drive into the police station. We asked if we should bring all 4 cars so they could take a look at them. They then told us "No, we won't come outside to look at them either. If you want you can bring pictures" so they were too lazy to even walk out of the police station. So after about an hour and a half of waiting for our pictures to get developed we were able to go to the police station. We were there for about an hour filling out the police report and then went off to find someone who could fix our windows. After 3 1/2 hours at the window place we finally headed back to Emily's house just in time for dinner. Needless to say I didn't sleep well the rest of the time, I was too scared the kids would come back. So much for a restful vacation.

Really we are doing great. We will be busy over the next couple weeks trying to put in our yard. My neighbor hired someone to come in and do theirs. 2 days and they had a sprinkling system in, flower beds landscaped and sod layed. Instant yard. How would it be to have the money to just hire it out. Anyway, I'd better get back to work.
Cam

P.S. Garlic Chowder

Jess, I was just reading over the blogs and reread the Garlic Chowder story and had to say that it was positively hillarious. I meant to mention it before. Back before I had a lovely friend show me the workings of the mysterious garlic clove I would have done the exact same thing. Hope you are doing well. Just had to share.

Love, Brooke

Excuses, excuses...

Chelsea, that is amazing. I can't even imagine babies that small. I would be so scared to hold them, maybe not holding them or feeding them, but getting them dressed and bathed would scare the heck out of me. I love their names, I know two darling little girls in different families with those names and you know how that can effect how you feel about a name. Wow, I used name quite a bit in that sentence.

Well here are my excuses for not writing more. 1. Brind came home 2. We had family in town 3. I had to get ready to come to Korea 4. I am in Korea visiting my husband
Those are all the reasons, with a few others that I am leaving out for the sake of time.

Geof., I am happy that the psychotic behavior of my almost four year old convinced you that your child is perfectly normal- for our family that is. We just don't raise milk toast kids as mom likes to say.

Jackie, thank you so much for posting that story for us. I know we would all love as many stories as possible on here, about grandma, grandpa, you girls, Sally, Sharm, Brent, Sterling, greatgrandma, you get my drift. I know that we all feel that they are great treasures and really help us feel closer to those members of our family. This is a great way to store them as well. Joanie, I know you read this too.

Cameron, how is Monica doing? Can you give us some details? I haven't been on here as much as normal so I might have missed something. I will go back through and check. I keep telling Brind to get on here but he is still trying to get things put together, room, job, dating, etc...

Well, news from our life... I am indeed in Korea right now. Mike found a great deal on airfare and called me in the middle of the night a few weeks ago to tell me he was getting me a ticket. It is wonderful being here with him. I really, really needed the break. Pretty sure I was close to a mental breakdown. I don't handle stress or busy schedules very well and I've had both lately. The girls are doing well, or they were before I left, I'm assuming everything is still going swimmingly. Jane has two and a half weeks of standardized tests at school. I am not jealous of that at all. Please shoot me is all I have to say. She is so funny. I called her Sunday afternoon and we talked for an hour. She is a great conversationalist and has a very funny sense of humor. It was alot of fun to just sit and talk without the distractions of every day life. Sadie is still a crazy yet sweet and loving child that informed me on the phone the other day that her stuffed cat is no longer named Wilbur, it's Kelly. I'm a bit sad. I liked the name Wilbur. I don't know if I shared this, so forgive me if I did but a few weeks ago we were watching "The Village." Yes, Sadie was watching and I was closing her eyes for the scary parts, this is part of the Aunt Jack legacy. Anyway, a few minutes into the movie she looks at me and says "That's Johnny Cash." It was hillarious. Ellyn is doing very well. She is learning new things every day. I have been trying to do more signing with her. I've been making an effort to have her walk more instead of carrying her everywhere and it so funny to have her lead me around the house to the things that she wants. She absolutely loves being outside and it is so nice to finally be getting good weather so we can be outside. Her therapist last week told me that she and the other therapists that work with her have come to the consensus that Ellyn is most likely autistic. We have her name on a waiting list to get screened but the more I read about it the more I agree that she probably has some form of autism. I have faith that the Lord has put her in our home because we are the best parents she could have but I'm scared too. There is a chance to do so much to help her learn and overcome alot of the developmental stumbling blocks and I just don't want it to be because of my lack of skill, learning, patience, organization, determination, etc... that she doesn't reach her full potential. It has been feeling like more than I can handle and I am very intimidated. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such an angel.

It was so fabulous to have all of my siblings home for a visit. I am so proud of them. They have all grown into such wonderful people. I'm so lucky they are mine. I just wish I could see more of Geof. and Darla and Adam and Mindi and their kids. We have so much fun. It was great to watch all the little ones play together. Last fall was a bit bumpy between Sierra, Wil, and Sadie but they are a little more grown up and handle their problems in a more calm manner and they were so entertaining.

I have to get outside now. It is beautiful and Mike is at work and I have been trying to get caught up on both family blogs. I love you all and can't wait to hear MORE from you. I understand the busy schedules though. Take care. Love, Brooke

Crazy but True

Hello everyone. The picture below is my new half sister. My dad's girlfriend had the twins last night. Now, I know my hands are a little on the large side, but still... That is a small baby!! She weighs 2lbs 13oz and the larger one weighs 4lbs 8oz. Pretty crazy! They are both doing well as far as I know. The names are Ava and Caroline. (don't know which is which yet). My Dad made it by just a few minutes to the hospital by traveling 120 mph. He did get pulled over in downtown SLC, but the furious cop let him go. Anyways, there you go!

Chels

The missing cousin

I was soo excited when I found out about the Beech Tree, cause I happen to be a true blue blood Beecher. And for those of you that are asking "Who gave her the password" (Geoffery)--- I'm the real deal so your stuck with me every once in a while ;) ... Anyways, I'm 27.5 and still single. I work with a local newspaper - my dream is to work in Public Relations, so I'm doing my time as a reporter right now. I graduated from U of U in PR two years ago. Monica do you remember Charity from highschool (you two look a ton alike) I met her the other weekend and she got the bright idea to set me up with her 22 yr old bro. Really wierd, wish me luck this friday. As for the rest of my non-existent love life, I've been going out with a guy from India-- kinda funny huh. But the one that has my eye is my friend in medical school in Ohio(I went out to see him two weeks ago). Well I wanted to say hi to all my fourth cousins. I miss seeing ya all. Love, Summer

What? It's only been a week...

Hey all. This is Cory. Hope everyone finds themselves doin' well this sunny Spring Sunday afternoon. Brooke is currently in Korea, as you may or may not know, and she asked me to post these pics a week ago or so. But, because I am so fond of procrastination, I am just now getting around to it. The pics are just a few examples of the good times to be had up here.
luv ya dogs. cor

povo

It's odd to just write on here and not cut and paste to send to the missionaries. It was great to go to Washington and visit with all of the siblings and parents. The last while has been crazy. Darla left a long time before my vacation started to visit family in California. I was in Provo for 10 days working and bored out of my mind. Finally that stint ended and I flew out to Oakland where Darla's dad had rented a beach house in Bedega Bay (from the Birds). The ocean was lovely and I jammed my toe skim boarding. Cole loves the ocean and played tag with the waves all day. Darla's older brother had come down from Alaska to go through the temple for the first time which was awesome. He has overcome a whole lot and is a good example to everyone. Unfortunately after driving for two hours in rainy rush hour traffic the relatives in charge of baby sitting the kids during the temple session couldn't make it. So the in laws me being one shoved a bunch of kids into a room and watched them while the immediate family went through the temple. Chaos in a bottle.
The trip was good and then we got to go to Washington. I really thought Coles energy and personality were an anomoly but seeing him with the cousins proved me wrong. Alicia you would feel much better about Chloe if you put her in with the gang. It was so much fun seeing Ellynn and Brind they're still the cutest little kids any family ever had. The weather was fair and there was lots to do. I could go on but you probably aren't reading at this point.
Jack thanks so much for posting the story about Grandma. Good to learn history. peace out team we'll see you later.

To my Dearest Family,

What a wonderful surprise for my big “51st” Birthday! It was great to sit and read all of your letters before I went to bed last night. Yes you made me cry on my Birthday! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family, so very, very, blessed! I know that it was because of the great strength of our family’s prayers that I got through last year. It makes me very sad to think of the poor people out there that don’t have what we have in such a strong family. I love each and every one of you and value your opinion of me. I will cherish this book for ever. I also want to thank Alicia for doing this and want to tell her that it meant more to me this year then when I was in such a bad way last year for my 50th BD, even though we all know that it is really my 45th and holding! I’ve said it before, but I sure hope that Mom gets to look down every so often and see what she started and how wonderful you all have become. Mom was a great women and she has you all to show for it! My love always!!!!!!!! Aunt Jack

Yes Jack, I hope you had a wonderful time yesterday. Sorry we didn't make it over to say hello. I'm sure you were at dinner anyways.

Thanks for posting that story of Grandma! I was completely unaware of that story. I would love to hear more.

Well, nothing too crazy is going on with me. Just working away. The weeks continue to fly by so that's good. Finally this dry spell is almost over. (ya know, my dry spell from Jan-Apr) I just really don't like that time of year.

Gotta go! Have a good day.

Chels

Aunt Jack's Special Day

Happy Birthday, Aunt Jack!  We hope you have had a great day.  Love,
Adam, Mindi, Sierra, Kaia, and Tristan

Mom and Dell

After talking to Aunt Sally, Uncle Sharm and Hazel Baker (Dell’s Sister), this is to the best of my knowledge what happened. Mom was just out of High School and she was taking Grandma to work at the tomato factory when she met Dell. He had come home from the war and fell madly in love with him. One story that I heard was how he saved Mom from the boys picking on her at the swimming pool. Her falling in love with Dell was crushing for her High School sweetheart and he cried to Uncle Sharm wondering what he was going to do without her. Uncle Sharm says that he was a very good looking man. Dell had been a Golden Gloves boxer, which was an armature ranking, but had moved up to the pros and was well on his way to being in the big time. I’m not sure how long they went out, but I do know that he proposed to her under the power lines above where Uncle Sharm lives now. Because he was boxer they weren’t suppose to get married, so they did it in secret. Six weeks after they were married he had a fight with Remo Pauladory (sp); Uncle Sharm, Grandpa Jess, Uncle Seymour, Uncle Rulon Weaver and Hazel were all there. Any way they say that this guy just beat the crap out of Dell, the ambulance came and took him to U of U hospital, where they tried to release the pressure on his bleeding brain, by drilling into it, but he was too far gone and he died. I think that I can remember Mom saying that she never saw him fight, but I do know that she wasn’t there that night. Uncle Sharm said that when she found out, she shut herself in the bedroom and cried for hours. When she came out she threw down the marriage license on the table and said that they had killed her husband and that is how Grandma and Grandpa found out about the marriage. One of the stories that Aunt Sally told me about was that Mom got his car and her and Sally were driving home from Bountiful with it and the brakes went out. The only way Mom knew how she could stop it was to drive it into the old tree out in their yard when they finally got home and wreaked it. I’m not sure of the dates but she went to work at the Navy Base and that is where they picked her for “Queen of the Navy”. Sally said that it was the Centennial Year parade of 1947 and so they held the parade for 2 days and that she got to go to her cousin’s house and go to see Mom both times, riding on the float. She said that she was beautiful!! After a year had passed Mom insisted on marring Dell thro proxy in the temple. Everyone tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen, her mind was made up and so John Baker stood in for Dell and they were sealed. It was after that when Uncle Sharm said that she kind of lost her way and wanted to try something different. Mom had two friends that lived in Chicago and so she went there to live with them for about a year. It was while she was there that she got her ears pinned back. After they finally talked her into coming home it was New Year’s Eve and she went on a blind date with who turned out to be my Dad and that is a whole other story for another time! So now you get my version of what happened when Mom got up there. You know that they say that it is a life time to us here on earth, but for Dell it was a very short time. There he stood waiting for Mother, the love of his life and he her’s. Their eyes meet and while it seemed forever for Mom it was only moments for Dell. They picked up right where they had left off and Mom and Dell are living eternally “Happily Forever After”!!!!!!! (Says me, in my fantasy, fairy tale, little life!)
P.S. After talking to LeAnne, she remembers things that I don’t and now she said that she would write one also. Plus she says that I have letters that Mom and Dell wrote to each other somewhere in my basement, so that will be my next project, to find them and read them and then I’ll write again!

ColoradoBennett Playing in BG

Adam's dream has always been to get bumped off a flight and receive the "reimbursement for your suffering" award from the airline. Sure enough, when we arrived at the airport for our 9:15 flight on Thursday night the lady behind the counter said the flight was over booked. Adams eyes lit up with joy even though the lady kept saying it was highly unlikely they would actually need to bump someone (giving me a glimmer of hope). We worked our our way down the concourse, letting Sierra run down the "people movers" in the opposite direction so that she would wear herself out. Fellow parents laughed in approval at our perfect plan. When we got to our gate Adam eagerly volunteered us to get bumped. We had to wait until every last person was on the plane before they gave us our vouchers. A free night in the hotel, $800 in Frontier tickets, and $42 dollars for food. By the time we got to the hotel it was 11:30 and the girls crashed easily. Adam ran off to Wal-mart for swimsuits so that we could make use of our morning at the hotel pool. We had a nice steak lunch at the airport with our food vouchers. Then we caught at 12:15 flight, Kaia slept for 1 1/2 hours of it and Sierra peacefully watched a movie. It went so smoothly that a lady in front of us said "you guys have the best kids! They hardly made a peep." Just a lucky moment in childrearing.
Sierra and Kaia are now happily playing with their cousins (I guess I hear a bit of crying in the back ground but no blood so far). Ellery is upstairs making a delicious dutch-oven breakfast for everyone. After the mass feeding we are going to the zoo and the rose garden in Portland. There are 6 siblings, 3 spouses, 2 parents, and 11 grandchildren here for the weekend. Fun times. Blog ya later...

ColoradoBennett

Meags, your story made me cry. I'm so glad you guys have such a wonderful, loving family. Today I asked Sierra what her blessings are and she said that she knows Heavenly Father and Jesus love her because she gets to go to Washington to play with her cousins. We are trying to pack right now. Trying to look through shoes to see which ones fit which girl and which matches what is enough to put me over the edge. Let alone planning to bring enough clothes for our trip to the beach. I keep having flashbacks of the perfectly organized tupperwares of clothing Meagan had for her family on our last trip to the beach and I know I'll never be prepared enough. Speaking of preparedness, Adam asked me yesterday if our food storage was all caught up. The thought crossed my mind, "why is he suddenly interested?" Then he told me the following story: There was a couple recently who were getting married in the Salt Lake Temple. The sealer was sick that day so the Prophet happened to be at the temple and offered to do the sealing. After the ceremony, President Hinckley asked the couple what their plans were after the wedding. They said they were going on a honeymoon to Hawaii. Then the Prophet told them to sell their tickets and buy their food storage.
I'm off to do a little research on providentliving.org
blog prepared...

life is good

Cory’s car wouldn’t start for the millionth time this morning.  So after a half hour of working, scrubbing, and popping the clutch, it finally turned over.  He came in the house and said, “ I don’t have enough money for this.”  Well I’m trying to feed the kids breakfast and stay calm, hoping Cory’s frustration won’t escalate and Bennett disappears.  Not uncommon during a meal.  She can’t hold still for a whole that long to save her life.  But after a couple a minutes I call her back to the kitchen; no response.  After awhile  I call again and ask what she is doing.  She says she can’t get her lid back on her piggy bank.  Right then I start to cry.  I walk into her room and she has got a fist full of coins.  I’m bawling now and ask if it’s for daddy.  She starts to cry, because I am and nods her head yes.  Cory comes in the front door and she goes running out crying holding her little stack of coins and holds them up to him.  He of course has no idea what is going on.  He takes the money and Bennett runs into the kitchen to finish crying over her cereal.  Cory gives me the look like, “what have you done?”  I tell him what just happened and he starts to bawl.  Don’t tell him I told you he cried, he’ll never admit it.  Right then I was reminded why I love being a mom.  I can’t even express how I feel.  I love her so much she has such a sweet soul.  

This is a big week for us brinders coming home, all the kids together with the boys coming up.  Jackson turning 7 and hazel learned how to pull herself up and crawl.  Heavenly Father has blessed us so much.  If I could just remember how I feel right now when everything is going wrong it would do me good.

I love you all blog ya later.  I have to go see geoffy, darla and the babies.          me

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear blog
Happy Birthday to you

there it is folks. oh and ps i tried calling the bennetts to talk to brind but nobody answered, i'll try again.

Peace in the Land Once Again

Okay, to my knowledge peace has been restored once again in Blogland. Not only that but Aunt Jack has promised not to forsake the blog. I guess we all need to remember we love each other and we can work out any situation with a little love and patience, at least that's what I tell myself a million times a day as I attempt to raise my kids.

Alicia, we should never let Sadie and Chlo get together without at least 20 or so adults standing guard. Meagan and I just got done driving up to Mt. Rainier (3 hours) spending 5 hours playing in the snow while mom and Ellynn and Brind built an igloo and driving home. We decided in advance that we would watch for cues and leave 15 minutes before melt down. Somehow we missed the cues. Jane was crying because Jackson got to stay over night and she needed to come home for her cousin's baptism, Bennett was upset about leaving grandma (these two emotional outbursts came just after), and Sadie and Wil almost simultaniously broke into sobs about being tired and wanting to go or not go depending on the way the wind was blowing. So Meagan and I trekked to the car, babies in backpacks, snowshoes and backpacks of extra clothes in hand, bribing the two exhausted children with the reward of skittles from our October camping trip that I found in my backpack. Then we had the fun car ride home with Sadie and Wil arguing over who is the boss of who and just about any other subject under the sun until I would turn on music loud enough to drown them out. Luckily they fell asleep for the middle of the trip. It was a wonderful day over all though. Just those little things that make having fun with children positively exhausting (did I mention how long it takes to get seven children into snow gear, walk them to the bathrooms, take them to the bathroom, redress said children and finally head out into the snow?).

Like I always say, I love you all. Love, Brooke

Yikes

How many ways can you spell big, over-blown, silly mess? Let's say no more about it. How about I share a famous Chloe story to make everyone feel better and maybe start to think that I'm not a psycho. So we're at Home Depot the other night (interestingly enough it was the same day that while letting her get out and play in a soccer field amid our day of a million errands, she proceeds to oh so daintily lift her dress and relieve herself. There's kids on the other half of the field, warming up, laughing and pointing as I'm dragging her to the car) and we lose Chloe. Kev, who is grossly inept at handling this situation (it's not his fault, if he lost her at least once everyday, it would come easier to him) was furious. Not concerned, just furious. I turned to my red-neck hollering skills, but to no avail. One of the workers sensed my panic and asked what she was wearing. "Attention all associates, we have a lost littel girl, wearing......" They then page for her over the loudspeaker. I continue to look and happen to look down an aisle just in time to see her running in the opposite direction. I love children. I guess it could be worse. A lady in our ward was there and she was telling us how her son would run, jump on a shelf and pull something in front of him while everyone was wildly searching for him. Anyway, that's it. Leash

Kumusta Guapo?

Brind, good to hear from you on the old blog! How is the transition coming home treating you? I don't know what it was like in your mission as far as the living conditions went. Our mission was very rural. I only had running water for showers in 1/2 of my houses and none of those were hot water. The other 1/2 of my houses we had to pump water out of a well and take bucket showers. I also got used to the sound of a fan on high blowing over my body every night so when I got home I couldn't sleep, too quiet. Walking on carpet w/barefeet was also quite an experience. OK enough reminiscing. I think you need to post some pictures on the blog quickly. It sounds like you had a great mission and we look forward to seeing you and Ellyn and hearing all about your mission experiences.
Cam

yes please!

Adam, that's a great idea. Ever since you mentioned it before, I have been totally in the dark about Dell Zeziger. I seriously didn't even know this man exhisted. I have tried to "google" his name and I get nothing. Did grandma have a secret life I am un-aware of?

Also, if the "lamb story" you are referring to is anything like Alicia's LAMB DREAM of "BYU Education Week 1999" we have quite a story to hear. Hilarious.

My mom is coming to take me to lunch today and I'm pretty excited about that. Joey and I have a trip to the zoo scheduled for tomorrow, so that will be wonderful. Hopefully these ridiculous winter storms let up so I can bask in the sun...soon!

chels

Seattle Bennett living in Colorado

Sorry 2 posts in a row but I just wanted to remind the Aunts mainly you Aunt Jack because you may have the most accurate story but I would love to hear the story of Grand ma and Dell Zeziger. Love you Aunt Jack and you too Alicia should I post the Interlaken Hotel story about that scary lamb that tried to get you. its ledgendary and really should be on here
Adam

Seattle Bennett living in Colorado

Oh Alicia deffinately needs to get out in the sun and thicken up that skin. Here is a funny story that maybe not to many of the cousins know about. When we went to Europe Alicia would have Jess take care of her money Alicia would do anything she could do not to hear how much money we had spent. Of course the group of us were always so happy because even the real tight budget Euro travelers couldn't come close to the money we were spending, we would then practically have to pin down Alicia as she had worked herself into histeria ( I know, hard to believe) and tell her the good news. Of course I always had a back up plan if we needed money, judging by the reaction the 2 Rigby girls had in the "Red Light District" of Amsterdam, I knew we could make some money some how. Thats a funny story to but I got to get.
Adam
by the way Jackie don't think that you can get out of writing on the blog now, nice try though, and to anybody always sign your name for Aunt Jack's blog it gives clought, reason, and personal experience that none of the other of us have and then it is one easier to understand and two allows us to have empathy something I have very little of.

It was me Aunt Jack

Well I can see that leaving my thought on the blog was a mistake! So I guess that as long as I have made everyone mad, I might as well finish this. First, why this was being brought up now is because while we were out of town, Alicia had a chance to read back over the blogs that she has missed out on. That is when she talked to me about the comments about “Crystal Meth” and how her feelings could have been hurt because of her brother-in-law that is an addict. Also with my recent problems with addiction, there could have been more hurt feelings. And just to clarify, it was not a conversation between the writer and the editor, it was editors! This made Alicia feel as though she was being ganged up on. If you haven’t noticed she hasn’t had much to say since because she was made to feel like an idiot and worries about what she writes. If you know Alicia you know that she would never say or do anything to hurt anyone’s feelings and would never admit that she had been hurt by this. It is easy to say "get over it" when you're not the one who was made to feel like an idiot. Once again writing it on the blog was something that I thought that I could do and let you all know that we all have things that may upset us, but they just need to be let go! Remembering that what you write is what happens to us and we all have flaws and this is what it is all about. How boring would this be if we all wrote things that were what we wanted people to think about us and not what really happens to us! I didn’t think that putting my name on it would make a difference; I just thought that it could be said and then left. We all know that I’m not shy about standing up for what I believe in. In this case it is my sweet daughter that wouldn’t hurt anyone, no matter what the circumstances and me still being an over protective Mom that feels as though I needed to come to her defense! I love you all and I’m sorry that this has turned into such a mess!!!! From now on I’ll leave the writing to you. Aunt Jack

Seattle Bennett living in Colorado

So wierd thing it was on my way home when I looked out my windshield and saw snow flakes landing on it but my temperture gauge showed 50 degrees the whole day was like that sunny with a warm temp yet a wind that would give you brain freeze. by the way when is Ruthie's wedding? you blogites are so blogodromatic. spend more time in the sun so that your skin maybe thick like leather, and stop crying it makes me puke in my mouth and then i have to swallow it agian and that is really gross. boo hoo that goes to any whiners
Adam -pukey color

well family i'm back in the states and haveing a good time the nieces and nephews are about as cute as they come and while they've grown a whole lot and i've shrunk a whole lot i can still beat up all of the 7 and 8 year olds which is pretty cool. any ways wanted you all to know that i'm back and doing well i'll be visiting utah as soon as possible because then i'll still be all skinny looking and i can hit you with the sympathy lines and have you all hook me up with your delicious free cooking in large helpings. well any ways thats about what i have the time for saying sorry i can't comment on the other blogs cause i just got back but i will take time catch up and then i will be blogging with a vengence. ps i did have time to read two bloggs and asked the family about the background on them and this is my two bits... as we all know ellynn is the funniest person in the family and extensive consultations where made with other humourous members of the family until a conclusion was come to that well this was the best bet (refering to the editing decision) i trust all those refered to to know and decide what was funny. its true not everything thats funny to one is funny to another so its a good thing that we all got to have a good old talk about it and like elly said call and have a talk then we can all also catch up on old times. cause well i talk faster than i can type so well i love you all and i'm excited to hear from you all love brind the artist formerly known as elder

burry the hatchet but leave the handle stickin' out

i love you all and i love to read the blog. i hate that anything would ruin it. the editing was discussed between the writer and the editor. if there are feelings about the meth, you have permission to call the writer. lets keep it clean and lets keep it fun. but let's move on. p.s. if you call, please feel free to use your name.
ellynn

Good Point!

I don't even remember reading anything about crystal meth (maybe I'm crazy). But anyways, I agree with whomever wrote that. Peace out!
Chels

Something that has been bothering me and I know has caused some hard feelings. Who's right is it to say that it is OK to talk about Crystal Meth, but not about Mooning!? Maybe next time we take it upon ourselves to edit this blog, we should remember that what is funny to one may not be funny to another and just let it be and keep our editing to ourselves!!!!!!!!!

sick of sweating

i just got caught up on the last 2 weeks of blogs and i have to tell you, they were good. they had me giggling and furious all at the same time. first of all, congratulations to adam, mindi, cameron, and monica!! that is the so fantastic and i think the fact that you both wanted to use the same name is even better. i think you should both go for it. besides i'll probably call our tristian "danger" anyways. i, like jessica was highly confused about the picture as well. but i would like to say that i got it on my own.... it just took me about 45 seconds of staring at the picture and holding the computer closer to my face. lydia, your painting is amazing. you have a gift my love. that freaking sucks about your car getting broken into. that is a nightmare. you just feel so violated huh? jessica, the message from you and tony was so funny. i listened to it twice in a row and was laughing so hard. you two are awsome. my birthday was indeed magical. in fact the whole trip was great. brind is the cutest thing in the whole world. he is still the same brinders. he is just amazing. he conned me into helping him teach a workshop in their ward coorilation meeting. my part was fine but as i watched him, i was just amazed with his ability to teach. of course he was teaching in vasayan and i couldn't understand much but i knew what he was getting at. however, you don't have the speak the language to know that he teaches with personality, conviction and gospel genious. we had so much fun playing together. the philippines could be one of my favorite places in the world. it's beautiful, cheap and rediculously hot. however i did get a really rediculous rash the 3rd day we were there. i had huge red rings all over my body that stung and itched and drove me crazy. i even had it on the palms of my hands which made my hands ache and swell up til i honestly thought i was going to get stretch marks on my fingers. it was funny....not then, but it is now. well this has been long so i should blog off. so everybody give brinders a call and welcome the boy home. you won't regret it. i love you guys and it was great to read the blog. oh p.s., i was especially pleased to see cameron on here. your weekend with your mission president sounds like a dream come true. that is just awsome. you really couldn't express that in a blog, or in any way for that matter. i'm sure it was amazing though. i missed my mission reunion this week. that was hard. i miss the mish. okay i'm really out this time. blog on blog stars
ellynn

Garlic chowder anyone?

Move over Aunt Joanie, your diet soda story has got nothing on this...

Last night I wanted to try a new recipe called white corn tortilla soup. Mom and dad are out of town so I thought I would go to their house and make it. I doubled the recipe and invited Alicia, Kev and the girls over for dinner and AI.
The recipe called for two cloves of garlic so doubled is 4. I have never used fresh garlic so I thought you used the whole thing. Come to find out you only use one of the little things inside. Funny how the grocery store calls it a clove of garlic instead of a bunch of cloves of garlic...how misleading. Much to my chagrin it was like garlic soup instead. Needless to say, mom's house REEKS and I uninvited Leash and Kev. Tony was so nice. He said it was delicious and ate it anyways. It tasted okay to me only because I had become immune to the garlic smell during the saute process, in which my eyes nearly burned out of my sockets. I couldn't even look in the pot to see if the garlic and onions were "translucent" because of the searing pain it caused. And now all I have to show for it is garlic breath and two tupperwares of leftover sick soup. I have been brushing my teeth and gargling like a mad woman. Oh well, live and learn. Luckily the one good thing is that I had such a hard time mincing the garlic that I only ended up using two whole bunches of cloves (as I will lovingly refer to it for the rest of my life) instead of four, so things could've been worse.

Smell ya later, Jess

chelsea

Hello all! I have a quick favor to ask you!!! Since you're already online, and sitting at a computer....please do this real quick. I'm assuming you automatically check your email as you check the blog. So, while you do this just send me a quick email so i can get everyone's addresses. I know it sounds like a pain, but I promise it won't be ask difficult as you think. My email address is:

cmbennett21@hotmail.com

Thanks a million!! Keep on bloggin'

drenched in CA

Oh how I love sunny California! Or at least I once did. I can't believe this weather!! If WA. is anything like this, I just don't think I can live there. My poor brother comes down from Alaska with hopes that he'll get a nice sunny vacation and this rain just hasn't let up! grr...It must be the wickedness in CA. (; Anyway, Cam your weekend sounded amazing. What an experience. We definately need to pray to have more spiritual experiences (not that we'd be blessed with an opportunity like yours every day), but it definately strengthens your testimony. My brother is going through the temple to receive his endowment on Friday. He's my older brother and he's had a lot of problems with drugs, girls, you name it. His turnaround point came when the judge ordered that he only see his son once a week and supervised. Pretty crazy. He knew it was the due to HIS choices, and decided to change. I really admirer him for that. He doesn't blame anyone else for what he's had to go through. Something I really need to change. Well, I hope everyone's doing well. Why can't somebody get Alicia on here?!! COme on! And Brooke, we just don't hear from you as much as we should. Geof. and I are excited for the trip to WA. A little nervous about the drive but excited. love to all. Darla

Busy Weekend

I have just had a really interesting week. My Mission President was here from the Philippines for General Conference and training as he is an Area Authority 70. He arrived in Salt Lake last Wed. He called a friend of mine from our mission and told him to call and invite me and Monica to go with them on Thursday to dinner and a private viewing of the new Joseph Smith movie. We were able to eat dinner and listen to Elder Gaviola talk to us about his training meetings with President Hinckley and the Apostles. At the movie we were in the presence of members of the 1st quorum of the seventy and area authority 70’s from all over the world. It really was amazing as Monica and I talked about the work of Joseph Smith and what the Gospel has become. No doubt Joseph knew this and saw how far the Gospel would reach. I think we had someone there from almost every continent who all believe the same things and have testimonies of the restored gospel.
Friday we spent the evening at our mission reunion. We had about 70 people from our mission show up. It was a great time catching up and having Elder Gaviola give us an update on the work in the Philippines and bear testimony of the importance of spreading the gospel.
Saturday, I had been asked by Elder Gaviola to attend conference with him. So I attended the morning and afternoon sessions of conference with the other area authority 70’s. We sat on about the 15th row right in front of the pulpit. Again I was surrounded by these General Authorities from all over the world, all of whom share the same purpose in spreading the gospel. During the afternoon session I sat next to a man and his wife who were there from South America to be sustained and set apart as an area authority 70. They had told their children that they were going to the temple (they would have to fly to Guatamala to go to the temple). So after conference when he turned on his cell phone he had several texts from his kids asking if they really heard his name in conference. They had no idea he had been called to be a 70 and he had known since December.
I guess my point is that this was a very special conference for me and the spirit really was amazing and my testimony was strengthened as I spent those few days in the midst of spiritual giants. We truly are blessed to have Prophets and Apostles to teach us the will of our Father in Heaven. We are blessed to have the truth of who we are as sons and daughters of God. I just wanted to share a little bit of my weekend with you, I really can’t explain all that I learned and how I felt this weekend.

Cam

ColoradoBennett

Here is a picture of Adam and the girls at his work site. Behind him is his work trailer and way behind there you can see a few foundations. Very impressive work.
I have to post his "April Fools Joke" because it is classic Adam. We were driving to Costco on Saturday and passed by the golf course. Apparenly it is a practice of Ad's to honk the car horn any time he is passing by and sees a golfer about to take a swing. So I hear him honk the horn and look around to see if there is someone we know standing by the road. I look on the golf course just in time to see an outraged lady golfer throw down her club and then a big bear of a angry angry man jump out of his golf cart and throw an unknown object at our car. His expression of fury is permanently burned into my mind. To which Adam responds by unrolling the window and fueling their fire with an obscene gesture. I was mortified. Luckily, he later told me that it was a perfectly choreographed joke on me and that he was just waving "right on man, we tricked her" with his hand out the window.
Darla, I'm so glad you posted the pictures of Dayne and Cole. I haven't seen pictures of them since your Christmas letter. What a beautiful, bright eyed baby girl you have! I heard about your April Fool's joke on Geof., nice work.

Cole and Dayne Bennett 4-1-06

bored lyd

Oh Geoff, you were right, you were right.

“Is there any chance that the wax will rip off all of my flesh and leave me with just a skeleton?” Or the film magic “I woke up today at 5am, that’s a lot earlier than I like to wake up.”

povo (no rocket dr.)

At work one day a man walks up to talk about another employee who isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. The man says "That there Sam (name has been changed) he's no rocket Dr.." Yeah it's pretty much my favorite thing to say now. Congrats on the new babes. Special round of applause to Adam for finally becoming a man and generating a boy. This week has been long long long. I am so bummed with out my babies so I just work a lot. I've been able to fly a ton and am learning a lot as I teach. I have about 10 great students who are aggressive in receiving their flight ratings. Lyd sorry about the car. On my first date with Darla we went dancing and I lost the key to her car. Well we had to leave the car at the club and the next day when we got back it had been stolen. The police were equally helpful with that one. Kind of makes you not afraid to become a criminal. About a month or so later the car was found. Homeless people had been living in it. Yeah sorry about that Darla, my bad. I can't wait for this week to go by so I can fly out to CA. to see my babies and then progress onto WA. to see Ellynn and the biggest baby of all Brind. I heard he already has a job lined up being moms personal assistant. I guess his official title will be AP. Just playing brind, we can't wait. Happy birthday ellynn. alrighty team peace out.

ps go to nacholibre.com and prepare to laugh and laugh and laugh.