We've ruined Mindi's Peace and Quiet

We've brought Mindi's euphoria crashing to an end. The girls and I arrived in Denver at about 8:00 last night after an absolutely beautiful drive. I can tell you first hand that Tristan is a beautiful baby and very good. Jane has been holding him pretty much non-stop. So not only have we ruined Mindi's peace but her baby has been kidnapped as well. Okay, it is time to go make lunch, the kids are all crowding around Mindi and I'm writing on the blog. What a helper!

By the way, who changed the background of the blog? I like it, very hip.

Update from the Allen's

Hello everybody. First off, CONGRATS! Adam and Mindi and girls! Your new spawn is very beautiful, and your delivery description sounds like a very curageous delivery indeed. Very impressive.
Meags and I are just running around like usual. She just got back from girls camp, and she ABSOLUTELY loved it and had a great time. LeAnne was wonderful and sacrificed four days of her busy summer to watch the kids, and that was great. I have just been working and stuff, mainly trying to keep up the Meags and the kids. A bee stung my hand yesterday, and now my left had looks like it weighs twenty pounds, due to some crazy swelling. I checked my back pocket for my liquid catnip and fennel elixer to help the swelling, but I was fresh out. Looks like its time for another trip to the witch doctor to refresh my supply.
We saw a local theater put on "Much ado about nothing" last night. It was fantastic. They mixed the reqular performance with a bunch of sign language actors and different projections on the wall and stuff. I can't really explain how it all went together, but it was flipping brilliant/funny.
Anyways, here are some pics of the kids. Jack and I went Kokanee fishing with the old man yesterday, and Jack caught the most at three. The pic of Benny is right before her ballet recital, in which she floated like an angel. And the pics of Hazel and Wil and the group are from a recent parade or two. Hope all is well this beautiful summer.
Have good days,
cor

ColoradoBennett

Day 5. Adam and the girls are at church and everything is so quiet and peaceful around here. My aunt called to invite Adam and the girls to dinner so that I could have yet a little bit more quiet time. I'm slightly nervous about what will become of me when all my quiet time ends, but for now I feel like a Queen. Something about nursing balances out all my hormones and chemicals in such a way you'd think I just got beat with the happy stick. I feel fantastic and Tristan is an absolute joy. He did stay up from about 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. last night. I think he had a tummy ache but I found some liquid catnip and fennel in my cupboard and that seems to have done the trick. If you know anyone expecting babies, I really recommend they have some on hand for gassy, upset stomachs. My uncle Steve and his family stopped by yesterday to see the baby. He is completely opposed to home birth and was really upset with us for going that route. He doesn't say anything to me directly, except to refer to the midwives as "witches" whenever I bring them into the conversation. Pretty funny, to each his own I guess.
As for the middle name, 'Danger', you all can call him that if you want--if you hate me. Why would I allow Adam to bring that kind of curse on me as a mother to have a son who runs around saying, "Danger is my middle name" as he rides his bike off our roof or surfs through hurricanes or tries to build up an immunity to iocane powder or tries to use his ninja moves on grizzly bears. It sounds like an early death wish on this little boy I just worked so stinking hard to bring into this world. I've already asked the bishop to tackle him in the prayer circle if Adam even starts to make the sound of the letter "D" during the baby blessing.

Congratulations!!!

Adam and Mindi, Tristan is beautiful. He looks like Adam, which for a boy is a really good thing. Of course with a middle name like Danger no one will mess with him either way. Adam, are you seriously going to include Danger in his name? I think it's hillarious and so very you. I just want to see the reaction of the members of your ward when you're blessing him. Of course with your inner city ward they will probably all think it's normal. Go bless him in mom and dad's ward and we can all watch Patty's face! Mindi, I am likewise impressed with your labor and delivery story. I can't imagine changing positions let alone moving around. I like to lay on my back with one side slightly propped and the drugs flowing, sleeping as much as possible. I'm a bit upset that we didn't get to see the pictures of "more of you than you wanted us to see." Mike posted one to his family after Sadie or Ellyn with almost my whole breast showing. I felt a bit awkward. I am so happy for you guys. I wish there was some way I could see you. We have the whole month of August ahead of us. Maybe I'll figure something out. It just seems wrong to leave without seeing my handsome new nephew.

Well to update you all I am at Mike's mother's side family reunion. It is a huge affair every four years (I might have told you this, I can't remember). Last time I went Sadie was two weeks old and this time I'm by myself with the girls. One of these reunions the timing will work out. In the meantime I feel like the family charity case. "Everyone help the poor girl that is falling apart and who can't feed her children at the table without at least one spill or a pile of food on the floor a mile in circumference and can't get her two year old to sleep before one in the morning. Last night both Sadie and Ellyn left the hotel room while I was in the shower, they were supposed to be vegging in front of a video and after I rush to get dressed as quickly as possible when I find the room empty I discover one of Mike's second cousins from Germany holding Ellyn as they wander through the hotel looking for me. I felt like such a great mom. Not to mention this family is full of lawyers, Ivy league graduates, you know, really intelligent people. We had to fill out a questionaire the other night and it asked for our information regarding higher education and asked us to list the things we did well. It was for a game of family jeapordy and boy was I thrilled when they released them for everyone to read after the game and mine says "Ricks" for higher education and "unpacking after a move" for the thing I did well. I just feel like I should park my double wide out front and start calling my girls Crystal, Destiny, and Dixie Dawn. It is fun, don't get me wrong. It's just that I really should have lied on the questionaire.

Most of Mike's brothers and sisters and kids and the girls and I went into Salt Lake yesterday and saw the Joseph Smith movie. If you haven't seen it you have to go. It is excellent. It is so easy to brush over the history of the early saints and not really realize the terrible trials they went through. This film made it all so very vivid. How can we ever complain about a calling when you realize what our ancestors went through in the early years of the church? Their sacrifices were so enormous. Of course I still complain, later in life I will be more perfect.

Speaking of ancestors, that is one of my favorite parts of this reunion. They have so much family history. They have stories recorded and pictures of many of their family members. This morning we went down to the Ogden cemetary and Mike's aunt told all the grandchildren (and the adults) stories about many of the relatives buried there. It was a really neat experience. It makes me nervous that on our side we have info about alot of our ancestors but not so much at all about the Stevensons and Beechers. I need to talk to mom and uncle Sharm and Sally. Make our moms find out exactly what records we have and make them tape stories from Sharm and Sally and maybe the Welches before we start losing accuracy. Mike's cousin, Lexi, has compiled so much information and put together some amazing scrapbooks with family pictures and letters. She's incredible. She's the oldest cousin but if you are expecting that from me you will be sorely dissappointed. I think Jessica would be an excellent candidate :). Oh, funny story. One of Mike's relatives was Mary Fielding. If any of you remember she is the one that Lot Smith told could not cross the plains by herself. It was kind of fun to add that part of the story at the cemetary this morning. I told them about him branding his wife. What a legacy we have!

Well I should be seeing many of you tomorrow night. I'm so excited. You probably won't even read this until Monday and then I will have told you everything I wrote and so you can skip right over this. Too bad I told you at the end. See you tomorrow. Sisters and brothers I miss you madly. love, me

ColoradoBennett

The first time the girls met their little brother was something I really looked forward to. They came in the room at about 7:30 a.m. on Wed. and when I said "your little brother is here" Kaia made a noise like "whoohoooo". It was perfect. Sierra is holding her elbow in this picture because she had just bumped Tristan with that elbow and was obediently trying not to do it again. Kaia has her sunglasses on which is classic Kaia, she loves her shades like her daddy does.
We've had two good nights thus far. Poor Adam has to get back to work today (his boss was here last night, providing dinner and asking Ad what time he was going to be a the job site tomorrow), but he is going to take the girls with him. I'm looking forward to another day in my pjs. All the hard work of pregnancy and labor are worth these wonderful days of bonding and recovery.

BigMamaBennett

Yikes. Adam got to posting pictures on here before I had a chance to edit through them. Sorry to all those who saw more of me than they ever wanted to see. He told me I couldn't take them off the blog, but I just can't stand it. My mom has some better pictures on her camera and when she gets here I'll post those too. Everything is going really well. My grandma came and took Sierra and Kaia on a big adventure this morning. They got to go to story time at the library, McDonalds for lunch, and then run around free without a cart in Costco. They get a little brother AND fun field trips with helpful family members. Here they are giving our little buddy lots of love. I'm going to go take a nap. Happy Birthday, Maddison!

Happy Day!!!

Congrats to Adam, Mindi, Sierra, and Kaia on new baby Tristan, he is adorable. Ad, I loved your blog, it made me cry. Mindi, you are so brave and strong to do it without an epideral. I am so excited for you all. I can't wait to see him.

Happy Birthday to my little Maddie Boo! I hate that I am at work instead of playing with you on your first b-day but I will see you tonight.

I love you all. We have the greatest family ever!

Jess

more of Tristan

Tristan Ellery Danger Bennett

Tristan Ellery Danger Bennett

So at 4:32 AM on 7/26/06 Tristan left the quite, cushy, comfortable womb and entered into loud, pocky, pestered earth. He wieghed in at 7.0 lbs and 20.25". He is very alert little boy and seems to recognize his sweet sisters and Momma who would talk to him all when he was in momma's belly, I prety sure he even recognizes Kaia who would often hit moms belly as her own little form of love pat. Sierra and Kaia love their new little brother and Kaia contiually wants to "pet him"

Mindi got things started with losing her mucas plug sometime in the morning between 7:00 and 9:00 on 7-25-06 no big deal that happens and babies still don't come for another 2 weeks, we were not worried his due date isn't until August 10th. At about 7:00pm Mindi started having Braxton Hix contractions, or so we think, on 15 minute intervals. I leave at 8:00 to help a friend move and get a call at about 9:00pm from Mindi telling me that she had a gush of fluid and thought her water had broke but was all blood(we later find out that it was a blood clot that released most likely from her dialating). (Mindi, while handling pain very well, passes out at the site of her own blood) She lays down and calls the mid wife and I hurry my booty back home. When I get home Mindi looks fine and contractions are coming more frequently and lasting longer. We stip the bed, put down plastic and put on a new sheet. I give Mindi a blessing and call my mom to let her know Tristan is on the way. The first mid wife shows up at about 10:00pm and our main mid wife show up at about 10;30pm.
We are now ready for action and as many of you know this is the really boring part of child birth the Mom just lays thier and tries to move only durring contractions and Mindi is even more boring because she rarely even makes a noise and that includes the actual crowning and birth of the baby. At about 11:30 the mid-wife tells me to get some rest (exit dad, crash on the couch snore a little) apparently more uneventful stuff until I am woken up at 1:20am 7-26-06, not only do I have my bearings out of wack but I am told to get some one to watch the girls and get the car ready we need to take Mindi to the Hospital, (Dad scared look) I cannot tell you exactly how this made me feel but it was not good. Our neighboor Dave, a few blocks away said he could come over and Mindi's mom started her 45min drive to relieve him. By the time I had the 2 calls made and the truck started Mindi had changed postions and the mid-wife felt better about the situation (apparently Tristan heart rate was strained and they were worried about him) Dave shows up to spend the rest of the night trying to sleep through the noise and I go shut off the truck. Mindi at this point appears pale and has an oxegyn mask on as she sits on the toilet. (enter Sierra) up around her usual 1-2:00am go snuggle mom and dad wake up time she is a little and I mean a little suprised to see mom sitting on the toilet with an mask on with the 2 mid-wifes taking care of her she of corse wants Kaia in on the bizair seen (enter Kaia) equally unalarmed as older sister much to Dads great relief we sit in our hallway outside the bathroom and I got to explain what was happening and that little brother was on his way here. After a little bit we retired to the bedroom where the girls and I took turns saying prayers for Mom and the baby. Luckily Grandma Shelli shows up and takes over the girls, and in no time has them back to sleep. From this point on the labor is fantastic the babies heartrate is strong and mom gets off the oxygen we move her back into the bedroom where she sits on the birthing chair or a pillow on the floor until she was completely dilated and ready to start to push then the 2 of us sit on the bed I have her back laying against my chest and all i see is belly (picture posted) she pushes through three contractions starting at 4:20am and and and and 4:32am enter baby Tristan. The rest is history so all and all this maybe the longest blog ever but thats what you get when we call this thing our journals.
Adam

Happy Late Birthday Cory

First of all, Happy Birthday Cory!!! I thought of you on Saturday but we were out of town and I couldn't blog. I hope you had a wonderful day and all of your dreams came true. Just kidding…about the dreams part…not the wonderful day part.

Tony and I went to Island Park in Idaho over the weekend with his side of the family. It was absolutely gorgeous and I highly suggest everyone visit there at some point. It is about 45 minutes from Yellowstone so yes, we were in bear country and yes, I did sleep in a tent and no, I didn't have any panic attacks. Elly, it is only about an hour or two from Rexburg so you should go there. There are tons of beautiful places to visit that are very close to Rexburg so I think you will have a blast living there. We left Friday and got back yesterday so it was a nice long weekend. We saw a moose and a bald eagle both about 100 feet away. It was amazing. We went boating and wave running and we floated a river that was very slow and relaxing. We saw Mesa Falls, a beautiful waterfall and Warm Springs, a spring coming right out of the mountain which is not warm at all. It was a very fun trip. That is all for now. PLEASE keep blogging!

Love Jess

ha ha ha

bet that threw you for a loop!

Here they are. I hope this works. The group picture is all of Cole's cousins on my side (minus one who lives in Alaska).

Happy Pioneer Day!

Geof., the babies, and I have been up in Logan for the past 3 days or so. It's been wonderful. We came up for my cousin's wedding in SLC on Friday, watched the new Joseph Smith movie, and then have been staying at my brother's ever since. It's so nice and relaxing to be here. Plenty of room, a huge backyard, and a ton of cousins for Cole to pester...er..play with. Mindi, as for funny stories, I don't know. They happen all the time. I need to write the funny things Cole says more often so I can post them. I might have said this before but it made such an impact on me that I'll post it. Geof. and I were having a discussion, and our voices were a bit raised (okay, we WERE yelling). Afterward we were quiet and Cole comes up to me and says "Mommy, do you love Daddy?" It was a little hard to say yes at that moment since I was pretty bugged but I told him "ofcourse I love Daddy". And he says, "Well then why do you yell at him?" It was so sweet. We need to be examples to our kids! My parents fought A LOT in front of us and I vowed I wouldn't do that to my kids. So far I've been a failure. Okay, not quite but I'm not doing my best. Although Cole's a stinker a lot of the time, he sure does have a special side to him. He teaches me soo much. Well. I'll try to post some pics of our day up in the Canyon. It's so gorgeous up here! I never thought I'd like Utah, but for the price of living, you can't beat the beauty. ~D~

ColoradoBennett&SieBear

Happy Birthday, Cory! We hope you had a great birthday yesterday and that you are still celebrating. Sierra is jumping and tumbling on the bed and pulling on my arms as I try to type this. She didn't get kicked out of her Primary class today, which is also a cause for celebration. We are making cupcakes for the family birthday party for Kaia and Gram. Everyone is coming over in a few hours and boy are they going to be surprised at my sloth-like house-cleaning techniques as of late. I guess I'll wake up my ninja husband and get his skills involved. Sierra was just helping me clean the bathroom. She came in and woke me from my nice little nap, and when I kicked her out she went into the bathroom and "cleaned" the counter-top with lots of lotion and water. Somehow I continue to believe that all her intentions are good. Let's have some other crazy kid stories on the blog so that I know I'm not alone here...

ColoradoBennett

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!
Congrats to Brind. I spoke with LeAnne yesterday and just heard raving reviews about this said Kim. We can't wait to meet her.
On Sunday we took our neighbor to Church with us and had a great experience. This summer the stake has challenged the youth to read parts of "Preach My Gospel", invite someone to church, give a non-member a Book of Mormon, invite someone to hear the missionary discussions, etc. I've been praying to keep up with the challenge and this weekend it all fell into place. I left the house on Saturday morning with a few precious moments of alone walking time. There was this guy named Bob at the house across the street and we started talking. He just moved into the house and it happens to be the eye sore of our street, the house I often day dream about bulldozing. After talking for a while he said, "You guys went to church last Sunday, didn't you? God bless you." From there it was so easy for me to invite him to come with us the next day and he eagerly accepted. On the way to church he said things like "it is so nice of you to take me to church with you, in your nice air conditioned car, I really needed this today." I was instantly humbled, and felt like a huge jerk for driving past his house all the time and wishing it would be condemned. He stayed all three meetings with us and said he had a wonderful time and would love to come next week. I gave him a Book of Mormon and today I talked with him briefly and he said he was reading it. He also said, "Is it true the Donny and Marie are mormons too? So movie stars can be Christians?" Kind of goofy, but really a great guy and an amazing answer to my prayers to be a missionary and have a "Gospel Sharing Home". Brigham Young said, "There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life." We can do that.

A few things to address...

Happy Birthday Linds! Hope you have a great day.

Congrats to Brind! I can't wait to meet her. When I read your blog I thought, "he is so young" but really you are the same age we were when we got married. I keep forgetting that everyone is growing up. You just still seem like little Brinders.

Brooke, it sounds like you already have a place to stay but you are welcome at our house too if anything falls through. FYI-You mentioned a parade on the 22nd but I believe the parade isn't until the 24th. See you soon.

Okay, I thought I had more to address but I guess not.

We went camping over the weekend in Nephi and they were having their festival days so we went to a carnival and a car show. It was blazing hot, I think it reached 104. Sadly there is no a/c in my car right now and I figured if we drove with the windows down it wouldn't be that bad, I was wrong. Lyd and I were sweating like pigs. Luckily there was a pool to cool down in. It was great. Mom, dad and I went to Pirates of the Carribean, I thought it was really good and I can't wait to see the third one.

That is all for now.

Love Jess

Quick Post

Lyd, those pictures are beautiful. Monica and Cameron, thank you so much for letting us come stay with you. I can't wait to see you both and the girls and the house and the sprinkling system! We'll see you Friday evening!

hello fam, yes it's me, i don't have much time, but i love pictures so i thought i'd post some. i'm doing well -i'll write more when i have time. i haven't had much time to read the blogs but i did see brinds -hello that's a surprise, can't wait to meet her! oh and can i say i love kia! i went to colorado a couple weeks ago and had adam come pick me up and i saw them and their cute huge house and everybody! it was way fun and thanks again adam, even though i was sick for some reason and it was quit late but i love those little girls, i'd say kia and madison are at a close tie! anyhow i'll post more when i can! check out these pictures of my friends and i out on the salt flats playing our crystal bowls at a photo shoot we were on for my job, it was fun but way windy! anyhow love all you guys, i'll give you more of an update when i get more time. love lydia!

I know that i'm pretty horrible at blogging, if any of you doubt this i can refer you all to many many pages of Blog that are totaly lacking in Brind postings. Yes it's tragic another Bennett horrible at keeping in touch. oh wait the only bennett horrible at keeping in touch. What can i say i'm unique. there is a bit of news thats important enough to bring me out of my premature blogging retirement. Usualy i'm not the type to hang around and throw around news on my love life but as recent developements are bound to effect the family i guess i'll fill you in. so as you may have all guessed there is going to be a new addition to the family. i'm engaged to a local washington girl named kimberly nielson. we're looking at december sometime after the 18th when she's done with finals and before christmas with any luck. so well thats the way things are going i'll leave the details out so all the aunts will feel obligated to call and drag them out of me. not because i'm lazy but i get the feeling that thats what they would enjoy most. ok no really it is because i'm lazy but well yeah thats the way it goes. anyways i don't have any pictures to post of her but i'll work on that and should be able to throw some up by the end of the week. just so you have a general idea she looks alot like brooke in face and body (she's 5'11") and her personality is alot like adams mindi. you'll all be meeting her at the end of august when she moves down for school. any ways thats the big news in my life i love you all sorry i'm horrible at blogging i'll get better one day with any luck, and if not well i'll be moved down there by next june so we'll just have to live with it till then.

love you all mass amounts love bennett

BG ward in the Harvest Days Parade

Will it all fit?

Just taking a brief minute to update the blog. Today our last load heads off to Germany and I am anxiously looking around the house at what I have left and hoping that it all fits in suitcases. I bought a few more tupperware files last night. I find that those work better for me than a normal file cabinent because the movers always manage to dump all my files and dent and bang up the metal and this way they are also easy to tote around the house. Anyway, I spent the morning filing more paperwork. I have been working on this for about three days. I don't think I had filed since last December. I feel like a new woman.

Ellynn's mission companion, April, is here for three weeks and the funny thing is that Ellynn goes to work at 3pm every day and works until midnight. Plus, Meagan and my mom went up to Seattle for a wedding reception so I have been the poor girl's only source of entertainment for 8-9 hours a day. We've done all the exciting things moms do- a trip to Safeway night before last and a trip to Walmart last night. I think I'm convincing her that she is just fine being single and without children.
Well, as I said, this is brief. I have a jam packed week next week before the trip to Utah. Luckily my sweet sweet mother does our laundry (I get it started and she just keeps it going. It's fabulous). I send off the car on Wednesday and take the train home, Thursday I have Ellyn's 5-6 hour autism screening and I'm thinking we are going to leave Thursday night because Mike doesn't want me driving all in one day and I want to take the kids to the Pioneer day parade on Saturday morning. We'll see how it all goes. Would someone let us crash at their house Friday night and hang out with us at the parade? Let me know. Hope you are all doing well. Can't wait to see you. Love, Brooke

ColoradoBennett-Happy Birthday, Kaia Jane!

Birthdays are wonderful. Last night we started off the festivities by going to my favorite restaurant, Casa Bonita. Maybe it is because I'm pregnant, but it was the first time that I've really been grossed out by their food. Everyone else always complains about it, most family members refuse to go entirely, but I've always thought the entertainment overshadowed the icky menu. Cliff divers, skits involving Black Bart and the Sheriff and the Sheriff's pet gorilla (actors who've really made it, according to my Uncle Steve), puppet shows, arcades, caves and waterfalls, what more could you ask for in a restaurant, really? Then this morning we went with our playgroup friends to Pump It Up, an indoor inflatable carnival. Kaia had a good time, but Sierra took the prize for the happiest, sweatiest kid in there. Afterwards we had a picnic involving chocolate cupcakes, which as you can see, Kaia really enjoyed.

Happy Birthday Little Ki Ki!!

We love you so much you cute little bundle of funny words and silly faces! We all hope you have a wonderful birthday! Love, Aunt Brookie, Jane, Sadie, and Ellyn Wow...I truly have forgotten my husband Mike...He wishes you a very happy birthday Ki!

CPR for the blog

Last Wednesday night a counselor in our bishopric called to see if we wanted to speak sometime this month. I, of course, didn’t want to but to get it over with we decided to do it on Sunday. It actually went rather well. I felt pretty good about my talk and Tony did a great job, he threw in all these basketball and Tour de France analogies and had all the guys interested. I am glad it is over although every time I speak it gets easier and I shouldn’t be so nervous.

We had a great surprise Monday night in the form of a beautiful, tan, funny young Finn named Ellynn. It was great to see her and it took everything in my little girl heart not to jump in the car and drive up to Washington with her. Mom gently reminded me that there is a lingering house bill that I work to pay for. Gone are the days of flying by the seat of my pants. One day…

Last night mom and I went to watch Lindsey’s softball game and we saw Brad’s new twins. They are adorable.

Tony is 80 hours behind on his clinical hours for school so he is working like a mad man to get caught up. Too bad he doesn’t get paid for it. Today he went to his first job from 8 to 2:30 and then his 2nd job from 3 to 7 and then he will go do some clinical hours from about 8 to midnight. We will get to see each other for about an hour today from 7 to 8 although it will consist of eating, cutting his hair and getting some carpet from mom’s neighbor to put in our storage room.

Life is extremely busy right now, but what can you do. Our yard is suffering a bit because of it. We have managed to kill the grass in our backyard so I am watering every night to try and bring it back. Tony’s grandpa gave us some tomato plants and they were dying as well so I decided I needed to make a space in our garden for them. When I say garden I mean pile of crap that has been sitting there for who knows how long. I cleared about a 2 foot by 4 foot plot and it took me close to 3 hours, all the while being attacked by bumble bees… note to others, wasp spray does not kill bumble bees. Later that night I wanted Tony to see it so we walked outside with a flashlight. He said, “Wow you got a lot done!” And I said, “No I didn’t, I didn’t do all that.” We found out our nice neighbor had come and cleared some too. It was soooooo nice.

Okay I gotta run, I am at work and I am going to miss the bus if I don’t leave soon.

Love you all…Jess

Seattle Bennett living in Colorado

Cameron you talking about sprinkler systems brings back memories. Right before I moved to Colorado Mindi was already gone I decided I would put in a sprinkler system at the Provo house since we seemed to lay sod every year so the renters could get a fresh kill. So I had my crazy mission buddy help me, who owns a landscaping company. well the only time the 2 of us were free was 1 or 2 in the morning so he would cruise down we would bring out some lights and do as much work as we could quietly and then as fast as we could we fire up the bobcat with the trencher on it and trench then he would load up and take off and I would shut off all the lights in the house and try to pretend that nobody was home if the cops showed up. It was fun and I love power tools and big equipment, it makes you sick how fast a little bobcat take out a horde of junipers and trees load them in a dumpster and be gone 4 hours as opposed to me taking 4 weeks to do it by hand. On top of that I was just about a week ago I was complaining about my bonsai sized garden and what a waste it was and over night everything seemed to double in size.Last week on the job site one of the framers was picking up lumber and reached under some boards to find a 4' bull snake under there just about scared him to death, any ways it reminded me of uncle Kev's rattle snake story I think one of you Rigby's should post.
By the way speaking of time flying our little Kaia has only today left as a one year old.

Less Than Two Months Away

I'm sorry. I feel like I haven't blogged forever but my life is such a downer and so drama right now I feel like it is just too melodramatic to write about. However, some good things have happened sooo I will be able to give you a little of both.

First, Ellyn finally got her appiontment for her autism screening. It is next Thursday. I am very anxious to hear what they have to say after assessing her all day. They should be able to tell me SOMETHING. She had an MRI a week and a half ago that just about put me under. She couldn't eat from midnight on and then they didn't get her in until noon. She was starving and then she was in getting the MRI done for three hours when I thought it would take 1/2 an hour or forty five minutes. Then when she woke up she started yanking the IV out of her arm and the tube started filling with blood and she was crying and I was pretty close to it as well. I saved that for when Michael called later that day.

But... now the good news. She said "play dough" yesterday at school and said "bye" to her therapist later that afternoon. Today I swear she said "up." Oh and her teacher today thought she heard her say "ball." We are pretty excited. I think it might be all the lake water she's been drinking.

Um....bad news now. Our tenants in our house in Oklahoma got evicted at the end of May and we have been covering the mortgage (which is luckily only $400 a month) since the beginning of May. Then we found out that to sell it we are going to need a new roof- $2,275, new carpet- $1,500, and a new paint job, around $500. Anytime I think about it I pretty much have a panic attack and can barely keep myself from getting committed to a nice peaceful place in the country.

Now good news... I called the housing department in Germany yesterday to find out if they had received the paperwork Mike had sent and they said they had and that they had a house reserved for us because we have an EFMP child (Exceptional Family Member Program). That is a relief. We had heard that they were two hundred houses short and were afraid we were going to have to find something clear out, which isn't the end of the world but this will be so much more convenient.

They come to get the last of our stuff on Friday. That means anything left at this house either has to fit in a suitcase or stay here for the next three years. Luckily this month is flying by. We leave for a family reunion in Eden on the 21st. It's a week long and then I plan on staying for a couple of more days to visit Geof. and Darla and cousins and Aunts and Uncles. It should be fun. I'm excited and a little stressed.

Jane and Sadie are doing great. Sadie has the loudest voice of any child I have ever heard. It is amazing. Jane just about died of embarrassment yesterday at the fabric store, she was almost in tears by the time we left. I just had to remind her of that old saying "people with kids will understand and people without kids never will." Let's just say that Sadie loved everything in that store and admired it in a very "hands on" sort of way.

Okay, that is my life. Luckily, Mike and both of my families keep me on the sane side of life. Now you know why I don't write too often. I do read the blog, if there is one, every day. Hopefully life will slow down once we move but right now I try to keep it as busy as possible for the kids so the time will pass quickly. They can't wait to be back with their dad.

I love you all and hopefully I will write more often. Cameron, tell Monica I loved seeing her on here and I will definitely look up what Germany has on autism. We will come see you all for sure. Love, Brooke

bg life, 1% alive

Hazel turned one two weeks ago and is walking all over the place.  I can not even express the joy that she brings into our lives.  Summer has consisted of many days at the river, a few at the lake and ever fewer at home.  The more we are home the more I have to clean, which I try to avoid at all costs.  Cory bought me a shiny new red lawnmower.  I love it with all my little girl heart.  However every time I get near it I end up with a beauty burn.  Have any of you noticed how fast time is flying by.  I can’t even get a breath.  Benny has just lost her first tooth and I swear I just had her.  We went camping in the upper 40 last weekend when elly’s mission buddies were here.  It was fabulous.  Brooke was talking about not being able to do something with us the next day because she was going to play with the stinchfields.  So cory was giving me a hard time about not taking making an effort to spend time with his family.  I asked how he could say such I a thing, I was on their property camping, and I had even planned it.  He didn’t think that counted, seeings how only my family was there camping with us. Details, details.  I am babysitting our friends two girls while she is in the hospital having a baby.  A 8 lb 14 oz baby boy all natural, yikes!!  Any ways the girls are kind of unique and they are not use to being away from mom ever.  They are even home schooled, so this has been very hard.  Cory being the sensitive human that he is sings the music from psycho every time he is around the older girl.  I’m pretty sure he will go to hell for it.  If any of you would like to come up linda’s blueberries are on and ripe for the picking.  She just brought me down a box of raspberries last night and they are oh so sweet.  Wil is in love with brind’s girl, and although he can’t always remember her name and when he does it’s usually tim instead of kim, he wants to play with her from the time he wakes, til we force him into bed at night.  Well this has taken me all morning to write and it’s not even good or long.  But as the morning has progressed I have just about put out my back so I am going to try to put it back in some how.  

                         Blog to all………..me  

Ouch

A silent rebuttle from the blog. As most of you do I check the blog everyday, several times a day. I too have slacked on the whole entry side of things. So here is the update from the Crabb/Robbins family.
Let's start with Joel. Joel is extremely busy, too busy to even write. Two weeks ago he was called as an assistant to his mission president. When his mission president asked him to accept the calling all that came out was, "why me?". It sounds like he is doing terrific things and he is loving his mission.
Jan got his papers yesterday so he will be busy filling them out and get started in the whole fun process. He is also working construction for the summer framing houses. I think he likes it, it is his first job so I know he likes payday!
AJ is AJ. He and Joel are really a lot alike. His world is his friends so he is always off somewhere having a good time.
Kel is still MR. Sports. When he's not with friends he's trying to find out the score of anything that's on. Occasionally when he's not too busy Monica and I hire him to babysit and the girls love it when he does.
Monica is doing great. She gave you an update the other day but she is good. This pregnancy has been a totally different experience and she's dealing with it the best she can. She is still teaching voice lessons for a couple hours a week and she loves seeing her students progress.
Trying to find time to do all that needs to be done is impossible. I have been working a lot lately and when I'm done at work I go home and try and get work done there too. It has been a few weeks since I started on the sprinkling system and I can honestly say that I am almost done with it. All I have to do now is go around and put the heads on in the back yard and it will be done. Next comes the sod, but I think we may wait a few weeks to do that.

We are going with Bill, Paula and the boys to Florida over the 24th. My dad had traded one of his time shares so my brother could go on his honeymoon. 3 weeks before the wedding she called it off with no explanation. Since the condo was going to go to waste and Bill had some Southwest tickets we decided to take the whole family and go. It should be a lot of fun and we'll definitely take a lot of pictures to post.

Better get back to work. GET BLOGGING!!!

99% Chance the Beech Tree has officially died

Sad people...real sad...

90% chance of Ellynn

what's up kids? monica it was great to see you on the blog. your description of camerons life makes me want to cry. i think i'm picked on just because i have to work both my jobs one day this week. happily it is the last time i have to work my day job... unless i choose to work. my new job is great though. i load boxes from one semi trailer to another. it's not my dream job but it's a lot of fun and a good workout. it's like spending 8 hours at the gym every day. i have buises all over and i've only worked there for 2 days. i'm not kidding, i look like i have an abusive...something. it's funny, i'm the only girl working in transload and feel like a big wimp. but at least i sweat like a man so i think that makes up for it. so basically life is sweet. one of my mission friends is moving in with us this week. she came home with me after the mission reunion in idaho, fell in love with washington and is now coming to stay. she hitched a ride home yesterday so she could pick up some more clothes and her car and most likely i will be flying out to utah to help her drive home this weekend. yes, it's true, there is indeed a 90% chance of ellynn in utah this weekend. i'll only be there for like a day though. my plans are to spend sunday with geof. and darla (and whoever else wants to come down to see me) and monday on the way out i will probably stop by aunt jackies. it will be a quicky this time but in the fall i will be down more frequently. i hope all is going well for you guys. i love you and really hope i get to see you utah dwellers this weekend. keep your fingers crossed that it works out. blog ya lata.
Ellynn

ColoradoBennett

How was everyone's 4th? We were supposed to go up to the mountains to join my parents in the festivities up there, but didn't feel like making the drive. So we went to a parade in Nederland then watched the street performers in Boulder. The fireworks got rained out that night so we watched the show in New York and put the girls to bed right on time. Then last night we went to see the "make-up" firework show. The girls were only slightly impressed. The highlight of the holiday is the cheep candy that is thrown from the parade floats, not the expensive fireworks.

coming home..

Just a quick note. Moni, could you or Cameron be at the airport to pick us up at 510? we´re flying in on delta straight from mazatlan. if you can´t, no worries, we´ll call from the airport. thankyou! i´m glad we could have one more night here but i´m dying to see my babies!! we´ve found amazing deals on hotels down here and there´s so much culture and history down here. We´ll definately come back. anyway, time for breakfast. love darla

Hello

No worries, Jack has spoken to us, and Jeff and Darla will be picked up on time tomorrow at 5:30. I am just wondering if I get to share in the 2 free roundtrip tickets. Just kidding. If anyone deserves them they definitely do. Well since I am writing I thought I would say hello to all of you bloggers. Cameron still continues to keep me up on the blog. Thanks for all of the tips Jess. I will definitely be using 409 on all of the crazy insects who have still not figured out that the humans have moved in, and no longer want to share their home.

Brooke I am so excited for you. Now if memory serves me right, it wasn't long ago that I was talking to my grandma, and mentioned that you would be moving somewhere in Europe. I wasn't sure at the time, but I told her that I thought you were moving to Germany. She said that would be amazing because she had just seen a program that had talked about all of the research on autism in Germany. She said Germany is one of the best places in the world right now for people with autism they have some amazing programs there. Maybe you will find more info about your little one. So not only are you moving to an amazingly beautiful part of the world, but it sounds like you will be right where you need to be for Ellynn. Your family is definitely being watched over. I just thought that was so amazing.

Well life has been crazy. Cameron has been working over time not only with work, but trying his best to put in a yard. A typical day for him in the last week went like this; go to work at 7am get home at 5:30, attack the yard by digging a 7 foot hole to our water main, and go back in to work at 10pm, and come home at 2am. Yes, I have been feeling very sorry for him but proud of his motivation. The biggest problem has been in the fact that I am absolutely no help to him in the yard. This pregnancy has been so crazy if it is hot and I am standing for longer than 15 minutes I start to black out yes I can tell you what it is like to see stars. Exercise isn't a problem, but standing in the heat is. I have almost lost it twice in voice lessons after being on my feet for 45 minutes. What is hilarious is my teacher has no idea, she just continues talking 100 miles an hour while I stick my head between my legs to get my vision back. I know you are probably thinking what a giant baby, but it is for real, so we have decided to keep it safe.

My kids have been enjoying their summer they are both little fish Harley has finally gotten past her fears and is swimming without her floaties. We had a scare with Liza yesterday, we were all swimming including my mother and father which is a rarity. While we were out Liza decided to swim like Harley, and take off her floaties. I was confidently swimming in the deep end thinking Liza is safely on the stairs with her arm bands on, and out of the corner of my eye I see this little person swimming for dear life just past the last step. I instantly started screaming and swam for her. We are not sure how long she had been under but she had only taken in a little water she had been doing her best to hold her breath. Poor kid she was as white as a sheet, the first thing she said was "I was hiding!" I think she was in so much shock that was the only way her mind could comprehend what had happened. Needless to say her mother is not so confident any more, which is probably a good thing.

Well now that I have written a novel, I will return to my children. I guess I just figure I never write so I need to catch all of you up when I get a chance. I love you all, have a great holiday.
Love Moni

hey jacki. if you get this we´re stuck in mexico for one more day which
works out well. anyway could you please call cameron and monica and tell
them we won´t be getting into utah until 530pm monday the 3rd. i´ll also
post this on the blog. we love you and hope all is well. geof. and darla

povo in mexico

hey everyone. life is great. real great. darla and i have been spoiled to death down here in mexico by mom and dad for the past week. anywho we went to the airport and they asked if we could be bumped to tomorrow the third for two round trip tickets yada yada. we had to do it. anywho we´re trying to find a phone card but no luck yet. so could someone please call cameron and monica and tell them we won´t be in today but instead tomorrow the 3rd at 530pm. we should be able to find a card before them or someone could send the reply to my email. we wish we could have had the whole famliy down here to play with us. alright i´ll blog the whole story of this week soon. viva la mexico. love geof. and darla