Beech Tree: November 2008

Happy Birthday, Meagan!

We love, love, love you, beautiful Aunt Meagan. Hope your birthday is awesome.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Meags, I hope you have a great birthday day!!! Aren't you turning 31? Well, for sure, even if you think you are old, you are not and you look really young. I am not saying this to make you feel better. You have been such a good example to me. You are the best aunt and I love you a lot. Happy Birthday!

Got Snow?

More here.

Mike,
My man, peace and Happy Birthday.
Love Tristan

Other family members, go here for a funny post on Sundry Seven.

to mr. mike on his day

MIKE!! Happy day to you. I'm sure it's one of the better birthdays..(: We're so thrilled that your home. I would post a fabulous pic of you, but last time we saw you we didn't have our digital camera. Can you believe it's been that long?? We miss you Mike and wish we could play with you in the beautiful CA sun.
LOVE,
The geof. and darla clan

ColoradoBennett

I was inspired by Monica's blog listing wonderful qualities about her children. Sierra has really been a doll lately. She came home from church with an envelope. She kept telling me that she couldn't say what was inside. Then this morning she fixed everyone a bowl of cold cereal and put a big heart on the table which said "secret act of service". I guess she had a lesson about service and was so excited to do it. The other day my grandpa needed help putting the cover on his camper. Sierra is absolutely fearless so we threw her on top. She got the job done without a complaint. Her Kindergarten "Turkey Tea" program was yesterday. Every kid got up and read a sentence about what they were thankful for. Most kids said they were thankful for their moms. But Sierra said, "I'm thankful for school because I love my teacher."

...what we've been up to..

Random pics. Here's Cole and his little 2nd cousin Emma (and naked Dayne..of course, in the background) playing with blocks that I remember playing with as a child!! At my aunt's house..

I love my kids. I've been so blessed to have them as my teachers these last almost 6 years. I can't imagine a more important, sacred calling than the one I'm attempting to fulfill right now.

It seems almost every morning that I come upstairs and see the view that I have to snap a pic. The fog settling in is such a sight!!

I watched this video on Carly Turley's blog. I think it is by Seth Adam Smith (his blog is inspiring).

ColoradoBennett

Last night when it was Adam's turn to say family prayer Kaia asked him if he would please not use the word "opportunity". I'm not sure why she was venom on that particular word, but she really meant it. And because it is Adam's nature to tease and torture those who ask the ridiculous (or anyone who breathes, actually) he took it upon himself to use the word "opportunity" more times in a prayer than I thought possible. I was shaking uncontrollably during the prayer from laughter and had to leave the room after it was over because I could hear Kaia crying hot tears of fury. Then I had a dream about "opportunity" but it only lasted a few seconds and I can't remember what it was about. Strange? Yes.

Twelve more days 'till Adam's monumental vacation begins. I was telling a friend about our plans and said "When would our kids ever have the chance to spend a whole month with their dad on vacation?" She responded, "Well, if he lost his job." I think she has see long periods of time with her husband out of work, but now he works for the FBI and all is well. Anyway, we are very excited to move to WA (if only for a month).

Hey Ellynn, when you gonna have that baby?

24 years ago, today...

Brind! We love ya! Thanks for coming today for breakfast. Your nieces and nephews adore you..., and we're pretty fond of you as well. Enjoy your day!!

bglife

this is our new baby elephant!

oh he is even cuter in real life!

Go Blackjacks...

In August Chelsea called to see if we were interested in joining a family/Fusion softball team. I happen to fit in both of those categories so we were in.

We got cute matching team shirts, had a practice and thought we were ready to rock.

I probably should have written this post earlier in our season when we were still feeling optimistic. But as you can see by the big "zero" we are making in the picture, we didn't win a single game. That's right, not a single one. We got worked big time, and not just by a few points, we're talking 10 or 20 points.

Here's the team:

Brad, Me, Tony, Kipp, Megan, Chelsea, Joey, Cortney, Rodger

Bob, Lindsey and Landon

Not pictured: Lydia, Summer, Kari and Dave

On the up side I discovered my husband's hidden talent of hitting a mean home run.

Even with the support of our cheering section we couldn't pull out a win...

Not only did we get our aces kicked but we also got injured, and I mean a lot.

Poor Cort took a grounder that bounced up right to the eye...

Dave and Joey pulled their hami's

Landon got hit in the chest with the ball

And Kipp broke his wrist

Who knew the city league would be like unto the majors. These players meant business and we were way out of our league (enjoy the pun).

Needless to say, we will not be playing next year.

This Weekend We...

Scrubbed up the strollers and the dog crates and cleaned up the garage. We were going to put up Christmas decorations but it was 82 degrees, that's right- BEAUTIFUL!!!! Not Christmas decoration putting up weather.

Decorated Sadie's Feather for her 1st grade class Thanksgiving project. Is that a killer feather or what?

Made several batches of truffles.

I had made the ganache for Enrichment Tuesday night but it didn't cool in time. Dang. So I took soup and a centerpiece (my new calling is being on the Enrichment Committee) and called it good. Oh, I did help set up, that's what we did as one of our errands on Tuesday. Do you see how I am rationalizing the fact that the girls and I made truffles off and on for about four days and ate them all ourselves? Sadie loved to dip them in the unsweetened cocoa. We have a fine layer of cocoa on dishes, counters, clothing, etc...

Took the puppies to the Carmel Community Park. It is a great big field where a million dogs run around getting to know each other. There is also a playground. The kids loved it. The dogs loved it.

Sawyer loved the baby swing but he really wanted to get up on this one.

Took a nap or two.

Ellyn was ready for the weekend. I brought my camera out when I went to get her off the bus Friday afternoon. She always gives me the best smiles and I wanted to capture one, but she had a very full day at school and a warm bus ride home. She was sound asleep.

Took some baths.

Sawyer thought that he could grab hold of this stream of water. He was giving it his very best effort.

Had a great weekend. It really felt long and productive and relaxing. Perfect.

ColoradoBennett

Listen to this:

Then read this: A few weeks ago I called Jeni, the midwife who helped us birth Tristan at home. Adam said he wasn't comfortable having another home birth, so I wanted to ask her if she would let me have appointments with her and then we would just have this baby at the hospital. It took about a week for her assistant to call me back. During that time I already made plans to go to St. Joseph's hospital and use their staff of midwives. After explaining all this to her, she ended the conversation by saying "well, OK, have a nice birth". And I replied, "You too!" In my defense I was walking Sierra to school, pushing the double stroller, talking on the cell phone and it was slightly windy. I just assumed she said "have a nice day" or something. It wasn't until I hung up that I realized I had just pulled a "Brian Regan".

Mind! You're so loved! Look at all these great photos of you! I especially like the one of you looking like a hair goddess right after giving birth! wow..anyway, i just posted a ton of pics of our trip to the zoo on my blog and it took FOREVER, so if you're interested in seeing them, just click here.
Happy Day to all.
~Darla
P.s. I was thinking for all those who are interested and are coming for Thanksgiving Day (you Robbins that is), that we should put on a talent show. Just something casual really, but I'm DYING to hear some musical talent from you guys!

happy late late birthday

mindi over the years. oh how i love you!!

i know i am the worst sister ever!!!

i’m sorry i missed your birthday. i have been thinking of you constantly, but just too crazy to call or write. i hope you have a wonderful year full of wonderful things.

love you forever my sister