Geof., next time use a jig saw.

Va Bennetts' Halloween!

Posted these on my blog, but wanted to add to the Halloween fun. Cole took the pics.
June's spot for most of it. Poor thing kept trying to get onto the table but was making such a mess!

First year I've roasted pumpkin seeds. Olive oil, sea salt..mm, yummy! I ate 2 bowl fulls. No one else was interested.

These gourds tookFOREVER to cut in to. Quite the job for Geof. That's why he stuck to only doing eyes..

We got the butter knife out for the kids to experiment.

Aren't they pretty? (the girls...)

more bglife

hazel and wil pulling out the guts

  

my gut

 

……and the finished product!

gblife

here are some pictures from dana and pa’s harvest party.  bobbing   for apples, the dipping them in caramel.  hobo stew, eaten from tin cans.  and of course a f h e lesson about Pre. Monson.  so much fun!   ellynn is going to have to post pictures from the “poe walk”.  

   

Pumpkin Patch(es)

Our second pumpkin patch-

Jane and Sadie in their starring roles as Ghost Pumpkins
Sometimes the boy cries.
Sadie can finally wear pigtails.
Ellie loved the table of squash.
We couldn't peel Sawyer away from the inflatable giraffe.
If you get it you get it.

Our first pumpkin patch- Ellie was at school and the girls were on break.

My pretty Sadie, she's growing up so quickly.

Corn stalk teepee
the labyrinth
Sadie attempting to decide which pumpkin she wants.
Jane attempting to model a pumpkin that was way too heavy. I kept laughing and shaking the camera. She was about to kill me.
Sawyer and his "BAT" shirt.

Address...

Brooke and Mike

Geof. and Darla

Brind and Julia

I need your addresses so I can send you a little lovely in the mail.

Email me at:

big_rig_14@hotmail.com

Thanks,

J

bglife

a few pictures of my pumpkin i tried to add a picture of myself, but it would have ruined it.

   

bglife

today was a fun and fabulous day!  first i got to go outside, yay!  and there were sun breaks, yay!  and i got to go to the pumpkin patch with my littlest pumpkin on her very first preschool field trip, yay!  you would have thought it was Christmas with the way she has been counting down for this day.  i thought that it was last tuesday and when i found out an hour before that it was not until this week she was so made at me she told me to shut my mouth.  she didn't want to here my voice, not one peep!  hummm, do you think she has heard that one a few times?  finally the day arrived, last night she wanted to hurry and go to bed so today would come faster!  hazel is so cute when she wants to be.  ?(oh and that reminds me last night was mom and dad’s harvest party……so fun with the power out and all!)  after the pumpkin patch i got to go to the kids parents/teacher conferences.  and i know some parents dread this (like i’m sure my parents did!), but thankfully my kids have just enough of cory in them to make them super smart.  for a mom who barely made it through school to have kids that are doing well in school is a miracle and a blessing.  i am so grateful that my children can read.  i know that sounds lame, but really i couldn’t and i was so scared that they would have that same dreadful fate.  waking up everyday excited to go to school to see my friends but praying that we wouldn’t take a test, or worse yet read aloud in class.  i know all kids have their trials, but if my kids could just avoid that one!  so far so good.  three down two to go.  i know silly and simple, but the silly simple things make me happy right now!

cute couples

The Pumpkin Man

A.J.

He is sooo cute!!!!

Have you read this post on Patty Epperson's blog yet?

http://nwepps.blogspot.com/2009/10/matty.html

Getting Ready

Trying out costumes:

Munching Halloween Oreos:

Crabbs

OK so I know it's been a long time and we've not been good at all about writing on this or any other blog and we're sorry. Joan got after us a little bit last night at dinner so I thought I'd hurry and post a little something.

We are doing great. Harley and Liza both started school at a charter school this year, Syracuse Arts Academy. As you might guess their focus is on the Arts which fits my kids to a tee! Harley really loves the change and she has already been in one school play, The Princess and the Pea. She was also in a musical review a few months ago that had scenes from Grease, Guys & Dolls, Music Man and Annie. She sang a solo, Star to Be, in that play and they've asked her to do it again when they perform Annie in December. Liza is loving school too, she comes home with new songs she's learned all the time and I think she especially likes that they say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem every morning. We learned something new about her last week. We were able to get some new furniture (kitchen table, chairs, coffee table, end tables, throw pillows and some large artwork) any way we were taking out some of the old furniture and bringing in the new when Liza got upset. She start telling me, with some very strong feelings, that we should get rid of the new furniture and bring back in the old furniture. I thought she was joking so I started to laugh, wrong thing to do. She started crying and ran to her room. After a long talk with her we realized that she has some issues with change. She did not like the fact that our house was changing. I told her that she'd get used to it and now a week and a half later she is starting to like it.

Beck turned 3 on the 7th and he is so much fun. He loves animals so we got another season pass to the zoo. He also loves cars so for his birthday he got a lot of new toy cars and animals. He has an amazing memory and he always remembers where his things are even when he's hidden them. He is all boy and I'm not sure the girls are always up for that challenge. Every day when I get home we have a little wrestling time so he can let out some of his pent up energy.

Moni is staying busy still as the YW Pres and voice coach. I'll tell you I feel for her on most days because she really does push herself beyond her limits and never complains. She is so amazing in so many ways.

We were able to go to Lake Powell for a week at the end of last month. We had a blast, it was a little windy but we still had a great time hiking and playing in the water. You'll have to get Moni to post her horror story about loading the boat on the trailer when we were coming home.

Not much has changed for me, still working for my dad and having fun with my family. We went deer hunting last weekend and had a great time even thought the hunting was terrible. 3 years ago we were hunting in snow to my hips and this year it was 72 degrees on the mountain which equals no deer out and about! Oh and for the first time really since Harley (8 years) was born I was forced to shave my goatee. Hating the cold face and double chin!

That's us in a nutshell!

Sharing a shake

-- Post From My iPhone

October 16th 2006

The night Jason proposed! Look at the view behind us. It was the most perfect day!

belated

I think the best part about this blog is the birthday wishes (and the fun pics!)...here's a late one to the little male Stinchfield. Sawyer, those big brown eyes and auburn hair?! You're adorable! You're gorgeous. Gosh, you're cute! Happy, happy 2nd birthday!

These might be repeats of previous post pics..guess we don't see you enough, Sawyer... ):

Happy Birthday Sie Bear and Sawyer!!

We love you!!!
Aunt Elly Uncle Jase and Finners

birthday girl

look i found a picture of our little angel.  happy birthday sweet girl!

the little birthday boy

how sad that this is the only picture i have of sawyer from the california trip.  well happy birthday little man.

Happy Birthday, Sawyer!

Happy birthday, Sawyer!!! You are one well-loved, handsome kid. Tristan asks you to please not grow taller than he is at any point in your lives. Deal?

We can't BELIEVE you're 7!!!

Sierra,

apparently Aunt Darla has no idea how to scan pictures properly. I found these two (and some others that didn't scan for some reason) and thought they were too cute! You and Cole are quite the pair! Look at both of your faces (sideways) in the water fountain?! hm..looks like trouble to me.. (;

We LOVE you, Sie-bear and hope your day is/was WONDERFUL! We sure miss living so close to you (only a state away). Come visit soon, please?!

Happy B-day, Sierra

bg(couch)life

i think it is time to give a little update……

so for any of you that don’t know i am on a bit of “couch rest”.  this is becoming increasingly hard as the time goes on.  on the 9th of sept. i went in and had an ultra sound after some spotting.  i was told that i had a subchorionic hemorrhage.  it was 3 cm and no big deal and i could go on with life as normal.  so i continued running, working and even backpacking.  on the 17th  we were going to the zoo with some friends.  i was having some bleeding that morning, but thought it was no big deal so we headed out the door.  by the time we got to the zoo i was gushing!  (sorry if this is more info than you want.)  i don’t know exactly what i was thinking but i tried to walk into the zoo anyways.  we didn’t get very far through the parking lot when my head started spinning.  i decided to sit in the car while cory, the kids, and our friends went in.  after about 15 mins i was feeling better so i walked into the zoo.  i went to the bathroom before calling cory to find out where i could meet them.  when i got into the bathroom i was sure that it was all over.  i will leave out all the details because… well because it’s gross.  so i  am in the bathroom trying to call cory, but he is in the sea lion cave and has no reception.  finally i get a hold of him and tell him that we need to leave.  i don’t think i have ever seen cory walk so fast in my life as he was as he came out of the zoo.  i called my mid-wife to see what she wanted me to do.  (i was bawling so hard talking to the nurse that i could hardly talk.)  she was able to get me into the clinic for an emergency ultra sound.  our friends kept benny and her friend, who had come with us, and cory, the other kids and i hurried back to vancouver.  i really felt like the baby was still there but  when we saw the little heart beating i was so relieved!  then i went in and talked to my mid-wife and she told me that the hemorrhage has grown from 3 cm to 8 by 7 by 3 cm.  so the baby was still healthy, but she didn’t know why the hemorrhage had grown. once again she sent me out the door saying that i could continue life as usual.  cory disagreed whole heartily and sentenced me to the couch.  when i started gushing again 5 days later we went back in and talked to my mid-wife and a doctor as well.  the doctor said that she was going to agree with cory and thought the couch was the best place for me. they went on to tell me that this was going to be a drama pregnancy.  so far they are right.  every time i think we are done with some of the drama something else fun starts.  i am 14 weeks so the chance of miscarrying now has gone down, but that has not lessened any of the drama.  i have another ultra sound wednesday, so we might know more. 

so for now i am trying not to go crazy and take everyone along with me.  and despite the constant work by my perfect husband, who is taking up all the slack, my beautiful children who are so helpful and forgiving of my short temper, my loving mother, and my awesome friends and girls in the ward (plus all the calls from my concerned dad and siblings) i feel like my life is falling in around me.  the mom of the home is the only one that sees all the little finger prints that need to be wiped off the walls and doors and drawers and closets that need constant organizing.  

that is my life in a nut shell for now.  we all know that i have a great husband, but he has really out done himself with this pregnancy.  he even told me i had that beautiful pregnancy glow which is amazing seeing how it would take a day at spa just to get me presentable.  wow i love you cory!!!!

I don't know if and/or when Adam will get on here to post about Moab, so I'll give my version (my "I'm a supportive wife and don't complain in an outward manner" version). The race was located at "Behind The Rock" a few miles outside of the city. We paid $20 a night to camp amongst vendors, RVs, and tents in a big field of dirt right there next to the starting line. There were 3 families with 4 kids each, a couple with a newborn, a couple with no kids, and a few single guys. The kids played well together and throughly enjoyed the dirt. For the team line up and race times see here:

The Lost Boys

I just posted pics on my facebook page of the whole event. Here is another Ruby camping collage:

24 hours of Moab

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

24 hours of Moab

Jackson, grab the cootie spray

It's a little known fact that my girls love Jackson. His name is spoken here at least a few times a week. Anyway we're driving tonight and, for some reason, Maddie starts asking about bears.
"Are there bears in our world?"
After we establish that there really aren't a lot of them around here, I said (just off the top of my head) that there are more in places like Alaska and Washington.
"WASHINGTON?!!" she gasped, genuinely terrified. "They could kill Jackson!"
I started laughing but she failed to see the humor in it - "Do you know that?!" she said angrily. So then I had to act concerned too and explain that he would be safe in his house. Anyway, it didn't end there and she had to yammer on about bears tearing through houses and the like. Overall though it was pretty stinkin funny.
Anywho, Brooke and Mike, fantastic job on the race. I wish I could say that I had done one and stop having it hanging over my head (thank you Meagan). Just kidding Meags. It's through no fault of your own. I just want to be as good as you at everything. Same with Jess. Thanks a lot Tessi - I can't wait to have my next baby naturally.
Ok, that's it. Later

A day at the park

Happy Fall everyone!