HaPpY BiRtHdAy to mY aNgEl GiRl. I lOvE her more than I can tell! I am blessed beyond words!












My heart is so full just thinking of my girl. Thanks to all of you for influencing her life and helping sculpt our amazing Nutty Bug!

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Lazy Week:P

Grandma Bennett was here for about 10 days and we had SUCH a fun time. And this week was our Mid-Winter break. I did three things

1. Babysit. I earned all of my money for Wicked in one week. I LOVE babysitting. It is so fun to play with little kids and especially since I have babysat them since they were babies.
2. Watch TV. I was watching Psych, my new favorite TV show.
3. Family. Although it was a lazy week, it was needed. It was the end of the trimester and a new one starts tomorrow. It was nice to be together as a family and not ALWAYS doing something. Just relaxing and talking.

I love ALL of my family so much. I cannot wait to see everyone this summer:)!

I read all of the blogs, almost every day, but I am making it a goal to blog more.

Happy Birthday Bennett!!

The title says it all. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet Bennett! I LOVE you! The best 5 year old cousin ever :P I wish you were that young, because you are getting WAY too big. Have the BEST DAY EVER!

<3 Jane

Happy Birthday, Bennett!!

Ruby's Chores

Ruby: "It has been a long, hard day! I can't find my pants. My hair is a wreck. And my mom gives me all these chores to do!"

Bglife

For Uncle Geof.- hazel tonight warned the kids not to eat their fudge pops too FASTLY or they will get a head freeze.

Then later we were playing a game and hazel got hit in the eye and said that's ok I've still got one eyeball left.

Last one, when mom came in tonight wil offered her one of my chocolates. Mom asked if he was sure it was ok with his mom. He said sure, especially if she doesn't know.

Mom was too lazy to blog so I wrote this for her.
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KS Bennett Update

Okay, first of all, let me just say I am SO happy with the recent posts and pictures. I love seeing what everyone is up to. I miss you all too much!

Meags - your Valentine's Day looked amazing and sounded delicious. I like the idea of it being about love and not so much romance.

Yesterday was a special day! Happy birthday to my absolute favorite Colorado bro in law. Bowling looked so fun and your red goatee makes you look like Brind. Well, I guess it's the other way around huh? It was also my dear sweet mother's birthday. I missed her painfully.

And happy anniversary to Geof & Darla and Jessica & Tony! I hope you got to enjoy the day.

Well, we're doing awesome. After Brinders and I had nasty colds and Violet had a double ear infection (her first one ever!) and a funky respiratory thing that made her all wheezy so she had a sad little breathing mask and inhaler... we're all better! It's so true that you can't fully appreciate health without sickness. I'm guessing Violet got sick from nursery (seeing as she is just with me every other moment) but she loves her class and her teachers SO much! She has so much fun playing with the other kids and calls everyone "baby" even though they are all a head taller than our little peanut.

We got to have one last dinner with Aunt Dorthy and Uncle Glen before they go back home. She made Violet and baby Brind little pillows and a blankie for Brind too. (See above picture.) Oh, I love them. They are sweet, kind, generous, thoughtful... I can't speak highly enough of them. AWESOME! I so loved having real family near by. They were the closet thing Violet had to grandparents (logistically!) out here and the 3 of them were best buddies. I'm very sad to see them go. :(

We're all looking forward to little Brind coming in SEVEN weeks! YAY! A new tiny member of the family... it will be springtime... my family is coming to help out... and if I haven't delivered by the 12th my doctor said we can induce. Ah, a light at the end of the tunnel (no pun intended). My actual due date is the 13th, but my doctor said "Is your family superstitious? We can do it the day before so his birthday will never land on a Friday the 13th." Um, yes please! Hehehe. I can't wait to see him.

That's all folks! We love you! Please come visit... and we'll keep you posted on baby!

Happy...to you!

We had Adam from Wednesday night to Monday morning. Per his request we went bowling to celebrate his birthday. Adam had to bowl with Ruby in one hand and the ball in the other, she just didn't want to let him go. Tristan wasn't into bowling at all, he just wanted to play in the arcade (poor guy doesn't even know if you put money in the machine much cooler lights come on). We had several family/friend parties for Adam while he was here. Lots of chocolate cake:)

Happy Anniversary to Geof. & Darla, Tony & Jess!!

Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Anniversary!!

9 years of bliss. Thank you Darla and all the other relatives who came to Oakland 9 years ago today.
Also Happy Birthday to Adam. The best big brother anyone ever had.
While I'm on a roll, happy anniversary to Tony and Jess.

Some Allen pics from stuff early 2011

 

Valentine’s Dinner. o so good.

Meags bought this matchy matchy outfit last year when she was prego.  First time out. I made her model it.  She’s normally not so willing to pose. hmmm

All of us snowshoeing.  That’s a lot of people.

Trillium Lake behind.  So cold.

 

Some girls.  At Bonneville dam.

Some boys.  At Bonneville dam.

Meags and Harris.

 

9-year-old and 7-year-old learning about electricity.

33-year-old, 9-month-old, and 5-year-old learning about electricity.

11-year-old learning about electricity.

Where the electricity comes from.  so cool!

Sunset in the Columbia River Gorge.

More sunset.  Or dwarven forges, whichever you prefer.  I prefer the forges.

The girls new polka dot room.  Only crazy people can paint perfect circles.  Meags did a great job.

Valentine Menu

Gnocchi
Ingredients
1 pound refrigerated gnocchi
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
8 ounces Italian fontina cheese, cubed
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
Once the gnocchi goes into the pot, start the sauce, as you want the gnocchi to be done first. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, and cook for a few minutes, until tender. Stir in the cream, and heat to almost a boil. Gradually mix in the fontina and parmesan cheeses, being careful not to boil. Stir until smooth, then remove from the heat immediately, or the sauce may clump.
Place gnocchi into serving dishes, and spoon the sauce over them. Garnish with chopped fresh basil.

Breadsticks
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 tablespoons butter, softened
4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons dry milk powder
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Directions
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). When dough cycle is complete, remove dough to a lightly oiled surface. Divide dough up into 18 pieces. Roll each piece on an oiled board, from center of piece to the outside edges to form bread sticks. Place bread sticks at least 1 inch apart on the prepared pans.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Poached pear salad
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick
4 large pears, peeled, halved, and cored
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
Directions
In a large saucepan, bring the orange juice, brown sugar and cinnamon stick to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add pears; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender but firm.
Using a slotted spoon, place each pear half in a dessert dish. Garnish with raspberries. Drizzle with poaching liquid.
Then I put this over a bed of baby spinach.

Eclair cake
Ingredients
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 cups milk
1 (16 ounce) package graham cracker squares
1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting
Directions
In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the pudding mix, whipped topping, and milk.
Arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares in the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking pan. Evenly spread half of the pudding mixture over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers and the remaining pudding mixture. Top with a final layer of graham crackers.
Spread the frosting over the whole cake up to the edges of the pan. Cover, and chill at least 4 hours before serving.
(I use homemade frosting. WAY better!!)

Broiled asparagus
Ingredients
*Asparagus, fresh, 20 spear, large (7-1/4" to 8-1/2")
*Extra Light Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
*Salt, 1 tsp
*Pepper, black, 1 tbsp
Directions
Turn Broiler on. Preheat. Take one asparagus spear and hold at each end. Bend spear until stalk breaks. Take that spear and cut the rest of the asparagus at the same spot as the broken spear. Put asparagus in a large bowl and pour olive oil over asparagus. Toss together and put asparagus on a broiling pan. Salt and pepper Asparagus and put in broiler. Cook for 10 minutes shaking pan occasionally. Asparagus should be light golden brown on tips and tender.
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Bglife

Our little ray of sunshine....

Bglife A LOVELY Valentines

Cory and I decided a long time ago that Valentines day would be about LOVE and not romance. The "LOVE" started on Saturday when I made over a hundred sugar cookies with the help of my LOVELY girls......




Valentines morning started just the way I LOVE - at the gym by 5:45 to lift weights then run so hard I wanted to puke- (LOVE). On the way home I call our LOVELY birthday girl, Ellyn, who I LOVE so much! At home I was greeted by the LOVE of my life holding two bags of my most LOVED chocolates.
Now the rush is on to get four of my LOVING children out the door on time for school- (don't LOVE).
After dropping four kids and three bags of Valentine cookies off at school we (me, the LOVE of my life, and the littlest LOVE) head to the much LOVED lewisville park. (If you have been there you will agree!). We meet our LOVELY friends the Billingsly's so the boys can run and the girls can walk. The girls use to run too, but eight years after their last little LOVE was born they LOVED Harris so much they thought they should have another little LOVE for themselves (coming in June!).
Then it was a rush home, quick shower and change for littlest LOVE and me so that we can be in Hazel's first school Valentine's day party, which she LOVED! Home again for lunch, stories, and a quick snuggle before Hazel's nap, another change (Harris wet all over both of us) and Harris and I rushed off to two more Valentine parties of my fourth and second grade LOVES and an awards assembly. Yes my oldest LOVE is on Honor Roll again and always!- (LOVE LOVE LOVE how hard he works.) All the kids LOVE when I bring Harris into class. We set him in the chair next them and use his coat to tie him safely into the chair. He LOVES being a big kid and all the big kids LOVE seeing someone so little sitting up to the desk. In the middle school he is just passed from one girl to the next who are all in LOVE with Him and Jackson.
Cory and I LOVE cooking together and we had planned a meal we knew our LOVELIES would LOVE. So we sent them upstairs to play while we set to work. However they were not feeling the LOVE. Too much arguing and neglecting and the littlest LOVE fell (rolled) down the stairs. (I know, I know mom has been telling me for a month now to get a gate). But for the LOVE you would think four kids watching one baby in one room.... Oh well lesson learned. He was totally fine and done crying before we were done yelling.
Finally dinner was served on a table set with my LOVELY china, strewn with candy we all LOVE and candle light (not for romance but for LOVE). We ate gnocchi with homemade fontina cheese sauce (which always reminds me of being in Venice - LOVE!), broiled asparagus, spinach salad with orange cinnamon glazed pear and candied pecans, soft homemade breadsticks, and raspberry Italian sodas. LOVE, LOVE, and LOVE! We didn't even get to dessert, eclair cake, because we were so stuffed. So we are just spreading the LOVE to tonight. While we ate we watched our Valentine slideshow that Cory LOVINGLY put together for us.
The kids showed their LOVE for us by helping clean up, then scriptures, prayers, and bed for all our little LOVES. Then snuggles with the LOVE of my life while we watched Castle - LOVE it!



(Harris did not LOVE posing for our Valentines picture.)

The End

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HAPPy Birthday, ELLYN!

Ellyn, I wish I could give you this Valentine's cookie for your birthday....but your cousins ate it. Gram brought us cookies and chocolate covered strawberries from the local bakery and said they were from Adam (unbeknowns to Adam :)). I've never had such delicious CCstrawberries. I'd like to save a few for Adam when he gets home on Thurs., but I don't think I have that kind of self-control.

Conversations with my girls

Dayne: "Mom, who do you think is the most nicest, Jesus or the New Year's Baby?"

no waiting for my response...

"I think it goes like this: first, Jesus, then Santa, then the New Years Baby, then Heavenly Father. No, Heavenly Father first and then Jesus."

Me: "Cole, my phone just died, could you get my chord?"

June: "It died?" (look of disbelief) "Aah, mom! Why'd you do that to your phone?"

While wiping June on the toilet (too much info?) she looks over in the garbage can at a broken piece of her dolly's stroller, "Mom, did this break?" Me: "Yes, it broke off your stroller. Keep it in the garbage." June: "Oh, poor yittle fellow."

The Weekend

This weekend was pretty exciting around our house. Sadie was whisked away Friday evening for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and dancing at River School's Daddy Daughter Dance.

Jane and Edie had a sleep over and then Jane spent the day rehearsing and performing in her second year of CCS Honor Band.






Sadie and Mike and Ellyn and Sawyer attended Landon Snyder's baptism (Landon and Sadie are friends).

We spent the rest of the weekend eating delicious food (I tried cooking lamb for the first time and it was a success- I love lamb and now the kids do too), taking a couple of great runs, going for a nice long walk on a 70 degree Sunday morning, eating way too many homemade chocolate chip peanut butter chip cookies, watching football, playing games, and loving being together as a family.
Darla, for your sake (she always says that our life sounds too perfect) I will tell you that my heart shape brownies for the dance did not come out of the silicone baking thingy and I had to redo the batch and have Mike and Sadie pick it up for the dance after dinner AND it was really stressful trying to get ready between Jane's practice and the concert because I had just done a six mile run and I was disgusting and they let them out 20 minutes late and I had to hurry and run home and shower and I was short tempered with my daughter who kept teasing me to try to lighten the mood, AND we forgot to buy more potato chips (they were eaten Friday) for the football game so Mike had to eat his favorite sour cream and onion dip with Triscuits. Oh, and there were a few tense moments during sacrament meeting with Ellyn, Sawyer, and even a little tiff between Sadie and Jane (something about eyelashes that don't curl up naturally). Also, I was really ornery with Jane right before bed Saturday night about something I could have handled much better. Good thing she is such a forgiving girl. See, not perfect, but overall really wonderful.

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Bglife

A few snapshots of the fam.....




















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We are so glad when Daddy comes home!

We've had Adam home with us since Tuesday night, after a two week absence. I can't even find words to describe how wonderful it has been. He has to leave again Monday morning, and he still doesn't know what his schedule will be like when he returns. He was saying that he might have to work 18 hours a day for two weeks straight, or something absurd like that. I started to get really worried what he would be eating if he only had 6 hours off each day, one hour spent traveling to and from work and 5 sleeping. He mentioned that he would like to bring some "Eat to Live" type food back with him. He bought supplies at Costco and I've spent the last two days making soups and salads from the recipes in "Eat to Live"--TWO WEEKS WORTH. That's 21 quart size bags of soup, 5 giant salads, several bags of cooked vegis, and 14 Bennett Bars. While I was in the kitchen, Adam and the kids watched "Man vs. Food" and decided to copy a recipe they saw on the show and make this:


Pancakes with bacon and sausage, runny eggs on top. I'm throwing my hands in the air.

AJ's posted a new song!

Hey family,

I just thought I would advertize for my son. He just posted a new song to his facebook music page. If you haven't been to his page yet it's just called Alec Jay. If you like it please let him know and share it with your friends! I have to say this is my favorite song so far.

Loves to all,
Paula