February

2.5.18 Jared took advantage of the mild winter weather to start construction on his home office. 

2.8.18 The kids liked the big toys that were around while the office was being built.

And so did mom. :)

 2.7.18  We got to enjoy lots of park days in February!  Crazy- but we don't mind! We had fun with cousins and friends riding bikes at the park this particularly sunny day.

 2.9.18  Sorella Bennion got hitched! We were able to go to the reception for one of my mission companions. Such a happy day!

2.15.18  Happy Valentine's day to me!

 2.18.18 My handsome little hairdresser.  He was very serious about doing my hair for church.

 2.19.18  More fun in the snow!

Towards the middle of February I got asked to participate in a "Where's Waldo" activity for a mutual activity. The idea was that people from the ward dress up in a disguise and the youth in the ward have to pick them out at the mall.  Sort of a get-to-know-other-adults-in-the-ward activity.  I said yes, but had to come up with a disguise... I borrowed a bag of wigs from my sister-in-law and Ben helped me pick some out.  He was way cuter in them than I was.

This was the final product.  I was wearing some black high heeled boots and walked like I was on a mission. Lots of the kids walked right by me but several figured it out.  It was kinda fun.

Ben is 3!

This boy is so stinkin' cute and it balances out his stubbornness and mischievousness.

Height: 3 ft 5 in (27%)

Weight: 32 lbs (54%)

The darned black frosting on mickey mouse!!  Apparently he thinks it still tastes okay. 

A talented sleeper.

Ben loves anything with wheels and particularly likes to be in the drivers seat. He cruises crazy fast on his balance bike that he got for Christmas.
He talks pretty darn well and is one smart cookie.
He does really well most days at being potty trained.  Sometimes he just doesn't want to stop playing and will have little accidents that just require changing clothes but no mops.  He is still in a pull-up at night.
He does still nap some days.  He's actually more likely to skip a nap than Caroline.
He and Caroline share a room and they love to make "nests" on the floor with their blankets.
I'm surprised his lips haven't fallen off with all the car noises he makes.
He thinks "tooty" is a funny word and cracks up when someone makes a "tooty." Such. A. Boy.
He can count to at least  10.
He insists on getting himself dressed. Such a contrast to Caroline who still asks for help most days.
He likes to be a good helper.
Ben has mastered the selective hearing and only responds at his convenience.  He always likes to finish what he's doing- like park his toy car- before he can stop and listen to mom.
He gets along much better with Caroline than with Matthew, it will be interesting to see how that changes as Matthew gets older and plays instead of taking toys.  He's usually pretty kind to his brother though.
Is such a little parrot.  He repeats most everything we'll say and sometimes I hear him telling Caroline the exact same phrases that I just said to her.  "Be careful, sweetheart."  "You need to go get dressed."

January

1.12.18 We went to the car expo for fun and to look at the cars we might be buying in another 10 or 15 years.  We actually ended up buying a 2002 Suburban shortly after we went because it sounded like such a good deal after seeing the brand new ones that cost $70,000. While we were at the show Ben got to sit in the trooper's car.  He liked it lots.  There were some cute little crafts and power wheels for the kids.  They had a blast. Also, Ben is a better driver than Caroline. We'll see if that trend holds when they're teenagers.  

Ben often tells people that he's turning 16, because we tell him that's when he can start driving.  

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1.13.18 Date night to see Vocal Point.  So good.

1.15.18 I was innocently shopping at walmart when I turned around and saw this...

1.20.18  We didn't get tons of snow this year, but my kids thoroughly enjoyed playing in what we got.  They are my little snowbabies- Caroline and Matthew especially.

1.30.18  Oh Matthew.  *sigh*  Good thing he's cute.

Have I mentioned he likes to climb?

Holidays in South Carolina

We had loads of fun in South Carolina playing with cousins, zip lining, playing outside and lots and lots of swinging.  I realized after I was going through the pictures that a large portion of our pictures involved swinging.

Leaving Utah... asleep before take-off. Just the way we like it.

Got to meet up with some of my friends from my former life at church.
Glad I got to see them.

These kids really give us a hard time travelling.  Note, though, that there are no pictures of Matthew sleeping...  

December Fun and Festivities

Cresche Festival in Payson 

A little shepherd with her sheep at the ward Christmas Party.

At the Mapleton tree lighting ceremony.  She was a big fan of the hot chocolate.

The insanity of making our own Christmas cards.

They turned out pretty cute, though.

We were the recipients of a box left on the porch full anonymously.  It was full of games, goodies, and other fun stuff. It made our day and we hope to someday return the favor to someone else.

There was a gingerbread kit in the big box.  The kids actually stuck some of the candy on the house and didn't eat it immediately.  Christmas miracle!

A sampling of Caroline's artwork of late.

I got to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert with some friends from South Carolina.  It was a fun date! :)

Cute kiddos at church.

Temple Square

Did I mention he likes to climb?

Ben got this balance bike for Christmas and put miles on it within a few days. In the house.