Today was a beautiful day and we spent a few hours of it out in the garden.  Ben had fun looking up at the trees and playing with the grass and baby apples!  

The garden doesn't have any actual shade so we hung out in the yard while daddy, papa and mimi worked in the garden.

Here is a short video of Ben having fun in the grass.  He loved it!  

I haven't posted in a while and since this is kind of like my journal I need to do better at it!  There isn't a whole lot going on but we did have a fun few days last week that I should write about!  My hubby, Ben and I went down to Salt Lake with my parents for a night.  They were staying at my Aunt and Uncles house while they were out of town and so we decided to tag along!  There were a ton of stops and meetings for the business down there for David and my dad to keep busy and my brother was going to be there and I really wanted to see him!  Ben is doing better in his carseat every trip we take so I wasn't too scared about that.  We just relaxed at the Stephenson's until dinner time and then my husband surprised me by taking me out on a date (even though it was only Wednesday  :).  We went to a yummy Japanese place and then stopped for frozen yogurt on the way back.  By the time we got back to the Stephenson's my darling cousin Steph and Clark were there and Clark even had his 'girlfriend' with him!  The status of their relationship isn't quite yet defined but I am not blind!  So we got to spend a few hours with her and it was really fun.  She is a really cute girl.  We also got to see a few of my other fav cousins which was a pleasant surprise!  Now Clark is up in Washington at a HUGE music fest.  I am kind of jealous. :)  On the way back up to Logan after a few more business stops we had lunch at our favorite spot, Pho Hoa.  Yum!!  I can never get enough Pho!  Our fun Vietnamese waiter just LOVED Ben and Ben liked him too!  He was all smiles while the waiter made funny noises and talked to him in what I think was English?  The people at Pho Hoa I think were already starting to recognize David and I but now that we have Ben they will for sure know us!
Well now that we are back home it's time to focus on the garden and get it finished!  I think it's close!  I have been taking pictures all along and when it's done I'll do a before and after post...or more like a progress post.  It's so fun!  And now it's not just us out there!  I think there are like 6 or 7 other couples and small families who have expressed interest in learning how to garden and have claimed their spot in the garden!  I think we'll even make a fire pit out there and everything...it will be a fun hang out place when it's finished!  Can't wait for raspberry's!
Yesterday in church I got a calling.  I guess the Lord thinks I am ready to expand my responsibilities from just being a mom. I am not so sure about it...I am going to be the relief society secretary.  Gulp!  When I told mom she says, "That's a big job!"  Thanks mom!  But I'll be the first to testify that the Lord doesn't call his people to certain callings without giving them the tools and things they'll need to be successful at it...as long as I have the desire to be successful. :)
I have a friend who is about 8 weeks pregnant and feeling awful.  I remember those days.  I can't bring myself to tell her that I actually never threw up because she visits the bathroom often but I remember feeling like I wanted to die...just that feeling of ickyness.  Yuck.  I feel for her and wish there was something more I could do for her.  All I can say is IT'S SO WORTH IT!  Hang in there! It's amazing how you kind of just forget about the whole experience...the details of it all just kind of disappear!  I was trying to give her tips and share what worked for me and I could hardly remember!  Crazy!  What a crazy strange awesome blessing! Well looks like my little bundle of joy might be waking up from his nap so this entry is over for now.  Sorry no pics for now!  Boring huh!!!!!

Just some fun photos of my growing boy!  He is days away from rolling over from his tummy to his back!  I am going to try my hardest to get it on video!

Gotta love the rolls!

I painted my table! 

It used to be just plain white...

The lighting is terrible I know so it's hard to tell exactly what the color is but it's a fun lemon sorbet color!  I love it!  

Next project?!  Reupholster the chair cushions and repaint the parlor chairs!

I love weddings!

Tuesday night we drove back down to Salt Lake for Josh's wedding.  Tuesday night was the dinner at a yummy barbecue restaurant and Wednesday was the big day!  Ben still hates his car seat so it was interesting at times but DEFINITELY worth it!  I had baby back ribs and sweet potato pie! Yum!

Bride and Groom deciding what to eat!

Uncle Clark and Ben!

Father of the Groom, my favorite Uncle Joe!

Tuesday night we slept at the Ehlerts and little Ben loved his spot in the closet!  :)  I love that he sleeps on his  tummy because we can throw him anywhere when we travel and he loves it!  

And I love his little bum sticking up in the air!

On Wednesday we got to go to the ceremony at the Salt Lake temple and it was beautiful.  I loved every minute of it!  The bride and groom looked so happy and beautiful.

After a few pictures we walked over to the new City Creek center to check it out and have lunch.  Wow!  It  is certainly an amazing fun place! I can't wait to go back there and shop someday! Then there was some rabbit food business stops to make and then off to the reception!  I wish I would have taken more pictures of the reception because it was beautiful but this is all I got and my mom took this one!   I love my cousin Josh and I am so very excited for him and his new life with his cute wife.  Wow rhymes!  

Me hugging Josh and Jordan smiling at Ben. 

Benjamin's Blessing Day!

 Yesterday was a special day.  We had Ben's baby blessing down in Salt Lake at my Aunt Cathy's home.  We decided to do this for several reasons and I am glad that we did.  I guess it's not a normal practice anymore but I have to say that I much preferred it over the normal sacrament meeting blessing!  It was much more personal and fun!  We started out the day by going to church at 9, Ben fell asleep just as the closing song was being sung and then we stuck him in his carseat (his least favorite place in the world) and headed down to Salt Lake!  Once we arrived it was 'quiet' for a few hours before the 'party' began.  Ben got to eat and take a pretty good nap although it wasn't long enough.  I am a bad judge of head count but there had to be about 40-50 people there!  It was really great.  Once everyone arrived, we changed Ben from this cute little silly outfit to his cute white blessing outfit. :) I think it was the largest priesthood circle I have ever seen!! My husband gave a beautiful blessing, it had me in tears.  The spirit was so strong and wonderful!  Then after that it was a bunch of eating and visiting with the people that I love!  Poor Ben was in shock most the night...to this point he had never seen so many faces or been passed around so much to different people.  Bless his heart though he did so good.  And of course when the time came to put him back in his carseat he started to scream but thankfully was tired enough slept most of the way home!  And we all slept peacefully with sweet dreams in our own beds!!  I am SO grateful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for the Priesthood power that God has blessed us with...what a blessing!!!  I know that our happiness is by and through Jesus Christ our Savior and I am so grateful for him.  He wants us to be happy which is why he died for you and me.  There was no other way...no other way that we could have hope of eternal life and happiness.  What a blessing.     

Cute Sunday outfit!  Thanks mom for the cute sweater!  She knit it!!

Me, my cousin Melanie and my cousin Stephanie! And of course Ben!

My Aunt Debbie, Amber, Megan, our soon to be cousin Jordan and Josh, my uncle Joe and my brother Clark.

My handsome brothers and two cousins Ben and Matt!

Aunt Sharon, Jared, Carly and Melanie!  Love you guys!

What a crowd!  Lots of priesthood power in that room!  

My handsome dude!  He fell asleep right before the blessing thank goodness!

My handsome dudes!  I love them!!! 

So happy!

My cousin Ben and Ben!!!  The Benjamins!

Natalie, Mel, me, Steph and my mom!!  

Me and my 'Roomy'!

The day is winding down and Chels has the touch! He was OUT!  Oh and that's cute little Olive!

I want to thank everybody that came to support us and to be there.  And for everyone who helped with everything!  It was a great day and a great celebration!  I could not be a happier girl!!

My little boy LOVES his fingers.  He found them quite a while ago but it's turned into an obsession.  A large portion of his content life is lived with some or all of his fingers in his mouth.  It's cute.  We've tried to replace them with a binki which he enjoys at times but he always prefers his fingers way more!  He never gives his 'what are you trying to put into my mouth, it's disgusting' face with his fingers like he does with the binki so we just allow it.  It certainly keeps me on my toes though with keeping his hands clean!

Sometimes it's not just one hand either!  He tries with all his might to get both hands in his mouth!  He's gotten hilariously close too!

And this is what I'm talking about with ALL fingers!  HA!  Makes me laugh!

And yesterday when he was in his swing he was working SO hard to reach out and touch the plastic fish that hangs above the swing...he hit it a few times!  He got a little frustrated and then stuck these two fingers in his mouth and fell asleep. Oh man is he cute or what.  I love this little guy so much.