Benton at 8 months

Benton is eight months old and I can't believe it. It really seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital and now he is so big- 21 lbs at his last weigh in and he is quickly outgrowing his 12 month clothes. Benton is such a fun baby. He has a really happy disposition and is always smiling- not just smiling but beaming. He is also starting to have a really cute belly giggle that comes out when we are tickling him. He is ticklish all over, especially on his legs. He loves to play with his toys and he is rolling all over the place. Just this week he has started to scoot to things and he is also getting up on his hands and knees, so he should be crawling really soon. I don't look forward to the crawling stage because that also means that he is really close to the getting into everything stage and that stage lasts way too long. Benton is eating solid food like a champion. He loves to eat. Mo always says that Benton is a really happy baby but that nothing makes him happier than when he is eating. There hasn't been anything (besides the baby food green beans and they are disgusting) that he hasn't liked. He especially loves ice cream and cake. At eight months his favorite things are his feet, books, songs, toys that light up and make noise, playing with Jackson and Mo, and taking baths. I have never seen a baby like the water as much as Benton. He loves to splash it all over, and he doesn't even mind being splashed right in the face. Jackson and Benton bath together and so believe me, Benton is always getting splashed. He gets so excited when he knows that he is going to take a bath, and it always makes him a little upset when it is time for him to get out. He has a little I am not happy grunt that is pretty funny. He is still really cuddly and he still likes to be held and carried around when he is not too busy playing. He really likes shoulder rides from Mo. Benton is such a little bundle of joy and we are so thankful that he is a part of our family. He has brought such a special spirit into our home. We love our Benton Boo so much. And, I almost forgot- he has a new little bottom tooth coming in. He hasn't even been grouchy- I just noticed it yesterday when I was feeding him. Congratulations Benton!

Mo's Birthday Weekend

This was a really fun weekend for our family because we got to celebrate Mo's 28th birthday. The celebration started saturday morning at Village Inn. We all love to go to breakfast especially our boys- both our boys, Benton couldn't eat the eggs and pancakes fast enough and Jackson loved the bacon. Breakfast was actually lunch and so by the time we got home and got ready it was time to drive to Salt Lake to eat dinner at Bucca Di Peppo's with my mom, dad, Shalee, Colby, and April. We still smell like garlic. After dinner my dad scalped some Jazz tickets. The tickets were awesome, couldn't have been better, first row, right on the floor, and after some investigation by security no good. I guess the story was that the owner called the Energy Solutions and told them to reprint his season tickets because he couldn't make the game and then he took the real tickets and gave them to the scalper and told him to get what he could out of them. At least they got to see one quarter and Mo actually bumped shoulders with Kyle Korver. Even though they had the original tickets because the other people were there first they got to stay and my dad, Mo, Colby, and April were escorted out by security. Sunday we invited both families over for cake and ice cream. Of course Jackson did his job as the cake monitor. He helped with the candles- putting them in, blowing them out, and he made sure that there wasn't any frosting left on them when he was done. It was really cute to see Mo and Jackson blow out the candles together. After cake there was some serious Rock Band playing. Colby's version of Watcha Want was definitely the best. I am so thankful for Mo and the wonderful husband and father that he is. I hope that he had a Happy Birthday. Love you Mo, maybe next year you will get that new car. :)

Jackson teaching math

Today was a holiday and although Morriah was off work Island View still had school and so I had to go to work. After I told Jackson that I had to go to work, I asked him if he could go to work for me and teach the kids math so that I could stay home. After a minute of thinking about it he said, "Yah I guess I can do that(sigh and pause) but I will need you to give me a ride over there." How cute that he thought that he wouldn't have a problem teaching the kids math, but he did realize that driving would be a problem.

Something cute...

Today Jackson asked if I could have Benton play in his room with him. He told me that he would take good care of Benton. They did really good for quite a while but then Jackson came into the kitchen and said, "mom, Benton is crying, but don't pick him up because he is having a lot of fun in my room." Jackson really wants Benton to be able to play with him. I do too. :)

Moab Half-Marathon

Yesterday was my official start day for training for the Moab Half-Marathon. I am really excited that we got in... every time I hear about someone who has ran the Moab half-marathon I always think to myself that I would love to do that sometime and I guess that sometime is this March 21. There are 4 of my friends who are also running it with me and Mo and the kids are going to come down so hopefully it will be a fun little trip. We rented a cabin at the Moab KOA. Along with running I am also including a healthy diet to my training plan. I want to use this blog to report my progress on both.
Week 1- Running 4/4 Eating Healthy 3/7 (There is lots of room for improvement in this category)
Week 2- Running 4/4 Eating Healthy 4/7
Week 3-
Week 4-
Week 5-
Week 6-
Week 7-
Week 8-
Week 9-
Week 10-
Week 11-
Week 12-

Another Birhtday Celebration

Last night we finally had a chance to celebrate my mom and Jackson and Benton's grandma's birthday. We went out to eat as a family as our usual tradition and then had cake and ice cream. I just want to say that I am so thankful to have such a wonderful mom. She has always been there for me for whatever I need her for. She is such a great homemaker... probably the best I know. She keeps everything in her house clean and in order and she has given me the perfect example to follow as I try and do the same. She is my best friend... I talk to her at least once everyday and she is always there to listen and to help if I need it. She is really thoughtful. She is also a wonderful grandma... there isn't any better. My boys both love her so much and she loves them too. They know that they are very special to her. I learn so much from her by just watching her and I try and do my best at following her example so that I can be a wonderful mom too. I also hope that I look as great when I turn 57 because she looks fabulous. I don't know what I would do without my mom- I love her so much and I hope that she had a Happy Birthday.

Goals for 2009

I guess that it is time that I write down our goals for 2009 and I couldn't think of a better place than our family blog.
Goals:
1. Be healthy- Make healthy well balanced family meals. Keep our pantry stocked with healthy food options for everyone in the house to snack on. Limit sweets and treats. Live an active lifestyle- excercise at least 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Limit TV to 1 hour a day for Jackson. Go to the dentist every 6 months (July).
2. FHE- Have a well planned family home evening every Monday night with Mo and I rotating who is in charge.
3. Scripture Study- Read the scriptures every morning at breakfast(Stacie). Read the scriptures every night as a family. Read the Book of Mormon together (Mo and Stacie).
4. Pick up the house before we go to bed.
5. Read- 2 times a day for Jackson and Benton- after lunch and before bed. Read at least 2 books a month (Stacie).
6. Stick with our budget. Be frugal- try to find places to save more money.
7. Work on increasing our Food Storage to a three month supply- spend $25 dollars a month.
8. Visit great grandparents at least 2 times a month.
9. Find opportunities for service.
10. Always be kind to each other.
11. Go to the temple once a month.
12. Take a dance class together (Mo and Stacie).
13. Learn new homemaking skills (Stacie).
14. Learn all of my alphabet letters by recognition and write my name (Jackson).
15. Run at least one half marathon (Stacie).
16. Run a race together (Mo and Stacie).

Sleeping with covers.

After 3 years of refusing to sleep under the covers Jackson finally gave in. When I asked him how his night was he told me that he was really warm- imagine that. Maybe Mo and I won't have to keep the heat at 75 anymore.

Finally I can go play outside.

Thanks Mommy!

We have had a rough end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 at our house. We have been really sick- I mean really sick...all of us. Jackson has wanted to go play outside with his friends every day but I have had to keep him in so that he could get over his cold. Yesterday, I finally gave in and he couldn't have been happier. He had so much fun playing in the snow and getting pulled on his sled by Matthew.

Eating food is so fun mommy!

Benton loves to help me feed him. He is quick with his hands and he is always trying to grab the food or the spoon as I am putting it in his mouth. He thinks eating is so fun. We know that he got that from his mommy.

A Leapster for Jackson...

A few days ago we went to our friend Khyber's birthday party. While we were there Jackson spent most of the time playing with the Leapster that Khyber got for Christmas. He loved it- and the next day he asked if he could get a Leapster. Mo told him that if he wanted to that he could take back some of the Christmas presents that he hadn't opened yet and get the money and buy a Leapster instead. When I got home from work Mo told me to go look in Jackson's room. When I went in his room he had a big pile of every Christmas present that he hadn't opened yet and when I asked him what the pile was for he told me that these were the presents that he wanted to take back to trade for a Leapster. So we did... I guess he really wanted a Leapster. It has been his best treasure ever since- he has slept with it every night. I was really surprised that Jackson understood and was mature enough to give up so many of the toys he already had and really liked for something that he wanted more. Being Jackson's mommy teaches me so much- I hope that the next time I have a moment when I want all that I have and more that I remember some of that three year old maturity and realize that sometimes we need to sacrifice for something that is more important.