Easter Celebrations

Hat Parade (April 8th)

Madalyn & Ethan before school

Ethan with his hat

Ethan had a hat parade at his school on wednesday. I made him a hockey hat with a bunny playing hockey with an easter egg as the puck.

Ethan's hat

After the parade

Ethan with his class

Ethan & Mommy

Easter Egg Hunt at School (April 9th)

Ethan had an Easter egg hunt in the morning and Madalyn's was in the afternoon. So, I was able to be at both of them.

Ethan's Easter Egg Hunt

Madalyn's Easter Egg Hunt

At Madalyn's egg hunt they numbered all the eggs. Each child had to find a set of numbers 1-6 in order. It was kind of cool because it made it so everyone had the smae amount of eggs and it made the egg hunt last a little longer. It was also her spring party so they played games and had snacks.

Easter Egg Hunt in Bryan ( April 11th)

We went to Bryan on friday for the Easter weekend. We mostly just rested on friday. On Saturday Our old ward had an Egg Hunt and lunch. It was lots of fun seeing our old friends. The kids loved seeing their friends too.

At this egg hunt the kids lined up and one of the adults called a color to find and sometimes multiples . So it mad the egg hunt last a really long time, but everyone should have ended up with the same amount in the end.

Easter Morning (April 12th)

We were still in Bryan at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Emily spent the night with us and the Easter bunny found all three kids.

Cousin Gabe's 5th B-Day

In January we celebrated Gabe's 5th Birthday. This was lots of fun but also a little sad. This was about 2 weeks before Gabe and his family were leaving for another overseas journey for about 2-3 years.

Playing "catch - up" continued

I am back to play "catch-up". On Sun. Jun 15th Amy brought Jackson & Teegan to my parents for a few days ( She had cub scout day camp that week). On Mon. we took the kids to the Zoo. It was fun to see the kids enjoy the zoo with cousins.

On Tuesday night we went to Bryan to visit with Ryan's family (especially Elissa and her kids before they went home) and take Jackson & Teegan back.

Wednesday morning we took all the kids to the Bounce for a few hours. This was really fun having all the cousins together (on Ryan's side). Wednesday evening all of Ryan's siblings and spouses went to eat at The Road House. This has become a tradition with us when ever we are all together. We all had a great evening enjoying each others company and catching up.

Thursday (June 19th) I watched Amy's younger kids so she could volunteer at cub scout day camp.

Friday we hurried back to Waco so we could meet with our realtor.

The next weekend Fri. (June 27th) & Sat. (June 28th) Ryan and I helped Amy & Chris with a job they had in Belton filling in an old pool. That was lots of work.

Sunday (June 29th) Amy took Madalyn & Ethan back to Bryan so they could spend a few days with Grandma & Grandpa Bennett.

Wednesday (July 2nd) Ryan started his new job here in Waco.

Thursday Mom and I drove to Belton to pick up Madalyn & Ethan from Amy.

Busy Little Bees or Bennetts!

Wow! We have been very busy since last Wed. The kids and I went to Waco last Wed. (May 14th) night. On Thursday I watched my best friends sweet little girls so she could take her mom to get an MRI. Our kids played really well together which made it extremely easy to keep her kids. Well the MRI didn't go so well and Becky ended up in the ER. It was a very emotionally long day. We had Mindi's girls most of the day until she got back from the hospital. I felt so bad for my dear friend being the only one with her mother when they were told the tumor had grown rather large. My heart was breaking, I wanted to do what ever I could to be available for the family. I wish I could have stayed longer to watch kids or whatever else they might have needed me for.

However, Friday we had to come back to RR so we could pack and be ready for Ryan to get home. As soon as he got home we started loading the car and hit the road to Bryan. His little sister, Kelli was getting married on Saturday at the Houston Temple. So Friday we made it to Bryan and visited with all the Bennett Family.

Saturday was a very long day. We got up early so we could drive to Houston for the Sealing. We took lots of wonderful pictures. Then we all rushed back to Bryan so we could get our kids to the babysitters. We were supposed to be at Johnny Carino's by 1:30 for a lunch but we were all late. Pictures took longer than planned and our side of the family had to drop off all the kids. We finally made it to JC and had a nice lunch. We had a couple of hours between that and the reception. Ryan kept our kids and I went with his mom to help with the finishing touches at the Bishops house. They had an outdoor reception at the Student ward Bishops house in Castle Gate. It all turned out very nice but it was a very long day.

Sunday we went to Sacrament then we drove to Waco for my family Reunion out at my grandparents ranch. We had lunch, saw lots of family and the kids played on the water slide. We all got lots of sun. Once we arrived at my parents house we got cleaned up and the kids ready for bed. Then my mom, Travis, Ryan and I went to the Gropps so we could visit with Becky now that she was home. My dad stayed at home with the kids.

I decided to stay at my parents until Wed. which would be Ryan's day off. So Monday Ryan went home so he could work. That afternoon Mindi and Julie brought over the kids to do the water slide in my parents backyard. They all had lots of fun and got a little sun too.

Ethan on the water slide

Madalyn on the water slide

Ethan, Madalyn & Cole in the little pool

Cailyn playing with Durango

Tuesday I started reading "Twilight". I am almost finished with it and am excited to go get the next book in the series. Ryan came back to Waco after work late that night.

Wednesday the kids had more fun on the water slide. While the kids were playing on the slide I sat in a lawn chair reading "Twilight". I did lots of laundry and that evening we loaded up and came home.

Family .... Bridal Showers... Fun

Once again we went to Bryan for Kelli's (Ryan's youngest sister) Bridal Shower. We started out by taking Ryan to work in the afternoon. Once we arrived home the kids and I packed our bags and gathered all our dirty laundry (I feel like I'm still in college having to take my dirty laundry with us so we can save a little money). We loaded up the car and then came back inside and cleaned up the apartment. The kids played the rest of the evening while I blogged, made dinner, made a bridal shower card and listened to the Dallas Stars game on the radio. When it was finally time to go get Ryan from work I put the kids in PJ's and we got in the car. When we got to the store we had to wait for them to finish cleaning. Finally around 10:30 pm we hit the road. The kids slept all the way and we had a good nights rest.

Thursday was lots of fun playing with cousins. They jumped on the trampoline, went swimming an a kiddie pool and had a picnic lunch all in Aunt Sarah's backyard. They had a BLAST!! I the afternoon we went to my sisters house for a little while (we had to pick up our wedding gift that my sister had made) and then ran a few errands. We made it back to Grandma & Grandpa's house and had fajita's for dinner. All the women got ready for the shower. While the women (plus Sarah's twin baby boys) went to the Shower Ryan, Uncle Clifton (Ryan's youngest brother) took the four older kids to Chuck E. Cheese. They had already eaten so they had lot of fun playing games.

Kelli's Bridal Shower was very nice. We had a very nice time and she didn't even get any duplicate gifts. WOW!! We had lots of repeats when we got married. Ryan & I decided to have my sister make the nice family plaque. (Amy, my sister, has a vinyl lettering cutter and is starting up a business). The plaque turned out very nice. I hope Kelli & Zach like it.

We let the kids play a little this morning with cousins. We had to hit the road by noon so Ryan could get back for work. So we are home and all unpacked. YEAH!! I think that is the worst thing about traveling. Unpacking and putting everything away when you get home.

Cousins...

On Saturday we went to watch my nephews play hockey. We watched two games and had lots of fun being around family. After the games the younger kids played outside. They were playing a game that they made up and as a reward Jackson would dance with each of the girls. It was so cute.

Madalyn & Jackson

Jackson spins Madalyn

(where did they learn that?)

Teegan & Jackson

Teegan & Jackson

Pondering my week

On Tuesday, April 1st my grandmother in Canada had her 90th birthday! My parents, Madalyn, Ethan & I were supposed to go to Canada this past weekend to celebrate her birthday. Due to several reasons we were unable to be apart of that celebration.

On Wednesday we went to Bryan after Ryan got off work. Thursday we had a full day planned. My sister watched my kids so that we could go to the temple with my sister- in-law for her endowment session. It was a wonderful feeling to be in the temple with so many of Ryan's siblings and other family members. Later that evening was enrichment and I was so excited to see all my friends in our old ward. I was also excited because they were teaching us how to make the Maya baby sling. I had been wanting to make one for a while and had not been able to do so. Not that I need one (no babies at our house or on the way)I just wanted to make one for the future and once I learned how then I can make a smaller one for Madalyn to use for her baby dolls. I had a wonderful time seeing good friends and trying to sew.

Early this morning my mom called to let me know that my grandmother had passed away in the night. I was still half asleep when she told me so my reaction was very calm. A few minutes after I got off the phone I cried as my husband held me. I got up and got ready for the day and went to my sisters house. I wanted to be with her when my Mom told her. She cried a little and then we talked about how happy we were for grandma to be with grandpa again after nearly 15 years apart. What a wonderful time for them and the stories they have to share with each other.

Ryan and I told Madalyn about her great grandma going to Heaven and she asked if we would see her again. I told her yes, someday we will all be together again. (It brought tears to my eyes as she asked me questions about grandma being in heaven). I told her the greatest blessing of all was that now grandma would have the opportunity to learn about the gospel just like she learns about it in primary and at home. She thought that was really neat. Madalyn gave me several hugs and told me everything was going to be okay. Her little arms wrapped around me was a great comfort to me. It made me feel really good that my little girl seemed to understand that her great grandma was very happy to be in heaven and no longer in pain, without her darling husband.

As I have pondered the passing of my grandmother I have gone through several emotions. I am sad that she is gone but at the same time I am very excited for her next journey. What makes me the saddest is that we were not able to see her this last weekend like we had intended for her 90th birthday. I know that it would have been hard to see her in her condition (she was basically blind, had trouble hearing and was down to 120 lbs). I am however, very greatful for the knowledge I have because of the gospel. I love my grandmother & will miss her dearly.

I think I will have to end my pondering now so that my tears will subside for a time.

Day Trip

We decided to go to my sisters on Saturday. My nephews all had Hockey games that day. My parents were there and they brought some old family friends, the Bryan's. So, Saturday morning Ryan helped me load up the kids and we said bye to Daddy and headed out on our 2 hour drive. The kids slept most of the way (we left around 8 am). The kids had lots of fun playing outside with cousins and Papa.

After lunch and fun in the driveway playing hockey we went to the ice rink. All 3 boys were playing in the first game on the same team (team age range 7-12). This was actually Jackson's first game since he completed his lessons or levels. He did such an awesome job and it was very cute to see this little guy out on the ice keeping up with the other kids. Jackson is 7 and the smallest little guy out on the ice. I think he assisted in a goal and even scored one himself. Jackson also achieved a goal by getting put in the penalty box. He said after the game he was really trying to get in there. I can't remember what he did to get in the penalty box but he thought it was really COOL! He had a great first game. Bryson is goalie (age 9 1/2)and did a really great job as well. He has improved so much since the last time we watched him play. He looks so small in all his goalie gear. Hopefully Amy will post her next entry soon and you can see a pic of Bryson in his goalie gear. Mason is 12 and still plays on the younger team because they need more players and because of his age. However, he is very good and fast and was allowed to play on both teams this semester. So the first game was at 2:15 and then the older boys played at 5:40. Mason is the youngest on the older boys team (age range 12-18). He has done very well and it has improved his skills playing a faster pace game. He and his friend TJ (a senior in high school) play really well together they assisted each other 3 or 4 times on Saturday (helped each other score goals). They had a good game. We love Ice Hockey and enjoy being able to see my nephews play when we can. Papa and Aunt Amy are really hoping Ethan will play hockey too. Sounds good to me maybe he will be able to use his cousins gear (hockey gear is very expensive). When the game was over we went back to Amy's to have dinner.

The kids started playing Guitar Hero and Ethan grabbed a spare guitar and thought he was playing too. It was really cute to see him mimic Jackson on the guitar.

We all had a great day and ended up staying the night. The kids and I got up at 6am and headed back home so we could go to church with Daddy.

Family Blessings...

Once again we headed back to Bryan for a visit. This was a special visit because Ryan's sister Elissa and her family were visiting from Kansas. We also had the pleasure of attending church and seeing our nephews blessed.

The kids and I went on wednesday and then Ryan came after work on Saturday.

Wednesday and Thursday we spent just visiting and relaxing with family. On friday we had the 10 grandchildren at sears portrait studio taking a new picture. They did so well, it was absolutley amazing to see the kids behave so well after waiting an hour after our appointment time to get in the studio. Imagine Madalyn is the oldest (age 4) of the 10 grandkids. The youngest 3 are all about 6 mo. old. When my mother-in-law called to schedule the appointment I think the lady at sears was in shock with amount of children and the age range.

On friday afternoon we decided to take the kids to the park and fly a kite. They had fun taking turns holding the spool.

Saturday the kids and I went to a hockey game that my oldest to nephews, (Mason & Bryson) on my side, were playing in. They lost the game but the boys played fairly well and we enjoy watching them play. Then we had another hockey game a couple hours later b/c Mason also plays on the big boys team (age range 12-17, Mason is the youngest and smallest in this league). Mason scored the winning goal and had a very good game. This was his first time to play up with the big boys. I think he does very well at keeping up with them and holding his own.

Ryan arrived at the ice rink at the end of Mason's game and we headed back to Ryan's parents. Ryan, myself, Sara, Nathan, Elissa, Jonathan, Kelli and her boyfriend Zack went out to eat at Oxford Sreet. Grandma and Grandpa kept the grandkids for the evening. After dinner we enjoyed sometime visiting at Sara & Nathan's house while we ate some cheesecake.

Sunday was another busy day with Michael and Andrew being blessed and then lunch after church with all the family. We had to leave Sunday evening but we had a nice visit with our families. We hope they enjoyed thier visit as well.