Madalyn's Party

We had a family birthday party for Madalyn on Sat. (July 19th). We decided to go to Lions Park to celebrate. The kids rode every ride once and then we all rode the train.

The Horse and Carriage ride

Cailyn (friend)

Becca (friend)

Emily & Josh (cousins)

Madalyn (Birthday Girl)

Gabe (cousin) & Ethan (brother)

The Carousel ride

Jackson & Madalyn

Cailyn, Ethan, Josh & Emily

Gabe

Aunt Amy & Teegan

The Boat ride

Teegan & Emily

Cailyn & Josh

Jackson, Gabe & Madalyn

Ethan & Becca

The Spaceship ride

While all the little kids were having fun at the Kiddie park Uncle Travis, Uncle Clifton, Mason & Bryson when next door to play Putt-Putt Golf. I didn't get any pictures but I know they had a good time. Mason & Bryson wanted to play another game.

The Birthday Cake

Madalyn picked "My Little Pony" for the theme. So I made a cake out of cupcakes. We took Popsicles, water and juice pouches due to the heat from celebrating outside.

This picture was taken before I put the ponies on. Madalyn lifted the cake a little so I could get a good picture. She lifted it just a little too high and the cupcakes started sliding.

I finally got the ponies on and all the writing is gone.

While singing to the birthday girl she leans on her Daddy.

Playing "catch up" (June-July)

Wow! I can't believe it has been a month since I blogged. I feel so disconnected.

Okay everyone you will have to bare with me. This may take a while to recount all that we have done in the last month.

On June 5th we made our first offer on a house. It took about 2 days before we heard back from the seller. She counter offered and so did we. She said she was firm with her counter offer and we decided it was still a great deal on the house so we accepted.

During this negotiation of price we were in RR so Ryan could work and I could pack. Madalyn and Ethan stayed with my parents. Due to some unexpected events this also ended up being Ryan's last week at Firehouse. Which turned out to be really nice. We had Ryan all to our selves for about 3 weeks. Now that he has started his new job the kids are a little confused. They want to know where Daddy is and don't understand why they cannot talk to him whenever they want.

So, Ryan's last day was Sat. June 7th. Sunday went to church to teach our class and make sure we would have help the following Sat. when we were loading up the Uhaul. After Church we drove back to Waco.

We spent this week enjoying time with the kids. We went to the Zoo one day and played outside on the water slide at my parents. We also went swimming at the Baldwins a couple of times.

(Madalyn & Ethan watching the rhinos)

(Madalyn the Butterfly)

(Ethan the Butterfly)

(Madalyn having fun in the pool)

(Ethan discovered that he loves goggles)

(Ethan learned how to hold his breath under water)

(Madalyn & Ethan swimming around)

We were also in our "option period" on our house during this week. So we had the inspection to be at. The good news from the inspector was that this was a structurally sound house. The bad news was that the AC did not work and the tub in the master bathroom needed to be replaced. The seller had the AC in the house replaced now it works great. She is also paying for the tub to be replaced.

On Friday June 13th Ryan and I went back to RR so we could pick up the Uhaul. We got the Uhaul around 9am and went to our storage unit to start loading up. It took us 2 hours to empty out the storage unit. It was really easy b/c we had flat carts to use at the storage place. Our unit was on the second floor of a climate control storage facility. The Uhaul was backed right up to the loading dock for easy loading. Once we were done at the storage unit we went to our apartment and got the truck backed in and ready for loading. It was lunch by this time so we went and grabbed a bite to eat. When we returned we started loading the truck again. We got everything out of the bedroom, closet and kitchen that evening. I was also able to clean the empty rooms.

Saturday morning our help from church was not coming until 10am. Ryan woke up early and we took everything down stairs and put it on a tarp(except for 5 pieces of furniture that I could not help Ryan with). I finished cleaning and we waited for our help to arrive. It took 20 min. to finish with 2 extra people. I vacuumed on last time and then went to the office to turn in our keys. We were on the road to Waco by 10:50am. Ryan & I got cleaned up so we could meet with our realtor to sign some papers after lunch. That evening we unloaded the Uhaul at another storage unit. We only had one person show up from my parents ward. Luckily it only took us about an hour to unload.

While we were unloading the truck Mindi & her family, Marion & Seiko, and Adrienne & her family were at my parents playing on the water slide with my kids. I wish I could have visited more with my good friends that I rarely see. Sorry, Adrienne it was good to see you and your adorable family for the short time that we had.

I helped my mom and a few other people make a memory scrapbook for a Becky Gropp. My mom and Sis. Webb asked everyone to write letters telling Becky how much she means to them. We then put the letters together in a scrapbook.

(Amy, Leigh, Mom, Sally & Myself)

Well I still have more to write about but I think I will stop for now.

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.

5 people & 26 hours in a Tahoe

Last Wednesday Amy, Travis, Mason, Ryan and I headed out on are 26 hour drive (straight through) to Canada for my Grandma's funeral.

We arrived Thursday afternoon and we spent the afternoon visiting with family and friends (The Kolbs). That evening we met as a family with the preacher to finalize plans for the service and so she could get a feel for what Grandma was like. It was a very touching experience as we all set around reminiscing about Grandma and our favorite memories of her. It was so nice to hear everyone share their memories. My husband (who never met my Grandma)told me afterwards that he felt like my Grandma was their with us enjoying our company and thoughts. We also had the viewing Thursday evening. This was much harder then I had expected it to be. I think as I reflect back on the moment that Grandma seemed very peaceful. As hard as it was I know that she is in a better place and that she was ready to be with her beloved husband again.

Friday was a busy morning as Travis and I prepared a slide show of pictures to represent Grandmas life and family. It took us all morning but we finished and it turned out very nice. The funeral was at 2pm so we rushed to eat and get ready. The service was nice but not what I am accustomed to. My favorite part was the solo "I'll Fly Away". The lady that sang it had a beautiful strong and very controlled voice and was accompanied by another lady on guitar. Ryan (my husband) read a poem called "Heartstrings" that was very appropriate. My Grandma was an Auxiliary member of the Legion so the Auxiliary members had little poem they read at the end and then they formed an honor guard as we left the church. The graveside service was just for family and was again hard. As I set my rose on the casket I reflected on all the beautiful things that my Grandma had taught me and shared with me. Even now as I sit here I think of what a grand person my grandmother was and it touches my heart to have known and loved such a great woman.

The rest of the evening was spent with family and close friends (the Kolbs). We are so grateful to have friends like the Kolbs who graciously let us stay at their home anytime we visited Carnduff since Grandma went into the nursing home. Thank you Jean and Ron for your hospitality and your friendship.

Saturday morning was spent packing and some of us went into the next town, Oxbow, so we could get charm bracelets for all the girls. Apparently they are quite expensive but we got the bracelet plus 10 charms for $5.99. WOW!! It was fun picking out all the charms to represent different things we like or are children like. When we got back to the Kolbs we ate lunch and said our goodbyes. We hit the road once again this time we added two people. My parents flew in early Tuesday but decided to drive back with us. We stopped to take a few pictures along the way. First we had Mason stand by the Carnduff sign with his mom (Amy). Then when we got to Rugby, North Dakota Mason, Travis and Amy took pics at the geographical center of North America.

(The old Grain Elevator in Carnduff)

(The ice that was cleared out of the ice rink a couple of weeks ago)

We had a very cozy drive home and all made it back in one peace. Although I think we will all be catching up on sleep for a while.

Now I KNOW how my Mother felt...

Today one of my good friends that I grew up with came over to my parents with her two girls to visit me and my kids. After we had visited for a couple of hours we decided it was time for lunch at Chick-fil-A. We got into our cars and started down the street. I went one way and Mindi went the other way. Here is my conversation with my 4 year old on the way to Chick-fil-A.

Madalyn: "what happened to Mindi"?

Me: "she went a different way, we will see her in a few minutes".

Madalyn: "oh, Mom we are going to get lost & we don't know where to go".

Me: "Madalyn I grew up in this town I know how to get to Chick-fil-A".

Madalyn: "are you sure we won't get lost"

Me: "yes, I am sure"

Madalyn: "okay, Mom".

On our way home from Chick-fil-A we had much the same conversation only this time she had a little more to say.

Madalyn: "Mom, would you slow down you are driving too fast"

Me: "Madalyn, I am driving the speed limit"

Madalyn: "you are going to get in trouble by the police man".

Me: "no I won't, I am still driving the speed limit".

Madalyn: "well are sure you know where you are going"?

Me: "Madalyn, please stop telling me how to drive".

As I said those last words I could remember my mother & I having a very similar conversation. Now I know how my mother felt when her young daughter was trying to correct the way she drove.

Last Soccer Game!

"GRASSHOPPERS" ROCK

Well we had our last soccer game on Sat. 11/17/07. The kids were so cute and most of the time they all worked well together. Here are a few pics of the "Grasshoppers" in action.

Some of Madalyn's fan club...Grandma & Grandpa Bennett, Aunt Kelli, Uncle James & Aunt Jeannie, Emily, Aunt Amy & Teegan