Christmas Joys

Well, it was our first Christmas just our small family and it was definately a different experience. I was all gung-ho to keep our family tradition alive of getting up at 4 or 5 a.m. to open presents. Due to being pregnant (pregnancy = sleep), Richie not going to bed until 11 p.m., and not getting to bed myself until almost midnight I did not wake up until 6:30 a.m. I woke my family up a little before 7 a.m. so we could open presents. Richie got really excited when he woke up and saw that Santa brought him a train. Richie got train sets from Santa, Mom & Dad, and Grandma & Grandpa Bennett, so we got a whole little village set up for him to play with.


Richie's Train Village

Richie got some cars and a punching bag from Aunt Jodi and Uncle Brad (Bobby's sister) and a Game Boy with a Sonic Game from Grandma & Grandpa Jones. Aunt Melanie and Uncle Nick got the whole family tickets to Disney on Ice that we will get to see in January. After opening presents Bobby made breakfast while I helped set up Richie's train tracks. This was surprisingly a difficult feat for an 8 month pregnant mom, sometimes I still forget that I can't do everything I think I can.

Richie opening presents


We spent most of the day at home relaxing and playing with toys, though I had Bobby throw in the baby laundry that I've been meaning to wash. We decided to go see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 movie, which came out yesterday. I don't think I have ever seen Casa Grande so empty as on Christmas Day, since the movie theater was the only thing open. We had a pretty fun Christmas, with a somewhat spiritual Christmas Eve. We hope everyone had a good Christmas and was able to share it with those they love.

Catching up with Christmas

I can't believe it is already Christmas, time seems to have flown by. In November we didn't do anything terribly exciting EXCEPT going to Lund and Ely for Thanksgiving. We had a really good time, and even though the car ride wasn't fun (Richie got sick on the way up and I had morning sickness on the way home), while we were there it was really enjoyable. It seems like so long in between seeing family, eventhough it was less than six months since we saw everyone at the family reunions this summer. At Thanksgiving my mom and sister, Melanie, threw me and my sister, Chelsea, a joint baby shower. It was a lot of fun and I got some really cute hairbows for the baby and beautiful girl clothes. I tell you baby boys get the short end of the stick in the clothes department.

In December I finished up my first full semester of grad courses. I brought in a total of 3 A's, 1 B, and 1 Pass. I still have a 4.0 because my B was in an undergrad course that did NOT count towards my grad GPA, I thought that was crazy but yeah for me!!!

The baby is doing fine, no chance of having a pre-term labor or anything (it seems like many of the ladies in my ward are on bedrest or dealing with pre-term babies). I'm just hoping this one decides to come and I don't have to be induced, but we'll see I might beg my doctor to induce if she's not here by the 9th of February. I think Bobby and I have FINALLY decided on a name. I'm almost positive this baby is going to be Kamry Renae Bennett. Bobby says he needs to let the name grow on him a little more, but has pretty much told me he'll come around. We may end up nicknaming her Kami, but we'll see when she gets here. I get to have another ultra/sound on the 29th to see how big she is. At 20 weeks she was a little underweight, so we'll see.

On Saturday we had our ward party. It turned out really nice, the couple was just called 2 weeks before and were told we needed a Christmas Party. I have been wanting to make Gingerbread Cookies for years, but never had a recipe or decided to do it. I really didn't want to have a gazillion Gingerbread Cookies lying around the house for me to eat all day long either. I made 60 cookies and took 50 to the ward party. The children were not limited on how many sweets they could have and all of the desserts were wiped out. I only let Richie get 1 item, while others were walking away with heaping platefuls of sweets. I was just glad not to have to take anything home with me.

Gingerbread Cookies YUMMY!

Halloween Fun and Not So Fun

Friday, Oct. 30th was our Ward Halloween Party. My plans for the day included making Chili for the party, working on homework, signing up for WIC, and getting Richie dressed in his costume. Well, sometimes things don't go according to plan. I get a wake-up call a little before 5:00a.m. from my husband who has a flat tire. At 5:15a.m. my husband calls back to tell me the spare has a flat as well. So, I get dressed wake up Richie (who doesn't want to get dressed) and pile in the car. I'm thinking we can just put the spare from my car (Chevy Cavalier) on the Ford Escort. I drive almost an hour to where Bobby is and he pulls out all the stuff from our trunk (lots of misc. stuff) to pull out the spare, which of course has different lugnuts than the rim on the Ford Escort. We put all the stuff in the Ford's trunk and put the two flat tires in our car. Wondering what tire place will be open at 7:00a.m. -- Yeah for Walmart!!! Bobby heads to work around 8:00a.m. in our car and I head back into town to replace two more tires that the threads are showing. Richie and I don't get home until 10:00a.m. where I get ready for my WIC appointment at 11:00a.m. and get the Chilli started. We end up waiting at WIC for 30-40min. before getting in. Needless to say by the time we got home I only had enough time to take a shower and get Richie's costume ready.


Richie as Spiderman at Ward Halloween Party



Richie Trunk-or-Treating

At the Ward Party we had Chilli for dinner and did Trunk-or-Treating. Richie even would say "Trick-or-Treat" very quietly as we went around to the trunks. He really enjoyed getting candy in his "Pumpkin".

On Halloween, we didn't have anything planned and I didn't want to go around our neighborhood at night. I found a mall in Phoenix that did trick-or-treating at the mall from noon to 3:00p.m. Bobby ended up with the day off, so we spent family time driving to this mall. Richie had a lot of fun wearing his Spiderman costume (minus the face paint) all day Saturday. He really got into the getting candy part of the holiday. When we decided to leave he was upset because they had a trampoline that you could pay to let your kid jump on (which we didn't do). We ended up being gone all afternoon and so rented a couple movies and had pizza to finish off our Halloween. It was a really fun day, but we didn't get any work done.


Richie eating at TGI Fridays for lunch

Richie smiling with his balloon while "Trick-or-Treating" at the mall

FHE Pumpkin Carving

For our family home evening activity we decided to carve a pumpkin. We have not done anything Halloween-y, so carving a pumpkin seemed like a good idea. I made a two pumpkin rolls and we, also, delivered them to families I knew. Richie would carry the pumpkin roll and give it to the family. He was really excited to get to deliver treats to other families.

Richie watching Bobby clean the pumpkin


Bobby cleaning out the pumpkin


Our Jack-o-lantern


Other than our exciting FHE, I have been working on lots of homework for school. I had a final and a mid-term book report and a group project. I just started 2 new classes and it seems like they will be fun, but keep me busy. We are looking forward to Halloween, Richie will be Spiderman and I had to hide the costume because he wants to wear it all the time. Bobby continues working and we've been told that December and January will be slow, but they expect to have at least part-time work for him during those months. Bobby's job continues to change, the company he works for is joining a larger trucking company. This may be good or bad, we're not sure yet. Right now he gets paid hourly, but they have told him they will change to paying by load instead of by hour. The company is, also, going from paying their drivers weekly to monthly. I really liked the weekly paychecks, it's kind of nice. It does mean they will offer benefits to their employees, so we are excited about that. We are hoping this is all for the better and that he will continue to make enough to pay our bills. We hope everyone is enjoying celebrating Halloween (only 2 weeks left).

It's A.......

Obviously, we're having a GIRL!!!! I went to have my ultrasound this afternoon and was really happy when I was told I was having a baby girl. I have been wanting a girl since I found out I was pregnant with Richie. I am only slightly sad that Richie is not getting a brother to beat-up on, but I think a little girl will be the perfect addition to our family. Bobby is a little flabbergasted that I am actually getting my girl, rather than another boy. I have been assuming I was getting a boy, because if I let myself hope for a girl and didn't get one I'd be devastated. I haven't even looked at girls names yet, so I will let you know when we decide.

Below are the ultra sound pictures that you can actually see things in

Here is the baby's face, this is the best shot we got

because she really likes having her head down.

In this one is a side view; the baby's head

is face up and you can see the spinal cord.

This one shows that it is a girl. You can see

one leg at the top and one leg at the bottom

of the screen. There is nothing in between

designating a boy, so we get a girl!!!!

Eventhough this pregnancy is halfway over I know that the second half is the longest.

Ode to Grandma's

Last Saturday, the 12th, Bobby did not end up working. Since he hasn't been to the temple since March, we decided to go that night. I called Mom and asked her if she could watch Richie while we went to the temple. Of course she said yes, like all good Grandma's. It was nice to go to the temple and out to dinner by ourselves, normally if we go out to dinner Richie comes with us so we don't have to pay babysitting. We we caught the 5:30 session, eventhough we left home at 3:30 (pregnant ladies have to use the restroom all the time, so we just missed the 5:00 session). We didn't get back home until 10 o'clock. I assumed Richie would have passed out, since he didn't have a nap during the day, but he was wide awake. My mom had given him a bath, washed his hair, and gave him a sleepshirt (I didn't pack one). He loved the sleepshirt and was excited to show it off.



Then today Mom dropped by to pick-up some a basket of fruit and vegetables she ordered, but I picked up. She took Richie to her house and gave me some time to take a nap, which I don't normally get with a loud 3 year old. I am really going to miss her when she moves. I know Richie will miss Grandma and his uncles when they move. Mom, we love you!!!

Grand Canyon Adventure

Since we live in Arizona, only 5 hours away from the Grand Canyon, it would be a shame never to go see one of the seven wonders of the world. My parents are moving towards the end of September back to Ely, NV. Mom thought it would be a good idea to go to the Grand Canyon for Labor Day. Bobby had the day off, so Richie, Bobby, and I joined my parents, Spencer, Trevor, and Tiago for a fun-filled day of traveling and hiking. Traveling with a pregnant lady means lots of stops at the bathroom. Everyone was good sports about it, especially since we had to make a bathroom stop once an hour. It's a good thing there are so many restrooms/port-a-potties at the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is beautiful and it is amazing how nature works. It is always more exciting to walk/hike in beautiful scenery, it doesn't seem like exercise somehow.

I brought my camera, but left extra batteries in the car. Richie enjoys being an amatuer photographer if he can find my cammera, so I had no battery power left in my cammera when I tried to take a picture. I only got a couple pictures and hope that Mom will let me have a copy of hers. Richie has a lot more energy than I do, so it was great to go in a group that could help me watch Richie as I could not keep up. We walked around part of the edge of the south rim. I was a little nervous because Richie wanted to follow his Dad and Uncles onto the edge of the rim. Good news, everyone came back and no one got hurt!!!! After lunch we walked to a hiking trail, most everyone was tired except for Trevor, Spencer, Tiago, and Richie. The boys wanted to hike without having to watch a 3-year old, but Richie talked Grandma and Grandpa into a short hike down and part of the trail and back.

We were at the Grand Canyon for about 5 hours and did a lot of walking with some rests in between. My muscles are pretty sore today, eventhough all I did was walk. Bobby and I look forward to going back and staying a couple of days.

After going to the Grand Canyon we drove to Meteor Crater about 2 hours east of the Grand Canyon. The Meteor Crater was really expensive for adults, so just Trevor, Spencer, and Tiago went to see it. We were all glad to finally get home and fall into our beds as it had been a long day.