SPRING BREAK

We got to go to Idaho Falls and Utah for Spring Break last week.  We had such a good time seeing family and friends.  We didn't plan very well and then Ryan got sick so unfortunately we didn't get to do as much visiting and touring around as we would have liked but we are grateful to have had a break from the USH.

In Idaho Falls we stayed at the Ameritel and the kids swam about eight hours in less than two days.  They slept very little. 

One evening we got to visit with Oliver and Liz and the kids had a blast playing with Teagan and Talmage.

The next evening we got to see Cody and Louise Marshall and their family and Kevin Beck (his family was gone on spring break too and we are sad we missed them).  We swam and then went out to Cody and Louise's house and the kids were so excited that they got to see baby chicks! 

Maddie Marshall informed me that we had the same name but mine was spelled wrong...it was possibly the most hilarious conversation I've ever had about my name.  She was so cute about it that I was happy to allow her to win that argument!

The kids actually slep at night (for the most part).  It helped that they had swam and played harder than they have in a long time and we weren't getting them to bed until 10:30 or later.

There was a lot of driving but luckily the roads were pretty clear for most of the time despite all the fun Spring Break storms!

In Utah we got to stay with Ben's brother Enoch and his wife Alayne.  It was fun to get to hang out with them a little more than we normally do when we go down there.  Although I don't know if they realized how many things there were to get into until we unleashed our crazies on them.

Thursday night we got to go see Troy and Carrie and the kids hung out together with a babysitter and we got to go to dinner.  I played my only April Fools joke this year and told them I was pregnant.  It was working really well.  Bless their kind hearts, they were ACTUALLY excited for us until Ben started to freak out because the joke was a little TOO scary for him and he informed them that it was April Fool's Day.  The joke just reminded me that we are DEFINITELY done having kids.

Friday was Ben's neice Cat's wedding.  She got married in the SLC temple and then had the reception that night at Cactus and Tropicals. It was a blast and the food and decorations were beautiful.  I introduced myself to her new husband, Michael.

I said, "I'm Mattie..."

"And is that Ben?" Michael asked pointing at Ben.

I paused before answering wondering if I had met him before and not remembered.

"Yes, how did you know that?"

"Oh you're famous!"

Famous for what?  I didn't really wanna know so I didn't ask.

There was dancing at the reception and little Joshy cried everytime we tried to leave the dance floor.  I had so much fun dancing and it was a good way to burn some of those wedding cake calories!  It was fun to get to visit Ben's side of the family that were there.  It's always hard to see everyone in a three day period but we take what we can get.

Syd got to go to her Aunt Alayne's Senior Dance at UVU.  She apparently got up during one of the dancers performances and started shaking her bum and slapping it.  She claims her Dad said to do it but Ben denies these accusations.  We may never know who taught her that but hopefully she forgets that dance move before she becomes a teenager.

We had a lot of fun and late nights hanging out with the everyone and can't wait to see you all again soon!

TEMPLE!

We were finally sealed as a family this last weekend.  We've been married a mere 8 years and thought now was as good a time as any:).

It was such an awesome experience.  We were both worried about it being a hard week before hand and guess what....it was one of the best weeks of our whole marriage.  We actually laughed at eachother's jokes and the kids were well behaved and loved.  Then Saturday morning I woke up early and had showered.  I was in the bathroom when I heard Ben's alarm in the other room go off.  It was a hymn I've heard a hundred times but don't know the name of...however, they were singing  "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Oh Praise Him!"(sounded kind of like the tabernacle choir but I'm not so sure it wasn't the armies in heaven that it took to get us to the temple sighing in relief!).  That's all I heard before I went into the room and shook the bed and told Ben it wasn't ministering angels it was the alarm clock and he needed to get up. 

When the kids were sealed to us the sealer asked if the kids recognized any of the people in the room.  Sydney piped up and said, "That's Pa (and pointed at my dad) and that's Uncle Peen (and pointed to Enoch)" and I saw some confused looks from people that don't know Enoch wondering if they had heard that name right.  It was pretty funny. 

My children have never appeared more cherubic and docile as they did that day in the temple.  It will be a memory that I cherish forever! 

My sis-in-law Marilyn posted the following pictures on her blog and I stole them so I don't have any of our own yet. (Thanks Mar!)

Thanks to everyone who was here.  It was so wonderful to have family and friends be there with us!  Thanks to all of those around us who kept us in their prayers and thoughts as well!  It definitely made a difference!

Best of 2009

So I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pics from last year.  We love all our family and friends and hope 2010 is a wonderful year for everyone...it can't get any worse than 2009 right :)!
My New Years Resolution (well one of them) is to be more consistent at posting on our family blog...my goal is ONCE a MONTH.  They say not to set your goals at an unattainable level so I'm keeping mine withing reach :)
Okay here are the pics:

Ryan aka Sleeping Beauty

My awesome trip to the OR coast with my

parents for my writing conference this summer.

Dog Pile

Allie-gator, Nanny, Syd (telling Nanny 'how it is'), and Joshy

Cooking is sooo exhausting :)

Once in a very blue moon

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse!

Potty Training can be such a headache!

Syd's Dance Performance

Sydney has been going to ballet/tap classes for the last three months at Stephanie Andrews'. She loves her teacher and going to dance. She had a hard time focusing but I think part of that was Ben was in the background chasing Josh who was extra special grumpy that night :). In fact if you watch closely, Josh makes a cameo appearance. Ryan is coaching on the sidelines as well. I'm just trying to hold the camera straight and keep a hold of Ryan when Ben has to whisk Josh outside to get some fresh air. (Three minutes is a long time to be good for.) Syd had to wear her blue ballet top because her pink ones were "boring". Hope you all enjoy the clip. Merry Christmas!