Done with Finals!

All done! On to Chicago tomorrow afternoon and to Seattle saturday morning. We are going from Katie and Bret's to the airport in a limousine... my first time.

In honor of the upcoming wedding...

This is my favorite love poem. Mom and Dad brought me back a collection of poems by W.B. Yeats from Ireland, and this poem is the reason. Remember Dad, how we tried to find it and we thought it wasn't in the collection? It is and I found it today! So, for Ann and Rob:

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly, because you tread on my dreams.

Works best for me to read it out loud and a couple of times. :)

PJs

I think that one of my favorite things about babies is their clothes. They only wear PJs. PJs in the morning, PJs for the day, PJs at night, PJs at church. Perhaps we can combine this with Jerry Seinfeld's idea of clothing in the future. If we all where one piece suits, can they be PJs. For a visual on babies in PJs see Willam's Happy Faces below.

Christmas Primer

Feliz Navidad = Merry Christmas in Spanish
Joyeux Noel = Merry Chrismas in French
Felicitations a Vos Noces = Congratulations on your marriage

Getting ready...



Appropriate ways to wear your gifts...

Snowman building...

The tree...

We're getting excited

Omniture Party

Amy doesn't know that I put this one on... but I thought that she looked smashing last night! 

Omniture Christmas Party

 

Omniture Christmas Party

 

Dinner with Peter and Nicole

Peter Bradshaw Bennion

Some photos of Peter.

William's Happy Faces

Lovely....

Beautiful Utah

View from our apartment.

Finals

I'm sitting in the HBLL trying to decide out of all the many pieces of homework I have, which to do first. All I really want to do is crawl back into bed. Or go try out Mom and Dad's new hottub. I've started making a schedule that resembles the old school missionary planners. For those of you facing the end of the semester, my warmest sympathy.

Indiana Bennions, Elephants, and Other Stuff

Nathan: OWWWWW!

Dad: What happened?

Nathan: Gregory sat on me! It was like a baby elephant sitting on me! (tears)

Dad: He's a boy, and a little boy, not an elephant. You're just fine.

Nathan: It was like a daddy elephant!


Nathan and Babar.



Babar pretending to be Buzz Lightyear.

Book of Mormon

I just finished presenting Jacob 5 - Zenos' allegory of the Olive Tree to my seminary students. I gave myself 2 1/2 class periods to do it and I loved it. I am so glad that I enjoy symbolism. It drives some folks crazy, but I think it is such a wonderful way to teach and to learn. The part of the allegory that really moved me this time was at the very end in verses 71 to the end. It really made me see that the work of the Lord IS the focus of life and that as we work in the vineyard for this last time, He is there with us:
"And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the en is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with ME ye shall have joy in the fruit which I lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
"And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them;"
It made me more committed to preparing to serve a mission with Dad in 5 years. It also made me think of David who is going into the vineyard in a way that he has never gone before.

I have also found the challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year to be wonderful. I have so enjoyed the opportunity to read the book with greater speed. I have seen and learned things that I had not seen before. I find that I am more aware of the life's work of the prophets and leaders. The passage of time and the changes in the society are more pronounced and give fair warning of the place we are in the history of our time. I would love to hear where you are and what you are finding in your reading. Dad is finished with the book. I am in 3 Nephi 4.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to say hi and Happy Thanksgiving to everybody! William just had his Thanksgiving feast--his first time eating rice cereal. I think he liked it!

Only one month and we'll all be together for Christmas--I can't wait!
Amy

Top Ten

What is on your Top Ten Thankful List? Mine...
1. The Gospel
2. Dad
3. John, Wendy, Nate, Katie, Gregory,Rob, Ann, Don, Amy, William, Anna, Joe and David
4. My parents and sibs
5. America
6. Health - mental and physical
7. Peace of mind
8. The chance to teach Seminary
9. Sports of all kinds
10. Stimulating and interesting friends

MOM

Go Cougs!

Rob,

I am sorry that your cougs had to get beaten by my cougs, and in Pullman no less (76-68). That said, at least your cougs were able to beat their archrivals... and in Seattle (26-22). Very Impressive. Love ya brother/uncle.

JBB and NRB

Soup and Pictures

Wendy made split-pea soup for the kids last night. After a few minutes, Nathan askes "Does this have bananas and broccoli in it?" He ate two bowls.

Nathan and Kate cheesing it.



Katie and Gregory trying on selected portions of snow gear.

William's new beenie and mittens

Amy bought some cute mittens and a snow hat for William. 

The new beenie comes off!

 

Looking for film Reviews

I am looking for film reviews of the new Pride and Prejudice film from my trusted associates on the RS Bennion Blog. I am also interested in the new Harry Potter film. I will see it no matter what the reviews, but the P&P, I would like some input.

MOM

As much as it pains me...

Congrats to Peter on his alma mater's win. That's all I can get out.

BYU vs. UofU Score Predictions

UofU: 17
Da Cougs: 35

Calvin and Hobbes

Anna and Joe got me a great start to a Calvin and Hobbes collection for my B-Day. For those of you who have not reviewed Calvin and Hobbes for a bit... I highly recommend it. I have posted a two of a favorite type of Anna, Joe and Me... Tracer Bullet. Enjoy!

Go Cougs!

Dialogue from tomorrows game:

Cast:
Kyle Whittingham - head coach UofU
Gary Andersen - asst head coach/defensive coord.
Andy Ludwig - offensive coordinator, QBs

Quarter 4 Minute 5
Lavell Edwards Stadium

Andersen -
Why all our lines are broke.

Ludwig -
Oh perdurable shame! let's stab ourselves.
Be these the wretches we play'd in 2004?

Whittingham -
Shame and eternal shame. Nothing but shame!
Let us lose in honor: once more back again;
And he that will not follow Whittingham now,
Let him go hence, and with helmet in hand,
Like a good Ute go hold the locker room door

Andersen-
Disorder, that hath spoiled us, friend us now!
Let us on heaps go offer up the game

Whittingham-
The devil take us now! I'll to the locker room:
Let the game be short; else shame will be too long!

On behalf of Anna...

What is your favorite Harry Potter book?

Why?

John and Wendy Family Portrait

This ia picture that I thought turned out pretty well. Love you all.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Don!

And many happy returns of the day!
Love,
Wendy

Wendy finally comes on board

I have been enjoying the blog from over John's shoulder and am finally digging in myself. Thanks to Don for getting this up and running. It's fabulous!
A few outdated comments from me: Both William and Little Peter are stunningly beautiful. Wow. All y'all make great babies. Anna, congratulations on Atlanta. I'm THRILLED for you! We would LOVE to be there. And to all: thanks for all the oohing and ahhing over our children. As Linda B. says, I love talking to people who think my children (or grandchildren in her case)
are as wonderful as I think they are.
Lastly, sorry about the typos in the "Kate's letter to Santa" blog. Don't worry; the original stands in its grammatically correct form.
LOVE all the posts! Can't wait to see you all in a few weeks! Peter and Nicole, are you guys going to be able to make it for the wedding?

Happy Birthday Don!

Happy Birthday Don!

Twenty-seven. Congrats to the best male swimmer in the family!
Fun memories of Don:
Shut the door! voice mail message, Star Trek assembly, "How's your groin?", Twice a days, Daisy's ribbon, jogging home from church, jogging in Northern California, jogging through Waterville, the lightpole at the stake center, Clubs and BYUSA, Waterskiing, Tubing in 2 ft deep water, I'm the worst Bennion!, "It's written on the wind", Magic by the Cars.

All the best brother!

Kate on Ice Cream Parlors

As spoken in the car this evening at a stoplight in front of Sno-bear Ice Cream Parlor.

"Whenever I see ice cream, it makes me want ice cream... I see ice cream."

Who Do You Like Better?

John or Wendy?

Elder David Bennion

I thought you might enjoy excerpts from David's latest letter.
"...it isn't fun just writing sometimes. I feel like just calling you sometimes to say hi and tell you how I'm doing. It is weird not being able to just call and chat and catch up but it's alright, that's the way it needs to be, but it is sitll kind of tough sometimes.
"Life is going rieally well still. Uesterday, Sunday, my companion and I were called as Assistant to the President. I was released as diestric leader and m friend Elder Pugmire got called as Distric Leader and I know he'll do an awesome job. I love my Branch President. His name is President Hunter. He is and older man and a veterinarian. He is just really easy to talk to and he has a really quick wit....
"The language is coming slowly but surely. I am not getting stressed too much. I trust that if I study and work hard, the Lord will take care of me. I do nee to work a little harder on the language though. Teaching is going well. We had a substitute teacher the other day, Brother Kizarrran; he is a close family friend of Elder Pugmire and he served in Chile. He taught a very powerful lesson about teaching from your heart. It was amazinge how as I've worked to do this, I teach better and I feel the spirit more as I teach. Teaching is funny at times. We say wrong works like this - I was teaching about God and how he loves us. Itried to say he wants the best (el mejor) for us, gut I accidentally said (la mujer), so I endd up saying that God wants the women for us. It was pretty funny. You need those things so you can just laugh sometimes.
"We continue to progress and we ar getting better at teaching. Life is good, we continue to have great devotionals and I feel uplifted and excited to serve.
"Mom tell all the kids in the family about DearElder.com so I can see how everything is going...."

So here is the scoop on DearElder.com....I use it while the kids are in the MTC. You go to DearElder.com website and it tells you how to sign up. I think mail to the MTC is free, so take advantage and send you baby bro a little note. He would love it.

I love all of you so much. What a great family you all are. And now these amazing grandchildren are a part of us. I can't wait to see all of you in December.

MOM

Pictures of Bennion Kids

Happy Birthday Peter!

Happy 30th to Peter!
Fun memories:
Bridge jumping, "Something wrong Davey?", dunk ball at Mission View, Awesome Orange, Water-skiing, Corn-Dogs and Troughs, Kill the Pill (the game and the song we made up!) in Lynn and Genie's backyard, Richard reading The Great Gatsby to us, Big Boy Breakfasts, and NBA Jams Movies, and the All-Star Game video (the one where Drexler schools Jordan). Thanks for the fun times brother. Best Wishes in the next 30.

John

"Bram Stoker's" Dracula

More like "Really lame and gruesome hacked up film version" Dracula. Ever since we listened to Dracula during the Balboa Bennion reunion in John and Wendy's car, I've wanted to see the most recent film version starring Anthony Hopkins and Winona Ryder. Finally this last weekend the Provo Bennions rented it from Clean Flicks. I confess my self disappointed:

Item: Mina begging Dracula to let her become a Vampire, so that she can roam the earth in a state of damnation for eternity too.

Item: Dracula denying her the privilege!

Item: Lucy...Dang gina, did anyone like her? I think her teeth bugged me most

Item: Remember how Dr VanHelsing is so great? And that Anthony Hopkins is pretty great too? You'd think it be a no-miss situation...

I'd love to see what Ebert says...

Kate's Letter To Santa

This directly transcribed by Wendy this morning. Amazing.

Dear Santa,

I want Barbies, Princesses, and Ponies--more of them. But I don't have any Barbies. Greggy wants a Winnie the Pooh toy and some Winne the Pooh bubbles, and a Tigger Toy and a Train.

I want another big huge train for all of us. I would also like a Princess book, a Barbie book, and a Pony book and some Little People, Sarah Little People, and Princess blocks too, and Princess Little People too.

I love you, I hope your having a nice Christmas. I hope I know what you're choosing for us on this note we're telling. I hope your choosing. From Katie, Love Katie. I hope you're choosing from this note, not from your mind. That's what your choosing from for Christmas--the note. Love, Katie.

From her. And its a she and he. The he is my brother. And I have a dad that's a he. And I have two girls that are me and mommy and three boys that are my dad and my brother and the other is kind of my brother because he is a little bit of a baby. That's the end. Love, Katie. I hope you're having a nice Christmas and I hope you're getting ready for our presents. Thank you.

Bath Time Continued

 

Bath Time!

William Loves his BATH! 

More Pictures from JBB

Perspective of kids to John.


Kate and Gregor on a walk with Wendy.

Wendy and kids on aforementioned road trip.

I'm going to Atlanta!!

I just found out today that my paper proposal got accepted for the American Pop Culture Conference in Atlanta! One of my previous professors who also sat on my honors thesis commitee is heading up the section on adaptation, and he accepted my abstract! This means that in April I'll go to Atlanta and be part of a panel about adaptation and present my paper to other professors and grad students. Then everyone gets to ask questions. I'm so excited!! And nervous, as this means I have to actually write the paper. It's called "Film and Literature: Can they be faithful? Should they be faithful?" Catchy, eh? Yeah, Dr. Cutchins made it up. Anyhow, if anyone wants to take a vacation to Atlanta April 12-15, we could have a really good time!

William's First Kiss

I think that William and I had similar reactions to our first kisses. William's is courtesy of Ashlyn Dahmer. 

Emma Kim Dahmer

Josh and Mindy Dahmer's new baby girl. Born on October 31st... Josh's B-day! She was 10 lbs 2 oz and 22 inches. WOW! 

Baby Peter

William Pics From Conference

William on his way to see his first Conference

Aren't his eyes adorable

Mom is a wonderful place to take a nap

Dad isn't Bad Either.