Burke Robert Bennion

This is Burke right after he was handed to Amy.
Stats: 8 lb 4 oz and 20.5 in
Will is learning how to share Amy and learning how to be soft and gentle with baby Burke. Crazy to think that we have two now!
Peaceful. It is so much fun to hold a sleeping infant! He sleeps non stop. Durning my morning visit with Will he didn's wake up once. 

Our Little Stunt Rider

William is getting more and more brave and adventurous, which is great in a lot of ways, but (as was proved the other night) doesn't always turn out well. He has this little bike/trike that he really has just figured out pretty well, and he rides it all over the house. The other night I saw him stand on the seat, trying to balance himself on the fridge. I told him he couldn't do that, and he got down. But sure enough, the next time I turned my head, he did it again. I saw him just as the bike went out from under him and he hit face first into the floor. Double bloody nose, bloody gums, and a Huge fat lip. Poor kid. I'm sure we have more adventures like this to come...

V-V-VICTORY!

I'd just like you all to know that I turned in my last paper just now. So I'm treating myself to some music listening time. HURRAH! Now I only need to grade and clean and get in the grad apps, and I'm DONE!

William Update

Here are some pictures of William.

Saturday Is a Special Day

So this past Thursday night, we had a windstorm in the Northwest. We had about 20 ft of fence knocked out, and a large pine in our back almost fell over. Rob and I took out the fence (ivy, lattice, fence and all), and chopped down two of the trees in our backyard. The pictures are not in order.

These were the helpers. They worked their tails off!

This is me placing the rope to pull the top down. George Xanthos, our neighbor, is holding the ladder.

This is Rob and I having breakfast and cleaning up the debris.

George Rob and I and after felling the tree.

This is Rob pulling the top of the tree down.

Finally, this evening, a transformer in our area blew up and we lost power for a few hours. Thank heavens for modern conveniences!

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum...

I took a break (wasn't too difficult in convincing me to do so) from writing papers last Monday night and went with Rob to hunt down a Christmas tree in the rain. First, we started out our trip at Fred Meyer to look for a stand and some rope to tie the tree to the Subaru. We decided on the cheaper twine and had to go to Target for the stand because Fred Meyer was sold out....although fake trees are becoming more and more popular, people still love the traditional pine smell. At Target, we picked up a few colored ornament balls to add in addition to Linda's beautiful ornaments. Then, we drove over to Martin Luther King Blvd to find a tree lot open at 7pm. The men there told us about the $50 trees, $40 trees, and then the clearance trees for $20. So, Rob and I made a be-line to the $20 trees without hesitation. :) We got it home and completely decorated (even though slightly wet, I assured Rob we wouldn't get shocked). It was a fun night and I love the smell. :) I can't get enough...although wouldn't recommend it as a perfume or cologne scent. So, this has been the making of Rob & Ann's first Christmas together married (or 6th Christmas together before marriage)! :) Merry Christmas, Bennions!!!

Here is the tree & study material.... the 2 seem inevitable.

Vote for BUTCH!!!

So, there is a little bowl contest going down as we speak and will be ending very shortly. Therefore, it is imperative that you pay special attention to the following. The contest is called the Capital One "Fur Factor 2006 Mascot Challenge". Apparently, the Washington State University Mascot aka Butch, has made it into the finals. This is BIGTIME!!!! So, without further ado....go to www.capitalonebowl.com and vote for Butch T. Cougar. Not only will Butch and WSU appreciate it (winner receives $10,000 for their university), but Robert will have a happy bowl season--happier if we would've made a bowl game, but shhhhh...it's a touchy subject. And remember, we like Cougars....NOT turtles. ;) Go*Cougs!

And P.S. Voting daily is not against the rules. :)

For All You People With A Real Job

I just wanted to send a little shout out to all members of the family entering that twilight zone we know as finals week. I'm happy to say that one of my finals was due today and I did turn it in. Go team, I feel your pain.

More *SNOW*!

While procrastinating some study time, I came across this youtube video that I love. :) Now I can share it with everyone. Since Rob and I haven't had snow yet this year (except for a slight dusting), this clip made me excited for (what I hope is a foretelling of) what is to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0jqM5mcfaw&mode=related&search=

Love you all! :)

John's List

In the spirit of Greg's letter to Santa, here is my list:

XL Nike Running Pants (the tapered kind)
Non Iron White Dress Shirt (17-36/37)
Non Iron Pale Blue Dress Shirt (17-36/37)
Suede Kenneth Cole Loafers
Best of Bowie CD
Socks for use with casual shoes with chinos/jeans
Slim Fit Boot Cut Dark Blue Jeans
Slim Fit Boot Cut Chinos
Remote Meat Thermometer
Outdoor Thermometer
Shovel
Metal Rake
Push Broom
Hooks for Pegboard
NBA Tickets for 2
Queen Size Aero Bed
Leg Lamp (aka Electric Sex-Name it Claim It!)
Lunch with George Bush Jr. or Sr.
Truman's Biography by McCullough
Mariners Tix

Christmas Lists

I'm with you, Anna. Let's have some lists! What is the trade roster, by the way?

Here is my list:

Target gift card (boring, I know, but I love Target)

white four-slice toaster

bird feeder that doesn't have to be hung from a roof, tree, etc. (free-standing or on a shepherd's hook)

bird watching book (about pacific NW or Oregon birds)

book- All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

wisdom teeth removal, new roof and siding :)

Love, Wendy

Turkey Related Photos

This is a game where you get held up at gun point. If you put your hands up as ordered, you get shot. Its fun. Really. I think Rob is reading Jabez Dawes to Ann.


Eric and Shannon Curry. Their daughter Emily and her husband John. Nate and Greg are in the foreground.

Boy as Indian by Bennion

Soup.

Turkey Dinner for Bill?

Katie Ballet Recital

Painfully cute.

Photos from Baby Blessing Sunday

Picture Effort 1 - Notice William's face.



Just outside our building

Picture Effort 2

.

Christmas

Ok family. We need some real Christmas lists here, or I'll be forced to get my person/people microwave popcorn or something.

Home Before

Here is our home before the big painting project. White walls. After a lot of color consulting with the world class colorist, Linda Bennion, we decided on Devine Roast for the kitchen and Deving Oat for the hall, main room, and entry. We did do Devine Roast behind the entry door as well.

Big, no huge thanks to Anna B. who spend two very full days helping us paint. Joe also helped after slaving for Staples after the holidays.

Come and visit if you're in town.

Don, Amy and Will 

Home After

 

Before

 

After

 

Kitchen Before

 

Kitchen After

Kitchen After. Devine Roast on walls. 

Superman

We just finished Superman Returns. Good flick... worth a rental. Hard to beat Christopher Reeve.

Here is my list of favorite superhero movies in order (I think).

1. Superman
2. Batman Begins
3. Spiderman 2
4. X-Men
5. Superman 2
6. Spiderman
7. X-Men 2
8. X-Men 3?
9. Batman 1?

Laugh

This made me laugh really hard. Almost as hard as William.

Don, Amy and Will

In Case You Missed It

Anna, Amy and I were sitting about 3 feet from the TV due to some furniture rearranging from the painting project. Will almost started crying because we were screaming so loud. In case you haven't watched it yet check it out.

Great Flick!

Don, Amy, Joe and I watched the new 8 hour adaptation of Dickens' "Bleak House" starring Gillian Anderson. Two thumbs way way up. I was reading the book for a class last year when the miniseries came out on tv. I loved reading it and I've been wanting to watch it ever since, so when I found it at Barnes and Noble I picked it up. It was great (I love Gillian Anderson), and I highly recommend it! I've also heard that Peter and Nicole saw it and loved it. And speaking of Peter and Nicole, what's up with dropping of the face of blogging earth? Is there no internet connection in Georgia, or what?? :)

JBB and the Baby

I realize this sounds a bit narcissistic, but I like this picture of the baby and me.

Greg and Grandma

Wendy took this picture this afternoon. I love the lighting.

All Baby All The Time

Home Remodel Revisited

Here are some shots of the new 1212 Summer Hill Place.
Below right is the front door. The color around the door is called "Roast". The color to the right is called "Filbert" It is sort of a dark cream and is the color of the hallway and the stairwell and the upstairs hall. On the left is the living room. The color on the right is Roast. On the left is Filbert. You can get a fairly good idea of the colors by comparing with the white ceiling. Roast is on the opposite wall in the living room as is Filbert. That is, two colors on opposite walls.



Left is the living room. Roast on the left, Filbert on the right.










Above is the dining room. Roast is on the left, "Oat" is the color on the right. Again opposite walls have the same colors. The picture is really stunning against the colored wall. On the opposite wall we have a heavy mirror.


To the left is our bedroom. Oat is the basic color. Kind of a light cream. On the wall behind the bed is the color "Cafe". It is also in both of the alcove areas (one of which is on the right). Below is the yoke hung over the fireplace. The Cafe colored alcove is on the left.






The laundry room is painted "Teak". I had no idea there were so many shades of brown with interesting names. Again, the color is best seen contrasted with the white ceiling.







This is a picture of the dining room with the small mirror on a Roast colored wall. Mom likes the large platter mounted on the wall. It looks even better in person.

Below is the family room. Oat is the color of the walls.










To the left is the breakfast area. The color of the wall is "Spice" and is a redish brick-brown. It continues into the kitchen. It really compliments the cabinetry.