Wendy's Birthday!!!

I was especially happy today...I thought it might be because it was Friday and then it hit me...it's January 23rd and it's Wendy Elise's birthday. Of all the great things that ever happened on the January 23rd's of all time, I contend that the best was that Wendy was born!
I love Wendy because...
She is so truly kind and gracious.
She is a fabulous mother,
She has a truckload of good sense.
She knows what really matters in life.
She is frugal.
She is the perfect wife for John.
She is intelligent and has interesting insights.
She is wise.
She is lovely and beautiful, but if she was ugly, I would still love her.
She is fun! She loves a good game and is competitive. She loves a good movie and will stay up well past her bedtime to enjoy one with the family.
She is a great example to the young women that she teaches at church.
She has a delicious sense of humor.
She is so good to the Bennions...all of them.
She is a good sport and puts up with the opinionated Bennions who are "seldom wrong, but never in doubt.
I adore her and count her as a friend and as one of my greatest blessings!

California PE Results

Last April I traveled to the bay area to take my professional licensing exam for the state of California. The test goes for two days. The first day is the national 8 hour exam. The following day two state specific exams are given (Principles of Engineering Surveying, and Seismic Principles). In addition there is a short ethics take home exam that is required. Four months later I received my results and found out that I had passed all test except for the Seismic Principles which I had missed the passing score by one point. Despite the setback I retook the Seismic principles in October in hopes of obtaining my first PE license. The California state Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (PELS) met the past 15th and 16th of January to determine the pass scores for last October’s Professional Engineering exam. An update had had been up for the past few weeks on the PELS website to explain the manner in which scores would be released following the adoption of the cut scores by the board. It is pretty common knowledge among test takers that you can actually find out if you passed a few days prior to receiving official notice in the mail by using the license lookup options connected to most state website. I, of course, had been checking the site religiously for the past few days in hopes of seeing my name listed but to no avail. When I got home today I found the letter in the mail and opened it knowing that I would have a notice telling me how close I had come without passing my exam because my name was not available that day on the website. To my immense surprise and joy I opened the following:

i'm moving

This weekend Jeremy and I are moving to another apartment in NY. I just took a photo with my camera phone of our current view. We now live on the far west side of Manhattan on 50th st. and when that plane did an emergency landing last week in the river, it passed right by our building and landed in the pictured river.

Past the river is New Jersey. Sometimes when I look out the window, I imagine how the Native Indians lived in Manhattan and New Jersey pre-settlers. You can kind of imagine them canoeing over to their neighbors and engaging in trade. Maybe they would see each others fires across the river.

I'm going to miss this view. Although our new apartment is bigger and with our new apartment we will face Central Park. So I guess instead of rivers, barges, cruise ships, the intrepid, I will get to know the changing face of the leaves, flowers, the roller bladers, the children chasing squirrels.

Time for changes...

Thank*You!

Thanks to everyone for your kind and thoughtful words on the blog.....
I had a wonderful day....including John, Wendy & Fam--the singing telegram.

And this favorite of mine....Rob singing me a solo 'Happy Birthday!' ;) Thanks for sharing the Bennion love! Love you all and look forward to adding another couple of Bennions to the mix (Jocelyn & J&W Baby Boy Bennion)! :)

Happy Birthday #26 Ann!!!

I like Ann because:
She is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside of the above picture ...
And because:
She brings out the best in Rob as also evidenced in the above picture ...
And because:
She not only looks good, but she always tries to make others feel good (she does it as a nurse, but has been doing it ever since we have known her)
And because:
She is full of compassion for others
And because:
She is always happy and enjoys a good laugh
And because:
She is always feminine, but always ready to pitch in and work a (like Rob)
And because:
She makes Bennions better - just like Wendy, and Amy, and Linda, and all of the great women of prior generations who make Bennions better.
May You have Love and Joy and Great Years to Come,
Hugs to you on your birthday,
Dad B.

The Happy Couple

David and Jocelyn announced their engagement this week. David picked her up at the Spokane Airport on Tuesday December 30th and proposed at Spokane Falls, a picturesque spot in central Spokane. They had a romantic dinner at the Palmwood Grill in the historic Davenport Hotel before returning to Wenatchee late that evening. We have loved having her with us for the past few days. This picture was taken today as they departed Spokane heading back to school. The unanimous vote is that she is adorable.

Greg on the Slide

The slides were super slick the other day. The best landing of the day was Greg's. He loved it, and I couldn't stop laughing.

Hockey Night

We went to see Wenatchee's hockey team last night. The Wenatchee Wild beat the Fairbanks team 3-2 on a late third period goal. During the course of the game, there were two fistfights. One seemed a bit contrived, but the second seemed legit. The kids had a ton of questions about it. So did I. It was funny to think of the fighting in their minds and to try and make sense of it. Anyway, we had a great time in our front row seats at the Town Toyota Center!


The kids were surprised by the noise. It was reminiscent of the Wenatchee-Eastmont game we took Nathan to.

Joscelyn, David, and Greg watching the game.

I love this shot of the kids, but especially of Nathan. He looks so much older in this shot.

Sledding and Sleeping in Wenatchee

The family went sledding at Lincoln Park on a perfect day. There was a nice snow pack with about 1/2 inch the night before. The sun came out and warmed up the snow so it packed very well. I thought this photo was a nice view of the valley.


Part of the morning was spent in the castle-themed play area. Katie and Anna are below.

William and me hanging out.

This was William after a fun morning. He just crashed on the LazyBoy.