Happy Birthday Papa Bear

Happy Birthday to Rich!

I love Richard because
he keeps life fun and exciting
he is generous
he is wise
he is smart and funny and I think those two are essential to each other
he is unafraid of hard work, challenging projects, mean people
he has a creative streak that is enchanting
when he loves a song, a movie, a book, a television series, he really loves it and absorbs every nuance of it and shares it with me
he gives the most interesting and inspirational talks at church
he is an outstanding teacher
he is a serious optimist (Wayne Christensen's "right on" description of him)
he is a visionary....
he thinks in unique ways and has blessed our family because he does
he is always willing to and working to improve
he is thoughtful
he is my best friend
he listens to me and values my ideas
he praises me and makes me feel that I am important to him
he looks for ways to give "unexpected gift at unexpected time" and he is good at it
he takes joy in making people happy at home, at the office and at Church
there "ain't no mountain high enough" to stop him when he believes the thing that he is doing is the right thing to do.
No on can beat Richard in the service department....he has taught me and the children how to serve others, look for opportunities to serve and find joy in service
He is the best person I have ever known!!!!

Bennions In Print

Nathan and Katie are famous! Our neighbor, Carol Xanthos is an illustrator and she recently published a book called, "How Does the Holy Ghost Make Me Feel?" She used friends and neighbors for the models, and Nathan and Katie were two of them. There is a beautiful, full page illustration of the two of them together. The book is written to help children understand and recognize the blessings of the Holy Spirit. You can see the book at http://www.deseretbook.com/.

Pretty fun, huh? (Our house is famous, too. It was in the background of one of the pages.) :)

Loves to all!

Wendy

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms

Mom and I wish all the Moms a very Happy Mother's day. You are all so precious.

Flowers Made Mom's Day

Burke, Chantel and Maxwell started Mom's day off with this beautiful bouquet. The aroma was absolutely breath-taking and Mom was so pleased with every single bloom. She said that the lilacs were so precious.

Mom with her new haircut

Mom had her hair cut this morning and looks wonderful. Judge for yourself. The first picture is in the dining room and the second in her room.

Jocelyn's Graduation

Please write on Rob's birthday blog below. Sorry for covering it up.

She made it! Jocelyn graduated today from BYU. It was a beautiful day and Jocelyn made her sumo suit (cap and gown) look great. Who invented the cap and gown anyway? She really stands out in the crowd and always has the perfect smile even when you are in the nose bleeds taking pictures of her down 100 rows. I am very proud of her. She is a great example of finishing strong and working hard to the end. I am pretty sure she beat me on GPA this semester. Here is a pic of Joc with a male model and another with her friends.

Jocelyn looks great in her cap and gown!
Also, David's suit coat provided by Naima Rocklin. Thanks again:)


From L to R: Jocelyn Bennion, Alison Smith, and Carly Thornock
Jocelyn has hops!!!

Happy Birthday Rob

Thirty three years ago, Rob was born....He was such a beautiful baby and he came with the sweetest temperament. Happy Birthday, dear Robert!
I love Rob because
he is a peacemaker
he is brave
he is generous with his time and his means and his talents
he is loyal to those he loves
he is compassionate
he is a hard worker
he does not give up
he is full of interests
he reads and thinks and I love to hear his thoughts
he is a great and imaginative gift giver
he has always loved athletics and pursued them both as a fan and as a participant
he serves others with the same gusto that his dad does
he is an optimist
he loves to be with his family
he is a great part of any group and works to make everyone comfortable
he can cook and clean and take care of a home with the best of 'em
.....and I would add....that although this doesn't make me love him, he is handsome!

Weight Loss

Well as most of you know I had Gastric Bypass back in October, and I've been doing quite well. Back in October I had a few Pictures taken of me and here they are:

398lbs

Not too pretty a picture, though I do like the wash on those Jeans. These were taken about 2 weeks before surgery.

Here is the progress so far:

265lbs

So what do you think?

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan! (a few days late)

I love Nathan because:

He is such a good boy
He is happy and enjoys life
He has a great laugh
He is a great Lego builder
He is a good friend
He is a FANTASTIC brother

He likes my cooking

He helps me so much
He is smart
He loves school, reading, and learning
He has a strong testimony
He chooses the right
He taught me what mother-love is

Happy birthday, Nate!

Love,
Mom

Videos

Burke was intent on getting Daddy's goggles on.

Soren joins in family scriptures.

Boys dancing at a polo match.

Burke's picture ready face is great in this one...also his head movement in rhythm to our rhyme.

Happy Birthday to Anna

I love Anna because
She is great with people
She is bright
She is so well-read
She is a great contributor in any discussion
She is brave
She is adventurous (travels without fear)
She is a life long learner
She is funny
She loves to laugh and has an infectious laugh
She is the best movie companion. It is so interesting to discuss a movie with Anna
She is low maintenance, is a good sport, always ready to pitch in and make an activity fun
She is a loving and terrific auntie
She is undaunted as she marches up the PhD Hill which has lots of rocks and goats' heads on the trail
She is happy for the success of others
She is a great sister to each of her brothers
She is gorgeous
She is the apple of my eye
I couldn't be more pleased with the way in which she lives her life. Happy Birthday!
When Dad gets home, we will post a picture!!!!

weekend in pennsylvania

Jeremy and I drove out to Pennsylvania this weekend to meet Chloe Helena DiFranco, who is now about 9 weeks old. Mom and Charlie met up with us on Saturday and we all went out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Chloe is an absolute angel. She is such an easy baby. She doesn't really fuss--so calm and sweet. She makes the cutest cooing sounds when she eats. Very adorable. She seems so easy-going and peaceful.

Mom is a natural with the baby. Chloe was so at ease in her arms. Little Skyla calls my mom "Mommy Robin". Pretty cute. Skyla says about Chloe "She doesn't know anything!" I think this makes Skyla feel like the Big sister!

We love Jessika she is really sweet, the best mom, and great fun to be around. Little Skyla, who just turned 3 on March 16th is super entertaining. She had Jeremy and I camping in her room, playing dolls, hide and go seek and lots of other fun games. She has a great imagination and it was really fun to be in her world.

I am so proud of Sam and his family and can't wait to make it out there again soon. Hope you like the pics...

Basketball... again!

Dave says we only post things when he gets hurt. Sadly- this is true! But we aren't very exciting otherwise nor do we do much else but school. So next time one of us gets a 100% on a test I will post a copy... you might be waiting a long time for it!

So... Dave was playing BYU intramural basketball when a kid sat on his head. The EMT came and said they can't give him stitches because it is too close to his eye but he should go to urgent care to get it glued. His response- Okay, how long is that going to take because it is 8 and I have someplace to be at 830? Of course that someplace else he had to be was a city league basketball game. So we went to Rid Aid, got some butterfly bandages, and he went and played a second basketball game. Now that the playing is over he wants to go buy superglue to fix the wound. Any one think that is a good idea?

Happy Birthday Granma Dunlap - 85th Birthday

I love Mom because

She is so easily pleased by anything that is done for her

She took such good care of me as a little girl

She taught me how to keep a beautiful home

She made me want to be a Mom because she so loved being a Mom

She made holidays fun and we had so many fun birthday parties

She understood the value of a new dress or new shoes and rejoiced in shopping with her girls

She was a classroom volunteer when we were little

She was a great cook and as I have had 30 + years of daily cooking, I appreciate even more the amazing job she did in having a great meal on the table every night

She loved animals and so we got to see puppies born and love those puppies

She was loving and not at all harsh...

She believed in me and in my abilities

She was happy and wanted me to be happy

She is a wonderful granma and the kids have loved their two week visits to her and Dad

She has always taken such good care of herself and of her appearance. We loved having a pretty mother

She was a great mom to have when friends were over....she liked our friends and they felt it and liked to be at our house

She loves to laugh

She loves to hear good news

She rejoices in the happiness of her family

She appreciates every kindness done for her

She is dear in every way in my life and I am so glad that she is MY MOM!!!

Happy Valentine to My Valentines

I love my three valentines because they each make me so proud of who and what they represent and for their loving me over the years regardless of my considerable shortcomings.

Sunset Cycling Team

Rob and I joined the Sunset Cycling Team this year and are planning on racing. Here is a picture from the tryout ride. Rob is 4th from left and I am 5th from left.

Happy Birthday Wendy!

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday Dear Wendy! Happy Birthday TO YOU!!!!!

I love Wendy because:

I don't know anyone kinder.

She is beautiful.

She is very smart.

She has a good sense of humor.

She is a great cook.

She is disciplined.

She likes to read.

She likes to run.

She is fun to talk with and has interesting perspectives.

She is brave.

She keeps our lives running.

She pays the bills.

She is encouraging.

She is involved in our children's schooling.

She is a hard worker.

She sets a good example for me and the kids.

She makes everything happier.

She is realistic.

She loves Oregon too.

She likes good music.

She loves the kids, and there is no one I trust more than her to raise them well.

I can trust her fully.

She is a perfect friend and the best wife I could want.

Love You!

Happy Birthday Ann!

I like Ann because:

*She has great fashion and style
*She is so compassionate
*She is a great listener
*She is fun to talk to and is a great conversationalist--great story teller, interesting, intelligent, and, as said above, great listener
*She is fun and funny
*She is so good to Rob
*She is easy-going
*She is beautiful
*She is a great cook (I've seen pics!)
*She gives great gifts

And she is just the best! Love you, Ann! Here's to 2-7!

Anna
xoxo

(also, don't forget to look at Nai's great post below!)

Question

Hi everyone,

Now I know all of you have good advice about parenting. Sam is going to have his first baby at the end of this month--a girl--and wondering what is some good parenting advice to give him. Or what baby books did your kids enjoy the most? Was thinking about getting him some fun books and wondering which books were big hits with your kids; I am sure if your little ones enjoyed the books, Sam's little one will as well.

Love,

Naima

Saddlerock in Winter

Rob, Joe and I climbed Saddlerock. I loved this picture. It looks cool with the hills behind and below me and with the saddles directly behind. It was a great day and the views were great. We had quite the adventure getting there. Hats off to Joe for putting up with his older brothers taking a crazy accidental detour.