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!