The Benson's

Top Model

2009-07-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

She is adorable. She really enjoyed modeling for the camera. Such a natural. She also just turned 5 and had her ears pierced for her birthday. She even paid for it with her own money she had gotten. She hardly even blinked when they did it. She was so exicted. What a Girl!

2009-07-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

My cute fat baby. She is now 3 months old and weighs about 13.5 lbs. So much fun! I also have to brag that she sleeps through the night. Night before last she slept for 8 1/2 hours. It is about time that I had a baby that slept.

New Little Girl!

2009-04-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

So we are finally done being pregnant. Bridgette Kate was born on April 2, 2009 @ 10:50 pm she weighted 7lbs 9 ozs and was 19 inches long. Not too bad for being 2 weeks early.
So the story of having the baby - Thursday I was taking Elaina back to daycare from school and it was snowing and slushy as I got out of my car I slide and fell on my butt. Not that big of a deal. I went back to work and about 3 hours later I just didn't feel good and wanted to sleep. So I left work and went home to take a nap. I called Andrew to tell him that I was sleeping and not to bother me and he somewhat forced me to the doctor. I went in and they started monitoring me but didn't think that it was anything major but wanted me to go the hospital and just be watched for a few hours. So I was there and just hanging out the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 3 (no big deal). But right after that I started having contractions that were about 30 secs apart. They weren't really bothering me so I didn't think much of it. Now you have to remember that my husband was not here so he kept calling wanting to know if he should come home. About 20 minutes after the contractions started the Doctor came in and said that we would either need to stop my labor or start it and because I fell and the contractions were so close he decided to break my water. I called Andrew and said "get your butt here cause we are having a baby." So he started on his way and they broke my water. Now in past babies after this point it would take about 5 to 6 hours and they usually give me pit. So I wasn't too worried that Andrew wouldn't make it. But after 3 hours they checked me and said that it was time. I managed to wait for another 45 minutes but than had to push. She only took about 3 good pushes and was here. So as you can guess Andrew didn't make it. I had Bridgette with my Mom and Mother-in-Law there with me. My dad was also there but I made him leave for the actually pushing part. So it was pretty sad that her Daddy wasn't there but what can we do. He was 50 minutes late and so sad that he wasn't there. But he has been home for the last 10 days and just left today to go back to WY so now I get to be a single mom with 4 kids. Anyway, that was a long story hope that I didn't bore you to death. For anyone else stilling having kids make sure that your husband is close by and that you have a clue when you are in labor.

2009-04-12T21:51:00.000-07:00

2009-03-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

So I am really counting down the days now. I am down to 26 days. And the good news is that I get to get induced on the 8th of April so I am looking at only 3 more weeks. Yippee!
I convinced my doctor to start me early so that Andrew could be there. He is now working in Wyoming so it is not like I can just call him up and say "Hey honey, we are having a baby." And him making it home on time. So the doctor said he would do an ultra sound on the 3rd just to make sure that she was big enough, but since she is measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule I am not worried about it. I am just hoping that she will wait that long. Wish me luck, it is getting really close!!!

2009-02-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

Hadley was baptized on Jan. 3, 2009. Andrew did the baptism and conformation. He had a big dinner afterwards with all the family. Our family took up almost all the room. Thanks so much for everyone who came.

2009-02-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

Andrew made Elaina a doll house for Christmas. This thing is huge (if you can't tell). Elaina loved it. She is very proud of it. I just wish that it didn't take up so much room.

2009-02-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

Elaina loved getting this present from Chase. She loves jewlery and dancers. You can see by the look on her face that this is special to her.

2009-02-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here is Hadley Christmas morning. The boys got lots of nerf stuff and spent many weeks shooting each other and making battle zones and having wars in our basement.

Christmas

2009-02-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

These are some late posts - but better late than never. Chase on Christmas morning with his new rip-stick. I was very nervous to get it for him - I don't really like broken bones. He has praticed a few times outside when the snow has gone down and seems to be getting the hang of it. I could really hate it later.

Older!

2009-01-13T15:48:00.000-08:00

So yes I had my 34th Birthday yesterday! It is so funny that as a child I couldn't wait to be 13 to be a teenager and have my freedom ( so I thought). Than I couldn't wait to be 16 so I could date. Next was the ever lovely 18 so you could be out on your own and not be ruled by mom and dad. After 18 I waited for 21 so I could go to the dance clubs up at college. After that I wanted to be 25 so my insurance would go down. Now I can honestly say I don't look forward to Birthdays anymore. Birthdays not only mean that I am getting older but that means my kids are getting older too. Which, in turn, means that I am edging every year closer to being a Grandma. Now being a grandma does have it purks but I picture myself with the white hair and the out dated clothes and think there is no way that is happening to me. But if you would have asked me when I was 18 if I was going to be a mom of 4 children before I was 35 I probably would have slapped you too.
I guess that it goes to show we never know how much we will love getting older. I love to watch my kids grow and love to see the new things that they learn. I can't wait for there 1st dates and when they get there driver's licenses. I guess that means that I will have to learn to love the thought of being a Grandma someday too.

2008-12-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

And here is my little princess. I don't think that I have ever met a little girl who loves being a girl more than her. It is a lot of fun! I hope the next one is the same.

2008-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

And my Hadley - he will be turning 8 this month. My blue eyed little boy.

2008-12-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

Latest picture of my handsome - Chase! I can't believe that he is over 10 years old.

Drum Roll Please!

2008-12-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

So for all of you that are dieing to know.......drum roll please......
We are having a Girl! Can't begin to tell you how excited Elaina is. And she was the only one that was right in knowing that it was a girl. Everyone else was always guessing a boy. I guess that sometimes kids do know more than we do.
Anyway, she looks good and is growing right on schedule. Said that her weight is 14 ozs and she is 10 inches long. Right on the money. And now I have advanced to all maternity shirts - some pants I am still getting away with but not much.
Now we have the grueling task of names......................Any Help!

Butt

2008-11-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

So I have to tell a little story about something funny my daughter said yesterday. We went for a drive into the mountains to take our yearly family pictures and while we were there Elaina had to go potty. Well, we couldn't really just let her drop down in the snow so we drove a bit until we found one of those nasty, stinky, cold outhouses and decided to stop there. We went inside and of course she was very afraid that she would fall in the stinky hole so I had to hold onto her as she went. Than I decided that I needed to go so I told Elaina to stay there while I went. I sat down and Laina said "You don't need someone to hold you, do you mommy?" I said "No" she than said "I wish I had a big butt like yours." I asked her why she would want my butt. She than told me that if she did than she wouldn't fall in either. You have to love what kids say. I told someday she will have a big butt like mine and she will wish didn't.

Promise

2008-11-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

So I have made a promise to a very dear friend of mine that I would do better about posting on my blog. So to keep my promise is going to be very difficult but I will put my best foot forward and do it.
Life is always busy - not always exciting but busy. So with this pregnancy I have been having experiences. And not a lot of exciting ones. So far a cyst being drained on my ovaries, bladder infection, and I don't get through a day without taking medicine so I don't puke. Which I think that all of this is a bit ridiculous since I am now 20 weeks along. We just keep saying that this kid is coming in with a bang and making sure that this is the last one. (no problems there) Hopefully, I will hit that joyful time when you just feel good and love being pregnant. We get to find out what we are having next week. So I will post that as soon as I know.

So between my 3 kids, being sick all the time, work, and just everyday life I am busy. What I wouldn't give to take a day to go shopping and out to lunch and not stop to puke in between. Maybe someday - I will eventually have to go Christmas shopping. So to all of you who have had wonderful pregnancies like my first 3 - know that you have to have a least one that drains you. You might want to stop at 3.

Baby!

2008-09-26T15:36:00.001-07:00

Ok Since I haven't been telling a whole lot of people I fiqured since I was updating my blog I would add my news. Yes, I am having my 4th and finally baby. I am about 11 weeks and the baby is due in April.
And for those of you are thinking I am a bit crazy. Well, that is what 3 other kids do to you!! HaHa! Just kidding. (not really).
This one was a little planned but not completely. We have been talking about it for about a year when I finallly said ok I will go off the pill and if we are pregnant by the end of the year than it was meant to be if not than we are done. See I was thinking that since I had been on the pill for 4 years that it would take a while and that it probably wouldn't happen. It was only 2 weeks after I stopped taking them that I was knocked up. So I have decided that all I really need to do to get pregnant is think about and it will happen.
Anyway, the sickness is starting to go away and the kids are all really exicted. That helps me be more ready!

2008-09-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Chase getting all geared up to hit the ball. He did win a challenge that they had that night to see who could hit the ball the farthest. He won a $200 bat that everyone had to use after that. It was great for his ego.

2008-09-26T15:02:00.001-07:00

Here are a few more pics with me and kids as we are getting ready to go into the cave and inside. We were close to the caves because of Chase's All-Star baseball they had games in Bear Lake. Alot of fun!

2008-09-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Andrew and Elaina this summer in the Minnetonka Ice Caves. Aren't they so cute. Elaina really enjoyed the caves - but not when they turned out the lights.

2008-06-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Andrew and his brother Lars at the Lamani Ruins - They have strange looks on there faces because our tour guide was telling us how the Mayans used to make condoms out of rubber trees (that was his theroy). As you can tell we didn't really buy it.

2008-06-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

We are on top of the main Lamani ruin here. We are completely surronded by jungle and water.

2008-06-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is at a old Ruin - Lamani

We had to take a boat ride for 32 miles to the site.

This is the steps to the top they are only 8 inches wide so there is a rope to help you up. It was more like climbing a ladder.

Amazing though!!!!

2008-05-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here we are going cave tubing. We all got on tubes and had flash lights on our heads to go floating through a lot of caves. It was interesting and fun. We also had to do a lot of hiking through the jungle saw Howler Monkeys and almost got bitten by a snake.

2008-05-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Me with my sister-in-laws Sarah & Angela at the Post office in San Ignacio. We sent home post cards from there and still have not got them.

2008-05-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

Andrew deep sea fishing. He didn't catch anything - but had a big one on the line - but it got away.

2008-05-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

Sunset on the Beach.

2008-05-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is at the zoo in Belize. It is in the jungle so everything seem really real. We are standing in a trail that is covered with branches. Pretty Neat! We got to see lots of things that you don't see in most zoo's.

2008-05-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

Here we are on our last day in Belize. We are just getting ready to leave on the boat to get the airplane. We were staying on an island called Caye Caulker. We did snokerling, fishing, swimming and just hung out a lot.

2008-02-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

And of course here is the couple that started it all. Still in love today as much (no more) than ever before. Andrew is doing well. He is becoming a partner is a business here after he gets back from driving some propane truck in Utah. I am working at Fremont County as a Planner. I also stay busy with my Church callings and coaching Chase's backetball team. There never seems to be a dull moment for me. I know that a lot of you feel the same. I hope that I still make enough time for all of you. Know that everyone who sees this blog is always in my thoughts (somewhere).

2008-02-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

And here is just a funny one. This is from Halloween
this year. The kid with the guitar is my nephew KJ
that lives with us. It was a pretty fun party -
we go to it each year at Andrews parents house.

2008-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Here is our baby Elaina. She is a lot of fun. She loves barbies and princesses and anything pink. Soooo Girly!!!

2008-02-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hadley is now 7 years old and a really fun kid. We have our battles more than the others, I guess that he is just too much like me. Along with Chase he loves sports and hanging out with his big brother.

2008-02-11T10:10:00.001-08:00

This is a great picture of Chase. He is 9 years old and loves all sports and playing around with his friends.

2008-02-11T10:08:00.001-08:00

So here is my wonderful family. All growing up.

2008-02-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

I guess that since everyone else is doing it I will too. Hope that this helps everyone stay updated with my family.