Ben's Homecoming Part 2

Sunday, Aug. 22 began with a little Megan/Alonzo photo shoot before accompanying Ben to be officially released from being a missionary.

Handsome boy...

Cute girl--not really cooperating with the photo shoot, but giggling often

Being "reverent"

They're happy AND they know it

There's some real smiles :)

Ben seeing Grandma for the first time since being home

And we just couldn't do a photo shoot without including our other cute girl!

When Dan was released, he just met with the Stake President for a few minutes and that was that. Ben's Stake President invited the whole family to be there and made it a really tender experience for all involved. After that, we went to church (where Ben gave a really nice talk) and after the block we headed back to the house for more family, food, and chatting.

Megan reading with Grandma-Great outside the Stake President's office. Grandma-Great is so good with all the little great grandkids--they love to be around her. She has an amazing ability to make each great grandchild feel like her favorite.


Dan's Mom and baby Whitney in her cute dress


Whitney ready for church--and a little concerned that we're going to let Megan pick her up


Still a little concerned, but very happy to be sitting on her favorite blanket (What? You love it? Yes, yes, I did make it but I don't like to show off)


Finally, for the first time in 2 years, Dan and all of his siblings and their children were all together. Don't worry, we took pictures to prove it. It was a busy but wonderful Sunday. We were glad our visit coincided with Ben's homecoming because it allowed us to see a lot of extended family all at once.  We are so thankful for Ben's missionary service and are excited to have him home. We love you Ben!

A group of the grandkids waiting for pictures to start

The tallest in the back!

Everybody else, squeeze in...

The best one as far as faces go, not as far as lighting goes...you win some, you lose some, but all in all, not too shabby!

Everyone acting totally like themselves...

My attempt to do a family portrait for Michelle--what do you think?  My thoughts are...cute faces on everyone...next time we won't sit on such a busy surface--maybe if I play with Photoshop a little I can just blend the background together.

The Granddaughters...

The 4 Girls born while Ben was gone (Whitney-3 months, Sarah-6 months, Brooke-12 months, Lily-16 months)

Ben's Homecoming

Dan's "little" brother Ben returned home from his mission on Aug. 21, 2010. We'd been looking forward to visiting Utah for his homecoming since last Christmas! After the long, hot summer in Houston, we were more than ready for some cool evenings and time with Dan's family.

We arrived the day before Ben, on Friday, August 20. My Mom drove us to the airport and we were off! The girls did really well on the flight out and we got to Dan's parents' home in Bountiful in time for some dinner and bedtime. Dan's sister Ali and her family had already arrived and it was fun to catch up with them and meet their sweet new baby.

Megan and new baby Whitney

Dan played basketball Saturday morning and then we all worked to get the house, yard, and food ready for the homecoming festivities. Another sister, Heather and her family came up Saturday morning. Around 2:45, we packed up and drove to the airport! Yet another sister (Michelle) and her family met us at the airport which meant that nearly the entire family was at the airport to welcome Ben.

*let me mention our plan for Megan's bedtimes and naps while on vacation...let her run around until she passes out on the floor somewhere and then carefully carry her to bed--this was nap #1--awesome.

The garage--those little cartoons are each member of the family--how cute is that?

Michelle and kids...

Our fam...

Ali and fam...

Heather and kids...

The view Ben would see as he came down the escalator...

The proud parents...

We stood at the bottom of the escalator watching and watching and watching when FINALLY!
There was our little Ben! All 6 feet 10 inches of him. It was so exciting to watch him greet the family after such a long separation--must be what heaven is like.

Mom...

Dad...

The brothers...

All together...

We spent the rest of the day chatting, eating, laughing, and just enjoying being together. Ali put together a family Jeopardy game to help Ben get reacquainted with the family. The hardest question for Ben was matching the names and faces of the four nieces born while he was gone.

Ben at the kids table--reestablishing himself as favorite uncle

Cousins...

Dan and Brooke enjoying Utah's soft grass...

Dad at the grill...

Heather and Mom...

Ben was a little shell-shocked with all the people and activity...

Michelle and Heath...

Dan's Mom Jane, twin sis Joan, and little sis Gayle

Megan and Alonzo--they had so much fun playing while we were there...

They're just looking...they promise... (Dan's sister Heather made Ben this super cool cake--it's looked awesome)

The face of joy...

Me, Ali, and Ben share the same birthday week--Heather didn't want us to feel bad so we each got cakes too!

August Happenings

August was fun.  August was busy.  We didn't swim as much as I wanted.  We didn't get to the library as much as I wanted.

But I did mop the whole downstairs (*this happens quarterly-ish--don't judge--I promise I sweep and spot clean often).  I started serious prep-work for our ward's Super Saturday that was fast approaching.  Some friends and I organized for a rotating preschool to start in September.  And we anxiously anticipated our trip to Utah (more posts on this later).

I took the girls to a real movie with playgroup on Aug. 10 (How to Train Your Dragon).  Megan did great...except for the first 10 minutes when she was crying with her face buried on my shoulder--it's a little scary at the beginning.  Brooke liked the part where I fed her lunch.  But, it was the Summer Movie Camp showing, so it wasn't too bad to have a restless toddler.  

Cute girls, Aug. 2

Brooke's kiss face on Aug. 8--she puckers and says "mmm-ah". Seriously adorable.

Yet another fantastic fashion choice by Megan--saggy fleece pants, jean shorts, princess skirt, Halloween t-shirt worn as a tube top--awesome (Aug. 8)

Cheesy grin, dimples and all on Aug. 10

Attempting some one year portraits on Aug. 14

Snack time before church, Aug. 15

Do you see the pigtails (also Aug. 15)? Her hair is starting to really come in but she is really good at removing ponytail holders, so by the time we got to church, it just looked like I had spiked her hair into little horns. Sweet.

Mommy, I go to pool. Aug. 19

The Big 2-6

That's right folks, I'm officially old--late twenties!  Crazy!  No offense to those of you that may be EVEN OLDER THAN THAT! :)
I got to enjoy a full weekend of celebrating for my birthday.  It was great.  On Friday August 6th, Dan took me to dinner at the Olive Garden and to see Inception (crazy but good movie!).  It's always fun to get a real night out without the kids and I loved it.
Then, on Saturday August 7th, we met up with family and friends at the pool for some cupcakes and playing.  Sound familiar?  Yes, that's right--I planned the same party for my 1 year old that I did for myself!  And we had a great time.  As usual, my parents were on vacation, but my brother Shad and his family and my sister Carrie were able to make it.  It was HOT but we enjoyed ourselves.

Sunday the 8th was the ACTUAL birth-day and it was a nice, quiet Sunday.  If I remember correctly, I got to sleep in--thanks honey!

We did a little pre-church photo shoot on my birthday. The whole fam--not too shabby!

A really, really good picture of the girls! AMAZING!

Mom and girls

Dad and girls

Love the couple self-take picture

 
All in all, my 25th year was a good one and I'm excited to see what 26 has in store...

Don't Forget the Sweet Moments

"Mommy, wan-say-prayer Mommy?"

Ok, I say, I close my eyes.

"Dear Hev-ley Fa-der, Thank-ee for Mommy. Jesus Christ. Amen."

She's sitting on the stairs, wearing a dress over a dress and has her doll wrapped in a blanket. She's saying prayer after prayer. "thankee Brookie, thankee Megan", sometimes other names. She's talking to Bunny. In her sing-song voice like I do when I talk to Brooke. She's singing songs--sometimes "Sunbeam". Sometimes "I know you". Sometimes just humming or saying "me-me". And the occasional "all through the town" and "YAY!"

She grabs my arm. "Mommy, do-wan-make cupcakes Mommy?"
over and over.

I smile and close the computer.