tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78617850283975059502024-03-05T14:09:55.477-08:00The BensonsJenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-77822635772319482012013-03-20T19:01:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:01:44.975-07:00I'm resurrecting this blog. Maybe. We will see. No promises.<br />
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Its just that, I have missed this space. It's so quiet here! I can "talk" and no one interrupts me! I can record the events of our day from my perspective and no one can correct me!<br />
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To be honest, I meant to visit our smugmug page and stumbled here and felt really sad that 7 (SEVEN!! WHAT!) months have passed and I haven't recorded a single. darn. thing. that has happened since. A single thing. The number one reason I started a blog was to have a sort of "yearbook" to look back on and remember all that had happened in our lives, year after year. And, I am forgetting. The past 7 months have been such a blur. Full. Messy. Really really messy. This three kids thing is HARD. And full. And really really amazing. And I don't want to forget.<br />
When my kids are no longer small enough to be scooped up into my arms. When Charlie's baby chub is all gone and there is nothing left to pinch. When Abby no longer wants an extra snuggle every night. When there are no more nursing babies and barbies strewn across the floor and wooden spoons on every floor for swiftly executed discipline...<br />
I want to be reminded of the sweetness that was laced through these hard, grueling, exhausting days. The little details. I want to drink them in and not forget.<br />
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So here we go! Less pictures, more thoughts. Here goes nothing!<br />
<br />Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-74326191641176458552012-08-29T06:51:00.000-07:002012-08-29T06:51:37.733-07:00Welcome, Nora Ann!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now that Nora is two weeks old, I figured it was time to get some photos up and tell her story about how she came into this world. Each of my three birthing experiences have been so different- each so wonderful in their own way. This go around, I feel that the Lord has been teaching me one giant lesson in trusting Him- casting my fears and anxieties on Him and trusting that His timing is best.</div>
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We all (Andy and I, my family, my midwives...) expected Nora to come early. The others were early, fast labors, and at 37 weeks I was already progressing and baby was LOW and ready to come any moment. Add to that the fact that starting at 37 weeks, at every appointment my midwife told me "oh it will be any day now- I bet 3 days, tops. You DEFINITELY won't go another week..." we were ready and expecting a baby SOON. So the first night I had contractions 10 minutes apart from 11pm to 5am, I was SURE a baby was coming, that night. I fell asleep around 5am to get some rest and awoke two hours later to find that the contractions had stopped and so had "labor"... no baby today. Which was fine- she was healthy, I was still early, and I had a TON of things left to get done, so a few more days wouldn't hurt anything! But then it happened again. And again. For two weeks. And with each bout of "false" labor I became more exhausted and more discouraged. I started to worry that my body just didn't know what to do this time. I worried that something was wrong with the baby- so much so that I went in for a non stress test and ultrasound to be sure everything was ok (and it was, of course). As the window for my mom to stay and help out started closing, I worried that I would be alone after she was born. I worried about my job- the longer it took for her to come, the longer I would be away from students during the most important part of the semester. Isn't it interesting how worry just feeds on itself? How your fears and anxieties just spiral out of control until you're in full-on panic mode? What started out as a minor inconvenience morphed into something else entirely. Instead of trusting and resting in the Lord I let my worries overcome me and I was miserable.</div>
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Well, thankfully I had the right mind to call a very wise woman who reminded me of the simple, but true, truth that God held all of Nora's days in his hands and was bringing her into this world in His good timing, and that I could trust that he was preparing my body to do what it needed to do when it needed to do it. And she prayed for me, over the phone, and ordered me a day of rest. And so of course, once I stopped trying to make labor happen on my own and prayed to be able to rest in Him and trust His timing, I finally went into labor FOR REAL that night and Nora was born bright and early the next morning. </div>
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And WHEW what a whirlwind it was! My midwives promised I would go fast, and they were right! Contractions started 10 mins apart at around 10pm, my water broke at midnight, we jumped in the car around 12:30am, got set up in our room by 1am, and she was born at 1:34am! </div>
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When I look at this picture it all comes flooding back.. the relief, the awe, the bewilderment that God would choose to bless me AGAIN with such an amazing gift- how humbling, when I consider how quick I am to doubt His goodness to me, His desire to give me good things. And when I consider what a fool I am and how undeserving of such grace. And it is all grace, every moment with her.</div>
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Visitors didn't start arriving until close to 10am that morning, so Andy and I had a few sweet hours with her all to ourselves. </div>
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Eleanor Ann (Nora)</div>
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7lb 15 oz, 20 inches</div>
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Once we had rested a bit, and Nora had been adequately measured, weighed, poked, snuggled, and nursed, visitors began to arrive.</div>
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First to meet her- the big sisters. Let me just tell you- these girls cannot get enough of their baby sister. They LOVE her. They cannot stop touching her, kissing her, hugging her, poking fingers into her eyes (what is it about baby eyes that are so IRRESISTIBLE to toddlers?). She is their new favorite person EVER. </div>
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When Charlotte climbed up on the bed next to Nora, all I could think about was how she looked like such a MONSTER. Her hands are huge! Her feet are big and smelly! And don't get me started on her diapers! She is SO BIG! How did this happen? She is definitely not a baby anymore.</div>
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The girls were fascinated by Nora's belly button, and her tiny feet and hands. </div>
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Meeting Gramma and Papa Bruce- we are so glad they live so close! And Papa Bruce was our hero again this time by bringing Doumars for lunch. Because, what else do you want to eat right after giving birth but an old fashioned diner burger and limeade? I am not joking. It's all I wanted.</div>
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I included this one just because it's cute. She is such a mess.</div>
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My dad had come into town the night before, for the weekend, regardless of whether or not she decided to come while he was here, just to keep us company. I was so glad he got to meet her!!</div>
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My dear friend Chelle- her due date was just 10 days after mine. We were hoping baby William would get the "memo" to get a move on and come meet his buddy!</div>
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Aunt Katie and Uncle Dan drove down from Richmond to meet Nora. I love this pic of Dan and Nora. So much love! My girls have the BEST aunts and uncles. </div>
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Finally going home!</div>
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<br />Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-63528566674187592782012-08-15T13:04:00.000-07:002012-08-21T07:24:37.833-07:00Look-alikes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Does she look like her sisters or what?</div>
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Nora, 3 days old:</div>
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Charlotte, about 2 or 3 weeks old:</div>
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Abby, 3 weeks old:</div>
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Yup, I'de say there's a family resemblance...</div>
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<br />Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-73582589144026738112012-06-21T11:56:00.001-07:002012-06-21T11:56:26.098-07:00Big Girl Bed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week, we switched Charlotte out of her crib and into her big-girl toddler bed. We did this with Abby around the time Charlotte was born (actually, I seem to remember Matt spray-painting the rails the DAY before C was born, and it got set up that day, just hours before I went into labor...). We wanted to have a little bit more transition time this go-around since we will have THREE kiddos to care for soon. The less drama, the better...</div>
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And, it has been dramatic. Oh my. We spend about 45 minutes every night sitting outside their door, going back in to quietly put C back into her bed over and over and over and over again. After about 5 minutes, Abby falls asleep, and stays asleep for the rest of the night. Charlotte then takes every. single. stuffed. animal. from her bed and lines them up on Abby's bed. She stands there, staring at Abby, and I can only assume she is waiting and hoping that Ab will wake up and play with her. </div>
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No dice, kiddo.</div>
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Eventually, the pitter-patter stops and she falls asleep. And we are so exhausted WE go to bed. But not before checking on her one last time. </div>
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And finding this:</div>
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And the next night, this:</div>
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(please note all of the items that HAD to be in bed with her: pillow, pillow pet, bwankie, giraffe, pink giraffe, dolly, bear, puppy, and my personal fave: the giraffe sunglasses.)</div>
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And last night, this:</div>
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My theory is that she finally gives up on Abby joining her party and just conks out, leaning against her bed. Whatever the reason, it's hilarious.</div>
<br />Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-29101792760711380742012-06-12T19:23:00.001-07:002012-06-12T19:23:22.484-07:00Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A preview of things to come:</div>
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<a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/photos/i-5rNkHmm/0/M/i-5rNkHmm-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/photos/i-5rNkHmm/0/M/i-5rNkHmm-M.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Summer is in full swing here and we are LOVING it. Can you tell?</div>
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More to come!</div>
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(Are you happy, MATT?)</div>
<br />Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-42088367013417204732012-03-31T20:16:00.000-07:002012-04-02T07:02:30.865-07:00She said "yes," too!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then, just a week later, MY brother, my BABY brother, convinced his beloved to marry him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(I am still a little stuck on the fact that he is even old enough to get engaged, let alone married. MARRIED. As in, a husband... whaaaaa? It seems like just yesterday we were moving him into his dorm at Tech.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have lots of pictures from their engagement, because we were there for it! Well, not the actual proposal- Matt wisely chose to keep that private and just between the two of them. But, we threw them an engagement party afterwards to celebrate!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(The banner says "She Said 'Yes!'" Thank you, Pinterest!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-4GMmRm3/0/M/DSC0481-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-4GMmRm3/0/M/DSC0481-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abby was totally jazzed up because she LOVES Becca. And parties. And people. She's a bit of an extrovert....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-rCjTBrJ/0/M/DSC0482-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-rCjTBrJ/0/M/DSC0482-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Aaaaaand aparently my mom was a bit jazzed up too...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-TC8663p/0/M/DSC0484-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-TC8663p/0/M/DSC0484-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-R7Tm8ZM/0/M/DSC0486-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-R7Tm8ZM/0/M/DSC0486-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-KRzVbcq/0/M/DSC0499-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-KRzVbcq/0/M/DSC0499-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So glad Meredith could come! She is a good friend of our family, a former student of mine, and now my co-worker! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-ScRnkVz/0/M/DSC0495-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-ScRnkVz/0/M/DSC0495-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abby waited very patiently for them to arrive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-QWTnNdM/0/M/DSC0502-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-QWTnNdM/0/M/DSC0502-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here they come here they come!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-RJthHJQ/0/M/DSC0520-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-RJthHJQ/0/M/DSC0520-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After visiting for a bit (and getting food! The food was amazing!), Matt and Becca shared the story of their engagement. He sent her on a scavenger hunt around Williamsburg to all of the places that hold special memories for them and their relationship. And he had a sweet note for her at each of the stops. Isn't that so sweet and creative?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-cz8v5pS/0/M/DSC0522-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-cz8v5pS/0/M/DSC0522-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are! The new and improved, ever growing Berlin family! Looking at this picture, it takes my breath away a little bit to realize how blessed we really are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this next series, I call "the faces of Charlie..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-PPhF6Bf/0/M/DSC0528-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-PPhF6Bf/0/M/DSC0528-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "I want a piece of cake right now!" face</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-kv6F7sz/0/M/DSC0529-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-kv6F7sz/0/M/DSC0529-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "I just had a piece of chocolate cake and I'm HYYYYYper!" face</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-WsjZRw3/0/M/DSC0530-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-WsjZRw3/0/M/DSC0530-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "seriously? You are cutting my off? I want more cake" face</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lastly, I had to include these two. Charlie parked herself in Dan's lap at one point and it was so sweet. She loves him. And, I think she reminds me of him a little? I wonder if she's going to be like him one day. Which would be fun since Abby is pretty much a carbon copy of me. And I happen to think the world of him. So it gives me hope that they will be great friends one day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-4zNdMx4/0/M/DSC0531-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-4zNdMx4/0/M/DSC0531-M.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-WnKwH89/0/M/DSC0534-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-03-MARCH/i-WnKwH89/0/M/DSC0534-M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are all so happy and excited for Matt and Becca. They are such a great match and compliment each other so well. They love the Lord and are committed to pursuing a Godly marriage that keeps Christ at the center. It has been a privilege to watch them start making some of their first big decisions together and really start living out what it looks like to take all of the advice, wisdom, and opinions of others, weigh them all, and make a wise and discerning choice about what is best for THEM, even if it's not necessarily what others would have chosen. And, I couldn't be happier about his choice for a bride. I can't wait to have Becca as a sister! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Congrats guys!! We love you!</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-81839153550319782812012-03-29T21:25:00.000-07:002012-03-29T21:25:17.981-07:00She said "yes"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">So many exciting things have been happening around here lately!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">First, this guy:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-297Rm2s/0/M/DSC0384-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-297Rm2s/0/M/DSC0384-M.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">convinced this girl: (the one in the middle..):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-tZKRrgF/0/M/DSC0388-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-tZKRrgF/0/M/DSC0388-M.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">to MARRY him!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Andy's brother Chris is getting hitched!!! This fall!! To one of the coolest, most laid-back, easy to talk to, creative, BEAUTIFUL girls ever. Seriously, we love Su and could not be happier. She and Chris are the perfect compliments of each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And I'm also pretty sure that out of everyone, Abby is the most excited about it. She's going to be a flower girl and will NOT stop talking about it. We even watched a youtube video of some flower girls the other day so she could learn the proper petal scattering technique- she is very concerned about doing it "just the right way."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">We are so happy for Christ, and so happy to have Su join the family this fall!!</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-43589573193955882022012-02-25T20:27:00.001-08:002012-02-25T20:29:48.053-08:00Abby's first crushThis post will <strike>probably</strike> TOTALLY embarrass Abby when she's <strike>16</strike> 8, but I HAVE to record this huge moment in her life.<br />
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Abby has her first crush. <br />
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It's really cute. One afternoon last week she came up to me while I was working on dinner in the kitchen and said, "Mommy, I want to marry Matthew. He is SOOOOO handsome."<br />
Then the other day while we were at the library, the girls were playing with some letter magnets on the wall. Abby turned to me and asked, "Mommy, how do you spell 'Matthew?'"<br />
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Ohboy, here we go. We are really in for it.<br />
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<i>I have to add, I asked her teacher, Mrs. Edwards, to point Matthew out to me and told her I thought Abby had a little crush on him. She told me that that made sense, because Abby and Matthew are the two "leaders" in their class, and naturally they gravitate towards each other. Haha. That just made me crack up, I don't know why. </i>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-16631856834609589892012-02-23T13:43:00.000-08:002012-02-23T13:43:32.834-08:00In other news...Also, in other news, Little Benson #3 is looking to make his/her debut in early August. I'm 16 weeks as of yesterday, just starting to feel the fog of early pregnancy beginning to lift (including the all day nausea and vomiting, praise God!!), heard the heartbeat again on Tuesday and just started feeling movement this week. There is nothing in the world like that. Even the third time around it hasn't gotten old, and it hasn't become any less amazing or miraculous. <br />
In fact, I think this one feels almost <i>more</i> miraculous to me. A lot of people I love have struggled or are struggling to get/stay pregnant right now. It's a hard, painful place to be. I feel more aware than ever that I have no control over the life and health of this child. That there is absolutely <i>nothing </i>I did to deserve this baby (or my other two amazing girls, for that matter). Sometimes it seems so unfair. And, I struggle with emotions that seem so conflicting- grief and deep sadness for my friends, guilt (why me and not them??), fear- there is so much that could still go wrong, hope (I felt a kick! Everything will be okay!), excitement and love for this new life inside of me. Sometimes I just don't know how to reconcile it all. But maybe that's not the point?<br />
So, most days, I just try to be thankful. To have gratitude. To learn <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/one-thousand-gifts-book/">the daily eucharisteo</a>. It's all from Him, anyways.Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-87187389716062716072012-02-23T11:05:00.000-08:002012-02-23T11:05:42.356-08:00So focused<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We take our art verrrrry seriously around here</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-7pHQLk6/0/L/DSC0369-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-7pHQLk6/0/L/DSC0369-L.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-HR7R7jP/0/L/DSC0365-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-HR7R7jP/0/L/DSC0365-L.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-2mPxnH9/0/L/DSC0367-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-2mPxnH9/0/L/DSC0367-L.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our silliness, too..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-dVZxbc8/0/L/DSC0371-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-dVZxbc8/0/L/DSC0371-L.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's all quite exhausting, really</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-CFLgxVQ/0/L/DSC0364-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-CFLgxVQ/0/L/DSC0364-L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-42562369746290039212012-02-23T10:55:00.001-08:002012-02-23T11:06:23.188-08:00Sneaky girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is her favorite thing to do lately:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drag a chair over to the counter and climb up,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-xmVJb39/0/L/DSC0461-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-xmVJb39/0/L/DSC0461-L.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Start eating whatever food has been left on the counter (in this instance, sprinkles from our Valentine's Cupcakes)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-gmQRpb3/0/L/DSC0462-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-gmQRpb3/0/L/DSC0462-L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get as many as she can before Mom notices...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-qFTmNGP/0/L/DSC0464-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-qFTmNGP/0/L/DSC0464-L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But who could deny this face?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-DX6whNP/0/L/DSC0465-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/2012-02-FEBRUARY/i-DX6whNP/0/L/DSC0465-L.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-49254056050627207782011-10-18T05:52:00.000-07:002011-10-18T05:52:26.129-07:00Closing Time!!!We close today on our house. Let the mayhem begin! The walk-through is at ten, and then we will zip over to the closing agent and sign about a zillion papers and then it will be all done! My mom is here this week to help with packing and watching the girls, cleaning the house, etc.... and I am SO thankful!!!<br />
Once the house is ours, we will start with the floors- sanding, staining, sealing; then the walls, and then our stuff. And one day at a time, this old and tired house we start to shine again.Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-4413554570674391422011-09-13T07:22:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:22:10.157-07:00What a ham!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/photos/i-x98jGTL/0/M/i-x98jGTL-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/photos/i-x98jGTL/0/M/i-x98jGTL-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It didn't take her long to realize this would get a reaction from us every time. She's quite a ham.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-42582700424236683122011-09-12T07:59:00.000-07:002011-09-12T07:59:53.946-07:00Big News...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have some big, awesome, life changing news....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We bought a house!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like, for real this time! As in, signed on the dotted line! It's ours! We close October 18th!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/1508-Versailles-Ave/i-bzTvMfk/0/M/DSC0860-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/1508-Versailles-Ave/i-bzTvMfk/0/M/DSC0860-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's old, it's tired, it needs a lot of love. A LOT. And paint. LOTS of paint (any volunteers??).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned in the final paperwork this morning, and drove away in this weird state of almost crying almost throwing up- I mean, this is probably the biggest decision we have ever made as a married couple. And it is DEFINITELY the most money we have ever spent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, we are excited. Excited to get to work and transform this old, tired, neglected house into a place of beauty, rest, welcome, and LIFE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, excited to spend early fall mornings out here, tucked under a blanket, with a cup of something warm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/1508-Versailles-Ave/i-sqpHwBG/0/M/DSC0857-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://andyjenny.smugmug.com/Family/1508-Versailles-Ave/i-sqpHwBG/0/M/DSC0857-M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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What? Did you think I was going to say we were expecting again? Come on! Give a girl a break!Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-35120344537204147072011-07-27T20:38:00.000-07:002011-07-27T20:38:30.924-07:00Hellllooooo!Sooooo, almost five (FIVE!!!) months ago I posted on Charlie's birthday. This is unacceptable! So much has happened since then!! I'm not feeling guilty for my silence- anyone with littles running around understands how much of a success it is just to have dinner on the table and clothes washed on a regular basis. But, I do feel sad since this little blog has been a sort of journal of the past 4 years of the Benson clan, and so many important things have gone undocumented! <br />
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That being said, I'm going to attempt to get a little caught up on what we've been up to the past few months. The next few posts will be oooooold news, so feel free to scroll through! They're mostly for my benefit (and the grandparents'), anyways!!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaoTxLuFHMxro8XUWO8v23QfUSTwVWIV-rEgjICi_-Jm7sMTlubxxyMt-qCfGTbqMCht1jidQBKyj-XqY_aLXsnM9Jt8Tb0hEDkU3_3AJ7azC6m88jNPKslH6fpR_aUOVagQkN2CJlrA/s1600/2011-05+MAY+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaoTxLuFHMxro8XUWO8v23QfUSTwVWIV-rEgjICi_-Jm7sMTlubxxyMt-qCfGTbqMCht1jidQBKyj-XqY_aLXsnM9Jt8Tb0hEDkU3_3AJ7azC6m88jNPKslH6fpR_aUOVagQkN2CJlrA/s320/2011-05+MAY+073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aHnAZHhCjvPPSvf0qASawT5js082L5C3iv1r_09NHVRPFazVCWO18wfnduk2orK1EomFF3qrXZkNmGsaYrD0UhTfww86bugQGKmVza8ptsgwVjPhHXbSLEGK0LXzaMnmyzhjGbRIvQ/s1600/2011-05+MAY+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aHnAZHhCjvPPSvf0qASawT5js082L5C3iv1r_09NHVRPFazVCWO18wfnduk2orK1EomFF3qrXZkNmGsaYrD0UhTfww86bugQGKmVza8ptsgwVjPhHXbSLEGK0LXzaMnmyzhjGbRIvQ/s320/2011-05+MAY+076.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So we did celebrate when Charlotte turned 1. We had some friends over for cake and partied down! Henry, Charlotte's future bf, turned one just a few weeks before, and his bday party got canceled due to the poor little buddy getting sick, so we honored him, too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiZ9SGErYnrpMrOM_nKaioWSb5qzpbiLzzvQCe1cD6INgp59ym9XgK_Bld7Ny7NlsnmFYWkPv6b5dpmJHVmc2uHV-qv34POzCsgqHuuw2B5h3HxHGIHSijh6eHS_8bAfjgO7o9cQauCk/s1600/2011-05+MAY+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiZ9SGErYnrpMrOM_nKaioWSb5qzpbiLzzvQCe1cD6INgp59ym9XgK_Bld7Ny7NlsnmFYWkPv6b5dpmJHVmc2uHV-qv34POzCsgqHuuw2B5h3HxHGIHSijh6eHS_8bAfjgO7o9cQauCk/s320/2011-05+MAY+053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0YWiADWgatLLIVg6-Ov2e_sOzA4g6_DDfEikvyeprUOJp8ayHkgb1OeUydsfsnP9Vfo0Qip7IGBysrzOMSOmNcoEi0jEmm5E5zSyrwDGiMxp3v0FeuaG9G6z1xYeyEDtZeinbmnfTfs/s1600/2011-05+MAY+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0YWiADWgatLLIVg6-Ov2e_sOzA4g6_DDfEikvyeprUOJp8ayHkgb1OeUydsfsnP9Vfo0Qip7IGBysrzOMSOmNcoEi0jEmm5E5zSyrwDGiMxp3v0FeuaG9G6z1xYeyEDtZeinbmnfTfs/s320/2011-05+MAY+078.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see, Abby was totally into the whole "party" thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ch-6VZmSj4B6SArxfEfh_G5FK0XdpdemkHh1VA-SHlR9QSwYv2JlLWd32jNYgi3TkQVyDVXMek1d3XNmQ9awl0XJJ2lsc0I2m-pl1CSbYNfVQ7jJNLUNjHkNKkgb5vwT6kHwFCKPlg/s1600/2011-05+MAY+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ch-6VZmSj4B6SArxfEfh_G5FK0XdpdemkHh1VA-SHlR9QSwYv2JlLWd32jNYgi3TkQVyDVXMek1d3XNmQ9awl0XJJ2lsc0I2m-pl1CSbYNfVQ7jJNLUNjHkNKkgb5vwT6kHwFCKPlg/s320/2011-05+MAY+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbli_YjYgvQGbt3kVjufNrVvtEyQZCEeSsmaDZOwz9Us9BFEjEbTbvebLMvkv_rHvVrHLoa8i1g5P5WMWS5G8h9rBdfdRHlSFDhZyStD8ugNpXAIJl8R2tlNCuW2-wdpUWBKs8F0SgAQ/s1600/2011-05+MAY+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbli_YjYgvQGbt3kVjufNrVvtEyQZCEeSsmaDZOwz9Us9BFEjEbTbvebLMvkv_rHvVrHLoa8i1g5P5WMWS5G8h9rBdfdRHlSFDhZyStD8ugNpXAIJl8R2tlNCuW2-wdpUWBKs8F0SgAQ/s320/2011-05+MAY+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph4yWzRoqmapkz8D48rEFC2IHvJieYJL5HJshiHM98eAoRSC0I1bFfA2pLX8mhH-4lVac89QN1jEIxhqO7xX3b9EG-AiMW58stttoLSM8DpfYKubNMjKopIQYIuPfswbjnqBMFHP0CXY/s1600/2011-05+MAY+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph4yWzRoqmapkz8D48rEFC2IHvJieYJL5HJshiHM98eAoRSC0I1bFfA2pLX8mhH-4lVac89QN1jEIxhqO7xX3b9EG-AiMW58stttoLSM8DpfYKubNMjKopIQYIuPfswbjnqBMFHP0CXY/s320/2011-05+MAY+057.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOPArJ5rm83TrhXfPN5sfzyoJzN5tosGgSlrF0oDlN8uC1tITfNr3ybT8wR7cEt7WO77N4koXdaSN_cqZZrLmYTn-MxqCc_wqvtVzJtWgpjQ3HZeVp0QPKkxbbiQhUi8rLgf7HVs00Pk/s1600/2011-05+MAY+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOPArJ5rm83TrhXfPN5sfzyoJzN5tosGgSlrF0oDlN8uC1tITfNr3ybT8wR7cEt7WO77N4koXdaSN_cqZZrLmYTn-MxqCc_wqvtVzJtWgpjQ3HZeVp0QPKkxbbiQhUi8rLgf7HVs00Pk/s320/2011-05+MAY+058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charlotte sort of picked at the cake for a while...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmef9PwXuHvjxl0Xoa_WyyHZS7yRhZRIIdplWsn1q5yw07D0MqVZs2TrQ1KM4m4e6ZdQrqf86Q2BoJl0fnIx_DF2go6Er1VO93M6E41XDaXVQsgYlE50hbxjaLv0s_j9lOb4fzVfMVyIs/s1600/2011-05+MAY+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmef9PwXuHvjxl0Xoa_WyyHZS7yRhZRIIdplWsn1q5yw07D0MqVZs2TrQ1KM4m4e6ZdQrqf86Q2BoJl0fnIx_DF2go6Er1VO93M6E41XDaXVQsgYlE50hbxjaLv0s_j9lOb4fzVfMVyIs/s320/2011-05+MAY+062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...before she grabbed it and started chowing down like it was a piece of corn on the cob!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpIgaF5EVsIIWYG318ndUuY4n8XTCzT-1a0955UpvlqpZApkrH31yLu70dcdiZjWwg-0A80csHa-rgZs2csGUsdgWwk0so7AX_BWt44yonAtoEQ28NnFL7PGwFkMie_FDmmEKbJSxQOE/s1600/2011-05+MAY+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpIgaF5EVsIIWYG318ndUuY4n8XTCzT-1a0955UpvlqpZApkrH31yLu70dcdiZjWwg-0A80csHa-rgZs2csGUsdgWwk0so7AX_BWt44yonAtoEQ28NnFL7PGwFkMie_FDmmEKbJSxQOE/s320/2011-05+MAY+067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukekrh9dlt7SN5Bv_oYq7NCXZv7CUGh8DBc3WKZLvyKzZt4Xv7HbVgYNbb-p0AgNk3smYBuhyc3M-5tInrY1VvN4eUOZQWJ8KG98Ehpg-CsyRLdGOF5iNyxzUUh4ChjQnIT77s113J1o/s1600/2011-05+MAY+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukekrh9dlt7SN5Bv_oYq7NCXZv7CUGh8DBc3WKZLvyKzZt4Xv7HbVgYNbb-p0AgNk3smYBuhyc3M-5tInrY1VvN4eUOZQWJ8KG98Ehpg-CsyRLdGOF5iNyxzUUh4ChjQnIT77s113J1o/s320/2011-05+MAY+066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It was so much fun celebrating her, our sweet, hilarious, cuddly, adventurous little girl!<br />
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</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-42865507196623738732011-03-11T21:44:00.000-08:002011-03-11T21:44:51.440-08:00One yearMy favorite part of the hospital stay after having a baby is that first evening. Visitors have gone home, the bustle of the maternity ward has settled a bit, lights are turned down, the nurses come in slowly and quietly and leave quickly, Mommy is (hopefully) showered and changed into comfy pj's, baby is swaddled and sleeping. Finally, FINALLY, I get her all to myself.<br />
I remember that first night with Charlotte like it was just last night. I remember what it was like to look into the hospital bassinet and see her sleeping so soundly, belly full. I remember looking at her with wonder at who this new little one was going to become. I remember scooping her up, climbing into bed, and just holding her close. Smelling her sweet baby skin. Heart full, so in love. Nothing needing to get done but enjoy her, know her, love her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcIhQ9Ojz3tVX5_M6AjUOR84gARiPUXPS3Q1gb1xrVzJgIhLVa95aZasNTHYf1s9ZBxnMjQKJChgDAYPgAJnKtnR99OSayUubq9reJvn7hhQKmg7c4yxZIXiD2oWr6s7dC6LC-AH83TI/s1600/Charlotte+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcIhQ9Ojz3tVX5_M6AjUOR84gARiPUXPS3Q1gb1xrVzJgIhLVa95aZasNTHYf1s9ZBxnMjQKJChgDAYPgAJnKtnR99OSayUubq9reJvn7hhQKmg7c4yxZIXiD2oWr6s7dC6LC-AH83TI/s320/Charlotte+hospital.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Happy Birthday sweet one. How we have enjoyed you this past year! And OH, the joys that are to come!Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-34898489319624816662011-03-11T20:01:00.000-08:002011-03-11T20:01:35.720-08:00This is not a KeurigThis evening as I was straightening up the kitchen, I noticed something new on the counter.<br />
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Me: Andy, what is this?<br />
Andy: Oh, that's that one-cup coffee maker you said you wanted.<br />
Me: What? When did I say that?<br />
Andy: A few weeks ago, when I said that I didn't need the one-cup coffee maker at my office anymore, you said you wanted it.<br />
Me: You mean, this coffee maker that is just like the one we already have on our counter, it just holds less water and fewer grounds and therefore a smaller cup of coffee...?<br />
Andy: Well, you loved the Weymouth's Keurig so much, and it's basically the same thing- see, you don't even need a filter!<br />
Me: But you still have to add water and grounds...<br />
Andy: yeah...<br />
Me: And you have to clean it out after each use..<br />
Andy: yeah...<br />
Me: And we would just stick it on the counter right next to our other, bigger, holds-enough-coffee-I-can-brew-one-pot-for-my-morning-AND-afternoon-fix-coffee maker?<br />
Andy: yeah...<br />
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Me: This is not a Keurig.<br />
Andy: No, guess not. <br />
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<i>(And for the record, I have absoluetely NO memory of any sort of conversation asking for this coffee maker... hahaha.)</i>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-69395768463164890402011-03-02T17:57:00.000-08:002011-03-02T17:57:32.912-08:00repentance and faithIf you are a mom, and you ever struggle with anger and repenting before your children, you should read this post.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theologyforwomen.org/2011/02/repenting-with-my-children.html">repenting with my children</a><br />
<br />
This is my favorite quote from the article: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">I went to bed with a renewed confidence in God's ability to redeem the worst of what's in me and instead of ruining my kids with it (which is a life long fear of mine), actually use it for all of our good to transform us into His image. Thy Kingdom come, O Lord."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><br />
It really spoke to me today, to exactly where I am right now in my mothering. <br />
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I have heard it said so many times that all of life is a cycle of faith and repentance. Faith, repentance, faith, repentance, faith.... It is the same with mothering. All of my days look like this- sin against my children (at this point, Abby), repent, receive her forgiveness, sin again, repent, forgiveness... and it can all get so, so discouraging at times. But God is so, so faithful, and is redeeming this mess of a mother, and is bringing forth so much fruit even in the middle of desert places. I am humbled and thankful for His work. Without His grace, this family would be doomed. Really, I mean that. Without His grace I know my children would grow up to resent me, or fear me, or... I don't know what! But somehow, he brings beauty out of even our ugliest of days, and he is knitting us together. Oh how I need Him! Thy Kingdom come, O Lord!Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-81429197555947359202011-02-24T13:30:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:30:45.339-08:00And this girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This girl?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSN0loWmPhKi4ArAd5NgTCZbWAJni9UYHMd45ddHLNplTPk_wjjYMYPOP_b9-q8YHocCMZFXKKD9UrUllWoaPWag7nJXCIraQuU6jvf-y2Kzb9PIjO7UR3kKQ2evgJKc0NOT-w_D68cg/s1600/ab8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSN0loWmPhKi4ArAd5NgTCZbWAJni9UYHMd45ddHLNplTPk_wjjYMYPOP_b9-q8YHocCMZFXKKD9UrUllWoaPWag7nJXCIraQuU6jvf-y2Kzb9PIjO7UR3kKQ2evgJKc0NOT-w_D68cg/s320/ab8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">She's growing more beautiful every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyO5NPLqZPvnH767CRPuEhDmxKB5pZ3Rs2KpKqtcX0wQjl3_zieXkTeIdj_dI0u0uPWmZ9e7zDSZF5dcFS4sFDRSZpuflqFIxp0AOtCJt8Efcz77alj6kxnjSk4NdJOn3SfA08qBZd8I/s1600/ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyO5NPLqZPvnH767CRPuEhDmxKB5pZ3Rs2KpKqtcX0wQjl3_zieXkTeIdj_dI0u0uPWmZ9e7zDSZF5dcFS4sFDRSZpuflqFIxp0AOtCJt8Efcz77alj6kxnjSk4NdJOn3SfA08qBZd8I/s320/ab.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Inside and out. </div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1it8qKKZtPNrIAg9EE0k9B9VcUdPokRdL0TDo8V6Ttb3tjFTCCQUOsbnD_mjULOCUszoADP1_1lH4VCjzs4MfKRPW4vs3Y3BK_oiG-SK5gQ_3susmA58-iYRVss0uOoeNguA6g6AdrE/s1600/ab5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1it8qKKZtPNrIAg9EE0k9B9VcUdPokRdL0TDo8V6Ttb3tjFTCCQUOsbnD_mjULOCUszoADP1_1lH4VCjzs4MfKRPW4vs3Y3BK_oiG-SK5gQ_3susmA58-iYRVss0uOoeNguA6g6AdrE/s320/ab5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> I can hardly stand it, she is growing up way too fast, right before my eyes. </div></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQA_nmdIFp5c5Cuz4aU3iHZsDKzKg_Q4-D7NxXmcFUK2cWqHlxbdLNssyb6E7Sa8DHACGmxcfOkDVNBvnCoGzk1sW0IBTLv7qLMsOAGnRo4vD5KhtfFEGy1_IjRe4x7lrFDttowS8IDk/s1600/ab7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQA_nmdIFp5c5Cuz4aU3iHZsDKzKg_Q4-D7NxXmcFUK2cWqHlxbdLNssyb6E7Sa8DHACGmxcfOkDVNBvnCoGzk1sW0IBTLv7qLMsOAGnRo4vD5KhtfFEGy1_IjRe4x7lrFDttowS8IDk/s320/ab7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Oh, that I could keep her my little girl forever!</div><br />
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</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-81240187666762930972011-02-24T13:13:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:13:58.087-08:00Sweet Charlie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This girl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYtZancYw0iveMC85I3by3OGpXoD7nZecOCvIlNgOBgctVvdNbdEUvTBtzzQHbGNN_0NlldpWftjPMvXX-mB60E6T2_ROS33haS25m7qJ8MRDZgMJIGkZGiG0bpT-KjyMi7fwdHlyx5c/s1600/c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYtZancYw0iveMC85I3by3OGpXoD7nZecOCvIlNgOBgctVvdNbdEUvTBtzzQHbGNN_0NlldpWftjPMvXX-mB60E6T2_ROS33haS25m7qJ8MRDZgMJIGkZGiG0bpT-KjyMi7fwdHlyx5c/s320/c5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has stolen my heart</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk1Weet3ooMAhcXwIcDYRn14vLDNcS6N1emkOzu7PKdTMPvT1kjkFN7mIJKJGE90wtYAOmw4Fl98ACGBsXwBpGe6HODTdhKSye5O_MdHtmqqBxIblEs5IMUyXwJlAX-SBt7CpCIAIIU8/s1600/c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk1Weet3ooMAhcXwIcDYRn14vLDNcS6N1emkOzu7PKdTMPvT1kjkFN7mIJKJGE90wtYAOmw4Fl98ACGBsXwBpGe6HODTdhKSye5O_MdHtmqqBxIblEs5IMUyXwJlAX-SBt7CpCIAIIU8/s320/c2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has filled our home with so much laughter</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7OoRM0_OiupH6OzgqYZ7OLgMtmpRe5HUsRBxPhqORmwj9El9FRkDYycKC-jqdDJB2qvfZuZ28x3J8PWuHkyINK-daIGj66cb7ZnE-0ilUjeCmzyUlT90pJG6IKTXQUxhFL8GUA3iUpM/s1600/c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7OoRM0_OiupH6OzgqYZ7OLgMtmpRe5HUsRBxPhqORmwj9El9FRkDYycKC-jqdDJB2qvfZuZ28x3J8PWuHkyINK-daIGj66cb7ZnE-0ilUjeCmzyUlT90pJG6IKTXQUxhFL8GUA3iUpM/s320/c3.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has made our family so much fuller</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix57Nc13vxTiEA34muypJ6-fUw68ZiVDpzkWDB3rExwOH-rsAet_MJE5Y4-QQnknhLVhUOj4LwiTg_7r-mA1bI05-my9d-9fLviPusN1EJXvdkk4XyYCzyQcpMFI6MVKl-fyk8-7I6cCE/s1600/charlie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix57Nc13vxTiEA34muypJ6-fUw68ZiVDpzkWDB3rExwOH-rsAet_MJE5Y4-QQnknhLVhUOj4LwiTg_7r-mA1bI05-my9d-9fLviPusN1EJXvdkk4XyYCzyQcpMFI6MVKl-fyk8-7I6cCE/s320/charlie1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has wooed us with her smile</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYOwRiU082H-TpdOH8ArlDTmazYrEu7AVSdIytdM7UQZOT7wWyvNuKLNlvJZMtTOCyGIcjss4vRC3M7rB9RT_qRPYojKD7UnQ46_gjZKPoWT2i7qZVxudfXZ5fSVRl3eSbVvWPJJ_D1c/s1600/c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYOwRiU082H-TpdOH8ArlDTmazYrEu7AVSdIytdM7UQZOT7wWyvNuKLNlvJZMtTOCyGIcjss4vRC3M7rB9RT_qRPYojKD7UnQ46_gjZKPoWT2i7qZVxudfXZ5fSVRl3eSbVvWPJJ_D1c/s320/c4.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has won us over with her sweet demeanor</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IKFcIJ1npnAst4JeCnVw8dyeinjt9TbctYxrY8Pf48apnf4wFz8VOqd5_nnwjADlMwiI1wnTfM0HfRcMjYBtZ7dF5t2IG1Zp4wvEZ6vCbZsXqgJrvncKRCMk6XY0aORekMXUJQvqo44/s1600/c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IKFcIJ1npnAst4JeCnVw8dyeinjt9TbctYxrY8Pf48apnf4wFz8VOqd5_nnwjADlMwiI1wnTfM0HfRcMjYBtZ7dF5t2IG1Zp4wvEZ6vCbZsXqgJrvncKRCMk6XY0aORekMXUJQvqo44/s320/c6.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has captured us all!</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-29679403420622164552011-02-17T12:32:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:32:18.610-08:00AbbyismsIn an effort to get back into the habit of writing more regularly around here, I thought I would break my two month silence with a quote from the three-year-old. <br />
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We were playing around with paper towels and water tinted with food coloring this morning (way less messy than it sounds, I promise!), and after about an half an hour Abby's hands had a few spots of color on them.<br />
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Me: "Abby, we need to wash your hands, you have dye all over them"<br />
Abby: "they died? on the cross?"<br />
me: "no, what? no, <i>Jesus</i> died on the cross, and your hands have <i>dye</i> on them, see all the colors? That's called 'dye,' but not like when someone or something 'dies.'"<br />
Abby: "Oh. my hands died. And Jesus has colors on dem."<br />
me: "Ummmm, no. what??"<br />
<br />
How do you explain the difference between "dye" and "die" to a three-year-old?Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-63299320291000748712010-11-27T18:16:00.001-08:002010-11-27T18:16:23.924-08:00Happy #3 Abby!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUHmLDuFwyZqrX83E_RlbxR5qDJvnsqVCHo6xTYJ_KKE8Hfu6vIY-vW4pMTLx5vnUEkMntyfvHm9VJLctSNbNBLoQOW5jTPY8Qmsdw9-jNylbJLnVozhmSYbSCmtPPETv_1HWN4v-aaA/s1600/2010-11+NOV+586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUHmLDuFwyZqrX83E_RlbxR5qDJvnsqVCHo6xTYJ_KKE8Hfu6vIY-vW4pMTLx5vnUEkMntyfvHm9VJLctSNbNBLoQOW5jTPY8Qmsdw9-jNylbJLnVozhmSYbSCmtPPETv_1HWN4v-aaA/s320/2010-11+NOV+586.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Abby got to pick what she wanted for dinner the night of her actual birthday. She picked chicken nuggets, fries, and mac and cheese. Go figure. So I made her homemade chicken nuggets and fries. She took one bite and said, "these aren't Chick-fil-A!!" Haha, oh, well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUHmLDuFwyZqrX83E_RlbxR5qDJvnsqVCHo6xTYJ_KKE8Hfu6vIY-vW4pMTLx5vnUEkMntyfvHm9VJLctSNbNBLoQOW5jTPY8Qmsdw9-jNylbJLnVozhmSYbSCmtPPETv_1HWN4v-aaA/s1600/2010-11+NOV+586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We celebrated Abby's birthday with a little party with some family and friends at our house last weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Kafqn9TwGFcEAdKxbX0mkG9SeHogtG_Whhq9WNEUVQcvaQhwqn0FOax0xavXHafP4K8Pa_pnYanF6Dwx01AHWz_B2NdpxHgD3XYKhADBIFN_YtArGL2Azdz9tHb-2ci5uwYsAMNDE-I/s400/2010-11+NOV+590.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDvrQ0de-cmeq8T2ItUqqaNVIWUPUHWQ7tCiKDUqHL3paMZ7E37gqaOi2tXI8Wv399h4XTmlnScvJ0THNTcq_4ou5SMzNV9XOiJHYWR9-W0xBDNeC7zguKWcXX5m5vnbEsjQWtT19lu8/s1600/2010-11+NOV+589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDvrQ0de-cmeq8T2ItUqqaNVIWUPUHWQ7tCiKDUqHL3paMZ7E37gqaOi2tXI8Wv399h4XTmlnScvJ0THNTcq_4ou5SMzNV9XOiJHYWR9-W0xBDNeC7zguKWcXX5m5vnbEsjQWtT19lu8/s320/2010-11+NOV+589.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw0mpH6l8SH4EJyolDe2fWbIqm3UjAM06dD1lzDQaHh-XnpaIO2rlWU3yxdGZmpkfDUpxwPOwSLsm5hL0IBQPO8xYvdoPkopM63iYg13zrZ3qGNyypXY3KYgOSe2PBfxKojBOAHZVxTE/s1600/2010-11+NOV+592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw0mpH6l8SH4EJyolDe2fWbIqm3UjAM06dD1lzDQaHh-XnpaIO2rlWU3yxdGZmpkfDUpxwPOwSLsm5hL0IBQPO8xYvdoPkopM63iYg13zrZ3qGNyypXY3KYgOSe2PBfxKojBOAHZVxTE/s320/2010-11+NOV+592.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, her only request was "PINK!!" </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjledOnbxFZ2qFsw5fWKhYMr64igzf_7vcDTLFoPbcYAzOaupNm2oHFtiEG5gLoeOqFwoOXddwR0GObMHkqUfZHOoiyD668WEJndA7ninlzIzoZuye-rx4AzGDymjntdsWSbOE1cuNAHc/s1600/2010-11+NOV+594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjledOnbxFZ2qFsw5fWKhYMr64igzf_7vcDTLFoPbcYAzOaupNm2oHFtiEG5gLoeOqFwoOXddwR0GObMHkqUfZHOoiyD668WEJndA7ninlzIzoZuye-rx4AzGDymjntdsWSbOE1cuNAHc/s320/2010-11+NOV+594.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The kiddos played a few rounds of musical "chairs."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WJSDzRIx9j1cH858B131NkXpI9Pw3NWbbY49Ad0UEVt6ADYBerljSgchqMvVYdSdPIGUhq243ZMHFtfFv9CeyWgf6fWCSIkaAx4pzOucc_R3-4sObetR_nJfEJSTN39z2aaEYI5SEy4/s1600/2010-11+NOV+597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WJSDzRIx9j1cH858B131NkXpI9Pw3NWbbY49Ad0UEVt6ADYBerljSgchqMvVYdSdPIGUhq243ZMHFtfFv9CeyWgf6fWCSIkaAx4pzOucc_R3-4sObetR_nJfEJSTN39z2aaEYI5SEy4/s320/2010-11+NOV+597.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZlXAnGU9-LtvDvEAm_e9e2xDxzeUYO_1Uiu0oFs-DWrK8R9g_d52vcPO2gYeYCLRz-PVPgTyCkjKKsaUQ-iApNwZETUMWe9IlyC2rJOlUL4WiUY2mXo48481iM5LYY4OeHUimCGK9zc/s1600/2010-11+NOV+598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZlXAnGU9-LtvDvEAm_e9e2xDxzeUYO_1Uiu0oFs-DWrK8R9g_d52vcPO2gYeYCLRz-PVPgTyCkjKKsaUQ-iApNwZETUMWe9IlyC2rJOlUL4WiUY2mXo48481iM5LYY4OeHUimCGK9zc/s320/2010-11+NOV+598.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">And then we had a dance party, of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-G0BZFZaNyif-bZLmaQFPm0aPMLg7Rtg3jg0Cw7XbdJ_PIiBrpKS9pBnlxin4WSxs3ANKj8752Ommbta8syCIFldAxouBOQMelaBP74TwtRCjFkt6WzENNcRFv6NtSU0j1P2I2_wFDg/s1600/2010-11+NOV+605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-G0BZFZaNyif-bZLmaQFPm0aPMLg7Rtg3jg0Cw7XbdJ_PIiBrpKS9pBnlxin4WSxs3ANKj8752Ommbta8syCIFldAxouBOQMelaBP74TwtRCjFkt6WzENNcRFv6NtSU0j1P2I2_wFDg/s320/2010-11+NOV+605.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCw7uSxA0XkmHMiVBIqs-1ZW-lf4bM9blZWKViZqLfNrkjlnXbA15R9SHQ_kNMd217zBpz_VBimQmPEQa_-F8XWb7HLhr1o6Bu03FuMqJb12eWctr7G66cog-BQLyTFGuXLPaufGgoAY/s1600/2010-11+NOV+611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCw7uSxA0XkmHMiVBIqs-1ZW-lf4bM9blZWKViZqLfNrkjlnXbA15R9SHQ_kNMd217zBpz_VBimQmPEQa_-F8XWb7HLhr1o6Bu03FuMqJb12eWctr7G66cog-BQLyTFGuXLPaufGgoAY/s320/2010-11+NOV+611.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo6UWrEQAHwHQw2HRGKpZudYeBMSIxBXvwsUtd_0XkLAeJUKUchZR93sXyFZyCggfQjnOSLWk8BWgj37vbfMDjnA1HJgnyy-ZAkNuZuRlC75v5gmKlWzNL0x6VBFsSFvXeeNvxIPaPkw/s1600/2010-11+NOV+613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo6UWrEQAHwHQw2HRGKpZudYeBMSIxBXvwsUtd_0XkLAeJUKUchZR93sXyFZyCggfQjnOSLWk8BWgj37vbfMDjnA1HJgnyy-ZAkNuZuRlC75v5gmKlWzNL0x6VBFsSFvXeeNvxIPaPkw/s320/2010-11+NOV+613.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Abby and her buddy Campbell</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnYRkDkj1qcEkbGXWr24bfzlU6KYj-bBEwJH0SV5rlUxXYLNzwKbr0v0VMEsjM1ca1FNc-siEA0dagaLGytcoMEfdlqGsnMRliYC5ysVN_QrOhIsxGnkfS63ljp1e2eR7qqtpbuFReDs/s1600/2010-11+NOV+615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnYRkDkj1qcEkbGXWr24bfzlU6KYj-bBEwJH0SV5rlUxXYLNzwKbr0v0VMEsjM1ca1FNc-siEA0dagaLGytcoMEfdlqGsnMRliYC5ysVN_QrOhIsxGnkfS63ljp1e2eR7qqtpbuFReDs/s320/2010-11+NOV+615.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F3zNQYcwz72r9o4URdhmAL5pZmYRBw0x5SPZkhY_IgLxsQO6ydVAqClq98dwXBNmz3XeS_wsDIA6aJn-_DwWWAQKzx0E_R5qpArNAa79CrbSBlM0xarfJ3EFmFOKapl9W7I-RrWhQXo/s1600/2010-11+NOV+616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F3zNQYcwz72r9o4URdhmAL5pZmYRBw0x5SPZkhY_IgLxsQO6ydVAqClq98dwXBNmz3XeS_wsDIA6aJn-_DwWWAQKzx0E_R5qpArNAa79CrbSBlM0xarfJ3EFmFOKapl9W7I-RrWhQXo/s320/2010-11+NOV+616.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Sweet Catherine and Elliott</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzomDB9TPclo3-6jKA95Mi8LDuX6PunOBkdHPyRl9dHoVSbvTyrhYFrw_tImlR5adWY4kV7GxTKPiH4CWKKwRQb94G84eE_uYafiZjx_e7NKllenandymecTJJNp2E6GbFimXGcSHbO4/s1600/2010-11+NOV+617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzomDB9TPclo3-6jKA95Mi8LDuX6PunOBkdHPyRl9dHoVSbvTyrhYFrw_tImlR5adWY4kV7GxTKPiH4CWKKwRQb94G84eE_uYafiZjx_e7NKllenandymecTJJNp2E6GbFimXGcSHbO4/s320/2010-11+NOV+617.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Charlie got lots of love from Aunt Katie</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98gEeaevsFz4flTd7zI_5wtN82H1JezsRs4srKmQR_zf2DinYGf7Vy9fcj_pyIZHf3pHOVETK4y8UMatB3UY2xLplW5wbwfA2jZZhU2sbQ135u1l2UlIYmbSyVDTpxGNaDQkhazTyNLc/s1600/2010-11+NOV+623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98gEeaevsFz4flTd7zI_5wtN82H1JezsRs4srKmQR_zf2DinYGf7Vy9fcj_pyIZHf3pHOVETK4y8UMatB3UY2xLplW5wbwfA2jZZhU2sbQ135u1l2UlIYmbSyVDTpxGNaDQkhazTyNLc/s320/2010-11+NOV+623.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">And of course, we had to have a pinata!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpc60vBUmHXN81EGU4n8dCa8ZV1Z80bY0NRvSJR0ANUw1wegvsWq3pzQhtbJyqSmRQlO6S_kfRWe5IYSkSfuc2Ga3WZsFmYQqPIBC-iAYx7-CSCB-G9hpCfZpeI0_AMv8n30-gqbbHoI/s1600/2010-11+NOV+624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpc60vBUmHXN81EGU4n8dCa8ZV1Z80bY0NRvSJR0ANUw1wegvsWq3pzQhtbJyqSmRQlO6S_kfRWe5IYSkSfuc2Ga3WZsFmYQqPIBC-iAYx7-CSCB-G9hpCfZpeI0_AMv8n30-gqbbHoI/s320/2010-11+NOV+624.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Opening lots of presents- she got so many fun things!! Thanks everyone!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> Oh, Abby, what fun you are!! How fun it is to celebrate you! I know this next year is going to be filled with as much fun and wonder as the last year has been!</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-83955588727909382352010-11-24T19:32:00.000-08:002010-11-24T19:32:02.087-08:00Looking back: October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally, for all of our fans out there, a peek into what we have been up to lately!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">October was a FULL month for us this year. We were living at Andy's parents for a good bit of it, moved into our new house mid-month, celebrated three birthdays, celebrated Halloween, and enjoyed school and friends in between. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidjHEqalRHZwPK90e50-2iBWn203HsrrvNBwilYusD8h2sXxL1iWn8hXqqrOL2RC3apbFkZSF-hkb377m2GAiHvwDPAOk7WgjoC5KNEOTFvmaPEzSRQIkUuEru6dd93cLNE7CSd9gXOY/s1600/2010-11+NOV+341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidjHEqalRHZwPK90e50-2iBWn203HsrrvNBwilYusD8h2sXxL1iWn8hXqqrOL2RC3apbFkZSF-hkb377m2GAiHvwDPAOk7WgjoC5KNEOTFvmaPEzSRQIkUuEru6dd93cLNE7CSd9gXOY/s320/2010-11+NOV+341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y7VptSXsCfbt9lJnTye8WUWb1jphHG-9_QstwVxBYkmmKJFuAuVgC_VVS-sEODIXPbQ6JOmvz0dUDb8hRt9aRq5f4oI_mxCfdnPc7mE1SfEpn-jRBOIEbq6VZiY23UwEfGPDc9tE3FU/s1600/2010-11+NOV+343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y7VptSXsCfbt9lJnTye8WUWb1jphHG-9_QstwVxBYkmmKJFuAuVgC_VVS-sEODIXPbQ6JOmvz0dUDb8hRt9aRq5f4oI_mxCfdnPc7mE1SfEpn-jRBOIEbq6VZiY23UwEfGPDc9tE3FU/s320/2010-11+NOV+343.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Abby's hair is finally long enough and she is finally able to sit still long enough for me to do fun things with it. I have put her hair into braids like these several times for school. Doesn't she look like such a big girl??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5eius1r1js9FAG36CWfffsjar68v-eR40hUfoOfEdBW-KULBV6CijhXnCa0ywJwjmMYXHOWGRPe2BGjodbFePXJuAGyO6O87xk_chjwawsW58eEdqLXCa0yqthFJb8gfqCrWH29B3wk/s1600/2010-11+NOV+386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5eius1r1js9FAG36CWfffsjar68v-eR40hUfoOfEdBW-KULBV6CijhXnCa0ywJwjmMYXHOWGRPe2BGjodbFePXJuAGyO6O87xk_chjwawsW58eEdqLXCa0yqthFJb8gfqCrWH29B3wk/s320/2010-11+NOV+386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And my Charlie- look at this girl! She is growing up so fast. She has such a sweet disposition, she has this smile that will just make you melt.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyiwn6kgboIopDWY5buE6l1vBIJuGgNBoVY0bHeMcb_jdVdeH4iDcXQY1FYoxsZO7JfckjY_GrYLIwOgy1mb4GqGhiWoJIrzypA5zatOP0JM8Wrbj-jrBOZG-9AXO2vmdXWtu6-yPaNc/s1600/2010-11+NOV+392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyiwn6kgboIopDWY5buE6l1vBIJuGgNBoVY0bHeMcb_jdVdeH4iDcXQY1FYoxsZO7JfckjY_GrYLIwOgy1mb4GqGhiWoJIrzypA5zatOP0JM8Wrbj-jrBOZG-9AXO2vmdXWtu6-yPaNc/s320/2010-11+NOV+392.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I put a movie on while I was getting dinner started the other day. Charlie was playing with some of her toys on the floor. Abby wanted to sit next to her, so she pulled a chair up right next to her and plopped down. They sat like this for a good half an hour. So cute!!<br />
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We celebrated Andy's birthday out on our screened in porch. It was a bit chilly but it was fun to enjoy eating outside.<br />
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Abby chose to be Tinkerbell for Halloween, so I made this costume for her. Do you see this face?? She likes to pose for me.<br />
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She had a party in her class and Charlotte and I went to hangout for the morning. It was so fun to watch her interact with all her little buddies. And they were all so cute!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAKFzKSWa5o7APCrToojwIVT65FYlFdsBYVQAZs-1OwhiqIBs2NRR9d_fj_UjgYer_5CHdxsaeDOkmjraygMau3dTCv9rQdF1PjkM6HjvzTWQ5Cd-8KjdNnCsnixVOlw9yofD8ILFmSQ/s1600/2010-11+NOV+412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAKFzKSWa5o7APCrToojwIVT65FYlFdsBYVQAZs-1OwhiqIBs2NRR9d_fj_UjgYer_5CHdxsaeDOkmjraygMau3dTCv9rQdF1PjkM6HjvzTWQ5Cd-8KjdNnCsnixVOlw9yofD8ILFmSQ/s320/2010-11+NOV+412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2pJz5QKfIfk4MYJTVsJBFvsYZayBrZwOcclA8LFGmFMXmn1Jrak7wj0YvKNIAzKddtz57Bg-YiS_sNf9L1C4ftLy3fwwJQjF90F1zinH_gKQrjx5ObiEjADrq_WppCcRmtzbHWwj6C8/s1600/2010-11+NOV+414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2pJz5QKfIfk4MYJTVsJBFvsYZayBrZwOcclA8LFGmFMXmn1Jrak7wj0YvKNIAzKddtz57Bg-YiS_sNf9L1C4ftLy3fwwJQjF90F1zinH_gKQrjx5ObiEjADrq_WppCcRmtzbHWwj6C8/s320/2010-11+NOV+414.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>This is Abby and her buddy Campbell. These two have the sweetest little friendship. They LOVE each other. In fact, they love each other so much that they will hug each other so hard that they fall over in a heap of giggles. I am so glad that they have each other!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01UQjID5QPejZu6bXb_BA9qkQIieRQ9qw5j2cLYCrIhk5ySJjg1P5nu3ND4rC9VnAgxO5g9xmPybNsf35EAf3cPfvd_Q6-6q2eDU8WCYWi_MKTuElBPOXdgExNS6MlLrTy0eiv4qzhS4/s1600/2010-11+NOV+435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01UQjID5QPejZu6bXb_BA9qkQIieRQ9qw5j2cLYCrIhk5ySJjg1P5nu3ND4rC9VnAgxO5g9xmPybNsf35EAf3cPfvd_Q6-6q2eDU8WCYWi_MKTuElBPOXdgExNS6MlLrTy0eiv4qzhS4/s320/2010-11+NOV+435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Abby at her desk. LOVE love love.</div></div><div><br />
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We went to Hunt Club Farm to pick pumpkins the weekend before Halloween. They have a petting zoo there and Abby really enjoyed walking around looking at all the animals.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80ieUX4HMHdScJsu2ZfFEvNFvoYbin6n4uG5jOxJtwN9abi0B8boZA33LRL0nSaQ9jWLRmdRF8ck1Cr6Jok6ewWgvrkSN_-7k4gie3Qy4igl7oWwAkGqWBTWoQ1dHB5u_43a0-TEm7WI/s1600/2010-11+NOV+450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80ieUX4HMHdScJsu2ZfFEvNFvoYbin6n4uG5jOxJtwN9abi0B8boZA33LRL0nSaQ9jWLRmdRF8ck1Cr6Jok6ewWgvrkSN_-7k4gie3Qy4igl7oWwAkGqWBTWoQ1dHB5u_43a0-TEm7WI/s320/2010-11+NOV+450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love this face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZaRUNXWkF3YgBSHUgRkC2tzOxrJd0Hhq0UxUMveGpaej0PB_R8Gao3zLB8VBQJiLkLe9K9sN8XW9sKeQybD3mFqcqlOSLOFWVHKv2XNOfpHWks6bxjPfCK0AIQdJx4icpTYDMpyEcuw/s1600/2010-11+NOV+456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZaRUNXWkF3YgBSHUgRkC2tzOxrJd0Hhq0UxUMveGpaej0PB_R8Gao3zLB8VBQJiLkLe9K9sN8XW9sKeQybD3mFqcqlOSLOFWVHKv2XNOfpHWks6bxjPfCK0AIQdJx4icpTYDMpyEcuw/s320/2010-11+NOV+456.jpg" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7geJBxJMqiQoyuAvcTFqPMZPbuCVE87ZLE7aQQeilHmeFKluJSlZLwzLNFGR7PDlm2_OCSBcjMF6VLVCzXC0KopJuGhYYIDNODrbaRv0jFLsqsyacP5ezUWnfDxC1FKVSvR5Xysu_i4/s1600/DSC_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7geJBxJMqiQoyuAvcTFqPMZPbuCVE87ZLE7aQQeilHmeFKluJSlZLwzLNFGR7PDlm2_OCSBcjMF6VLVCzXC0KopJuGhYYIDNODrbaRv0jFLsqsyacP5ezUWnfDxC1FKVSvR5Xysu_i4/s320/DSC_0386.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look how much Abby has grown!! I love this picture of her from last year (on the bottom). It's amazing to me how much she has changed in just a year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lE9ueMNY0m8sF8Pdx627W-FPhupiIhmaJ_OIYZrvL74Rnj5B9RizkNGkqiPqXtZjMH419QK_XSHs2siq1eM4RRMQZzUq3KTkOmb1X9_fxhbknTmY5EkxVNnpiurzIiuuS2tdjzkdkNk/s1600/2010-11+NOV+470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lE9ueMNY0m8sF8Pdx627W-FPhupiIhmaJ_OIYZrvL74Rnj5B9RizkNGkqiPqXtZjMH419QK_XSHs2siq1eM4RRMQZzUq3KTkOmb1X9_fxhbknTmY5EkxVNnpiurzIiuuS2tdjzkdkNk/s320/2010-11+NOV+470.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My sweet little pumpkins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for Trick-Or-Treating </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif0BJORrJ6ddi3YwEbMQmFYHwV3ZfYx7u04lpFsWcK6uLJLVIlR5JFGnW89CG_Dp3hA8FaWHh34oVWU8PS00mWgtKFmHV9AXFdR3_ZSjWfmsE8ktxqm72osjSaf0jxEXmeAzlkAEBWCI/s1600/2010-11+NOV+488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif0BJORrJ6ddi3YwEbMQmFYHwV3ZfYx7u04lpFsWcK6uLJLVIlR5JFGnW89CG_Dp3hA8FaWHh34oVWU8PS00mWgtKFmHV9AXFdR3_ZSjWfmsE8ktxqm72osjSaf0jxEXmeAzlkAEBWCI/s320/2010-11+NOV+488.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alright, can you tell which one is Abby and which one is Charlotte??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQEx45CHojj-k10Y9yFkZ6gTV2Dr5NecQBYz2EPHBHyyfgF-Q71UVYUEtUZLb7OfnGDik1phkr5uMOssPcuMVtUpNOVgXHbFEev8jR9TMREQXYHH9tKpj_5Rzk9XYdqbm6YaqTL2O21A/s1600/IMG_8259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQEx45CHojj-k10Y9yFkZ6gTV2Dr5NecQBYz2EPHBHyyfgF-Q71UVYUEtUZLb7OfnGDik1phkr5uMOssPcuMVtUpNOVgXHbFEev8jR9TMREQXYHH9tKpj_5Rzk9XYdqbm6YaqTL2O21A/s200/IMG_8259.JPG" width="133" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX61aHtAzyrnHRFVqY1jLeXrkzvPFenmeN4f6K_qh_kzMXJWkRulkLsXLqUWzfrT6CaUMowSDtz1AJsrQP9-8BSqwSvArqqBSgteht28QBuIBOg5wVl9sGtNbAV1bHdpCYO_KFicuhMe0/s1600/2010-11+NOV+495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX61aHtAzyrnHRFVqY1jLeXrkzvPFenmeN4f6K_qh_kzMXJWkRulkLsXLqUWzfrT6CaUMowSDtz1AJsrQP9-8BSqwSvArqqBSgteht28QBuIBOg5wVl9sGtNbAV1bHdpCYO_KFicuhMe0/s200/2010-11+NOV+495.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How about in these??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGME_hyphenhyphen3JMdPpZunqpNhHHYZpYeaGzsRukTwEtmW3-tjHfZ1e9Qr88iPFDT_y6HG9eAoa3Q768yk5ICY4iFUazMFI_1Yrt9XNA32BGqFjuiK0Pa6UkxCGD9dyh13VVSl5fhkkXJW_Ij04/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nvMpA6VH0_lrbFPGRz_4ICJpOFKPYEPCUba65-aLMEWfCsAeWM49PbhQXrmQqKgTmwRPrNk4YEVA8_KuOnqcDiU9IxIbm1s73Z7-eyeIAxajIIkDZ4og971VcnnTtszUHpRuAOJC3B0/s1600/2010-11+NOV+509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nvMpA6VH0_lrbFPGRz_4ICJpOFKPYEPCUba65-aLMEWfCsAeWM49PbhQXrmQqKgTmwRPrNk4YEVA8_KuOnqcDiU9IxIbm1s73Z7-eyeIAxajIIkDZ4og971VcnnTtszUHpRuAOJC3B0/s200/2010-11+NOV+509.jpg" width="132" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGME_hyphenhyphen3JMdPpZunqpNhHHYZpYeaGzsRukTwEtmW3-tjHfZ1e9Qr88iPFDT_y6HG9eAoa3Q768yk5ICY4iFUazMFI_1Yrt9XNA32BGqFjuiK0Pa6UkxCGD9dyh13VVSl5fhkkXJW_Ij04/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGME_hyphenhyphen3JMdPpZunqpNhHHYZpYeaGzsRukTwEtmW3-tjHfZ1e9Qr88iPFDT_y6HG9eAoa3Q768yk5ICY4iFUazMFI_1Yrt9XNA32BGqFjuiK0Pa6UkxCGD9dyh13VVSl5fhkkXJW_Ij04/s200/IMG_8250.JPG" width="133" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGME_hyphenhyphen3JMdPpZunqpNhHHYZpYeaGzsRukTwEtmW3-tjHfZ1e9Qr88iPFDT_y6HG9eAoa3Q768yk5ICY4iFUazMFI_1Yrt9XNA32BGqFjuiK0Pa6UkxCGD9dyh13VVSl5fhkkXJW_Ij04/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVkKAh2yZxZkubQ0gqlKWolVqXOIbYSaEBB7p4ESzpqEtRQ6NwNJLLb2k2SMPd1IzS1qxUWOhpxciHM7mcESm1EqWvoWosVW6FlsUayRfQud92ZbRunLoJT_jl1grEMC3pq8fu7c1r3s/s1600/2010-11+NOV+504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVkKAh2yZxZkubQ0gqlKWolVqXOIbYSaEBB7p4ESzpqEtRQ6NwNJLLb2k2SMPd1IzS1qxUWOhpxciHM7mcESm1EqWvoWosVW6FlsUayRfQud92ZbRunLoJT_jl1grEMC3pq8fu7c1r3s/s320/2010-11+NOV+504.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71A2EBqG2SHylZUJ3BhmvRI63VJNEqUPuKS-klbYDWzYgF_lCA-AYUsC062wmPh2vgntaOet1ShfftWPDBXsjcic8j-rfz_E9SizkCiRYbmw9t3H_uTwJIalDDZdCoOcuFyWgtl8HZHw/s1600/2010-11+NOV+554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71A2EBqG2SHylZUJ3BhmvRI63VJNEqUPuKS-klbYDWzYgF_lCA-AYUsC062wmPh2vgntaOet1ShfftWPDBXsjcic8j-rfz_E9SizkCiRYbmw9t3H_uTwJIalDDZdCoOcuFyWgtl8HZHw/s320/2010-11+NOV+554.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We took Abby trick-or-treating along with her buddy Myles. Isn't his costume amazing? I love that face!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jAr5c8r8TdP9RjImIfykcZItrvFE96cA6m7heE_EEPvs0_qlAnTEHpWGEf5CQOoxX8BTeofhvoAE8rfmBg8xYWuqEzvAPwCofy7hMO_kBvt3S6dejS7Urj794m0ht9GgukX0feNKXgM/s1600/2010-11+NOV+551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jAr5c8r8TdP9RjImIfykcZItrvFE96cA6m7heE_EEPvs0_qlAnTEHpWGEf5CQOoxX8BTeofhvoAE8rfmBg8xYWuqEzvAPwCofy7hMO_kBvt3S6dejS7Urj794m0ht9GgukX0feNKXgM/s320/2010-11+NOV+551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet little baby bats- Owen and Charlotte</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHaaJGE6PRply3D4rpi31sihQkIN73VOkMwKY56uQJjYPx7UWunCBVOAyCHNKEXC7-5WYtu4daRxXOMcGgSy85lfIUEjkQtVy8NOjFm2tbDDEEh3hyphenhyphentRByC58wj5EpnMjaqiWPYtMJwc/s1600/2010-11+NOV+563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHaaJGE6PRply3D4rpi31sihQkIN73VOkMwKY56uQJjYPx7UWunCBVOAyCHNKEXC7-5WYtu4daRxXOMcGgSy85lfIUEjkQtVy8NOjFm2tbDDEEh3hyphenhyphentRByC58wj5EpnMjaqiWPYtMJwc/s320/2010-11+NOV+563.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7-334P3ppg4XrZWlZC3CVBYY8dNQUDTqlbAA_xGUATsQ1a0GPEgC3CWzzGaFhjZ1qC7U1hCxvmrvTDhBn_vfX-NdRac5WXIFVaCkdXgvVoM2ByakFwDoxbDqTgJX5Aw6btk93kkjAHI/s1600/2010-11+NOV+575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7-334P3ppg4XrZWlZC3CVBYY8dNQUDTqlbAA_xGUATsQ1a0GPEgC3CWzzGaFhjZ1qC7U1hCxvmrvTDhBn_vfX-NdRac5WXIFVaCkdXgvVoM2ByakFwDoxbDqTgJX5Aw6btk93kkjAHI/s320/2010-11+NOV+575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day I let Abby look over her candy. I walked out of the room for a bit to do dishes, and when I walked back in this is what I found- she had sorted out all of her candy into little piles by type. Oh. my. goodness. She is SO my child!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM4HpK_kPLuTN2ZygReJoYlr6NU0xAtpPIVTEzLQ1q-SMXFny1zlwUUv1-89MEOJLl5CRGgEp06C4HFfasfO7LsaJIDxSKo0ZwYD8kNS32niyhzS1o4aPY7jISWtWC34noOweYoE1aEY/s1600/2010-11+NOV+583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM4HpK_kPLuTN2ZygReJoYlr6NU0xAtpPIVTEzLQ1q-SMXFny1zlwUUv1-89MEOJLl5CRGgEp06C4HFfasfO7LsaJIDxSKo0ZwYD8kNS32niyhzS1o4aPY7jISWtWC34noOweYoE1aEY/s320/2010-11+NOV+583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They LOVE love bath time together!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with your families!!</div>Jenny and Andy Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008541523426740453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861785028397505950.post-58063470477319824532010-11-15T20:42:00.000-08:002010-11-15T20:46:50.769-08:00Surprised by Joy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can still remember perfectly every detail of those three minutes. Setting the stick on the vanity, walking away because it was going to drive me crazy standing there waiting for the answer, setting the timer for 3 minutes, checking my email, timer went off, walking back into the bathroom, looking down at the stick...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two pink lines.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was sure that one was a defect, so I opened a second test, and went through the same steps all over again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two pink lines. Again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then my mind literally exploded. I was plunged into a whirlwind of emotions; Excitement, fear, happiness, anger (this was not the plan, this was two years too early!!), guilt (how can I feel anything but happiness over this? what kind of person am I? I clearly don't deserve this baby...), confusion (what happened to "the plan"??), fear (what if something happens to him/her? how do I tell my boss? Andy is going to grad-school and I was supposed to work full time and we won't have any money and what's going to happen now??), wonder (there is a BABY inside of me!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked up the phone to call Andy and tell him, but the second he answered I started sobbing uncontrollably. All I could say is "come home, NOW." He thought someone in my family had died. He was home in less than 10 minutes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as he walked in I told him. And his face broke into the biggest grin I have ever seen. You would have thought someone had just told him he won the lottery and would never have to work again! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we had won the lottery. Abigail Shea made our two-some into a family 9 months later, on November 16th 2007. And from the very beginning, she brought joy and delight into our home. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the phrase that best describes the past three years of being Abby's mommy is "surprised by joy." Not that I am surprised that it has been a joy- I knew I would love being her mom and find it very fulfilling and joy-filled. I just didn't know how much. And I didn't know the means that God would use to bring about this joy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I thought it would just be so fun, and that she would just be so cute and sweet, and it would just be so great teaching her things and playing together and spending our days together, and that naturally it would all just be a joy! Part of that is true- she IS cute and sweet, and it IS great teaching and shepherding her, and I DO love playing with her and being with her. Being her mommy brings me much happiness.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But my greatest moments of joy in motherhood have been when the Lord has brought us through trials, and struggles, and suffering.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A month before Abby was due, it was discovered that Andy had a golf-ball sized tumor in his brain, pressing on his brain stem. He needed surgery right away. It probably wasn't cancer and was highly treatable, but there were lots of risks involved in surgery. Lots of things that might never be the same again. When they wheeled him away for his 9-hour long surgery, I knew that there was a chance that he might never be the same again, or worse, that something could happen during surgery and I could become a widow at age 25. And on top of all that, I had a newborn who needed constant care. Abby turned 1 month old in the hospital. Lots of people said to me during and after the surgery (and even sometimes now when I tell the story), "I can't imagine how you could ever do that with a one-month old!" But God knew. He knew that there would be dark moments and times when I would doubt that He was in control, and good, and trustworthy. And He knew that I would forget His faithfulness. And so He planned Abby long before we knew about Andy's tumor, and gave her to us as a tangible reminder of His love and care for us. She was a light in the midst of a really scary time. Sitting in the waiting room for hours upon hours, day after day, her smiles and coos warmed us, helped us battle boredom, and reminded us to hope instead of worry. Her presence actually helped Andy to heal- in his darkest moments, bringing her into his room would instantly lift his spirits. Suddenly, it totally made sense why He brought her to us earlier than our "plan." He knew. She was a daily reminder to me that God loved me deeply, was holding us and sustaining us, and that He was working good in ALL things. That's why we named her "Abigail." It means "joy of the father," or "father in rejoicing." She is a daily reminder to us that our Father rejoices over us with singing- of the joy that comes only from our Heavenly Father who loves to give His children good things. In the midst of this trial, He surprised me with joy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Abby hit about 2, I suddenly understood the "terrible" in "terrible two's." Tantrums, tears, defiance, that "look" that says, "how DARE you say 'no' to ME!" Who was this child?? It was a daily struggle for me to keep calm, stay patient, and to correct her gently. Shortly after Charlotte was born we hit an all-time low. Tantrums were happening multiple times a day, my attention was divided between the two girls, and it seemed like most of my time with her was spent threatening and disciplining. Instead of enjoying her, we were battling and struggling. The days became all about surviving. For the first time I found myself wondering "is this it? Is this all God has for me in motherhood? Do I really want </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">four</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of these?" It felt joyless and empty. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I started to pray. For an extra measure of patience that day. For wisdom in how to best discipline, shepherd, teach. For more love for her in her ugliest moments. For gentleness. For compassion. For her to listen and obey. For a breakthrough. And the Lord started to work in my heart. But instead of changing her, or instantly turning me into a better person, making me more patient and giving me better methods, He started to show me how </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> heart desperately needed to change. How I was in desperate need of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> patience, love, compassion and grace. The more I saw her sin, the more I saw my own, and the uglier her tantrums, the more I saw the reality of the ugliness in my own heart. The more I prayed for help, the more He showed me the depth of my need for Him, and the more He began to meet these needs for me. Motherhood slowly began to be less about me "getting it right" and having a "perfect" day, and more about me meeting with Jesus and trusting Him to supply me with all that I needed to get through the days. And surprisingly, the less I focused on getting the results I wanted and the more I focused on bringing her to Jesus, the better our days got. The tantrums became less. The moments of desperation fewer.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still have hard days, and battles and moments of struggle. Lots- she is my child and has my strong will! But instead of leading me to despair, they drive me to the cross. And instead of wearing me down, they are making me grow. As I learn to trust in Jesus more, He is making me into the mommy He has called me to be. Most importantly, my struggles in motherhood are helping me to know Jesus in a deeper way than ever before. In the midst of the struggles of tantrums and tears, He is surprising me with joy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly, I never knew how much joy I would have in getting to know my child. I knew it would be fun. I knew I would love her. But I just didn't know it would be this great. All the little things that make Abby who she is, I love every single one of them. How she started talking in full sentences early and will. not. stop. How she loves to sing but she gets a lot of the words wrong and sometimes mixes songs together. How she will sit and read all the books on her bookshelf for an hour. How she has to put EVERYTHING in her mouth and it drives me crazy! How she asks, "are you happy, Mommy?" when she senses I am upset with her, and how much it crushes her if I am angry with her. How she is so sensitive to our feelings. How she follows big girls around, copying everything they do. How big her eyes get when she asks me a question. How she is timid in new situations with new people. Her incredible amount of energy- she is crazy!! How loud she is. How she laughs. How she loves to hear stories about Jesus and to pray. How she is so proud to be a big sister- when people come up to us in the store she stands proudly and says "this is my baby sister Charlotte!" How she tries to comfort Charlotte when she is crying. How inquisitive she is. Oh I could go on for pages and pages. I knew I would love her. I just didn't know it would be this much. In the midst of all that makes her who she is, He is surprising me with so much joy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I always knew that being a parent would be a joy. I just never knew it would happen quite this way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday my little bumblebee. I love you more than you will ever know, and I am so proud to be your mommy. </span><br />
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