"Poor Benson"

"I HATE THIS CHAIR"

I got it when Tanner was little and Tanner would always tip over in it. I've had kids over and they have tipped over in it. It's horrible.

This morning as I was getting out of the shower I could hear the kids playing. Then all of the sudden I heard Benson start screaming and Tanner start yelling. I ran into the bedroom to see Benson sitting on the floor with his face covered in blood. Blood on the floor. Blood on the carpet.... it was EVERYWHERE!!! I ran him into the bathroom and put him over the sink. Blood seemed to be pouring out of him, from where I couldn't tell?! I asked Tanner what happened and he said he was sitting sideways in the chair and it tipped over. Tanner kept pacing the hallway saying, "Poor Benson, poor Benson". I could tell he was nervous. I had him run downstairs and get the phone so I could call Andrew to come home. His top lip was shoved in between his front teeth and that's all that we could really see. I hope there isn't any bad damage!

Cleaned up a little bit after the bleeding had stopped!

This was the cleanest I could get him. He didn't want me touching him at all!
POOR BENSON!
Look at that fat lip. :(

My little buddy!

Benson making a mess!

Benson was really quite and I knew he must be getting into something he shouldn't and making messes. His new thing is throwing things in the toilet. So I quickly ran up stairs to check and this is how I found him. Just reading some books.

Benson loves to be read to and has his favorites already. One day I was reading to him and Tanner when Benson just kept trying to shut the book. I finally got irritated and put him down on the ground. He crawled away and went up stairs. I could hear him messing around then something tumble down the stairs. A minute later Benson appeared at the bottom of the stairs holding one of his favorite books "Freight Train". He picked it up and grunted at me before throwing it closer to me. I told him to bring it over and kept reading to Tanner. He picked it up and did it again. I finished the book I was reading and had Tanner go and get the other book. Benson still just sat there. I started reading the book and he came to me so fast! I read the book FOUR times and he wanted me to keep going. He "choo choo"s through the whole thing!

Carthage Jail

The window Joseph fell from

The origanal door with two bullet holes.

This Sunday before heading home we went to Carthage to see the jail. Having kids to keep my mind busy it was harder to think about everything. But looking back through the pictures and thinking about being there makes me contemplate all that the church has gone through and still does go through to get where it is today. The pioneers were forced move after move and suffered so much with many other trials and yet were still so strong and faithful.

I hope I can be like the people who have gone before me being strong and faithful and endure what hardships lie ahead having faith in God to get me through them. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. I know it is true. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet who received revelations from God.

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to visit the jail. It is a sacred place and the spirit is there.

"I Love to See the Temple"

I love seeing any temple and going inside. But I have to admit that there is a different special feeling about this one. It's absolutely beautiful on the outside and even more magnificent on the inside. I'm so grateful to have enjoyed the wonderful blessings of going to the Nauvoo temple.

Nauvoo

Brigham Young and Joseph Smith

Looking out over the Mississippi River on where to cross.
Waiting for a ride

Tanner and Jackson in front of the temple

Pioneer games

How to make pills old school style

Andrew's future job! YEAH!

Making a horse shoe.

He gave everyone a nail ring when we left.

Where the Relief Society was first established.

The graves of Hyrum, Joseph, and Emma
Tanner asked so many questions about this. And every answer lead to another question. :)

Benson started "bbbbbrrrrr" and growling when he saw the horses. I took him up close and thought he would be scared but he poked at it's ears, MOUTH, eyes and would just laugh and smile.

The Mansion House.

Joseph and Emma's

We took three different rides. I recommend them all... just not in a row like we did with five tired kids. You learn a lot of history and great stories. They even told one about Andrew's great grandpa, so it made it even more special to us!

The group!

Silly boys!

I love this picture.

I didn't get to see Tanner dress up and play because we swapped temple sessions with the Ever's watching the kids. But when I asked Tanner what his favorite things about the trip were he said dressing up and playing, seeing the temple, and of course... going to McDonald's on the way home. :)

Making a rope

We stayed at Nauvoo for two days and could have stayed longer. There was SOOO much stuff to do and see. You got to see how things were made 100+ years ago by the pioneers and help make some things and take them home. Tanner had fun and so did we. We may have to make another trip out while we are living in the middle of the country!

Big ol' barge

Road trip!!
Crossing over from Iowa into Illinois we had to go across a bridge. Just as soon as we got there horns sounded and the bridge in front of us began to turn. We thought it was cool but couldn't see a boat anywhere to go through. Finally WAY down the river we spotted one but figured it couldn't be opening for that one. Sure enough it was, so we sat there for some time. We got Tanner out of his car seat so he could see. It looked like it was going so slow until it got to us but then we realized it was going a pretty good speed. It was fun to be able to watch the bridge open and close for the boat. You don't ever get to see that out west!

Karate Chop!!

OK... so I couldn't decide what picture to post, so I did them all. When we went to Andrew's parents house his mom found this old Ninja karate outfit that was Andrew's when he was little. Tanner was so excited to get it and has worn it around the house a lot. I have put Benson in a littler one too that was Andrew's brothers. But he was napping when I had Tanner go outside and show me some AWESOME MOVES for pictures.

Would you be scared of getting whooped? I sure was!

We have a pet??

I guess I don't know if it's the same squirrel. But we keep getting one coming back to our porch looking for food. Finally I put a grapes out there and the boys watched him for at least 5 minutes holding the little grapes in his little hands. The other day (before I gave it food) it stood up on the step right next to the door leaving only two inches and glass between it and Benson. Benson loves it!

Benson

Being quiet.
Being creative.

Being happy.

Being Mowgli.

Being a monster.

Being startled.