hop to it!

Chloe doing exercises in her cute new PJ's!

Sunday Dinner & Big Accomplishments

My parents had some family over for dinner this afternoon. My mom cooked a ham AND a turkey, just in case someone wanted both. She's amazing in the kitchen, wish I would have got some of that from her. Chloe loved the mashed potatoes. Yum!

We were SO proud of Chloe because she sat in the high chair during the entire meal! We just had to roll blankets and put them on either side to help stabilize her a bit. This is a very big accomplishment for her. She is getting so strong! I think this was the first meal Oby and I ate together, and didn't have to take turns holding Chloe.

Life is good.

TGI Saturday

Lunch with the guys....

Da Boyz - Ed, Dallas, Oby, Mike & Tatum.

Over for a Maddox lunch before a weight lifting meet.

Tami and Chloe dancing to the iPod.

A visit to the Gangwer's....

Cute Zeke taking a nap

Sweet smile

Chloe with her mommy and cousin Ezekial.

*giggle alert*

BDay Dinner with Molly

Tonight Chloe and I went out for sushi to celebrate my good friend and fellow blogger, Molly's, birthday, which is next Monday. I cannot believe I forgot to take a picture. That is so not like me! ;o) So... in lieu of a picture and in honor of her birthday, I wanted to share a few things I have in common with Molly:

• We were born in the same year (30 years ago - ouch!)
• We lived together in Draper for three years
• We both got married to guys six years younger than us (cradle robbin' fools)
• We both got pregnant two months after we got married
• We both have FABULOUS taste in friends!

Here's a Birthday picture from a few years back....

Happy Birthday Molly!
I love ya girl.

Goin' for a stroll

Chloe LOVES going on walks. She baby babbles the entire time and cranks her little head around every few minutes just to make sure I'm still there. She's my cutie.

It was such a beautiful spring day today! Chloe and I took a walk - along with everyone else in the neighborhood. Seriously, there were stroller/dog traffic jams everywhere I went. We always walk by the horse arena at Saltaire Farm, right around the corner from our house. I talked to Taylor on the phone during the entire walk, it was almost like she was walking right alongside me and didn't live all the way across the country. I can't wait till they come out for another visit!

Cute Chloe

Aunt Sera sent this picture to me. I know I'm biased, but I think she is so dang cute!

Easter Weekend

Chloe's first Easter was packed full of festivities! We kicked it off with a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. My parents and nephew, Jake came. We all went for breakfast at Granny Annie's afterward. That night was the Chambers party at Dana's house and it was so good to see everyone! Chloe modeled her beautiful Easter dress at church. This was her first time back to church since we put her on house arrest in November! All the ward members were thrilled to see her and how big she is getting. My primary kids loved having her in class with us, especially when she snorted during her laughs. She made them giggle and all the kids fought over who got to sit by Chloe. Cute kids. Then the grand finale was the Bennett/Taylor family party and egg hunt. It was such beautiful weather and I officially have spring fever! I'm afraid Chloe was a little over-stimulated and is going to sleep VERY well tonight.... Nothing wrong with that!

sweet cherry pie

I love....

'nuff said.

Mornings with Dad

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE working from home, but it is so hard to concentrate and get work done when I can hear Oby and Chloe in the other room laughing and having a good time. My cuties.
Isn't she beautiful? I think so.

My happy girl.

Easter Cards

A couple of my friends wanted me to post the Easter cards I made to share the ideas. Sorry to those of you who are getting one to ruin the surprise, but truly they are much cuter in person anyway.

Girl's Night

Chloe loves hanging out with her mommy when Oby is at work.

The Luckiest

Me and my cuties. I'm so lucky!

Two new things I love

Across the Universe soundtrack

Beatles music with a modern twist? LOVE IT!

The Return of Jezebel James

Smart, quick, unexpected sitcom starring Parker Posey and written by Amy Sherman-Palladino. Just my style.

Baby Yoga

Tonight I was trying to get Chloe to do some exercises. She just wasn't into it. She cooperated for a very short while, but then decided she was done. Instead of screaming in defiance, she just laid her head down on the bolster and that was that. Aaaah....my little Chloe. She is definitely her mama's girl. I did the same thing at the gym last week. Instead of 'working my abs' I used the machine as a comfy place to rest! My girl.

Visiting Zeke

We took lunch to Nick and Megan and visited with Zeke some more today. He has already changed! He looks like Nick, but has Megan's nose. He's a cutie that's for sure!

Grandma Judy's Birthday

Chloe thinks her Great Uncle Chad is crazy..... She's right! ;o)

Izzy & Uncle Matt

We had a little pizza party to celebrate Grandma Judy's birthday. I didn't get any pictures of her, but here are a couple cute pictures anyway. Happy Birthday Grandma Judy! We love you!

Happy Birth Day

Today is Taylor's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) and she now shares that birthday with her nephew Ezekial Randall Gangwer! He was born at 12:59 a.m. weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz and stretching out to 20 inches! He is a beautiful boy. He is so soft, smells so good, and makes those darling little baby noises. He is so cute I had to go see him TWICE today! Once just wasn't quite enough. Enough said, the pictures are much better than anything I have to say about the subject..... Enjoy!

Just Chill-axin'

Teaching the children (or is it the other way around?)

Today was my first time teaching my primary class, 5-6 year olds. Aren't they cute? Our lesson was about being grateful and everyone took a turn telling what they are most grateful for. My favorite answers: 'peas', 'the color of the sky', and last but not least... 'the wiggles'. Where do these kids come up with this stuff? I am so excited about my new calling. It's a refreshing change from the Family and Marriage Relations class I was teaching for couples with marital problems. It's much more fun talking about peas, colors and the wiggles and singing 'head, shoulders, knees and toes.' And there's a lot less preparation!

While I was at church teaching my primary kids, Oby was home teaching Chloe how to sit up. We're keeping her away from church until flu season is over and take turns going to church every other week. She's getting so strong! I'm so proud of her.

When I was preparing for my calling in the primary, I thought about this story from President Hinckley:

"Not long after we were married, we built our first home. We had very little money. I did much of the work myself.... The landscaping was entirely my responsibility. The first of many trees that I planted was a thornless honey locust.... It was only a wisp of a tree, perhaps three-quarters of an inch in diameter. It was so supple that I could bend it with ease in any direction. I paid little attention to it as the years passed.

"Then one winter day, when the tree was barren of leaves, I chanced to look out the window at it. I noticed that it was leaning to the west, misshapen and out of balance. I could scarcely believe it. I went out and braced myself against it as if to push it upright. But the trunk was now nearly a foot in diameter. My strength was as nothing against it....

"When it was first planted, a piece of string would have held it in place against the forces of the wind. I could have and should have supplied that string with ever so little effort. But I did not, and it bent to the forces that came against it" (1997).

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a teacher for these children. It is so important to teach them even the simplest of life lessons. And they have a special way of teaching me too. I know that today at dinner I sure appreciated the peas in my salad a lot more than usual!

Saturdays are for sleeping in!

Mmmmrs. Backers

Today I was out 'n about in downtown Salt Lake for work appointments when I drove past one of my favorite places - Mrs. Backer's Bakery. They serve thee most delicious treats there. And for an added bonus they have a cute little boutique as well. This is also one of Tami's favorite places so when I decided to treat myself and had some time to kill between appointments, I got a treat for Tami also and went to her house for a minute. She was there with Izzy and had done her hair in a little braid with curled Christmas ribbons. Izzy looked so cute with her stylin' do and ladybug shirt, so I had to take and share the pics. She is so funny when she tries to wink!

Mr. Big Stuff

So.... where do I even start with this one? Well, Oby recently started an evening schedule at work, and even though we don't get to see much of each other at night, I love it because he's home with me during the day and gets to spend more one-on-one time with Chloe. So this afternoon while I was in the office working, I heard Oby going out the back door. Then he came and told me to come outside and look at Chloe. So I went out and there was Chloe sitting in her bouncer wearing a snow suit watching her daddy do a kettle bell workout. I didn't know what to laugh at first, but even though I was on a work call, I grabbed my camera and took pictures.

I just love Oby. He is always making me laugh! And now everyone knows why my ringtone when Oby calls is the Rocky theme.... it's just SOoooo Oby!

I know I'm a nerd, but....

I LOVE AMERICAN IDOL! Especially because I have DVR and can fast forward through the bad parts (i.e. terrible singers singing awful songs and Paula Abdul rambling on and on about who knows what!). Anyway, there are a few singers that I really, really like this year. I have videos of my favorite performances at the bottom of my blog. I put them there because to listen to them you have to pause the other music first. Anyway, I know most of you don't like American Idol, but you should check out these few videos. I love em! Hey, I already admitted it - I'm a huge nerd!

Old friends....

My friend Jamie came over tonight for dinner, scrapbooking, and catching up. Jamie and I grew up on the same street and have been friends since I can remember, with the exception of a few junior high tiffs. Man I'm glad I only have to be a tween once. Then when we were in our twenties we lived together for nearly five years! Oh the good times we had. She probably knows me better than anyone else in the world, including my husband. So if you want any dirt on me, you know where to go! I love when we get together because we honestly know everything about each other and we just understand each other so much. Oh, good old friends, nothing better! PLUS I introduced her to the cricut and she made truly the cutest page of an Easter egg hunt that I've ever seen. I'm serious. Love that girl. Same time next month Jamie!

Baby Steps

“Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.” -Samuel Smiles

Chloe's physical therapist came today. She had Chloe rolling across the room (with just a little help). Chloe and I learned so many new tricks to help strengthen her and I can't wait to see the progress she makes by the next PT visit. Her physical therapist said baby steps are usually sitting, crawling, walking. But Chloe's baby steps are going to be less noticeable, but as we work with her, she'll meet her own mini-milestones. Her core is getting so much stronger and she's holding her head up so well! I'm so proud of her and I know that as we keep working with her, she is going to advance just fine! I came across a scripture in my readings today that helped me realize HOW Chloe is going to make it. She has already had divine help and I know that it will continue....

Psalms 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Then my nephew, Jake, gave a scripture in his primary program on Sunday. It was a good reminder for me and has been my mantra for the past few days....

Matthew 19:26
With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Break the fast

I couldn't fast all week like my parents did, so we had a Bennett family fast on Sunday for little Chloe. We got together for homemade chili and lemon bars to break our fast. Isabella was so funny, she couldn't stop giving Chloe kisses! The boys tried a new workout with these rolly-polly things. It was hysterical to watch. Chloe is so lucky to have the faith of her families, so much love and support.... oh, and kisses! Lots of kisses.

Beautiful Sunday

My mom and dad decided to fast this week and dad ended his fast by giving Chloe a blessing. We started our day with a beautiful priesthood blessing to Chloe from her Papa and Dad. She is so loved and we have faith that she will be made whole. I am so grateful to my dad for his tremendous love for Chloe, his honoring the priesthood, and his faith.

Then we went to a family friend's baby blessing. Glen served his mission in Syracuse and hung out at my parent's house quite a bit during that time. They have remained good friends over the years and now we're also friends with his adorable wife, Leah. They recently had a baby girl, Austyn Sue, and she was blessed this morning. She is so tiny and just perfect. What a neat little family.

When I got home from hanging out with my parents, I was thinking a lot about my dad and the gratitude I have for him. I was remembering how when I was little, he would always play his guitar and sing on Sunday afternoons. He and I would always sing this song called Beautiful Sunday. I love my dad. Here are the lyrics I've had stuck in my head all day. They're kind of cheesy, but there's nothing wrong with cheesy when it comes to memories of your daddy.

My, my, my beautiful Sunday.
This is my, my, my beautiful day.
When you say, say, say, say that you love me....
My, my, my what a beautiful day.

Spring Saturday

We had the best Saturday! We went to Granny Annie's for breakfast.... YUM! Then we did yard work until it started snowing. I LOVE our Syacmore trees, but they produce a lot of leaves - and leaf raking. Chloe loves being outside and was such a good girl, just sat there watching us work. It was such a beautiful morning and afternoon, then boom, it started snowing! What kind of weather is this? I have spring fever! That evening I finally talked Oby into getting a new notebook. Our other one died, kaput, and even though I have my work computer, its high security settings kept me from some of my favorite hobbies: iTunes, digital photos, and blogging. So now, thankfully, I will be keeping much more current on my blog. HOORAY!