Traditions

Every Halloween night Nana has everyone come over before Trick-or-Treating for....

chili and jiffy rolls,

caramel corn and sugar cookies.

Izzy was downstairs with Tonio and got hold of the phone. She can't count to 5, but somehow she was able to dial 911. When the dispatcher answered, they probably heard an 8-year-old and 22-month old screaming, then a dial tone. Needless to say, they were concerned so they dropped by to make sure everything was okay at the Bennett household. And to think - she looks so innocent!

(Hopefully a visit from the police department doesn't become a tradition!)

Chloe and Zeke hung out while the other kids went to get some candy!

Zeke didn't go because, well, to be blunt - he doesn't need the extra calories!

They may not have got any candy, but Zeke and Chloe got

plenty of sweetness from Papa & Nana!

Then we went to my cousin Marianne's house to indulge in my family's Halloween tradition....

Homemade glazed donuts!

Krispy Kreme, lookout! Marianne's Donuts are delish!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HEAR no evil, SEE no evil, SPEAK no evil!

You Call This a Workout???

Pediatric Physical Therapy is a whole different ball game. I'm telling you, they do the most fun things for these kids! We were in the big workout room today, so I got to see lots of kids playing around. Allegedly it's a workout, but I'm telling you different - they were playing! Like Chloe for example, she was....

swinging on a swing,

bouncing on a ball, and

stretching out on a brightly-colored mat.

This is a crock! I thought working out was supposed to be miserable - blood, sweat and tears! But all the kids in there were laughing, smiling and having a fabulous time! I might just have to rethink my workout routine and join these kids!

My Next Creation

Since I became a SAHM, my craftiness has escalated significantly. Not my skills, but my desires certainly, and I have more time - so that helps! I recently came across this quote that I thought hit the nail on the head about why I have this inner desire to attempt to make beautiful things:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. . . .

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment.

We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and

mold it into something of beauty. . ."

~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

So awhile back I found this site, You Can Make This.com, and oh my do I love it! They have the cutest patterns, and they make it seem simple. So I have a sewing machine and the pattern, now I just have to get my mom to help me figure out my next project:

I know, right?

CUTEST SKIRT EVER!

And with any luck, Chloe's will look half this cute when I'm done with it.

Go HERE if you want to check out the site and find fun patterns for your next creation!

What do you love to create? I'm dying for more ideas!!!

Now You Listen Here!

The day has finally come.... The Listening Program came in the mail. And boy oh boy have we been getting our use out of it! Chloe loves it, she gets very serious when it's on.

She looks especially serious in this picture. With her horn-rimmed glasses, cardigan, beaded necklaces and mary-janes, I think she looks like a little 70's secretary.

We do 15 minutes in the morning,

And 15 minutes before bed.

Sometimes we mix things up a little and do the listening while she plays. We got a tub of wheat (much like the beans) and Chloe was really into it!

Me - I'm not so crazy about the wheat bin like I thought I would be. It makes a giant mess! We even put a sheet underneath like everyone told me to do (for supposedly quick clean-up). But Chloe LOVES it, so we'll be playing in wheat lots!

Tagged! Things You May Not Know About Me

Brenda from In The Treetop tagged me, asking me to tell six things about myself that my readers will not know. Well, this is a tough one, because as the title of my blog says, anyone reading this already knows too much about me as it is! But I love a good tag, so I'll indulge!

I almost have a Master's Degree in Health Administration. Almost is not my favorite word, but it's the case with my Master's Degree. I had three classes left to finish when I fell in love with Oby. I decided to 'take a few months off' while I planned my wedding and got married. Well, I think we all know how that idea panned out!

I'm an insomniac. I can't sleep - at night. During the day, it's no problem. I can lay down anywhere and take a nap. But during the nighttime hours when 'normal' people snooze? I'm wide awake.

I'm reading Expecting Adam. So what do I do when I can't sleep? Blog, usually. But this week I'm really into this book by Martha Beck. What is it about? Let me put it in her words: "This is the story of two driven Harvard academics who found out in midpregnancy that their unborn son would be retarded. To their own surprise and the horrified dismay of the university community, the couple ignored the abundant means, motive, and opportunity to obtain a therapeutic abortion. They decided to allow their baby to be born. What they did not realize is that they themselves were the ones who would be 'born,' infants in a new world where magic is commonplace, Harvard professors are the slow learners, and retarded babies are the master teachers." Need I say more? I can't put it down.

I drive without shoes on. Shhhh. Don't tell. It's against the law. But I can't help it. When my hands hit the wheel, my shoes come off!

Officially, I'm a Democrat. It's shocking for this Utah Mormon - but true. I took a test in a political science class in college where I answered questions about my political views. I always thought my conservative opinions were Republican in nature, but much to my surprise, the test said I was a Democrat. Without question, I'm a conservative Democrat, but a Democrat nonetheless. There are many Republican views I agree with, but the majority swing the other way. So who am I voting for? Let me direct your attention to the 'Non-Partisan Blog' graphic on the right side of your screen.... It's not that I don't have an opinion, it's just that I keep most of my political opinions to myself.

Forget the sweet, give me savory! I love me some salty flavor. Most people have to have something sweet to end their meal. Not me, I have to have something salty after dessert to get that sweet taste out of my mouth! My latest obsession is green olives. Yum!

If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

Gazing Down Upon My Sleeping child

"The most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic event, nor is it found in novels or history books; merely, it is found by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child." -Thomas S Monson

A friend put this quote on his blog awhile back. It came to mind when I watched Chloe sleeping with her daddy yesterday.

Temporary Separation

Last Saturday, I received a phone call that a family friend's husband had been shot and killed near their home in a Phoenix suburb. He is survived by his sweet wife, Susie. They have one 2-year-old son and Susie is 8 weeks pregnant.

Susie's husband, Brad, had always been a blessing to Susie. She has significant health problems (Cystic Fibrosis and heart problems), and he had taken such good care of her. She wasn't able to drive herself, because her heart problems often caused her to pass out unexpectedly. But Brad supported Susie's desire to succeed, and would attend college classes with her. They had recently finished putting in a garden and a backyard for their little son to play in. Brad worked hard to provide a good life and home for his family. His presence will be sorely missed by his little family. Thanks to a thorough investigation by the officers, the young men who participated in taking Brad's life are in custody.

It was a blessing to be at Brad's funeral. Susie has miraculous strength that she has found through prayer and family support. In the funeral, the speakers told many stories of Brad and his eagerness to serve: his ailing wife, he spent time as a volunteer in Mongolia, and neighbors. The day he met this awful fate, he had spent the day roto-tilling a neighbor's garden even though they had just purchased flagstone and bulbs to put in their yard, but Susie said it was more important for Brad to help the neighbors. Susie and the other speakers were adamant that they had not only forgiven the young men who took Brad's life, but were praying for them, for the pain they had brought upon themselves and their own families because of their choices. I am amazed at this level of forgiveness and love. They asked the congregation to do the same. I'm praying just to get to that point. For now, I pray for Susie and their children, for Susie's parents and Brad's parents. I will continue to seek spiritual progression for the rest of their request.

I have since found out that the two young men involved in Brad's death wanted to steal a car to get to a party, so one pretended to be hurt in the middle of the road. Brad stopped to give assistance when he was shot from behind. He lived serving others and he died serving others. Susie is astonishingly happy and comforted by the eternal bond she has with her husband. She told me, with a smile on her face, "Brad made it to heaven, so now I have to live every day so that I can make it to heaven too!"

I am grateful for the faith shared by Susie and myself, to know that families are eternal, and that Brad and Susie's separation is only temporary. I am grateful for the knowledge that I am an eternal family with Oby and Chloe. This knowledge brings peace and comfort to my heart every single day, because as Susie learned, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Happy Halloween - Hansen Style

Tonight was my family Halloween party, and it did not disappoint! Almost everyone dressed up (except us - every party needs a pooper!), there was delicious food, games (Oby won a cute bear for Chloe), cookie decorating, and good times! Life is too busy, so it's good to actually see my family every once in awhile. =)

Bennett Witch Project

Chloe's nana called to say, "Why don't you come to my house, dearies?" When we answered in the affirmative, she cackled. I asked if I could bring anything, but she said, "Not to worry, my sweet, I'll brew something up for you!" Again, the cackles....

When we arrived at her home, I was greeted by the usual charming exterior.

Doesn't it look quaint? Don't you want to go in?

Don't be deceived like I was, kiddies.

Let's take a closer look.... Sometimes evil lurks in unexpected places....

Well, we survived our journey to the door, but we passed these ghoulish greeters:

So we were too busy to notice:

the mummy peering through the window OR


The man shrieking for help up in the attic!

We were welcomed into the haunted house of this frightful creature:

Yes, it is scary. She lured us this far, and I sensed danger was eminent when she offered us

CUPCAKES!

I cannot stress this enough:

BEWARE

OF NANA'S CUPCAKES!

They look cute, but what have we learned today?

Looks can be deceiving!

The fat content of the toppings alone is wicked, evil and all things bad.

The cream cheese frosting is so scrumptious, it's enough to drive you batty!

Frankly, the sugary deliciousness of the cupcakes was simply a tactic to keep us around for more. We were under her spell, and so were many others:

We were all enjoying our sugar delirium and pumpkin-carving high when we were lured outside for what turned out to be a spooky stroll....

The stars of the spook alley stroll

Oby, Dallas, Jamie, Matt & Tatum

Chloe was quarantined at her Grammy's house due to a case of....

what we believe is chicken pox

It looks like chicken pox, but there are only two pox (if that's even what it is!)

Oby carved this pumpkin and brought it home for Chloe.

I think it's adorable, just like her!

An Angel Gets Her Wings

I'm sorry, I might be overusing this concept of Chloe being a caterpillar and as she progresses with her physical development becoming a butterfly. I can't help it. It is just how I feel about my beutiful little girl and her delayed developments/handicaps. Please forgive my indulgence.

When I did THIS POST, I shared the story of another little girl who is in a wheelchair. I worded it that she was 'confined' to a wheelchair. Her angel mother commented on my post and said the following:

"There are attitudes I have adopted and rules that I stand by as I stand FOR my daughters.

"We are raised with the idea that a wheelchair is confining. One day those words were in my head, someone had used them in regard to Lucy. "Oh, poor thing, confined to a wheelchair!" I started to giggle the more I thought about it. My response, "If a wheelchair is confinement, you should see how confined she is without it."

"Without the wheels she is a caterpillar. At 8 she can barely roll over, cannot sit up on her own and cannot crawl. The wheels are Lucy's wings. She can fly and spin and stop on a dime, she can "run" 5 miles per hour and never break a sweat. Her wheelchair is her freedom."

~Rachel Coleman of Signing Times

I am so grateful for her words of wisdom. I have certainly become more open-minded to getting a wheelchair for Chloe since then. In fact, it will be a joy for Chloe to have a wheelchair to give her wings! Until then, we got Chloe a different type of wings: Butterfly wings for her Halloween costume!

I have a confession about something that happened tonight. Chloe and I were with my fabulous 7-month-old nephew, Ezekeil - we call him Zeke. He and Chloe were staring, babbling, and playing together. We put them on the floor so they could wiggle around and explore the world with each other. Zeke was rolling all over the place, he got into crawl position a few times, but didn't actuall crawl - he's still learning, and at one point we thought he might sit without help! I was so excited that he was doing so well! I was cheering him on and just thrilled.

Then suddenly, it hit me, like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere. I was sad. I work so hard with Chloe every single day to be able to accomplish the milestones Zeke was doing with little effort. I wanted to see my baby do these things more than I wanted air for my next breath. I admit, it was self-pity. I wanted life to come more easily for my little sweetheart (and of course myself), and I also wanted her to have the joy that comes from accomplishment and exploration. She was enjoying just watching Zeke do and learn new things, I couldn't help but think how much joy she could have if she could only do those things herself.

I used to have these feelings all the time, when I first found out about Chloe's condition. I have since come to a wonderful place of peace, acceptance, and even appreciation for Chloe. I realize (most of the time) that she has special abilities, and am grateful for the blessing that is for myself, my family, and just about everyone who knows little Chloe. She is able to do so much, just with her pleasant disposition, sweet smile, and big blue eyes..... she uplifts and brings joy and faith immeasurable.

I hope there is no misunderstanding here. I wouldn't call my emotions jealousy or resentment toward Zeke or my angel sister-in-law. I would possibly call it regret or sorrow for my little girl and the dreams I had for her before I was given the news that there had been a change of plans. The best explanation of my feelings can be found in THIS POST, Welcome to Holland.

On the drive home from our visit with Zeke, I was embarassed more than sad that I had experienced those feelings. Chloe was in the backseat singing to one of her favorite songs and making me smile, as usual. I was thinking of the new dreams I have for Chloe and myself, and our journey together. I realized that our journey has less to do with physical abilities, and more to do with spiritual refinement, charity, and love.

Then in my random mix of tunes on my ipod, came on the song - the perfect song for how I was feeling. I always say there is a perfect song for every memory and emotion, and this is the perfect song for today. I couldn't find the song on the playlist site, but here are the lyrics - the heart of the song.

Dream

by Angela McCluskey

Dream

There's a whole world out there

See it in front of you

and stare at the sky

believe in your life

believe in the world out there

Dream

Far away

Dream of today

And fly away

Dream

Feel your heart beat

Rise high above and

Shine like a sun

Hold your head high

I can see for miles

A million hearts on fire

And you need it to rain all night

So let tomorrow shine for you light

And go off flying without a fight

And love like we need it to live
Give love like we need it to live

Help me find you

Take my hand

We'll walk this life together

Show me your heart

Take my hand

We'll shine forever

Dream

The world is out there

See it in front of you

Go here and/or here for snippits of the song -

it is so beautiful and worth your time!

I believe in Chloe, in myself, in my husband, and in everyone around us. We all have dreams - something to seek after, something to work for, something bigger than us to believe in and hope for. Chloe's wheelchair will give her wings. I will walk for her and we'll walk through this life together. I get my wings from my faith, my wonderful companion, my angelic child, and the love of supportive family and friends.

There have been spiritual experiences that have brought me to believe that Chloe chose her infirmities to bring my husband and I closer together and closer to Christ. She is so wise and I have seen these things come to pass, and know there will be many opportunities for us to grow as a family in the future.

I am grateful for our dreams and all the things that give us wings. And I hope we can all, as the lyrics say, 'give love like we need it to live,' because really, don't we need love to live? I do.

Rosta Imposta

Yet another costume!

Custom Tee

When we were at Disneyland, I searched and searched for a Zip-a-dee-doo-dah shirt for little Chloe. It is, afterall, her favorite song! I thought for sure the Briar Patch store by Splash Mountain would have one, but we couldn't find anything!

Well I'm not one to give up. When I got home, I researched the internet. Again, nothing.

Still, I refused to quit. I found THIS SITE where you can make custom shirts, and I got to work on Chloe's very own, one of a kind Zip-a-dee-doo-dah tee, bluebird 'n all!

What is your custom t-shirt going to look like???

Puttin' on the Witch

There are lots of reasons to enjoy living in Utah: the beautiful mountains, great skiing, close to friends and family, AND Gardner Village! I love this place - yummy food, fabulous boutiques, and great decor! Especially during Halloween, they

go crazy with the witches!

What's not to love about that?!?! Today Chloe and I went with my friend Jamie and her adorable children, Sadie and Mason.

Jamie and I with Mr Pumpkin Head and the cutest little witches ever!

Sadie and Chloe

I love Chloe's orange braids!

Sadie and Mason at lunch


...Where we indulged in -

Fried Green Tomatoes - Yum!

Mason and

Chloe

were absolute angels. They so enjoyed the lovely fall weather,

just like their moms!

But Sadie.....

She was busy being a little model!

She is so good at it, so we really put her to work!

Sadie's posing really cracks me up!

There was so much to see, we weren't sure which way to go!

So we just went to some of our favorite boutiques....

and

just to name a few.

Lots of witches crossed our path as we bopped between shops....

We were parched from a day of shopping and witch-hunting, so we stopped by Sonic for....

drinks, AND....

HAPPY HOUR!

It was basically the perfect day!