The Bennions

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Matt's Baptism

My littlest brother Matt turned eight on Sept. 19th, 2013. This little brother - who was born during my freshman year in college - is growing up fast and the next eight years will go even faster I think. I was blessed to be able to fly up with the kids (my second time flying solo with them!) to see him on that special day. It also worked out as a tender mercy that I was also able to see my Grandpa Furse while he was in the hospital - my last time in his presence in this life (see an upcoming post for more on that).

I love Mattie - amid his quirks :)

He loves Claire so much and I'm so grateful she has a fun uncle to play with amongst all the grown-ups in their lives.

Brand-new brother - Sept. 2005

With Grandpa Johnson

The fall weather we got to experience was so perfect, crisp, and what I've been missing down in AZ!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

A little girl and a little boy

I can't believe how big they're looking! PS...this is how we spent the long hour after dinner while dad was at cub scouts:

The expression game. Happy face!

Sad face:

Scared face!

She goes from this...

...to this in about two seconds flat when I say we can't watch Clifford until tomorrow. Bedtimes (now that she enjoys spending naptime playing in her room instead of falling asleep) are a little wound-up and exhausting.

Her face when she tells me a story

My baby boy! Seven months old and crawling like a speedster and pulling himself up on stuff - yikes! Notice how Claire can't keep her hands off Clark in almost every picture. One of the most common phrases around here? "Claire, leave him alone!"

Whoa!

And btw, Clark has a celebrity look-alike, Patrick Wilson:

(Thanks to my friend Kiana for pointing it out - ha!)

Aspen Grove and other Utah Details

I was getting nostalgic for Utah's cool summer evenings. The memories I have of running through cool, soft grass and eating watermelon in the refreshing Utah summer night are hard to recreate in the valley of AZ, so I was getting anxious for some family time up north. We took advantage of Christian's week break to travel, but first, my sister Kathryn made her first flight (that she can really remember) to spend a week with us and then drive back up to Utah after the week was over. My sister Kathryn (who graduated HS last spring and just started Snow College) is amazing in so many different ways and Claire and Clark had so much fun with Aunt Kippy. Not to mention, she entertained Claire most of the whole 11 hr drive to UT - easiest drive (for me) ever!

Once in Utah we spent lots of time on our alma mater's campus at BYU's Education Week. Christian's mom and brother Samuel was there for the week as well so we spent time with them and Richard. I loved spending so many days on that familiar campus. I love BYU muchisimo. I am totally going to be one of those those ladies in my tennis shoes and skirt, pulling a roller backpack in my senior years as I come back again and again. For someone who loves learning - that week for me is heaven.

I also am slightly obsessed with family history right now and so I got three hours to spend in the family history library in SLC, searcing over some fascinating endowment house records of my ancestors. They definitely rubbed shoulders with early prominent leaders of our church. Can't wait to meet Eliza Snow, Brigham, Joseph, etc. and break the ice with - I'm Alonzo Raleigh's or BF Johnson's gr-gr-gr-grandaughter!

Another highlight was a day at Aspen Grove with most of my family. My brother David is a counselor there this year and so we got a good deal and a great host :)

Aspen Grove's pioneer night:

Watermelon eating contest!

If you look closely, that is a knife in the air

Learning skills from her tennis (or in this case badminton)-playing grandma. I admire my mom for pursuing her athletic passion amid her busy life. You are awesome mom!