We've arrived in SLC

We've been enjoying family in Utah all week! It's been so much fun! We spent the first night at my parents house and then headed to Mindy's for Wednesday. That night we went to a baby shower for her put on by my Aunt Donna and the rest of the Sterzer family. Mindy is due in two weeks and looks so cute! She is having a baby boy. Baby Jack will be my parent's tenth grandchild and ninth grandson. (Yes, that's right - Eliza is the only girl in ten grandkids!)

We had lots of fun at the baby shower and I was so happy to see all my cousins, aunts and uncles again. It's been a year and a half the last time I was in Utah. Above is a picture of Benjamin with some of his cousins, Coleman, Cannon and Bridger. Benjamin's cousins are so CUTE! They just dote on Eliza and are seriously so sweet to Benjamin. I just love being with those loving boys. And the other picture above is my mom holding Eliza next to Melanie holding our nephew Wesley.

Below are pics of my mom and Eliza, my cute pregnant sister Mindy with Brittany and her little boy, Gabe.

Here's my sisters Melanie and Mindy with me at Mindy's baby shower. And that's my oldest sister, Melanie, with Benjamin. It's so fun to be with my family!!

~I'm leaving on a jet plane~

I'm flying out to Utah with the kids tomorrow morning. I am so excited to see my family and spend some time together. And I'm seriously looking forward to the extended break from real life. I'm going to be in Utah for about 2 weeks and then we're going to Montana for the month of December. Jed has a rotation set up in Billings and we're all going to stay at his parents house. So, we'll be gone for a long time and I have high hopes of getting rejuvinated and rested while being away, so that I'm fresh when I get back. I really need a boost to my energy and spirits, and I think getting to hang out with my sisters in the next few days is just the ticket!

Wondering what the picture is all about? It's Jed's documentary of me stressing out. It was midnight after a very hectic day and I suddenly realized I had a committment that I had to prepare for the next morning. Of course, I wasn't smiling until he started taking a picture of me. :) I swear, the last six months have been so hectic and stressful - I keep thinking, as soon as this is over I'll start going to bed at a normal hour again, or, as soon as I have this completed I'll feel less anxious and be able to spend more time playing with Benjamin or reading my scriptures... But the truth is, this is life and I simply have to learn to be happy & peaceful here and now, and make time for the most important things first. My friend, Melody, gave a great talk on Sunday about enjoying every phase of life. Just like the conference talk (I can't remember which apostle gave it) "Come what may, and love it." She even mentioned how we can go into a new phase of life "kicking and screaming" or with a positive outlook - that was great imagery and seemed to hit home to me. So, this is my last stressout - it's even documented thanks to Jed :) - and I'm turning over a new leaf! Even if I have to stay up late to get stuff done, I'm going to be cheerful and happy. Come What May and Love It! And there's nothing like a nice vacation to help jumpstart a new resolution to be relaxed and peaceful and cheerful. :)

we're patriotic around here

Today Benjamin was helping me cook, with a chair pulled up to the counter. He accidentally fell off the chair and crashed on the floor. I gave a gasp and bent down to pick him up, but he jumped up quicker than I could reach for him and said enthusiastically, "I'm not hurt! I'm not hurt!" He said it in a really amazed voice while he showed me his unhurt arms and shook his head; it was so cute. I said, "Oh, I'm so glad!" and gave him a hug and some kisses. Then he told me -again, in an amazed voice, "Jesus saved me from being hurt!" It was the cutest thing I've ever heard.

Eliza had her 10 month appointment today and got a few shots. She was only in the 50th percentile for weight, which surprised me because she is so chubby - her thighs are seriously adorable! The nurse told me that she looks just like Benjamin. And then this afternoon my good friend, Christina, told me the same thing. It makes me so happy that they look alike! For some reason I just love that!

The Pledge of Allegiance - Benjamin learned this a long time ago, at the beginning of October or so, but it took me until now to finally video tape it. It's pretty cute! He is really good at memorizing, and retaining words from books, lyrics from songs, etc. In the video the second time he recites it he repeats "One nation under God" twice, and it sounds like an accident, but he actually did it on purpose as he makes very clear afterward! When I went back and watched it again I could see that little smile come on his face as he repeated that section, as if he was enjoying a little personal joke. He's got a funny sense of humor. :)

(My voice is loud compared to his voice in the video, so you might have to turn it up to hear him.)

Halloween night

On Halloween night we went trick-or-treating with some friends in their neighborhood. We started at 5:45pm while it was still nice and light outside. Benjamin lasted about 1 1/2 blocks, at the end of which he was seriously dragging. He started out excited, enthusiastic, and running ahead with the 'big boys'. A block later he was listless, tired, shuffling, and moving at a snails pace. He asked Jed to hold his candy bag, then he asked Jed to hold him, and finally he said, "I don't want to go trick-or-treating anymore." I was pretty surprised! This was me: "What? You're done? You're going to pass up all this free candy? ...if I hold you can we keep trick-or-treating? No? ....can we just go to three more houses? No? ... oh fine." :)













We headed home and then we all ate dinner (there were a few families) and hung out. They had a little spook alley in their backyard, in their playset, which was fun for Benjamin. He ended up getting a second wind, by the way. We danced on their back porch to "The Monster Mash," "Ghostbusters," and "Thriller." That was the best part of the night - very fun! And at the end we had a little fireworks display.
It was a fun Halloween. And Benjamin is already talking about next Halloween.... exactly a year away.... :)