Utah at Last!

Our family ski trip to Utah was WONDERFUL this year ... although it was again right at the 72 hour mark for the length of our trip - we couldn't have asked for a better time. We made wonderful memories - and it is so exciting that Benjamin is starting to enjoy the sites that we love so much in Utah and a hobby that Jonathan and I have enjoyed together ... I guess now it is a family hobby!

A big thanks to Jonathan's dad for inviting us and all that he did for us!

Benjamin knows that it is TRADITION ... to get his picture taken in front of the Salt Lake Temple! He was thrilled to be able to walk all over the snow - since there was no grass to run on this time of year!

* A sweet moment - Benjamin looking up at the Christus statue and telling me "I want Him to hold me" as he tried to climb under the little rope. I think he thought that the statue was REALLY Christ - so of course I started crying at the thought that he really did know and felt the loving OPEN arms of our Savior.

Here are a few pictures from our trip ...

Owens at Temple Square.

Skiing pictures ...

Jonathan and Benjamin ... and they DID indeed get to ride in the sleds behind them ... what a great dad to find someone to give a little guy a ride! (S0litude)

Jonathan and Benjamin skiing at Alta.

Benjamin done for the day ... and asleep literally within 1 minute!

Jonathan and Benjamin skiing hand in hand!


Rachel, Benjamin and Jonathan at Alta!

Benjamin and I went on a DATE to the BYU vs. Wyoming Basketball Game (THANKS LYNETTE and JUSTIN!!) ... and had a blast ... especially because BYU played awesome!

A few highlights NOT pictured include:

1. Taking Benjamin to the Draper Temple Open House

2. Seeing a few friends and family -- but sadly we weren't able to see everyone - I'm HOPING (hint hint to Jonathan) that we can go for a few more days next year!

3. Eating LOTS of yummy food

4. Me getting to go shopping to a few of my favorite shops and to the Bountiful Temple while the boys skiied

5. Benjamin CRYING and CRYING because we had to leave the ski resort and hardly ever complaining (for a little guy at least) that he was cold ... DEFINITELY his Father's child!

6. Benjamin DID get to go to the TOP of Alta ... what a lucky little guy - and I wish I could tell the story as good as Jonathan ... but basically: Benjamin's foot was hurting on the chairlift - luckily Jonathan happened to be holding his ski when he wiggled his foot out over the cliffs ... close call - or Jonathan would've been skiing off the cliff to get Benjamin's ski and BOOT ... while Benjamin hung out with the chair lift operator :) - next year we will just duck tape his boots on!

CONGRATULATIONS in order!

I just wanted to say a HUGE

CONGRATULATIONS

to Jonathan ...

We've been waiting so PATIENTLY (well trying at least ...although everyday at 11:15 - I'd get a text message ... no matter what Jonathan was in the middle of, asking if the mail came yet that day) to get his scores back - and the final scores came in on Saturday!

So here goes for his board scores:

Manikin (taken October 2008): 98

ADEX (taken December 2008): 90

Part 1 (taken August 2007): 85

Part 2 (taken December 2008): 82

So I would have to say he did AWESOME! He is now trying to get an externship (anyone know the difference between intership and externship) with a dentist that he is thinking about working for in NORTH Atlanta (emphasizing the NORTH part!!) We are excited to move and get started with the next phase of our life. Heavenly Father has certainly blessed us! THANK GOODNESS ... all of those BIG tests are over ... one more "live" board - on a real person ... which hopefully will go well ... and then we're home free!

Benjamin and I feel so blessed to have Jonathan in our lives. He has worked so hard with school and different jobs and been a great dad and husband at the same time - WOW! We can't wait to be with him when he walks across the stage -maybe even with a little one to help cheer his dad on! We'll keep you posted!

Choppersticks!

My parents took us to a Japanese restaurant called Taki in Macon when we went last weekend! This was Benjamin's first experience and he was in "awe" of the cooking in front of us ... and LOVED the food. He probably ate more than I did. He thought it was awesome to use the "choppersticks" which he refered to them as a couple days ago - not remembering EXACTLY how to say the name. It was a LOT of fun! Sorry for the blurry family picture ... someone at our table took it - and I hated to ask for a "retake"! Still no baby tummy pictures ... but maybe we will take some this weekend! Several people have asked - he is DEFINITELY in there now ... and just as active as Benjamin was. I'm still trying to run everyday -- and trying to stay around the 20 pound MAX ... that I had with Benjamin... time will tell!

Benj eating with his chopsticks ... and quite well I might add... maybe we should try this at home!

Drinking the soup with the soup spoon:

Newest 2009 Home Improvement!

After putting too much money into our dying car... we decided to get a NEW one! So... here's our newest "home or car" improvement...

A white CAMRY XLE with gray leather interior ... we LOVE it!

Of course, those of you who know Jonathan ... probably know he got the best deal possible ... including our windows tinted for FREE, a lifetime warranty on the drivetrain, $500 off the day we bought it because they were supposed to have it to us the previous day, 0% interest for 3 years ... which means we have NO incentive whatsoever to pay it off early as our money will just sit in the bank and EARN interest ... and who knows what else!

It is REALLY fun to drive and smells so nice and new! We're hoping to keep it in the family for AWHILE ... as our Honda - though still running strong, is aging as well!

Christmas for the TWEETERS!

Benjamin and I had a blast making Christmas presents for the birds the Monday before Christmas. We collected the pine cones at the trails near our house ... then tied the strings on, "painted" the cones in peanut butter ... then rolled them in birdseed! The best was making our little tree so cute with the pine cones treats we made for our bird friends!

Painting with Peanut Butter!

Notice that he's not trying to get dirty ... at least not yet! The bird seed did end up bouncing EVERYWHERE - but we swept the extra up and tossed them out in the grass!

Remembering the Holidays!

I can't believe that Christmas and New Year's came and went so fast! We had a wonderful time visiting with almost all of our family!

We started Christmas at our house on Sunday morning, since Jonathan would be busy studying and taking his last board on Monday and Tuesday. We then spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Florida at Jonathan's mom's ... and had a blast! Then a quick trip to the beach for the weekend to spend with my family... we were ALL there - and enjoyed being together. Lastly a New Year's Eve celebration at Jonathan's dad's watching the annual Owens's fireworks display (the finale is always the BEST), watching the ball drop and watching lots of football!

Here are a few favorite pictures! Somehow I didn't take ANY pictures at New Year's ... probably because we were so exhausted from Benjamin's 5 days and nights of a fever... we DID finally take him in to the doctor ... double ear infections and possibly pink eye! Thankfully he's better now!

Here are a few pictures of Christmas at our house:

Grammy and Grampy (aka "Drampy and Drammy") are definitely two of my favorite people! They are so attentive to Benjamin and really make his world when we are in town to visit! Here is Grammy reading to Benjamin...

and Grampy and Benjamin digging holes!

Our Christmas Eve Party... which included Benjamin dressing up as ALL of the nativity people ... because the other little cousins were crying! Benjamin within 3 minutes was: Joseph holding baby Jesus (a towel wrapped up... and he couldn't figure out where the baby was!), a wise man, an angel, a sheep and I'm probably leaving something else out! Pretty funny!

Aunt Tammy helping Benjamin get dressed:

A "wise sheep":

Benjamin loves Nana - he always gets her undivided attention!

Christmas Morning at Nana's:

Doesn't Santa bring every dentist's kid a toothbrush and toothpaste!

Here are a few fun beach pictures... my sister Laura running ... with Daisy trying to keep up, and Benjamin trying to CATCH UP to both of them!

Benjamin excited to see his shadow on the sand!

I have to NOTE ... that my two favorite moments were:

1. walking hand in hand with jonathan at night on the beach - seeing the millions of stars above and knowing that my marriage is eternal with him...

2. walking hand in hand with benjamin (with baby brother in tummy) and having the best conversations with this little guy ... and knowing we are an enteral family!

The SMELL of Christmas!

I just LOVE the smell of Christmas ... well Christmas trees to be exact! I'm so glad my "smeller" is working again! I was thrilled when I first smelled our tree!

Our tree this year is a little smaller than last year, but I love it just the same! The place we got our tree last year - wasn't there this year! We loved getting the tree together - Jonathan mostly just chased Benjamin around - and I picked out the one I liked! The guys at the tree lot tied it to the top of our car - and we headed home - tree atop!

Benjamin helped Jonathan get it in the stand AND helped get the net cut off (note Benjamin is using SAFETY scissors)! It was a "process" to decorate it - because we got it when I was so sick. I was so excited to decorate it once my energy was back! I love all of the memories that putting the ornaments on the tree brings. When I was growing up - I always said I'd have a tree with a "theme" - not one like my mom's tree with random ornaments. And what do you see - an "un-themed" tree ... with all the memories a tree can hold - and I LOVE IT! My mom gave me this little mouse ornament - that she made for one of her first Christmas's when my roommates and I needed ornaments for our tree! Now it is PERFECT for little hands to move ... wherever they so desire for it to be on any particular day/moment! Somethings that may have seemed so "dated" when you were growing up ... become TREASURES!

I LOVE my house being decorated - and having the stockings (or Santa's BOOTS, as Benjamin calls them) hung! I love the smell of Christmas cookies, treats and the sounds of Christmas songs! I love all of the traditions and talking SO much about our Savior and remember the story of his birth and life! I wish we could celebrate TWICE a year!

More Christmas to come...

Nephite Christmas!

Benjamin and I went to our ward Christmas party last weekend. Jonathan was busy studying for his boards! We had the choice to dress up like people in Jerusalem OR Zarahemla ... so we chose to be Nephites!

Benjamin is wearing a costume that I wore in 1st grade ... and I'm wearing one that I wore my Freshmen year of college! We had lots of fun ... and especially taking pictures when we got home!

Tiny little feets!

Tiny Little Foot:

We are thrilled to "announce" that over the last couple weeks ... I've started to feel tiny little feets kicking away inside my tummy! We are so excited for Benjamin to have a "BRUDER" and can't wait to meet our new little boy! We were able to see him ... and all of his little body today. My favorite are the little fingers and toes! He hid his face as LONG as possible, but finally showed us just before we headed out! We LOVE him already and can't wait to meet him! He should arrive sometime around MAY 3rd ... although we are hoping that maybe he'll wait a few days so that Jonathan can graduate on May 8th! We'll take him anytime he is good and ready!

Still Thankful!

I'm a little behind ... and still haven't uploaded all of the pictures from Thanksgiving! Other than being really sick for the past two weeks ... well sick for a week and a half ... and then getting better, we had a GREAT Thanksgiving! The upside to being sick on Thanksgiving is ... you don't eat as much! Thank goodness for antibiotics!! I will try and upload our family "group" picture... and the picture of me and my brothers/sisters!

Here are two pictures from our attempts to take family pictures on Thanksgiving Day... I'm not sure if I'll ever get these two boys of mine smiling at the same time in a picture ... for no good reason (taking family pictures)! We did have fun walking through the woods - and I LOVED climbing up to the hay-loft in my parents barn ... somewhere I haven't been in probably 10 years ... but spent so many summer days playing "house" in ... searching for newborn kittens, and having the time of a little girl's life!

Christmas pictures and MORE (wink ... wink ...) coming in the next few days ... I'd love to say TOMORROW ... but we will see!