An Easter Celebration!

Well - Easter for the Owens home has been a MONTH long celebration! Benjamin has been sleeping with "silly rabbit" since we got him out of the box! We've been to three Easter egg hunts - the first of which, Benjamin couldn't figure out what was going on! By the third -- he was RUNNING!

Benjamin found another egg to add to his basket!

Lilli giving Benjamin a hug good-bye!

This was the third Easter Egg Hunt -- SOO many eggs - and by now, Benjamin had things DOWN pat, especially after I said, "run, run, run!"

Our family at Leitner Lake!

Monday we had an Easter FHE - where we sang - "Christ the Lord is Risen" (B. just helped me play the piano), talked to Benjamin about different pictures of Christ, and colored Easter eggs -- between Benjamin trying to drink the egg dye and his hands COVERED -- that was the fastest Egg dying I've ever done -- only 1 out of 6 cracked!

Today was Easter. We had a nice relaxing morning - playing with Benjamin's new LITTLE People, his FAVORITE toys and getting ready for dinner tonight before going to church at 12:30. My favorite part of church was Sharing time where Melissa (2nd counselor) - gave a beautiful lesson where the children opened eggs with things that symbolized different events of things that happened around the Crucifixion/Resurrection. I LOVED seeing the children and hearing them read from the scriptures.

Benjamin playing with his Mr. Potato Head and Little People!

We had Easter dinner with friends in our ward - you will see one of my FAVORITE pictures where - one of the kids that got done eating earlier than Brooks ... kindly gave him a chicken to enjoy with his dinner as well!

Is that a CHICKEN on your plate?

We hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Easter -- we have enjoyed celebrating and thinking of our Savior Jesus Christ a little more this week! We feel blessed to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and are excited for General Conference!!

Owens Easter Sunday!

Where have we BEEN!

Well things have been SO busy -- just as for everyone else I'm sure... but I started working full-time with Kroger again - for 2 reasons ... the FIRST being that I HAD to ... because Kroger re-aligned their Areas - now I have 2 areas (45 stores), whereas before I had 1 area and only 31 stores. I LOVE my job - and feel so blessed that I've been able to work from home - but ALL of my time when Benjamin's occupied (SLEEPING) - is taken up doing Kroger work. The timing was a huge BLESSING - because we need to go back on Kroger insurance - so perfect timing! Jonathan will work at Chick-Fil-A until the end of the semester but then he will be home to help out with Benjamin more while I'm working full-time!

Aside from working a LOT -- we all got a stomach bug - YUCK, Jonathan even stayed home from a dental conference to take care of us - he was better by then!

Here are a few of my favorite - RECENT pictures!

- in the tub -- Benjamin LOVES playing "toys" and Bubbles are always a plus!

Benjamin was helping me make cookies one night after dinner - but while they were baking, he had a BLAST hiding in the cabinet - and he actually FIT on the lower shelf, I just couldn't get a picture quick enough!

Lastly - a picture of Benjamin shaving with Jonathan one Sunday morning - BEE antennas and all - poor guy, it took us a few days to finally realize that the shaving cream was a LITTLE too strong - which he got a rash from... so Jonathan bought the Aloe sensitive skin shaving cream - so now they can shave together!

A Valentine's Night at the Circus!

So like EVERYONE else - we have been SO busy lately - but I wanted to get our blog a little up to date! We went to the Ringling Brothers Circus for Valentine's Day and had a WONDERFUL time as a family. The best part for me was watching Jonathan crack up over the French clown. Many of you may know that Jonathan served his mission in Montreal - so he knows French and thought the clown was hilarious. He would say everything in French and then repeat it in English ... he was pretty funny!

We got this QUICK picture of Benjamin wearing his nose - I think it pinched his nose so he didn't really want to wear it much!

This is Benjamin up on Jonathan shoulders before the show started so he could see the

pre-circus festivities!

Here are the acrobats -- WOW! We really liked the jugglers too!

Benjamin's favorite of the evening was getting this $9 snowcone -of course dad bought it for him ... and dad ended up drinking most of it! Now the elephant is a nice bath toy :)

And last but not least - here is one of the elephants -- sitting down!

Benjamin had a great time - even though the show didn't start until after his bedtime! What a lucky guy to have such fun parents! We can't wait until next time!

SkI tRiP!!

Well -- SORRY I am so behinded at updating everyone -- but things have been VERY busy! Jonathan and I were able to go on the Owens family ski trip to Utah this year! We skiied at Snowbird and Alta! Benjamin stayed with my parents and had a blast ... I still wonder if he missed us. The snow was AMAZING ... I personally would much rather ski in powder except your legs get so TIRED ... but falling is so light and fluffy! AND ... just for the record, Jonathan and I were on the winning team for the "ski competition!"

1. Jonathan and I at Snowbird!

2. Sarah, Me, and Lindsay getting ready to head down the slopes!

3. Jonathan took me down a black diamond -"CARBONATE" - only my career 2nd ... but it wasn't so bad BECAUSE there was so much powder ... I'm holding to 2 blacks ...

at least until next year!

4. so here is the gang (minus Lisa and Daniel who did get to ski Saturday afternoon with us!)

Eric, Justin, Jordan, Mathew, Lindsey, Gene, Paul, Sarah, Me, and Jonathan ... we will need MORE GIRLS for next year!!

5. Me and Laura Hobson at Cafe Rio ... a 100% all time favorite Restaurant of ours! We were able to visit the Hobsons and the Heidemans while we were in Utah ... but such SHORT visits, it was just not long enough!

The 4 day "vacation" was great - and as always, it was WONDERFUL to be in Utah. We were able to also attend the Provo Temple while we were there which holds a special place in my heart! My biggest "regret" ... was that I wasn't able to go to President Hinckley's funeral. Between only having one car ... and Jonathan not wanting me to stand in line by myself for hours in Salt Lake (although it's probably one of the safest places on earth!!) ... I went skiing instead. I have had the opportunity to watch the funeral since then ... but I just WANTED to be there. I LOVED skiing the day with Jonathan and family - but I still regret not being able to go

Maybe next time :)

I guess as President Hinckley says, "things will work out!"

The best part was being with family, seeing old friends, being in Utah - and most of all, a nice weekend just with Jonathan! We missed Benjamin and I couldn't get enough of him when we got home - but we had a BLAST!

Girls (or Moms) just wanna have Fu-un!

From Thursday evening ... until Sunday evening -- it was just the FIVE of us ... GIRLS -- MOMS to be exact! Our wonderful husbands all agreed to keep our little ones -- youngest (11 months) -and we headed to Florida for 3 days. The drive was a little long - but we MADE it and with lots of stories there and back!

Here we are going to the beach - bundled in ALL of the warm clothes we had - not much - we thought we were going to the BEACH!

Rachel, Hannah, Shari, Jessica and Megan.

This was the BEAUTIFUL sunset that we got to see as we walked on the beach. We picked up lots of shells, some starfish - that we believed wouldn't survive anyway, and saw more interesting animals than we've ever seen before!

A farovite beach picture.

We DID stay up late, got to SLEEP in, ate yummy meals, ate at That Place on 98, watched chick flicks, made cards, did our hair - and just got to be GOOD friends! We pretty much talked about EVERYTHING.

Some funny/not so funny moments...

getting lost VIA Tom-Tom trying to take us down dirt roads, asking if we were in Georgia/Florida, being scared to go downstairs or outside in the dark, boiling in the hot tub ... literally, hearing sweet voices on the phone and all the things daddy was letting Benjamin do at home, LOTS of ice cream, and many incredible memories.

I have to say that my all-time favorite - was kneeling together for "FAMILY PRAYER" Thursday night at 1:30 am ... so exhausted and ready to hop in bed - but that was most important to each of us ... it was the icing on the cake!

Chattanooga Aquarium!

So -- New Year's Eve day Benjamin and I went to the Chattanooga Aquarium with Charity and little William -- Benjamin could not be contained in his stroller the wholetime -- this is a FANTASTIC place for kids. He LOVED trying to pet the sting rays -

so long as they didn't come to close!

Here's Benjamin looking at the Sting Rays -

and Sharks and other swimming animals in the petting "water"!

Benjamin LOVED the Penguins and watching them swim! I think he thought this one was real - I'm not sure that he's figured out that in-animate objects are really not alive, but that's okay.

I think he would've taken this guy home if he could've!

We also enjoyed the butterfly house ... along with the most incredible looking seahorses... the only thing I could think of - someone sure had furn coming up with that animal!

Christmas 2008... I mean 2007!

Well these are REALLY late Christmas pictures from 2007 ... even though we are WELL into 2008! They got "misplaced" for a little white -- but finally after re-loading, they are back! We spent Christmas at The Harrisons ... and New Year's at the Owens ... most of these are fun pictures of Benjamin ... but a few with us!

Benjamin Owens and William Ray ... cousins!

Jonathan and Benjamin opening a TRUCK!

Jonathan, Rachel and Benjamin Owens - Christmas morning at the Harrisons!

Jonathan and Benjamin blowing out the Christmas Candles!

Kinsley Forscutt, Benjamin Owens and Mary Mitchell - different cousins!

Biltmore and the Bandaid Paw!

We have been excited to be on vacation in Asheville, NC. We were able to do the candlelight tour of the Biltmore Estate on Friday night - WOW is all I can say! That is a BIG BIG house! 250 rooms and 43 bathrooms ... but Jonathan and I decided that most of them were for the servents. We loved the indoor pool ... and all of the pantries! Think about how much food storage you could have! The house was beautiful --but I told Jonathan - that's what our mansion in heaven will be like ... except BIGGER and BETTER and hopefully not so many tourist!

These are a few pictures that we took at the Biltmore ... you will notice Benjamin's "BANDAID" ... well it's a BIG bandaid! Saturday morning after Jonathan ironed his clothes - he set the iron on the table at the hotel - and Benjamin went over to iron - needless to say- we couldn't get to him before his left hand was grasping the front of the iron. We rushed into the bathroom ... with Jonathan's pants around his ankles ... that was probably the only thing fun about the whole experience. Benjamin cried for more than 2 hours - he has one BIG blister - and lots of burns on his hand. I tried everything - as Jonathan went to get gauze and antibiotic cream -- we finally just had to put him in his carseat and he FINALLY fell asleep! When he woke up -- he was "BETTER" ... except for his hand - but he hasn't cried since! He had done pretty well with keeping his bandaid on and didn't cry when we had to wash his hand today.

We did get to do more touring yesterday at the Biltmore - which may have kept Benjamin's mind off of his hand. As you will see he LOVED the animals and walking to the bass pond. A really neat place to visit if you get a chance to go to North Carolina.

We LOVE the mountains! I'm planning to post Christmas pictures ... probably with New Year's! We did have a great Christmas - just haven't gotten my Christmas pictures edited :)

Polar Express!

Thursday - December 27th - we rode the Polar Express in Cherokee, NC to take Santa back to the North Pole. Benjamin LOVED it and would've hung his head out the window the WHOLE time if he could! He loved that he could see the engine and the stars, and Christmas lights!

He didn't mind Santa too much - but Santa also did not try and hold him!

Santa signed his Polar Express book, he got a jingle bell - and the best part - he got a Chocolate-Marshmellow Santa and hot chocolate! We had a BLAST!

Only at Grammy and Grampy's!

This is what you do at Grammy and Grampy's! Play in the mud with a really fun Uncle -- Albert! Benjamin had a BLAST -- Albert even tried to get him to pick the mud up, but Benjamin just wanted to "wash, wash." He even washed Albert's shorts - which took all afternoon to dry! We had a GREAT time seeing all the Aunts, Uncles, counsins - and especially Nana, Jared, Albert, and Grammy and Grampy!

Benjamin REALLY enjoyed getting to drive the "galf cart", saying "bock, bock" to the chickens and playing until he was exhausted! Nana gave him a track and some trucks and a tractor to bring home - the little track has been in our living room since we came home. I did get him to stack it up tonight - but I'm sure he'll have me re-build it tomorrow!

Can't wait until our next trip to Florida!!