Tradition

When Alan and I were engaged we bought a house together to be built that was supposed to finish around the time we were getting married. Of course the house finished early, before we got married, so instead of the house sitting Alan moved in since he was living in his apartment paying rent. When Christmas time came around Alan and I got our first Christmas tree in "our" house and bought our first ornament together and somehow a tradition was born with us and each year since then we've bought one special ornament that reminds us of something we always want to remember for that year.

2005-Our first Christmas in "our" home!

2006-By the time our second Christmas came around we had already sold and bought a new home and move in, unfortunately our two Labs got out the side gate and were hit by a car. Our family knew how important and missed our pups were and pulled money together to get us our current puppy Luke. We got this ornament to remind us of the love our family holds for one another.2007-We had the opportunity to travel around Europe to Germany, Austria, Italy, Paris and London and we bought this ornament in our most favorite place. Our plan is to retire there one day. :) Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
2008-Before Nursing School started we took a Cruise to Alaska and Canada, which was my first cruise.

2009-All the ornaments are special and carry memories but this years is the best, our son's ornament, my favorite year of all.

Polar Express

We headed out this weekend for a Bennett family trip to Flagstaff, AZ to ride the Polar Express! We had such a great time and it was so fun playing in the snow!

Pics are not in order, takes to long...sorry :(

Chad and his bell from Santa Chad and Daddy waiting to board the trainGrandpa and GrandmaChad and his snowman
Cole, Alan and Hyrum throwing snowballs

Grandma and Chad

Snuggle Bug
Daddy and ChadMommy and Chad

Getting ready to leave! Cousin's Imi and Chad Cousin's Ava and ChadA little over half of Chad's cousinsWaiting for the train!The Family (minus Carl)

Spoooooky

Instead of studying for the Boards like I should be doing, I hung out with my nephews all day and this is why....Isaac is Spooooooky! Gotta love them!

Pinning

Last night was my Nursing Graduation, or Pinning. It was so awesome to finally be done with school and feel like Ive accomplished my goal (still need to pass the boards though!) Here are some pics from last night:

Some of the girls!

My Turn!

After being PinnedThe Family

Me and my boys :)
After the ceremony we went to Claim Jumpers as a family and ate dinner to celebrate! Thanks Mom and Dad, and thanks family for coming out to support me on my big night!

Couldnt have done it without you!

Christmas Tree Time!

Last night Chad and I met Alan for dinner, got our hot chocolate and headed to Lowes for our Christmas tree! Because I work the next three nights Alan so graciously stayed up to decorate the tree with me till 1:30am and then went to work at 6am, thanks daddy! :)
Yeah for Christmas Time! and Christmas Trees!

Rice Cereal

Yeah, Chad isnt a big fan but he is doing better now, practice makes perfect!

Poor guy

This is what happens when Dad is cleaning the house and Mom is trying to apply for jobs. Maybe its time to put Chad to bed?

Big Roller!

Big boy doing a complete roll, dont mind the drool!

Good News!

I passed my final with a 96%!

I can't believe its over!

Will you marry me?

This morning I woke up to a pic message from Alan with this picture and a text under it that said "Morning! Will you marry me? 143"

When Alan proposed their was a rainbow in the sky, he says that's how he knew it was the right time and day and he was doing what he was supposed to be doing.

Coincidentally, the day we left the hospital with our new baby Chad and drove home there was also a rainbow in the sky, believe it or not. So rainbows around our home are pretty special.

On another note, my LAST final is Monday. Alan's mom took Chad all day yesterday so I could study and she is again tomorrow after church (Thanks Kim!). I am having serious anxiety about passing this test, not cuz I think its impossible just cuz I feel like so much is riding on it. I mean I will be DONE with Nursing School if I can get past this final Monday. I really wish today was Tuesday and I was done and passed already! :) Of course I still have preceptorship till Dec (which I got at Gateway in OB...YEAH!) and then I officially graduate on Dec 9 and after that's over I have to take the Boards to actually work and get a license but at least NO MORE SCHOOL, and tests and silly projects and notecards, man, I hate notecards.

So contingent on me passing this Monday, this was a conversation between Alan and I last night:

Me: So...you know what I want for graduation?

Alan: Nope, but I can only imagine.

Me: I want a gift certificate to get my hair done, a gift certificate to get my nails done, a gift certificate to get my eyebrows done...(being that Ive slacked on these areas due to my business and I just want to feel human again)

Alan: Oh really, how about I just give you the credit card?

Yep, that will work for me! Thanks husband! :)

Halloween

On Thursday night we carved our pumpkins! (Mine is the ghost and Alan's is the Jack-o-latern with CHAD in the mouth and Chad's is the little one!)

On Saturday night we went up to Aunt Sarahs for yummy potato soup and homemade root beer and our traditional trick or treating!

Our Skeleton!

The grandchildren and Grandma (minus Logan-who wasnt there yet, and Ava who is due any minute!) Here is Chad and Mommy on Sunday after Halloween!

26

Yep, as of today I'm officially 26 years old. I dont know when that happened but it definetly did! You know your grown up when your birthday consists of school and notecards/studying! Tomorrow Alan, Chad, and I are going to carve our pumpkins, we were going to go to Schnepf Farms but Chad has a running nose as of last night so we are going to hang at home. Chad gave me my birthday present by FINALLY allowing me to video him laughing since he always stops and stares at the camera once I go get it, but not today! Thanks Chad! :)

Giggles

I know my blog has become Chads Blog, I promise when I have something else exciting to write about I will, but for now...more Chad (my favorite thing) and a disclaimer: Chad does own clothes, not just Pajamas :)

My Inspiration-BIG smiles!

I always thought I loved the baby baby stage, you know, where babies are super small, straight from mom and newborn and cuddly. Im not saying I dont now but Chad's age right now is so much fun! He is smiling and laughing at us and makes the best little noises and sounds while he is "talking" to us, he is drooling all over the place, he exercises his legs like none other with his kicks and he loves to grab his blanket and clothes and bring them up to his mouth to eat (like some of his cousins, so I guess he'll fit right in) :) I'm enjoying him so much right now I cant even imagine what it will be like when he starts talking and walking...

By the way...my house is in chaos right now, Alan got to use the cleaning truck from work and spent 12 hours yesterday cleaning our carpet, air ducts, tile, granite, etc. The house is SUPER clean but that means everything has to be off the floor and on the couches and beds. I feel like we just moved in and I'm unpacking! Thanks Daddy for your hard work yesterday to make sure our house is germ free for Baby Chad :)

School

Is it too much to ask for these next 3 1/2 weeks to be over and finished already?

Wish I could tele-port to Nov 17th.

Guess what?! More CHAD!

I'm sure everyone would like a post of something other than Chad but I really dont have much going on besides him and Nursing School, and who wants to talk about Nursing School? Not me! Only 5 weeks left and a final and I'm FINISHED! FINALLY! We are doing our clinical rotations in ICU right now and thats been pretty awesome otherwise....nothing to report.

So heres Chad again! Chad HATES tummy time, its pretty funny. Before when Id put him down on his tummy he would start crying within a minute and now he does better, he'll get to 5 minutes but instead of crying he puts his head down and lays there. Smart boy.

We start with holding our head up way high! Then, in give or take 5 minutes, we get tired. Done.
Here is a video of him starting to roll over, he actually gets a little further than this video shows but it was the best he would do while I was filming.

For Grandma-Your Boy

Last week I caught Chad on a good night and got 2 cute little giggles out of him, but since then I can only get these little giggles...but still, they are cute! :)

Have you seen this?!

Click on the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs79_5n848Q

In Love

My mom bought Chad this outfit while we were visiting in California before Chad was born and since then its been hanging in his closet waiting to be used. I've been dying for him to be big enough to wear it since its actual "big boy" clothes and not a newborn cotton outfit so you can imagine my excitement when it finally fit him! :) I was so excited to show Alan Chad in his "big boy" clothes and Alan loved it too, but as I walked out of our bedroom from showing him I said "I like it Daddy!", and I thought I heard Alan say "I don't like it..." to which I swung right around and said "You don't like it?!" and he said "No, it means he's growing up and it's going to fast...I want him to stay little" :( That does make me sad. As I walked out a second time I thought I heard Alan say "It makes me want another one..." but that comment was ignored. yah. right.

Chads Blessing

This past Sunday was Chad's Blessing! Mom and Dad came out and spent the weekend with us and we had a blast like always! It was so fun to have the family together and we appreciate the love and support! We have such a great family!

The Whole Family!

Logan helping to feed baby Chad!

2 Month Check-Up

Yesterday Chad had his two month appointment and what does the two month appointment mean?.....SHOTS! Poor buddy :( He had 3 shots and one oral, and screamed his little eyes out! It was soooo sad. I didn't like to say the least so I can only imagine poor Chad. I give shots to newborns and kids in clinical but when someone gives shots to my son its a different story! :) All in all he has done really well though, sleepy and not too hungry but isn't really fussy and is a good boy. He now weighs 11 lbs 5 oz (45%) and is in the 75% for height and 70% for head circumference. He is getting to be a BIG boy! I can't believe he is already 2 months old! Time flies!
I managed to take these pics BEFORE the shots...SMILES!

(He has a dimple on the right side which you can kinda make out)

Poor baby