Ones Not to Forget

Preface: Logan, Natalie and I were driving down a road in Sun City the other day. For those not familiar with the quaint Sun City town in Arizona, it's a community strictly for people over the age of 55.

Logan: Mom, this is a very pretty neighborhood.

Mom: It is, it's a place called Sun City. You have to be old to live here.

Logan: Oh, yeah. Like my dad!

I had to stifle a giggle. He was just so matter-of-fact about it! :)

Tonight we got Natalie tucked into bed and even after 25 minutes of talking and playing, she was still awake. She started really crying and so I decided I better go check on her. I walk in and she says to me, "I done."

"You're done?" I repeat.

"Uh-huh." She confirms

"You're done with what? Sleeping?"

"Uh-huh."

NICE TRY, sweetheart! Go to sleep!

Just a Walk Around the Park

Last night I decided to take the kids for a walk. It was late enough that it was too dark outside to just go around the neighborhood and be safe, so we loaded up and went to our city park. We have a great city park. It has sidewalks and paths all around a big pond full of fish to catch and ducks to feed. It has a fun playground, basketball and volleyball courts and even a fenced in dog park. The best part is that it's all lit up so it was perfect for a night walk at 6:15. (Don't you all wish you lived in Arizona where you can go for a walk at night on January 10th!)

I had loaded up Logan's bike he got for Christmas and he was excited to take it on a real bike ride. (Riding it in house and on our cement slab outside don't count!) Natalie was in the stroller and we were off. We go past the playground and basketball courts. We point out all the ducks in the pond and soon we are to the dog park. Both kids are excited to see dogs running around, doing tricks and playing. As we are about halfway past the dog park, all of a sudden from behind me I hear Logan singing, "Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof!" repeated several times. It brought a smile to my face.

Soon we come to another part of the park where you are right next to the pond and there were lots of ducks sitting in the water next to the bank. I start to hear a familiar tune, but this time the words go like this, "Who let the ducks out? Quack, quack, quack, quack!" I busted up laughing. Don't ask me where Logan comes up with things like that!

We keep riding and are enjoying it so much that we decide to loop the park 4 times in all. On our "cool down" lap, we are just about to where we started when Logan hears a guy saying, "Hey, I caught one!" He stops and notices that a guy who had been fishing in the pond was reeling one in. This gentleman sees Logan's interest and invites him over to finish reeling the fish in. Logan was so excited. He's never been fishing before and I think was kind of surprised at how difficult it can be to pull in a fighting fish. He reeled and reeled and soon he pulled a huge catfish out of the water. He thought it was the coolest thing ever. I'm so thankful for the sweet gentleman who made a point to take note in my 4 year old's interest.

Just as we finished our final lap, I had to take a picture (sorry it had to be from my phone) to capture what a fun night it had been. It was spontaneous, it was last minute and it was priceless.

Holiday Help

I've never been one to send out photo Christmas Cards. I could list several excuses like I don't have time, people just throw them away, and who would really want to see my face on a card anyway! But a friend of mine told me about all the cute holiday cards Shutterfly has, and since the KIDS (not me) just had their picture taken, I thought I'd give it a try. But my problem is now I don't which ones to choose. So...take a vote, let me know which card you would like to get! :)

Here are your choices~

Holiday Love Sketch


Paper Snowflakes



Wrapped With Ribbon

You'll just have to imagine my kids' faces on the card instead of the ones there...I couldn't completely ruin the surprise! :) And since I've used Shutterfly before when I made a book of Eric's Paralympic adventures in China, I know they will turn out so adorable. Leave a comment and tell me which is your favorite!

Logan's Best Temple

When Logan was 2 his speech wasn't developing like it should. We were able to get some awesome help and a speech therapist, Clint, started coming into our home every week to work with him. Clint often commented on how unique Logan was in his linear way of thinking and that he would love to follow up with him in 20 years to see what he was doing as a career. Clint predicted he would be an engineer. After seeing what Logan built last night, I don't think he's too far off.




Logan was so involved building with his blocks and as he was finishing up his project I said, "Wow, Logan, what a great house." He responded, "Moommm, it's a castle. Wait, no...it's a temple!" I complimented him on how incredible it was and taught him what symmetrical means as I showed him how he applied symmetry in his building. Finally he stated, "Mom, this is Logan's best temple". I would have to agree.

Loganism #1

Logan came in from outside today and said, "Mom you need to make soup today because it's windy outside." For everyone else in the country that may seem like a perfect idea. What Logan doesn't realize though is that it's still 80 degrees outside where we live! Needless to say, I still made potato cheese soup for my boy!

Blogging Lesson

I had a discussion tonight with a friend of mine about her blog. She became concerned about something she had written on her blog. She was afraid of what people might think when they read it, she realized how public blogs can be, and questioned why she even blogged at all. It caused me to reflect on my blog (or lack thereof) and the reason I haven't blogged in over a year. I realized I'm too worried that my "boring" life would not be interesting to anyone, and thus why even bother? I came to the conclusion that this is MY life and MY blog and I wanted to document, vent, share and post the moments that seem to pass by too quickly and are soon forgotten.

So even though over a year has passed, and what an amazing year it was, let me reflect on a few of things we have going on in the Bennett household as we aim for the gold--those things which are of the most importance to us.

Eric survived living his life with no arms for awhile this summer as he underwent rotator cuff surgery. It really made him appreciate all the things he can do with "just one arm". He's been shooting his bow a little, at very light poundage, and can't wait until he can be back at full strength in December. He is aiming for gold again in 2012 as he plans to compete in the London Paralympics. He is always busy; teaching Engineering and Physics at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, coaching youth in the sport of archery, competing, and being an amazing father and husband. I am so thankful for his hard work, long days and hours he puts in to provide for our family.

Rachel (the one known as I in this blog!) cherishes the fact that I am able to be home with our two beautiful children. Yes, my days are long. Yes, I teach preschool out of my home to help supplement our income, but I wouldn't change it for anything. It's always a leap of faith for me to start a new year of preschool, hoping that my classes will fill and that the students will enjoy being taught in my home. But without fail, the Lord has provided a way--and often in ways I don't expect. For about two months now, I've been adjusting to having my Wednesday nights free after almost 5 years of serving in the Young Women program. Throughout those 5 years, I served as the 2nd counselor in two different wards and under 5 different presidents. I LOVED those 5 years, but to every time there is a season, and my season passed and I knew my time was up. The Lord knew I would still need contact with the youth though as Eric and I were called to team teach the 12-13 year old Sunday School class. I've really enjoyed teaching the youth and serving with Eric. He is such a fantastic teacher and I learn from him each time he teaches. I love being a mother, I love being a friend, I love being a wife, I love serving in the church...all of which are things I consider to be my nuggets of gold.

Logan, oh my where to begin with him?! He is four and a half years old now and is the sweetest, most tender-hearted little boy. He is so eager to please and is my best little helper. He also gets so excited about even the smallest thing and helps me to remember the importance of the little things. His facial expressions are priceless and the words and phrases he says always keep us laughing. Some of his favorite things are preschool at Miss Mimi's, coloring, Family Home Evening, reading stories, building with Legos and blocks and playing with any and every car. He enjoys watching Phineas and Ferb and Scooby-Doo, asks often if I will make him chicken puffs for dinner and has finally learned to eat his fruits and vegetables! Truly our family would be empty without him and the sparkle he brings.

Natalie just turned 19 months old! She was so totally opposite of Logan from birth and that continues to this day. She is so independent and isn't afraid to declare it. I'm afraid to admit that her most commonly used word is "no" and she uses it with many different intonations and meanings. Making matters worse is that she doesn't know how to say "yes" yet, and so even when the answer should be yes, she tells us no. :) Natalie is very petite, and has been from about 9 months old. She barely broke the 20 lb mark at 15 months and continues to hover around that weight. Her eyes have turned a beautiful hazel color and her hair remains brown, although it has lightened some. She loves to color, pull and push things, drive the red cozy coupe that Logan has so nicely passed down, read stories, and riding the wooden horse at Grandma Cathy's. She is struggling going to nursery at church, but we hope she will learn to love it soon. She shrills with excitement every afternoon when Daddy walks in the door and loves to dance in her carseat to music on the radio. She is growing quickly but I still haven't been able to stop calling her Baby. She will always be my baby.

I hope to always remember what is most important to me and hold it close. I hope to remember it doesn't matter what people may think of me and my "boring" life, because to me it truly isn't boring.

Silly Faces & Moments

What else needs to be said?!!

Baby toes are just delicious. And if it's not her feet in her mouth....

It's both of her hands. No, it can't be just one!

Logan and Natalie's first bath together. After I got Natalie out and dressed, and went to get Logan out, this is what I found! Logan was so proud of himself!

Since we've told Logan he's too big to sit in Natalie's Bumbo, I guess he decided to be creative and figure out something else to do with it!