christmas cards

Hello everyone!! The time has come for Christmas cards once again, and as always alot of addresses have changed over the past year. I would really love to get cards out to all of you this Christmas since I have failed miserably the past couple of years (even though last year I wrote them, addressed them, licked them shut with my own spit and NEVER mailed them!!) so if you could all send me your address this year I'm hoping for success! I sent an email to alot of you but I didn't have everyone's current email addresses either so for those of you who didn't get an email please send your info to ashleybens@gmail.com Thanks!!!!

This one goes out to....

I would just like to take a moment to dedicate my holiday playlist to all those who have inspired it over the years! They are more than just tunes- they're Christmas tradition!

1. Baby it's cold outside goes out to Katie for the bathroom duet days! and is a good reminder of one of my favorite christmas traditions: Elf!!

2. Run Run rudolph goes out to my little brother Dusty pie for years of air guitaring this chuck berry classic and more importantly because I couldn't find our beloved "ring those christmas bells" that is accompanied by a merry holiday jig!

3. The magic of Christmas goes out to Jennie because put simply: no one brings it home like Celine!!

4. Santa Clause is coming to town goes out to my Gramps for teaching me to appreciate Bing... and the rest of the boys!

5. and finally Ludacrismas is probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and I like to see Skyler shake his head at me when he hears it on the blog!!

catching up....

Well we have been pretty scattered the past few weeks and its time to catch up! First up: we saw savior of the world a couple of weeks ago and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! We really didn't know much about it but we had heard from several people that it was really good and we were lucky enough to score some tickets so we decided to head down to the conference center and see what is was all about. It was such a good production and so interesting to see the story of Christ's birth and life through the eyes of those who were close to him including his parents. We definitely reccomend seeing it if you get the chance!



Thanksgiving

Next up was Thanksgiving! I forgot the camera again (shocking I know) so I don't have actual proof that we celebrated Turkey day this year so you'll just have to take my word for it!(but please do enjoy this lovely cornocopia picture) This year was the Benson Family Thanksgiving and long story short there was turkey, yams, something I thought was cranberry sauce that actually turned out to be raspberry jam, naps, football, pie, more football... more pie... you get the idea! The girls all went to see Australia during one of the football games and I have to say it was a tear jerker! (for normal people anyway... as many of you know I have a strange inability to cry over things of this nature do to some ear/nose/and throat medication during my childhood) but overall it was a really good movie!!! I love Thanksgiving! I will admit I throw my share of pity parties and when it all comes down to it I have SO much to be thankful for and Thanksgiving is always a good reminder to cut back on the sissy whining and enjoy life's blessings already!

new talent and more family pics

I never did understand why photo studios can charge an extra $20 or more just to click the black and white button on their screen or for that matter why they can charge $40 for one 8x10. Then I realized its because we are all suckers! When we see those pictures of our cute little bundles, our common sense goes right out the window and we agree to pay hundreds of dollars every 2 or 3 months for pictures of our kids who refuse to smile anyway. Well... I have decided its time to stick it to the man! I recently purchased a cheap version of photoshop and enrolled in a class. I also found an awesome girl who not only takes pictures, she also edits them and gives you the cd at no extra cost! jackpot! So here is my latest photoshop creation of our first family pictures. eat your heart our "professionals"!:)

Tagged again

7 Totally Random or Weird facts about me:
1. I have several wierd medical conditions that dr's just can't figure out including sweaty hands disease (thats what I call it), recurring bouts of pleurisy, and upside down wisdom teeth. I'm a freak!
2. I love hotdogs... (I know most of you are grossed out) and when I say love... I mean they are in my top five! I don't know what it is... maybe the thrill of the mystery... i just don't know
3. I am a numbers freak and find myself constantly adding things up in my head
4. I turn into a five year old around christmas time! I love it and get annoyingly excited for my age. Im one of those people you all hate who turns on the Christmas music waaay too early.
5. I love power tools! It is my greatest wish to get a nail gun and chop saw with a laser!!
6. terrified of heights... even driving down steep hills gets to me
7. I consistently spell independent wrong because of a stupid claymation elf... some of you know what Im talking about... very sad

I tag: nellie

Our Little Lady... Bug

Kenadee was a little ladybug for Halloween this year. She had a blast trick-or-treating and eating lots and lots and lots of candy!!! and to Destry and Dustin- Thanks for the great Halloween party! I haven't laughed that hard in a while!!!

tagged!

10 years ago I was...

1. almost 14
2. a huge tomboy
3. extremely unfortunate looking
4. a volleyball fanatic
5. "signing" the tilby's with janel!!!! we used to gather up real estate signs in morgan and stick all of them in the Tilby's yard at night just to hear francis raise his wierd lispy voice!!! That was a good time- thanks Nellie!!

5 Things on today's "To Do" list...:)...

1. pay my student loans- boo:(
2. join the "stroller gang" for a stroll through the the pumpkin walk!
3. find a job
4. give kenadee a bath
5. go to my photoshop class

5 Things I would do if I were a Millionaire...

1. invest enough for a comfortable retirement
2. buy a house with an enormous yard
3. send anonymous checks for ridiculous amounts to people who deserve it
4. adopt a kid... or help somebody adopt a kid who can't afford it
5. help skylers poor mexican families make it to the temple.

5 Places I would like to visit....

1. each of the 50 states
2. The Vatican
3. Chichen Itza
4. still haven't been to Hawaii!!
5. Switzerland... and so many more!!

5 Places I have lived...

1. Morgan
2. Logan
3. Nibley
4. This is why I need
5. To travel!!!

5 Jobs I have had...

1. East Canyon Resort
2. The Cottage Restaraunt
3. Best Buy
4. Hill Air Force Base
5. American Secure

I Tag: Veva and Destry

Babysitting anyone???

Ok I need your help here. I have randomly been offered a job... kind of out of the blue...and I would really like to be able to take said job! Here's the catch... the hours are Monday 8-5 Tues 8-noon and Friday 8-5. I have Fridays all taken care of but I need a babysitter For Monday and Tues. I don't know anyone who is available during these hours who doesnt already have other obligations. If any of you know someone in Logan who would be willing to do this PLEASE Let me know! I have to give them my answer by tomorrow evening (10/24/08). I have checked around and most daycare providers charge around $20 bucks a day. I would be willing to pay $30 per day and $20 per half day. thats $200 a month for 1 1/2 days a week. I really don't want to put Kenadee in a traditional daycare if I don't have to! So if you know anyone in Logan who would be a good babsitter and looking for a little extra cash please let me know ASAP!! Thank you all!!

Family Pics

This week we had our first family pictures taken! It's still wierd to me that we are a "Family". Kenadee wasn't very stoked to be there but at least she is looking at the camera! By the way... If anyone is interested in getting a really great deal on family pictures visit http://btadesigns.blogspot.com!

(hey Jennie- no polaroid!!!!!)

I can't believe my baby girl is ONE!

How I love my sweet little brown-eyed girl!! Enjoy the pics of her first birthday celebration complete with cake, presents, and the park!

Need a good laugh?

I stole this from Jennie's blog so I could pass it along to those of you who enjoy a good laugh! Somebody started this blog making fun of cheesy mormon mommy blogs and it is so detailed and accurate you will die laughing...at least I did. Thanks Jennie!!!

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

Confessions of a bad blogger

ok I know that I'm a bad blogger and that I need to update more often so at least I'm admitting it. We all know its the first step to recovery! anyway- the camera is broken and I've yet to get a new one so I'm sorry for the lack of interesting things to look at. I'll see what I can do about that... As for an update... Kenadee has been walking for about 2 months now and she is a crazy little monster! she has broken 4 dishes to date, I caught her drinking baby oil, and I haven't seen the remote in days... she likes to put her binky in my shoe so at least I can find that one! She is a pretty funny kid! As for Skyler and me... the big word in our lives is IF! We have a few different things going on that will determine if we stay in Logan for the next few years or move back to Morgan. Hopefully some of these ifs will work themselves out soon so we will know what to do with ourselves. In the mean time life is good:)

Benson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

New Wheels

We get 80 miles to the gallon on this hog! This is Skyler's new ride

and he is strangely proud of it. I thought for sure either he would

say "this is gay" or someone he knew would say "your gay". So far

just people he knows are calling him "gay" and he doesn't seem to mind

so its a win win. it costs $6 to fill up and we have filled it once so far in 3 weeks-

Take that Exxon!!!

Benson Fam Campout

We spent the 24th of July weekend camping in the lovely mountain vistas just below Causey Reservoir. Of course with Vern as our guide there wasn't one minute spent unaccounted for! We met up with Vern, Diane, Heidi, Scott and Jen just in time to pitch our tents, play in the river, play some horse shoes, and get some quality comedy from the drunken camp across from us that we so lovingly nick named little Apalachia! Seriously- No Teeth!! We spent the next day at Pine View taking in the rays on the MegaStation (wish I had a picture of that thing) its an enourmous floaty thing that we all crammed onto and tied to the bouy! it has built in cubbies for ice and drinks but instead, we opted to use it as a Kenadee holder (again- wish I had a picture!) anyway... we all had a great time at the lake thanks to those Utah Pioneers!!! Kenadee and I took off early the next morning while the rest of the group went cliff diving at the dam! I really need to take more pictures:)

5k

This is kind of old news but I thought you would all be proud to know that deborah borah, kenadee and myself participated in the annual Gerald Anderson Memorial 5k in Mo-town this year! I won't tell you our finishing time but it felt good to get out there anyway! Kena especially loved her jaunt in the stroller! #227- booya!!

Miss ya Lu!!

The time has come to register our cars for the year and sadly Lu the Lumina wasn't quite up for the inspection this time So... Kenadee and I have become bus folk. It really does make our lives a little richer I think. Especially when we see our dear friend Mary the Arby's employee who is distantly related to a member of Voice Male. Man I love the bus!!!

p.s. If I start drinking from a brown bag and talking to myself please send help. The upside to this: I may finally become fluent in Spanish.

Kenadee and Eli

Enjoying a wheelbarrow ride with grandpa Vern!!

Hell Has Frozen Over

That's right- I bought a sewing machine!!! Having a little one really does change your life and for me- its turning me into Martha freaking Stewart!!!! I have already crafted a burp rag and a bag for all of Kenadee's Blocks!!! Yikes-this is scary!!!

It's Electric!!

Kenadee's hair has been growing like crazy lately so Skyler decided to give her a sweet spike!! Although the look on her face looks like she just got electricuted-- I swear its just some hair product!!

Summer Vacay

This year for our summer vacation we really splurged! We packed our bags and spent a week in sunny Morgan Utah!!! --because we rarely see its beautiful mountain vistas-- just kidding! we really did spend a week in Morgan though. Brad and Jeanine were there visiting before Brad graduates med. school and they head off to Massachusettes for a while! It was great to see them- Vern kept us in line with daily activities including- the new narnia movie, riding the frontrunner to the gateway, golfing with the boys, and a trip to Roosevelt to visit Scott and Jen. We really did have a great week even if we did spend our summer vacation in Morgan! Eli and Kenadee had a good time too (even though they still aren't sure they like each other) They loved the wheelbarrow rides with grandpa vern dog- he's awesome! and Kenadee thanks all who took turns "marching" around the house with her. She had a ball!!! (pictures coming soon:) )

catching up...

well if you're wondering where we have been for the past month I can pretty well sum it all up in two words. KENADEE CRAWLS!!!! The little one is on the move and chasing her around is more than a full time job!!! it's an exciting time but an exhausting one too!!! she can't quite figure it out yet-- she gets on one knee and one foot and drags her little self around! its very naughty!! other than crawling... skyler had finals and when I say skyler had finals I mean I had finals- We are both thrilled they are over!!! We also started a Rowser family biggest loser (Aaron and Kara got us inspired) and we are in our second week of weightloss-palooza!! wish us luck- we need it!!!

The office

Brand new episode this week- we can't wait!!! this is one of our favorite office moments

Today is International Children's Book Day!

There really isn't anything like a good children's book- they're short, they have pictures, and you can chew on the pages! They are usually pretty funny to boot. That being said... it's time I stock up on a few of the classics. Kenadee's current favorite is The Foot Book by Dr. Suess (pretty sure she just likes the way it tastes), but we desperately need to expand her library so I am asking all of you... what is your favorite children's book???

St. George

This past week we cruised down to St. George for a few days to find the sun and find the sun we did!! the weather was beautiful (most of the time) and kenadee got to take her first dip! she loved it! We had a great time with my family and didn't want to come home. here's some pics of Reese and Kenadee suiting up for the pool with Gram and Ally hitting the golf course (mini that is).

Need your Opinion

lately it seems I have been bombarded with offers to buy the amazing scentsy (which is the 'hottest new thing in candles' - Im sure you've heard). For some reason they just don't appeal to me. maybe its the large counterspace- eating shapes they come in or the awkward cord sticking out the back- I can't be sure. Nonetheless I am a little guilt ridden about turning down my friends and family who are selling them. I can't help but wonder... do I just need to bite the bullet and get the scentsy?? I will give them this- they smell delightful! please check out my poll below and let me know what you are thinking! believe it or not this is becoming something I actually worry about-it's sad.

not too bad for a first timer!

kenadee had her first taste of real food this past week!! as you can see, she didn't do too bad for first timer! Although I'm sure this was a case of beginners luck. The next time didn't go so well-too bad we didn't have the camera for that one! I never thought rice cereal could be so exciting, but to those of you who have experienced the cabin fever of newbornhood, you know what i'm talking about. solid food is your ticket back to the real world. Eating in public just got a whole lot easier.... though slightly messier!!!

jumping on the bandwagon

we have decided the time has come to jump on the blogging badwagon!
since we are really terrible at phone calls maybe this will be a better way to keep
in touch with our nearest and dearest:) wish us luck!