Bennett's First (Documented) Trip to the Zoo

Wow! Instead of looking at the rhino that's like 3 feet away, let's play on the fake rocks! Boys.

Wilson put his own shades on and I didn't have the heart to tell him!

Wilson wasn't even brave enough to sit on the spider! Maybe it helps if you have no idea what's going on! This really was Bennett's first train ride though. He really liked sitting next to big bro!

I think in Bennett's short 9 months of life, he has already gone to the zoo no less than 5 times. However, this last week was the first time his crazy mother remembered to bring and use her camera. Bennett still doesn't get what he's supposed to be looking at, but he did follow the two monkeys running around in front of his stroller (Wilson and Parker) really well and they were fine entertainment. Wilson found the landscaping in the animal exhibits (i.e. the waterfalls and rocks) much more fun than the actual animals and both he and Parker lost all will to go on until snacks were had. This trip we didn't make it past the penguins before we gave up and headed for the playground and the train on our way out. I guess that is one hazard to having a zoo pass, your kids get spoiled! Bennett is for sure more willing to pose for pictures than his brother, so there are some cute ones of him! I am just glad the weather has turned warm and we can get out and go!

I think Easter has to be my favorite holiday, really. It is so much fun. I love the spring weather and the egg hunts. I even love the candy the best of any holiday. This year we went up to Brigham City to Ian and Bonnie's to have an Easter egg hunt. It was really fun and there were so many easter eggs that everyone got plenty. Wilson loved to hunt for the eggs but then immediately wanted to open each one up and see what was in it. That significantly slowed him down, but I had to stop my competetive side from taking over and dragging him up the hill to show him all the other eggs he was missing! I just had to remember that he doesn't know the difference and it's just fun for him to look. It was fun to watch Wilson's reaction with Bennett. When the Easter bunny came he had to show Bennett everything in his basket and show him the Easter ropes. The egg hunt at my mom's house was equally rediculously over stocked with eggs, but no one is willing to downsize. We also did something new this year, an adult egg hunt. The prize for Ian's was $20 bucks while our prizes were bags of the good candy (cadbury eggs and coconut creme kisses, mmmm) and $5. That was a fun idea and I would love to make it a standing tradition. I got all of my boys matching shorts and I think that will have to become a tradition too. I just love Easter and all it stands for!

Conference Weekend

Sethy and Bennett in the WBWF- Worldwide Baby Wrestling Federation

For Conference weekend, which I can't believe was a month ago already, the Horsleys and we decided to visit the grandparents. Being the neglectful grandchildren that we are, we hadn't been to Idaho since my grandma Wilson's 90th birthday party last year in March! Man, are we lame. It is always a good time. Sethy and Bennett spent some quality smack down time together. It seemed like whenever they met on the carpet they would take turns pulling on each others clothes, smacking each other and then steam rolling over each other. It was really cute. Grandpa Allred couldn't get over how much they looked alike. Grandma had fun with the babies too! We taught Wilson to say Great Grandma's house because frankly we have too many grandparents to keep straight! Bennett loved all the open space to roll around and almost got squished when he found himself under uncle Ben's chair! I still can't figure out how he did that. Wilson's favorite toy was the grocery cart and he wanted to give his brother a ride in it. Bennett was a little too heavy and almost tipped over several times, but I think he liked it. It was a very fun and relaxing weekend and I was grateful for the chance to unwind.

Twilight Night

Let's face it, any excuse to have a party with food is good for me. If it includes hotty potatty Edward Cullen, all the better. We had fun playing trivia games and eating theme foods like mushroom ravioli (the restaurant scene) blood red (almost) punch, and cinnamon popcorn (Don't knock it 'til you try it) that looked like it was coated in blood. Along with many other delicious treats. We were all Twilight fiends except for Alicia who probably wished she'd never come. I don't even know if she enjoyed the movie because of all our chattering, but it's hard to help yourself. It was a fun night and good times for all!

A Total Harding Weekend

What a cute family!

Meghan, Emma and Hannah

Wow, boys and trucks. Does it get any better than this?

The Harding Clan

Cute Father/Son moment

We just had one of the best weekends in a long time. Ben's brother, Mat, and his wife, Britney, adopted a little girl, Lily Sue. She was born 5 days before Bennett and is the cutest little girl ever. Their adoption was finalized last week and they were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday. I can honestly say it was one of the sweetest and most wonderful experiences I've had in the temple since my wedding day. There is no denying the spirit when it let's you know that your family is and can be yours forever. I was just bawling the whole time. I was so happy for them and so awe struck at what a good girl Lily was. It was like she knew what was going on. She was calm and happy, like she was letting everyone else know she knew she was where she was supposed to be. I hope Mat and Brit don't mind me sharing that, I just can't get over how special it was and how grateful I was to be a part of it. That Sunday was Lily's blessing and it was a great meeting. Then, all the little boys got a special treat. The lunch was held at the Tremonton Fire station. Every other word out of Parker, Dalton and Wilson's mouths was fire truck! Uncle Mat (hope this doesn't get him in trouble either) snuck the boys into the garage to see all the fire trucks and the new ladder engine. Pretty soon the whole family had congregated there for pictures! These pics are courtesy of Kay, but they are too cute not to share. It was just a great weekend and it was fun to see the whole family on such a wonderful occasion! Yeah, Lily is now a Harding, whether she likes it or not!

Cereal Day and a Seriously Crappy Week

The poor kid doesn't know what's about to hit him.

What is with this mush?

Seriously, this is what you people eat every day?

Gimmie that camera!

At least I get to play with my spoon!

Man, this is going to take some getting used to!


Bennett turned six months on Monday, so we "officially" started him on cereal and baby food. Can I just tell you how this kid is the exact opposite of his brother? Wil devoured everything I put in from of him (including prunes) and couldn't get enough. Bennett is going to be one of those kids that has to try the same thing 12 times before he decides whether he likes it. The first day he was somewhat open to the strange and mushy substance being stuck to the roof of his mouth. Every day since then his lips have clamped shut before I even get the spoon near him and if I happen to get the tiniest morsel into his mouth he sticks his tongue out and coughs until it all falls out. What a stinker! I keep telling him that this is people food and it's way better than anything he's getting now. I even tasted the sweet potatoes and pears myself to make sure I wasn't lying to the poor child! The funniest part is that I have been sneaking him cheerios and crackers for a few weeks and believe me, he knows the difference. When I come near him with those little oat circles his little mouth pops open like and automatic trunk! Crazy, no? His doctor says he may just not be ready for it yet, but I am determined to figure out something he might like! Anyone have any suggestions or stories?

I don't understand this phenomenon. Every time Ben goes away on a business trip all heck breaks loose. Last year Wil was so sick he came back from California early. Remember the Wil. vs. fireplace incident? Also when Ben was gone. This time was no different. This was the first time both of my boys were sick at the same time. Wilson did not leave the house for an entire week, literally. There were fevers, puking, coughing fits, loss of appetite and a feeling of overall yuckiness, for the whole time Ben was gone. It sucked. I almost didn't make it through, not even kidding. But, I know I was blessed to have a little more patience and it was actually nice not to have to go anywhere! I am just glad the boys are healthy again. Unfortunately its Ben and my turn to be sick. Lame. Spring, where are you?

Could I be any further behind?

It's a good thing no one relies on this blog as their only link to me, or I'd be in trouble. To say the least things have been crazy around our house. This last week both Wil and Bennett were (and still are) down with colds. Bennett actually has his first case of bronchiolitis and we've ressurected the old nebulizer, but I've only had the heart to give him the treatment once. I don't think Wil has left the house since last Friday. It has been miserable for all involved. Luckily, I haven't gotten sick yet, so I've had the energy to care for them. Of course Ben is in California for training all week, which super sucks. I could never be a single mom, it's too hard. I can't honestly tell you what else has happened since 2009 began. It's been a blur and the time has flown by! I am pretty sure most of that time has been spent at the gym. Ben and I have been obsessed with the bet we made in October to see who could get to their goal weight first. I finally found something to motivate him. If he wins he gets a flat screen TV and if I win I get the money equivalant to his flat screen. (There was no way I could nail down just one thing to buy!) We have both been doing really well and I am proud to say I am already back to my pre-pregnancy weight and have 9 pounds to go until I officially kick Ben's butt!!! I promise I will get my Christmas background taken down and get something more appropriate up (like spring, is anyone else done with winter?) and try to get a few things posted. For now you just get random pictures.