Benson 9 Months

 By 9 months old Benson had started sleeping through the night. More nights than not! He would still wake up screaming some nights for no reason but we finally got to the point of getting some good nights rest. By 10 months we could say he was finally sleeping through the night!!! Wahoo!

Benson loves getting around. He started army crawling around 8 months old. He loves getting around and crawling all over the house. He still likes taking 2 naps during the day and sleeping not as long as wed like through the night...but hey! He is sleeping through the night now. 

Benson is about 50% for weight and 95% for height. He is tall like his daddy! He likes to eat but especially likes sucking down packets. We tried new formula two different times because of the CRAZY formula shortage but didn't do well with either one. One made his bum super red and raw and bleeding and the other made him uncomfortable and scream all night long. So we went back to Nutramigen and stocked up on tiny containers that I found at Smiths and hope that carries us to 12 months (fingers crossed). 

He really is such a happy, content little boy. If he is fed and is allowed to roam the home, he is as happy as can be. He loves his sisters but is very weary of strangers. He will smile at them as long as mom and dad are holding him. We love Benson and are so happy he is where he is and not several months ago :). 

Poor guy deals with really bad eczema and we haven't found a cream/lotion that helps. He doesn't seem too bothered but looks like it hurts and itches bad. 

Visiting Daddy at work (in the basement). Unfortunately Daddy doesn't work downstairs anymore since this new position. We miss him being here but it was fun while it lasted!

Lamb of God Choir

 This year I had the chance to rehearse on Sunday evenings and perform in a production of Rob Garder's Lamb of God. One of my favorite musical productions of the life of Christ. It was a great opportunity and I hope to be able to do it again. I was rehearsing two years ago but the week before performances is when the entire world shut down with Covid-19. I am grateful for the spiritual boost I get during things like this. I love sharing my love and testimony of the Savior with others through music. As my kids get older I hope to have more opportunities to do so. 

Cade's Uncle Johnny Passing

 Cade's uncle Johnny Hughes passed away in March. He had been battling prostate and liver cancer for years and was just put on hospice in the middle of the month. The family decided to invite extended family over to say goodbye since he likely didn't have many days left to live. They thought that would be a great celebration of life instead of doing a funeral. I am glad Cade was able to go say goodbye and be with family for that short weekend because 4 days later, Johnny passed away. My memories with him were always good. He loved to laugh and joke and give hugs while holding a beer in his hand. He loved his family and his brothers. It's crazy that our aunts and uncles are in that older age where we need to take advantage of the time we get with them. We will pray for Aunt Virginia during this hard time and change in life. Maybe someday we will get to share our testimonies of eternal families. I am very grateful for the knowledge of Heavenly Fathers plan for us. 

St. Patty's Day Fun

 This year we had Nathan and Steph's family over for our annual green dinner. It was a great time. Emma planned a treasure hunt to find the gold at the end of the rainbow. We love having cousins over for holidays!

Girls Weekend with Boose-Boose

 Oh man...such a needed Mom break with my sister! Cade let me go have 24 hours with Boose and it was so much fun. We went to SnowBird and got pedicures, then hot tubbed and swam on the roof of the resort while the snow was lightly falling. It is GORGEOUS up there. Then we ate at Vessel Kitchen and Handles Ice Cream and stayed at a random AirBNB and played games and talked entirely too late (1:30 am is normal for her but 4 hours past my bedtime :)). Then we slept in (I actually got to sleep at night!!) and went to breakfast and some shopping at the mall. 

I love Boose so much. I am so grateful we live close and can spend some time together. I am grateful Cade let me have that time too!

Another "Where's Waldo" in the Books

Cade asked if I wanted to participate in our youth activity called "Where's Waldo?" Members of the ward disguise themselves and the youth have to walk around the mall and find them. My first initial response was "how in the world do I do that with 6 kids?" But then I remembered how much fun it is and I found a babysitter. I showed up to my friends house in south PG (Sarah Robinson) and changed there since Emma would be participating in the activity. It's SO much fun to see the reactions of others. Lots of youth would hesitently walk by but there weren't too many people at the mall that night so it wasn't hard to just go up and ask everyone "where's Waldo?" But then when they figured out that I was Sister Close, they freaked out. It was so fun. THEN...I got home and my girls were still up with the babysitter. Their reactions were so hilarious. Jane kept staring at me so funny and looked scared. I said, "Jane, do you like to play dress-up?" She nodded. "Well, so does Mommy! I was playing dress-up tonight." She finally gave me a very awkward hug and said, "you look different. Why you look so different?" Nora and Reese keep saying "take it off!! I like our other mom!" 

It was a fun night :). 

Magical Family Time at a Sundance Cabin

 

We had a wonderful little weekend family trip at a gorgeous Sundance cabin. The views from the cabin were unreal- gorgeous pine trees and mountain views from every angle. We had a great time hot-tubbing, playing games, and lots of skiing and snow play. The first full-day Cade took Reese skiing while I took the other kids to the Stewart falls parking lot area and found some gems to play in- a handmade little cave and a fun area to sled in the amphitheater. Then in the afternoon, Emma, Nora and I took a ski lesson together and it was SOOOO needed for me! I have been scared to ski this season. Partly because we haven't gotten much snow and so it's been pretty icy but also because I just don't have a lot of experience and my last lesson/time I went skiing was over a year ago and I don't remember much at all. 

The girls LOVED eating at The Foundry Grill (almost as much as me) and ask when we can go again. We were literally the only people with kids there and we had SIX but they did pretty well. We had to give our phone for Jane to play on...she hasn't ever been to a sit down restaurant besides a quick pizza place :). 

The skiing was really fun! It was one of the busiest weekends of the year but we still had a great time and Emma and I were really grateful for the lesson. Hopefully some of what I learned can stick with me for next season?? (Fingers crossed) 

I just can't get enough of the mountains, the trees, the fresh air. If I had several million dollars...hahaha...that's where I would get a cabin. I love Sundance!