Last Day of School and Kindergarten Graduation!

 As I am sitting here catching up on the blog and writing about the last day of school...the new school year begins a week from tomorrow!!! What?! Where is time going??

On the last day of school I like to show up big(ish). Balloons and signs and loud music. We'll see if I can embarrass my kids more next year :). 

We had the Waite's over after school for some yummy sorbet bowls to celebrate summer starting. I truly love summer and the special time I get with my kiddos. It's so crazy to think I only get 6 more summers with Emma and then she'll be gone :(. I'll take advantage of the time while I can. 

Lucy was SO excited for her Kindergarten Graduation and perform her songs the class has been learning. What a cute girl! We love her so much. 

Mother's Day...I am Blessed

 I love a day to remember how much I am blessed. I truly am. These kiddos have taught me more than I ever could learn on my own. 

The amount of wrinkles and hair loss and sleepless nights have been a real struggle over these kiddos of mine. But in the end it’s all been worth it. They have taught me more about myself and how to become like my Savior than anything else in life. Hard. But hard is essential. Hard has been worth it. Hard has taught me to be stronger and to look outward and Heaven ward. The more kids I have had the more I have needed to rely on God’s help. God is good. He always gives strength when I need. He has always sent me a friend or a sister or another earthly angel when I have needed it. I am grateful for SO many women in my life who have helped raise my children and be stalwart examples to them. It definitely has taken a village. And my village is a good one.

Baby Cal Bleak is Born

 Jordan and Faith had their baby boy on May 3rd- one day after Jane's Birthday. They named him Cal Bleak and he is very loved! 

Jane Elizabeth Turns 3!

 Jane is such a sweet girl! We love her so much and the silly but sweet personality that she has. Here are some things about Jane:

She loves her siblings so much and wants to do things with them all the time. Jane lives for baths, suckers, popsicles (or Co-co's) and watching Bluey (lets just say she watched more than she should have during this hard 1st year of Bensons' life). She is a goofball and loves dancing and standing on her head and singing at the top of her lungs in the backyard. She is super sweet with Benson and I can tell they are going to be great friends. Jane LOVES friends and will make just about any stranger her best friend within a couple minutes. 

Jane is finally potty trained at 3 years and 3 months! It is so hard to find what will best entice your little one to get used to going on the potty but I FINALLY found her sweet spot...a costume from her favorite TV show called "Bluey." It is the character Bingo. She was doing pretty well with pee for th week or two before getting this costume, but this is what enticed her to get the poo down! Along with suckers :). She earned her costume and got to start going to Miss Shiloh's preschool last week! She gets to go before her sisters. The original plan was to have Jane do summer preschool so she and Lucy would have a little break during the weeks from each other but she didn't go in June and July since she wasn't potty trained. But she is doing awesome now and we are proud of her! Now to get her to not want to wear the costume to preschool EVERY SINGLE DAY :).

Thanksgiving Point

 We had a membership to Thanksgiving Point this past year and decided to make great use of it these past few months. Just some fun pictures of our adventures!

Grandma & Grandpa Close's New Home!

 It's exciting news...Gma and Gpa Close live just kiddy corner from us. One home to the south and 2 to the left and there they are! Cade heard in a ward council that the couple living in that home were planning on selling. So we promptly went on a walk after church to talk with the guy and a few days later we were under contract! About a month and half later the home was closed under our name and they could start moving in. That's the short story anyway...with lots of stress and tears and anxious energy in between. We wanted them to be able to be closer to one of their kids and the market is INSANE right now and prices are crazy. So we worked it out where we bought it and they pay some of the mortgage each month to help out. 

I think the best part about it is that the girls can go visit them anytime. They just say "can we scooter to Gma and Gpa's house?" Sure thing. "Can we go play in Gma and Gpa's backyard". Yep! "Can we go play games with them?" Yes, yes, and yes. What a fun chapter of life for them to spend so much time with their grandparents. 

Also, the girls are loving Grandpa Close's big toy...the CAN AM. He loves it and loves to share it with people. WE are still waiting for it to be "road ready" so we can do longer trips. It can fit 6 inside the vehicle and a whole lot more (not entirely safely) on the outside :). 

Easter Time!

 The normal Easter traditions! Dying eggs, egg hunt, finding easter baskets, watching the Sunrise and dinner at Nathan & Steph's (since Gma and Gpa Bleak are in Hawaii). It was a wonderful time!

(If you look closely I am in the group pic in the round mirror...PJs and all :).)