A Week Off

This year, the school gave a week off between 2nd semester and spring term. It would have been fun to go do something new and exciting, but taking into account our low funds, it turned into more of a {veg out} week. Monday night, the Bennions hosted what was coined, a reunion BBQ, for the Tonga group + families. It was a fun evening, but sarcastic Stephanie gathered the group for a photo to showcase how much everyone has changed in the long 2 months since they were gone. :) Perhaps a bit more white, but that's about all.

 On Tuesday Trav played soccer and helped dig a massive tree out of someone's yard and I had Bunco that night. But the real fun started Wednesday. I had to do one of those {clear liquid} diets in prep for a super fun procedure on Thursday. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. At least I got to drink chicken broth and eat sherbet instead of straight fasting. However, I bought the wrong kind of popcicles, so my way to the store up the street to get the right ones, I noticed a man walking with two pizza boxes stacked on top of each other. Could it be?! It could. Little Caeser's finally opened!! We have been waiting with baited breath for this to happen. We'd literally update our friends when we saw progress such as the sign going up or notices for employee applications. $5 pizza's are very exciting. And within walking distance!!! Major scorage. EXCEPT for when they open on the one and only day I can't eat them. Of course. I nursed my hunger instead with a lime popcicle and told myself life wasn't that bad.

Then Thursday came.

I was told I'd be put under for the procedure but my doctor failed to tell me that I'd have to pump and dump for 24 hours afterward. So after a full day of nasty prep, waiting an hour in the waiting room, changing into a gown, and getting ready to get it all over with, the nurse tells me this. Weston hasn't taken a bottle in over a month. As it was, I was nervous to get back in time to feed my hungry babers. I called Trav and could hear Weston wailing. He tried again to give him a bottle and no could do. By now I was stressing big time, literally wringing my hands and on the verge of tears. The nurses called all over to see if I could be given something else that wouldn't require me to pump and dump. They finally got authorization to use something different but I'd still be pumping for 12 hours. So I just told them to forget it. I'd do it without anesthesia. It wasn't unheard of, just rare. I just told myself there wasn't any other option, and I could do it. Um, LOTS more painful than I expected. I found myself doing the same breathing I did through my worst contractions in labor. Near the end, I was starting to yell out in pain and then it was over. The things we do for our kids! Then I thought of the guy on 127 Hours that had a premonition of a son he hadn't had yet and cut off his own arm to free himself from the rock. I guess my morning wasn't that bad. Still, I was ready for my slice of Little Caesars. Too bad one slice was all I could eat before I was maxed out. Glad to Thursday over with!

On Friday we spent a couple of hours at the zoo. Bee-a-U-tiful day! The Shaws went too and we probably spent a whole hour under some yummy smelling trees, eating lunch, relaxing and letting the boys run around. When we left, Collin was rosy red and ready for a good, long nap!

 Saturday night was graduation, so we watched Maddie and Boyd for the Cardons during the ceremony. Trav drove them to the school afterward for pictures and saw everyone in their cap and gowns filing out. It is surreal that so many of our friends are done and out of here in the next month or so. It's actually really sad. I'm not a fan of change and big changes are coming our way. 15 families will be leaving our ward this summer. I feel like such a fun, good part of our lives is over, even though we still have a year left. I know this next year will go fast and it will be our turn and that is definitely not something I'm ready for.

Here are Boyd and Weston. Boyd is such a chunk and I seriously can't get enough of his cheeks!

 There is just something about this outfit that I love. It's fun seeing Weston in Collin's old stuff and remembering him at this age.

 Does anyone else do this? It makes me chuckle every time. I love that his face is like, "Ok, crazy lady, you done yet? I don't know why you think this is so funny, but I'll humor you."

Weston is no chunk, but he seems meatier than Collin. I tried to keep these rolls PG. I think I may have graduated from skim milk to 1% with this kid!

 This was to showcase our tulips. They make an appearance for about .2 seconds every spring. Then a nasty storm usually beats them down. Last week was such nice weather, but of course it couldn't last. This week is rain, rain, rain and my little sister is visiting! When I told her the forecast she exclaimed, "Why does Buffalo hate me?!" It hates us all, Marcie.

 We wanted to bless Weston on the 22nd, while Marcie was here, but it turned out to be Stake Conference. I'm striking out all over the place! So we finally blessed our little 3 month old last Sunday. Grandma Ann sent his sweet little blessing outfit. Travis did a really nice job. Rachel was able to write down quite a bit of it for us.

 In the circle were Doug, Creed, Ryan, and Bron (not pictured) and the bishop. It was a different experience blessing Weston, since we did Collin's in Arizona. But I was grateful for good friends to be in the circle. Family away from family.

 I feel like I should have powdered his face or something for these pictures!

 I could eat this belly all day long!

This video will be annoying to watch because I always forget you can't switch views with a video! So, sorry it's on its side. But I thought maybe some Grandma's would like to see some giggles.