~Our Christmas Eve and Day~

Ben's whole family goes to his parents to eat and have a gift exchange for Christmas Eve. We had a fun time just hanging out and visiting.

Ben, Bentley and I.

Daddy was hanging Bentley upside down. He loved that!

Ben and Trent, seriously they were harder than my 1 year old is to get a good pic.

Troy, Debbi, Brittany, and Austin. I love them! Such a good picture of them!

Christmas morning! Diddy loved his bike Santa got for him! It makes lot's of sounds. I didn't take many more pictures because I was video recording. Its one or the other right?

After we had brunch we were all so tired so lot's of napping went on.

Uncle Mike and Ire and Bentley had just woken up, nice bedhead Mike and Bent!

Jimmy with Brock and Brody. He had his boys all day. It was fun to have Bentley see his cousins.

Overall we had a wonderful Christmas. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Introducing Maddox Brandon Rodriguez

Look at how beautiful he is!

Congratulations Heidi and Brandon! I'm so happy for you and I'm totally excited that I have a nephew ( on my side) now. Another cousin for Bentley!!! So he was born unexpectedly on Dec. 19 at around noon and he only weighed 6lb 1oz. Soooo tiny, but completely heathly! Look at the Dr.'s hand compared to him, wow. I cannot wait to meet him! I can totally see Brandon in him in the last picture. We'll have to wait and see because they change so quickly. Love you both and congratulation's!!!!!

Bentley and Santa

Bentley with Santa last year in 2007

Bentley with Santa this year 2008. He was really good! He wasn't scared at all. He kept trying to give Santa his candy cane. This will be a tradition.

So Fun!

Christmas Traditions Tag!

1. Egg nog or Hot chocolate? Definitely Hot chocolate with whip cream or marshmellows Mmmm.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? One year my Dad (Santa) hid things throughout the house with a bow on them I thought Santa surely came because we had finished opening our presents and then there were more! I kind've like that idea.

3. Colored lights on a tree/house or white. White on the tree and I love both on the house this year we have colored it looks very Santa like.

4. Do I hang mistletoe? I have before but I didn't get any this year, it is fun though! I'll have to pick some up!

5. When do I put up my decorations? Right after Thanksgiving. I like to enjoy them as long as possible!

6. What is my favorite holiday dish? Thanksgiving type of food.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Looking at Christmas lights Christmas Eve and being so excited that Santa was coming with my siblings.

8. When and how did I learn the truth about Santa? What does that mean? I still believe!

9. Do we open a Christmas gift on Christmas Eve? Yes with Ben's family on Christmas Eve. Then when we get home and would but the problem is... we don't give eachother surprise gifts anymore we need to though. One year with my family and Becky we were going to just open one and then it just kept going and going and we really opened everything Christmas Eve! Luckily Santa came!

10. How do I decorate our tree? Lot's of red, but I too love when ornaments mean something so I try and get meaningful ones each year. I would rather a story be attached than just a pretty ornament! I can't wait to make them with Bentley!

11. Can I ice skate? Yes but its been a long time!

12. Can I remember my favorite gift? Again Santa left it in the garage but it was the most pretty bike ever! Then Michael rode on it because his tires were popped and he ended up popping mine! Imagine that Michael riding a hot pink bike, he was desperate!

13. What is the most important thing about he holidays for me? Creating traditions and teaching Bentley the real meaning of Christmas. I don't want him to think its all about presents.

14. What is my favorite holiday dessert? All of it! Homemade caramels

15. What is my favorite holiday tradition? Reading Christmas stories on Christmas Eve.

16. What tops my tree? A Santa hat Ben insists!!!

17. What do I prefer giving or receiving? Giving!!! I want to start the tradition to pick a child off the Angel Tree to give too and having Bentley excited to help!

18. What is my favorite Christmas song? The ones that always catch me in the car (yes in my car) are Any of the Beach Boys songs and Mariah Carey "All I want for Christmas is You!" I do love Silent Night by the Morman Tab. Beautiful!

19. Candy Canes? Yes all of them.

I tag... Whoever hasn't been tagged...Ben T , Elisa, Tiffany, Mom Harmston, Mom McCrary, Aunt Vera.

~A Late 18 month check-up~

So Bentley was such a big boy a month ago.
Bentley's 18 mo. Stat's:
Weight: 28.4 pounds (75th percentile)
Height : 33.5 inches (95th percentile)
I know he's bigger now but I wanted to record his stat's from a month ago.
A few cute stories of Bentley~
He is so cute in the morning. At about 8:00 am he starts out with yelling, "Mom?", "Mom?", until I come. Then when I pick him up he has to point at everything. We start with his redskins football helmet that's on his door and I have to tell him "football helmet", then we work our way down the hall by pointing to all of the pictures on the wall and naming everyone in the pictures. Then we go downstairs and he says "nanna", "nanna", so I break open a banana and we start our day. Our little morning routine is so cute! He of course is still the biggest climber he climbs on anything and everything. He does pretty good at repeating you but its hard to understand. He also does a good job at sign language its helped us communicate better! Another cute story was a few weeks ago Ben took Bentley to the store to pick out a truck or car and guess what they came home with the cutest little doll and no truck. He found it so Ben got it for him. He went through a time when he really liked a baby but now he's really liking cars and trucks.

Christmas Village

On Sunday night after my birthday dinner we went to the Christmas village. It was fun but we weren't dressed warm enough.

Bentley looking into the christmas filled windows.

Oma and Opa came.

Ed and Naomi and Ryan came.

And Ben and I and Bentley. A little if you go dress really warm!!! Poor Bentley I wasn't prepared at. But even if I had gloves and a beanie for him he wouldn't wear it anyways. So that's why I put the hoodie on him, but I needed a little extra coat for him. So I sacrificed my scarf for him that's what Mom's do though, constantly!:)

~Bed Head~

Looks like someone had a long comfy nap. So cute munchkin butt.

Love these moments!