Monday, July 28, 2008

We Are Alive and in Florida

Hey... for everyone that is interested, we made it to Florida and are doing great. It has already down poured on us twice, and we have seen some monster bugs, but it is really pretty and we are excited to get unpacked and situated. Currently, Scott, me, my mom and dad are exploring Stetson's Campus. It is gorgeous (we are borrowing their computers). Scott and I are excited to start our new adventure...pictures will come soon (once we get internet).

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Family Reunion with the Bensons

Gotta love Chad. He seemed to be perfectly fine in this position because this is where I kept finding him througout the day. We were in Milo at my Uncle Lloyds house. A few of the uncles made pancakes, bacon and eggs. I, to this day, still HATE eggs anywhere near my pancakes. I tried to eat them together again, just to see if my tastebuds had changed (Cause it looks so good to me), but they have not, I still detest that particular flavor. We had a great time with the family...there are going to be 102 members of the Fern and Lynn Benson Family in the beginning of 2009. My cousin Travis and his awesome wife Kristin are having Twins! And my cousin Kyle(Travis's older brother) and his wife Amy are having another baby. They already have 4 girls (I think) so let's hope for a boy!
Some of my cousins kids and my sisters. I will be honest!! I only know a couple of their names. Emma is in the very front and Anna is in the back left. Anna was wearing her swim diaper and what my sister didnt know is that they leak. So, I pick Anna up and she is all wet, Julie at first said it was a melted Otter Pop, but I soon learned the truth! She said it was sanitary!
Julie and her adorable daughter, Anna. Kids don't get cuter than her. :)
Isnt a very clear picture, but this is Anna and her Cousin Emma. Emma is my cousin Jennifers.
I was helping Anna take a picture of me. She did a pretty good job.
How sweet....
My adorable cousin Hayden (the Big boy) was holding his nephew Hunter. Hunter was a tired little lamb and felt that the most comfortable position to sleep would be sitting up, legs sprawled, and head burrowed in his uncle's chest. Yup, that is the way to do it!
Me and the sis at the natural hot spring pool at Heise Hot Springs. We had a great time although the waterslide wasnt the greatest. It kind of hurt my bum on the slide down and it wasnt very fast.

Chad wasnt very happy about all of the rules. You were no aloud to do backflips off of the diving board (and if any have read the post from the Fifth of July and saw Chad's launch picture, he thinks that those are back flips). You are not aloud to bounce more than once on the diving board. So, he slowly walked to the edge of the board and stood at the end of it for a minute. Then, with absolutely no emotion at all, he stepped off of the board and gracefully landed in the water. He swam over to us very glumily. We asked him why he didnt do his dive and he said that you can't do backflips off of the diving board. One more funny story. So we kept telling Chad to do his dive...and after walking back and forth by the line, he finally got back to the board. Now, keep in mind, all of the lifeguards were whistle happy AND it was a crazy busy day. Half the time you didnt have a clue who they were blowing their whistles at. So, Chad is standing on the edge of the board prepping himself for the "dive" and just as he launches, the whistle blows and he loses all concentration. He kicks his legs really fast in the air and falls in the water. We were dying. We had to reasure him that the whistle was not meant for him! I love Chady Cakes.


Steve is too cool for school with the shades on.
Cute little Anna. She was too scared to actually get into the water. So, she just played on the edge.
After the swim. We had a blast. And PS, Scott got a haircut. I think that it looks GREAT! After the swim we headed to my Uncles play up at the school. He did a great job and looked and sounded just like my grandpa! Special times.
Chad had stayed up until 5:40AM playing video games at my cousins house. So he was tuckered out after the swim and my Uncle's play. He didnt even budge when I took the picture. Ususally he will jump up really fast when you distract him in his slumber.

Fifth of July Swim Party (not fourth)


For some reason I am not able to type at the top of this page. Anyway, Scott and I went home for the fourth. We spent the 2nd and 3rd at my parents, the the 4th at the Foley's. We had such a good time being with our families. Scott's family and a couple of my friends came to my parents house for a fifth of July bbq (come one, you can never have too many bbq's in the summer). Scott loves this picture, I'm sure. :)

My brother Chad. For anyone that has not experience swimming with Chad...here is just a little taste. He launches himself off of the diving board and will do side flops. Usually the spray from it lands outside of the other side of the pool, little kids cry, and everyone else hides their faces from the sting of the flying water. Chad is so entertaining. His face is very serious when he launches...sometimes he adds a little roar (usually is when little kids will start to whimper).

A former college roommate, Arianna, my high school friend and college neighbor, Ryan and their beautiful daughter (I am lame...I can't remember her name). It was really fun to see them. They are married because my friend Kim and I introduced them. They can thank me later.

Ryan and I were obsessed with "rears" in high school. We would change a line from a movie, "Liar liar." "Hey little fella, I got somethin for ya...it's me rear..you are afraid of the rear." Ok, Im done.

Stasia and her cute kids and the bun in the oven...(not me, her)

Tiffany and her adorable son Josh! He is such a smart little guy (well, he isnt so little...he is solid). Tiff and I played b-ball together for five years.

Scott, Jenny, Doug, Patrick and Andrew

The awesome in-laws. I feel blessed to be married into such a great family. We will miss you guys!

Love my Friends!!

What is better then Red Robin?
Red Robin WITH good friends! My friends Kim and Chels (who used to be mean to me in 8th grade) planned the little good bye dinner. We had a good time visiting and catching up on old AND new news. I have been good friends with Jonny and Brad for about 5 years. We have been through a lot together, all of us.


The three girls. I don't think I could have made it through some of the hard times without them (well, I would have survived, but they sure did help me a lot). Kim, thanks for being my roommate for those two+ years. My funnest memory, well one of them anyway, was when we were racing back to the couch and started "fighting" for the long couch and I pushed you right off of the couch and rolled right onto your frail little body! The sound that came out of your mouth made me realize that I had knocked the wind out of you! And Chelsy, how can I forget when we had that awesome OV Thanksgiving Dinner at your house and you put Kim and I in charge of cooking the turkey. Whoops...when we tore the cheap turkey cooker when taking it out of the oven and juices were spilling everywhere, all it took was one text to get you out of the third hour of church! I could picture the relief society wondering why the RS pres was rushing out of the meeting. If they only knew it was for you to come to the rescue and save our turkey dinner!

I will miss you girls!

One of My Favorite Places

I am going to miss living so close to the temple. We will be about an hour and a half away from the Orlando Temple, but will still go once a month. This was a beautiful night.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Things You May Wanna Know About Me!

My sister-in-law Stacey (whom I still have not actually met in person) wrote 101 things that you might not know about her, and she tagged all of her sister-in-laws to do the same (and her husband Mark, whom I still haven't met either, tagged all of his brothers). So, since I am home for the 4th of July, I have some time before I go swimming...So, here goes. This will be fun!


1. I had a kissing cousin when I was five. We used to kiss in our basement when everyone was upstairs.
2. With that, my first "REAL" kiss (come on, 5 years old doesn't count) was when I was a Sophomore in college.
3. I HATED kissing for the first little bit because I was so scared of messing up.
4. I used to have a VERY bad temper when Iwas little and my mom made me take Vitamin B pills to help calm me down.
5. I was SUPER shy as a little girl and was scared of everything. If my mom was coming home later than what she told me, I would keep looking out the window and would cry until she got home safely. I was ALWAYS certain that she had been kidnapped or in a car accident.
6. I had buck teeth before my braces...my older brother told me that I would be really pretty once I got my teeth fixed. I begged my mom for braces for a long time. I thought having straight teeth would solve all of my problems...
7. When I was in AAU basketball, I never played on Sunday's and when we were in Washington for one of our tournaments, I was secretly glad that I didn't have to play during one of the Sunday games because I was really intimidated playing with girls that were better than me (including the one's on my team).
8. I used to reapply lipstick after every meal because I did not feel pretty without it.
9. I used to look Gothic because I wore really dark lipstick and a ton of foundation that made me look pasty white. I was told by one of the meanest girls in school that she was afraid of me and thought I would kick her --- is she messed with me.
10. I hated my freckles as a little girl. I would pray to Heavenly Father every night that he would let me be beautiful and take my freckles away (I guess not ALL prayers are answered...I still have freckles, but don't hate them anymore...:) )
11. I also hated my freckles as a teenager. In high school, I bought all different types of creams that made freckles "disappear." I lost a lot of money my senior year.
12. Sometimes I struggle when people tell me that I am pretty because I get scared they will see me too closely and all of my "flaws" and change their minds.
13. The first time I EVER really questioned the truthfulness of the gospel, I was 21 years old. It scared me so badly because I didn't know anything else, but the gospel. No worries, though, it is a HUGE part of me and me life, and I don't have those fears anymore.
14. Sometimes I fear intimacy (not in a sexual way). I fear getting too close to people sometimes so I pull away from family and friends. Something that I am working with.
15. When I broke off my engagement when I was 20, I struggled with anxiety and some depression for years (I still have to work on things even now. But overall doing great).
16. I LOVE reading the people magazines, and OK (all trash) in the line at grocery store. Sometimes, I even purposefully go to really long lines, so I can read them.
17. I have a really hard time focusing on anything for too long. Maybe I have a form of ADD?
*At work especially. I think that I would do better working my own hours and being able to work on things when I can actually focus.
18. I LOVE food. Especially junk food. At church, usually on fast Sunday's, I will start thinking of what I want to eat when I get home and then I can't think of anything else. It is a bad habit, I know.
19. I LOVE taking Sunday naps. I sometimes force myself to be tired so I can take a little nap!! :) BUT, if I sleep too long, then I am groggy for the rest of the day. So, I try to limit the time that I sleep.
20. I feel guilty about things very easily and feel very inadequate a lot of times
21. I need constant reassurance from others, especially my husband.
22. I got a 19 on the ACT (haha, and that was the second time that I took it. I am not much the test taker, I think it goes back to the ADD thing). That one was hard to admit, especially after marrying into a family of geniuses!!
23. I didn't go to college because I strongly believed in getting a college education. It was more because of how much fun I knew that Iwould have!! I couldn't wait to find some tall guys to date.( I now wish I would have taken my studies more seriously. If I could go to school all over again, it would be a totally different experience).
24. I used to NEVER wear high heels, I always wore ugly flats cause I didn't want to tower over everyone. I have since changed my ways and LOVE a good high heel.
25. I am very competitive. If someone jumps off of a cliff (of course into water), I will most likely do the same, just so I won't be showed up.
26. I used to put on makeup before my basketball games!
27. I had my mission papers filled out twice...and never went.
28. I love making people laugh. But feel really stupid when I fail miserably.
29. I love it went Scott laughs uncontrollably, it is addicting
30. I was a huge homebody in high school. I was perfectly contempt hanging out with my parents on a Friday night then going out with friends.
31. I got caught cheating on a French test my freshman year in high school. I was trying to be "Sly." I would lean back pretending that I was stretching and would ask the girl behind me the answer. She also got into trouble. Needless to say, I never did that again.
32. If someone asks me what is wrong and I say, "I'm tired," I am usually upset about something.
33. I knew I was going to marry Scott when he cried with me for the first time (I know, it's silly. Long story though)
34. I struggle with negative thinking sometime and am going to master that bad habit and not let negative thinking become me.
35. There is a girl in my spinning class that always starts laughing during the hardest part of the work out. Not only is her laugh unbearably annoying, it drives me crazy that she has enough energy to produce any type of sound while I am dying.
36. My favorite part of the day is Dusk. The colors are always so beautiful
37. Sometimes I am almost brought to tears when I notice the beauty around me (meaning nature).
38. I have abnormally big hands and feet. They really stood out when I was a little girl. I used to try and hide them.
39. I used to perm my hair. It is now naturally curly
40. I love popping zits (not only mine). Ok, please don't think less of me.
41. I love laughin so hard that it hurts. I always feel so good afterwards.
42. I hate proofreading things...In fact, I hate it so bad that sometimes I miss mistakes at work. Bad habit
43. Being a mom terrifies me, but yet, I can't wait to have kids. Is that possible?
44 My favorite movie is Gone With the Wind
45 I love being the center of attention
46. I am a people pleaser
47. I ran track for three years in High School. My favorite event was the triple jump. I went the the "Meet of Champions" twice.
48. I have only eaten three donuts and some chocolate milk today and it is two
49. I played the piano for almost 6 years but gave it up in high school for sports. And now I can't play worth anything
50. I find great joy in passing other runners while I am running...I will even pick up the pace for a little bit just to be able to pass them, and will keep the speed until I know I am well ahead.
51. I used to have an LA Gear jacket in Junior HS and one kid called me LA Queer.
52. Another kid called me BIG HEAD from 5th grade to 7th grade. He stopped for good when I kicked him really hard one day.
53. If someone is making really nasty noises when they are eating, I sometimes have to excuse myself to the other room until they are done (drives me nuts! And no, Scott does not eat loudly and gross, so I never have to do that). I used to have a roommate that I had to do that with, but she would follow me into the other room....AAHHH (and for all of those roommies that I am still in contact with you, none of you were that person.)
54. When I get nervous, or teach, or stressed, I sweat! I have to be careful with what clothes I wear when I teach or have a presentation. I dont want any tacos showing.
55. I used to be terrified of mirrors. Reason being...I would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night and think that Bloody Mary was going to come out of the mirror and get me. I would have to turn my back to it, but then was freaked out that she would come up behind me. I know...crazy little kid
56. I have never had any fear asking my parents about sex (not that I talk to them about it now, but when I was younger)
57. I would love to be a teacher, but don't want to have to go to school to get my credentials.
58. I love being lazy every once and awhile, but often feel guilty afterwards cause I feel like I wasted time.
59. I failed my first drivers test....really badly.
60. I had told everyone about taking the test so when I got to b-ball practice, I told everyone that I had failed. So the next time, I didn't tell a soul (just in case I failed again). I told my best friend that I had a dentist appointment and I made my dad practice with me for about two hours before the test. I passed the second time.
61. My mom never bought fruit snacks, so whenever I got the chance to eat some...I loved it! Well, I babysat for a little boy one day and ate about a box and a half of fruit snacks. Needless to say, I was never asked to babysit again.
62. I love my hair, but hate doing it (Im not conceited...promise)
63. I HATE cats. I will NEVER own one.
64. Im working on this one...but I still have a problem with silence.
65. When I was little, my grandma forced me to eat all of my cooked carrots (Hated them with a passion) and I hate them to this day.
66. I voted for the first time this year.
67. I tried out for student council my freshman year of high school. I had found out one of the questions that had been asked to one girl and her answer (it was a really good answer). Well, when I was asked that very same question ( Now, realize, I was very nervous. This was my very first interview and it is in front of like 15 older HS students), I gave the very same answer as the girl! I knew I had blown it.
68. I got in my very first fight (one of two) when I was in second grade. The girl was being mean to the kid that I had a crush on. Before I knew it, we were in the sand and she was trying to bury my face in it. I flipped her over and started pulling her hair. None of the kids were trying to stop the fight. Finally a parent ran from across the park and pulled me off of her. Being the nice person I am, I apologized right away...
69. About apologizing...I used to get into fights with my sister and right after hitting her, I would say, "Oh, Im sorry Im sorry." I could NEVER figure out why she would still be mad. I had apologized!
70. I grabbed Scott's hand before he grabbed mine. I felt SO stupid after he dropped me off that night because he still hadn't kissed me and and didn't after that. So, I went inside dying, thinking that he thought I was really forward.
71. I used to love eating just Miracle Whip Sandwiches. Yup, for those of you whose mouths dropped open, it is true. Just Miracle Whip and Bread.
72. I just learned that I have been saying Miracle Whip TOTALLY wrong. I have been saying Mericle Whip instead of Miracle. Scott was so kind to point that out.
73. Scott and I were able to tell my grandpa about our engagement the day before he passed away. He was a sealer and I had wanted so long for him to seal me and my husband, but got sick with cancer and died shortly after. The spirit was SO strong when we told him. He was still coherent and even teared up. It was a very special and important moment for me.
74. A nickname I was given in High School was Olive Oil...HATED it
75. Along with Sticks, stilts and skits
76. I played point guard one game my Junior Year in b-ball
77. I used to have a VERY bad mouth. It was even so bad that I would pray that I could control my language.
78. My most favorite movie is Gone With the Wind
79. I was voted person with the best hair my senior year
80. I was in diving for two summers but was never flexible enough to touch my toes during the tuck dive, so I had to just touch my knees.
81. I used to think that I sounded like Ariel from Little Mermaid, when I sang.
82. My sister, Julie is my hero! For many reasons.
83. I love, "So You Think You Can Dance." If that was the only show ever on, I would be totally ok with that.
84. My wedding day was the most beautiful day ever!
85. I wish that I was more passionate about things
86. If I fell asleep without saying my prayers, I would wake up in the middle of the night and say them.
87. I am obsessed about having a made bed. I will be running late for work and if my bed has not been made, I will make it before I leave.
88. I will compulsively check my zipper to make sure that I zipped it, even though I know that I already did.
89. Sometimes I stress starting a new project because I have a fear that it will not be up to par.
90. I sometimes fall asleep in the temple....Eeeeks, trying not to do that.
91. I worked in the temple as an ordinance worker for a year.
92. I have danced alone in my room to relieve stress!
93. I have a love/hate relationship with exercising. I hate doing it while I am in the motion, but love how I feel afterwards.
94. My family has helped me overcome so much!
95. I love to paint little ceramic houses during the Christmas holiday and put them on display.
96. I used to be mean to people (in elementary school and Jr High) not as "cool" as me because I didn't have a very high self esteem
97. I think that my younger brother John, is one of the funniest people. He makes me laugh.
98. I don't think that I could have found someone who supports me more than Scott supports me.
99. The Atonement is real and I have felt the healing powers from it work for me.
100. I have a secret obsession of looking at blogs...
101. Thanks Stacy for giving us this assignment. This was fun!

Now, I tag EVERYONE that looks at this blog to do this assignment (except for those that have already done it). I hope that it all makes sense cause I am not going to read through it again, if you notice, one of the statements said that I hate proofreading. So, if the numbering is off or anything...oh well! :)