Happy Birthday Thayne

I think it is about time to throw up another post. It was Thayne's B-day yesterday and we just had a small family celebration. Because of scheduling conflicts we planned his party 2 weeks from now. His reaction to his presents led us to believe that he was happy with them and he LOVED his card.

We tried to get a little creative for his B-day card.

We might as well call this cake the Thayne special. A yellow marble cake with double milk chocolate frosting and topped with Reese's mini cups.

Grandma and Grandpa Bennett know the key to his heart.....

and a touching card.....

and some really cool walkies.

Thayne has been asking for a "real" gun since he was 5. We agreed that he can have a BB rifle for his 10th B-day but he was not very happy about that. Recently I discovered the world of Airsoft and their surprisingly realistic replicas of real military grade rifles. As a matter of fact a lot of the Airsoft replicas are manufactured by the same company that makes the real ones.

I think He was happy.

Getting geared up.

Thayne with his new A-4 Tactical Assault Rifle complete with 5x20 scope and laser sight. We removed the action so he cant fire anything but it still makes a pretty awesome toy.

I now pronounce you 'Jeff and Steve'

We recently made an appointment for Preston at a speech and hearing specialist. Jess made the appointment via a third party and gave her all of our information. A few days later the clinic called to confirm the appointment. The woman on the phone then began to confirm Preston's information. After the first few questions the lady said: "So, obviously Preston is adopted", not as a question but a statement of fact. In blatant shock on curiosity Jess asked the lady what she was talking about. "Oh, I am not passing judgment", she said. "I just noticed that his parents are Jeff and Steve."

Happy 'B' Day Preston!!

It was Preston's birthday on Saturday. In celebration we went to kiddie heaven (yes Chucky Cheese's) Friday night. In retrospect I can not pretend to understand why Jess and myself chose such punishment (even though I have a brother that insists that I run a Chucky Cheese franchise out of my home). We spent the night, each with a twin strapped to our breast, chasing kids around and trying to remember the best way to gather mass amounts of tickets in order to get that little Chinese looking lantern with a cricket in it. The boys sure had a great time and that makes it all worth it........ right?

Preston getting Birthday wishes from Gma and Gpa Bennett.

Thayne has been more helpful with the twins than we ever could have imagined. The other night as Jess and I were fixing dinner, we asked the Thayne and Raiden to feed the babies. As Ammon was finishing his bottle Thayne got up and took him into the other room announcing as he went: "I am going to change his diaper".

After about ten minuets Jess and I realized that he was still in the bedroom. I went in to find him and discovered that he was having a slight powder crisis.

"We are the chapions my friend"

It was Pinewood Derby weekend at the Spencer branch this last week and they made it a primary activity as well. We entered a car for each of our three oldest children and took 1st and 2nd place. Raiden was beat in the third round by Thayne. We sure had a lot of fun!

Quintons car. He was quite excited about 1st place.

Raiden was disappointed not to place, but was very happy to have the best fuel economy :)

Thayne had a bum wheel and thinks he was robbed, but he patted his younger brother on the back and said "Quinton, some day I hope I am as fast as you!"

Money doesn't grow on trees... but purses do

We took a drive to Ashton (the next town north) with the babies in order to get them to sleep this morning. While meandering threw town I discovered Sunny Dell.

I think it is safe to say that this is the strangest tree that I have ever come across.

As it turns out this also happens to be where pumpkins come to die.

If you look closely at the bags and purses you will see that they were not carelessly tossed into the tree in hopes that they would stay. All of the bags are well hung on a branch or limb. I knocked on the door to get a statement but no one was home. Hats off to the nut that put the time and effort into this work of......... art?

Spring?

We are really missing all the family we had out last weekend. It was a lot of fun and the blessing(s) were wonderful. After the blessings, during testimony meeting, sister Peterson (whose husband is the 2nd councilor in the branch presidency and was in the circle) bore her testimony. She related an experience she remembered from her ward growing up. She told of a young boy getting up in testimony meeting and simply and completely stating "I love Jesus!" She then said "I got to witness that young boy now a father, bless his twin babies today". Danielle Peterson was formerly Danielle Parrot for those of my siblings that remember.


It was a great weekend, only we made one great over site. We were all having so much fun that everyone completely forgot to take any pictures of the open house/Superbowl party. Oh well.


Here are some pics of the twins and such.

Ammon eats or sleeps.

Davin was not too happy about the hat

They chill together pretty well. We hope that continues!

It's a giggle I swear.

Last night we had a thunderstorm. I mean a real Midwest thunder, lightning, trees blowing over, significant down poor thunderstorm. Then today it was 55degrees!! It felt like spring. But poor frosty had a very violent and sudden end to his short life!

How cold is too cold?

The official temperature at the Sheldon airport this morning was -27.... no that is not Celsius and no that is not wind chill. That was the actual air temperature.

EXCITING!!

Running in the dark

I ended up having a number of meetings after church this week that kept us there for a couple of hours. We set the boys loose in the cultural hall to let them entertain them selves. I had finished, and Jess and I were chatting with some friends when we heard Raiden's unmistakable howl of pain. I ran in to the room the find the lights off and told Raiden to come to the door. He walked towards the light with his hand extended and I saw that it was covered in blood. Before looking him over any further I picked him up and ran him to the bathroom to wash him off and assess the damages. It wasn't until I stood him in front of the mirror That I realized what he had really done.

A gash lay open just above his eye.

Dad: What happened?

Raiden: (Sobbing) I ran into the piano.

Dad: Didn't you see it?

Raiden: No, we were playing hide'n seek in the dark.

Dad: Maybe that wasn't a very good idea.

Raiden: Why not?

We got him off to the hospital where he received 6 stitches from a doctor that Raiden promptly declared to be too old to be a doctor. That brings Raiden's stitch tally to 27... and counting.

Some pics

About 30 seconds later Radien was asleep as well.

Suddenly the house was quiet. Then we found Preston, devoid of all clothing, cuddling with a stuffed rabbit and knew why.

Preston has an obsession with other peoples shoes. Here he is trying on Grandpa's boots.

The only posed shot we got on Christmas morning.

We started them out separated by blankets, but Davin found his way next to his brother.

We put all the snow we have to good use. A snowball fight of epic proportions!

Helping hands

I left the house at 12:00 noon to run some errands. I returned home at 2:30 and found this.

The conversation went as follows.....

Dad: Hi boys. Where is mommy?

Raiden: Sleeping.

Dad: Oh did she just lay down?

Thayne: No. She went to sleep after lunch.

Dad: Have you been holding the babies that long?

Raiden: No. The babies started crying so Thayne made the bottles and changed Ammon's diaper and I put on a movie for Quinton.

Dad: That was very helpful. I am very proud of you!

Thayne: Does that mean we get special privileges?!

We are very very thankful to have loving and helpful big brothers for the twins. They have been a lot of help! And on occasion, Preston even relinquishes his plans to destroy the babies.