Belen's First Fishing Trip!

March 19th

Spokane, WA

We have some really great friends in Spokane and decided that since we were going to be as close as Moscow, ID to them that we should really take the opportunity to spend some time up there as well. Spokane is one of the most affordable places to live in Washington State and actually has trees, waterways, hills, mountains, and from what I hear great family hiking trails and parks as well.

We stayed with a really great family that Zak had known from his teenaged years in Ohio. The Frerichs! This couple were newlyweds when they joined Zak's family ward in Ohio as Dennis completed the requirements to become a Physicians Assistant. He now specializes in Orthopedics. I had such a great time getting to know Janyse and meeting their two kids. She schooled us all on the Wii. I am terrible at video games of any kind but I enjoy the time with good people so that's all I really care about.

My best friend since forever, Yvonne, also lives in Spokane with her husband and their two adorable girls. We had the opportunity to visit with them and I got to feed them some Spicy Black Bean Burgers (one of our family favorites) that weren't spicy this time because I couldn't find a fresh jalapeno. Now, of course I realize that I could have just bought a small can of jalapenos to use but at the time my pregnant brain got in the way. They were still quite yummy. We also made Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies which were yummy! Another of my favorite people moved to Spokane recently, Aeranee, and we got to spend time with her as well and get caught up a bit. I really miss those chicas! It's crazy that after all these years and life experiences that have taken us in many different directions, when I get together with these, my friends of my childhood it just feels comfortable...like a piece of home, love, friendship, childhood innocence, and all the good things I remember about growing up where we did returns and I remember who I was...who I still am. Our history keeps us bound despite the distance and changes life brings us. I feels good.

As I'd mentioned in a previous post, my camera remained untouched this entire trip. All except for this cute picture of Yvonne's cutie, Mia.

Moving Day

This day was Saturday April 11th for us. It was a long day full of heard work, sweat, and a touch of nostalgia. We brought our daughter home from the hospital into this apartment complex. Moving from it and all our friends we'd met and grown to love through our time there was laced with a touch of sadness but excitement as well because it marked the beginning of the next phase of our lives together, as a family.

Credit for artwork Belongs to Scott Samuelson, he was our bishop for a period of time while we lived at these apartments (pictured immediately below the temple) and is an English professor at BYU-I. If you would like to view more of his artwork please click here.

Coming Soon!

Stay with me...TONS have been happening with our family in the last 2 weeks and I barely have time to sleep these days. You can look forward to hearing all about Zak's Graduation, our trip to Moscow, ID to check out their town, the U of Idaho campus and look into their Master's in Accounting program, a little foray into Spokane to visit some great friends living out there, our new apartment in town (temporary) and Zak's summer job...I think that's it for now. Details and pictures to follow in the next few days. Keep checking back!!!

Hemet with the Howards!

Belen and I took a trip down to Hemet, CA to visit the Howards last week.  We had a great time! Belen and Damen played so well together that other than some minor refereeing between the two from time to time they pretty much occupied each other the whole time we were there! Maybe I can handle having two kiddos after all!  Melanie (Damen's mommy of course) is a great friend of mine from our days back in the 'Shoug.  We went to middle school, high school and 1 year of college (at Rick's) before she and Dustin got married.  Melanie was the second in our group of girl friends to get married...just to put that into perspective I was the 4th, followed shortly by Julie, and 2 of our pals have yet to tie the knot.  I believe I have been quite blessed in the "great friends" department.  To explain a bit of what I mean...this group of girl friends I'd mentioned...we are all very different people who led our own individual lives, participated in our own clubs, athletic teams, and social groups but were always able to come together as though no time had passed and truly enjoy one another's company.  Now, as adults, our lives have taken us in many different directions; circumstance and miles separate us but despite this it is wonderful to know that we are still great friends.

Amidst All the Craziness....

We are down to the wire here in the Benson household.  Zak and I both are working hard to wrap up class assignments and prepare for finals.  We will be going to Washington for the Christmas Break so I have the added responsibility of making sure my house is clean and organized and we are all packed and ready to go early early Saturday morning.  I also get to make sure the car is ready for the trip...hummm...Belen is also keeping me pretty busy...her second tooth just popped through last week and she's been a bit cranky the last couple days so I'm wondering if another isn't trying to come through as well.  Whelp, we shall see soon enough!

Despite all the craziness around here I did get the chance to sit down with an old friend and chat a bit as we played with our kiddos.  It was really nice and we got a couple pictures snapped.  Here is Belen and Kyden.  Kyden just crawled up and sat in between Belen's legs! CUTE! CUTE! CUTE!

Here Belen and Kyden were taking turns loving on Kyden's teddy bear.

Whelp...Seeing as my parents (we will be staying with them while we are visiting) are living in the internet dark ages (a.k.a. the dreaded DIAL-UP) it is quite possible that I will not have the patience to post anything (especially photos) for the next couple weeks.  In that case, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!