Tiny Tots With Their Eyes All Aglow

 This was a very magical Christmas for Lola. She loved EVERYTHING about the season from the twinkling lights to learning all about HoHo. It was all so exciting and new again since this was the first year she actually understood and could anticipate the holiday. This year, however, was also Brooklyn's first year not believing in Santa. I was a little sad for her at first because I remember 'finding out' about Santa and how sad I was but she actually didn't seem all that disappointed and was even curious to learn the ins and outs of what all parents do to make Christmas 'happen'

In addition to many hours of baking, gingerbread house decorating and other festive activities, we also went down to Lehi to see the Thanksgiving Point lights and downtown for the Temple lights. 

 Our Christmas Eve with Brooklyn. Per tradition the girls opened their 2011 ornaments (purple and blue crystal snowflakes) as well as new jammies and slippers.

 We went to our cabin for Christmas this year. The thought of spending the holiday up there surrounded by beautiful white snow seemed really nice at the time we planned it... But getting all of our crap, luggage, gifts and everything else up there was NOT awesome. However, after getting all settled in we enjoyed 4 whole days of relaxing, eating, hanging out and spending time with our family. Uncle Taylor and cousin Dylan took Lola and Lincoln out sledding one afternoon and even though Tay let Lola fall down the stairs and bust her lip open, she had a great time and insisted on going back out for more after we cleaned up her face :)

 We celebrated our annual Christmas Eve traditions of Scriptures and stories followed by (more) new jammies. Lola LOVES Hello Kitty right now so her new HK jams were a big hit. She pretty much insisted on wearing them for 2 days straight. And here's our awesome Charlie Brown tree (that the big boys went and cut down) and all the gifts Santa brought for us waiting to be opened the next morning.

 Lola loved her new kitchen from HoHo. She kept saying "HoHo Baby awise" (Santa brought Baby(Lola) a present) I'm glad she likes it so much. Daddy and I had lots of fun putting it together and adding the stickers at 1am the night before.

 Luke and I joked that Lola's favorite present this year would be this cheap $7 set of hideous cat figurines... little did we know but it actually was! And we foolishly let her open it very first so of course she refused to open anymore after having opened that one. All she cared about for the first half of gift unwrapping was her kitties and her candy :)

 While visiting Lincoln back in October, Lola had coveted his oh-so-cool pirate ship so sweet Auntie Paige gave her her very own for Christmas and Lola was SO excited! Do you not just love that smile?! It seriously cracks me up every time.

 Momma and Lolie

 Baby's Daddy happy to be up so early after getting to bed so late

 Uncle Taylor

 When you play hard, you sleep hard. Lola literally passed out in the middle of playing on the floor downstairs. I think that might actually be the first time EVER that she has just passed out while playing!

 Presents with Brooklyn. Lola was so excited for another round of gifts even if it was mostly watching Sissy open hers. We had saved a few of Lola's for her to open then too.

 It was kind of nice getting to take the credit for the cool gifts this year instead of Santa being the one who remembered what things Brooklyn really wanted :) Her favorites this year were a cotton candy machine, singing/karaoke Wii game, Hermione wand and HP Hogwarts Castle Lego set. She and Daddy spent much of the next two days building the castle. Luke said that at one point during, Brooklyn asked him why most girls are into lame pink princessy fru-fru stuff instead of cool things like Legos and magic :) Beats me... I was one of the lame ones I guess.

 

Christmas 2011 was a great success and we were all generously gifted upon by our loved ones. I'm very thankful that we were able to give to our kids all that we could and that they had a great Christmas holiday filled with love and happy memories. Next year will be that much more awesome as Baby Boy will be here to help us celebrate and join in on all the festivities and wonders of Christmas (and HoHo):) A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

What A Difference A Year Makes

 Where did my baby girl go?! I swear just yesterday she still looked like a baby-toddler and then this morning she was all of the sudden a toddler-little girl!! I miss her little chubber cheeks and baby pig-tails. I miss her waking up in the night every once in a while and getting to rock her back to sleep. I even miss her cute binky face. But then again if she was still a baby I wouldn't get to witness all the cuteness of her now- how she loves to lay in front of the TV with her arms behind her head, how she gives the cutest pucker-lipped kisses to everyone and everything (especially her favorite toy figurines that she finds after days of not seeing them), or how last night in the tub she took my shampoo and conditioner bottles and held them up to both sides of her neck and pressed on the tops as if they were perfume bottles :)

30 Weeks

30 down and 10 (or less) to go. I'm actually feeling better than I did when I last posted- not as crampy/achy or uncomfortable- except when trying to sleep. This last week, I've barely gotten any sleep because I can't ever seem to find a comfortable position. I toss and turn all night and it doesn't help that we only have a queen bed and most the time Luke is taking up his half and then some. 
As you can see the belly is really starting to take over now. And it seems Ive forgotten just how big I was at the end with Lola because I cant imagine getting any bigger but knowing that I still have 2 more months means I absolutely will. I have finally caught up to what I weighed at this point in my pregnancy with Lola. And I'm sure Ill exceed what I gained total with her but I'm not really sure I care anymore. I have only myself to blame (and lots of chocolate, ice cream, rum cake, cookies, etc). My latest cravings are Sandies cookies and cherry Coke slurpees and Twix. Its no wonder... 
I'm finally starting to feel like were getting close to being ready. Most things are purchased or have been ordered but it all needs putting together and washing, folding, and organizing. Its exciting and scary. I'm even more nervous now about having two little kids. I know it will all be fine, Ill adjust just like everyone else does and will even soon forget what life was like with just one but for now its all I know and I cant help being a little hesitant for this next adventure to begin. 
Everyone wants to know if we have any names picked out. As of now we have 3-4 favorites but just as with Lola, will have to wait to meet Baby Boy and see what he looks like before we decide. With Lola, we went in with a few and after seeing her had to start completely over. I kind of envy the people who have names picked out from day one or even months in advance and can start calling their baby by it before birth. I have 3 cousins all due in the 3 months following me (all 3 with boys as well)  and 2 of them are already set on their names! For now, my brother Taylor is the only one who calls our baby by an actual name- Jean Luc Taylor. *Side story- Taylor has called Luke 'Jean Luc' for years now bc of some dumb story Luke told him where a past client met Luke for the first time and the guy must have misheard his name and thought he was French bc the rest of the meeting he referred to him by Jean Luc (with a french accent :) So of course Baby Boy has to be Jean Luc Jr. but with the middle name of Taylor after (one of) his soon to be favorite uncles! 
 In other news, we're very anxious for Christmas to be here and to spend a wonderful holiday season with our family and friends. It will be over before we know it. I hope you're all enjoying this festive season as well :)

Thirty-Five

 Thirty is old. Thirty-five is super-old. I honestly cant even fathom being that old but luckily I have a few more years before I even get close to having to think about it. Luke however... not so lucky. He turned the big 3-5 on Monday! He seemed to take it pretty well despite a few comments from him throughout the day about how he never thought he'd become this old, where did the time (and his hair) go, etc., etc. I made a point to be overly nice and positive about it for him and didn't even tease him once (bc if anyone teases me the day I turn turn 35 I might go crawl in a hole and die of sadness). Luke chose to celebrate this birthday in the usual fashion- going out to dinner to Market Street and opening gifts and eating cake with the girls. This year, per his request, I made him the most delicious Rum cake. He had 3 or 4 slices that night and has eaten it for breakfast, snack and desert each day since. It's that good! Im surprised there's any left (bc of course I've also had more than my needed share claiming that I'm just getting in my extra 300 (too bad its more like 900) daily calories needed for the boy child :) 

Happy Birthday Luke! I love you and think you're pretty awesome and handsome for a super-old guy. I hope your special day was everything you wanted :)
 

Ho Ho Ho!

 Lola calls Santa Ho Ho Ho. She has been so excited over the idea of him for weeks now and every time she sees him on TV or in a book she says "Please. Ho Ho Ho go." (to go see him). So this last Saturday we took the girls to see Santa. Lola was so excited and couldn't stop pointing and shouting his name once we walked in and saw him. However, all her excitement left her the second it was our turn and she knew she had to go up and actually 'see' him! It took me 2 minutes just to pry her arms from around my neck so I could get her onto Brooklyn's lap, another few reassuring her that she was fine and had her sissy right there with her and finally a couple more pleading and bribing her to take her hands away from her face so we get could just one picture with Santa. So after all that this is the best shot we got. But I love it. Her look says it all. Brooklyn looks adorable of course and was happy to be a good sport as (not so) usual, but thankfully so this time. Do you think Lola will decide Santa isn't quite so bad once she sees all that he brings her on Christmas morning?!

Merry Christmas from the Benik Girls!

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a great Thanksgiving with the Gray and Nehmer families at their cabin in Bear Lake. We sat around, ate, watched movies, ate and lounged some more and even found time to play a few games. It was a very relaxing few days and we enjoyed every minute of it. Lola loved going outside to play in the snow with Cousin Carter or get a ride on the four-wheelers with Bonka and Daddy! We were a little sad to leave our family but excited to see them again in just 3 weeks for Christmas!!

 Lola's face when you ask her if she loves the cabin :)

 

  

 

 

In case you forgot- this is her 'smiling for the camera' face ha!

A very proud gingerbread-cookie decorator 

P.S. Happy December!!