Benson Family

Summer News!!!

2009-08-10T01:08:00.005-06:00

Well, one of my goals lately has been that I would be better at updating my blog. So, here is a little note of what is to come. We just got back (well about a week ago) from a great 10 day vacation---we went to Lava Hot Springs, Bear World, Yellowstone, & Jackson Hole. It was a blast!!!

Bailee just turned 2!!! I can't believe that she is that old. It seems like she was just born and now she is so independent---but LOVES to be with her mom---which I LOVE!!! We also just took her to the Juab County Fair---she loves animals of all types. She wants us to get some piggies, moo cows, baa's (sheep), chickens and rabbits!!! We already have 2 dogs and a horse and my sister wants us to get two of her kittens!!! Sounds like everyone wants me to have a farm----Not quite sure if I want all that!!! We will have to see!!! She has been such a blessing in our lives!!! I can't really remember how life was for the 13 years before she was born!!!

I have TONS of pictures of all the above so I will get them organized and post them for you all to see!!! I will have to take the best of them cause on Vacation I took over 800 pictures---Crazy huh!!! Well there was a lot to see---we saw herds of buffalo, some bear, elk, bald eagles, etc. It was a blast.

EVERYONE BE SURE TO WATCH!!!!!

2009-03-17T23:22:00.002-06:00

Hey Everyone!!!!! Please be sure to watch "The Celebrity Apprentice" this Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 9/8 central on NBC.

Slacker!!!

2009-03-17T23:19:00.003-06:00

Sorry I am such a slacker!!!! I will get some new pictures on my site. Life has just been crazy lately----Busy, busy, busy!!! I haven't decided 100% if I am going private or not, however I do have all the email addresses you guys have sent me and I will add you all to my list should I do so. It is fun to keep up on everyone and see how their families have grown and what is going on in their lives!!!!! Hopefully this weekend I can update pictures---I found the cord to hook my camera to the computer---so hopefully I can find the time.

Private

2008-11-23T14:53:00.001-07:00

I guess I will probably go private also. I keep debating on it, but I am nervous about all of the creaps and perverts that are out there that have to ruin a good thing. Please email me your email address (rachellebenson@msn.com) or leave it in the comments so I can add you as friends so we can all keep in touch.

It's Potty Time!!

2008-11-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just have to brag about Bailee. I bought her a little potty at Walmart cause she acts interested anytime someone goes into the bathroom. She will pull at her diaper and try to pull it down. Her potty looks like a real one and had fake toilet paper and a flusher on it. So, I put the potty together on Sunday Night (November 9th) and the next morning she was doing the pull on the diaper so I took it off and sat her on her potty and she actually peed in it. I was shocked. I am not trying to force her we only try when she acts interested ---she has probably went pee 10-12 times now and on Sunday (November16) she was sitting on it and peed and was playing with the flusher while I washed my face and brushed my teeth and she stood up and she had actually pooped---I was totally shocked!!!! So, anyways I thought I would brag a bit. ;-) I will update my pictures soon!!! I have tons to update, I just need to make the time.

The Great Eight!

2008-10-31T11:22:00.000-06:00

I got tagged by Natalie.

8 T.V. Shows I watch . . .
1. CSI: New York
2. CSI: Las Vegas
3. CSI: Miami
4. Without a Trace
5. Eleventh Hour
6. Ghost Whisperer
7. House
8. Numbers

8 Favorite Restaurants . . .
1. Goodwood
2. Red Lobster
3. Olive Garden
4. Sizzler
5. Samari 21
6. Los Hermanos
7. Ruby River
8. Outback

8 Things That Happened Yesterday . . .
1. Got up at 4am to make Andy's lunch
2. Fed Bailee Breakfast & when she was done she threw it on the floor
3. Took Bailee to my grandma to be tended
4. Went to work for a lunch meeting
5. Took my moms purse back to her since she left it in my car when we came back from Logan
6. Picked up Bailee at grandma's and visited with my grandparents for a couple hours
7. Fed the animals (horses & dogs)
8. Cooked Dinner & then relaxed and watched CSI: Las Vegas after it was all over.

8 Things I Look Forward To . . .
1. Spending time with Andy & Bailee
2. Spending time with my nieces and nephews
3. Someday not having to work as much
4. Going to Paige's Baptism on Saturday (I have to talk so I am nervous though)
5. Taking Bailee trick or treating
6. Hopefully having another baby
7. Getting my bills paid off
8. Taking Bailee to Disneyland & Sea World (and other places)

8 Things On My Wish List . . .
1. Money
2. More time with Bailee
3. Another baby
4. Finding Insurance so I don't have to work so much
5. Finding winter work for Andy that is closer than Las Vegas
6. A cruise or big trip
7. Getting my Christmas shopping done
8. Less Stress

8 People I Tagged . . .
1. Ashley
2. Bobbi
3. Mindy
4. Felicia
5. Becky
6. Leslee
7. Alyse
8. Nicolina

My sister-in-law tagged me too so I am adding the few additional "8's" from her tag on.

8 Things I am Passionate About . . .

1. Family

2. Happiness

3. Career & continuing to learn new things

4. Friends

5. Gospel

6. Cooking

7. Having fun (especially with Bailee and my neices & nephews)

8. Spending time with Bailee

8 Places I Would Like To Visit . . .

1. Cancun (Again)

2. Hawaii (Again)

3. Alaska

4. Church History Tour (Nauvoo, etc)

5. All of the temples in Utah

6. Paris

7. Italy

8. Texas (my great-aunt lives there and I havent' ever been there)

8 Things I want to do before I die . . .

1. See Bailee up and get Married

2. Be a grandma

3. Be debt free

4. Be happy forever

5. go on a cruise or big trip

6. Continue to have close relationship with Bailee

7. Retire and see how it is to not work (I have worked since I was 15)

8. Meet someone famous

8 Words or Phrases I Use All The Time . . .

1. Yeah (most of these are used with Bailee)

2. Shoot or Ot Oh (not sure how to spell that)

3. Wow

4. Fun, Fun, Fun

5. Darn It

6. Goof Ball

7. Oh my laws

8. Uh Huh

Bailee Turned One ! ! !

2008-08-05T23:00:00.000-06:00

Getting ready for the big party!!! Aunt Daleen came early to help mom and she got the assignment to do the hair.
Bailee isn't sure about all the primping.
I had to buy the sign. After all she will only be "1" once.
Porter getting ready to eat. He grabbed him a nice cold Sprite.
Bailee enjoying a hot dog and some Cheetos
Her dad at the grill. We had a BBQ for part of the party. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, pink salad, green salad, chips, cantaloupe & watermelon. And to drink we had soda, Gatorade, & water.
Bailee---digging in.
Opening presents.
Her Grandma Benson gave her a rocking horse.
More toys. She got about 1/2 toys and 1/2 clothes. This is a Little People Animal sounds farm. She really likes it and puts the animals in and out of the barn and in the silo, etc.

Aunt Angie gave her a Leap Frog Number Buddy.
Tearing into the toys.
Her Cake---I was a bit disappointed with the way Smith's decorated it, but it tasted really good. It didn't turn out at all like the one I picked out of their picture book.
Smith's gave her a cake of her own since it was her first birthday!!
Sharing the cake with her cousins. She dove right in with her hands. Squishing it between her fingers, etc and then started sharing it with everyone. This is a picture of her sharing with her cousin McKenzie. She would give them a bite and the grab some more and offer it to someone else.

Squishy, Squishy!!!
Porter stealing a little bit of the frosting while Jonah watches Bailee dig in with her hands.
Lizzy wanting to steel a bit, but not sure if she wants to eat it off of Bailee's hands like the rest of us did.
Cake EVERYWHERE!!!!
Stopping to take a drink. Of Powerade of course.

Jonah with a party favor.
Maddison having fun.
This is just cause I don't have one of the 4 generations. This is of me and my parents and my mom's parents and Bailee.
Four generations of girls.

Yup---We had a pinata also. We also had those firecrackers that you pull the string and out pops confetti.
We didn't let them hit it because there was too many little kids so they just did the pull string on the pinata. We also didn't have a tree and no-one wanted to hold it if the kids had a bat. We were going to have the party at the park, but there was a family reunion there and Andy didn't want to bond with any of the people at the reunion so we had it in our back yard.
Maddison with some of the toys from the pinata.
Porter with some candy and watching all the kids scramble for more candy.
Lizzy & Paige enjoying the rewards.

Paige blowing up a balloon. We also had balloons. I bought a Helium tank, but Paige and McKenzie couldn't wait so they started blowing them up.
McKenzie working on her balloon.
Bailee in the thick of things.
Bailee & Lizzy picking up candy.

We had lots of fun. We just had a family party with both sides of the family. It was fun and Bailee got a lot of good gifts. Andy and I gave her 2 new pairs of pajamas, a bounce and spin zebra, a jewlery box, a webkinz stuffed horse that looks like our horse, and a little turtle that counts and says shapes. She also got ----early a play yard swing set--she loves to swing, but we had to buy the infant swing separately. My mom gave her a little lion that she can walk behind or sit and ride, she got her first baby doll from Scott & his family and clothes (really cute ones) from Ashley & Jason & Lizzy, Scott & fam, Grandpa Benson, Joe, Crystal & Bell, and Grandma Benson and more stuff I just can't remember it all. It was a bit windy so I didn't get to decorate like I wanted, but it turned out well. As you can tell I spoil her----but then again why not!!!---what else do I have to do that is more fun---NOTHING!!!

Liberty Land (Lehi, UT) July 28, 2008

2008-08-05T22:59:00.000-06:00

Nicole, Justin & Hagen on the roller coaster.
Haze mad that his mom left him with me while she went on the race cars the first time.
Justin & Haze
Haze & Hagen. Haze wasn't sure about the boat that swings back and forth.
Bailee wasn't too sure about the boat either. Justin took her for a ride on it thought.
Hagen riding solo on the race cars. He thought this was pretty neat.
Bailee giving kisses.
Haze loving on his favorite baby girl cousin.

Bailee wasn't much for miniature golf---but she liked the ball.
I had Nicole take Bailee on the race cars. She liked it.
Bailee stealing a bit of Hazes bottle when he wasn't looking. I guess she wanted to save hers for later---funny thing is they had the same Powerade in them.
Bailee taking the animals for a ride.
Justin---Loving the race car.

Bailee on the Merry-Go-Round
Haze, Nicole, & Hagen on the bumper boats.
Hagen driving his own. Bailee and I were on our own bumper boat, but I don't have a picture of us since I was taking the pictures---I will have to get it from Nicole and put it in later.
Justin on the bumper boats.
Hagen again driving his own race car.

Nicole & I took the kids to Liberty Land for Hagen's birthday because he wasn't going to have his party for a few weeks. The kids had fun. It wasn't as big an amuzement park as we thought, but oh well they had fun anyways.

24th Of July (Pioneer Day)---Flaming Gorge

2008-08-05T22:57:00.001-06:00

Bailee having fun splashing in the lake.
She loves the water!!
Bailee & her dad at the campsite by our trailer.
Bailee on the boat---being a bit goofy.
Jake, Hagen, Paige & Justin getting ready for a trip out on the tube behind the boat. We just got this 4 man tube and they all couldn't wait to try it out behind the boat.
Jake, Porter, & Paige on the tube. Porter wasn't sure about the whole tube thing. He did ride for a few minutes, but that was about it.
Bailee eating licorice and watching the kids dig in the dirt.
Sitting in the Captin's Chair of the boat!!!

Bailee & her dad in the water.
Paige, Hagen & Jake in the water. We were in the middle of the lake and Hagen asked if they could get in and swim in the "deep". So----we let them. Hagen LOVES the water---sometimes I wonder if he is part fish!!!
Scott & Porter
Daleen, Porter & ??? (She is about 17 weeks pregnant). We can't wait to find out what she is having.
Porter helping Grandpa Gary drive the boat.

Bailee taking up shade under the awning of the trailer and enjoying some Powerade.
Playing in the rocks & dirt. We had to watch her close because she would try to eat the dirt and rocks. Everything she touches still goes straight to the mouth.
Paige & Hagen
Jake & Justin----They really like going without the little kids because they can go faster and it is more fun!!
Bailee in her little bikini with matching hat and shades.

Testing out the water.
Porter liked the water, but he was a bit scared to go very far---which is good!!!
Hagen & Paige---They were always in the water. I think the only time they came out was to eat, go to the bathroom and to sleep.
Bailee watching the kids on the tubes.
Andy & Scott (on the boat) and Justin. They were just getting back from one of their fishing excersions.

For the 24th of July (Pioneer Day) we went to Flaming Gorge and stayed at Holmes Crossing. It was fun. We played in the water, on tubes, tubed behind the boat, went fishing, and all sorts of stuff. It was a blast. Andy, my dad and my brother Scott did most of the fishing and caught some Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout. Andy got a downrigger for his birthday in June and was way excited to try it out at the Gorge. I bought this package of "funky flames" and you put them in the fire and it makes the fire change color---it was kind of neat. The kids liked it.

Ute Stampede 2008 (Bailee's 1st Carnival & Rodeo)

2008-08-05T22:56:00.001-06:00

Bailee steering the truck with one hand----I wonder if she gets this from her dad.
Paige riding the bigger trucks.

Hagen riding the bigger trucks.
Bailee riding solo on the train. She was just kicking back and enjoying herself.
Haze, Porter, & Bailee on the Pirate ship
Jake & Bailee--Jake was a great cousin and went on some of the rides with Bailee while Paige, Hagen, Porter, and Haze went on some she couldn't because she was too small. He and Justin are really good to Bailee and the other young cousins. They are great guys!!!
Bailee, Haze & Porter riding the trucks

She rode the merry go round several times (about 6-7)
Sample of mom's caramel apple---she loved it---of course who doesn't like caramel apples.
She doesn't want to keep the hat on while we were sitting. If we were up and walking around she would wear it and not touch it, but as soon as we stop ---off goes the hat!!! She really enjoyed watching the horses. Everytime she saw a few of them she would get really excited and clap her hands and lean forward as if she was trying to get them.

Check out her cute cowgirl boots her mom bought her for the rodeo.

We had a fun time at the carnival. She went with her cousins---Hagen, Haze, Paige, & Porter and mom, and her cousins parents. We also ran into Justin & Jake while we were there. We stayed out and let the kids play until after 11:30 pm. Bailee, myself, Nicole, Hagen, & Haze all got home after midnight, but we had fun!!!

Ute Stampede 2008 (Parades)

2008-08-05T22:55:00.000-06:00

Horse Parade----Bailee loves the horses---she claps her hands and motions for them to "come here"
I thought this was cute---the mini horses pulling the mini stage coach

Getting ready to go to the Mammoth Parade---This is Bailee sporting her new cowgirl hat--Aunt Daleen picked up for her-- and the gals at Ream's gave her a free pink bandana to match it.

The kids getting ready for all the candy that is coming up.

Hagen liked the big diesel---so did Andy---It had a cool paint job and we heard that they won the truck show in Las Vegas with this truck---it is owned by Burningham in Lehi

Ute Stampede 2008 (Baby Contest)---Bailee took 2nd Place!!! :)

2008-08-05T22:54:00.002-06:00

The primping starts.

Add in a bit of hairspray here and there . . .

curls, curls, & curls & a barrett . . .

Not liking the whole primping thing. The price we pay for beauty!!!

almost done.

With the judges----Finally after waiting 1 1/2 hours for our turn

She stole their pen

The finished product!!! :) Soooooo cute!!! This picture should have been up by the primping pictures.

She's a winner!!!! She took 2nd place in her age---she probably could have gotten 1st, but she wa really tired after the long wait and didn't interact as nuch as I would have liked----oh well, I just did it all for fun! We didn't do the novelty because I didn't get back there in time---the theme was Safari Adventures---I was going to dress her up as a lion using Haze's Halloween costume--she would have been soooo cute.

Aunt Daleen did her hair and sprinkled her with glitter. Daleen is good at this stuff cause she use to do it all for Paige----well still does. She was cute---well always is!!!!

4th Of July 2008 (at Fish Lake)

2008-08-05T22:54:00.001-06:00

McKenzie going to help her dad drive the boat for our boat ride on Fish Lake.

Bailee fishing on Fish Lake---We didn't catch anything, but the men did on thier outing.

Bailee enjoying the boat ride!!!

Hagen ready for his ride on the boat.

Maddison getting ready for our boat ride with all the kids.

Haze---Cheeze----he had a lot of fun playing in the dirt as you can tell--

Playing at camp in her walker.

Bailee, Grandma Deanie & Haze at our camp site.

Bailee's festive outfit to celebrate Independence Day---We were getting ready to go on our camping trip to Fish Lake.

Bailee & her daddy in bed in the trailer the first morning at Fish Lake.

Bailee chillin on the boat drinkin Powerade & sporting her "cool dude" sun glasses. She likes the boat and her life jacket a lot more now.

We all had a great time at Fish Lake---It was very pretty there. McKenzie and Maddison got to stay with us in our trailer and we had a great time.

Ute Stampede 2008 (Wild Horses Running Through Town)

2008-08-05T22:50:00.000-06:00

0815 am---We are waiting on the curb in front of Wells Fargo Bank for the Wild Bucking Horses from the Flying U Rodeo to come down main street and head to the fair grounds.

Left to Right---Paige, Bailee, Porter, Haze, & Hagen

Here they come!!!

Now we are a the Fair Grounds and they are bringing them to the corrals. They are being lead by the Stampede Committee members & their family members, etc.

They are running around the corrals

All the kids in front of the corral.

Bailee & her Great Grandparents June 15 at the Fatrher's Day BBQ

2008-08-05T22:46:00.001-06:00

Bailee & Grandma Stephensen (her great grandma)

Baliee & Grandpa Stephensen (her great grandpa)

Hanging out with Grandpa & Grandma Stevie at a family BBQ at my mom and dad's house to celebrate Father's Day. This was Andy's 1st Father's Day.

Nut Cuttin Festival June 7, 2008

2008-08-05T22:31:00.000-06:00

Andy was in charge of the vaccinations.

LeighAnn (front left), Milford (on horse), Uncle Jimmy (left holding calf), cousin Jake (right holding calf) & cousin Justin (right standing). LeighAnn is in charge of the castration of the calves. She seems to like it!!! We tease her husband and all the other guys to "watch out" for her and to not tick her off or else ------she has a pocket knife and knows how to use it!!!

Uncle Miford riding Greyce (Bailee's horse) and roping the calves to drag them to be cut, branded and vaccinated. They do it all the old fashioned way---cowboy style!!! Milford said that he was really excited about how well our horse did with dragging the calves and him roping off her---she hadn't been ridden in quite a while so he was a bit Leary.

Jerald branding a calf.

Bailee & her cousin McKenzie----two little cow girls!!!

We all went out to Jerald Hall's ranch to help out with the annual nut cuttin festival (Jerald is my sister Nicole's father-in-law). It was fun and we had a good time. Andy and the guys all enjoyed the old cowboy style activities. Bailee got to go on her 1st horse ride (on Greyce) with her daddy today also.

Bailee's First Fishing and Boating Trip to Otter Creek

2008-08-05T22:21:00.000-06:00

Bailee didn't really like her life Jacket. But we were going on the boat and it is a necessity.

We put this floating body suit on her for her second boat ride and she seemed to like it better than the life jacket.

Watching the wake of the boat with Aunt Heather.

The fishing was pretty good that trip. We caught quite a few and they were good eating also. Above are Bailee's cousins Taylor (tall center), Paige (right), Maddison & Porter (left). It was a great weekend and we had lots of fun.

Bailee testing out the water.

We went to Otter Creek (Grandpa's favorite fishing spot) the last weekend of May/the first weekend in June. We had a great time!!!

Checking out the "Mini Horse"and her baby (Middle of May)

2008-08-05T22:11:00.000-06:00

The Momma mini horse and her baby

Bailee and her cousin Jaxton enjoying the horses

Bailee, Jaxten, & Haze

Bailee, Jaxten & Haze

More Pictures of Bailee

2008-06-21T23:51:00.001-06:00

Bailee & Mom Just acting a little goofy.
She loved playing with this ball.
You can tell she is her mother's daugter (has some Anderson in her) because she likes to stick her tongue out when she concentrates!!! We joke that it is a family trait. These pictures are from the Health Fair (May 2008)--she went with me and sat at my booth.

Our Pride & Joy

2008-06-21T23:41:00.000-06:00

As most of you that know us know we waited over 13 years to get Bailee. She is the highlight of our lives. We can't imagine our lives without her (and we wouldn't want to go back to a life without her). She was well worth the wait!!! She is growing up so fast. In 1 1/2 months she will be celebrating her 1st birthday. That seems un-real!!! It seems just like yesterday that we brought her home. She crawls everywhere, will walk if you hold her hands, she pulls herself up on everything, tries to feed herself, she has six teeth (2 on top and 4 on bottom) and her personallity is blooming more and more each day. She can say mom, dad, bup (for pup), rug, and a few other things. She loves to be outside with us and see the animals. She expecially likes the dogs and the horse, however we helped my brother-in-law brand calves 2 weeks ago and she liked all the little calves too. She is the best thing that has ever happened to us!!!

Here I Go!

2008-04-28T21:14:00.000-06:00

I am going to start a blog thanks to Natalie! Anyone who wants to stay updated on our family and what's going on can look at this!