Our Christmas break!

Morning Snuggles in our feeted PJs!! Benn got me some for Christmas!

 Dave got two weeks off of school and it was wonderful!! We got a lot of things done around the house, Dave did some minor repairs on the van, we finished up Christmas shopping, we did some hiking and biking, we celebrated Bennjamin's birthday and the birth of Jesus, some of my family visited and left and of course we had some great friends over to play games. All in all we had a busy but relaxing two weeks!!

 I mentioned before, but we are a board game playing kind of family, nothing beats sitting around the table playing a game listening to little giggles as your salary card gets swiped while playing "Life", or you get knocked back to start when playing "Trouble" or when watching you go to jail in "Monopoly" So guess what this family did on New Years Eve?? Yep, thats right we ate special snacks and played a game of "Life"  and "Operation." 

Daddy practicing his surgery skills during a game of operation.

 We enjoyed a quick jaunt out to Cowiche Canyon. It is a local trail right in the heart of Yakima. It was a very easy hike that we could have taken our stroller on and it is local and easy enough that the boys and I could do it if we wanted while Dave is in school.

 The boys enjoy collecting sticks and throwing rocks in any body of water. If we let them they could spend hours throwing rocks in water. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

My little rock climbers

Grandpa and his boys

Just a couple snap shots from when my family was here!

 So here I sit blogging with one day left of this wonderful vacation. I am super excited for the new year of 2012 and I can not wait to see what God does. 

Fell asleep sitting up in bed

Christmas in Yakima

We arrived home from my Grandpa's early afternoon with my Dad, sister and brother in tow. Then began the preparation for a little Christmas of our own.
With no snow on the ground, it would prove to be a very different Christmas then we are use to in Alaska, no sledding or building snowmen, but wonderful just the same! 
After the kiddos were snug in their beds, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, Dave, my brother and I wrapped up last min gifts to put under the tree and stuffed stockings full and placed them on their beds, to wake to a Christmas surprise.  
Our whole house slept the best sleep we have slept in a long time. Not a creature stirred, not even a mouse!

We woke at about 8:30am to shrieks and laughs from all 3 boys. They had found their stockings and were enjoying their goodies.

We all grab our coffee and coco and huddled around the Christmas tree to see what gifts we did receive. 

A truck to take apart and put together

Aviators from Uncle David

His very own camera

Noah's ark

The boys scored on board games and so for the rest of the time my family was here we played game after game after game. UNO attack, Operation, Trouble, and Hungry Hungry Hippos are some of the new games, but we also played Life, Monopoly and Dominos! We really enjoy playing games together!!

 Uncle Dave, Aunt Mikaila and my Dad all had a great time and we enjoyed having them!! We look forward to their next visit!!

We are so thankful to be able to celebrate Christmas, even if it is not the actually day that Jesus was born, I am thankful to celebrate his birth, whether I celebrate Jesus' birth in December or April the fact remains that I desire to glorify him and celebrate the fact that he came to earth as a little baby from a virgin. He was indeed born in a stable with animals all around. He did live a perfect life of no sin and 30+ years after his birth he died a criminals death on a cross as if he was the sinner.

For What???

To give each and everyone of us the chance to live in heaven with Him forever. He died for us, covering ALL of our sins. He died so that those who believe in Him would not die.

He was born to die.

That is why Christmas is a big deal for our family. We are celebrating Jesus' birth, we are celebrating the biggest and best gift of all!!

We celebrate Jesus!

Christmas at Grandpa's Farm

 We spent Christmas out at my Grandpa and Grandma's house in South Bend, WA. I have not spent Christmas with them since 4th grade. My Dad, Sister and Youngest Brother were also there!! Now, that was a treat!
We spent a couple days on the farm with everyone. We drove into Olympia for last min shopping, we wrapped presents with Grandma, we cooked and cleaned the same kitchen 5-6 times each day preparing for the Christmas day celebration. On Christmas eve, Dave, the boys, my siblings and I cuddle up in our PJs in our temporary room and told the real story of Christmas. We shared with them about Mary and baby Jesus and how she would bring  him into the world while in a barn with animals and we explained to them what that means for us and who Jesus is and why he came to earth. We also told the story of St Nicholas and how the tradition of leaving gifts while Children are sleeping was started. On Christmas morning we huddled around the cute Christmas tree with the wood stove heating our backs and opened gifts. The boys were thrilled to received two board games they have been waiting for.

 Later in the morning more family showed up!! My cousins, their kiddos, Uncles and Aunts all joined us for a HUGE brunch! We spent the rest of the day chatting, eating, shooting trap, playing games and watching the kids play. It was a wonderful day had by all!!

 Caleb was giving his cousin a ride on the back of the his walker.

 After brunch nap, a typical tradition among the men in my family.

 Two of my siblings and I. We missed you Jordan!

 Great Grandpa and most of his GREAT grandchildren. I could be wrong, but I think we were only missing Kaydence, my brothers little girl.

 Grandpa with only a few of his grandchildren.

 On Monday morning I woke up not feeling well at all. I really just wanted to be home. So we loaded up! We took my dad, sister and brother back to Yakima with us. Yes, I know what you are thinking. How did your van fit all of you? Easy. . .

I sat on the floor ;)

We were PACKED in that van but we loved it. We listen to music and sang a long. We did mad libs

and just enjoyed being together. 

After a trip to the outlet malls in Chehalis, WA and a slow drive over White Pass. We arrived home and prepared to have another wonderful Christmas celebration together.

Happy 6th Birthday Bennjamin

Dec 21st was Bennjamin's 6th Birthday! I am not sure what clicked in my head/heart in the last few months of 2011, but something did because I cried on both Caleb's and Bennjamin's birthday. I am sure their will be tears when Josiah turns 4 in a few months too.

BennBenn 1st Birthday

 So on this special day I took Benn aside and shared with him the story (vaguely)  of how Dave and I felt when we found out we were going to have him up to the point when he met Daddy for the first time at 2 months.

When Dave and I found out that we were going to be parents there was a swirl of emotion that over took us, as there is with most new parents I suppose. We were both in the military and I did not have intentions of getting out anytime soon. A few months went by and I had to make the decision, was I going to be a military mom or get out and be a stay at home mom. I was told that after Benn was born in December, I was going to be deployed to the dessert in May and I had no choice. I promptly started my paperwork and took my option to get out of the military!!! (When a female finds out she is pregnant she has the option to get out and no one can stop her)
I traded in my gun for a computer and took a back office job while I waited patiently for my paperwork to go through. Mean while Dave started preparations and training to be deployed. Before he left he joined me at the 20 week ultra sound to find out he was going to have a son. A week later I said good-bye to the my love as he loaded up on a bus to fly across the sea to a hot dessert. The place where, in a few months, he would hear his firstborn son cry for the first time.

Dec 2nd I signed the dotted line and said good-bye to my uniform and hello to aprons, diapers, burp rags and so much more. I spent that next few weeks Christmas shopping and nesting waiting for Bennjamin to make his entrance. After a full day of walking and shopping on Dec 19th my water broke at 1am. My little guy was on his way. . . so we thought.

HOURS went by and nothing happened. I wish I knew then, what I know now!!!

After 48+ hours, pitocin, an epidural, a threatened C-section and lots of encouragement from my mom, dad, sister, four of my dear friends (Names not posted for privacy) and my wonderful hubby who sat on the phone the entire time! Bennajmin Michael Abel was born at 4:21am 9lbs 3oz on December 21st 2005!! I immediately fell in love with that little man! Dave listened to his first cries from thousands of miles away and he too fell in love that morning.

The next couple months went by fast and slow. I was learning to be a mommy and all that encompasses and also waiting for my love to return. February 21st 2006 I stood anxiously outside Airport security holding a 2 months old baby boy who was excited to meet his Daddy for the first time. We embraced with Benn snug in the middle.

Here we are 6 years later!! Benn is an amazing little man. He amazes me more and more everyday. He loves to read, do puzzles, play board games and build his Legos. He is an amazing big brother and loves to entertain his little brothers. He does his chores without complaint and is always eager to help out. He loves to snuggle and he loves to dance. He is sensitive and smart, tough and gentle. He is my BennBenn and I adore him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!!

 Apple Cinnomon pancakes, Benn's favorite on the "Special Day" Plate.

 Bennjamin asked for a chocolate cake and wanted ALL the super heroes on it. So I frosted it in his favorite color orange and made some cut outs for the cakes. He loved it! The cut outs are now on his bedroom door.

 Bennjamin was super excited to invite his new friends over to his birthday. (No names for privacy) He definitely misses his friend back in Alaska, but is having a blast getting to know his new friends.

Why do I spell Benn with two "n"s instead of one?
I LOVE the name Benjamin and desired for it to be unique in the way it was spelled and that was harder to accomplish, than I thought . So the name got two "n"s and I would never do it any other way! He will never meet another Benn with the same spelling and I love it!