Merry Christmas!

35 fine years!

Benjamin Earl Whidden is 35 years old.

According to Ben he does not feel 35 and I would be willing to bet he probably thinks he could do all the things he did when he was 18.

Which would include staying up late, eating chips, cookies and pop, running up and down the basketball court a couple times a week.

Yes, he has aged well, there is not much he has given up, maybe a tad bit of freedom with the demands of a wife and kids.

In my past blogs I have written 31,32 or 33 reasons we like, love the things that Ben does. I would be sad to not do that however I hope I can think of that many, some might be repeats but will try hard to think of something new.

1. He really doesn't mind having grey hair, I secretly think, he thinks, it is distinguishing.

2. He doesn't really take good care of cars, if he didn't have to change the oil he wouldn't it takes a miracle to talk him into buying new tires when they are shot.

3. He likes to do things by himself, I don't mind cleaning up a room and helping him out, he however would rather do it all himself, I think so no one is in the way?

4. When he hangs things they are was too high, Ben being tall he puts things where it would make sense if he whole family was taller than 6 foot.

5. His favorite cereal right now is frosted flakes.

6. He never uses lotion.

7. When he is watching hockey and his team scores he has to find someone to give 5 to.

8. If he does give you five don't put your hand up by your face.

9. He burned down a section of our fence this year.

10. He didn't get any tickets this year.

11. He got a different calling in Church that doesn't have to do with sports.

12. He spoils his kids on Christmas.

13. On his birthday he was shocked Christmas was only 6 days away. I thought he would have figured that out by now.

14. He has been wanting to take the kids ice skating for a couple weeks.

15. When our printer runs out of ink, he doesn't buy new cartridges he buys a printer on clearance we have 5 printers in our house right now.

16. I have finally talked him into throwing his socks away when they have more holes than fabric.

17. He loves his job

18. He doesn't like orange juice with pulp.

19. He secretly likes my suburban, he has acted indifferent, but every time he drives with me I show him something cool and he smiles.

20. He is glad that I found a hobby.

21. He doesn't like when I spend money on my hobby.

22. His passport is still expired and he says at least once a week he should get it renewed.

23. He bought a weight set he has used once.

24. He really wants a German Shepherd.

25. He sometimes thinks the kids are older than they are..for example he tells Kessler to go get in bed. (he sleeps in a crib:)

26. He let Cooper stay home from church for the last 20 minutes by himself, Cooper told Ben I will clean the house. Ben believed him.

27. He will sometimes tell me jokes.

28. He organized our food storage this year.

29. He can't eat as much as he used to.

30. He loves to take the kids on vacation.

31. He can't wake up as easily as he used to.

32. He didn't know how old he was turning this year.

33. When he gives me a hug he pats my back three times.

34. He says "oh great" when I have rearranged a room

35. He is the best dad!

The Vibe

Alivia started dance a few months ago at a place called The Vibe in Lindon. She has never taken dance before and was not very sure at first. Her first day she was very awkward and some of the little girls, she said, were whispering about her.

It was hard to hear her little feelings be hurt however she likes it more and more.

This is a video of the dance they are working on, they do a mini performance at Christmas time and then a showcase at the end of the year.

Alivia's teacher is Alexis and she is AWESOME!

Mad Skills

( This is Alivia's house I took the picture of the side because she said that the gum with the licorice on it represents a hose and the hose holder:)
Ben and his gingerbread making skills. I think Ben has more fun than the kids do. This year the kids were able to choose one more difficult and then make a little house they could do whatever they wanted.
Here are some pics from phase 1, yes this has become so complex we will have a phase 2 installment.
Ben (not pictured yet) an igloo and ice skating rink
Andrea (not picture yet) swimming pool
Alivia - fish tank and little house
Cooper- optimus prime and little house
Bauer- Bumblebee and little house
Kessler- little house
Alivia's House



Optimus Prime with the detachable cab (ben is out of control)

Kessler and his new smile when he sees the camera (it is hysterical)

Bauer and the Michael Jackson approach (one-glovin it)

Bumble Bee

Butter cream frosting. yummy. I was frosting graham crackers with this frosting and eating them just because:)

Did they turn their Christmas lights on...

Cooper has always been known to not pay attention and when asked a question he will respond with a very weird answer or respond with a question.

Tonight:
(a very condensed version)
Ben: holds up a picture of Mary on a donkey
Ben: Alivia what is this?
Alivia: Mary riding a camel with Joseph holding a baby
Me ??
Ben: where were they going?
kids: no answer
Ben: explains what a stable is
Cooper: did they turn on their Christmas lights?
Me: ??
Kessler has been sitting on my lap so far, the kids are on the floor sitting by each other, Kessler won't sit there anymore gets down and hits Cooper on the head and says "duck"
The kids crack up laughing and we never regain control....

Saturday Sleddin'

We decided to go sledding we started in our back yard and then ended up at the school up the street. The pictures are not really in order however I took quite a few and narrowed them down to the funny ones. This is Bauer he was loving the sledding and then by accident his sled went sideways and hit some kids jump they made for their snowboards. I unfortunately wasn't as prepared for this shot and it is blurry, but once the kids saw Bauer go on the jump and survive they thought they should try it too.

Cooper's first jump attempt

Cooper didn't like the 'fear factor' sledding very much, he said he hurt his bum and if you have seen what bum he has, he doesn't have much padding.

Ben trying to hit me with snow balls---rude...although his aim was lacking...never got me

Fun~ I should have brought gloves....tad bit chilly

Kessler's first sledding try..

He was sad for about 90 seconds and then off to sled with someone.

Liv's first jump attempt

Ben trying to snow surf :)

Some of Liv's jump attempts

The things people do (including my kids)

Today was one of the most recent flight adventures I have had in a while. Probably because it was a 4 hour flight and had time to get to know some people on board.

The first passenger I spoke with was a professional ultimate frisbee player/frisbee golf, (that is not the proper name though) it is disc golf. I was shocked he traveled around for tournaments this weekend he was playing against teams from Utah, California and Nevada.

The second passenger was a women who was going to meet her biological parents for the first time in her life, she and her twin were foster children until they were five and then adopted. She has never been out west and could not believe her eyes when we were flying over the rocky mountains.

The third passenger was actually a group of well seasoned (elderly) passengers who travel around together. There most recent stop New Orleans for five days. The most memorable of the group was the cutest, smallest little Asian women traveling with her equally cute and small husband, what cracked me up is that she had leg warmers on.
~I loved it.

The fourth passenger was the man sitting in row eight and I brushed his leg with a VERY LIGHT trash cart I bent over to tap his knee for him to move it (because he was dead asleep) and then he starts swearing at me, I can't believe you f-ing did that.
~He was a gem.

A passenger sitting in first class with a big ol' fat Superbowl ring, we didn't dare ask who he was. We could only see that it was for the Panthers and that he used the bathroom a lot. He told us he took a water pill before we took off.
~ Really a water pill...ok

A passenger probably in her 70's-I asked her how old her cute mother was, she was 95 years old mother she commented she is taking her on final vacations of her life here on earth.
~ I hope I can do that for my mother some day.

The kids some of the crazy things they have said lately:

Alivia in the car - mom I want to go to Hollywood to see superstars.
me: which ones would you like to see
Liv: Josh Groban, Michael Buble and Carrie Underwood.
(that's my girl)

Bauer in the same car ride, I want to go to San Diego ( he thinks that is where the cartoon boy "Diego" lives)
Cooper- mom I want to go to Canada, we have not been there in a long long time. Can we go there when I get home from school.

Cooper decided that the suburban is a girl transformer, (because the blue tooth talks to you in a female voice)
He asked for days what her name was, so we decided that it is "ironista" (there is a transformer named Ironhide)