benson family

The grandkids with grandma benson

 Rachel and Ryan- cute twins:)
 Angie and Tony- the newly ENGAGED couple:)  feb. 2013 so excited for them:)
 Kenzie loving the rootbeer float:)

 This last month or two has been crazy!  Always something going on.  Here are just a few pics from last week when we went to pick out our pumpkins.  I'll post about my surprise b-day party that aaron threw for me soon.  I was totally shocked!!  but for now here are just some fall pics.
 jordan river temple

This was our visit to Kenecot copper mine.  The kids enjoyed going with some friends and seeing the huge machines and trucks up there.

Lately, aaron and I have had some great date nights.  We went with some friends downtown to walk around temple square and then go to the next city creek mall there.  The night was so nice and i got some pictures of the temple too.  I want one of them to go on my wall in the family room.  I BIG temple picture there.  Can't wait to get it printed and framed.  But we had a good time with them and enjoyed the night.  We also went up to Memory Grove, up by the capital, and remembered back to when we got engaged there 10 1/2 years ago.  Such a nice park and people were out doing family pictures there and a few brides were there as well.

Last week Bryce was invited to a friends b-day party at this fun center.  I took the girls and they all rode the rides and played with friends. They had a good time as summer is winding down.  School starts next week!  That's crazy.  But i'm ready to cooler weather and the BYU game that aaron and i are going to next week.  So excited!!

Steph has been living with us this summer and it has really worked out to both of our benefits:)  she gets rent free and i have a live in nanny/babysitter:)  The kids have loved seeing her and we're glad she'll be here this next year close by.

I just registered the kids for school yesterday and can't believe they start back in a few weeks.  Kaylee will be in 3rd grade and Bryce in Kindergarten.  He's in the morning session and he now keeps asking each day when school starts.  I think he's excited:) 

We went out to my dad's house the other day and took the boat out on utah lake.  THe kids loved it and it was such a nice evening. 

I tell ya, once july 24 hits, the summer is gone.  It always goes by so quickly and i look forward to fall and all the fun things that happen, but having summer is so nice.  We've done a lot and the theme for this summer for me has been girls camp and youth conference.  Tons of youth stuff going on and that means i did a lot of camping:)  i had a blast though!  pics to come:)
This was up in logan for the 4th of july, but we have loved the location of our house!!  Our back yard faces the valley and you can see all over.  The night of fireworks was so cool and loud:)  you could see all the fireworks going off all over the valley and hear the ones close to us.  New years eve was pretty sweet as well this  past year.  Love our neighborhood!

the moon was out that night.  it was so pretty.

Every year we go down to cedar city so aaron and his brother's can compete in the utah summer games.  They did so well this year!  They took 3rd place out of about 20 teams.  It's always fun to go watch them and the kids have a good time too.  we stayed down in st. george this year.  THe driving back and forth wasn't that great, but the hotel was nice and the kids really liked the pool there.  We also went to see "Brave", which was so cute:)  I always really enjoy the kids movies.  Aaron and i went to see "Snow White and Huntsman" a couple of weeks ago and it was good.  I don't think we'll own it, since it's kinda scary if the kids saw it, but i liked it overall.

June 2, 2012

My oldest child was baptized.  I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful day that was.  It was so special seeing her choose to get baptized and all in white so pure and clean.  Family was there to support her and us and we had such a great day with them.  I got all teary eyed as I saw her get baptized by her father and then see her dress in all white.  What a special day as a parent.  You try as hard as you can to raise them and teach them what's right, and then to see them on such a special day, is amazing! 

Kaylee,

I love you so much!  You are such a special daughter and i can't wait to have many more experiences with you and fun times too:) 

She got scriptures from her grandparents and her special white dress to wear afterwards.  It was a glorious day!

A big thank you to all the troops out there that sacrifice everyday to keep us safe.  Thank you to the men and women who serve as police officers, fire fighters and many more that hold down the fort here on US soil.

This picture was taken at the 9-11 memorial in NYC.  The memorial stands where the buildings stood 10 years ago.  All the names of those who perished are on the memorial for us to remember.  The site was spiritual and you walked in with such reverence for what happened there.  It was amazing to see what they've done to memorialize the grounds and keep it open to the public to come and see and honor those that died on that day.

We feel the pain that happened that day and we come to honor those that gave so much.

This month has been a blur!!!!!!

May 10, the day before kaylee's birthday, i had several photo shoots to do that day and was on my way to one, when i got in a car accident.  I went to flip a u-turn and this guy slammed into me on my front driver's side.  He swerved to the side to avoid rear ending the girl behind me and hit me instead.  sucky i know.  I knew right from the moment he hit me that things weren't ok.  Another guy called 911 and the paramedics showed up and took me to the hospital.  I broke my clavicle (collar bone) on my left side and needed surgery the next day to fix it.  The dr. put in a metal plate and a couple of screws and now i permanently have those with me:)

It was so crazy and we couldn't have done it w/o the help of our families.  THANK YOU so much to them.  I had surgery the morning of kaylee's b-day and i got home that afternoon, since it was out patient, and we still had her party, bounce house and all.  The kids had a good time and i just sat around and watched and made sure to take my pain pills.

We are now looking to find a new van, since ours was totaled.  The front wheel was totally bashed in and i'm sure the engine was damaged as well.  We still ended up going on our NYC/Boston trip  a couple days later, but it wasn't w/o some pain and discomfort.  But we still had a good time.  Pics to come of that.

BUT, to my baby Kaylee!!  I love you sweetie:)  I can't believe how these 8 years have flown by and how much i love you.  YOu made me a mom first and we got through some tough times together, but i've learned so much and am so excited for what's to come for you.  I want to be your friend and have good times together.  Thank you for you all you do to help me and your siblings.  YOu will be such  a good mom someday.  You're always so caring and thoughtful and ready to help in any way.  YOu're smart and such a good reader.  I love you so much!!

mom

McKenzie turned 1 on sunday and we celebrated up in logan with aaron's family.  We had a good time and so enjoyed seeing everyone.  The kids loved being outside and playing with their cousin Grady.  They always love jumping on the tramp and playing at grandma and grandpa benson's house:)

 Kaylee's b-day is this friday the 11th.  She'll be 8!!!!!!!!!!!  i can't believe that!  i'm going to have a baptized child soon.  She got her ears pierced on friday for her b-day and we're surprising all of the kids with a trampoline this weekend.  I can't wait to see their faces:)  We're getting our fence finished tomorrow so now i can let Lia go outside without thinking she's running down the street, which has happened. 

I took kenzie to the dr and she's 19.12lbs.(20%) and she's 31in.(85%)  long child, and good weight.

 My baby turns 1 on sunday!!!  i can't believe how fast this last year has gone.  So much has happened and every day just blows right on by.  Kenzie is so cute and i just love her so much!!  She can go up and down stairs now and is starting to say some words and babble.  She understands quite a bit and just loves to watch her older siblings play.  We have been outside for soccer games this last month and she can't get enough of it. 
She is my ONLY blue eyed child.  Everyone else has brown or greenish brown.  It's so interesting:)  But i love those eyes.  I love her little teeth and her smile.  I take her into the dr. next week to see how she's grown.  Can't wait to party this weekend with fam:)  I wanna see her dig into that cake and mash it all over her face:)  it'll be great!

Mother's day is right around the corner and this will give her something that will last a lifetime.

Saturday morning we headed out to go to the easter egg hunt.  The kids had a great time and got candy and goodies, which were gone by the end of the day:)  Then sunday we headed to church and then came home and had family over.  It was a wonderful weekend together.  and the weather wasn't too bad either.

Some of you may already know from facebook, but i've decided to start up my own photography business.  This is something i've always been interested in, but recently wanted to make it more.  You can go check out my blog and facebook to see some of my work.  I'm portfolio building right now, so i've got a special going on right now to get me started.  You get the session plus the CD for $35.  Go here to check it out.  Call or email if you're interested in setting up a session.

http://veronicabensonphotography.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/VeronicaBensonPhotography

I went to Kentucky this last weekend to visit rachel and her fam. All the Cox's were there and we had a blast!! My newest newphew Andrew was born in jan. and i loved getting to hold him and take a few quick shots of him. So sweet!

McKenzie is now 10 months old and we took her in for her check up.
She's 17 lbs. and 13 oz.  (10%)
29 1/4 in. long (86%)

She's really growing well.  She eats like a champ and has 3 teeth on top and 4 on the bottom.  I just love this girls smile.  She's so sweet.

   she can crawl and is pulling to stand now.  She is really enjoying her surroundings and is in to everything:)  oh, i love this phase:)  (can you hear my sarcasm??:)  but i love her so much!!

last weekend while i was in KY visiting my family, aaron and the kids took off with the benson clan down to st. george to go to the temple with jordan and sara. They all had a great time and enjoyed the pool:) This weekend they are getting married in the Timpanogus temple and we are so excited for them!!

Bridal shower for the soon to be Sara Benson:) we had a fun time getting this together and seeing family. The new couple has 2 1/2 weeks to go before they're hitched:) can't wait!!