Five Busy B's: November 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are in Morehead City, NC with my parents and Clint & Corinne's family. We have had so much fun with little outings and mostly a lot of relaxing. I wanted to post just a few pictures from the actual Thanksgiving day - followed by the most important thing that happened that day!

We strolled along the Morehead waterfront on a gorgeous day. It was totally deserted, which was great. Here the boys are swinging on some public swings.

We had a fabulous dinner. Can you see the tower of rolls? They were awesome rolls. There were 4 batmen at the table... these boys rarely took off their masks.

Here the kids are eating the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins that Corinne made. They were a HIT! (Maybe I'll post the recipe...) I was in the dining room talking with relatives and eating "adult desserts" (food we didn't want to share with the kids) and didn't realize Carter was eating 7, yet 7, cupcakes!

Our muffin enjoying a muffin... She loved these also... She napped through dinner and joined us for dessert.

Most importantly..... after dinner the kids went outside to ride bikes and play. Matthew came in and asked for the training wheels to be taken off his bike. Dad went out to do it and Bill went out to help him ride the bike (he hasn't really ever ridden a 2-wheeler). Bill held him for 5 seconds, pushed off.... and he was riding! I was in the dining room and went running out to see and take pictures! He was so proud of himself... we just couldn't believe it.

Here Bill is standing with his arms out like "He just took off riding!"

It was a fun day. Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksfulness...

Ten things I am so very thankful for...

1. My family - including my beautiful children, super supportive husband and the great family I was born into. (I also really like the family I married into!)
2. Books
3. Living in America with our freedoms and opportunities
4. The restored Gospel and being 'a forever family'.
5. My minivan and it's automatic doors and other luxuries that make the chaos quite endurable.
6. Really good friends
7. My husband's job
8. Sleep
9. Diet Coke
10. Chocolate

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Ramblings...

A few updates from Team Benjaminsen: We are officially now a 2-large-pizza-family. Last night we had pizza and got a large and a small. Everything was gone by the end! We can't believe that is our new status!

Also, Matthew said the cutest thing yesterday. We were walking in Target and passed a Coca-Cola display with boxes that have Santa on them. Matthew said with big eyes and lots of wonder, "Wow, Santa must be old enough to drink Diet Coke!"

Yet another cute (touching) thing he said the other day in the car. He said "Mom, isn't it going to be so sad when the kids are grown up and you have no more kids at home?" I told him how terribly sad I would be (then secretly wished for just 2 hours like that!).

Monday, November 10, 2008

Sarcasm in a 4 year old...

Background: Our little Matthew has picked up this habit (I'm praying it's a short-lived stage) of wanting to change his outfit about 4-5 times a day. I've heard of other kids (usually girls) doing this and prayed it wouldn't hit any of my kids. Matthew insists on having 'morning clothes' that he puts on when he wakes up then another set of clothes for school then he changes several other times. He's actually quite good at putting the dirty ones in the laundry - but I do a lot of laundry.

On to the story.... Last week Matthew insisted on a wardrobe change right as we really trying to get out the door. He ran upstairs and I could hear him walking around and banging things. I kept calling up saying "Come on Matthew, we're going to be late" and "Please come down Matthew". He shouted down a few things - then he finally shouted down - "DO YOU WANT ME TO BE UNDERWEAR MAN?" I couldn't stop laughing...

Last night, in an attempt to tell Bill he was ready to brush his teeth, he said "Dad, do you want me to get cavities?" with a big sarcasm look on his face.

As long as it stays funny... otherwise we have some work to do!

Uncle Glenn is strong!

Uncle Glenn and Kathy came over for dinner last night - here he is showing off his amazing strength! These boys are not on the low end of the weight scale! Everyone needs an Uncle Glenn!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Sunday Brisket

This is a fabulous sunday dinner that everyone in our family absolutely loves, it's super easy and just right for a Sunday when you need the oven to heat up the house a bit! Enjoy!

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 cup chili sauce

3/4 cup ketchup

1 envelope dry onion soup mix

12 oz beef broth

3-4 lb breef brisket

15 small red potatoes

1 lb baby carrots

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Stir together first 5 ingredients. Place brisket, fat side up, in a large roasting pan or Dutch oven; piece several times with a fork. Arrange potatoes and carrots evenly around brisket; then pour sauce mixture evenly over brisket and vegetables.

Bake, covered, for 3 1/2 hours, basting occasionally with sauce. Remove from oven, and let stand in pan, for 20 minutes. Remove brisket from pan and cut into slices (we remove the slab of fat at this point). Return slices to pan with potatoes and carrots. Bake, covered 30 more minutes.

Note: Our BJs usually sells about a 7 lb brisket so we cut it in half and freeze the second half for another sunday dinner. Also - don't use CORNED beef brisket, as I did the first time as I didn't know the difference:) Gigantic difference!!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Abby is a Character

Abby just loves her brothers. Here she is trying to be her own version of Indiana Jones. I thought the hat was just so cute!

Close-Up for our female Indy (or Marian...)

Today the boys got haircuts and lollipops at the Barber shop. I thought Abby had only taken one lollipop - until I looked back and saw she had taken two! Why suck one when you can suck two!!