Our shirts had our names on the back!!! We took this photo all by ourselves! It was on a makeshift tripod!!! Crazy!

My Macers! Prior to Brighton to entering the photo!

Macy is NOT Looking!

Merry Christmas from the Bensons in our matching PJs! Kendra and I started a new tradition.

Christmas went well Santa came, Nana and Papa came, Grammy and Grandpa came, Aunt Shelly and Uncle Mike Came, Tia Princess and Uncle Mike came, the Kellermans, Durchslags, and Looney's came.....I am pretty sure I left off somebody! Of course we had to tell her that Santa would call all of these people and tell them that she had asked for stuff. Like when Papa and Nana showed up with an Easel she said "MOM, that was on my list?!!!" How did Papa and Nana know? This little story went well! Also, she questioned as to why Santa could be in EVERY mall? and at Santa's Wonderland? and at Cheer? I had to tell her that the real Santa sends messenger Santas to take all the orders, I mean he is really busy....messengers make perfect sense! All of this went over wonderfully!!!

Santa brought a Barbie Dream House with a working elevator, and a smaller Barbie Townhouse for the lake! She got several Baby Alives, which are all so cute! The Barbies, of course, came rolling in....But, I was so proud of Kenley. Before Christmas we went through her "toys room" and she tossed out all Barbies that had fallen victim to Brighton...she also packed up 2 garbage sacks of toys for donation. She is an amazing little girl, so generous. Another time was when we returned home and had all her new toys and were beginning to prepare the house to put it on the market, she actually chose not to open some of her new toys from Christmas and packed them up for the new house. Of course, they just went over to Hollyview....so I will get them out for her right away! Now that is a pretty special 4-year old!

That is right you read it!! We put the house on the market! We are headed North to Spring, TX. Kenley is changing schools and we think we have found our "Dream Home" we are really excited! Nervous and excited. We have accepted a contract on this house and we are suppose to close on 1/27/12. We will pray that God lights our path. Our dream house will take some time to be built...if what we think is our dream home, God thinks is our dream home....

Keep us in your thoughts and your prayers and we will do the same for you! We love you!

Garrett, Wendy, and Kenley

Texas Tinys First Place

We're Strong, We're Mighty, We're Texas Teeny Tiny

Thanksgiving 2011 Lake Murval

Halloween 2011

August 25, 2011...the last time I put up a post! That was a LONG time ago! It has been a long year in the Benson household! We look forward to what 2012 has to bring! We are very excited to a new year and dedicating our time to our family and focusing on Kenley.

Kenley was a Leopard for Halloween! We went Trick or Treating with Jenna and Brody!

We spent Thanksgiving at Lake Murval with Nana, Papa, and Granny. Kenley absolutely loves it there. She loves to be outside. She mowed the grass for hours with her Papa. She built fires with Nana. She loves to play with Granny. It was a great few days of peace and tranquility.

Kenley took her Christmas pictures last week so look for our Christmas card coming to your home on or right close to Christmas Day!! Garrett and I could not get our schedules worked out so Kenley will adorn our photo card this year! But she is our most valued possession and our blessing each Christmas!

She also had professional shot done in her Cheer uniform. We have had 3 competitions so far and this weekend her squad won FIRST PLACE!! She and her teammates are the most dedicated group of girls we know! We are so proud of her. I have to say that Garrett is so amazing too! He is so helpful with preparing snacks for the girls and hauling the cooler around and the box of goody bags! He is the ultimate cheer daddy! He is so good with Kenley, he gives her pep talks when she needs them and practices with her! She is one lucky little girl!

GRANDPARENTS STOP READING HERE!!!!!! GRANDPARENTS STOP READING HERE!!!!

Every year I create a photo album for My parents and Garrett's...the following is what I wrote on the first page of the book this year.

Kenley has finished Pre-School, it was sad for her to lose Mrs. Eifert. She still talks to her every day and tells me something about her often. She started Pre-K with Mrs. Armstrong and seems very happy. She always tells me, “School was fine, Mom” Her days are filled with Gymnastics, Cheer, watching Nickelodeon, playing her iPad and iPod. In the summer she will swim, ride Jet-Skiis, 4-wheelers, fish, play basketball, swing, slide, climb, jump, tumble...although that now requires supervision!

She loves spending time with her “Aunts” both real and honorary. She does so many things with each and every one of the people in her life and they are all very different activities. She has made such strong bonds with each of the many amazing women, and men for that matter, that surround her! She is one blessed little girl.

She loves taking care of her babies and plays very hard with her Barbies. She likes to take Golf Cart rides and visit neighbors. She is sweet and loving and just an amazing kid. She is known at school for her sweet singing voice and her sense for fashion.

My Dad often tells Garrett and I we need to be on our knees every night thanking God for her. Every year for the past 4 I have created one of these books for Kenley, and this year has been the most magical for me. I have not only seen her change and grow physically but I see her becoming a person. She has truly became my best friend. With this friendship by no means have I forgotten my responsibility or duties of being a parent. I see her work ethic, her genuine love for others, her patience, and her heart and I see the sweet child I have created through the bonds of my marriage and love with Garrett and I see what she can become and what a joy she brings now and what a joy she will continue to be, for this I get on my knees every day and I THANK GOD!

This is on the flap....

I started putting these books together so you could look back and see Kenley growing up which she has done, right before our eyes. I now see that these books captures the moments that we can never get back. They hold the memories that we will all hold within our hearts and can’t be taken away, but now we can share them with others and most importantly with Kenley in the future. She is such a blessing to me. She is my best friend and she fills my days with joy and I can’t imagine my life without her and I thank you for the part you played in that. I hope that she brings the same joy and love to your heart and life as she does mine!

Oh the days...

Last week I was holding Kenley's hand as she got her shots for her 4 year old "well child" and tonight she was holding mine.

Last Friday she had to get her shots for school and get checked out. Her doctor said she was in the 95th percentile for height, well duh!! Like we are all shocked, then he asked, "how big is her Dad?" I answered..."not that big" but followed up with "my Dad is 6'8" and both my grand-fathers were over 6'6" He says, "well, there is the explanation...it is not from her father". He then said I am not going to speculate how tall she will be and anybody who tries is lying, I will tell you how tall she will be in 15 years. I thought this was hilarious. They always tried to guess how tall I would be...and I am really not that tall only 5'8" I laugh because my good friend Erin Duffy was the tallest kid in 5th grade and she is now 5'4"...ha!

Well anyway...I have had a migraine for about 4 days...and today they sent me to the ER. Thank God for St. Luke Community ER on San Felipe...you are in and out. My doctor said there was just nothing he could do for me at this point and I had to go...so off Kenley and I went. She heldmy hand and rubbed my forhead as they put my IV in, just like I did on Friday for her. She then repeated just what my Dad told her as she left to go get her shots, "you can't cry Kenley, only babies cry" so she said "Mommy, remember what Papa said, you can't cry you're not a baby and only babies cry" so I didn't. I hope I am better by morning...I feel better now, but they gave me a lot of medication and 2 bags of fluid. They are blaming everything on the heat. The heat is bringing on migraines, the heat is making pregnant people have their babies too early...so that was part of their excuse today...the heat. The doctors looks at me and says take the day off tomorrow and rest. I just looked at him and thought, yeah right! I took the day off today, why do you think I am in here? So I can go back to my crazy life tomorrow. I have to take care of my family and my work! I felt so guilty this morning that I did not get up to make the kids lunches...I could not go to work...I could barely look at my phone through my sunglasses in my dark room. Migraines are pathetic and I don't wish them on my worst enemy!

We have almost made it through 2 weeks of school! Wow what a ride! It will be just a blink of an eye and they will be all grown up! Tomorrow is Kenley's Open House where I have to talk to the parents about helping with parties and fundraising! That is always fun! I also found out that the other big fundraiser that OSL does every year the Brianna Becker 5K is the same weekend that Kendra gets married in the Bahamas. Boy I am going to be such a helpful room mother!!! I will be gone for the Octoberfest for Calf Scramble and the 5K for the wedding. I think tomorrow night I better look for an assistant also. Then Cole has a game on Friday, his first game of the season. I guess I will be out of the heat...bahahaha! Kenley of course has cheer practice first so we will be late, just like we will be every Friday

A friend of mine lost her dad in a fatal car crash last Sunday. That has been really hard to see her suffering. It has really shown me that the time we have on this earth with our loved ones is precious and we must value it each and every day. I have lost several people that were close to me, but I always had time to prepare. I have not been able to wrap my mind around getting a phone call like that and having to come to terms with that type of sudden loss. I had another good friend that lost a co-worker/close friend and my niece lost a close friend in a fatal motorcycle wreck. Take time to cherish those moments, because you never know when those moments will be gone. I have quoted this verse several times to several people this week.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Come and join in your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21

I know there are a lot of people who don't like Facebook, but I have found something good about it. I am trying to send Cole a message each day about how much I love him and to have a good day. I also try to reach my niece Julie or just anybody I am close to...It doesn't take much time to do and I think it can really brighten somebody's day. I am able to let them know I care and that I think about them each and every day even though we don't talk. Of course I talk to Cole each day, but it is just a reminder to him that he is always on my mind and a reminder to him to do well and make good choices. Food for thought.

Our Family!

Four Wheeling in Philipsburg!

Kenley and Cole on the way from Philipsburg to Kalispel.

Kenley before Cheer practice! Go Texas Cheer! We're Strong We're Mighty We're Texas Teeny Tiny!

Kenley at Cheer Camp!

Old Friends, New Class! Kenley and Jessica & Kenley and Reagan!

First Day of Pre-K

Kenley and Cole are back to school! They started last Tuesday! Cole has a full schedule this year. Algebra II, Geometry, World History, Chemistry, Webmastering, Theology, and Spanish II. He is playing football. His first week was a little tough since he started off in the ER. He had a terrible case of Strep Throat. He woke up last Saturday morning with a 102 fever and we ended up in the ER on Sunday night. He went back to our regular doctor on Monday and after a lot of antibiotics and shots he was on the mend and made it to the first day. Although he did not make it to practice, 103 plus degree temperatures was not a good combination with all those medications. He left for Sophomore retreat on Thursday and came back Saturday night and said he had a great time. They went on zip lines and he made a lot of new friends!

Kenley is Mrs. Armstrongs class and still goes 3 days a week! She hasn't had much to say about school, except that it is fine! Her cheerleading practice schedule has really increased lately. She has practice Tuesdays from 5:15-6:45 and Fridays 5:00-7:00. They have private tumbling until 5:30 and then real practice starts. I am floor Mom on Fridays, which means I am there with them tying shoes, taking them to the bathroom and helping them with their skills. Basically anything that they need. Kenley enjoys sharing this time with me, and I love that I am able to do it with her. However, it means that I will be late to Cole's games. It is unfortunate, but Garrett will be there on time for every week. I am also sure Mark will make it to most games and Kendra too.

We are looking forward to competition season for Kenley. The last time Texas Cheer had Tiny team they won, so that is exciting. They are working very hard on tumbling and the routine is very complex and the girls are doing very well at getting it.

Garrett is working hard at Delta and has little time for much else, but football season is getting in swing so that is exciting for him!! He is really looking forward to Cole's season, his first game is actually this week!

I have moved my office to my Dad's place and I am really enjoying it. I love being with him everyday. We get to spend a lot of time together and it makes me realize how important he is to me and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful and loving father. He is so supportive and I just hope that I can be such a good parent to Kenley.

Kenley is really lucky to have such wonderful Grandparents and Garrett and I are lucky to have great parents. They are so supportive in everything we do.

Calf Scramble season is starting to pick up...meetings are beginning and we have our annual Progress Show in the third week in October. I am so excited to see my kiddos and start forging our relationship. It is really when I get to create our bond.

I am also room mother for Kenley again. Our first major project is the Octoberfest, which of course, is always on the same weekend as the Progress Show. I will have to enlist the help of Daddy and Grandparents...Last year it was Grandpa...lets see who helps Daddy this year!!! They are thinking of switching the date next year because it also falls on the same weekend as a state volleyball tournament each year, so we shall see.

We had an excellent trip to Montana this summer. The weather was fabulous and we go to see lots of family.

But now it is back to reality.