Beckham is 11!! :)

Beckham is 11!! :) He's officialy a pre-teen and I think he's pretty proud of it, haha. We love him so much. This past year he has grown and matured so much. He loves helping in the kitchen, and is comfortable putting things in and taking things out of the oven. He is also really good at following a recipe, and he slices bread better than anyone else in our family (besides me, haha, we're tied). He's an amazing helper, I can depend on him to get things done. He also hates to be late for ANYTHING so he's always one of the first ones ready when we're leaving the house, which is so helpful (he's like his momma). 

One thing I noticed this year was how he really developed a close relationship with Captain. Almost every morning he's the one to let Captain out of his pen, and then he sits on the floor and pets him for like thirty minutes and tells me how cute everything is about him, haha. He absolutely loves him and it makes me so happy. He also gives him pretty regular baths! He's amazing. 

He has his moments of teasing and getting frustrated with his siblings, but he is also willing to help them and be sweet to them. He enjoys helping Roz and Ander with their Kiwi and Koala crates that they get in the mail, he also helps them build LEGO's, make paper airplanes, and so many other things. He tucks Roz in every night and helps Ander not be afraid. He's just really sweet. 

Beckham LOVES skiing and improved so much from last season to this season. He also enjoys playing soccer (but he says he's not playing next year, we'll see). He loves to play Minecraft, read books about cars, be the "screamer" for Bridger's YouTube videos, and he does amazing finishing his school quickly every day. 

Story here. It came to my attention that, for a few months, Beckham had been skipping math. I told him to make it right by doing double lessons each day until he made up the difference. Well...funny thing happened...he realized he LOVES math, haha. He's been cruising through Life of Fred and enjoying it ever since! It's one of his favorite subjects now. :) 

He loves to ride his bike and go mountain biking with us when we go, he loves building LEGO's (especially technic sets), he loves to read good books, he enjoys listening to podcasts, and he enjoys flying planes on the flight simulator (he's really good!). His favorite color is still orange (it's always been orange, haha). He also loves to get on the piano and play the songs he's learned, he's doing great! 

He eats pretty much everything I cook without complaint, and he's not super picky, but he has his favorites! He loves spaghetti, salsa on his tacos, lasagna, pizza, tofu fried rice, pancakes, and scrambled eggs (among others). He loves to snack on fruit throughout the day, and also loves cucumbers and carrots.

Another thing he's been learning? Crocheting and cross-stitching from Grandma Brown! It's so fun! The crocheting was more difficult than the cross-stitching and he's still working on getting his stitches tighter, but he did absolutely amazing on the cross-stitching Grandma Brown brought for everyone to do when they visited. 

He almost always keeps a postiive attitude, hardly ever complains, and is always up for fun! Board games, jumping on the trampoline, playing a video game with one of his siblings, crafting, and all the fun stuff. He's looking forward to graduating from primary and being ordained a deacon in January! My baby is growing up so fast!  

22 Questions With Beckham:

1. What is your favorite toy? Orin, my squishmallow
2. What is your favorite part about school? Math
3. Who is your favorite scripture hero? John
4. What is your favorite food? Lasagna
5. What is your favorite dessert? Chocolate cake with homemade ice cream
6. What is your favorite vegetable? Carrots
7. What is your favorite fruit? Cosmic Crisp, Gala, and Sutumn Glory apples.
8. What do you want to be when you grow up? A mechanic
9. What is your favorite snack? Simple Mills cheez-its
10. What is your favorite book? The Wingfeather Saga
11. What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast? Kamut with lots of maple syrup
12. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
13. What does Mom always say to you? Time to get off the screens!
14. What does Dad always say to you? Bye, beckham!
15. What is your favorite TV show? Youtube
16. Who is your best friend? Brigham
17. What are you really good at? Skiing
18. If you could have a wish, what would it be? To have fifteen more wishes!
19. What is your favorite primary song? Gethsemane
20. What vegetable do you hate the most? Tomatoes
21. Best memory from this year? When we went to the St. George temple open house.
22. Something you accomplished? Eating vegetables I hate.

We love Beckham so much and are so grateful to have him forever in our family. :)

Hurricane Trip & Easter!! :)

While living in Montana we make sure to go to Hurricane twice a year, and one of those times is always around Easter! Our kids LOVE Grandma Brown's Easter egg hunts and they love celebrating with all of their cousins. I'm so grateful my mom continues this tradition, I know it's so much work, but the kids and even the adults truly do LOVE the hunt every year. The kids also love decorating Easter eggs together. But Easter morning, she puts out clues in eggs for each grandkid, and the parents put together the baskets and hide them. She also throws out toys on the lawn, and hides money eggs for the older kids. She even puts together baskets for the couples. She does such an amazing job. 

Easter weekend, before the egg hunt, Benson was baptized! We also had a birthday celebration for him there with his cousins. :) Jeremy and I were also able to go to the temple twice with Grandma and Grandpa Brown, and the second time Jarom and Marisa joined us. It was amazing! We live a lot further away from the temple here in Montana, so when we go down South, we always try to get temple trips in because a twenty minute drive is much shorter! Jeremy and I were also able to take Bridger to do baptisms for the dead, and we also loved that so much. Three temple trips in two weeks! :) 

We spent LOTS of time outside in the warm weather! Jeremy and I took Beckham and Benson on two different mountain bike rides which they did AWESOME on. This was Benson's first time joining us and he rode like a champ! Like, he literally just took off and I actually had to tell him to calm down so I could teach him how to do it, haha. He did so good, and was so risilient, no complaining at all even though it was tough. He fell down a few times, and just jumped up and got back on his bike without any complaints. I'm proud of both of Benson and Beckham for joining us and loving it. I love sharing our favorite hobbies with our kids! Jeremy and I went on one or two others on our own, too, they are our favorite sort of date!

Grandpa Brown bought a couple of tiny motorcycles that he needed to fix up a bit for the kids to ride. Beckham has been interested in cars and being a mechanic for a long time now and he had fun helping Grandpa get them ready. When they got them running, he went for a ride and did really good, but he slid out on the gravel and got hurt and then he didn't want to ride it anymore, haha. He said he would never ride it again, but he did eventually get back on and cruised around the street with Grandpa. I think he's still nervous about it, he says he's never riding it again, but I'm hoping when we go down again in October he'll give it a go again. :)

Jarom and Marisa were super kind and offered to take all of us on a ride in their Razor one day, which was SO FUN. We absolutely LOVED it. We had to take turns because it only seats five and Brianna and Alek and Grandma were riding too, but the kids just played in the dirt while they waited, haha. 

I also have to note that since Jarom and Marisa bought a house in Hurricane, this trip our kids loved playing there with their kids. Roz and Sage played dress up and all their girly games, which was also so fun, they're finally old enough to start being friends and they love each other! It's cute. :) 

Anyway, we always love our trips to visit family in Southern Utah, can't wait to go back. :)

Benson is 8!! :)

 Mr. Benz is eight!! He turned eight on March 21st (I forgot to press publish on this post, which is why the date is showing so late). 

This is a really special birthday, and he has been excited for months and years waiting for this one. We ended up being able to celebrate in Hurricane with Grandma and Grandpa Brown, and Jarom and Marisa's family. He chose homemade lasagna for dinner, with chocolate cake with sprinkles for dessert! He was able to play some video games with his siblings, and went to the store with Daddy to choose a toy, and we spent a bunch of time outside in the sunny weather. :)

A few days later, the day before Easter Sunday, Benson chose to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. :) He helped me choose all the people participating in the program, Grandma Brown gave the talk on baptism, and he asked me to do the talk on the Holy Ghost. Daddy baptized and confirmed him, and he asked Bridger and Beckham to be the witnesses (Grandpa Brown stood near to make sure they knew what to do, haha). Benson was so happy and excited to be baptized, his joy was contagious. The Spirit was strong there and I'm so happy he chose to be baptized so he can grow closer to Jesus Christ. We had a special order of CTR cookies in the shape of shields made to celebrate, and he also received gifts: His very own scriptures, marking crayons, a bookmark, a baptism journal, and article of faith card from Mom and Dad. A scripture case from Grandma and Grandpa Brown, and a journal from Great Aunt Kathie. We also had those who attended write down their testimonies or positive notes to Benson while he and Daddy changed their clothes. In his confirmation circle: Daddy, Grandpa Brown, Uncle Jarom, Uncle Cade, and Bishop Lee (who was conducting for us). Bishop Lee was so kind to recognize Benson at church the next day, even though Benson didn't expect it and was involved in a maze and so Daddy had to practically lift him out of his seat, haha. It was a sweet thought. Their ward always includes us and makes us feel so loved. 

Benson brings a very sweet, thoughtful, and creative energy to our family. While he does his share of starting fights and a little teasing here and there, most of the time, he is a peacemaker, for sure. He makes up little games for Ander and Roz to help them eat their dinner or do chores, and it almost always works! He is quick to share his stuffed animals to cheer Ander and Roz up, along with the sweet pictures, stories, games, and notes he creates. He is always making gifts and games out of cardboard and paper for every member of our family. He is always willing to help without complaint. He loves to play and craft with Ander and Roz (usually Roz, Ander will sometimes craft with them). He loves to build LEGO's, marble runs, Scratch games, he loves to ride his bike and play at the park. He also loves to jump on the trampoline, play catch and sports, practice handstands, and play with water balloons. 

Benson is an awesome eater, he isn't very picky, but he does eat slow like me, haha. He loves broccoli, sauerkraut, carrots, cucumbers, and most vegetables I cook with our dinners. He loves all fruit, and he eats most of what I cook without complaint. His favorite foods are spaghetti, pizza, and lasagna!

22 Questions With Benson:

1. What is your favorite toy? Slinky
2. What is your favorite part about school? Handwriting!
3. Who is your favorite scripture hero? Jesus
4. What is your favorite food? Pizza!
5. What is your favorite dessert? Angel food cake
6. What is your favorite vegetable? Carrots, broccoli, and peppers
7. What is your favorite fruit? All of them
8. What do you want to be when you grow up? A police, an artist, and a fireman.
9. What is your favorite snack? Crackers and cheese.
10. What is your favorite book? Box Car Children
11. What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast? Fruit Loops
12. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
13. What does Mom always say to you? I love you.
14. What does Dad always say to you? I love you.
15. What is your favorite TV show? Hamster shows
16. Who is your best friend? Jack
17. What are you really good at? Sports
18. If you could have a wish, what would it be? To have money
19. What is your favorite primary song? Popcorn Popping On the Apricot Tree
20. What vegetable do you hate the most? None
21. Best memory from this year? Learning to ski and our boat ride
22. Something you accomplished? Finished Level 2 Language Arts