This Christmas

The Achatz Family, December 2010

So much has happened this Christmas!

First, Bennett got a new cousin on 12-11-10, Stella Grace Schmidt. She is so tiny and cute, and we love her!

Bennett met Santa at the Ward Christmas Party

Bennett got his two front bottom teeth for Christmas . . . so early!

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family.

Bennett got to meet his cousin Bowen for the first time.


Bennett hung out with Grandpa Bagshaw

Spencer's family re-enacted the Christmas story on Christmas Eve. They were so cute! Justin was the donkey, Ryan filled in as the angel proclaiming His birth, and Bennett was John the Baptist (we added that part) . . . minus losing his head.

Justin got this shirt for Christmas. It was made for him.

I made Ryan a t-shirt quilt for Christmas, using his old running and mission shirts. It took DAYS to put together, but I think it turned out great. I was so proud of myself!

Christmas Dinner

Bennett posing on Christmas Eve.


On Christmas Day, we headed down to Logan to visit Ryan's family.

Bennett in his cute new outfit from Aunt Kristin

I Am Thankful For . . .

Ryan! He's so patient, optimistic, kind, and FUN! He is a great father and my best friend.


Bennett! He is way cuter and more wonderful than we ever could have imagined. I love his smile, his hair, and his innocence. I can't get enough of him.



Cold cereal. It's pretty much the best thing EVER and can be eaten for any meal.

The scriptures

Boise: not too hot, not too cold; not too big, not too small; and LOTS to do

HEAT

Digital cameras. I can take as many pictures as I want and keep the memories forever.

SLEEP!!!

A reliable car

Spending time with my family

The temple :)

Our awesome parents: everything they taught us and have sacrificed for us

Good books that you can't put down

Cell phones and texting

A washer & dryer. I can't imagine having to wash and dry everything by hand. Adding one little person to the family has meant never-ending loads of laundry.

(You can barely see Bennett behind the piles of laundry!)

Socks

Sundays. They always refresh and remind me.

All the good people I have known and what each one has taught me

Road trips

The beautiful earth! . . . mountains, thunderstorms, sunshine, autumn, flowers. . .

(great view from Simplot Hill)

Learning new things

Having everything we need

Kleenex

Opportunities to serve

When the house is clean

Everything I've been able to do in my life: mission, college, teaching high school, playing and traveling as a single, marriage, and now motherhood!

Music

That everything has worked out in the past. It helps me know everything will be OK in the future.

Prayers, both answered and unanswered

Holidays

Being a parent and what it teaches about God's love for us and about His Plan

We are so blessed! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Halloweekend

For Ryan's birthday and Halloween, we went down to visit his family in Logan. He also had an all-day ski patrol refresher so he could get caught up on his certifications. It was so nice to get away for a few days.

Our first night there, we went to a Halloween carnival at Patti's ward.

We make great scarecrows since we are so scary-looking.

Kristin insisted we all dress up and furnished us with costumes. I am a princess, Ryan is the Grim Reeper, and Bennett made an adorable tiger.

Tuckered out little tiger. His first Halloween was hard work.

The next day, while Ryan and his parents were at the ski patrol refresher, I spent some time with my parents, who came down for lunch and to celebrate my Dad's 80th bday (I'm pretty sure that's how old he is, ha ha). Here the old geezer is doing his best impersonation of his grandson. Thanks for lunch, Mom and Dad!

That night, we took Bennett "trick or treating" at Grandma and Grandpa Page's.

Give me chocolate . . . rawr.

Bennett and Ryan taking a Sunday afternoon nap. The carseat is sometimes the only thing that works . . . (for Bennett). :)

A rare picture of the whole family. . . and Sarah.

Cutest Boy Ever

Here are some pics to catch everyone up on Bennett:

I love to arch my head back like this no matter what position I'm in.

I love tummy time.

Just playing with Daddy.


More playing. Do I look stressed?

I can roll/fall over to my back from here.

Just thinking . . .

All ready for Church. I'm practicing to be in the choir.

Helping Mom clean the house.

Bye for now!

Barber to Boise

Ryan has had a lot of time to run lately and is in stellar shape. He had been looking forward to the Barber to Boise 5K, one of Boise's biggest races, for a long time. Bennett and I went to watch the big event.

And they're off . . .

While we waited, we admired Bronco Stadium, where the race finished, and waited for Ryan to run in. It was the first time we'd been there.

Ooooh, aaaaahh. . .

Here he comes . . .

Ryan placed 10th out of almost 800 runners and won his age group. He had been sick the week of the race, so he probably could have done even better.

Bennett and Ryan on the Blue after the race.

Bennett's Top 10

10. I am the worst sleeper ever!

All ready for bed but wide awake. Mom and Dad seem to think I sleep better with mittens on my hands, but that's debatable.

9. I am fascinated by lights and vacuuming.

8. I love my Mommy and Daddy. They spend lots of time

loving me rather than updating the blog.

7. I am getting so big and have lots of sweet skills.

Sitting up and waiting for the home teachers to arrive and share a message with me.


6. I love going on walks and looking out at the wide world.




5. I only take good naps when I'm out in my carseat and Mommy can't take one with me.



4. I am officially addicted to my pacifier. If it falls out, I know where my hands are now (until Mommy pulls them out). I need to find the nearest chapter of "Suckers Anonymous."


True love. . .


3. I have the best smile!




2. I have AWESOME hair.


Me after Mom and Dad blow-dried my hair for the first and last time.

1. I am adorable and people love me. In fact, I'm so pretty, people say I should be a girl. Gross!




Before I doze off in my carseat . . .

Blessings

On September 5, Bennett was blessed in church, and both our families came for the event. It was a bit crazy around our house, but we were grateful to have so much family come to support us and meet our darling little man. Daddy gave him a nice blessing with lots of amazing promises and counsel. Bennett was in high demand all weekend: there was a constant line of people waiting to hold him. Such a popular and good-looking guy.

Bennett with Ryan and I on his blessing day.

With cousin Sarah.

With Grandma and Grandpa Bagshaw and all their grandchildren.

My two handsome boys.

I love him so much! (Especially during daylight. . .)

Fighting sleep as usual and looking at Dad. He is wearing

jammies that were Ryan's when he was a baby.

We are so blessed to have such a special child of God join our family. The responsibility is huge, but so is the joy. :)