Family/Wedding/Blessing

I am going to write about our week, then post pictures later, then I wont have to explain...I'll just post pics.

This week was so much fun......Emily, Jake and Amaryllis (Ben sister & family) stayed with us this week. The whole family was intown for their youngest sisters wedding. They live in NC, and because of various reasons, we haven't been able to head out that way in over a year. So we loved having them stay here. Plus Charley got to play with her cousin. We had lots to do this week....we threw Char a bridal shower, had family night with the whole family, went shopping, and went to chuck e cheese. Friday we were able to go to the temple with Char, and Saturday was the wedding.

The wedding was in the morning, followed by pictues and then the luncheon at the Joseph Smith Bldg. then we came home to let the kids nap then off to the reception early for more pictures, then the reception. It was a crazy day, but it was so much fun. Everything was beautiful, and looked great.

Sunday we decided to bless Gabby because so many family was in town. Because Ben's family is in NC, they hardly get to come out this way anymore. So we decided to take advantage of the oportunity to bless the baby. And because we were blessing Gabs, my parents came out as well! My parents even watched the girsl while we went to the temple on Friday and while we were in the sealing on Saturday. I was stressing over who was going to watch the girls, but it all worked out! THANKS mom and dad for watching the girls!

The blessing was perfect! Ben did such a good job, and I am so grateful he is a worthy preisthood holder and good husband and dad. The blessing circle was HUGE, and filled with many of Gabby's uncles (that includes uncle kiki!), both grandfathers, and some of Ben's uncles. In total we filled 5 rows, with 40 people. ....Then after those 40 people came over to our condo for left over wedding food! It was a sight to see, but it was so much fun! we loved it all! It was a wonderful day filled with family! We really do have the best family ever!

I'll post pictures of the week soon!

Not the Crib, not the Cradle....

....but the baby bouncer. Yes, that is right, Gabby does not like the crib or cradle. She prefers her baby bouncer to sleep in. For a while, she was doing okay in her cradle...but she was still waking up every 2 hours, and the past week or so, she would wake up every time I set her down in the cradle. Most nights I just gave up and would put her in bed with us. We realized that she slept great in her bouncer, and any time she was propped up. We think it is hard for her to breathe laying flat, because he makes these weird noises. So after many sleepless nights, we decided to try letting her sleep in her bouncer. It worked perfect!!!!!!!!!!

She woke up at 5 am to eat, then went right back to bed, and slept until 10 am!!!!! I got so much needed sleep!

Concert!

Last Friday, Ben and I took the girls to a concert. It wasn't your "regular" concert. It was a concert put on by the church. Every Tuesday and Friday during the summer, they have concerts at the Historic Brigham Young Park next to Temple Square. This past Friday, our friend Liz and her sisters sang. In the past 3 years we have been in law school, we have become very good friends with Liz's family (I may have mentioned some of her family before...Ben went to law school with Mark aka "uncle kiki", and Charley's BFF is their youngest daughter Abi)...and Liz is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet... But we love all of their family!

It was such a fun family activity, and this was the first time we got to hear Liz sing live! She put a CD out with her sisters, and I LOVE it, but everytime she has sung, we haven't been able to go. So I was really excited when she told me about this concert.

I found a link to their web page.....click here....

CowGirl!

We can literally see Thanksgiving Point out our balcony....so today we took advantage of the animal farm there, and took the girls. We need to get a family membership there....It is a fun place to go with the museums, gardens, and animal farm, it will be worth it...especially in the winter when we need something to do!

Life with 2...

My mom and family left, which means I am trying to figure out on my own how to do things. The first time I needed to go to the grocery store, I just waited until Ben got home from work. But today, I really needed to go, and ventured off on my own. I had my list in hand, and only when to aisles that I new I needed something in...hoping that it would make it faster. But I still probably took twice as long as I needed (the grocery store by our house has little mini carts for kids to push...and Charley always feels the need to push one....she is normally pretty good about following, but she is just so dang slow!...she gets distracted easy!)

We had Gabby's 2 week check up last week...she is now 3 weeks old! and she grew a half an inch and is 2 oz over her birth weight. In the 4 days we were in the hospital she had lost 11 oz, and we had to go in for a weight check at her 1 week, so I was pretty happy she had passed her birth weight. I tried breast feeding Charley, but gave in at the hospital....this time it is going much better. So I am glad I can actually feed her, and she is getting milk.

Gabby is such a chill baby, which is a nice balance between Charley and Gabby. ....We are enjoying our beautiful girls!

Geography

Charley learning her states....and where all her family lives. click here for the video.

We're done!

Our rollercoaster of a summer is over!!!....Ben took the Utah State Bar Exam this past week! Only the results await, but I know he did well! He took all of July off to study, and has to go back to work tomorrow. It will be nice to get into a normal routine again, and being able to see Ben more! The last few weeks, he needed to study and couldn't hang out with us as much. It will be nice to have our dad and husband back!

Our next events we are looking forward to is Char and Jareds wedding at the end of August, and I think we are blessing Gabriella that weekend as well since family will be in town.

I am so grateful for such a hardworking husband! Congrats BEN!....You're DONE!!!!