Ben Hall

---one on one----what a great way to get to know someone----

this summer we had a big Ensign (my fam) reunion in Wisconsin---we've known about it for 2 years---so why the heck did JASMINE AND DAVID HALL PLAN TO HAVE A BABY 2 WEEKS AFTER? i dunno---but they did---and that will be a future blog---so----we offered to take Ben Hall (yes---we call him that because we also have a Ben Webb---and yes---we call him that) with us to the reunion---which means driving 1200 miles with a 3 yr old...and then 1200 miles back with a 3 yr old...and keep him for 2 weeks more before flying to New Orleans for the birth of his baby sister.  we didnt offer to take Beth---we love you Beth---but you were only 15 months---and this was our vacation! :) see ya in a couple.

Jasmine and David Hall (yes---we call him that because we have David Jeppson---but we dont call him that---we call him My David---or Dad---or Grandpa---or Brother Jeppson) agreed to let us have Ben (from here on to be referred to as "Ben") for 3 WEEKS!

 the many faces of Ben in the car---fully dressed with shades

 fully naked watching a movie---anticipating a loud sound!

feeling great after throwing up--hence the naked

                                     sound asleep with his pirate blanket                                     

cuddling asleep at the resort in Wisconsin

asleep on his little couch

yes mom and dad---he brushed his teeth

asleep cuddling with chloe---on my bed

asleep on the couch---we just let him be

 ben doesnt like loud sounds---so at the circus in Wisconsin---this was his position most of the show!

 but he was the only grandkid willing to go up to the clowns to get a picture!

playing with milo on top of his cousins Abby and Trevor Dow

visiting Great Grandpa in Freeport

                                                            Greatgrandma and Ben

                                                       happy boy at Chuck E Cheese!

                          after multiple water parks and swimming lessons---he was a fish!

                                                  hmmmmm---who enjoyed the games more?

he figured out the tickets pretty darn fast

                    his favorite ride at Chuck E Cheese                    



in motion as SuperHero!

                                                      free reign with my phone to take pictures of anything

cousin jake horsing around

watching Bugs Bunny on the Ipad

                                                     swimming lessons at Hurst Rec Center

 when he saw mommy and daddy at the NOLA airport---he took off running---with his elmo suitcase trailing behind him!

it was joy---pure joy.  He had his moments of missing mommy and daddy---saying "I need to go home"---so we made sure he skyped and called home a lot----but mostly we played, took swimming lessons, gave in to his every whim and desire---we arent his parents---we are his grandparents....which meant Chuck E Cheese----NRH2O (water park)----crawling into our bed in the middle of the night.  My nephews and niece were here---so Ben got to rough house with them---and he learned to say Outside! to the dogs.

Ben is so fun---so entertaining---has a great sense of humor---loves apples and all fruit---and shrimp.

when we got to New Orleans---he looked at David and I and said "you gotta go" "where?" "home"---he was afraid he wasnt going to stay with his family!

thanks Jas and David---and thanks Bell for coming 2 weeks after the reunion!

God knew...so He sent the Ensigns

God knew I would need people put in my path this summer...so he sent the Ensigns

 

----my nephew, Brian Ensign and his wife Ashley---and my other nephew, Jake Ensign---all from BYU----worked doing pest control this summer in Dallas---so we offered them our home to stay in for the 4 months they would be here----the week they moved in (mid-April) was just 2 weeks after Ace left----so they truly were a blessing---we thought we were helping them---they ended up helping us---the energy they brought to our home---they worked hard and encouraged us to play games and get out of our 'heads'.  Jake and David went to midnight movies----ashley and i chatted and played on Saturdays (her day off)---they sat with me in church as i cried---they ate the food i love to cook....jake loved my dogs---brian used his psychology studies to try to stop the dogs from barking (yeah, right)--

jake let the dogs and the grandboys crawl all over him---such a good sport!

Brian and Ashley (my 5th daughter!)

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                                  Brian spent his day off entertaining Ben Hall!

we had a great time putting together a take-off on "Hunger Games" for the Ensign Family Reunion---they looked after my puppies while we travelled....I always came home to a spotless kitchen....always greeted with a hug.

My brother, Matt & his wife, Shelley and my niece, Jackie---and her darling little man Elliot all came for a long weekend....they said it was to visit brian, ashley and jake---but we all know the truth

 we went to Chik-fil-a on THE chik-fil-a week (no political statement here ---lol)--and 7 adults watched Elliot crawl around the play place!

 my brother Matt had a birthday the next week---so I used this opportunity to use my new toy---3 tier bundt cake display!

 jackie is expecting boy number 2 in October---Laszlo----at least thats the name I'm rooting for!

 Jackie, Shelley, Elliot and Matt at the airport

 we have a kids' 4 wheeler for the grands----this is jake and elliot

 little did we know that the Ensigns would decide the 4 wheeler was not just for littles! Go Shelley!

we got to introduce Brian, Ashley & jake to Freebirds, cooking and design tv shows, anaconda marathons, Taco Tuesday at Rosa's and fish tacos! hmmm---i like tacos!
                                             we had a great time putting together a take-off on "Hunger Games" for the Ensign Family Reunion---they looked after my puppies while we travelled....I always came home to a spotless kitchen....always greeted with a hug        !

                                           this is the note (they left 3!) they left when they left
                                          
God knew that I would need people put in my path this summer---and my new children---Brian, Jake and Ashley---were truly a god-send.

the new normal

1. a/c vents upstairs----closed
2. bedrooms upstairs---fresh linens and ready for visitors
3. 1999 Chevy Van---selling
4. upstairs bathroom---grateful for the time off
5. dining room table---closed up to smallest size---tastefully decorated
6. tv trays---bought
7. dinner at the table---not unless there are guests
8. food budget---cut in like 1/2
9. trash duty---mine---unless dave is reading this---then by mine i mean his
10. school starting---really? didnt notice
11. when does school start? dunno---first time in 23 years!
12. alarm clock---unset
13. fhe---BORING
14.  where's ace?---still dont know....never get used to that.

happy 61

 hmmmm---where did we all get our sense of humor?

 my parents in SLC with my oldest brother, Ace....about 1951

my dad at the end of my wedding reception

 this is at Lyric's sealing at the Dallas Temple around Halloween in 1987
happy anniversary to my parents---sealed in the Salt Lake Temple 1951! in the past 11 years dad hasnt written much....nor does he visit much----but thats okay---we see him all over in faces and attitudes of his children and his grandchildren.  Mom and Dad have a scheduled date at the cemetary (ew---creepy a bit)  a couple of times every year.  What a wonderful example of love, longevity and patience!