The Night Before Benny

I have been going through the icky task of sorting my electronic mountain of digital pictures, and I found these two snapshots. They were taken the night before Ben was born. I went into preterm labor with him at 23 weeks and every day that progressed without a baby meant one more heaven kissed day of growth for Ben. My doctor stopped preventing labor at 36 weeks. These pictures were taken at exactly 36 weeks. They let me leave the hospital for a while to do my early laboring at home, and so Emma and I passed the time by reading books, singing, and talking about the baby in the comfort of her delicate little room. I remember, so clearly, what I was thinking and feeling in this top picture. I was in pain, of course, but I was also in that hallowed place that women go to just before giving birth. There is such a sacred connection between spirituality and physicality in that moment, and even now I'm having trouble recalling it. It's kind of this entire body prayer. I never feel as connected to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as I do during childbirth. It's almost as if I can feel them selflessly passing the baby off to me for safekeeping.

I am so grateful that I have been trusted with these two beautiful people. I am so lucky to be their mommy. And they are blessed to have each other.

I love you, my Emma and Ben.
Janet

28?

How in the world has another year passed? I literally feel that I was just blogging about my 27th birthday. I have been kind of a hermit lately with all of my tummy troubles and anxiety, so I decided to keep things low key this year. That being said, this was one of my favorite birthdays yet. I spent the day wandering with my Mom and Heather through a giant antique store, the mall, and the little shops down in Old Colorado City. My birthday landed on a Friday this year, which was fun, considering I was born on Friday the 13th.

There is a new shop on Colorado Ave that makes some of the most beautiful couture cupcakes I've ever seen. It made me want to run home and bake something. I hope heaven smells like that bakery did.

I found these cute little things in a store called, "The Soap Box." I don't know if you can make it out in the picture- but these are called, "Fish in a Bag." They were made by pouring clear glycerin soap into bags with plastic goldfish suspended in the soap. The bag was then cinched with ribbon and hung to dry. I have such happy memories of leaving pet stores and carnivals with my fish in bags just like these. I love creative people.

My next stop was, of course, "Bernideen's." It's a shop that sells all things girly. I finally bought myself a standing rack to display the tea cups that have been given to me throughout the years. I was just informed that they also have a blog. You have to take a peek!

Another bakery in Old Colorado City had their flowers displayed in giant beaters and colanders. Did I mention how much I love creative people?

My birthday was a sunny sandwich between some rainy, snowy, cruddy weather. All I wanted to do on my birthday was enjoy a meal outside, and by some miracle, I got my wish. We ate at my favorite restaurant in Old Colorado City, "Jake and Telly's."

I don't know if it was because it was my birthday, or the company I was sharing it with, or that we were enjoying 70 degree weather, but this was the yummiest meal I have ever had.

We live in such a beautiful place!

Later that evening my family came over to celebrate with me. One thing I absolutely love about my family is that they are so casual. The plans for that night changed about 10 times due to illness and other circumstances and everyone just rolled with it. None of us could decide what to eat. We were initially going out to dinner, but Benny came down with a cold and I didn't feel good about leaving him. Steve's dad was hospitalized that evening with pneumonia, so they weren't able to get there until around 9. Finally my Dad and Trenton just went out and picked up a smorgasbord of food for dinner. We had Chinese, Wingstop, salads, and baked potatoes at 11 pm. It was a perfect ending to my Friday the 13th birthday.

Thanks for spoiling me. I love you family!


Until next time-
Love,
Janet, Trenton, Emma, and Ben

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day this year was so sweet. That weekend the weather couldn't have been more beautiful and my husband and kids went out of their way to make it special.

My present from Trenton and the kids was the topiary standing behind me, and some flowers to be planted.

We celebrated with Trenton's mom at "The Elephant Bar." It was nice to not have to cook. And Emma and Ben were so entertained by Tad and Linsey and all the decorations in the restaurant that I actually enjoyed my meal.


The rest of my weekend was spent relaxing, enjoying the sun and hosting dinner for my family.

The best part about my gifts was that I didn't have to plant them. Emma, Ben and Trenton did all the work while I napped.





I hope you all had a beautiful Mother's Day too!
Love,
Janet, Trenton, Emma, and Ben

Spring Dance Recital 2011

Emma was so darling as she danced in her recital this year. Miss Amy created an adorable adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz." The recital was the exact same day and time as my three nieces that go to a different teacher. I was sad to have missed seeing their show. Shannon and Trenton's Mom came to show Emma their support.

For her ballet piece, she danced as "yellow" in the rainbow.

Whenever they rehearsed this song her teacher would have the girls clean all the feathers that had fallen off the boas. All the girls would throw them away, except for Emma. I didn't realize that she had been collecting them in her dance bag after each class until the day of the recital when they all fell out as I was looking for her shoes. She couldn't bear the thought of tossing perfectly good feathers and nearly had a panic attack as they whirled around in the wind. We did make it away with one feather to keep, and as fate would have it, the feather was yellow.

For the tap piece Emma danced as a "Munchkin."

Ashley also danced in that recital and did a very nice job.

I think Emma's favorite part of the day was when her Grandma presented her with her very own flowers and teddy bear.


I'm so proud of you Emma. You're my pretty little ballerina!

Love,
Janet, Trenton, Emma, and Ben