Seven Years with Cap'n Livy

Olivia's 7th B-day

Pirate Ellie

The Pirate Gang

Cap'n Livy running the ship!

Cap'n Livy blowing up, I mean out the cake.

As requested, Olivia had a pirate treasure hunt for her seventh birthday party. We invited boys and girls and after decorating bandannas and a little snack we went off on a treasure hunt that included walking the plank, darts, ooey gooey relay, and a crocodile test. It was supposed to be simple, but somehow I was way behind schedule anyway (Mason's doing :)) and Brenda, Amy and Sarah Hatch came over and saved the day as they helped to prep. the place and put up the streamers and balloons. The party would not have been the same without them. Brenda even made Balloon Crocodiles and we put them in the pool where the kids "walked the plank". Daddy was home for the party and cooked and put together the "Hot Dog Boats". What a guy! Olivia said it was the best day of her life. That made it one of my best days too.

We did get her a new bike ($30 on Craig's List--yahoo!). Keri gave her a basket and bell for it and it was perfect. She was so excited to wake up to it in our kitchen and rode it around until Erica came to pick her up for school.

Notes to Olivia about your 6th year of life:

This year you learned and grew so much. It has been so fun to see you embrace the new challenges of all day school, piano, friendship quarrels and oldest child responsibilities.

You have been taking piano since April and you are AMAZING!!! Dad and I have both started practicing, so you hopefully don't pass us up before you are 8 years old. You have a natural gift for piano and we love to hear you play and make up songs.

You also sang your first solo at the primary program. You sang "All over the World". Olivia, it was so touching! Tears fell as I felt the power of your spirit. You so bravely went up and sang the song perfectly! You only let me go through the song with you one time, saying you already knew it and Sister Starks practiced with you already! You also sang in a trio with Ellie and McKenna Sweetnam as well (If the Savior stood beside me).

This year you have been all about emailing and texting. I often find that you have text messaged or called Jenna Allen, our dear friend who I coached in volleyball. You like to call Sister Cargill, your primary teacher as well.

You are a little missionary. Tonight we went to take a note and cookies to our new neighbors, Earl's daughter Gigi and her boys. You welcomed them to the neighborhood and then invited them to church, telling them it was OK if they didn't want to go. You insist on giving gifts to Nick and Jennifer, our other neighbors too and you took them some cookies too. I LOVE THE WAY YOU REMEMBER TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE! You even bought Dad and I a candy bar today when you went out with Jalen for your Birthday outing.

For Halloween, you wanted to be Mary, mother of Jesus. After telling me this three times, we talked about how it wasn't quite appropriate on Halloween, a playful holiday, to dress up as someone as special as Mary. You totally understood. I just loved that you wanted to be like her. We decided that Christmas was a better time to make sure you get a chance to be Mary. So, this Christmas we hope to make a real Mary costume for us to use each year.

Olivia, I love you. I love that I get to be your mom and you get to train me. You do such a great job keeping me on my toes and I so appreciate your willingness to forgive me always.

I love you always my dear... no matter what!

Mom

Mud...Dust Run

A few years ago, Brian ran a super fun "Mud Run" in San Diego(at Camp Pendelton ?). It sounded like so much fun so Marcelle, Michelle & Jared and Brian and I enlisted in the 2nd Annual Mud Run In Scottsdale, Arizona. The course was 4 miles long and at each mile there was an obstacle. i. e. hay hurdles, army crawl under a propt up tarp (where many stood up with bloody knees), balance beam (on logs) and a muddy swim to the finish line. We decided that it should have been called the "Dust Run" as we ran in sand and dirt the whole way and only got in the mud about 20 yards from the Finish Line. I attempted to stay as "least muddy" as possible once I realized we were at the end and still not muddy. However that thought didn't last long as Brian dunked me under right after the first rope. I promptly helped him all the way under the mud bath and we both left COVERED in mud...as did our whole group. Poor Marcelle got some mud kicked in her eyes by Brian who decided to the free style stroke on his way out. We had a good time running with great friends and having fun. Yahoo! Adam, Marcelle's husband was such a trooper as he took care of Talon while we ran. What a guy!

Talon's Baby Blessing

What a day! We decided to bless Talon on the Sunday that fell during a lot of family's fall break. We are grateful for all those who could come....Moms, Gpa Ben, Gma Great, Bill and Jennifer, Washburns, Gunnells, Trombleys and of course J-ROE!!!! Our family showed great support. Here a few pictures we took. The kids were ready to eat when we got home and Talon was hungry so the pictures are few. Mom Rudd, Taya, Jennifer and especially Keri helped with the food and saved me as usual.

Olivia's first School Talent Show

In Music class, Olivia's 1st grade class had a talent show. She wanted to do ART and art she did...all by herself of course. I came to watch her present her art. She had to make sure that Mr. Sessions and the music teacher's portraits could come off so she could give the drawings to them. Always thinking of way to show someone she cares. Way to go Livy!!!

Bryson's First Field Trip

Bryson goes to a little preschool with my good friend Janette, who mid-summer wasn't sure whether or not she would teach. Then due to some health reasons...reasons to live, she got a few neighborhood kids and does Montessori school with them. Here are pictures from a field trip to Mother Nature's Farm. Bryson, Emilie, Jaycee and Nate had fun there...along with the little siblings. Notice the picture with Bryson and Emilie. I often joke that they are like an old married couple. They do so well together.

Carving Pumpkins

Livy and Ellie designed the pumpkin faces and Brian did most of the carving. It was a fun family night and other than Olivia refusing to feel the pumpkin guts, all the kids participated in cleaning them out and making pumpkin balls to throw around the table...outside of course. It was Talon's first Halloween...and a warm one at that.

Halloween 2008

Ahoy Mateys! This year our costumes were inspired by a gift from our sister Joanna. She gave Baby Talon a little onesie that said " Arrrgh! Wipe me booty!" Along with the onesie was some skull and crossbone "booties" and burb rag and bib. It's so cute! Sooo, all the Bentley Babes were pirates. Arrgh! It was easy and fun to put together.

We always start Halloween night off with a picture at Grandpa Ben's. We met the Gunnells, Mom Bentley and Blake there and it was fun to be together. We went to Grandma Great's Assited Living Home next to give her some Halloween Candy. The four older children sat on her and my laps as we chatted and they joined the residents in watching "The Sound of Music". It worked out nice and I got to visit with Grandma as they seemed to forget about Trick-or Treating. Mason enjoyed dancing around with his patch on and the residents loved the entertainment of the little pirates. Eventually Talon (hidden in the stroller) woke up and the women residents gathered as Brian held him as high above his head as he could while they tried to make Talon happy and touch him. It is so hard to deny these sweet women as they BEG, "Please let me do something! I have to help him!" Motherly instincts...earliest to come and last to leave. We just prayed hard that Heavenly Father would protect him as we kindly made our exit. Little groups on the way in made us promise to visit them on the way out and we did. The kids were kind to chat a little with them and I think it may just have to be a Halloween Tradition.

We did make it back to trick-or-treat around our neighborhood--running into the Passeys as usual and walking with them. We ended the night at the Hatches as the pirates did their last tricks and ate their last treats. I love Halloween on Friday night. It's so much easier to enjoy.