Well it's official. Scott has discovered his sisters, and he has discovered girls. More importantly he has discovered what his sisters can do for him with the girls. I had strict instructions to bring Caroline to his school Christmas party. The second I walked in he came over and took her from me. He was surrounded by girls oohing and aaahing. He quickly got fed up with the attention she was getting though and left her (Caroline) to the girls. Caroline is barely speaking to him over this desertion.

Another Benji-ism... This morning while we were getting ready for school, you know, snow pants, boots, mittens, coats, breakfast, pack lunches, (It's really a slow part of the day haha) Benjamin announced much to his siblings dismay... "Mom I think next year for Christmas we should do like they do in Mexico." Oh really? Like which part? Food? Pinata? I was sure it would be the pinata, but Benjamin always surprises me. "Well I think instead of putting presents under the Christmas tree we should put up the Nativity underthere, and then on Christmas morning we put the Baby Jesus in the Manger." Scott's reply was well where do they put the presents? It opened up a nice oppertunity to reafirm whose birthday we were celebrating. And gave us all some thing to think about. Thanks Benj!

Kids say the darndest things. Scott was telling me about some sleds available at the Army Surplus store and wanted to know why the army needed sleds. Benjamin Had the answer.
"Probably for the Cold War , Scott!" (well duh)

Scott at the Cemetary that he did not want to go to!

The worlds only "man made" geyser in Soda Springs right next to the cemetary.





Over the river and,... over the river and...over the river... and over the river but never through the woods to grandma Wilson's we went for Thanksgiving. We had a nice visit with grandma and enjoyed a reheated dinner. (Grandma's stove doesn't work so I made it all Tues and Wed and warmed it up in the oven) The boys, especially Joshua tried diligently to teach her to play UNO and Ryan and I tried to get her talking, which led to a bit of wondering on my part. Why are the Hearts of the children turned to there fathers so often after there fathers are to old to remember? We asked her about where her and grandpa were sealed and she couldn't remember. (Yes we know we were just trying to get her talking!) Why did I wait to find out that my grandfather was so eager to be baptized that he marched down into the water, ahead of the frightened elder, in spite of the water moccasin there? Why am I wishing Grandpa Staples could teach me all of those funny old songs he used to sing now, when he doesn't and in some cases can't sing them anymore? Do you think if I work more diligently on my and their family history and find those ancestors that we loved/ love /will love etc. that maybe they will know how much I love them even though I didn't show as much interest as I should have earlier? I hope so! We went searching for Great Grandpa's burial sight (Wilson) on Friday. According to the records we have found he is buried in Soda Springs. Well if he was it is not marked. We had a great time looking though even the kids enjoyed the cemetary, much to there chagrin!

Okay what was supposed to be up here at the top of this long update is at the bottom so if you don't have time fore any thing else go to the bottom of today's posts. Love you all don't laugh to hard!

Scott earned his Webelos.

Scott brought a fish home from the Fathers and Sons. Joshua a Frog!
(Can I turn these after i'v put them on the page?)

Joshua turned 6.

I just love this picture.

We went to the lake.

A Staples Family reunion

Scott's Arrow of Light and Cross over ceramony it's official he is a Boy Scout.

Scott's 11?!

We had a Brewer family reunion.

Benjamin turned 9.

Uncle Brent and Grandma Wilson shared memories and stories from Samoa when we opened the Samoan treasure box.

Scott got a little creative with a pen. No wonder Caleb still draws on himself!

Xela introduced Caroline to Oreo's. What are big sisters for?

Halloween was a scream. Scott was the Man in Black or Dread Pirate Roberts from the "Princess Bride. Benjamin was a Ninja. Joshua was Yoda until he discoverd that he didn't like wearing make up at which point he thought that Obi-wan was a good idea. Caleb was of course a Vampire, very scary. Xela was an Elephant ballerina . The Elephant was a concession on her part she would not have been very warm as a little girl ballerina. Caroline was Cheer Bear (Thanks to D&J for the costume!)

Xela loves bows. Now if she would just leave them in!

Benjamin and Caroline agree its been a crazy summer we are ready for a long winters nap!




Caleb is just faking here, oh that he did just fall asleep any where, on the other hand Joshua drops where ever he is, and getting him to his bed is heavy.

So as you have probably noticed I haven't posted for a while. I claim no good excuses only that I have been overwhelmed with my chosen vocation of motherhood. We might also throw in temporary insanity and of course permanent bedlam. So why today? Last night for family home evening we started our Thanksgiving tree. I have so much to be thankful for I couldn't help but share the biggest joys in my life. My husband, children, and of course you my brothers, sisters and parents. (The in-laws or in-loves as i prefer are included in the above list. Hope you don't mind if I claim you that way I hate distinguishing I'd rather there not be a distinction I love you all!) You all inspire me with what you accomplish and who you are! Thank you Thank You, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.......

Memorial Day weekend was a big deal for our family. In addition to the obvious it was Ryan's Birthday(Happy 34th) and we blessed Caroline on Sunday. It was great to see some faces we don't see to often. Papa and Grandma Rhonda Brewer were here for the event and Stuart and Chaney and family came from Wyomining. Caroline (of course) screamed for the entire blessing and Ryan wanted to pretend it was not his birthday. We sure missed having Daenon and Rob in the circle but I have to say that is was cool to see 3 out of 5 of my brothers there a first! We missed James and of course Chris isn't old enough yet. Well thats the end of the baby blessings for us. Next year, if you can believe it, we start with priesthood ordinations. Yikes!

These are mostly for Ryan who is in Tennesee/Alabama this week of course the week we put carpet in. Honey the pictures don't begin to do it justice. We wish you were here. Get every body elses carpet/roofs and what ever else fixed so you can come enjoy our new home with us. We love you.

For those of you who haven't seen the before pictures this is a huge improvement. Big thanks to my dad for all his hard work! We are sooooo excited!

HI GUIS HOW ARE YOU DOING I DID A SPACE DERBY I LOST

BUT I HAVE SOME ADVICE THE SMALER IT IS THE FASTER

IT GOES

Hey! Guys! I was doing my SPACE DERBY but I lost.But I have some

advice for you boys use a potato pealer the smaller it is the faster it goes

then sand it Ok!

I thouhgt I would try Easter dresses. I chickened out of the baby's when I started reading the pattern. Mom rescued me. Thanks Mom! Xela's was not so bad until we hit the button holes. That button holer is smarter than me I swear. I finally gave up at 11:30 pm. Xela was sewed into her dress for Easter.

Saturday we celebrated Easter with the Mobley side of the family. The party was complete with an egg hunt, pinata, dinner and of course the cousins. There was some disapointment that allllll the cousins weren't there but fun was had by all. Benjamin claimed the most eggs at least in the Brewer contingent with 28 total. Scott had the dubious honor of breaking the pinata and it required a great deal of beating to achieve this. My visiting teacher made a glorius suggestion to avoid the excess of candy that was the result of all this. Next year maybe we should try paper slips in the eggs with things like pencils, juice boxes, chips, etc. not only is there not so much sugar but they have to claim there prize and moms have more control of how and when and where the items are consumed. (I know, I know, the pinata was my fault. I'll stuff it with cheese sticks next time!)

If you know the etymology of bedlam, you know that it is from the middle English word Bedlam which was short for Bethlehem. O that our home was as peaceful as the Bethlehem we all think of. Bedlem was also the popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, London, an insane asylum. Now we are getting closer to the truth. The common use of bedlem today fits our home to a T most of the time Webster's Dictionary third entry: a place, scene or state of uproar or confusion. Thus Brewer Bedlem.