Ben Gets Squared

Ben loves his numbers. He always has.  Today is his squared birthday; he is now 25 (which is 5 x 5).  He's very excited.  Here is a little number tribute to my favorite mathematician!

Top Five Reasons Why Ben is Awesome (please tell me if you can think of a better title)
1.  He is a goody-two-shoes.  Meaning he does his best to always do what is right. I couldn't be prouder.
2.  He is an eternal optimist.  When Ben first asked me out and Iwas telling my then-roommate Tiffanie about it, she said, "Now, which one is he?"  And I replied, "Ben Lewis, the smiley one."  She knew exactly who I meant.  And that's who he is.
3.  He is incredibly hard working.  These past few months have been challenging, but Ben has put in every ounce of effort he has to provide for our little family, frequently working 14 hour days between teaching and tutoring.  He's amazing.
4.  He's a great father.  He is always willing to change Eleanor's diapers and plays with her every chance he gets.  He loves to get her out of her crib when she wakes up from naps and love her while I prepare to feed her.

5.  He's a fantastic husband.  He is always willing to help and serve me.  He's quick with compliments, and he thinks I'm funny.  I think he's pretty much the greatest thing that ever happened to me (after the gospel, though without it I wouldn't have him forever anyway). 

Happy Squared Birthday!

Eating Food

The older Ellie gets, the more it is clear that she is kind of an independent little creature.  For example, we started solid foods this week.  Initially she was more interested with holding and gnawing on the spoon than anything else. 

(PS, Tiffanie, do you like the bib? )

But today, she finally ate some.  See how it went.

Our Christmas Trip: Part 3

Part 3: Philip's Farewell, New Year's, and Stuff

It was wonderful to be all together as a family for Philip's "farewell."  He gave a terrific talk in church, speaking on the Atonement of Christ and  the positive influence of righteous parents/family, and leaders and teachers.  It's kind of sad that I moved away from home when he was just 10 and I missed being there for him growing up.  He's become quite the young man.  Our old bishop, Doug Maughan commented to me that the Brown boys all start out kind of rough and sometimes a little irreverant (ain't that the truth), but they grow up well and become wonderful young men.  I mean, we all know we could use some more growing up, but I do think my brothers are turning out quite nicely, despite any minor deficiencies. 
A lot of our extended family came to the house after church for lunch, and I took the opportunity to snap some photos of Ellie with her great-grandparents, since both sides were there.

Granny Great (my Grandma Sunny)

Brown Great-Grandparents

With Uncle Phil (soon to be Elder Brown in the Colorado Denver South Mission)

We also got together with all of my Konold relatives on the 30th to celebrate a multitude of birthdays (I won't even try to list them because I'll inevitably forget someone), and took pictures of all of the great-grandkids with Granny Great (aka Grandma Sunny to the older generation).  I think this is the best one I got-Alex is smiling instead of screaming and everyone else looks relatively content.

We spent New Year's Eve in a time-honored fashion, watching a little Twilight Zone (It's a cook book, for how to cook man!), celebrating with an over commercialized NYC ball drop (all I remember is flashing signs for Toshiba behind the ball), and then going to bed after Ellie's late night feeding at 10 pm.  Yea, we're hard core.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip.  Jonathan and Philip schooled Ben, Kim, and I in RISK (big surprise), but I did beat them all at Monopoly (only to have that title quickly wisked away the next game).  Daniel and Megan introduced us to Settlers (well, Jonathan and Kim too).  Most of all, we had fun together.  It's good to do that every once in a while.  I love my family, every bit of it.  I'm so thankful to be sealed to them for time and all eternity.  How grateful I am for this aspect of our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness and salvation for His children!

Ellie getting her belly blown by Grandpa Brown.  Seriously, can you resist that smile!?  I venture to say no.

Our Christmas Trip: Part 3

Part 3:  Christmas Day! And the stuff that happened afterwards (i.e. our 2nd Anniversary)

Of course we spent Christmas morning giving and upwrapping gifts.  My favorite was probably giving my parents a "Very Official Looking Coupon."  We knew we'd be taking a big family photo in a few days and we wanted our gift to be the actual picture.  So my talented Ben drew up a coupon Christmas morning while I nursed Ellie.  My favorite part was how he very official he got; the coupon reads

"Good for one family photo of the family of your choice.  Redeemable only at Ben and Summer stores worldwide, see store for details.  Act before Jan 1 2099 and receive one free 5x7 of the baby granddaughter of your choice." 

I think there was more, but you get the idea.  We had actually printed out a 5x7 of Eleanor, but forgot to bring it.  The saddest thing was that I forgot to bring the gifts I had made for my niece and nephews!  I was so sad, because I wanted to see their faces when they opened them.  When I gave the butterfly wings and cape to my Lewis nieces and nephews it was so fun to see their faces as they put them on (especially Sam saying something to the effect of "S for Super Sam!  I'm so excited!").  Oh well, I'll just have to mail them.  We gave Ellie some bowls and spoons because we are going to start solids!, and diapers (which, btw, were really terrible-don't by Parent's Choice in Nevada. We discovered that they were made by a different company and the tabs are terrible and she practically wiggles out of her diaper!). 
We also celebrated our second year of blissful marriage by going to the Las Vegas Temple, where we were married, while my mom babysat Ellie (who still refuses a bottle, but whatever).  Ben bought me Pirouette cookies, which was wonderful.  My cousin Mike and his wife Jess gave us Pirouettes as part of a wedding gift and we got the biggest kick out of reading the label on our Honeymoon.  It's been a big joke between us ever since.  Here's why it's so funny (best if read out loud in a serious voice like a romatic commercial):

"If you revel in refinement, if you delight in detail, if you etertain with a passion, then you will appreciate the elegance of Pirouette rolled wafers by Pepperidge Farm.  Long. Slender. Graceful. A pastry-like wafer, baked to a delicate crisp, surrounds a rich, creamy chocolate hazelnut filling.  Perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious. Dessert for eight? Coffee for two? That special moment just for you? Turn a simple serving of ice cream in to a sophisticated dessert for your guest.  Transform a quick coffee with a friend into a lingering heart-to-heart. Pirouette rolled wafers are the perfect way to make everyday exceptional."

Now you know what you can do with an English major-write superflous labels for Pepperidge Farm.  I know that was a long tangent, but I love it! 
We enjoyed celebrating two years together in a very simple way!  Perhaps next year we'll do something "cool." 
I feel as thought I ought to say more about our anniversary. We've done some crazy things already (live in the worlds's tiniest apartment, move to Texas seemingly without reason, drive across country with a baby), and we've yet to have an arguement.  But really I feel very content in the ordinariness of our marriage.  We're best friends and we've agreed that it's best to look for the best and accentuate it because that's how we can encourage each other to becoming even better.  This post is getting long, so perhaps I'll elaborate later on some of the thoughts I'm having right now.  In the meantime, here are some picture of Christmas!

We went to my Aunt Karen's house for brunch on Christmas morning and took a picture of all of the current Konold great-grandkids. 

Our Christmas Trip: Part 2

Part 2:  Christmas Eve

My family has a tradition of acting out the Nativity on Christmas Eve, and for several years we have done it at my Brown Grandparents house in Las Vegas.  It was Ellie's first opportunity, and she slept right through it, which really was for the best.  Then we sang Christmas songs, with special performances by the the more musically inclined.  Spending Christmas Eve with family and doing the Nativity are some of my favorite parts of Christmas (especially because we get to dress up). 

Our Christmas Trip: Part 1

We spent Christmas with my family in Pahrump, and I was a little sad to leave, mostly because I don't know how soon we will see them again.  But we had a great time there for Christmas and New Year's Eve (and my dad's birthday and our second anniversary).  My brothers gave little Ellie lots of love, and Ellie couldn't get enough of her Grandma and Grandpa Brown.  My niece and nephews were too fun to hang out with and I wish I would have taken more pictures of Miriam playing with Ellie.  I wish I had taken more pictures period.  But, enough with that.  Let's get the story started.
Part 1:  The Two Day Drive to Nevada
We were very brave and took two days driving from Texas to Nevada.  Ellie...survived.  She was actually pretty good most of the time, but was exceedingly happy to finally arrive at our destination and not have to spend all day in the car seat (as were we).

Ben became a master diaper changer in the strangest of places.

Ellie had some driving lessons...

Ironically, we stopped at this exit on the way there and back to feed Ellie(good ol' Exit 103, Jolly Rd in Arizona).

Whenever we would stop and go to get Ellie out this is the cute little face that greeted us.  She was always super happy to get out of the car!

A Winter Day

Today is a big day for the Melissa Ward.  We are having our open house for the new chapel (yeah for not having to drive a half hour to church anymore!)  and we had a float entry in the Melissa Christmas Parade.  Surprisingly, we were the only church with an entry and the only one with anything having to do with Christ on it.  Some of the seminary kids were Mary and Joseph and they asked my in-laws to be a modern family gathering their family together for the holidays (the theme was "Home for the Holidays" though no one else's entry seemed to have taken note of that fact).  At any rate, they asked us to also be part of the float, as well as another family who looks like they could be Lewis's.  So I made Ellie a hat last night so she would be warm.  Here she is all ready to go!

Well, it got pretty windy and just too cold for Ellie, however seriously bundled she was.  So Ellie and I watched the 15 minute long parade and then waited in the car for Ben. 

She was completely worn out by the time we got home.  Don't worry, I picked up candy in her stead...yum!

Things I'm Thankful For

1.  My wonderful little family.  I have an awesome husband who works so hard at everything he does and is a good man.  And my little Ellie is such a joy.  It is a wonder to look at her and think about where she came from and how much is ahead of her, and a little daunting to think about the important role I play in that, but still the most exciting thing I've ever done.

Seriously, how can you not love these two faces?

2.  A wonderful extended family.  I married into such a great family.  They are so talented and generous!

3.  And food...because it's Thanksgiving!  Last Thanksgiving I was 8 weeks pregnant and very nauseous all the time, so I didn't get to eat as much as I wanted.  This year...well,  let's just say I want to start training for a 5K.  Just kidding, I didn't over do it, but I do want to start training for a 5K.  It's my newest goal.

That's all.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Memorial Day in Panguitch: 2009

Every year during Memorial Day weekend, the Konolds (my mom's family) make the annual "Death Trek" to Panguitch, Utah. It's not called that because it's hard. We camp at a KOA with real bathrooms and showers and just generally hang out. But we go to see our dead people. Otherwise, why would we go to Panguitch? There isn't much there. This was Ben's first time coming since it snowed last year and we canceled it.
We arrived on a drizzly Friday night and only Crystal and Aaron (my cousin and her husband) were there yet. We built a smoky fire and hung out until my mom and dad showed up with my niece and nephew at about 11 pm. Everyone else came in the morning.
We slept surprisingly well since we were able to shove our futon mattress into the backseat of the car.
Saturday we enjoyed lots and lots of rain. Then it rained some more. On Sunday we scrubbed up and went to one of the local wards for Sacrament meeting. Then we drove out to Red Canyon, which is by Bryce Canyon, and walked around. It truly is amazing how beautiful the creations of God are! Panguitch really is a lovely place, if small.
On Monday we headed out to the cemetary to clean the graves of my great-grandparents (Maxine and James Ercil Henrie), my grandpa (Rudy Konold), and my sisters (Sierra and Cheyenne). It is always fun to see the littlest additions to the family helping out. Here is my niece Miriam helping my mom water the flowers at my sisters' graves.

We always take a family picture afterwards . This year Daniel, Megan, and Andrew couldn't come because of work, but we have been so blessed by the recent additions to the Brown clan (namely Ben, Kim, and not-yet-born-babies Eleanor and ?(Daniel and Megan are expecting their third in October)).
This is our family there just two years ago, right before Ben and I started dating, and while Jonathan was still on his mission. My goodness how things have changed (plus we got t-shirts this year thanks to Uncle David and Aunt Karen).
After doing our cemetery duty, we went to Henrie's Drive In and then to the park for a little nap and some volleyball.

I always enjoy spending time with any part of my family, including my new Lewis side. I am so thankful for the restoration of the gospel because it not only provided me with the knowledge that my family can be forever, but the priesthood power to make it happen as well. Though we are generally quirky and crazy and loud, I love my family and I can't imagine heaven without them. God be thanked for the glorious gift of his Son that makes the plan of happiness possible!
And I just liked this picture of Ben, so I end with that. He's pretty celestial husband material!

Jonathan and Kim's Wedding

The day after Ben's graduation my brother Jonathan was sealed to Kimberli Lingard in the Draper Utah Temple. It was a wonderful day (though my feet really hated my shoes!).

Kim is an awesome woman who fits in wonderfully to our family. I must say, my brothers have done an amazing job providing me with sisters. But, according to Daniel, Brown men marry up. I think I did too, but the point is, this is a great family.

And in true Brown fashion, we had entirely too much fun a the wedding reception.

Apparently the Lingard's were wary of having dancing at the reception. They didn't think there would be enough people to make it worthwhile. Clearly they have never seen the Brown/Konold clans get down!

All in all, it was a wonderful night, and then we got to do it all over again the next weekend in Pahrump. I just had to include this picture because I love it. This is my nephew Jacob getting the famous double-whammy from my parents.

Ben Learns to Count

The past two weekends have been pretty busy for us. Busy but wonderful! So here is the lowdown on Ben's Graduation from Brigham Young University!

April 25-Ben's commencement. This was the really BIG ceremony where both Elder Nelson and President Uchtdorf spoke and we could barely see Ben sitting hundreds of people away in his cap and gown, blending it with the sea of blue. But it was great.


Apr 26-Convocation. This is the smaller ceremony for just the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Ben's grandfather Glenn Lewis and his wife Jean came because Ben provided the "entertainment" for convocation. In other words, he was asked to sing and he did a fantastic job, performing "Go the Distance." We were all pretty darn proud of him. He graduated Magma Cum Laude (in the top 5% of BYU's graduating class this year) with TWO bachelor's degrees; Mathematics and Mathematics Education. What a hard working smarty pants!

Now, if only we can find a job...

Just Keeping With Tradition

*First off, I would have posted a picture from the ultrasound, but I haven't scanned it yet, and they aren't really the clearest. So I thought this would be nice too.

On to the real news. We had the ultrasound on Monday and got our first peek at the baby. It was so cool to watch the doctor point stuff out. The neatest thing for me was when the baby would move I could feel it AND see it.

Of course, we wanted to know the gender (Ben is such a planner that I don't think he could handle it otherwise). And we are proud to be keeping up a quasi-family tradition by having a GIRL first.
I'm the oldest and a girl, and so is my mom, several cousins (8 of a possible 13), two nieces, and Ben as a sister as the oldest in his family as well. So we'll call it tradition. The doctor also moved up the due date from July 20 to July 15 because she is measuring a...healthy size for her age. We told him that both of our families were NOT known for small babies (Ben was 10 lb. 11 oz, and my siblings had huge heads--they still do actually).
At any rate, we are planning on naming her Eleanor Lee Lewis and calling her Ellie. It's a tradition in my family to give the oldest girl the middle name Lee, so that was a given. I had picked out Eleanor before I ever met Ben for a few reasons. 1) I liked it and the famous historical women who have been named Eleanor (Roosevelt, of Aquataine), 2) I'm a nerd and love Lord of the Rings, and in the end of the book Sam names his daughter Elanor after the flowers in Lothlorien. That's when I first thought of it as a name. Not that I am naming my child after LOTR, I just liked the name. 3) Elinore Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite literary characters (who, incidentally, was played to perfection by Emma Thomas in the film adaptation). So that's the plan.
And besides the obvious reasons to be excited about a girl (finally a girl for me to play with!), it just means that we will have a built in baby sitter for all the boys we'll probably have to keep up the other family tradition (which is to have more boys than girls).

Thanksgiving Rocks!

My family is really into rock climbing and rappelling. My first time rappelling as a 4 year old and my dad had to pull me down because I didn't really weigh enough to make gravity do it. So with my dad and and Philip, Jonathan, Kim, and Ben, we went off to Red Rock (just outside of Vegas) during the Thanksgiving break and did some climbing!
Ben has never been rappelling, and only done rock climbing inside. So this was a new experience for him. And he did great!
I was a little more cautious than I usually am since I was about 8 weeks pregnant at the time, but I still topped out on the climb!
After scaling his rock, Ben got daring and did a little rappelling. He said this was way scarier than rock climbing. But he thinks he'd do it again!
Generally speaking, we're just really tough! But safe, cause we've got hard hats on. (Which is good since Philip knocked off some sandstone from the rock face with some of his antics).
I love that Ben is willing to try crazy things with me, or because of me. He's pretty awesome that way!