CONGRATULATIONS SHAWN!

Shawn has officially finished all of his graduate school applications!  Join us in celebrating!

On Monday January 12th, Laralei took her first bite of rice cereal.

Shawn filmed her first try at solid food. Click on the film below to see...

Here is another clip for you to enjoy!

Mmmm rice cereal, so good!

While in St. George, a few days after Christmas we went hiking at Zion National Park. The Red Rock was breath-taking in the snow. This picture shows everyone who went: Karl-Erik, Melissa and their children (Sam, Racheal, Jared, and Nate is on Keb's back); Blake and Leisel, and Shawn Laralei (on Shawn) and myself. We had a blast slipping and sliding in the snow.

Shawn was particuarlly impressed by Jared on the treck over the ice. Watch Jared in this clip. He runs down a hill of ice, slides into Sam who has already fallen on the ice, jumps over him and continues his jont down the hill. Quite impressive Jared!

Laralie loved meeting Grandpa and Grandma Bennion. This photo shows 4 generations of Bennions, all sealed and connected one to another for eternity. We are so grateful for our family and the joyful addition Laralei has made to the Bennion mix!

(Pictured from left to right are Grandpa Bennion, Grandma Bennion holding Laralei and Grandpa Mike with Shawn standing behind and between Grandpa and Grandma. This picture was taken December 23, 2008).

Well, we are back in Indiana and trying to unpack and, do laundry and get Shawn situated in a new (and last for his Masters) semester in school. Can you believe that they had him registered as a freshman engineering student for this new semester? Who came up with that idea, we'll never know, but it gave me a good laugh. In the mean time, I will be much better at keeping you up to date, posting pictures of Laralei and looking forward to hearing from you.

Hope that everyone had a Very Merry Christmas! We certainly enjoyed our time with family, and Laralei loved meeting grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and most of all the COUSINS!

I will be posting pictures every other day, so check back often and keep us up to date on how all of you are doing as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here are all the cousins! Sam is holding Nate Nate, Racheal (so happy to have a GIRL cousin) is holding Laralei and Jared is sitting on the right.

When Laralei first woke up and saw all of her cousins hovering by to meet her, she gave a big "Hi guys, it's been a while. How are you?" smile!

In this picture Laralie is sporting her beauitful new dress that Grandma Luisa gave her. She looks like she just stepped out of the movie "White Christmas".



This second picture was taken Christmas Eve in Las Vegas. Laralei loves posing with Grandma Luisa and Grandpa Mike.

Laralie loved meeting Aunt Michelle, Macey, Mckenzie (pictured here) as well as Blake, Bailey and Uncle Breck (not pictured here).

Meeting Aunt Jackie was a special treat! Aunt Jackie gave Laralie this beauitful candy-striped dress with matching pink panties. Laralei felt like a Christmas elf! Uncle Jacob supplied the matching elf hat!


We miss everyone and look forward to seeing you again soon.

More pictures will be forth coming each day or every other day. If you did not see your picture with Laralei yet, stay posted.

Trick or Treat

Shawn makes a handsome Indian Jones, and Laralei dressed as a tiger.

Shawn's Harry Potter Jack-o-lantren was a hit with all the trick or treaters tonight!