The Winds of Change

Wow...I don't even know where to begin. For starters...we're moving! Well, we've moved. Peter got a job up at the ranch owned by BYU-Idaho called Badger Creek as the Asst. Supervisor (or something like that). We are so excited to start a new adventure! Technically, we're not all moved in because Peter headed back to Utah to finish up his last few days with his internship at ScenicView.

This is definitely a bittersweet change. We are going to miss the Bensons. It was such a wonderful experience and blessing to live with them these last few months. It's so wonderful to have strengthened those relationships. We are REALLY going to miss our friends the Andersons. Molly became like a sister to me and their little girl, Emyli, and Livy became wonderful friends. Livy still asks if she can go see "Ennee" =) and it tugs at my heart each time. They have been such great friends and examples to us and I am so blessed to have them be a part of my "extended family". Definitely an eternal friendship there. ScenicView has been such an incredible blessing for our family, especially Peter. The people there (both staff and students) welcomed us with open arms and I know Peter's mentor/supervisor, Ryan, has also become one of Peter's great friends and I know we'll be staying in touch with him and his cute little family.

On the up side...this is the view we have just a short walk from our new CABIN!! That's right baby....our own friggin' cabin!

How gorgeous is this? The ranch is just outside Driggs, Idaho and so we are so close to the Tetons. Seriously, the view takes my breath away. Peter will be helping with maintaining the grounds/facility and helping with the groups that come up for the many fun, exhilarating, self-discovering, growing, experiences. Here are a couple of pictures of what YOU can do when you come visit us. =)

Rope's Course: The Jungle Gym

The Powerpole Jump. So fun!

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of our cabin as of yet, but I will post it ASAP cause it is the most adorable little place and I am so excited to put our own touches on it.

For those of you who would love a fun-filled getaway, come stay with us! (We even have a guest bedroom!) There are so many fun things to do! Even when the snow comes flying...did I mention the AMAZING sled hill with a tow rope! Every kid's (and kid-at-heart's) dream come true! There's cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and we're just a little ways from Targhee so we'll take weary skiers/snowboarders anytime and anyone else wanting to come visit the great outdoors.

Peter officially starts his new job tomorrow! So excited for him, not to mention the fact that he'll be back by my side. I miss him somethin' fierce when he's away. I am so dependent on his incredible strength and calming influence. He is such an amazing man and I am so blessed to have him with me for the rest of eternity because in my own opinion, even that isn't going to be nearly long enough. He is definitely my better half and makes me want to become the best that I can each and every day. Peter is the best dad in the world! Seriously. The girls love him so much and he loves them even more. I am the luckiest girl in the world! LIFE IS GOOD!!

Slacking much?

I have seriously been neglecting my blog. I always think I don't have much to report that's interesting. Oh well.

We have recently returned from a visit to Idaho. My (Heidi) brother, who is just younger than me, got married. We are so happy for him and his new bride, Aimee. It was so wonderful to be in the sealing room with them and our extended family. Unfortunately, we haven't been to the temple for a while (which makes no sense with built in babysitters here =)) and it was so fantastic to enter those sacred walls again. The peace and spirit there are indescribable. I just always feel like I've had my first drink of perfect hot chocolate after being out in an Idaho snowstorm. That wonderful warmth and complete contentment of knowing I'm safe and loved. What an incredible blessing to have a place to go where we can feel our Heavenly Father and Savior's love for us so close. It was a much needed reminder of the many blessings the temple offers.

It was wonderful to visit my family. My parents actually came down a week before the wedding to pick up the girls and me so we could spend some extra time with them. Unfortunately, Peter didn't get to make it up until Wednesday night. I am such a Parent's Girl (is that a real term?) and have really missed my them both so it was great visiting and catching up with them. But enough about the wedding! Let's move on to us! =)

Peter is LOVING his internship. I mean really, it's pretty fantastic how much he is learning from and enjoying his time at ScenicView. They are so good to him there and he and his boss have become lifelong friends I believe. He is such an amazing dad to his little girls. They simply idolize him. Livy must call her daddy at least once a day while he is gone and Jane just lights up whenever she sees Peter enter the room. He's also. pretty much, the perfect husband for me. He's also taking an online class right now that probably doesn't get the attention it needs all the time but he's doing well with it anyways. Peter's preparing to take the GRE this month and then he'll be taking his certification for recreational therapy in October. I am so proud of him and that he's finally doing what he loves most.

I am LOVING being a mom to Livy and Jane. They can always make me smile and make me feel like a million bucks! I'm still adjusting to not having our own place but I am overwhelmed with the love and hospitality we have received from the rest of the family here. I am so happy to have good warm weather so we can play in the water and at the park more often and just be able to get outside. Although I love being a mom, we've really been looking into some classes I may be able to take to help me get my degree. It'd be nice to take a couple classes so I could get out of the house on my own a little bit and work toward that goal. But, all in good time.

Livy is LOVING being a big sister lately. All she can talk about is Jane. She wants Jane with her wherever she goes and has no problem waking Jane up when she wakes up (mom and dad have a BIG problem with this). She's so great with her and loves to make her laugh. Livy loves eating yogurt and granola. She learned this great habit from watching her dad do it. Dancing is probably Livy's next passion in life after her family. And boy does she have some moves!! Seriously, I could watch her dance all day if she did it. We're preparing ourselves for potty training and I hope she catches on quick (wishful thinking probably). She's so smart and can count to 10 and loves animals and animal sounds. She really is such a joy to have with us and her spunk and personality are really starting to show.

Jane is LOVING solids! She's getting so big and has taken to baby food with finesse. Peas, sweet potatoes, and bananas have all been well liked. We're sticking with those for a little while. She's a rolling maniac and loves being mobile. Jane's almost mastered sitting and would rather be up sitting looking around than lying down and out of the loop. Can you believe she's already 6 months old?! Neither can we. It's hard to believe she's that old and hasn't been able to meet some of you. She's a great baby, never cries, and sleeps well in the night (most of the time), usually only getting up once to eat. She prefers taking catnaps throughout the day, which was hard for me to adjust to because Livy always took 2-3 naps a day for a couple hours each, but that's what keeps her happy so we'll take it. All in all, Jane's a happy, content, beautiful baby girl who has us all wrapped around her little finger. =)

Here are some pictures from the wedding.

With the happy couple.

Beautiful Ms. Jane!

Our family picture! Love it!

Being me...

So, the last few weeks I have really been struggling. And, until recently, I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't figure out why I cried so easily, or why I was so quick to tear myself donw. I started reading a book, yesterday, and a lightbulb just went on in my head (I love those "ah-ha!" moments): I'm trying to be like those around me, and by doing so I'm comparing myself to them. I know that comparing is a way of life but it's how we do it and use the tool that can affect us. I've always wanted to fit in with the girls. I don't very well. I'm much more comfortable with the guys and being the tom boy, but a part of me (probably a big part) was always jealous of those girls that all my guy friends would talk about, because I was never the "hot one", or the "super skinny one", etc., and I wanted to be sometimes. Unfortunately, my jealousy resulted in me losing one of my best friends and one of the most wonderful, gracious, and dependable people I know. How sad that I'd let something so petty interfere with that relationship. As I grew up and found things that I loved, such as volleyball, I became much more self assured and confident. However, I threw myself into volleyball with such intensity, other areas in my life suffered. My grades, my social life, and other things that create a well-rounded person. Even though I was confident on the court, I was painfully self-concious and weak in many other aspects of my person. Eventually, I realized that even though volleyball was helping me it was also holding me back. Then I started working. Work was the best thing that ever happened to me. Work is where I met my Prince Charming! It took a long time for me to let Peter into my life. I was always in the "Friend Zone" with stunningly handsome men, but Peter was different (still stunningly handsome). He wanted to get to know me. He saw beyond the outside and found someone wonderful. And because of him and his love, I'm becoming that someone wonderful that he saw.



Anyways, back to my main point. I had compared myself all me life to those I thought had it better than me. Thinking I would never be good enough. I'd been told I wouldn't be after a not-so-healthy relationship, and with the state of mind I had I believed it. Ridiculous, right? This book made me look at the bigger picture. And Peter's been trying to get me to see it ever since we got together. Even though I may think all of my insanely gorgeous sisters-in-law have it easy with their weight, I don't know that. I don't know that it's easy, and even if it is they have other trials in their lives that I can't even comprehend. Even though my house isn't nearly as put together as So-and-so's, they may have more time to do that or they're struggling with other things. I've been comparing myself with others based on the surface of things. How unfair is that? To both the person I'm looking at and me. How shallow. Gross. I've been looking at the superficial layer of myself and I know there's so much more to me than the fact that I can't fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans. =)

I'm a good listener.
I love helping those in need.
I am a daughter of God.
I have divine purpose.
I have Celestial potential.
I am loved perfectly.
I am a blessed mother.
I am a loving wife.
I am a woman of being!

"Drink and Never Thirst"

Liz Lemon Swindle

I can't even begin to express the difference in my countenance and my self-awareness. Even if it's only been 24 hours since this scrumptious revelation. I feel as though I'm lighter, that I'm more me than I have been in a long time. And, more importantly, that I'm happy with being me. I know there are going to be days that I will have to mentally and physically stop myself from comparing myself with those around me. It isn't an overnight change. But I have all the tools I need to be happy and content and to be the best me I can be. I'm doing the best I can. It may not be as good as others, but it's the best that I can do and that's all that matters.

Life is *simply scrumptious*

Lately...

Life has been busy. I had forgotten how many loads of laundry a new little one can generate. Truly it's amazing.


Livy has really fallen into the role of big sister wonderfully. She loves Jane so much and wants to cuddle with her often (sometimes draping herself over her) and kisses her everytime she walks past her. And probably the most amazing thing, she gives her "silky" to Jane when she gets too upset, all the while saying, "It's ok", over and over. Which is exactly what Peter and I say to her too. Now those of you who don't know just how attached Livy is to her silky, this is incredible for her to hand it over. Livy is getting so grown up, she's talking more and more, which is so wonderful for us. She loves reading books, but only the ones that she picks out. A couple months ago she started sleeping in her twin bed and she loves it. The last two Sundays I've been able to walk her to nursery and only have to sit with her for a couple minutes before sneaking out, but the leader informed me she didn't even cry (I think the transition was almost harder on me).

All tuckered out.


Helping Daddy plow the driveway.


Not wanting to stop helping Daddy =)


Getting so big!



Jane is growing fast! She is getting so tall, and I think she looks like a Benson more and more. She definitely developing her own look and is just such a joy to have. She started smiling a few weeks ago and just the other day she giggled for me while playing "Pat-a-cake." Of course I haven't gotten her to do it since. =) She's been such a sweet baby and has gotten into a pretty steady schedule already and goes to bed around 9 and sleeps until 6. She loves Livy. She will follow her around the room and whenever Livy talks to her she just smiles, unless she's too upset. Having two sweet girls in our home reminds me daily of the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father.

Smiles!


Lovin her jammies


Blessing day.


So cute!



Peter has senioritis =) but is powering through it and is excited for the next chapter of our lives. Graduation is just about four weeks away and I am so proud of him. I know he puts his all in everything that he does. He's been getting to know the Teachers better in our ward and he may not feel like he's making much of a difference but I know he is. He is such a wonderful man. I know you all know that of course =). He never complains about unexciting dinners or lack there of, and he's always willing to help out with the girls as soon as he walks in the door. Every time he comes home I feel like I'm complete again, he's like a breath of fresh air to me and I love him for it.

Such a great helper! =)


Bonding time



As for me, I continue to learn the tricks of having more than one child in the house and trying to keep the house in order. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I'm pretty excited to be moving to Provo. I'm anxious for Livy and Jane to get to know their other grandparents better, I too am excited to build my relationship with the Bensons. My best friend lives in Provo as well and I'm glad to be closer to her. I truly love my family and I'm so happy we are entering this new stage of our lives. I know I'll miss my family deeply and it'll take me a little while to get over not having my mom close (yes I am a mama's girl =)). Lyman's as far from my family as I've been so I know it'll be an adjustment but I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow, because I know that happens when we're pushed out of our comfort zones.

Simply Scrumptious

I've decided to rename our blog "Simply Scrumptious" because that is what my life is. And it truly is simply scrumptious.

So, as it's been quite a long while since I've been on here I have a lot of catching up to do. But, the most important update is Jane Elizabeth arrived December 16, 2010 healthy and strong. She was 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 20 inches long, exactly one pound smaller and one inch shorter than her big sister. She has been such a blessing and such a wonderful baby. Seriously, she sleeps from 9pm to 4 or 5 in the morning and she's so in love with all of us, especially her big sister. Anytime Livy comes into her view she just smiles and smiles. They're going to be kindred spirits in know it. One thing more that was much appreciated on my part, was that her arrival was much less dramatic and quicker. It only took four contractions to get her out once I started pushing and no vacuum this time. =) I was a happy camper!

Isn't she just a doll?!

I know this was short and probably unfulfilling to read but it's all the time I have for now...Livy's ready for a snack. =)