Goodbye 2013 and Hello 2014

Okay so I wasn't going to do this whole oh it's the end of the year thing...

But then I looked through my pictures..not even all of them..Just my mobile uploads on facebook...

And I realized...2013 had more ups then downs even if those downs were hard..

And those up and downs are worth remembering SOOOO...

here we go... 2013 summed up..

We started the year with Emmit turning one...

Where did the time go...he grew so fast...

Life was pretty sad at this point...Devon was working 60hr weeks...

And as much as his job was a blessing, we were still up with Grandpa and Devon was in Spokane..

And the kids and I didn't handle it well..

We searched and searched and searched...

And Finally on January 28th our prayers were answered...God provided and we came across the most awesome landlord..

And moved into our first house...

 <3 home sweet home <3

And it was so wonderful to finally be together as a family again

Then on February 8th, just two days after bringing the last boxes to the house...

We went to the hospital 

and Welcomed our beautiful Gracelynn Irene Benson to the world

 And she was prefect.....

We brought her home and everyone fell in love <3

We watched her grow and watched her siblings adore her

Then Our boy Turned 5 

Happy Birthday J-Man :)

And we were so happy 

Jaydon "Graduated" Pre-school and 

Cherry Graduated Kindergarten

And we were so PROUD of them both :)

And my sissy Came to Visit :)

I love you sissy

Then we spent the summer enjoying parks and the sunshine and playing in our backyard

Summer was awesome and We even went on our first Family Vacay

back to Western Wa

Got to take the kids to a fruit stand for the first time :)

We also bought our new truck :)

 And our newest Family member Colt :)

Then the kids started School First the older Two in Sept.

 Then Mack in November..

How fast they have Grown

 Cherry started and rocked her first soccer season

 We finally got to take the kids to a pumpkin patch..and I use that term lightly

Mack Turned Three

 Cherry Turned 7 and had a sleepover

 Emmit has become a little talker and loves his baby sissy

And Gracie is 10months and still my crazy little face maker

 We got Family pictures done

 My silly kids I love them lol

 Aren't they too cute for words

 And I fell even more in love with my hubby..If that is even possible :)

And We had a very blessed Christmas

...The entire year wasn't prefect..

There were plently of down..

I just chose not to highlight them...

because 40yrs from now it won't be the van breaking down that I remember..

Or Jaydon being diagonosed with Epilepsy..

I will sadly remember the loss of our baby...

But I wanted to focus on all of our blessings..

And let me tell you this just barely scapped the top of them..

They don't Call them Highlights for nothing..

2013 was pretty amazing

and 2014 will be to..

because no matter what is behind us or what lies ahead of us..

We will face it all as a family

So bring it on 2014

the Benson Bunch is Ready and Waiting ;) 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

From our Family to Yours  

Craft Two of Our Crafty Christmas

I didn't get to post yesterday cause we had a very busy day :)

But we did indeed Make a Second Day Craft

We Made a Cookie Plate for Santa

Or should I say Cherry and Jaydon and I did :)

We let the little boys color on Paper :)

This was also a budget friendly Craft.

  We bought a plain white plate from Dollar Tree

and A Package of multi colored permenant markers

And I Wrote the words I wanted around the edge and the Kids deocrated it

Then we Put it in the oven at 350 for 40minutes :)

And let it cool and TADA

Santa cookie Plate

We hope you have fun making your plate...

And making Memories <3

The Benson Bunch

Craft One of Our Crafty Christmas

As the mom of five that means I am on a budget...

Which means when I do crafts I have to keep it relatively cheap.

And Yes that does mean I save toilet paper rolls and babyfood jars and you might want to as well..

Because we will be getting to those crafts sometime this month as well.

Our First Craft for the Christmas Season are easy and cheap and fun.

You will Need Those plastic snowflakes from the dollar store 

Then you will want to buy bingo doppers as well

I got mine from the dollar store and in total for snowflakes and bingo doppers this craft cost me $6

 

 I got red, blue, purple, and green because that's what my store had.

 If your kids are enthusiatic this might get messy...

in otherwords make sure they are in clothes you don't mind getting messing 

and put down either a plastic table cloth or like me construction paper.

 Using the construction paper had the added effect of giving me another piece of artwork when they were done.

 Place the Snowflakes out and the doppers out after shaking them up 

and then let the kids go crazy...

 My 22month old son did it by himself so this is a pretty easy and cheap craft :)

Plus they had a blast and now you will also have some cute cheap ornaments for your tree

 

 If you use construction paper under the snowflakes...

 You Might just also get some pretty art for your wall or fridge

 So fun and adorable..I plan to scarpbook mine :)

 And on top of it all we made Peppermint ice cream Coco Floats...

I forgot to take a picture so I grabbed this one from the interent (This is not my photo)

*Peppermint Coco Float*

You will need Milk and half n Half

Peppermint Ice Cream

Coco Mix

*Also if you are like me you can add whip cream and crumpled peppermint bark to the top 

(If you want a adult fun version there is this amazing Pinnacle Peppermint Bark Vodka YUM)

 Add your milk and half n half together (just add it for you flavor prefrence)

Micorwave for two minutes

Put two scoops of peppermint icecream in your cups

when done warming the milk whisk in coco mix

Then poor coco over ice cream...it will float just like a float as long as your coco isn't to hot.

If desired top with Whip cream and crumbled peppermint bark

(can also add a shot (OR TWO) of that yummy vodka)

ENJOY

October Fun

It's the First Day of Christmas

It's the First Day of Christmas and my True love gave to me,

Five Beautiful babies...

And hence the Crafty Christmas...

And so It starts..

Crafty doesn't always mean you are making something. 

Sometimes it means you are coming up with something to do to make a season memorable.

But our Christmas will be filled with both...

Today is day one, of our Christmas Fun.

Today is Chocolate Chip Cookies with Mommy and the kids :)

I have an awesome Chocolate Chip Recipe My sissy Shared with me :)

We all have our special recipes :)

Just remember no matter what recipe you are using to let your children have fun with you.

My daughter turns 7 in two days and she is finally old enough to really enjoy having in the kitchen,

She is old enough to know how to be careful around the stove, 

and have arms to stir the dough :)

 I am super excited for that :) 

Can't wait to take tons of pictures to post of the kids helping me :) 

But for those of you who want to join me 

Here is the best ever Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Cream Together: Single Batch                                     Double Batch

Real Butter 1 cup                                                        2 cups

Granulated or Raw Sugar 3/4 cup                               1 1/2 cups

Brown Sugar Packed 3/4 cup                                     1 1/2 cups

Mix In:

Salt 1 tsp                                                                   1 1/2 tsp

Baking Soda 1 1/4 tsp                                               2 1/2 tsp

Beat In:

Vanilla 1 tsp                                                               2 tsp

Eggs* 2 large                                                             4 large

*If mixing by hand beat eggs before adding.

Gradually Mix In:

Flour 2 3/4 cups                                                        5 1/2 cups

Stir In:

Semi-Sweet Real 2 1/2 cups                                      5 cups

Chocolate Chips

(2 cups = 12 oz)

Optional:

Chopped Nuts 1 cup                                                 2 1/4 cups

(walnuts, pecans)

Preheat oven to 375˚ F.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375˚ for 13 minutes** cookies should be light golden brown.

Let cookies cool for 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

**Pampered Chef Stone Cookie Sheet works the very best. If you are using a metal cookie sheet you will need to watch and time for your oven and cookie sheet.

And those are the yummiest chocolate chip cookies EVER

From the Benson Bunch to you 

ENJOY

And Merry First Day of Christmas