Happy, Joyful Thanksgiving

We had a Great Thanksgiving. We started on Wednesday with a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with the Jenkins and the Mitchell Family at our house. We had a traditional "Bennett" Thanksgiving. Then on Thanksgiving we went to the Mitchell's Home. It was very good! This year Mark, Ginger, Cecily, Ryan, Eric, and Joanna were able to be here in Idaho. We missed Deserae. On Friday we shopped and on Saturday we went bowling with the Jenkins. And of course on Sunday we attended church. I am very thankful for all the blessings the Lord has given me - especially my Family!

Christmas Lights

This morning Barry and I (mostly Barry) put up some Christmas Lights outside on our trees. I asked Barry to get a timer for the lights so we wouldn't have to go out every day in the snow and cold and plug them in. It is sooooo nice! At 5:00 the lights came on and at 11:00 they will turn off. I don't know why we didn't do this earlier in our lives! We have colored lights. Those are the lights I like the best because I grew up with having Christmas trees with colored lights. Back then they were the BIG lights not the little lights we have today. Christmas is such a happy time! I love it! But I do wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! In Germany the Kristkindel Markts (know the spelling isn't right) begin the first or second week in November. They don't have Thanksgiving at the end of November so they can start their Christmas season early. I like that! I want to celebrate the Christmas season as long as possible. Of course we can always celebrate Christmas year round...but I do love the lights, decorations, food, giving, etc.

Ryan is really a year older

I found out that Ryan is really going to be 27 on Monday. Happy Birthday!

Happy, Happy Birthday Children Dear!

Last week we celebrated Eric's 22nd birthday and Joanna's 20th birthday. She is no longer a teenager. Barry, Mark, Ginger, Travis and Julie Mitchell, and I with Eric and Joanna celebrated at Jaker's Restaurant. The Birthday Girl ordered Drunken Noodles (a Thai dish) and the Birthday Boy ordered a Prime Rib Steak Sandwich. Joanna received her meal for half off because at Jaker's you get your meal half off if it is your birthday day! On Monday it will be Ryan's 26th Birthday! We have lots of Birthdays in November! Last night I went to the Idaho Falls Symphony concert of the Planets. It was very enjoyable. Before they started The Planets there was a great pianist that played with the Symphony. There was a camera that focused in on his hands playing and it was spectacular to see someone so great playing the piano. At one point he played with one hand on top of the other. It was too amazing! I have been called to be the 7 Year old Primay Teacher. Today I had two students. It was great! One boy was hungry throughout the whole lesson. I had banana bread, but he didn't like bananas, so he kept on being hungry!

I have a sick feeling

I have never felt so sick in my life as today. Americans have voted for abortion, for same sex marriage, for bigger government, more taxes, and essentially for Socialism when they voted for him. The American Dream is all about working hard so that you can earn your money, your future. Today Americans have voted against that. They have voted for a man who doesn't believe in that dream. He believes the government should give to everyone, except those who work hard to earn a living. I am not proud of his way of government at all. It is not American. It helps those who want to be lazy, and not earn their way. I am sick. I hope America doesn't change if it changes what America has stood for. But I'm afraid too many people want to think that this president will "put gas in their cars, pay their mortgage, put food on their table" (quoted from an Obama Supporter) and they won't have to work for it because the Government is going to take care of them no matter what!! SOCIALISM! I go walking with a friend and she said that the Second Coming will come sooner if Obama is elected. I believe her. I guess that's one good thing. America has voted. They have voted against America and what America has stood for. I have a sick feeling in my heart. I am not going to be able to stand to hear him talk. It's going to be like listening to Clilnton, which I didn't do, all over again! The only hope I have is in the Gospel and the peace that it brings.

Happy Birthday Grandma Buhler!

Ryan and I went to Grandma Buhler's house today to wish her happy birthday and give her some presents mom bought.  She LOVED the pink slippers and felt "fancy".  She is so cute.

Hebgen Lake over Labor Day

Ryan went wakeboarding!

Dad & Ryan in the kitchen

Cecily was sooo tired! It was a good thing mom was there to be her pillow.

Joanna went wakeboarding!

Eric went wakeboarding! He also went on Labor Day when it was only 50 degrees outside! It was really cold, but he had a lot of fun doing tricks.

Dad on the jet ski

Cecily

Eric jumping over the wake

Eric having fun in 50 degree weather!

More pics from Hebgen Lake!

Joanna tried on a wetsuit that was way too big!

Dad driving the boat
Ethan Prettyman- so cute!
Eric and Joanna- worn out after a fun filled day
Getting ready to go tubing!

Hebgen Lake

A Ride In the Boat

Uncle Bob

Joanna Wakeboarding

Eric Wakeboarding

We had a great time at Hebgen Lake! If you have any more pics, feel free to add them!

Eric is Married!!

They are thrilled to be married!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July. We spent time in the river and at the greenbelt. We played Sequence & Boggle and then we walked around the greenbelt. It was such a nice beautiful day. The fireworks were wonderful! We missed you Des!

Mark & Ginger

Ryan & Cecily

Idaho Falls is so beautiful!

Mom & Dad

Joanna & Eric

Jet Skiing

It is almost 100 degrees here in I.F. but it feels good when you have been jet skiing, wake boarding, tubing and swimming. That is what mark and I did with his brother and his fiancee' and their friend. It was awsome. I didn't go wake boarding, but i did swim, ride, and drive the jet ski and tube. I almost fell off the tube a couple of times, but corrected myself, then i finally biffed it, and for some dumb reason I couldn't figure out why i was choking on all that water and getting plunged into the water so fast....oh.....let go of the tube dummy. ha ha ha ha! For a split sec I had an image of someone getting dragged by a horse and someone yelling "let go." That is what reminded me to let go. After I did that I could breath again...after I coughed up a couple of fish. I drove the jet ski while Joanna (eric's fiancee') rode behind me and Eric was tubing. Joanna tried it too, and boy did she get some sweet bounces. I had to laugh a couple of times.

-Ginger

Mom and Dad!

Welcome back from Washington DC! It sounds like you had a great time :)

I had a dream

I had a dream about saving Ross a few nights ago. haha. I think I was traumatized when he went missing all day a few months back. Anyway, everybody was out looking for Ross again, but we were in Idaho looking in the Snake River. For some reason the whole city went swimming that day and it was quite difficult to find him so we all split up. I finally found him and called him to come ashore. (We were all scared about the undertow of the current). He swam ashore and told me, "I'm swimming!" Then, he went back in the river. I called him back ashore, and he was walking towards me on a bunch of logs that started moving back towards the river. Luckily, I cought him underneath his arms and he didn't fall in with the logs. Then, out of nowhere a big semi started to fall on us! Again, my strength came through (haha) and I barely pulled us both away from the fall of the big semi truck. So, Ross escaped death twice in one dream. It's a good thing he has me for a niece, huh?

Welcome home Cecily and Ryan! It sounds like you had a great time in Florida!

Prince Caspian

Today Mark, Ginger, and I saw Prince Caspian! It is a fantastic film. We Loved It! We went to Hart's to let Eric try on some tuxedos, but alas they closed at 4:p.m. That's when we arrived! Have a Great Day!

The Most Delicious Angel Food Cake in the World!!! - Gluten Free

Angel Food Cake
14 egg whites
11/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. granulated sugar
Sift next three ingredients:
1 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. potato starch flour (Not potato flour)
1/2 c. cornstarch
In large glass or metal (Not plastic) mixing bowl, place egg whites, cr. of tartar, salt. Beat until mixture is well blended. Continue to beat adding granulated sugar slowly until sugar is dissolved & whites form stiff peaks.
With a rubber spatula gently fold in the 3 sifted ingredients about 1/4th at a time, folding just enough so the flour disappears.
Pour batter into ungreased 9" tube pan & cut through with spatula to break air bubbles.
Bake 35-40 minutes in preheated 360 - 375 oven ( I do 365) or until top springs back when lightly touched. Remove from oven & cook the cake in the inverted pan. Remove cake only when completely cool. Be sure there are no shiny white parts when it is done. It will fall out of the pan if not completely done.

Happy Mother's Day! You are the best!

Busy Day Taking Pictures

Eric and Joanna worked very hard at smiling and posing. At the end of the day THEY WERE TIRED!

Veggie Man

Here is the Veggie Man!!! Notice the leafy tongue.
I had to take numerous pictures until he kept the
cucumbers on his eyes!

More Pics

Some more Pics of Joanna and Eric..........

The Rowe Family Sealing

Barry and I flew to Chicago in April to see Nicole and Jared Rowe and their children, Austin, Michael and Alex be sealed together for time and all eternity in the Chicago Temple. It was a beautiful day!