December Part 3 - Biggs Family Time & Bennett's Blessing

Like I have previously posted, we felt very blessed to get to see my parents and my sister and her family within the month before Christmas. That made not spending Christmas with them bearable for me. I still had a rough time on Christmas Eve during the day, missing my family and wishing I could be with them. Normally, we would have travelled out to California after Christmas to spend several days with my family, but with my sister's holiday and travel plans, it just so happened that they were all coming out to Utah after Christmas so they could spend time with her in-laws and planned to bless my new nephew Bennett. So my parents and my brothers came out too. So, although we weren't with them on Christmas, we still got to spend 2 days with them in Utah.

We met my parents up in Lehi at my cousin's house where they were staying. We got to have a 2nd Christmas with them. Brek got official Christmas pjs which match his cousins. (Despite loving his penguin Christmas pjs from last year, he still has been quite upset that he didn't get cupcake ones like the girls so they could match. So my mom made sure they matched this year.) Grandma and Papa also gave him a CD player for his room and some CD's to go along with it. He has LOVED it! He will put on his music and jump on his trampoline and play for much longer than he used to.

Joe got some new long-sleeved shirts and a laminator that he's been wanting for his Primary chorister calling.

I received a warm fuzzy blanket, a new sewing ruler, and 2 new purses. 

Plus we received a new Christmas book, some games, and a new movie. We felt very spoiled and very loved.

That evening we met up with my older brother Mark and his wife Eliana (their kids weren't able to come out) and my sister and her family, and we "rode the train" aka Trax, up to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It was cold, but we had fun. And I just loved getting to be together.

On the "train":

We went into the Visitor's Center first because Papa didn't think it was dark enough yet. But it was cool to see the models of the inside of the temple and we got a couple cool pictures. We also lost kids a couple times.

Love all these cuties!

Amy and Brek:

Rori and Brek loved picking the ice off the garlands. And then complained about their hands being cold. Yet we couldn't convince them otherwise to stop. Gotta love 4-year-olds!

At the big Christmas Tree of Lights with Uncle David. We thought it was cool that those aren't all lights, but they have large sequins in between the lights to help it sparkle and shine more. So pretty!

Group picture:

Mommy and Brek with the temple in the background:

We went and saw the Christus statue in the other visitor's center and in an attempt to warm up. We caught the train back to our cars and then went to Village Inn for dinner for most and hot chocolate too And then we drove by the "Tree of Life" in Draper before going home.

The next day, we met at my brother-in-law Dustin's brother's house in Springville for Bennett's Baby Blessing. His full name is Bennett David Aaron Belt. Bennett is my mom's maiden name. David is Dustin's middle name, along with his father's first name. (It also happens to be my brother's name, and my mom's father's middle name.) Aaron comes from Dustin's best friend, and also Brek's middle name. Tracy really wanted Bennett to wear the same outfit that Brek wore when he was sealed and blessed. We were worried that it would be too big since Brek was 7 months old at the time and Bennett was only 2.5 months old, but it mostly fit him really well.

A photo shoot of Brek and Bennett. You never know if they will turn out well so I just took a bunch:

These are all the men that stood in the circle to bless Bennett:

Aaron Patty, Kerry Belt, David Belt, David Biggs, Joe Jensen, Mark Biggs, Dustin Belt, spacing on friend's name, Bishopric member from Kerry's ward, Guy Biggs, Dustin's nephew - Jacob? Belt

It was very sweet and wonderful. I'm so glad we were able to be there and with our family for such a special event.

Then Joe and I hijacked the baby and I took more pictures:

We finally shared with my dad:

It was nice to sit and chat with family and friends throughout the day. At one point, one of the little boys fell asleep and his dad (Aaron) put him down on the stairs and he stayed asleep there. It was cute!

All the boys with Aaron in their name:

 All the boys with David in their name:

 Bennett with Grandma and Papa Biggs:

 Bennett and his wonderful Mommy and Daddy:

 Bennett with his daddy and his Grandma and Grandpa Belt:

And just a cute picture of my daddy who I love so much!

It was a really nice day and weekend. I sure love my family! It was much harder saying goodbye to my parents. (Less hard to say goodbye to my sister because we were getting together during the next week and caravaning home together too.) I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

My Sister's 30th Birthday Texts

I wanted to remember the texts my sister sent to me when I turned 30:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!! I love you! Throughout the day you will receive 30 texts of reasons you are awesome. From me. :)

30 things about you that are awesome, here is numero uno:
#1: Your smile spreads happiness.
#2: Your ugly cry is the most sincere expression of true faith and true emotion.
#3: You have an ugly cry. :)
#4: You love people with all your heart.
#5: You value and treasure your friendships.
#6: You are a great listener when I'm talking your ear off.
#7: You are smart, and smart about things that I'm not, or that I wouldn't think you are knowledgeable about, (like financial stuff).
#8: You're financially responsible - way more than me!
#9: It's no secret when you are angry.
#10: You took on the calling of motherhood before you were ever a mother, loving unconditionally other people's children.
#11: You sincerely share in others' joys and sorrows.
#12: You make some fantastic aprons.
#13: You have some crafty talents (see #12, cross stitching).
#14: You sweat in some odd places (which isn't unique because lots of women do), but you deal with it gracefully and vocally.
#15: You have been to and lived in Russia - holy cow!
#16: You are great at planning fun activities for your own family and for other family/friend get togethers.
#17: You truly and fully forgive me, (not always immediately, but when you take your time to forgive me, that is when I know I'm completely forgiven).
#18: You like animals - specifically mine - (but I think you like them more than you admit to).
#19: You are pretty great at agreeing with me ... and validating me when I am venting for whatever reason.
#20: You make some really delicious foods (but only few of which I've had the privilege of enjoying, sadly).
#21: You introduced me to some new foods (you deserve credit for mine AND Dustin's like for hummus, but you also get credit for our dislike of cauliflower mashed potatoes) :)
#22: You really try your best at everything you do - you may not always succeed, or feel you have succeeded, but you put your whole heart into anything you do.
#23: You break out into a rash when you're up in front of people, and that's awesome because when I notice that on other people, I think of you and miss you.
#24: You are more concerned about others than yourself. I have noticed that most when others suffer physically, the pain you deal with doesn't matter to you.
#25: You are not afraid to challenge yourself - like when you did the Bridgeport triathlon. Total respect here.
#26: You can sing in bass clef. Dude, I can't do that. Awesome.
#27: You are patient. Don't smirk, it's true. You wait out the tough times humbly, hopeful, and frugally.
#28: You are still young at heart, finding joy in jumping waves at the beach, craving Disneyland rides, and enjoying silly sitcoms on the Disney channel.
#29: We can talk about just anything (hairy boobs and itchy vaginas) while about doing just anything (taking a dump in a church bathroom and having the lights turned out on you).

Aaaaaaaannnd #30: So as I have been thinking all day about all the reasons you are awesome, nothing can beat out just how much of the space in my heart you fill. How so much of who I am is because of you. You have transformed me and inspired me to be my best self, and you do that to everyone you involve in your life. Don't thank me for the sappy dialogue, you're welcome.

So there you have it. 30 reasons why you are awesome. You can now officially be 30.

Oh but wait, I have to make a subtraction.
-1: Eating nutella on a banana is not your favorite way to eat nutella. So I guess you will just be 29 again. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAREST SISTER!!

Chicago 2.0

Right before school started up for Joe again, we were able to make our 2nd trip out to Chicago to visit my sister and her family. Although the coming home portion was rushed and hurried to get back, it was a pretty awesome trip!

We tried another of my sister's authentic Chicago Pizza places.

We spent a day at the beach. It was so fun. I even got in and went out and jumped waves. Totally felt like a 10-year-old kid again, only loved that it was fresh water and not salt water, and didn't have to get saved by any lifeguards. Loved that Brek and my nieces could even come out and jump the waves with us adults. Such a fun day!

She's such a cutie!

My sister and parents surprised Joe with an early birthday present. And boy was he surprised! They got the 2 of us tickets to see the Chicago Symphony perform at the Ravinia, with guest conductor Itzhak Perlman. It was awesome! They played Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, which was our favorite, as well as a Haydn cello concerto with Alisa Weilerstein, and Tchaikovsky Symphony #5. Fun night!

You can just barely see the tuba there between the back two rows of basses.

Full stage shot

Us at the end of the night

Special and very surprised boy!

My sister got my entire family some free VIP tickets to the Aquarium. Brek was cranky the whole day, but otherwise, it was very fun.

The view from the dolphin show seating.

Finally got him to go to sleep at the end of the day

The beautiful Chicago city skyline, which then inspired a variety of pictures.

This series cracks me up:

I think this is the best one I caught

He's still grumpy

Then we went and had Mediterranean food. Yum! My dad didn't like it much, and I'm not sure the kids did either, but I think the rest of us loved it. The schwarma was terrific and the hummus and pitas were amazing. The falafel was pretty good too.

Cute kiddos with grandma

So, the whole reason for our trip was that my niece Adelynne turned 8 back in July and was choosing to be baptized. She wore the same dress that my sister and I and our other niece Heather had worn to be baptized. (Also a bunch of other cousins have worn it too. All of our names and our baptism dates are embroidered in the dress.)

Love this girl!