Happy Birthday Gary!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!! We love you so much and are so grateful to have you! You are a wonderful husband and father! I couldn't ask for anyone better to spend my life with! We love you OLD MAN!!!

Merry Christmas 2010!!

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday! I love all the traditions that are involved. We had a wonderful Christmas and are so sad that it is over already! It was so much fun having two babies to spoil and share our traditions with! We were all spoiled rotten! We couldn't have asked for a better day! (Warning!!! Lots of Pictures coming)

Our Christmas Eve Pajama picture! Amazing we were all looking at the camera and even got our cute puppies in the picture!

Us in our new Christmas pajamas!

Look at that cooperation!!! Jax and Bennett loved opening presents and both did surprisingly well.

That is the face of serious concentration! Bennett caught right on, there was no messing around with this kid! Seriously I think he did better with the present opening than Jax.

Jax and his daddy are ready to hit the hills

Jax loved opening presents! He did pretty good, but was very easily distracted with other toys, presents and tree ornaments. His present opening was a bit longer of a process!

Not only do we have to spoiled boys we also have two very spoiled dogs. I love how Jax is helping them open their presents (seriously like he didn't get enought of his own)!

After opening presents at our house we went to my dads for more presents and a yummy Christmas breakfast.

Jax has very helpful cousins!

Getting so close! I am soon going to have 2 constantly on the move. Bennett does not want to miss out and is ready to keep up with his brother and his cousins.

My sister and her family gave us the best gift. She found a willow tree with a couple and 2 little babies. I love it!

Spoiled Spoiled! Here are some of their favorite presents

Bennett loves his Sing-a-ma-Jig that his grandpa gave him. Really as annoying as this toy is, it is very addicting!

Although his face doesn't show it, Bennett loves his puppy! It is so funny to watch him talk to it when it barks at him!

Jax got a tent with tunnel from his cousin Brayden! He loves it and caught on very quickly on how to go in and out of the tunnel and to hide in it!


Merry Christmas to all!!!

Milestones and Differences!!

15 and 6 Month MilestonesJax is now 15 months and Bennett is 6 months. We had their well baby check ups! I can't believe how differently these 2 boys are physically!!

Jax is my tall and skinny boy!!
Weight: 23 lbs 12 oz (30th %)
Height: 32.5 inches (90th %)
Height to Weight: (15th %)

Head: 47.7 cm (60th %)

At 15 months Jax...
-RUNS RUNS RUNS (especially when he knows someone is chasing him)
-Talks (he says mommy, dada, out, Mya, No No, Go, Ya, Vroom, Hi, Hey, Boo etc.)
-Gets into cupboards constantly (he loves to carry around spatulas, wooden spoons and anything else his mom doesn't want him to)
-Plays hide and seek and Peek-A-Boo (he says boo all of the time)
-Goes up stairs (over and over I might add)
-Laughs and is very Ticklish
-Blows Kisses
-Gives hugs and kisses
-Teases his parents (He gets into and does everything he knows he is not supposed to and he make sure you see him and he smiles as he does it)
-Carries around phones up to his ear
-Plays with his brother

Bennett is my Short and Squishy Baby
Weight: 17 lb 10 oz (55 th %)
Height: 25 3/4 inches (25th %)
Height to Weight (80th %)
Head: 45.5 cm (90th %)

At 6 months Bennett...

-Is getting very close to crawling (I am giving him less than a month), he will get on all 4s and then rocks back and forth.
-Sleeps 12 hours each night
-Smiles and laughs all of the time (he is seriously the happiest baby I know)
-Loves to interact and play with his brother (Jax is always making him smile and laugh)
-Sits up on his own
-Loves his puppies and loves to grab at them
-Hates eating cereal, but still loves loves loves his milk!!
-Hates being by himself and will cry when he sees you walk out of the room.

As completely different as these 2 are, I love every bit of each one!! These boys are my life and world!! I can't imagine a single day without either of them!! I love you two babies so much!!

Christmas Lights at Temple Square

Every year we try and make it downtown to visit Temple Square and see the beautiful and amazing Christmas lights and displays. It is so beautiful and definitely brings the spirit of Christmas. We had a great time.


The Salt Lake temple is so beautiful, the lights around it just make it even more so! I feel so lucky to be surrounded by so many temples.

Our little family! When seeing the temple I can't help but think about how grateful I am that I get to be with my family forever!! I love them so so much!

Bennett loved the lights and the fountains!

I may be just a little biased, but I think I have the cutest little family ever!

Beckstrand Family Christmas Party

Every year we get together with my mom's family and have a Christmas party. This year my family was in charge. I think we were pretty successful. It is always nice to get together with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that you don't see very often. We had a yummy dinner of ham, funeral potatoes, salads, and pies!

For the activity we played minute to win it games, which got a little crazy! Here are some pictures of the big event.

Brayden, my cute nephew actually did really well and was quite the little competetor.

Here are my grandparents with my kids!! I am so grateful that I have them in my life and that my kids have the opportunity to love them as well!!

The Beckstrand family is quite competitive and I think I found the underlying cause!

I have a wonderful extended family! I am so grateful for them!

Bennett's 1st Cereal Feeding

So we broke down and finally decided to give cereal a try. For some reason I have had a hard time wanting to start solids with Bennett. He is a great breatfeeder and is having no issues gaining weight, and I don't want to screw his feedings up. My baby is growing up. I don't know how much he actually got in his tummy, but he seemed to enjoy it. I am afraid I definitely have a Lowry on my hands, he loves his food!!

1st attempt at giving Bennett rice cereal! Not too bad!

2nd attempt. I think he is getting the hang of it. I guess cereal is a keeper!!

This is a face that loves cereal!!

Bennett is already trying to show his independence!! He kept trying to grab the spoon from me. This kid has quite a grip and in turn ended up spilling cereal all over himself and his chair.

HEY!!! WHAT ABOUT ME!!

Jax was feeling left out, so here he is trying to return the attention to himself!

Really who couldn't love a face like that!! What a GOOF!! What a classic face!!

Annual Gingerbread House Making

We made our Gingerbread House once again (well we actually bought, put together and decorated it)! What a surprise Jax loved just eating the candy and the little gingerbread people. This house didn't turn out as well as our others have in the past, but we figure we have little hands helping and getting in the way. I am sure they are only going to get worse these next few years!

Jax's way of helping!

Bennett doing his best at trying to get a taste! He has a mean mean mommy who won't let him even try a little!

Sugar sugar sugar!!!

The finished product!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

What a great opportunity to focus, reflect and say what you are most thankful for. I know I need to be better and be thankful and show my gratitude more often. Here is the top 15 things I am most grateful for (in no particular order).

1- My Husband!! Seriously he is the best thing that ever happened to me. He is so supportive and loving. He would do just about anything for anyone! I love him so so much!!

2- My 2 sweet babies!! I love these little guys so much!!! I can't imagine my life without either of them! I am so grateful for God's timing and for Him knowing me better than I know myself.

3- My dad. He is such a great example to me. He has dedicated his whole life to his children. What an example of love and dedication. He is one of my greatest supports and is by far the best advice giver I know!

4- My family. I have the greatest brothers and sister and I can't forget sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws. I love them so much and love being with them. My sister is truly my best friend!

5- In-Laws. I married into such a great family!!

6- Home. We are so lucky to live where we live. I love my house so much and am so grateful for the warmth and comfort it provides!!

7- The Gospel. I am so thankful to have the guidance of the gospel in my life. I am grateful I was raised in the gospel. I am grateful for our Savior and for the Atonement. I am so blessed to have this knowledge!!

8- The temple and families being together forever!!

9-Reliable cars (and a husband who can make it reliable when its not being so reliable.)

10- Jobs. I am thankful for my job and education and for Gary's job. I am grateful for the independence and financial stability it gives us.

11- Yummy food!!! Especially the yummy Thanksgiving dinner we get to eat this afternoon!

12- Health. I am grateful for my health as well as my families health. I am grateful to have 2 very healthy babies!!

13- My dogs!! I know dogs aren't for everyone, but I sure do love mine. I love how excited they get to see me. I love cuddling with them!! And I love that they are so forgiving and love you no matter what!!

14- My grandparents and extended family. I have such a supportive extended family.

15- Modern technology. I love the heater, microwave, fridge, computer, television, camera, radio...etc. I am so grateful for how convenient it makes life!!

There are so many more things I am thankful for, these are just a few!!!

All in a Days Work

My boys are getting big!! Here are some pictures of how we spend our time in the Lowry household!

Bennett has discovered that he now enjoys being on his stomach! He can be so much more involved in what we are doing that way. Bennett is now a rolling machine and goes back and forth from stomach and back! He is one motivated little boy! I don't think it will be long before this little man is crawling. He already holds his head up like this and kicks and moves his legs like crazy. I think he is bound and determined to catch up to his big brother.

BATH TIME!!!

Both Jax and Bennett love bath time!! They both yell and get angry when we take them out. Bath time with these crazy boys is not a dry process. Jax loves to splash and make sure you get just as wet as he does.

Another new discovery Bennett has made is his toes!! Seriously why would anyone suck their tumbs and fingers when they have these amazing toes to eat. Hopefully he grows out of this toe sucking eventually, but for now I think it is so stinkin cute and I love it!!

SLEEPING

I love love love to watch my babies sleep! They are so peaceful and perfect! I seriously think that God makes them this way to help remind you why you love them so much, which is always nice especially on those crazy days!!

Jax loves his puppies and loves to tease and play with them!! And yes he has stickers all over his face!

Bennett is a wiggly wiggly baby!! He is always on the move!

Bennett loves his big brother!! He was laughing so hard! Things like this make my life as a busy busy mom very worth it. I love my babies!!!

Halloween Festivities 2010!!

We love love Halloween!!! We have so many traditions that we absolutely have to do each year! It was so fun having our 2 little boys to share these traditions with and torture by dressing up. Prepare yourself there are lots of pictures to come....

The past few years my family has a little Halloween party. We had so much fun!!

Costume picture.

At our DeVries family Halloween party we have a donut eating contest. Each person has a donut tied to a string and has to eat it without using hands. First the kids went.

Jax showing us how it really should be done. Seriously who eats a donut without using their hands?

Jax loves donuts!!

What a pretty picture!! I am trying to win!!

One thing that Gary does well is eating, with or without hands!!

Jax wearing his cousins wig!! I am afraid this is what his hair would look like if we never cut it. I don't know who looks more ridiculous, Jax or his crazy uncle!!

My cute Elephant and Giraffe. Seriously it is almost an impossible task to get a decent picture of these 2 together.

Bennett already loves to pick on his older brother!! Like I said it is pretty much impossible to get a picture without one of them crying.

Our little family with our family of pumpkins.

Our little zoo!! (An airplane flew by just as we were taking a picture. Notice Jax looking up. This kid loves airplanes and helicopters)

Bennett loves his little pumpkin!!

What a classy picture. This is me with my pumpkin (my cute little niece Lily took this great picture of me)

Gary is always so intense when carving pumpkins!! Look at that seriousness!

Jax loved loved loved carving pumpkins!! He is such a boy and loved playing with the pumpkin guts! He was such a mess afterwards!!

Bennett at our pumpkin carving extravaganza! He was such a great model!!

Our finished product!

And of course we decorated pumpkin sugar cookies!!

Halloween wore all of us out!!

Jax actually let me cuddle with him, this never happens he is usually way to busy!

My beautiful sleeping giraffe! I love sleeping babies!!

We had a ver successful, eventful Halloween!! I love holidays and love spending them with my family!