Moleman gone wild

The night Benson was born we were waiting for so long to get to see the baby, so Nick, Andy, Danny, and Tami were at Mom and Dad's and I made chili dogs for dinner for the boys. Needless to say, Danny got bored and put the bag to the french bread on his head. Thought you would all enjoy the pictures.
What a way to welcome Benson to the world!

Zero Gravity

So Danny, Greg (mine and Andy's boss) and I spent Friday & Saturday down in the San Rafael Swell doing a slot canyon. We did the slot called Zero Gravity. It was a blast! We drove down on Friday afternoon after work and camped near the slot. We woke up early on Saturday and broke camp and headed out. We knew we would get wet, but this slot was pretty full of water which is a good thing. We all got wet, no avoiding that. We did some semi-extreme stuff too. We swam under a bridge from one pothole to another. We also jumped into a pool that was easily 12 feet deep or more (I didn't take many pictures, but there is a pic of the spot we jumped in at here. Third set of pictures on the left). All in all it was just plain fun. Here are a few pics. The videos and the rest of the pictures are on my Picasa page here.

Danny & Greg standing on the bridge we swam under

Danny on top of the bridge we swam under

Brady standing in the pothole

Danny & Greg at the end of a swim

Almost 2 weeks

I can't help but notice that there has been a lack of activity on the blog lately. Therefore, I am going to post more pictures of our baby... Hope you don't mind.

Benson and Natalie

Jan and Benson Benson smilingThis is at our first doctor's appointment. Benson shot poop all over me and all over the whole doctor's office. (Don't worry, Em, it came out of your shirt).
Cory, Milli, and BensonThis is me right before I went to the hospital to have our baby Benson

This happens sometimes

Danny and Shanna with Benson

Casey and Benson taking a nap
He's so little in our big bed.
Hope to see you all soon.
Love,
Casey, Natalie, and Benson

Antelope Hunt

I was able to harvest me a good old pronghorn on Saturday. I thought since no one else had posted anything I would let you all know. :) It was the quickest hunt ever, which is good cause that is what I wanted since I left Natalie and Benson home. I left at 5:30 am and was home by 11.

The Dalpias Family

Hello everyone... Sorry that Benson has taken up most of the blogging space lately. I just want to give an update on how things are going around here...

We are doing GREAT!!!! We got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and have been doing great being home. Benson sleeps really good at night and he only wakes up when it's time to eat, so that's nice. He is eating great and pooping too, which is actually a very wonderful sign that everything is working right.

Casey has been adding new pictures to the slideshow on Benson's website, so you can go there and check them out if you want.

Thanks to everyone for coming to the hospital and for being so wonderful and supportive. It has been an amazing few days and we are so grateful for our little perfect baby.

Love, Natalie and Casey.

Benson

This is Benson!

Buried Treasure

So, in an attempt to be a blogger, I thought I'd share what we've been up to. We have been working on preparing our little courtyard for planting some stuff. (I'm going to give "green-thumbing" a try.) Two weeks ago, we cleaned out all the wood chips and landscaping fabric and a bunch of construction garbage...plywood, shingles, rusty nails, glass, pop cans, candy bar wrappers, etc. It was nasty! We then used my dad's rototiller to mix in some mulch. But, as Brady was using shovel to see how hard-packed one area was, he hit something. We soon decided it was a chunk of cement or something. Needless to say, we gave up that day. We had worked so hard, only to have our hard work be flustered by lazy construction workers. Well, after talking to one of my clients (Liz, who is my gardening mentor), I got up the energy and a little motivation to try to dig up this thing. So, this morning I went out to work in our garden and after some help from Brady, this is what we pulled out: PS. GO UTES! We were at the game today...we beat #11 UCLA 44-6!

Me as a Simpson character!

Baby Update

We went to the doctor yesterday, and even though I've talked to most of you, I want to give you the update...

Benson now weighs close to 8 pounds (7.13) and is still in good birthing position. I am progressing in my dialation (to a 3 now). The doctor stripped my membranes, which is supposed to put me in labor faster, and we also discussed when he could start me.

For fear (thanks Emily) that I wouldn't have him until OCTOBER, and then have to deliver a 10 pound baby, we decided that if I don't have him by Sunday, the 16th, on my own, then the doctor will induce me.

So Sunday is the day. They will probably start me in the morning time and the doctor says I should have him sometime that afternoon. So once everyone is done with their church meetings, you are more than welcome to head up to the hospital and see us.

Thanks for everything. We'll hopefully see you all Sunday!!!!

Name Plates

So since Casey has been eating off of Travis's plate for the last year and a half, I am finally making him his own name plate. I'm also going to make one for Benson too. So if any of you want to make a name plate, I think they're like $5.00 plus shipping and handling.

I'll probably send them out in the next week or two (depending on how things go), so if anyone wants me to send one in for them too, I've got the plate making materials at my house, but I can take them to Jan's if you want.

Setting things right

Dear Nat, (and Brady),

You're right... I've been neglecting you and the rest of the family so I am posting this here to try and set things right. The truth is though, I just can't pull off two total blogs, so the rest of you are going to have to step it up a bit. ;)

I'm trying to type this with Zack in my arms... (the girls are asleep) and he keeps growling and trying to get at Abby's picture. Funny kid. Anyway, I thought these pictures were cute of the kids. We went to the farm on Saturday but the admission price was $12.00 a person on the weekend and I am to cheap to pay 12 bucks to see an ostrich and some goats. We ended up just going to the park instead but I thought these pictures were still cute.

Abby has a fever. I hope that Zack doesn't catch it. She took a 2o minute nap this morning!! (Big sigh!) Anyway... I better get back to reality (aka laundry). I hope everyone is doing well. We miss you all!

Love, Em.

P.S. Nat... hang in there! Before you know it you'll be complaining about 20 minute naps too!

Emily

Emily,
Since you cheated and created your own family blog, I feel like you have been neglecting ours...

That is all.

Blogging addiction

I must admit that I am like Emily... I think I am addicted to Blogging.
I have nothing to really say that is very important but I really want other people to blog more, so I think that by blogging myself, I feel like people will to the same. Crazy thinking, I know.
Well, I'm having a good day today. I'm glad it's Friday because that means I get the next couple days off, and believe me, I look forward to those days!

Emily, last night I had a dream that I was going to drive to your house all by myself and I started out driving but then you met me and we had to hike part of the way. I admit once again that I'm strange. It was a weird dream, but I know that it has a little sense in it.
I have wanted to see you and your kids so badly lately and I just long to be with you guys. I even think in my dream I said "Abby Abby" and she laughed at me. I just miss you guys so much, and I want you to know that I Nick and I pray for you guys almost every night since you're so far away! I hope that you can feel our prayers and that your family is doing well. I know we'll see you sometime soon, and maybe if we can get saved up, we can come visit you this summer. (Plus, if you think about it... I get paid all summer for doing nothing. Sounds like I could take a couple vacations!)

Anyway, I don't want the rest of you to feel left out. I love all of the rest of you too! Dad, Mom, Emily, Brady, Cory, Natalie, Andy, Danny, plus all of your significant others and your children (or children to be.) I really do think that we have the best family around. I love you all with all of my heart!

I guess I will give you a quick update of what's going on in our lives:

Nick is going to school. I believe he has a Chemistry class and a Human Biology class. He is still working for Davis School District in the Nutrition Services Warehouse. I'm not really sure if he's liking it. Somedays it sounds like he likes it, and other days I think he hates it. You'll have to ask him, I guess. (Or maybe he will blog and tell you about his life, hint hint.)

As you probably all know, I am teaching Kindergarten at Freedom Elementary. The dust is starting to settle a little bit and I am loving it! The kids are cute and for the most part are well-behaved. It's a hard job. You would never believe how hard it is to get 19 kids to stand in a line! Honestly, I never anticipated it being that hard. We had our first fire drill today, and believe me, it was not pretty. I love it though! I'm usually at the school around 7:30 and they have started kicking me out at 7:00, so I have very long days. However, I do love life. It's fun and I love it!

I hope all of you are happy! I have got to go. My afternoon class will be coming any minute, and I have to get ready for the hooligans.
I love you all, and I hope to see you soon!
Love, Tami

P.S. Mom mentioned that we are having a birthday party for Cory and Andy on Sunday. I don't know if this is true... We have a party at 5:30, so we will probably be late if you do have one. Let me know what you all know about it.
Love y'all.

Danny's senior pictures

Danny,
I finally found your lost senior pictures and I edited them and they are ready for your viewing pleasure. Here is one of them...

Baby Update

We went to the doctor yesterday and he said that everything is going well. (sorry if this is yucky to any of you)... He said that the baby is in the perfect position for delivery, head down face down. He tried to get a good picture, but Benson is already pushing through the birth canal a little, so you couldn't see his face. I am now dialated to a 2, and the doctor said that he might see us at our appointment next week, but he's pretty sure he won't see us anymore after that. So according to the doctor, we can expect to see Benson within the next 2 weeks.
That's all for now. Have a good day and goodbye.

To The Birthday Boy!

Andy,

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got home from teaching and I saw that Emily had already left a little note on the blog for you and I admit I was very jealous that she beat me to it. But, in my defense, I have been working and today I worked more than 12 hours, so I hope you'll forgive me for being a little late.

I feel bad that I have been so busy lately because I feel like we haven't really hung out much. I wish that we could hang out a little more with you and Mckenzie. I should tell you though that when dad told us that the apartment was for rent and asked if we wanted to live there, one of the main reasons we decided to live there is so that we could be closer to you and Danny to hang out more. It has been very fun, and I am glad that we do live there so we can chill!

Well, unfortunately Chunk, I don't have any memories of you being born or any of that, but I remember so many times playing together when we were younger and I remember going to Elementary together. We would ride our bikes together and we would ride to and from school together. Man, those were fun days when there wasn't a care in the world!

I'm so glad that you will hang out with me and Nick. I sometimes feel like we are a burden to you guys because we call and ask you what you're doing all the time wondering if we can hang out. I love that you call us too.

Well, it seems like I have almost gone off course with this little message, but I want you to know that I really do love you. I must admit that I am a little nervous about the whole gun and hunting situation, but as long as you're happy and safe, I'm happy too. You have been a great brother and an awesome friend! I am glad that I can say with confidence that you are one of my best friends!

Thanks for putting up with our crap and for being an awesome person. I look up to you a lot, and I want you to know that I am so proud of you and your life.

I love you kiddo!
Happy Birthday!
Love, Your older but shorter big sister
Tami



P.S. Sorry Andy, these aren't the greatest pictures but I wanted to find some pictures to put with my little not and I am on Dad's computer so I don't know where to find any pictures on here... Sure love ya! Happy B-day!

Andrew...

Andy,

I remember when you were born. I can't say that about everyone, but I distinctly remember when you were born because I got baptized that day. I was really upset when I found out that mom had the baby because I thought it was going to ruin my baptism day (I know you're thinking... typical selfish Emily). Mom being the superhero that she is, had you in the morning and then came to my baptism that night. Then she went back and got in her hospital bed and stayed a few more days. Now that I've had a few babies, I still can't believe she did that... well I guess I can believe it because I know she knew it was important to me... anyway, that's a topic for a different post.

I do remember though, that I was so excited about you. I was old enough by the time you came around to really take care of you. You were always such a sweet calm baby. Nothing much could ruffle your feathers (not much has changed there!) You had the softest cheeks in the entire world. Really... I used to just rub my cheeks on yours and kiss them tons. You used to push your little cheeks against mine and hug me so tight and giggle because you would about break my neck. Oh, I loved you (and still do!) You also had (probably still do... I guess I haven't checked in a while) the most incredible eyes. Like a starburst of color had exploded in them. I was never quite sure what color they ended up being.

I remember once when I dressed you up... for the sake of not embarrassing you too much I'll tell that story some other day, but man you were a cutie! ;) And I remember your little broken leg at the Zoo.

One memory that I think has always affected me and even changed me, was when you got so sick with meningitis. I remember holding you in the rocking chair as mom and dad got ready to take you to the hospital. I was still young enough to be scared (I guess I should have been) and I sat and rocked you. You had been crying and you fell asleep in my arms. I cried because I was so worried about you. And then you went to St. Bens Hospital and you were there for what felt like forever. I don't know if you really did or not, but I thought you learned to talk while you were there. When you came home I knew that something had been changed in you as well. You just seemed to accept what life threw at you. Except for when the home nurse came and tried to give you an IV. Mom sent me down to Rindi's because I was so upset and I could hear you screaming all the way to the Kimber's (then it was the Rose's!). It broke my heart to see you hurting so much.

I always did want to take care of you. In a lot of ways I guess I still do. It scares me to death that you shoot guns and fly helicopters! :) I still think you're the sweetest boy ever and even though your cheeks aren't quite as soft these days, I still love you just as much! I hope you have had a happy birthday today! I've been thinking about you.

Love, Em

Cory Wayne Barrett Haws

Hey Cory,
I know Tami already posted about your birthday and I could have just posted a comment, but I wanted to put up a couple pictures of you. I wish that I were at Jan and Wayne's house and I'd get some of the ones when you were little. Or I'd hunt down a picture of your fro... I guess ones of you when you are big will have to do!

So when I think about you as a little kid I think about a BLONDE, BLONDE little boy with a red Kool-aid mustache and a mischievous little grin on your face. You have always been so sweet and so observant. I always remember you quietly in the background watching and figuring out what was going on.

I also remember you making me laugh. You can always make me laugh. I remember when Dad had to invoke the 5 second? waiting rule on jokes at dinner because you were always stealing his material! :)

And now as I think of you all grown up I think about how thoughtful you are.You call me out of the blue just to say hi and you always think of sweet things to say or do. (I think we owe a little of this to your sweet Milli rubbing off on you, but always were a sweet kid!) It is weird to think of my little brother being a grown up. I always feel like I need to take care of all of you guys (which I know is incredibly annoying) but I was the only one who got to be there to watch you all come home from the hospital and hold you and love you from the beginning.

I could go on and on about memories and stories, but I really just want you to know how much I love you, Cory Wayne Barrett Haws, and that I m proud of you. I know you are a good man and a good husband. You're also a good brother and a great friend! I love you!

Love, Em & the gang

Happy Birthday Cory!

Cory,
I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and to let you know how much I love you. I miss hanging out with you more. I had a lot of fun the other night when you were killing the caribou. I miss you!
I hope your birthday is great!
Love you lots!
Tam

Mrs. Jones the Kindergarten teacher

Well, as it turns out, I am really Mrs. Jones now. I am a Kindergarten teacher at Freedom Elementary in Hooper, Utah! It's been kind of a crazy couple weeks. I interviewed for emergency hire positions at Freedom and Lakeview elementaries on Monday, August 27. My interview was at 3:00. I interviewed for a 1st and 3rd grade position at Lakeview and then a Kindergarten and 1st grade positions at Freedom. They called me at 4:00 that day to let me know that I got a job to teach Kindergarten and that back to school night was at 5:30 and that I needed to be there to meet the parents and my students. (One of the interview questions was "What are you doing tonight" because it was a crucial question...)
Anyway, I went to Back to School night and the parents asked me questions and basically I told them that I didn't really know all the procedures of the school yet because they hired me about an hour ago. Some of the parents looked at me and it kind of looked like they were thinking..."She's going to be the teacher of my child and she doesn't even know what she's doing yet!" Well, anyway, I got home that night and Nick just kept staring at me like I was magically someone different. He says that it is weird though because now it's like we have to be grown up suddenly. It is weird. I'll admit. I have started a career.
So you may be wondering about my student teaching and stuff. Well I was supposed to student teach but basically an emergency hire means that I get to get paid for my student teaching and then after my student teaching, I'll have a job. We haven't worked it all out yet, so I may have to teach 4th, 5th, or 6th grades for half a semester, which I have no idea how it will work, but my principal will work it all out. I have 42 students. I teach a morning and an afternoon class. I love it. I teach all by myself. I have a classroom of my own. There are 20 kids in my morning class and 22 kids in my afternoon. It has been hard to get everything ready but it is so fun when the kids are there. Basically we just practice standing in line, tucking in chairs, walking to their cubbies, etc. We just work on routines and for last week and this coming week, we are going to learn about colors!
It has been this emotional roller coaster that is so exhausting! I worry that Nick feels neglected because I do teacher stuff every waking moment. I am usually at the school from about 7:20am to 7:20pm (when they kick me out) everyday. Nick is really very supportive of me though, and I couldn't do all of this without him!
So, I am officially Mrs. Jones, and believe me, it's only been three days, but I am sick of hearing kids say "Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones!" or "Teacher!" I had a kid screaming for his mom on the first day, and then the second and third day I had one girl crying for her mom. I just deal with it though. The principal came the first day and took care of the screamer, which was way nice.
Anyway, that's my exciting new adventure, and I'm glad that everyone is so concerned about me. I have had so many people act like they are dying to hear how it went (like they thought I couldn't do it or something.)
Well, post some comments so I can hear what you all think.
Mrs. Jones aka "Teacher Tami"