Now why didn’t that turn my head more when I heard it come from the mouth of my five year old in the middle of June?

Hmmm.

Maybe it was because I was nursing the baby and not really thinking clearly. Maybe it because I was basking in the glow of our new Nutrimill Grain miller thingy. Maybe I was just tired. Whatever the reason, I paid for it.

Let me back up a second and perhaps I could lay the blame of the most catastrophic mess I’ve ever had the misfortune of cleaning up on someone else other than myself.

A few weeks ago some friends of ours started talking about how they were starting the mill their own flour. “What? That’s crazy! We don’t live in Walnut Grove. I am NOT Caroline Ingalls.” My friend said it really didn’t take that much more time than normal and it’s way healthier. Her husband lent a CD to Joey who recommended I listen to it. I was hooked. So, maybe I can blame my friend or her husband…

But a few days before we listened, I knew the speaker on the CD was Sue Becker from BreadBeckers, Inc. Coincidentally, she was speaking at the HEAV Homeschool Convention we attended earlier that this month. We didn’t get to hear her because of some other sessions we chose to attend, so we purchased the MP3’s. So, maybe it’s Sue Becker’s fault. Or perhaps the fellows at the MP3 table who recorded the sessions. Maybe I can blame them.

We listen to the MP3’s on healthy eating and Sue Becker’s CD on milling your own grain and decide that we really want to live a healthier lifestyle. There is no doubt about the benefits of whole grain (I mean they put it on every cereal box, every granola bar box, and any other place a retailer could print it, right?!?!) We broke down. We ordered the mill. Then UPS brought it. So maybe it’s the UPS guy’s fault.

So what am I talking about? Here’s a picture for you to gain some clarity.

The mill arrived in a glorious brown cardboard box just ripe and ready to be opened. Joey and I were excited, the kids were excited, the UPS guy was excited to not have to hold it anymore. Joey brings the box in and opens it. Maybe it’s Joey’s fault.

While my husband trudges back upstairs to work (to pay for the said mill that was just glowing on our table!!) I feed the baby and let the other two wreak havoc, apparently. See, here I was trying to be a good mom and encourage creativity.

I thought, “Yes! Let them play in the box together. This is good! This is what brothers and sisters should do! Use your imaginations children and soar!!”

Really. How hard could some styrofoam pieces be to clean up? Then I heard it. I heard the breaking of the styrofoam. I’m still feeding the baby, reading the instruction manual to my new appliance (woo-hoo!), and not *really* listening to the chaos in the kitchen.

My zeal for creativity left Joey and I cranky and grumbling with each other. I tried to sweep it up. That was like using honey to clean up pancake batter. I tried to vacuum them up. That was like using an eyedropper to clean up Hurricane Katrina.

And this picture does not do justice to the infinite number of styrofoam peanuts that were on my kitchen floor. And living room floor. And playroom floor. And because these suckers are static city…my walls, chairs, table legs, and every nook and crevice on the first floor of my house. Just look at the bottom of Matthew’s shoes.

I was so mad. I wanted to blame the children for playing. (That’s just dumb, huh?) I wanted to blame Joey for opening the box. (That doesn’t make sense either.) It wasn’t Sue Becker’s fault, my friend’s fault, or even the fault of the UPS guy. It was so mine. lol. But, at least the kids had fun.

I asked Maddie, “Did you like playing in the styrofoam peanuts?”
Maddie said, “Oh yeah! That was great! When can we do it again?”
I replied, “Never. Enjoy this while you can.”

But you know, I am still finding pieces in random spots, even after we’ve cleaned up. Instead of freaking out about it, I think I’ll go get some honey and some freshly milled whole wheat bread and be thankful my kids did get creative.

Yes, yes, I know. You’ve been wondering where and what the Beninghove clan is up to, haven’t you? You’ve spent many sleepless nights thinking that you are missing some incredibly cute or witty thing these children are doing. I know. It’s a travesty, really. But have no fear bc the Beninghove Blog is back. We’re up and running again, ready to allay (sp?) your fears and help you sleep again. (Seriously, if you aren’t snoozing reading this already….)

What have you missed? Not much. I’ll be honest in the fact that Facebook has really eaten up my Internet time. I’ve loved reconnecting with friends and staying connected. I love it. I hate the stupid quizzes, but I guess I am nosy enough to love to know what others are doing. Hey, they post it for the world to see, right?

But now, I am back to blogging. Maddie and I ordered a Butterfly Kit and my plan is to blog that process so that you, the Internet World, can share in our successes and not so successes. (I say that bc you have to actually transfer the the caterpillars into the habitat and well, I am NOT the most graceful person out there.) We are using this kit as a part of our homeschool science lessons. Yeah!

So…

Here’s the butterfly habitat and instruction booklet with coupon. You used to be able to go online and order your caterpillars ($3 w/the coupon) but their website had bugs. LOL. (It was their joke, not mine.) Look at Matthew’s overly excited face. He just can not wait to start growing one of God’s most beautiful creatures, huh? The mesh thing is where they’ll grow and live. oh my. My goal is to get Joey to hang a hook in the kitchen so this thing will still be visible but out if reach of 20 little curious fingers. These poor caterpillars….

Do you see the key word in this picture? LIVE. Meaning- ALIVE. Most of you know about my issues with squirmy, wiggly things that have more legs than I do. Why am I excited about this? I have no idea. BUT, I am. I am not excited about transferring them. OH and the instructions said that they guarentee that 3-5 caterpillars will hatch into healthy butterflies. WHAT DO I DO WITH THE 2 THAT MIGHT NOT?!?!

Egads. I did not think this through.

So, I’ll post again when the caterpillars arrive. We sent the coupon off today, so I am expecting 2 weeks until we see them. Wooooo-hoooo! Feel free to come over and see them in person. But don’t tell my kids they might die. Yikes.

This weekend, my mom and dad, Micah, and myself made a whirlwind trip to Florence, SC. to see my great-aunt Nolia. She’s had some health problems lately and it was just important for us to go and let her know that we love her and care for her.

A gentle soul without any children of her own, has the ability to kindle a smile and laugh from my three month old son. This same boy who had been riding in the back of his grandparents’ car and wouldn’t even smile at them, easily batted one of his crazy long eyelashes and smiled at her. It’s just the affect she has with kids.

Even as a child I remember her sweet smile. She never fussed at me as some of the other adults around and she always asked me how I was doing. She came with us on our “Around the World” trip when I was 14 (really, it was across the country–but not as far as California) and I never minded being around her. In fact, I liked it.

So, Aunt Nolia, we are praying for your healing. May you know the presence of your Lord even greater in these days. We love you!

I love this picture. It’s basically 4 generations. Micah with his mom, his grandpa, and his great-great-aunt.

Joey’s cousin always sends the cutest slideshows using this app. It’s free, but of course you can always upgrade. I thought I’d play around with it and share it with you. I hope this one works better than the video I tried to post.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

the irony is that the shirt says, “Tiny little turtle.” You all know I don’t grow tiny babies….

That’s my girl! The next famous bowler. And that would be….???

Yep. They are always this serious. The hat that Matthew is wearing is Maddie’s. He found it on the floor and decided it would look better on his head. He’ll hate this picture one day.

’nuff said

This was right before he climbed on the chair and almost over their little half wall/window thing. You can’t take your eyes off this boy AT. ALL.

Micah at just a couple of weeks. Such a sweet profile picture.

Ahhhhh…Valentine’s Day. It’s the sappiest, most guilt-ridden, obligatory holiday on the calendar. (imho) But, as I’ve aged and become a parent, I’ve become less cynical and more fun. I see it through my children’s eyes now. The candy conversation hearts totally rock and coordinating holiday shirts are so very cute! (Thank you, Old Navy!!)

Here are a few of the latest holiday pictures to post and show. These kids have truly captured my heart.
But more than that, I think of the love that Christ has for the world. He loved humanity so much that he DIED for our sins. He didn’t want to. He asked His Father if the cup could pass from him. Since it wasn’t possible for any of us to gain entry to Heaven without His blood sacrifice, He took the punishment for us all.

Thank you, Lord, for dying for me and my children. And while I revel in hearts and candy, may your Holy Spirit be at work on their hearts so that one day they may know you like I do.

Enjoy~
Steph and Joey

I know, I know. Right now you are probably jumping right out of your seats screaming, “Vamonos casa de Beninghove!” Or you are thinking, “Dora who?”

For those of you unfamiliar with the insanely popular preschool characters of Dora and Diego, be thankful. However, I am not so lucky. Really, compared to the Doodlebops or I.Q depleting character of Spongebob Squarepants, the Hispanic duo aren’t bad at all. At least they teach kids Spanish and introduce them to animals they may never see at their local zoo. For that reason, I thought it would be ok to stand in line at the Children’s Museum yesterday so Maddie could meet one of her favorite tv stars.

She was so excited. Until she met them.

My sweet, talkative girl, (did I mention talkative–I don’t know WHERE she got it from) clammed up. She was so jabbery (my new word–say it three times and it’s mine!) in the line waiting. She wanted to know where Boots was. She wanted to know where Swiper was. She wanted to know if they were going to put on a show. She was so curious. And jabbery. (#2.)

Matthew was taking the scene in. He loved to be around the other kids and watch what was going on. I thought that when he saw Maddie joyfully meeting her childhood icons, that he would jump right in. OOOOH NOOO. It was the exact opposite. He held onto Micah’s stroller with a death grip that could turn coal into diamonds. He would NOT even look in their direction.

It was rather funny.

Micah? Well, he slept through it all. He was anti-jabbery. (#3–you liked that didn’t ya?)

As warped as it sounds, I really was hoping to be one of the families that won a 4 pack of tickets to their show at the Landmark Theater today. Alas, we didn’t and I guess that means I don’t have an excuse not to vacuum now.

First and foremost, hats off to my wonderful husband who took the reigns and posted so quickly about Micah’s birth. Thank you, sweetie. I was informed that on my last post I neglected to thank Joey. AUGHGHHH! It was total pregnancy brain. He’s not one to want to bask in the limelight of other people’s praise, but I do want to point out that he had to endure so much while I was pregnant with Micah. Thank you, hun, for not getting upset when I had to get away and lie down and strap you with the full responsibility of the kids. Thank you for “watching” the kids when I went to the OB appointments so I didn’t have to drag them with me. Most importantly, thank you for holding my hand on 12/29/08 when I didn’t think I could do it anymore. I love you.

Well, the last two weeks have been…something. You gotta love that crazy hormonal surge that tells you one minute that life is the best you’ve ever known it and then then next you can’t even conceive how you’ll get through the next five minutes.

That’s kind of how I felt.
Thank you, kids, for taking the words out of my mouth.

Micah has adjusted really well to the family. And the family has adjusted really well to him. I hate to say too much about his laid back personality because I don’t want to spoil it.

Maddie loves to hold him and be the consummate big sister. Matthew has just gotten to the point where he just loves to kiss Micah’s little head. It’s sweet. I need more pictures.

The only minor setback we’ve had is Micah’s fight with jaundice. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal, but we’ve had to go to the ped’s office several times in the past two weeks for bloodwork. Here’s a pictures that really shows his orangeness. But even if he does look like Lenny Carrot, he’s our Lenny Carrot.

But, thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I hope to get back into the swing of things this week–but it’s going to be cold like Alaska here, so I don’t know how much we’ll get out. I mean, seriously, global warming? How is a high of 29 degrees global warming? But I digress…

So, you parents out there…leave me some tips. HEEELP!

Guest Post From: Joey

Hi there, Joey here doing a guest post on the Beninghove blog. Steph would be doing it, but, well, she’s been a little busy the past couple days.
(Steph usually says I’m a man of few words, so I’ll try not to disappoint her with this guest post.
God blessed us yesterday with a mighty fine looking son named Micah William. We want to sincerely thank everyone for their prayers. We are truly blessed to have such great family and friends our lives. Mommy and baby are doing well and we hope to bring everyone home tomorrow morning, Lord willing.

Micah means “Who is like God?”. To me this is definitely a rhetorical question since there truly is no one like our God! His grace and mercy on us never ceases and only the one true God of the universe could have enough love to pull that off!

William is the name of two very important men in our lives. My father-in-law and step-father. Both of whom have had a great impact on our lives and have provided us with, among many other things, wisdom and strength. We are very thankful to have them in our lives and I’m sure Micah will be greatly blessed by them as well.

Ok, now that the sappy stuff is over with, here’s why you’re really here… pictures!

Micah William Beninghove

Height: 20.5 inches

Weight: 7lbs. 6oz.

Well, guess that’s all for now. I’m sure Steph will be back to posting more updates soon.

Tomorrow. A mere 24 hours.

Have you ever been so excited about something and looked forward to it for so long that when the time actually comes you are more nervous than anything?

That is exactly how I am feeling right now. It’s like 70% nervousness, 20% excitement, 10% craziness. lol. I know those stats will change daily, with craziness probably coming in the front runner at over 80% most days.
Well, tomorrow Joey and I will meet our newest member of the Beninghove Clan. AUGHGHGH! Boy? Girl? I don’t know, except that it’s NOT TWINS (despite how many people want to wish that on me!) and it’s not kittens. (Sorry, Maddie.)

To Maddie: I know you’ll make an awesome big sister because you’ve had 2 years to practice. The love you show (most days!) to Matthew is so sweet. For your sake, I hope it’s a girl, because I know how happy that would make you.

To Matthew: I suspect some jealousy at first, but I think you will also make an awesome big brother. You love to laugh and have fun. What more could a younger sibling want? For your sake, I hope it’s a boy, so you can have someone close to pal around with.

To the baby: I just pray you’ll be healthy and stay that way. Like with your siblings, I pray for strength in the Lord. That you will grow up to love and serve God with all of your heart. I pray that you’ll be a pillar for truth when the world creeps around you and wants to feed you lies. I love you already and can’t wait to see how you’ll fit in with us–we’re a crazy bunch.

To our family and friends: Thank you so much for your gifts of prayer. We couldn’t ask for anything more.

I am not sure when I’ll get around to updating the blog, but I’ll do my best to make it quick with all the details. If you are on Facebook, I’ll try to update my status tomorrow from the hospital with the details of gender, name, etc.

We love you!

The Beninghove Family–Joey, Steph, Maddie, Matthew, and ??