2.03.07 - SAN FRANCISCO

Michael and I decided we had better see everything that we want to while we are still here in California because we don’t know where we are going for his job next with Johnson and Johnson. He is part of an elite group that rotates every 8 or 9 months to a different location and new position. We could be moved anywhere between the west and the east coast! Chances are even good that we may end up in New Jersey where Headquarters is. Who knows. We just have to wait and see.

So, we went down to San Francisco and had a great day touring. I was so excited to get out and go on an adventure… but neither Michael nor I had any idea how much an adventure it would be!

Alkatraz Entrance

In the morning we toured Alkatraz Island. It has gone from a “Thug Jail,” to an Indian gathering place, to a now tourist attraction. It is a little island just off the coast of San Francisco and it is only accessible by ferry. It was really interesting. We walked around with headphones and listened to all of the history of this unique place.

One of the "thug" cells. Alkatraz is an interesting place.

We then ventured around the big city and tried to find a parking lot for a reasonable rate. We spent a good amount of time driving around looking for a place that wasn’t too far or too expensive. We finally ended up finding a small garage and parked there. We then enjoyed the rest of the afternoon running around. We ate at a local Indian Restaurant, window shopped at the Piers, watched protesters in the square all the while pushing Lance around in the stroller.
It started getting dark so we found an authentic, local Chinese restaurant in China Town and ate there. It was raining and totally dark by the time we finished eating so we decided to head back to the car. It took quite a while to get there on foot and once we reached the parking garage it was closed. We were not told that it would close and that our keys would be locked inside if we didn’t come back by a particular time. So we were stranded. I was actually quite excited that we were stuck in San Francisco for the evening and knew that it meant more time with Michael (which is sometimes few and far between) and more excitement!


Lance loves being with his Daddy

Off we were to find an inexpensive place to sleep for the night. We bought a local map from a tiny “hole in the wall” convenience store, tried to get some directions with no luck, and started walking. No toothbrushes, change of clothes, diapers for Lance… but we were off! Michael knew the general area where all of the hotels were in the city so we started walking, following the map through what looked like the fastest way there. Hours passed and we were going through neighborhoods up and down the hills of San Francisco. That city is honestly either straight up, or straight down; the hills are very steep. Michael pushed Lance most of the way in the stroller until we finally found the street we were looking for.


An example of the big hills in San Fransisco

There were tons of hotels and motels ranging from 5 Diamond Hotels to places that looked pretty scary. Of course Michael, being the deal finder that he is, was determined to find us a decent and inexpensive hotel. So he and I went from place to place asking what the nightly rental was until we found the cheapest one. We went to bed that night with our clothes still damp from the rain and grateful to not be walking up any more hills.

The next morning we got up, took a look around, and walked back to the car. This time we went a different way and took the main roads instead of the back roads through the neighborhoods. Surprisingly what looked like the longer route on the map took LESS THAN HALF the time to get back to the same place we were the night before! All of the hills made our journey a whole lot longer and we had to laugh that we spent so much time finding this little motel. We definitely took the scenic route. What an adventure!

1.25.07 - LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

NEW TRICKS

Lance has good balance.

From back to tummy (with a little bit of effort!)

Lance is getting better at his new “tricks” (as Michael calls them) all of the time! He is a very happy baby and he smiles and “talks” a lot. He has started to love chewing on whatever he can get in his mouth. He sucks his thumb and all of his fingers. It is pretty funny because when Michael is holding him on his lap he will growl and attack Michael’s hand! He is like a little lion! He only growls like that when he is about to “attack” and goes in for a big slobbery bite! Along with more drooling and biting, he can now roll from his tummy to his back almost effortlessly (just about every time we lay him down). We try to give him tummy time to learn how to crawl but he seems more interested in rolling over!

BYU Cougar Fan! Grandma Felt gave Lance this adorable hat... she has had it in a box for years and my mom recently found it. Thanks Grandma!

He is also getting better at sitting up on his own. He hasn’t quite mastered that skill, but is getting closer. He likes to stand on his feet and can even balance enough to stand on his own for quite a while as long as he is standing against something. He can now shake a rattle (which sometimes he smacks himself in the face with), reach for toys on his swing, grab his baby book - shake it - chew on it - and throw it. He has also just begun to discover his feet. He will grab at them now and persist at trying to reach them when he pulls them away. Lance has become quite ticklish under his arms and sometimes his tummy. When he is a little sleepy he gets in especially giggly moods (which Mommy just loves)! He will giggle when we make funny faces at him, stick out our tongues, “honk” his nose, or tickle him. It is so fun to hear his cute little laugh and see him smile so much!

Lance standing and looking at his reflection.

He of course still loves his reflection. Whenever he is grumpy I can stand him on his feet in front of the mirror in the bathroom and he instantly becomes happy by seeing that cute baby in the mirror! It’s pretty crazy how much he is entertained by his reflection! He also likes it because he can practice walking while standing on the counter top.

FOOTBALL AND CARS

Our football player... he has the build, just miniature!

Lance has learned to love football (BYU is his favorite of course) and car shows because he watches them while sitting on Daddy’s lap almost every night. He is also really great in movies. The loud noise and the bright picture keep his attention. It is nice because we can take him with us without him crying very much, or at all.

Lance is really flexible! Wow!

Well, our little guy is 4 months and one week old now. I can’t believe how quickly time has passes since we have had him! At his 4 month appointment he weighed 16lbs. 3oz. and was 26in. long. He is in the 75% in each category for his age! That’s our boy! More to love baby, more to love! =)

SPIKY HAIR

Michael and Lance with their "spiky" hair... so cute!

Along with his cute chubby cheeks is his cute hair. It is pretty funny because lots of people have commented (ward members, neighbors, strangers in the grocery store) on how cute his “spiky” hair is and how he and Michael look the same because they have the same hairdo! It’s true and it’s so adorable! They both have dark brown hair that sticks straight up!

We are all very happy and doing really well. Michael is enjoying the last few weeks it his job and working long and hard as usual. A couple of weeks ago he worked a 24 hour day!! He went in at 7:45am and didn’t leave work until the next morning at around 8:00am!...Wheew.

Well, I am doing well and loving every minute I get to spend with our little boy. I feel so blessed that I get to stay home and be with him (Thanks Michael for working so hard!). It truly makes me so happy to be with our little Lance and watch him learn and grow.

12.25.06 - MERRY CHRISTMAS

I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME


Michael and Jennifer with Lance, Lizzy, and Ali

There is such a special spirit around this season and I can't get enough of it. I love that people look out for one another, I love the white snow and the cool, crisp air. I love the lights and Christmas trees. I love the family togetherness and the happy memories. I always look forward to Christmas.


Our family Christmas Card picture.

This Christmas was so wonderful. I feel that our little family was able to experience the fun and excitement of Santa and presents and, more importantly, to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I really found a whole new dimension to Christmas this year as I was portrayed twice as Mary, the mother of Jesus. I really felt that I understand her better and appreciate her role more than I ever have. Being a new mother myself I can not even imagine what she went through and how much she loved her son Jesus. I am so grateful for her.


Christmas morning at Papa and Nana's.

Our Relief Society had a very special evening where the women who were involved in the program all wore their temple dresses and spoke their part as if they were the women who were most involved in Jesus' life. It was very touching to hear each of these women and learn more about their relationship with the Savior.

When I was asked to play the part of Mary I felt honored by the request. I was surprised they had chosen me and knew that by accepting I would have the opportunity to become closer to the Spirit and learn more about her. I was very emotional as I spoke my part, but very grateful for the opportunity because I was able to feel the Spirit testify and I felt a personal connection with her. She was not so different than I am. She was even younger than me when she bore Jesus and was seemingly an "average" girl. Now that I have a child of my own I understand a "mothers love" and can only image what she went through.


Collette, Grandma Felt, Katie, Papa, Lance, Nana, Jacob.

I feel that I have grown spiritually these last few weeks and my heart is filled with so much love. I love the Savior, I love my little son, I love my husband, and our families... I feel so blessed. I do not deserve everything that the Lord has blessed me with. I am so grateful to be a mother and to have this new dimension of love in my heart. I could never accurately describe what it is like to be a parent... but it is amazing. Not only do I understand Mary more, but also our Father in Heaven. By having Lance in my life I feel that the Veil has been lifted a little and I am getting a glimpse of the love and happiness in the eternities.


Papa Covey and Lance - Christmas afternoon at Papa and Grandma's house (Papa, Lance and Collette)

12.23.06 - WINTER ACTIVITIES

GO COUGARS!!!

The BYU crew! Papa, and Nana, Jacob, Christine and Johnny, Christine Segura, Papa and Grandma, and Michael.

While we were up in Utah we tried to make the most of our time and do as much as we could.


Papa and Nana keeping our little Lance warm.
Notice his hat is covering his eyes and his ears... =)

We supported our favorite football team at the Las Vegas Bowl... Go Cougars! It was Lances' first experience at a live football game and it was pretty overwhelming for him. I ended up putting his little hat over his eyes and ears to shield him from all of the commotion. It must have worked because he finally fell asleep in his Nana's arms.



It was a lot of fun to be with the family and to watch the Cougars be victorious! We all rushed the field after the exciting game ended and had such a great time.


VISIT WITH THE ANDERSON'S

Ella and Lance - Rachel and I with our cute kids!

We also visited with many friends and family and even had the chance to go to dinner with our some of our BYU friends Spencer and Rachel Anderson. We have a joke with them that whatever happens to one of us will inevitably happen to the other very soon. And it is actually more of a reality than a joke. Here is the chain of events:

*Both of us met and married our spouses very quickly at BYU.
*Were married on the same day, in the same temple (and even in the same dress).
*We honeymooned at the same hotel.
*Moved to California and worked for the same company (I-Satellite), and were even offered the same job come BYU graduation (Melaleuca)!
*Not to mention that we had our babies only a few weeks apart...

It was fun to see them and laugh about how funny our coincidental lives are. We are so grateful for good friends and family.

12.11.06 - CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

FEELING THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

NATIVITY

Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

Two weekends ago our ward here in Vacaville had a Christmas Party/Program that Michael, Lance and I were all a part of! We got to be Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Lance was so great... he slept the entire time! We did the classic Nativity scene while reading the story from the Bible. Michael and I first entered the stage (me with a coat stuffed in my dress to look like I was pregnant), then when Jesus was born they turned out the lights and when they came back on Lance was in my arms peacefully sleeping. It was really great to be part of the program, especially since Lance is so small. I guess our little family fit the part. =)

MARY

Lucky Mother.

Last week I was able to be involved in the Christmas Enrichment put on by the Relief Society. They asked 5 ladies to do readings of some of the women who were involved in the birth and life of Jesus. They asked me to be Mary. It was a very spiritual and emotional (you know me) program. It was really wonderful and helped me really to remember the true meaning of Christmas and gain a greater appreciation for Mary and Christ. Now having our little Lance and knowing how much I love him, I can't even imagine what Mary had to go through... she must have been a very special woman.

FESTIVAL OF TREES

Allison & Jeff with Santa. Lance and I with Santa.


Lance and I with Meredith and Jett.



We also went to The Festival of Trees with our friends Meredith and baby Jett, and Jeff and Allison Anderson. We got to see all of the beautifully decorated trees that would be auctioned, and sit on Santa's lap! It was a lot of fun.

WORK CHRISTMAS PARTY

This last weekend we left Lance for the first time with a babysitter... I didn't even cry when we left the house! =) Michael surprised me and we went to a very formal party held in a museum where we had dinner with his fellow workers at their Christmas party. We both dressed in our nicest attire and left our little Lance for 5 1/2 hours. We had our friends from the ward watch him and he slept most of the time. We only called 3 times to make sure he was doing okay.... =)

11.26.06 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

GIVE THANKS



With Grandma & Grandpa Bennett.


Uncle Dick, John, Lance and Michael.
Lance is the only one in his generation to carry-on the Bennett name.


With Lisa and her boyfriend.

Michael, Lance and I went to Walnut Creek, CA to spend Thanksgiving Day with his Uncle Dick, Aunt Bonnie and cousin Lisa who live about 45 minutes from us. John and Debbie drove down from Salt Lake and we all had a great time together! They even stayed over at our place for a night and we spent the day together shopping the "day after Thanksgiving" sales at the Outlet Mall right by our apartment! It is always nice to be with family on the holidays (not to mention the great food on Thanksgiving Day!).



Mommy pretends to be a professional photographer sometimes...

There is so much to be thankful for. As Michael and I were driving home from Walnut Creek we went back and forth saying the things that we were thankful for. We both agreed that we are truly blessed in every way, and that we are so fortunate to have such loving and supportive families.


Oh Lance, you got your Mother's short tongue... sorry bud.

Lance has been chewing on his tongue lately… it’s pretty funny. He is also getting better and better at following objects with his eyes and he just loves to get all of the attention from us that he can! If he is awake he wants to be part of the action and wants us to hold him and play with him. He also really enjoys looking at himself in the mirror! If he is upset I’ll take him in the bathroom, stand him on his feet and let him gaze at his reflection. He will go from looking at the “baby in the mirror” to me and smile. I think that he recognizes me in the mirror, but it’s fun to see him stare at himself and try to understand who that baby is. =) He will even wiggle around, sit down, kick his feet… and watch in the mirror to make sure the baby does it too!

It is so great to see how much he is learning. I am so grateful that I get to be with him every day.

11.06.06 - GROWING BOY

MORE TO LOVE

Michael took Lance to his 2 month appointment on Friday and he weighs 14 lbs 1 oz... he is in the 95% for weight! =) He is such a cute little boy and is getting so big!

Lance has begun to suck his thumb (or at least attempt to) a lot the last couple of days! He will wave his fist in front of his face and try to catch his hand with his mouth... like a little shark! Then, once he finally gets his little hand to his face he will grab onto whatever he can... usually his eye or his nose! In this picture he found his nose and successfully got his thumb into his mouth!

This is proof of our growing boy!!! Look at that tummy! Ahhh! =) He is just so cute and soft! He is also starting to enjoy "cuddling" with me. I will pick him up and he will hug my arm and snuggle his head on my shoulder... I just love it!

Lance is "talking" more and more and smiling all of the time! Sometimes he "yells" not because he is upset, but just to see how loud he can get! He also loves to be on his feet. We hold his little chubby body up so he is standing and let him walk. He is actually really good at it! The other day he took 50 steps in a row!!! (He hasn't walked that much since, but I swear he really did! - Michael doesn't believe me!) =) Michael and Lance have "Tummy Time" almost every night where they both lay on the floor on their stomachs. Michael encourages him as Lance kicks his little legs and moves his arms and tries to crawl. Lance has gotten better at holding his head up and he even "slithers" (not quite a crawl) enough to move a few inches!

My hard working husband has worked over-time hours since the day he started here at ALZA (Johnson and Johnson). His usual work day starts at 8:00am and ends sometime around 6:30pm or 7:30pm. But on Friday he gave me a wonderful surprise! He took the day off so we could be together! =) Lance and I loved having him around and it made the weekend seem extra long! Michael was really great and would take Lance in the mornings so I could sleep in, and be with him in the afternoons so I could take a nap.... it was so nice!!! He also surprised us with a fun activity on Friday. I have wanted to go to the Jelly Belly Factory, which is in the neighboring city, since we moved here. Michael got us in the car (not telling me where we were going) and took us there! It was great to be together and I just love surprises.