Good News, Bad News, Extra Children, Anyone?

I hope this works.  We're trying to do this via email. Technically challenged, you know.

Which one first?  Good or bad news?  I'll do bad so that we can end on a good note.

The bad news is that we, at least Dave and I, won't be able to come to the family reunion in August.  We are seriously bummed about that.  It sounds like it will be so much fun.

The good news is that it's for a good cause.  Our due date is August 25th. :)

The other good news is that we're hoping to figure out a way to send Josh and Maddie as delegates, since they really want to see their cousins.  Maybe we'll fly them out or something... anyone up for taking in our orphan children so that they can enjoy even though we can't?

We love you guys, congrats on blessing little Liza tonight.  We wish we could have been there. 

Love,
Dave and Kar and everyone

thinking of you at Christmas time

Sunday 21^st, I'm sitting here waiting for Dad to go to our speaking engagement, and I'm thinking of you.  We have a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with lights and red ribbons, candy canes, dime store glass balls, and silver snowflakes….  I've silver pinecones and red ribbons at the windows and candles with poinettas for a center piece on our table, with our sweet, Mexican nativity in a wooden crèche on the sofa table.  Christmas music is playing and I'm remembering Christmas' past.  Wonderful memories from my childhood and yours come to mind…. But, enough, as for the present:

Last week we were invited to a school Christmas program, complete with the nativity and children dancing and singing.  We thought of you and our darling grandchildren and pictured being with you at their programs.  Yesterday we spent 12 hours in the temple.  Both Friday and Saturday we have had lots of sealings and first time people.  We opened the temple at 6:00 a.m. and closed it at 6:00 p.m..  We were just in time for our Stake's choir Christmas program which took place outside on temple hill.  It was a marvelous way to begin our Christmas celebration.

This morning we visited the Playa Ward and purposely snuck in late so that they won't feel they had to invite us to sit on the stand or speak.  However, we were, and we did.  Tonight we go to the Chiarel Stake for their Christmas program where we are also the speakers.  Tomorrow morning we will open the temple by 8:30 in time for our special session with our workers followed by a group picture outside and then a catered lunch next door in the Stake Center.  We have 97 regular workers and all but five have said they are coming.

Christmas Eve we've invited for the evening, the Moss', Burnett's and Batt's along with Sis. Batt's sister and friend who are visiting.  We splurged and bought a turkey and a ham, and I'll make pies etc.  Everyone else is bringing their favorite dishes too.  Christmas we are looking forward to having you call us when you are done with Santa and have a moment free (we don't want to interrupt your celebrations).  Hopefully, we can set up the cameras so that we can see you and the children. 

We aren't visiting the Children's Home until Tues the 6^th of January (El dia de Tres Reyes) because that is what they requested.  Dad and Br. Burnett are practicing the song Dave, Dan and Jim sing about the Kings, and Dad has completed his Christmas gift to me of  lovingly translating the story of the 3 Kings from This Way To Christmas, which we will share with the children.  Thanks to Rachel and Steve there will be pillows and pillow cases to give each of the 60 children.  The Burnett family is sending toothbrushes and toothpaste, and the Moss' and Batt's have helped me with the piñata etc..

So that is what is happening with us.  It is time to go now, but I promise more later.  Love you Mom

--
Wendy W. Bentley

oops

Please note the correction:  Toney's e-mail address is:  bentley.anthony@gmail.com NOT anthony.bentley@gmail.com

oops

Please note the correction:  Toney's e-mail address is:  bentley.anthony@gmail.com NOT anthony.bentley@gmail.com

Family togetherness reunion style.

Dear Family,

We have a cabin for the family reunion. The goal is for everyone to be so tired being together that they will want to puke. Details: We have an 8 bedroom cabin (8000 sq/ft) in Timber Lakes above Heber for Aug 14-15. Here is the website if you want to check it out: http://www.a1vacations.com/rental-home/p171348 There is no pressure for anyone to contribute to the cost of the cabin unless you want to.

Sorry for those that voted for Bear Lake. As it turns out the cabin we wanted was too small for our family, and the owners would have made us rent a second cabin.

Sharon and I are going to plan some activites for the reunion. We will try not to over-schedule. The reunion will probably start on the 13th with a day at a water park. If anyone has an activity they are dying to encorporate let Sharon or myself know. Rachael (of the Steve variety) has volunteered to coordinate meals. More to follow on that as the reunion get's closer.

On another day I will write about cutting down the 18 ft Christmas tree sitting in our living room right now. Long story short, it's impressive; especially with the family of spotted owls living in the upper branches.

xo,

Pickles

Happy December

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Today is DANIEL FRANK's 30th birthday!  Wow!  And next week on the 16th it is our ELIZA JOSINETTE's 3rd birthday! 

RICK and MARISA  celebrate 11 years of marriage on the 15th!  CONGRATULATIONS to each of you

--
Wendy W. Bentley

Hey Family,

We finished the Nutcracker season, and we are alive and able to write about it. This was a pretty tricky year for the Nutcracker because we let Brigham and Cora perform. They have been rehearsing every Saturday since September, and the last few weeks we have averaged 15 hours at ballet a week. Thats a lot in case you were wondering. The hard part has been that I had to sit there with Brigham the whole time because he is too young to leave. Rick, Lincoln and Lydia clung together for survival. I kept saying to Rick, "Please remind me how hard this is next year when I say lets let Lydia do it too." His response was, "You don't have to tell me twice." The icing on the cake though is the kids did such a great job. We were so proud of them. Here are some pictures to show some of the parts they had. We wish they could have performed for you all. Lots of love and Merry Christmas

Rick, Marisa, Cora, Lincoln, Brigham, Lydia and Clyde

Proud parents after the Saturday Night Performance

Cora as a little snow flake

Brigham the Nutcracker Doll

Brigham as a mouse (3rd one down)

Cora being the cutest party boy in history

Our Colorado Thanksgiving...

As one would expect on the Monday following the Thanksgiving Holiday, accounts and reviews of the "big" meal were hot water cooler topics at work. As such, the tales I was privy to included a 10 am "dinner" start, sweet potato vegetarian wraps for the main coarse, and of course the dreaded "dry turkey" experience. Listening to these reports stirred emotions of complete satisfaction and dread alike. The satisfaction stemming from the most pleasant, savory, and delicious experience that was Thanksgiving Dinner in Colorado as hosted by Rick and Marisa. The dread, as you have probably guessed, came knowing that sharing this satisfaction with the less than satisfied might spawn envy or even be misconstrued as bragadocio. Not giving into my fear, I gave of a full account of the meal that anyone taking on the daunting role of Turkey Day hostess (or host) would wish to duplicate. To me there seems to be two items that usually define the quality of the T-day dinner - the bird and bread. IF the the turkey cooked through, golden brown, and moist are primary criteria for success. All three were easily met, with the latter two exceeding the bar set by the Butter Ball folk. The bar for the bread has an even higher standard by which it is measured. Bread metrics are usually derived from some maternal line dating back multiple generations. Not wishing to show any irreverance to the heavenly creations of my own maternal lines, nor those I share through marriage, I will say that the dinner and orange rolls were a tribute and even rival to those of my own grandmother's and Mom Bentley's. While Marisa attributes this success to the Lion House, remember that poor execution of a great recipe equals bad rolls. Lets just say that a meticulous eye monitored the rate of rise and other important details easily overlooked by the novice or impatient. There were many other delightful dishes included, but due to the time I will say only that they complimented and enhanced the meal. This account would not be complete without noting Rachel's home made apple pie-in particular the filling.

Beyond the meal we had an all around great time with both sets of Colorado Bentley's. We had the opportunity to see much of the Air Force Academy, including the Chapel and take in the festivities of the Broadmoore Hotel's Christmas Lighting Ceremony, gingerbread village, and ice sculptures. Sam, Eliza, and Peter relished the time with all their cousins and already have trips planned to see them again. As Mary mentioned, it would have been great to have more or all of you also. What an awesome family we have!