Adventures in Bennionland » Walker http://bennionz.com/bennionland Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:55:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 San Simeon & The Elephant Seals http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/28/san-simeon-the-elephant-seals/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/28/san-simeon-the-elephant-seals/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:04:11 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=998 We are always looking for that next adventure around here. So after Shell and I ran our first race of the year. We loaded up our car and made our way to catch with Papa Paul and KK who had the boys and were on their way up to San Simeon. We arrived at the Elephant Seal Beach just before sunset and caught them particularily active. The boys had fun running up and down the viewing area to see the seals in action.

We spent the evening at a little lodge in San Simeon. The boys enjoyed hopping from our room to Papa and KK’s. They really enjoyed watching the Olympics cuddled up with Mom and Dad. Before they went to bed.

Next morning we walked down to the pebble beach to relax, explore, and watch the waves. We had a great time, the trip was exactly what all our little souls needed. I wonder where the next adventure will take us.

Pictures after the break:

Now off to edit the video from the trip…

]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/28/san-simeon-the-elephant-seals/feed/ 18 Snow Day http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/22/snow-day-2/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/22/snow-day-2/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:27:00 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=935 We have had a wet winter here in SoCal.
I had been thinking about winter here in California and I realized that my boys have lived here for more of their life in CA than UT. That this is more of how they envision winter than the snowy landscapes that I remember. So, since I had President’s day off I decided that the boys and I needed a Snow Day. We packed some lunches and made the 1 hour trip to “The Village” at Big Bear Lake. We speant about 2 hours exploring in the snow. As we were leaving the boys aggresively requested skiing lessons… I think next winter we will learn to snowboard. Here are the images:




]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/22/snow-day-2/feed/ 4 Chinese New Year 2010 – Year of The Tiger http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/14/chinese-new-year-2010-year-of-the-tiger/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/14/chinese-new-year-2010-year-of-the-tiger/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:04:46 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=847 This one sorta snuck up on us. We realized at the last minute that Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year were the same weekend. So in true Bennionz fashion we crammed in a quick trip to Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Eve day! This year is the year of the Tiger, and we are hoping for good things. The boys had a Blast on the Train ride down. as well as running through Chinatown… which they think they own. Shell and I enjoyed it as well. As is our custom we took pictures, and here they are, Gung Hay Fa Choy:





Gung Hay Fa Choy – Happy Year of the Dragon!

]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2010/02/14/chinese-new-year-2010-year-of-the-tiger/feed/ 2 The Elfs Return http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/09/the-elfs-return/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/09/the-elfs-return/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:56:00 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=806 Yeah baby the Elves are back and bold as can be… This really needs no intro… just sit back and watch…Happy Holidays!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/09/the-elfs-return/feed/ 0 The Holiday Season Starts with a Tree http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/06/the-holiday-season-starts-with-a-tree/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/06/the-holiday-season-starts-with-a-tree/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:52:20 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=799 Once again the holiday Season is upon us. Too kick it off we decorate our tree. Every year our Christmas tree brings a magical feeling into our house. We hope you enjoy:







]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/12/06/the-holiday-season-starts-with-a-tree/feed/ 0 LA County Fair – 2009 http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/10/05/la-county-fair-2009/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/10/05/la-county-fair-2009/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:13:55 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=657 ]]> Just a few Video Highlights from our trip to the LA County Fair.

Enjoy:







]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/10/05/la-county-fair-2009/feed/ 1 Passport to Adventure! http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/08/18/passport-to-adventure/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/08/18/passport-to-adventure/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:14:58 +0000 Shelly! http://bennionz.com/bennionland/?p=548 ]]> We heard of REI’s Passport to Adventure program through one of the blogs we read. The program is designed to get family spending more time out of doors. Kids keep track of their adventures in a journal and submit them REI. REI then sends a reward for the activity. This year the boys got a fantastic hiking tool that combines binoculars, a compass, a magnifying glass, and a mirror.

Eric took up the challenge and planned out hikes all through the summer. The first one, pictured here, was up a local canyon that follows a train route. Walker, of course, loved it! Every twenty to thirty minutes a train would run by adding to the excitement of the trip.

The boys always took their journals, water and their cameras. Eric encouraged them to take lots of pictures and make notes in their journals. They loved it!

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]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2009/08/18/passport-to-adventure/feed/ 2 Happy Holidays http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/12/23/happy-holidays/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/12/23/happy-holidays/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:34:57 +0000 DiaryDad http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/12/23/happy-holidays/ wreath.jpg]]>
Happy Holidays from the Bennions

]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/12/23/happy-holidays/feed/ 5 Death & Optimism http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/19/death-optimism/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/19/death-optimism/#comments Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:19:24 +0000 Shelly! http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/19/death-optimism/ dsa_0017.JPG]]> Last weekend, on the 11th, we put our family dog Mason to sleep. Mason joined our family in 1994 as a Christmas present meant mostly for Lyndsy & Neal. Mason was unlike any other dog we owned. For one, he lasted longer. I don’t mean this in a morbid way – but more simply. All our other dogs ran away. Literally.

More than that though, Mason became a real member of the family. In particular he was attached completely to Lyndsy. He dug a hole in the dirt under her window to sleep. He seemed to always know when she was out of town and when she was home. When she moved to college we all swore he needed large doses of Prozac.

Mason would scratch at the door with his paw in hopes to get us to open it and let him in for the night. He’d bounce a tennis ball on the trampoline, from underneath, with his nose. He seemed more cat than dog. Moody and personable. He was gentle and kind. And it was time for him to go. As sad as it has been – it was right and it was time.

That whole week proved to me that I am the least optimistic in our family. After explaining to Will & Walker about what was going to happen to Mason (in broad strokes), they immediately broke down. After a few moments of sobbing Will looked up and said, “Mom, we’ll see Mason again.”. “No sweetie, we won’t”, I replied. “Yes we will. He can bounce back down from Heaven to see us and then bounce back up again.” He turned to Walker, explained the situation, and within seconds they had wiped their tears and were back playing in the sandbox. When we came home from the vet, sans Mason, the boys tried desperately to buoy our spirits by saying Mason might be back anytime, just bouncing back down.

Yeah. I’m not buying that. (No offense boys…)

Eric also proved his optimism this past week with two words – Chicago Cubs. Because there is always next year.

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Yeah, I’m not buying that.

So I find myself at the bottom of the optimistic ladder. See, for most of my days as a parent I’ve believed one thing – that at some point I’d have a good night’s sleep, in my bed. Maybe even alone.

Yeah, I’m not buying that.

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Then again, every time the wind has blown this week I’ve looked over to see if it was Mason scratching at the door. Every single time.

]]> http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/19/death-optimism/feed/ 5 Baby Dear http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/14/baby-dear/ http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/14/baby-dear/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:41:30 +0000 Shelly! http://bennionz.com/bennionland/2008/10/14/baby-dear/ B]]> I have a ton of blogging to do about our trip to Utah. Things like:

- adventures with Steph & Ali
- Walker’s 3rd birthday extravaganza
- dinner & fun with Grandpa Karl & Hugo
- THE train ride with Grandpa Steph
- Utah State Fair

But we all agree one of the highlights for each of us was spending time with our baby dear. Baby Addie that is. I fear she’ll be sixteen and the boys will still call her that! She’s the boys first cousin (as we’ve proudly talked about before) and once again she kept us enchanted.

I was hoping – to be perfectly honest – that being around a baby would cure me of wanting any other children. She was way too cute for that.

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And this is what you look like when you are the actual parent of the baby :)
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