Some new favorite things...

Ok, I'm totally in love with baby Ben and holding him. It could help that he's sleeping AMAZING at night. Seriously, those first several weeks, when your waking up 2-4 times a night, it seems like you will never ever ever ever never ever get any sleep ever again. BUT then one morning you roll over and look at the clock, you expect to see 3 am...and you see 5am...and you cheer for joy. Then a few nights later you roll over and realize it's 7am not 5am...so that's where we are, getting more sleep. Which means I'm a happy mother and wife! Hip Hip Hooray!

I love holding him and sitting back and enjoying his chubby little face.

Chubby face

He has the longest eyelashes! So darling. And look at those chubby cheeks.

When he's ready to fall asleep in your arms he nestles his little face into your arm. I love it.

Caleb loving Jared playing with him. Seriously, I adore this happy go-lucky kid.

I caught an adorable smile but of coarse I was too close and the flash went off! But you can still see how dang cute he is!

Kinda smiley...But oh so cute. We actually caught him giggling on video. I love it!!

Oh, and who can't post about some of the best ladies in the world? Here's to our Utah State Annual Reunion! This year I think we had the best food, friends and games. We did MISS ALL OF YOU that don't live in Utah or who didn't come.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Sad, how the the best picture that turned out was of him sad. For some reason this holiday my camera was acting up and MANY if not ALL of my pictures of this Christmas were fuzzy. So this is all we ended up with. SAD!!

Not sure, what the green smudge is, but this is a cute baby Ben face.

He's smiling...not very often or on demand, but I was able to get one...just with a little too much LIGHT!

Jacob having fun with some new duplo legos.

Caleb in LOVE with his Thomas the Train set.

Oh, the sweet couple...Christmas Even dinner. YUM.

Some of the boys, getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner at my parents.

Caleb got MORE monkey pj's. This adorable kid thankfully has his BIG smile to off set those little ears.

Seriously, do I honestly have FOUR kids. Oh, it's getting crazier each day that goes by. Let's just say, laundry, cleaning house, and cooking seriously takes up SO much time.

Oh, a darling chubby sleepy baby. This little guy has adorable LONG eyelashes. So cute.

Alayna insisted this year on leaving their letters out for Santa. She said, that since he's magic we didn't need to mail them, he will just suddenly appear with the presents they wanted. She did the honors of writing the letters for all the kids. Funny how her handwriting is different in each one.

Good Morning, Christmas Morning!

Oh, the dilemma, a BYU hat from Mom and a Utah hat from dad...who should I cheer for? Well, let's just say the BYU hat WON the BIGGEST smile!

Christmas family picture...too bad they were ALL fuzzy! Bummer!!

Oh, the happy couple...

Jared and I realized we have yet to take a picture with this little bundle since the hospital...Merry Christmas to all!!!

Getting Ready for Christmas...

Baby Ben is now almost 8 weeks old or 2 months old come Thursday...He's doing awesome. He sleeps well and eats well too. I really couldn't ask for a better baby. He's really getting CHUBBY and we just love him!

The boys discussing the nativity...if you look closely Caleb is holding a "farmer" Caleb is telling Jake he doesn't belong with the Nativity, but Jake is patiently telling him anyone can come see baby Jesus.

Ange and Grady found out that they are expecting their fourth baby and it's yet again, another BOY! Out of the last 12 grand kids only ONE has been a girl. We must really need BOYS in this family. Either way, baby Ben and Rhett are excited to have another BOY cousin!

Temple Square Lights, fun, freezing and LOTS of layers.

Our van reached 100,000 miles, Jared seems to feel the need to take a picture of this...even if he is driving on the freeway.

Excited for Christmas!

Visiting Thanksgiving Point and seeing two of Santa's Reindeer.

Watching ice sculptures be made...

Our favorite tradition yet...taking anonymous people treats and a sign that said we love your Christmas lights!

The 2nd Annual Adult Perry White Elephant Gift Card exchange party! AWESOME!!!

Just a cute baby!!! Growing big and chubby everyday!

Danish Puff Pastry

Almonds anyone? Well, if you are like me and need a little variety from the traditional Christmas treats...Chocolate! Than you will LOVE this recipe. It is a childhood favorite of mine. These almond flavored puff pastries are surprisingly tasty and enjoyed by all. Let me know if you end up enjoying them as much as our family. The recipe is a little different, so read instructions before you begin. If you have any questions just ask!!
Merry Christmas
~Diana

Danish Puff Pasty

Mix together with pastry blender:
1 C. Flour
½ cup margarine or butter
2 T. water

Heat in Sauce Pan:
½ c. margarine or butter
1 cup water
1 tsp. almond flavoring
1 C. flour
3 eggs
Garnish with slivered or sliced almonds

Frosting:
¼ c. butter, softened
1 tsp. almond flavoring
2 T. milk
1 ½ c. – 2 c. powdered sugar
Mix together until fluffy. Add more powdered sugar if needed.

With pastry blender cut in: 1 Cup flour and ½ cup margarine or butter; add with 2 Tablespoons water. This will require lots of folding and mixing with hands. Divide in half on ungreased cookie sheet or on parchment paper. Pat each half with hands until strip is 12”x3”. Place 3” apart. In sauce pan, combine: ½ cup margarine or butter with 1 Cup water. Boil. Remove from heat – put in 1 teaspoon almond extract. Beat in 1 Cup flour, stirring quickly to keep from lumping. When smooth add 3 eggs one at a time – beating well. Divide batter in half – spread evenly over strips. Bake @ 375 for 55-60 minutes. Frost while warm and sprinkle with slivered almonds. Slice in thirds then diagonally.

Babies...

Finally we pulled out the camera to take a side by side picture of Ben and Rhett. Unless these two little dudes were naked side by side you wouldn't be able to tell how chubby Ben is, but just trust me, he is chubby and Rhett is still floppy newborn small.

Here are a few more pictures of the little dude. Okay the chubby dude compared to Rhett.

What color will your eyes be...I'm pulling for blue, but I'm sure they will end up being a mix of brown/orange/green/hazel color. Sometimes I catch glimpses of blue, but then we see brown. Either way your chubby little face is darling!!

And who doesn't enjoy a good crying picture?? I have to remember the good moments and the bad ones, right? He really is such a good baby. He pretty much sleeps all day long except to wake up to eat, to just fall asleep again. We see his eyes a total of an hour or two throughout the day. Until it happens to be night time then...suddenly we see your little face, eyes and personality!

Our Adventures...

Well we are 4 weeks in and counting...really, it's been an adventure. This little sleeping dude is such a doll to have around. We are all madly in love with him and learning the adventures of having lots of kids and surviving on 3-5 hours of sleep each night. One day that will change right? It's surprising how I have adjusted with less and less sleep.
I attended my cousins mission farewell yesterday and trying to get out the door without Jared home on Sundays was a wild adventure...having us all dressed, hair brushed, clean clothes on, teeth brushed, fed, etc. Was quite the chore. Not to mention trying to schedule in a newborn feeding to plan it just right that I wouldn't drive 35 minutes to attend sacrament, to just end up spending it in the mothers room. Either way, we did it and my cousin gave a great talk. My favorite part was when he started his talk giving a tribute to his mother, his angel. He spoke so kindly and lovingly of her and all that she has done for him. I was completely touched thinking that soon it will be my turn to listen to my sons stand up there and express such sincere love for me, their mother. I told Jared either way he better slip our boys $50 to say something that sweet to me when they leave on their missions.

Here is a new addition to our family. Baby Rhett Dewey Peck was born exactly three weeks after Ben. Krista was SUPER LUCKY to have this LITTLE dude early! She and I went for a pedicure...the next day she was in labor and delivering this little guy with in a few hours. He ended up weighing 6 lbs. 2 oz. Pretty much an ounce different than Ben. In three short weeks it is SHOCKING how BIG of a difference there is. Ben suddenly seems SUPER chubby compared to Rhett. It will be so fun to have two babies so close in age once again. I guess that's the only way our family does it!

The now chubby baby...With lots of wild fuzzy fluffy hair!

Our favorite outfit...You gotta love the monkey bum.

Here is Mr. Trouble doing what he does best when I'm spending time cleaning a different room or sitting and holding Ben. He and Jake went to town "painting" the bathroom. Let's just say I had to pull out the camera because these are one of those moments you'd rather capture a smile than waste energy being mad. The only reason I'd even be frustrated was because I had just cleaned the bathroom.

But really who can stay mad at these boys when they give you smiles like this?

Hilarious. Here is Jake and the twins. Recently, because of college football being shown every weekend at our house. There is a constant discussion of BYU and Utah. I know I have shared in the past that my kids have been brainwashed successfully from Brian and Ashley to LOVE BYU. Well, even with Jared trying his hardest to have them like Utah he has yet to win them over to his team. Anyways, here are the boys doing what they do best playing football. The funny part about this picture is Jake insisted on the Twins being on Utah...even though he is clearly wearing and representing Utah. Jake said, "I'm NOT on Utah's team, this Red "U" on my helmet stands for the U in BYU." The other funny thing about this picture is Jake wanted to be like the Twins and wearing soccer shin guards. But since he has yet to play soccer in a league he quickly used his imagination and got tall socks on and filled them with square Lego's. These boys wore these outfits around the house and playing football for hours.

Our bright eyed burrito baby.

Another peaceful moment...a sleeping baby.