Bennions in Japan

Our blog has moved . . . .

2012-01-26T10:40:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and I are moving the family blog to my website, please visit http://www.robbennion.com/wordpress to see new posts and updates about us and the kids!

This blog will stay here so you will still be able to see old posts from past dates here.

Jennifer's first time to Hawaii

2012-01-25T10:14:00.001-08:00

Jumping Laie Point

2012-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Surprise!

2012-01-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

New Years, parties, swimming, smores, boxing, and FHE!

2012-01-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

Wisdom

2012-01-02T15:45:00.000-08:00

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal
with the intent of throwing it at someone else;
you are the one who gets burned.
- The Buddha

No Better Gift by Rumi

2011-12-25T16:09:00.001-08:00

When the ocean comes to you as a lover,
marry, at once, quickly,
for God's sake!

Don't postpone it!
Existence has no better gift.

No amount of searching will find this.

A perfect falcon, for no reason, has landed on you shoulder, and become yours.

(Rumi)

Christmas with the Familia

2011-12-25T15:32:00.000-08:00

Ballet West for the girls, and look who's on Santa's "nice" list

2011-12-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

Temple square, new bedtime routines, etc

2011-12-25T14:58:00.001-08:00

Wedding Day . . . Dec 5th! Thanks Jennifer you saved my life!

2011-12-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

Conn Curran and Rob Bennion cd release party

2011-12-10T10:55:00.001-08:00

This coming Wednesday Conn Curran and I are having our cd release party at the Circle Lounge downtown SLC. There's a $10 cover charge at the door. 9pm-12am. 21+

Here's a sample of the cd:

http://robbennion.com/mp3s/christmas_demo.mp3

Here's more info about the event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/276745472376143/

Christmas cd

2011-11-28T17:02:00.001-08:00

Finishing up the cd with Conn Curran here's a demo.

Let us know if you would like a copy, $10 each with 8 songs: The Christmas Song, Feliz Navidad, My Favorite Things, Silver Bells, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree, Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings (Instrumental, Have Yourself a Merry Christmas, Christmas Time is Here.

http://robbennion.com/mp3s/christmas_demo.mp3

updates

2011-11-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings Medley

2011-11-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

http://robbennion.com/mp3s/carol%20of%20the%20bells.mp3

New Music . . . tis the season!

2011-11-13T21:06:00.001-08:00

http://robbennion.com/mp3s/christmas_rob_bennion.mp3

Ken Hoefling photoshoot part 2

2011-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

snow and other stuff

2011-11-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

Best time ever!

2011-11-05T16:28:00.001-07:00

Playin with Cousins

2011-11-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

pumpkin carving

2011-11-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

England (again)

2011-11-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

some more pics

2011-10-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Me gustas cuando callas by Pablo Neruda

2011-09-27T00:39:00.001-07:00

Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente,
y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te toca.
Parece que los ojos se te hubieran volado
y parece que un beso te cerrara la boca.

Como todas las cosas están llenas de mi alma
emerges de las cosas, llena del alma mía.
Mariposa de sueño, te pareces a mi alma,
y te pareces a la palabra melancolía.

Me gustas cuando callas y estás como distante.
Y estás como quejándote, mariposa en arrullo.
Y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te alcanza:
déjame que me calle con el silencio tuyo.

Déjame que te hable también con tu silencio
claro como una lámpara, simple como un anillo.
Eres como la noche, callada y constelada.
Tu silencio es de estrella, tan lejano y sencillo.

Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente.
Distante y dolorosa como si hubieras muerto.
Una palabra entonces, una sonrisa bastan.
Y estoy alegre, alegre de que no sea cierto.

fun pics

2011-09-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

bbq at mom and dads, punching bags, and more!

2011-09-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

4 months have passed . . .

2011-09-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

4 months ago this week, on Cinco de Mayo 2011, Johnathan and I started this hike. We got interrupted and haven't had a chance to finish it yet ;)

This week we got around to finishing it. It's been a long, interesting, crazy summer full of ups and downs, and this week one chapter of our lives is closing, as a new one is opening up.

Johnathan and I love to hike!

Pictures by Ken Hofeling

2011-09-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Ken Hofeling took these pictures, let me know if you want his contact info . . . he takes family pictures at his place or on location . . .

JT and Daddy back at the Zoo

2011-09-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

more fun pictures

2011-09-04T13:26:00.001-07:00

JT and Colette are too cool for these pictures . . .
JT the plumber . . .
Eating dinner at the Smiths as per Colette's request . . .
Tomorrow is the last day 7 Peaks is open for the season . . guess where we'll be!
Colette on her way to school . . . so excited for the new year starting!

Zoo, first day of school, barbeque at my place

2011-08-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Last day of summer!

2011-08-24T01:30:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day of a life changing summer.

Johnathan and Colette in front of Momma's new apartment.My good deed for the day . . . the before and after pictures. I put in some tile with cement so there wouldn't just be dirt all the way up to the back door. Nicolle's place is pretty cool! The tile is important because the kids use this door to go to the chicken coop nd harass the chickens every day. Now they won't be walking through dirt to get there!

Promised Colette I'd take her to Paris this summer . . .

2011-08-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

more picxs

2011-08-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

more pictures

2011-08-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

more pics

2011-08-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

School registration and more ice cream!

2011-08-14T07:54:00.001-07:00

Colette got it in her head that she likes to wear glasses . . .

Good times with the cousins

2011-08-14T07:52:00.001-07:00

Smurf's, long anticipated by two little monkeys, finally comes to the Drive In

2011-08-14T07:51:00.001-07:00

fun stuff at home, and a little bit of helping Daddy

2011-08-14T07:49:00.001-07:00

Playdates and good food

2011-08-04T00:47:00.000-07:00

Back to school shopping was a success! 15 shirts, 6 dresses, 2 pair of shoes, and 5 pairs of pants later . . .

2011-08-04T00:34:00.000-07:00

This was colette's favorite, and she wore it tonight until spilling juice on it.

New bike for Colette means JT gets her old one!

2011-08-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

The new Hatch Family Chocolates location is great!

Grandpa Esplin's birthday

2011-07-29T23:06:00.001-07:00

When it comes to gardening, Esplins don't mess around

2011-07-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats throwing fish food at the fish . . except harassing kitties and puppies maybe

2011-07-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

Crazy trampoline fun

2011-07-29T22:39:00.001-07:00

Look who we ran into at the In n Out . . .

2011-07-29T22:35:00.000-07:00

We didn't plan this . . .

Liberty park Bounce houses and fun

2011-07-25T15:52:00.001-07:00

Parade

2011-07-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

good times

2011-07-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hampton Court

2011-07-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

London for a week

2011-07-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

London's Princess Diana Memorial Playground

2011-07-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Dad was young once? (Just kidding Dad)

2011-07-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

My dad in college:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPFb-HmkrfY

In case you haven't met my dad he's the one in the blue sweater, brown beanie, and blue jeans, smiling a lot.

Colette's birthday party

2011-07-07T09:16:00.001-07:00

More fun at seven Peaks

2011-06-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Colette the photographer: her first installment

2011-06-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

More birthdays

2011-06-21T06:15:00.001-07:00

Birthday fun

2011-06-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Colette graduates kindergarten

2011-06-10T23:31:00.001-07:00

fun stuff

2011-06-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

Colette caught in the act of planking

2011-06-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

Drive in movies with Aunt amy

2011-06-10T23:15:00.001-07:00

The upstairs guest room is up and running . . .

2011-06-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Another day at the zoo and a trip to mars

2011-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks Grandma for the zoo passes! Happy 4th birthday JT!

2011-05-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

JT B Day

2011-05-25T21:42:00.001-07:00

JT's Birthday party

2011-05-25T21:36:00.001-07:00

Colette's first school project: Kangaroos

2011-04-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Easter egg hunts!

2011-04-24T22:19:00.001-07:00

Cracking confetti-filled eggs on Grandma's head . . .

Kauai with the kids

2011-04-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Colette snorkeled for the first time. . . just the mask, no snorkel. We saw a lot of fish on the reef, she hung on my back while I snorkeled around. Johnathan found a sea slug, which we watched for a while then put back in the ocean.

Riding the bus back to the airport!

Indoor Climbing

2011-04-12T05:34:00.001-07:00

My favorite was the climbing treadmill . . . it moved down while you climbed for a continuous climb . . . pretty difficult though

Return to the north shore

2011-04-01T10:49:00.001-07:00

JT and I went to the north shore this week . . . I can't believe how beautiful it is there . . . it felt familiar and like we'd never left, it took me right back . . . remembering all sorts of things, from Spam Musubi and soda at KHS Red Raiders to backpacking above Laie falls . . . pulled pork school lunch and GT English . . . geckos on the walls and
Hey siblings hopefully these pics can bring it back a bit for you too . . . we flew in and took a bus from town to get to this great campsite North of goat island.

We camped at this place . . .

The salty wet sea air coming from the ocean is exhilirating combined with the sight and sound of thundering waves . . .

Laie Temple

HI

2011-04-01T10:18:00.001-07:00

JT and I enjoyed the campground's wifi and charging station . . .

Thanks to the time difference we woke up in time for the sunrise . . .

They recently paved a jogging/biking path from Laie to Kahuku along Kam highway . . . it's pretty convenient

"We are going, to the hukilau"

Someone built a little shack at Temple beach, here a view of the point from inside . . .

A turtle joined us swimming at Temple beach . . .

JT at Laie point . . .

The spot we used to jump from . . . (remember Dave?)

HI again

2011-04-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

We could see whale spouts from Laie point . . .

JT was a little worried about this crabshell

Even though there's an L&L's in SLC, it's like eating In n Out in Utah . . . just isn't the same here.

JT at the entrance of BYU-H

Our old chapel at the end of Mona (Haole) street . . . Dave and I waited for the bus here very morning to go to Kahuku H.S.

The old house has been demolished and they are almost done with this giant one in its place

Looking up to campus from our old house

BYU-H

maui whales

2011-03-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hogle Zoo

2011-03-23T09:41:00.001-07:00

Sledding

2011-03-23T09:19:00.001-07:00

Philly

2011-03-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry Dave and Devon, didn't get any good pictures of you guys . . .

visit to Japan

2011-02-21T20:45:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago Rob and I (Nicolle) visited Tokyo for a quick 2 days. It was lots of fun but pretty exhausting, in spite of business class both ways. That might have also been the massive amount of walking we did around Tokyo. In any case, it was fun. We had a much nicer hotel than we did in Osaka a few years ago and I was very grateful for it. Rob wore the loaner yukata just for the pictures. There were lots of silly things that reminded us of our time in Japan, and some new things that were a little crazy, like the masses of people walking around on a Wednesday afternoon. We visited some craft stores, which were awesome by the way, and a few mandatory tourist spots. Overall a very fun time, although I am not sure when we will try that crazy of a trip again, at least probably not to Tokyo.

weekday update

2011-01-30T09:31:00.001-08:00

We got a one day snow storm on Tuesday so we started a snow man, but Rob got carried away and made it like 8 feet tall. We decided it should be something else so we made it into a dragon. We didn't quite finish it and the next two sunny days reduced it to a slushy 5 1/2 feet. We put some green food coloring into a spray bottle, which made it look a little bit like a giant snowcone. All in all it was way more fun to sculpt than to just slap a snow man together.

On Wednesday Rob used his flight benefits to travel to San Diego with Johnathan. They went to the beach. I had to stay home with Colette because she has school. lame.

Santa with the Kids

2010-12-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Colette poses for the Camera at Sea Life Park

2010-12-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hawaii pics

2010-12-11T08:35:00.001-08:00

Sea Life Park

The Cheesecake Factory

Hawaii in December

2010-12-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Diamond Head:

Waikiki:
The Bus to Sea Life Park:

Johnathan's favorite hiding place

2010-12-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

This is one of his spots. The other day I found his legs sticking out from under the bed as he slurped down a can of ginger ale . . . sneaky sneaky

The first real snowfall!

2010-12-11T08:23:00.001-08:00

Pepper's annual halloween party!

2010-12-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

Nicolle of course outdid herself again for Pepper's annual Halloween party . . . I looked truly freaky!

Halloween

2010-11-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to mom for finding the flamenco dress at a flea market in Ft. Worth. I assembled the shawl for Colette in an effort to keep her somewhat warm.
Johnathan's costume was the big time suck, but I like for the most part, how it turned out. I made the vest, trousers and hat. The embellishments were part trim, Christmas ribbon and gold glitter glue. We went trick or treating 2+ times. The first thing Johnathan asked me on Monday morning was "We go tick o'teating today?" Too much of a good thing.
PS. I don't know why J looks so scared in the first picture. The creepy "person" in the background was our scare-crow of sorts. We met some yip-yips at the Gallivan Center block party..I think some little (and maybe big) yip-yip costumes are in order for our house, and for no specific occasion, I would just like to have them around. And some adult flamenco dresses, oh and a bullfighter outfit for Rob...oh I've gone cross-eyed...

Nice, France

2010-10-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

Waikiki Weekend

2010-09-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

Back to school

2010-09-08T12:58:00.001-07:00

Costa Rica with (some of) the Bennions

2010-07-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun. Maybe I will write about it here later, in the meantime here are some pictures...

Catch up posts

2010-06-24T08:34:00.001-07:00

Rob and I went to Hawaii at the beginning of June, it was a lot of fun, here are a few pictures

Johnathan Ashton Bennion

2010-05-31T08:02:00.001-07:00

It was Johnathan's birthday on Saturday, so we had a little party for him at his favorite place; the Zoo. My parents and little sister were in town as well so they came to the party and my super talented sister took pictures...which I didn't get from her yet, but as soon as I do get them I promise to post them because they are awesome.
Anyway, Rob made an awesome elephant candy dispenser instead of a pinata that would have been destroyed. I made little train engineer backpacks for goodies. We also made elephant shaped cakes and put the train tracks around them. I did a teeny bit of face painting and we walked around the zoo and looked at the animals. I think Johnathan really loved it all.

Texas, Costa Rica

2010-05-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Rob will have to write about his week with out us, as for us (Nicolle, Colette and Johnathan) we flew to Texas, the babies stayed with Bob and Lita while I flew to Costa Rica for just a few days, then I flew back to Texas, went to baby Diego's blessing then flew home on Tuesday at the crack of dawn.
MMMmm mangoes fresh off a tree next door in CR. As Colette says, "deelish".
I know it is cheesy and dumb but I couldn't resist snapping a few shots off the coast of Cuba (so I am told) from my cushy seat in first class home from CR. There are unfortunately a lot of reasons why traveling without the babes is more fun...from the possibility of first class seats (kids under 12 or something can't ride first class, so even if there is room they have to sit in coach and us with them obviously), to having to provide constant entertainment for them individually or they throw fits and are generally unmanageable, to them falling asleep 10 minutes before landing so I have to try to carry them both+luggage=impossible.
Then we have a picture of the babies with their cousins and their cousins cousins. In-san-ity.
My kids are liberal with their kisses...
and their punches...

Camping at Antelope Island

2010-04-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

We volunteered for the U of U's Bennion center to build fences surrounding the stream on Antelope Island to help protect it from the biffalo so that it can run down to their troughs below rather than getting trampled into swamp before making it down. It was fun and Nicolle has a mighty hammer swing when it come to driving the long nails to keep the posts in place.
The kids got to ride horses, fly a kite, and their favorite play outside for hours and hours. Johnathan learned that you hold a flashlight to the ground at night when walking, not up to your face like he thought. Colette learned that the bathrooms are farther away when you go camping. Neither one of them wanted to go to sleep at night, they were too excited about the tent, the flashlights, and their new friends (or the possibility of going and playing with more new friends they hadn't met yet).

Natural History Museum

2010-04-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

We decided to ride the bus to the museum, bt I missed it because I forgot to bring the camera and when I went back to the house to get it the bus came. So I rode my bike instead while Nicolle and the kids took the bus.
The kids especially loved doing puppet shows, but since we only took video of that you'll have to watch it another time.

Hogle Zoo

2010-04-17T17:26:00.001-07:00

Johnathan loves elephants, so we spend a lot of time when we go to the zoo at the elephant area.

Bennions in Japan

Our blog has moved . . . .

Jennifer's first time to Hawaii

Jumping Laie Point

Surprise!

New Years, parties, swimming, smores, boxing, and FHE!

Wisdom

No Better Gift by Rumi

When the ocean comes to you as a lover,marry, at once, quickly,for God's sake!Don't postpone it!Existence has no better gift.No amount of searching will find this.A perfect falcon, for no reason, has landed on you shoulder, and become yours.

Christmas with the Familia

Ballet West for the girls, and look who's on Santa's "nice" list

Temple square, new bedtime routines, etc

Wedding Day . . . Dec 5th! Thanks Jennifer you saved my life!

Conn Curran and Rob Bennion cd release party

Christmas cd

updates

Carol of the Bells/We Three Kings Medley

New Music . . . tis the season!

Ken Hoefling photoshoot part 2

snow and other stuff

Best time ever!

Playin with Cousins

pumpkin carving

England (again)

some more pics

Me gustas cuando callas by Pablo Neruda

fun pics

bbq at mom and dads, punching bags, and more!

4 months have passed . . .

Pictures by Ken Hofeling

JT and Daddy back at the Zoo

more fun pictures

Zoo, first day of school, barbeque at my place

Last day of summer!

Promised Colette I'd take her to Paris this summer . . .

more picxs

more pictures

more pics

School registration and more ice cream!

Good times with the cousins

Smurf's, long anticipated by two little monkeys, finally comes to the Drive In

fun stuff at home, and a little bit of helping Daddy

Playdates and good food

Back to school shopping was a success! 15 shirts, 6 dresses, 2 pair of shoes, and 5 pairs of pants later . . .

New bike for Colette means JT gets her old one!

Grandpa Esplin's birthday

When it comes to gardening, Esplins don't mess around

Nothing beats throwing fish food at the fish . . except harassing kitties and puppies maybe

Crazy trampoline fun

Look who we ran into at the In n Out . . .

Liberty park Bounce houses and fun

Parade

good times

Hampton Court

London for a week

London's Princess Diana Memorial Playground

Dad was young once? (Just kidding Dad)

Colette's birthday party

More fun at seven Peaks

Colette the photographer: her first installment

More birthdays

Birthday fun

Colette graduates kindergarten

fun stuff

Colette caught in the act of planking

Drive in movies with Aunt amy

The upstairs guest room is up and running . . .

Another day at the zoo and a trip to mars

Thanks Grandma for the zoo passes! Happy 4th birthday JT!

JT B Day

JT's Birthday party

Colette's first school project: Kangaroos

Easter egg hunts!

Kauai with the kids

Indoor Climbing

Return to the north shore

HI

HI again

maui whales

Hogle Zoo

When the ocean comes to you as a lover,
marry, at once, quickly,
for God's sake!

Don't postpone it!
Existence has no better gift.

No amount of searching will find this.

A perfect falcon, for no reason, has landed on you shoulder, and become yours.