It's been awhile

So it's been awhile since I have posted. It's not that I haven't wanted to. It just seems like life always seems to get in the way. Here are a few things we have been up to the last few months (sorry about the lack of pictures. You are lucky to get this update!)

Ben
Ben has become such a big boy although he sounds like a little girl. He loves to "sing" all of the time which consists of a whole lot of screaming.
He loves to play hide and seek. All you have to do is start counting and he will either run and hide or run to find Nena (aka Jenna). He is quite the cheater but that is okay.
The kid eats a TON! Total opposite of Jenna who won't eat anything. When we get home in the afternoon, he goes straight to the cupboard and pretty much stays there until dinner time when he gets in his chair to eat dinner after his afternoon of snacking. I am scared for what he is going to be like as a teenager.
He is such a happy little boy. He loves to give and receive kisses. Today in church, it was perfectly quiet when Ben decides he needs to give me a giant kiss. The problem is, his kisses are actually "zerberts"--he will put his mouth on your cheek and just blow. It makes a loud fart-like noise. I busted out laughing and couldn't stop. No one else seemed to find it funny.
He turned one a couple months ago. Where did the time go? He's not my little baby anymore.

Jenna
Jenna is growing up fast, too. She will be four years old soon.
She loves to pretend. We spend a lot of our time going to the ballet, the store, and talking to cousins on the phone.
She has a friend that lives next door that she absolutely loves. Really. It's almost an obsession. She was taking a nap when Jenna went over there one day to see if she could play. Jenna wanted to wait on her porch until she woke up. STALKER!
She started pre-school this year and has already learned a lot. She doesn't have a whole lot of interest in writing. She has learned to write her name and other letters of the alphabet, but she really likes to do her own thing. You can't tell her what to do. She has to want to do it--just like her dad! Her teachers say that she is the leader around there. She is one of the younger kids, but even the older kids follow her around.
She has been taking gymnastics for a couple of months. It has been good for her although I think she is the "creepy" kid. She really likes to get the teacher's attention so she just hangs on her arm and follows her around. She is once again the youngest person in her class, but most of the time is the most well-behaved (which says a lot!)

Joel
Joel is really busy. He works full time and is in school. He is doing really well in school. We are all proud of him. He took part of the summer off of school so he was able to take us on a really fun family vacation to San Diego. We had a blast! He started back to school the day after we got back. This semester's schedule is not that bad--in that he is not in class a ton, but still has a ton of homework.
He is teaching Elder's quorum. He always gets a lot of compliments after he teaches, so I think he is doing a good job.

Kristen
I am keeping busy with work, kids, the house, and running.
When I went back to work after having Ben, they allowed me to work from home for part of the day. It is hard, but so worth it! I am able to do things with the kids in the afternoon as well as get my work done and housework done (for the most part). It is still difficult to keep up with everything house-wise, but at least we are not living in complete filth (although if you do come over, please give me some warning first!).
I have been trying to run a lot lately. I am considering running a half marathon soon so I am trying to train for it. It takes a lot of my little free time but it is fun. I have always considered running one, but have always talked myself out of it. I am determined to do one though. I am pretty stressed out about it. It is on my mind all of the time.

I think that is about it. Keep in touch! I know I will try to!