Benjamin's Big Day

On September 24, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gained a new member.  Benjamin Dastrup (previously known as "Bubby Diddit" and "Smidge"), age eight, was baptized in a sweet meeting held at noon in the chapel on 1000 East in Sandy, UT.  Despite various sabotage attempts by Benjamin's little brothers, Ty Dastrup, age 2 (caught running around the meeting on several occasions and directly addressing the speakers in the middle of their talks), and Jacob Dastrup, age 6 (caught playing some rockin' music on Grandpa's iPhone during the closing prayer), the Spirit was still present and Benjamin reported feeling "very, very happy."  Benjamin's family would like to thank all those who attended Benjamin's baptism and confirmation and helped to make a very special day.

Testosterone Overload

Yesterday Benjamin got his first taste of ballet.  I was watching a clip someone posted on Facebook of some Chinese ballet group performing Swan Lake.  It was quite amazing actually.  While I was watching it, Benjamin walked into the room and started watching over my shoulder.  After only a few seconds he said, "Whoa.  That is creepy."  I protested indignantly that it was NOT creepy, and after another second he asked, "What are they DOING?"  This boy can watch HOURS of men charging down a field after a funny-shaped ball and crashing into each other without blinking an eye or questioning what on earth they are DOING, yet he gets weirded out by a few seconds of ballet!  There is obviously an excess of testosterone in this house.

Great to Be Eight!

Eight years ago today Benjamin came into our lives and changed them forever!  I had no idea what I was doing back then, and I still feel that way fairly regularly even now, but he has always been sweet, kind, and forgiving as he has taught us how to be parents.  I couldn't ask for a better kid-- especially for a first one.  We love our Benjamin!

With his birthday falling on Sunday this year, Benjamin has really had an entire birthday weekend.  On Friday he took donuts to his class to celebrate.  On Saturday we started out with a family trip to IHOP for breakfast, and then we had a Dastrup family birthday party.  Benjamin made BYU shirts with his cousins, played an intense family football game, opened presents, watched the first BYU football game of the season (on our old TV thanks to Ty breaking Brigham's new 60 inch plasma with a projectile sippy cup -- watch out Jake Heaps, he's got his eye on your position!), and then did cake.  After our guests left, Benjamin and his dad stayed up late watching football and sports highlights.  It was a great day for a sports-loving lad like Benjamin.

Benjamin is growing up-- he chose a chocolate eclair cake over a themed birthday cake for the first time!  I did not protest!

 Today is Benjamin's actual birthday, and the Gronemans came over to celebrate with us.  We had the dinner of his choice (chicken pasta salad with Tuscan bread), and he spent time with Gramps putting together the Legos that he got from his cousins the day before.  He opened presents yet again and was very excited to get a real camera from Gramps and Grandma.  It was another good day.

After three days of party, you may think it's over, but oh no!  The party will continue in just 3 weeks when Benjamin gets baptized!  He is very excited about it.  (People who have children who are baptized are old.  That's been a standing rule that I may need to reconsider now.)

How fun to have so much family around to party with!

Manly Secrets

Tonight during dinner Brigham kept asking Benjamin about a certain girl-- someone I'd never heard of.  When I asked about her, Brigham said, "That's just between us-- right, Benjamin?" and winked.  I asked Benjamin if she is in his class at school, and he said she was.  There was more winking from Brigham.  I could see that I wasn't going to get any answers if I wasn't direct, so I finally asked, "Is she the cutest girl in your class?"  Benjamin answered in a very mater-of-fact, almost bored tone, "Yeah.  Dad is really into that sort of thing."