CAN

Jackson shooting the Basketball @ Happy Joe's

A clip from Minneapolis news story

Here is a news clip from WCCO in Minneapolis on the ProDisc-L. This is one of the devices that I sell for Synthes. Thought you may find it interesting.
http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=25187@wcco.dayport.com

The Girls

Here are a couple pictures of the ladies. I know I will catch some hell from the first one of Kya and Quinn because of nothing in Kya's hair to keep it out of her eyes, c'mon little slack would be appreciated. Did you know you have to put those in like everyday! It is a picture by the stairs which always keep Quinn on the edge of her game. She wants so badly to be able to fly down the stairs like her big sister, not yet, but soon! She is walking and getting around very well. She has been walking for about 3-4 weeks and seems to have given up crawling like moving from the JV to Varsity.

The second picture is a typical happy Quinn, a mouth open so wide she once accidentally caught a barn swallow.

We here at the Benson's, Post 58104, would like to wish everyone a very optimistic and enjoyable spring. I'm sure everyone is as excited as we are to enjoy the summer.

Mitch

Hola!

At the end of February The Welks and Jen & I took a trip south, to the Riveria Maya just south of Cancun, Mexico. This first picture is by the pool at the resort. It was a pretty amazing pool, probably about 1 city block in lenght. It had many bridges that went over it and it had 2 swim-up bars. On the first day we were there, Rick and I participated in a water balloon fight! They filled up balloons about 1/4 water and the rest air, we had to through them back and forth over a volleyball net, the team with the most balloons on their side after 1 minute (or so) lost. I was suprised just how fun this was, many of the balloons broke in your hand as you were trying to throw them and many burst when they landed on the head of you foe on the other side. None the less, everyone had smiles from ear to ear for the whole "fight". The next picture is of the dolphin interaction area. This was on a small island called "Isla Majerus" or Island of the Women, about a 30 minute ferry ride off the coast of Cancun. This rec area is right in the ocean water and each of the pens has dolphins in it. The large area in the background is where all four of us swam with the dolphins. You hear about this being such an amazing experience and how the dolphins are so smart and interactive and so on. I have to tell you, its all true! We had a great time kissing them, dancing with them, splashing back and forth and talking with them. But the truely memorable part is when you are literally swimming with them. At one point they had us, one at a time, float in the water with our feet hanging down and our arms out like we are a "T". Then two dolphins, one on each side, swim on either side of your and you hold on to the dorsal fins while they tow you along. Even better yet, and this one you have to watch our DVD to fully appreciate, they do a "Dolphin push". This one, you float on the water belly down and legs locked. Then two dolphins each put their nose in the balls of your feet and push you up! You are standing out of the water straight up in the air! No effort on your part other than to keep your legs straight. You would think you would have to balance or something? No. Just stand there as they carry you for about 25 yards. Awesome! Regard to say, we all had a great week in Mexico. If you could just take out the travel time and headaches, it would be perfect. I know for a fact we will be going back, so anyone who wants to go to Mexico keep us and Rick & Mandy in mind. We're game!

Christmas and the New Year

Here are some recent pictures of the kids. Here is Quinn on her new rocking chair. Kya is enjoying the latest and greatest Blues Clues on her new DVD player. As you can see, it didn't take Kya very long to get comfy with the DVD player. We had a great holiday season, they were busy as is expected, but this year Kya really got into the whole Christmas thing. Quinn made it her mission to find every last little piece of scotch tape and try to eat it. We did the family fun a.k.a. White Elephant present exchange at both Jen's moms and Mitch's mom's family gatherings. It is now confirmed Mitch is the worst White Elephant player ever! It is too long of a story to explain here, but let me just tell you this I have drawn #2 every time I have played!

Jen and I have had a very busy January gallivanting across the country traveling for work. For my work I have crammed a years worth of travel into one month, but I have to say spending an extended weekend in Redondo Beach, CA (LA) was very nice. Along with running on the "strand" by the ocean every day, I was able to catch up with a great friend of ours, Kit and see the town a little. Thanks Kit! This week has been interesting for us, this is the first time that we have both been away at the same time. Grandma "Nana" & Auntie Jaime took the duties for the four days we were both gone.

Quinn is growing up fast, as they all seem to. She just recently started to do Baby Signs. She can ask for milk, ask for "more" and say "all done". It seems like yesterday that her belly-button fell off. Kya is adjusting to being a big sister. She loves everything about it, from helping Quinn out and showing how to do stuff to tormenting her by simply holding onto her blanket so Quinn can't have it. I think this is in the 1st Child handbook... sound familiar Chad??? As you can see from the pictures, life it treating us very well. We have two fun, happy and healthy little ladies that enlighten our lives daily.

ATV Ride

A couple Sundays ago the weather was just too perfect to stay close to home, so I grabbed Kya and Jackson (my nephew) and we headed for the outdoors. We made our way south of town and found some open space to roam. Since they both loved to ride in the front we had to stop occasionally to switch them around. Don't worry we stayed on nice level land and I was sure to stay clear of any little cliffs or dramatic drop-offs. They had a great time and could hardly contain themselves when we were just getting started. They especially loved pointing out all the things we saw on the way out. We saw some really neat old barns, we saw some combines in action, we even saw some field on fire. They thought that was wild. One time we went over this really old iron bridge that had a max load of 6,000 lbs with the truck and they both were glued to their windows as we idled over it, looking at the small creek below. I took quite a few pictures and I'm sure Jen's new passion of scrapbooking will dedicate a page to "The ATV trip".

Pictures

Here are a couple pics for you to enjoy. The first on is of Jackson and Kya hanging out on my newly built shelves above the stairway in our garage. Brave little souls, don't ya think. The other is of Kya's pre-school project. She made some elephant ears and is more that happy to show them off.

From my phone, with irony.

Hey all, get this I forgot my computer at home. (I'm gone on a small business trip) So I am sitting here wondering about this blog and whether I can access it from my phone. Holy speezwaz Swenson, I can! Now I am sitting here in my hotel thumb typing away like crazy. My thumbs haven't gotten a workout like this since running circles around Chad's Vikings with Sweetness and the Bears on a tailback sweep on Tecmo Bowl. I know t has been a while since I have updated this blog, sorry. I hope everyone has enjoyed our perfect summer and fall, I have. Jennifer, Kya, Quinn & I have had a great summer at the lake, especially since Chad is the Big Cheese in Hankinson (where we have a Lake lot). It has been great having them so close, still wish there was more time for getting together. I am experiencing major thumb fatigue. Gotta go. I will be back!!! Mitch

Well hello there...

Well well well, Mr. Benson it is about time you come back and maintain your little blog. There I said it for you. Sorry it has been so long since I checked in. Crazy times. New job. Second child.

Synergistic. That is how I describe adding another child. It definitly is not 1+1. It somehow compounds the workload much more than that. And to think Chad and Kristy, along with some good friends of mine, Shawn and Gwendy, just added #4 to the mix. ZZZZZZZZZZZ I just took a quick 10 minute nap just thinking about it! Quinn has been such a blessing for us, she is a gem of a child. I have to admit the joy she steals from us between 10 pm and 6 am she makes up for the rest of the day. She may not sleep through the night, yet. But during the day she is one of the most smiley happy babies on Earth. Kya has taken to being a big sister well. She takes the roll seriously, regular picking just to let Quinn know who was here first. Just tonight while taking a bath with Quinn, Kya was "helping" out by washing Quinn up. She was doing a great job lathering up the pudgey one and then just because put a little heap of sudds on Quinns nose. A little more than would be a cute Kodak moment, just enough for Quinn to get annoyed. What can you do? She loves everything about being the big sister.

That's all I have for now. Don't be a stranger, I will be checking in sooner than you think. MAB

Quinn update

OK, what you are thinking is true. Quinn might just be the happiest baby on the planet. Here is a picture of her just hanging out on the floor and smiling away. She really has been a great baby, good sleeper and let me tell ya' a darn good eater! 99th percetile for both height and weight! She is content just hanging out and really loves to be held. She is infatuated with the Baby Einstein mobile we got from her Aunt Jaime and cousin Jackson. Quinn loves the outdoors, she just sits and watches the trees and clouds. Most of the time just being outside exhausts her, must be the fresh air. Her big sister is really great to her and loves helping out, her specialty is putting in the Nuk (pacifier). Quinn and her sister, Kya are spending much of the summer with their Aunt Jaime. Because Jaime is a school teacher with most of the summer off, she is taking Quinn for the summer and sometime Kya goes with too.

Crazy times

I hope to get some new Pics up of the kids very soon. We have been busy and it has been crazy for both Jen and I. I started my new job with Synthes Spine a little over a week ago, which means putting my nose in the books and spending quite a bit of time in the Cities. Jen goes back to work on Monday after being home with Quinn for 12 weeks, bitter sweet. Although, she is looking forward to going back to work, she is really enjoying time with Quinn and Kya. Quinn is a great baby, it won't be easy for her. Fortunatly, her sister Jaime is going to be watching Quinn for the summer while she is off from school. That is going to be great, I think Jaime is looking forward to it more than anyone, she is awesome with kids. I hope to have more pictures up before next week.

I can't stop!

Grasshopper walks into a bar.
Walks up to the bartender orders a drink.
Bartender says "we don't get many grasshoppers in here."
Grasshopper replies "and with these prices, you won't be gettin' many more."

Same bar...

Band saw walks into a bar.
Walks up to the bar, sits down next to a power sander and asks...
"You know the drill, right?"

Next day, same bar...

Neutron walks into the bar, orders a beer.
Bartender says, "for you, no charge!"

Same bar...

Termite walks into a bar, walks up and asks..."Is the bartender here?"

A different bar, a different grasshopper

Grasshopper walks into a bar
bartender says, "wow, you're a popular guy around here, we even have a drink named after you"
Grasshopper says "You've got a drink named Steve?"

A young man from Texas walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a drink. The bartender asks “Ya got any ID”? The Texan replies, “About what”?


Same bar...
A man walks into a bar witha slab of asphalt under his arm and says, "A beer please and one for the road."

Rene Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Beer?" Descartes replies, "I think not," and he disappears.

So, this tissue walks into a bar. Bartender says, "Can I pour you a drink?" Tissue says, "Heck no, it'll go right through me!" Bartender says, "Well, you don't have to get all snotty about it."

A guy and his pet newt walk into a bar. The bartender asks, "What's that thing on your shoulder?" The guy says, "Oh, well he's my pet. His name is Tiny." The bartender replies, "Why'd you name him that?" And the guy replies, "Because he's my newt!"

Duck waks into a bar...

Duck walks into a bar. Walks up to the bartender asks.."got any grapes?"

--No this is a bar, we don't have any grapes.

The duck sighs, looks down at his floppy feet and walks away disappointed.

Next day, same bar...

Duck walks into a bar. Walks up to the bartender asks.."got any grapes?"

--"No duck, I told you yesterday, we don't have any grapes."


Duck S i g h s, looks down at his floppy feet, and walks away disappointed.

Next day, same bar...

Duck walks into the bar, walks up to the bartender..."got any grapes?"

--"Look duck, I've told you we don't have any grapes. If you ask me again, I'm going to nail your beak to the bar."

The duck looks down. He's wounded, hurt...torn apart by the bartender's threat.

He looks down at his floppy feet, s i g h s, and then suddenly...a look of joy in his eyes he asks:

"Got any nails??"

--"Umm. No?"

"Got any grapes?

New Path

Not an easy decision, but I think it is one that will be great for me and our family. I recently accepted an position where I will be working for a company as a Sales Consultant for Neurosurgeon's doing spinal fusions. The company I will be working for is called Synthes Spine, and I will be starting the new position on May 30th. There will be quite a long transition time, so for that I will be spending some time in the cities. Along with that I will be responsible for the surgeons in Minot, Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks. I am leaving some very good people and a great company at Forest, I am very grateful very everything they have done for me and will miss them very much. I am very excited about this opportunity, and although it will be very challenging, I can hardly wait to get started.

Also, with Chad, Kristy and their family moving back to the area we are very much so looking forward to a great summer!

Chip Time is in... 3:56:38

As some of you noticed, there were quite a few times that didn't get reported right away. Apparently the company responsible for doing just that had some technical difficulties. That included my time, along with my running partner and a couple other runners I know. They have posted the accurate chip times and in today's Fargo Forum they reported the omitted runners, myself included. Thanks to all for the kind words and congratulatory messages.

3:58!

Here are the official results from the Fargo marathon. This doesn't include the chip time, which is time from when you cross the start line until you cross the finish line. It is from when the gun goes off, and because I was quite a ways back in the pack, my chip time should be a little better. My goal was to run it in 4 hours.

Mitch Benson
bib number: 751
age: 31
gender: M
location: Fargo, ND
overall place: 363 out of 972
division place: 43 out of 93
gender place: 294 out of 651
time: 3:58:13
pace: 9:06
10k: 54:58
13.1: 1:58:34
20 m: 3:01:11
last 10k: 55:25

Quinn is doing great!

Quinn was discharged from the hospital on Sunday afternoon after about 24 hours under the "Bili lights" and is doing great.

Quinn Update

Little Quinn has had to be admitted to the childrens hospital for the treatment of Jaundice. That nice coppertone that her skin has means that her bilirubin is elevated and she needs to have phototherapy. Nothing too dramatic, but she does need to spend time under lights that treat the elevated bilirubin. It is fairly routine treatment with 100% success, the only unknown is time, how long she will need to be under the lights. She will for sure be in the hospital until tomorrow. Sorry for all those that were hoping to see her today. :( Hopefully this will be a quick stay for her. Thanks to all for your thoughts and well-wishes.

Mitch

There is a new Sheriff in Town!

Thanks Uncle Kevin for the cowgirl gear... that's a real Stetson y'all!!!