Ben's Birthday Celebrations!

Ben was so excited for his Birthday Party...which we had at the ever-popular...PETER PIPER PIZZA! We had the party the day before Ben' Birthday. Do you think he was excited?? Of course in all the craziness, I didn't get a group shot...this is as close as I got to one...everyone eating pizza.

Sammy and Ben playing air hockey

Ben, Pete, and Nate riding on the carousel (Nate loved this thing)

Ben won all these tickets in one game...he was very proud of himself!

Time for cake! I was really mad about the cake...it was supposed to be a SPEED RACER CAKE! Benson went and picked it up and brought it to the party and when we opened the box it was Lightening McQueen...NOT SPEED RACER...HUGE difference!

On Ben's REAL Birthday...we spent the morning at the park and it was so, so cold! But, we had fun anyway.

Then we met Benson at the "Breakfast Store" (Crackers & Co) for lunch! Ben was so excited when they brought him out this cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to him! Nate was so mad that it wasn't his Birthday...after this picture was taken he ran and grabbed Ben's candle and held it in his hand and sung "Happy Birthday to Nate"...it was really funny and I wanted to take a picture but I was too busy ignoring him so he wouldn't ruin Ben's special day!

After lunch I took Ben to school and spent the afternoon with him there. He really wanted to bring he "favorite sandwich" to share with his class for a Birthday treat...an ICE CREAM sandwich! Funny kid!

For dinner, Ben picked to have chocolate chip pancakes with coconut syrup! Benson's family tradition for Birthdays is you get a bunny rabbit pancake for your Birthday...my kids love this tradition.

After dinner Ben got his NEW bike...he really wanted a "motorcycle bike" but has since decided it was too big for him and he wanted a new bike (I'll have to post a pic of that one later)!

We ended the day with cake and ice cream...Benson made Ben a motorcycle cake! My stomach hurt by the end of the day...we had eaten so much junk! But, that is what Ben likes!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Happy 5th Birthday Ben!

Today Ben turns 5 years old! I can't believe it! This picture was taken the day we brought him home from the hospital and it feels like yesterday!

Ben was the sweetest baby and was always a good sleeper. He still to this day sleeps with this blanket and bear every night!

Ben LOVES Sammy! And is always wanting to be like her!

Ben also loves being a big brother to Nate...he is such a good example to him and has the sweetest heart! He seriously CAN'T WAIT to meet his new baby sister!

In this picture Ben is 3 years old...this is his 1st day of preschool and he LOVES to go to school!

Ben loves to play any sport and is very athletic and fast!

Ben shares a Birthday with my Dad and his Twin Brother...this picture was taken on Ben's 1st Birthday! Happy Birthday Dad and Uncle Dave!

Ben really is a sweet boy and my sister Reagan calls him "the future Student Body President" because everybody LOVES him!

Ben is really into...Star Wars (especially Lightsabers), Legos, cars, MOTORCYLCES, running, sports, pretty much anything that makes loud noises and goes FAST!

He loves to take care of his mom by getting drinks and helping me do things around the house.

Ben is really thoughtful...he always asks Benson at dinner "Dad, how was work?" or when I go for a walk in the evenings with friends the next morning he will ask me how my walk was. He is very thoughtful when he buys gifts for people. He bought Benson a keychain for Christmas that says #1 Dad on it and said "Dad, you didn't have a keychain and now you do" I thought it was so cute that he noticed Benson didn't have a keychain and bought one for him!

Some of Ben's favorite things on his 5th Birthday are..

Food: I would have to say Fruit Loops or any kind of cereal
Drink: Root beer
Song: "Do as I'm Doing" to sing but "Ring of Fire" to listen to
Activity: riding his bike
Game: Uno or Connect 4
Friend: Brendan

We love you Ben! Happy Birthday!

Is it really JANUARY???

So its been a little "cold" this week...but last week...it felt like SPRING! We have loved playing outside and enjoying the weather! Last weekend we swapped babysitting with some friends and did date night (seriously, the best thing ever). On Saturday, the kids were at our house and we had a picnic dinner and played outside FOREVER....on the swing set, T-ball, hide-n-seek...great times!!

Ben has been dying to go and fly his kite and waiting for any chance of wind...the other day it was kinda windy and we decided to head to the park to fly the kite! The kids, of course, loved it even though it didn't fly too much!

(sorry that some of the pictures are blurry...I'm still trying to figure out my camera!)

Nate's New Toy!!

Nate has been working on potty training...let's just say we are in phase 1 of potty training! I have been telling him that if he goes poop on the potty (TMI??) that he could go and pick out any toy he wanted at the store (actually, if you must know...I have told him several things including $100 if he would poop on the potty)! Anyway, this week he actually pooped! Success! So, we went to the store and imagine Nate's excitement went he found this toy...combining his two favorite things...play-doh and noodles... (seriously, this kid is OBSESSED with noodles)!

The boys had so much fun playing with the spaghetti factory and they even finished off the morning with Nate's favorite lunch...NOODLES!

Now, if I could just get him to go poop on the potty again!!!

Real or Fake?

Ben is SUPER excited about having a new baby! Of all my kids he is always asking me how I feel, reminding me not to lay on my back, telling me to put my feet up...etc. And he LOVES to lay next to me and feel for the baby to kick! He always tells me that he can feel her and that she talks to him and he has even said that he can smell her and she "smells like lotion". Today, he had his hand on my belly and the baby did a kick which was obviously the first time he could really feel her... "Mom, I can feel her! That was AWESOME!" Then he says, "I think she is real" and he runs off yelling "SAMMY THE BABY IS REAL...SHE IS NOT FAKE!" What? Did he think I was lying to him this whole time...I guess it is hard for kids to understand that there really is a baby in mom's tummy! Too funny!

Best 27 cents EVER!

Why do I always forget about McDonalds kids cones? I seriously think they are so great! I was at Walmart the other day and let's just say I was losing Nate's patience with me quickly! We walked past McDonalds and I bought him a 27 cent cone and I made his whole life...he was so excited about his ice cream cone! Man, kids are easy to please!

Speaking of ice cream...have I mentioned my love for a DQ chocolate dipped cone?? Its my favorite! I just learned that you can get a DOUBLE dipped cone from DQ..isn't that the most amazing news??? My sister, Erin, told me about it and I had to run right out and try it...they didn't even charge me extra!

PRIVATE!

I have decided to make my blog private! I really have been wanting to do this for some time and just kept delaying it. If you want an invite please leave me a comment with your email address (I moderated my comments so your email address won't be published on my blog I will be the only one to see it)! Even if I don't really "know" you...your my friends cousins neighbor or whatever...I'm fine with it. I totally blog stalk people I don't know so I am cool with you blog stalking me....just as long as you aren't some CRAZY person :)!

Globetrotters Game

Today Benson and I took Samantha on a "date" to the Globetrotters game! The game was pretty fun...although not what I expected for some reason and they did some pretty cool tricks...

Sammy was so excited to be there and the real reason we went is because her dance group was performing during half time...

This was my view...Sammy was on the whole other side and I could only seem them from behind...oh well!

I tried to zoom in...(she is in the middle)

Again she is in the middle...

After her performance she was so excited that so many people cheered for her and she felt "like a rock star"! Unfortunately, she fell on the way to the game so her knee was hurting her really bad, her tights ripped, I forgot her earrings and the diamonds on her belt were falling off! Ugh, sometimes I can't pull it together! Oh well..she still looked cute and did a good job :)

Since she was our only kid and she was hurt she was able to ride on Benson's shoulders the whole time...she loved all the attention she got! We took her out to dinner after and let her pick wherever she wanted to go...her only request was that she could get dessert!! She picked Texas Roadhouse (because she likes to throw the peanuts on the floor) and she got a brownie for dessert even though she didn't eat all her dinner...her dad even bought her a mermaid balloon animal!! She was in heaven and loved having a date with mom and dad!

Nate Starts Preschool!!!

On Wednesday, Nate started PRESCHOOL!!! I can't believe it...first Sunbeams and then this?? He was super excited to go to school and told me "bye mom" all morning and wore his backpack all week long, just in case.... He loved wearing his backpack and getting to go to school "like Ben"!

Right about the time this picture was taken....Nate realized that going to school "like Ben" and going to school "with Ben" (I am pretty sure he thought Ben was going to be in his class) were two different things! Nate lost it...crying, clinging to my leg, screaming "I need my mommy"! The teacher grabbed him and went inside. I knew he would be fine and love it, but I have to admit...I felt a little bit better about myself that he was a little sad to leave me in the end! Luckily, when I picked him up he was all smiles and told me he "ate snow"...his teacher is AMAZING! They are studying snow and weather and they ate snow cones and made sleds! We celebrated the first day by getting ice cream at Coldstone!

Dropping him off on day 2 was much better...he said "see you later" and blew me a kiss. Nate was the "door holder" for his class. I don't think he understood the concept but he loved greeting everyone on the way in the door!

And today...Nate rode the bus to school!! He was so excited!

As for me, for the first time in almost 7 years I have some ALONE time!! I have no kids in the afternoon (for a couple months)...I am so excited and a little lost! Nate starting school is definitley bitter sweet!!