Saturday, December 31, 2011

More funny quotes from the boys...

Christmas Day...
Even at 3:30am (and with a fever) Benjamin is still our funny little guy:
Ben: Mom?
Me: Yes?
Ben: I didn't see any coal for Jack.

(upon opening his rolls of tape from Santa)
Ben: Mom! Dreams DO come true!

Also...
Ben: I'm very impressed with this Christmas!

Dec. 26th

Ben: (holding a piece of tape) Mom, this is in case your arm falls off. If your arm falls off, just tape it back on.

Dec. 27th

Jack: are we going to little rock to sleep?
Me: yes, we're going to Mimama's.
Jack: Okay! Okay, Captain!
Me: Jack, you're cute!
Jack: Yes, I AM!

Dec. 31st

Jack: Mommy, you're my friend. And I love you!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Festivities and Funnies



Ben: Mom, where's my gift?
Me: What gift?
Ben: Well it's gift day isn't it?



Ben's dictated letter to Santa:

Dear Santa,

I want to see your house because I don't know what it looks like so I want to at least visit.

I really love you but next time I want to go with you on your sleigh because I really want to know what it looks like and I really like you and I love you so much as a giant.

And for Christmas I want 10 rolls of tape.

Love,

Benjamin




Ben: Mom, the sun is my friend and I DO NOT want him to ever die.
Me: Why would the sun die?
Ben: No honey, I'm talking about I DON'T want him to die.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

An evening in the life...

Jack getting out of bed for the 12th time:
Me: What do you need now, Jack?
Jack: Wellllll... I need go pee again.

14th time:
Me: Yes?
Jack: I have a hair in my mouth and I can't get it out.

16th time:
Me: silence. eyebrow raised.
Jack: I need my water.

20th time:
Me: WHAT?
Jack: Well Mommy, I just want to give you hug and a kiff.

=-) That boy knows how to get out of trouble. Cute mispronunciations and all.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

While explaining to Ben what the warning picture was on the bottom of the blinds:
Ben: What happens when blinds fall on you? Does your brain fall out?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Hooray for Fall!

Yesterday while we were all outside I was swinging Emma in her little bucket seat swing while Ben was going sky-high on his regular one. He asked if he could push Emma and I said "Okay, just not too high, alright?". He said "Okay. Tell me when you get nervous." =-)

We had our first Parent Teacher conference at Ben's school this week. Mrs. Pruett said he is very smart, and he "cracks her up". As suspected, he just needs a little more focus to get his "work" done without help from the teacher or a helper. I think he will easily meet his goals for the year and am glad we went ahead and put him in kindergarten this year.

We started HIPPY home preschool this week for the boys. Jack is so excited to be doing "school" now. On the way home from picking Ben up from school yesterday, Jack said "Guess what Ben?! I did homework like you have!"

Jack woke up with hives this week and I took him to the Doctor. He suspects it is from a big bug bite on Jack's back. It was really scary looking and I was afraid it was chicken pox, even though he has been vaccinated against that. Will try to upload a picture to include. No idea what bug it was.

Emma is quite the shoe girl these days. As soon as she wakes up she makes motions toward her shoes until we give her the pair she wants and then we have to put them on her. She doesn't like not being able to take a nap with them, so we sometimes have to take them off and just put them in the crib with her. I remember my Mom telling a story about me that I had to sleep with my Buster Brown red shoes. Like mother like daughter I guess! She is also talking up a storm. I'm pretty sure she is actually trying to convey meaning. Just wish I could understand what she means.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Ben: "When I get bigger and I die, don't throw me in the trash."

Saturday, September 17, 2011

As Rob was putting some screws in the cabinet hardware/doors...
Ben: (holding a screw) I'm helping screw things up!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Overheard from back seat on way home from dropping Ben at school:
Jack: This little piggy went to market. This little piggy went to Walmart.

...Then later, an altered version of London Bridge Is Falling Down:
Jack: Take the key and lock Mommy up, lock Mommy up, lock Mommy up...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Everyday Stuff

The other day I was drawing a bath for Emma. She was at the gate "complaining" because she wanted to come in, so I opened the gate. She came in, went behind the door and got the bath mat that I put in the tub to keep the kids from slipping and handed it to me. =-) She's doing great walking now. She actually looks like she's practicing - just walking until she has to stop and then turns around and goes back the way she came.

Yesterday morning Jack was talking up a storm. In the midst of everything (about breakfast, making toast, etc.) he said "when we were at Memo's house it was dark. Daddy said the earth was spinning". Hard to believe he just turned 3!

Ben seems to like school. He has been hard to wake up the past 2 mornings, so I'm going to try putting them both to bed at 8pm tonight. I'll just do like I do at Mom's house and lie in there with them until they are asleep.

Today I got smart and brought several books with us to pick up Ben. We usually have to sit in line and wait about 15 minutes, so I just read to Jack and Emma while we waited and that helped pass the time and prevented any major melt-downs.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Kindergarten!

Today Benjamin started his first day of school. He is in Mrs. Pruett's class at Prairie Grove Primary School. We took him to orientation last week, so he had already seen his classroom and met his teacher and some of the other kids in his class. On the first day of school, they allow the parents to walk the kids to their classrooms, but Ben said he wanted to do it himself, so I dropped him off at the door and a nice lady (employee) took him inside and got him to the right spot.

Here is the proud boy with his Sponge Bob backpack and lunchbox:




Birthday Boys

Saturday, August 6th we had a pool party for Ben and Jack to celebrate their 5th and 3rd birthdays. Unfortunately Rob was in Little Rock but we got some good pictures!

Ben and his friend Ivy.

Ben with his friend Brayden from preschool and Uncle Matt.

Christi and Mommy with Emma and Jack.

Jack and the new kick board Eric and Christi got him.

The boys getting ready to blow out their candles while Brendon (left) and cousin Havyn (right) look on.


We also had the kids "fish" for party favors. Thanks to Uncle Eric for "hooking" the prizes onto the ends of the fishing poles.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

She Walks!

Emma walked out of the boy's bedroom and half way across the living room today! Before this she has only ever taken 4 steps max. I think we can officially call this walking now!

Monday, August 1, 2011

August... Finally!

Friday, July 29th

Jack (comes inside crying): Mom, Ben spray water in my face!
Me: I'll bet he didn't do it on purpose honey. Here let's dry you off.
Jack: No! I want you yell at him!

______________________________

Emma is walking a couple of steps here and there, but lately she has been walking around on her knees a lot. The weekend before last we were down in Little Rock to visit with Memo who has been in and out of the hospital lately. Rob's cousins from California were there and Graham was playing peek-a-boo with Emma. She is now doing that a lot either with her hands or her blanket. Speaking of her blanket - she seems to have chosen that to attach to instead of her lamb or her bunny which she throws out of her crib. =-) She can also now point to her nose, mouth and teeth if you ask her to.

Jack has been waking up a lot lately. The paci fairy came and left him a toy for giving up his pacis, but he found a teething chew thing and has adopted that as his paci.

Ben finished his last day of preschool last Thursday. It was sad to say goodbye to his teachers (for me, if not for Ben). I love that place! Hopefully Jack can go next year. We got a letter from Prairie Grove Primary that Ben's kindergarten teacher will be Mrs. Pruett. Orientation is the 8th of August. Ben got a new Spongebob lunchbox for his birthday, and we have a Spongebob backpack on order that should be coming in this week. This weekend is tax free shopping for back to school so we can get school supplies and a few outfits.

It's still hot, and getting hotter. High of 104 today. C'mon fall!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

How Ben Gets Out Of Trouble:

Me: Do not get out of your seat until you're finished eating. Repeat that to me please.
Ben: Do not get out of your seat until you're finished eating.
Me: Good. Thank you.
Ben: But can I hug you?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

=-)

While I was lying on the couch with my eyes closed...
Ben: It's okay Emma, Mommy's not dead.
Ben: I want Iloveya yogurt.
Me: You mean Activia yogurt?
Ben: Yeah, they have it at Harps.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

More! More!

Ben: Look! They're building a Chick-Fil-A.
Me: No, that's going to be a church, remember?
Ben: Well, there's a sign that says "This is not going to be a church, this is going to be a Chick-Fil-A". I saw it.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Further Funnies

Ben: My feet hurt.
Me: Then stop walking around and go to sleep.
Ben: I need a wheelchair.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Benjamin

Still can't believe our 1st born is about to start kindergarten!!! Here is Ben's update:
  • Ben graduated from home preschool in May (see picture below). They have a 5 year old program for kids who are in kindergarten and we will continue with that and maybe save the assignments until summer.
  • He does not like being the center of attention from strangers, so he usually does not smile for pictures.
  • Ben got regular preschool pictures taken and DID smile. He said the photographer said "say stinky feet"!
  • For awhile he loved riding his new bike that I found him at a garage sale for $5.00. The training wheels cost $10.00. lol Gigi and Grandpa bought him a helmet too! Then it got hot (VERY hot) all of a sudden and he doesn't like to go outside much anymore.
  • I found my old rubber broom in the laundry room and then Ben wanted to play with it. He pretended it was a gate, an antenna, etc. and then used the word "detect" in regard to the sweeper (something like "I use this to detect things").
  • I bought a wool duster at Walmart and Ben got very excited and went around dusting everything. I then bought him a .97 cent feather duster which he has been playing with a lot. He's very creative about his "inventions".
  • Not sure if I mentioned it before, but I learned that Ben can write his name. He came home with a little butterfly book they had made in preschool and he pointed out that he wrote "Ben" in yellow crayon on the back of one of the pages.
  • He is often singing a song he heard at preschool or one he makes up about whatever he is doing.
  • Ben does not like to make his bed or brush his teeth, but he will get dressed and always put on his own shoes. He will also pick up 5 toys - a new rule before bed time.
  • Unfortunately the Dentist says he has 2 cavities - one in each 2nd molar on the top. He is scheduled to have fillings put in June 30th. I remain dubious and wish he didn't have to go through that. But I read that they don't loose those teeth until around age 12, so I suppose it is best.
Funnies:
Ben just called the fly swatter a "fly slapper", then he called it a "fly swapper".
Ben: (while pretending to cut my hair) God paints your hair.
Me: God paints your hair?
Ben: (chuckling) Yeah, I just learned that.
Me: Where did you learn that?
Ben: In the Bible.

Pictures!

Home preschool graduation (Ben in red jacket)
Ben requested I take this picture.
Ben made a "car" out of his cheese and crackers, so again I had to take a picture.
Not sure why he's in a box, but I had to snap a pic!
The artist and his work - chalk all over the door and frame. Well, it DOES kinda look like a chalk board, right?

Jack

Jack has gone from only saying single words, to having full blown conversations. Here is his recap of the last few months:
  • If we forget to put socks on him at nap time or bed time we hear him get up and open his drawer and get some out then climb back in bed and put them on.
  • He likes to watch Polar Express or Wall-E (on a 1/2 hour timer) before going to sleep. We've had to stop doing that though because when the timer shuts off the TV he would get up and turn it back on and it was keeping him awake. We now have to unplug the TV.
  • He is now going to the bathroom 2 or 3 times per day on his own. We just have to watch him with the toilet paper. He likes to just throw pieces in the toilet.
  • He loves playing with his sand and water table (which has just got water in it). He will use all sorts of different containers and pour the water back and forth for hours.
  • He loves to read books and if I'm busy, he will get some out and look at them and tell the stories to himself. One of their favorites is "Snip Snap, What's That?" about an alligator.
  • He has often helped me with the laundry by gathering it up and taking it into the laundry room, putting it in and then turn the dial and push the "start" button! He will also help me wash windows, dust and pick up toys.
  • When he gets mad or frustrated he stomps around roaring like a lion and will say "I not Jackie, I LION!"
  • When I'm putting Emma in her car seat, he will grab my arm and hug it and say "I love you Mommy!"
  • He hates getting his hair washed in the tub. We have started going to the local pool, so the boys are both getting used to being in the water. Hopefully it won't be long until they are getting their hair and faces wet there.
  • Jack also likes Pinky Dinky Doo, Curious George, Avatar, and Francis (all from Netflix except Curious George).
  • When going over the alphabet flash cards, Jack saw the M and said "Mommy, see that? That for McDonalds!"
Funny saying from yesterday:
Jack: Hi Mommy! Pain in the butt!
Me: "Pain in the butt" is not a nice thing to say.
Jack: I pain in the butt, you pain in the butt, everybody pain in the butt!
Ben: Everybody is a pain in the butt. Except boys.
Pictures!

Easter


Riding a broom pretending it's a horse


You'll have to click on the image to see his expression better. He is sometimes not very happy when his little sister is too noisy and wakes him up.


The boys liked their new pool - but only to get water to put in their water table.


Everybody pile on Mommy!

Emma

A lot has happened with Emma over the past few months. Here is a quick run-down:
  • She now has 9 teeth - 3 on the bottom, 6 on the top including both of her 1st molars! I think she is working on the bottom 1st molars now.
  • She is now pulling up on everything, standing without holding on to anything, cruising the furniture and loves to hold on to our fingers and walk.
  • She will point to things and say "da?" and when you name whatever it is she giggles.
  • She will give me a kiss and then pat me on the shoulder.
  • She can roll balls and cars back and forth and loves the boy's Thomas the train cars.
  • She likes to pull everything out of the recycling bin and put the lids back on the jars and containers.
  • If you give her a Kleenex or paper towel, she will proceed to pretend to clean something - like a window, or me. =-)
  • If you hand her a comb, she will comb her hair, and she also likes to brush her teeth. In fact, she does NOT like to give up the toothbrush and will cry if you take it away.
  • She loves writing with the boy's Magnadoodle and one day at Walmart she pulled an old receipt out of my purse and grabbed the pen out of my hand and started writing.
  • Her favorite shows are Curious George (she will dance to the theme song), Pinky Dinky Doo, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
  • Her first words: Dada, Mama (rarely), that (da), hi, hot. She will also make a ticking noise when she points to the clock.
Pictures!

Easter




Playing with the recycling


Trying to get into the drawer in the kitchen


Ben requested this picture

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Emma's 1st Birthday

We had a small party at our house with family. Pink polka dots was the theme in case you can't tell...
Here's the birthday girl sporting her special birthday outfit (bought by Mimama)!




Lots of polka dot packages!


Emma loves her new books!



Catching Up - Emma's 1 Year Photos

Miss Emma turned 1 on March 26th, and just prior to that Aimee came over and took pictures. They turned out EXCELLENT of course! They were taken in our front yard and on our front porch.







Thursday, May 5, 2011

He he

Ben: My knees are very strong, but I can't stand on my head yet.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

More Conversations...

The other night while putting Jack to bed:
Jack: Mommy, I luh you toooow mush!
=-)

Today
Ben: When I get big, I want to do Science.
Me: That's great. I think you'll be really good at it.
Ben: But I don't like money.
Me: You don't like money? Why not?
Ben: Well I just want to help people. I don't want money.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Quick Note...

Emma's 3rd tooth: March 29th (bottom left lateral)

Also, as of today, April 13th we are officially saying Emma is crawling. She has been crawling a little bit here and there, but she is going in longer stretches now.

Jack and Emma seem to have colds, or else we all just have really bad allergies. Ben has it too but is refusing medicine, so he must not be that bad.

Registering Ben for kindergarten tomorrow!

Jack's expressions lately: "Oh Man", "Oh Boy", "Oh Lord", "Of Course", "Not Exactly".

Friday, April 8, 2011

On Dogs...

Ben: Could I hug dogs?
Me: It depends on what their owners say and if they're friendly.
Ben: If they're not friendly, I will bring them in the house and take their blood pressure.
Me: And what will that do?
Ben: That wiiiiillllll... give them more blood. And then I could hug them.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Silliness

Jack put one of the little toy basket things on his head.
Me: Oooh, that's a nice hat!
Jack: No. I robot!
(takes toy crate off his head)
Jack: Hi Mommy!
Me: Hi robot boy!
Jack: Noooooo, I Jackie!
Ben: Mommy, will you get my food ready?
Me: Yes, honey. As soon as I finish cutting Jack's fingernails.
Ben: You've got to be kiddin' me.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

More Funny Ben

Ben: That tastes kinda grahamin.
Me: Grahamin?
Ben: Yeah. GRAHMin.
Me: What does that mean?
Ben: It means I kinda like it, but I kinda don't. Isn't that a funny name?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Ben: I'm a Doctor. Let me take a look at your back.
(pats my back). Mmm Hmmm. It's damaged. That means you're old.
----------
Ben: Mommy, Emma scratched me.
Me: Sorry honey. I don't think she means to scratch you.
Ben: Maybe she wants me to die.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

And it begins... Jack's funny sayings

This morning:

Jack: Where Ben goin' Mommy?
Me: To school.
Jack: Ooooooooh.
Rob: Where is Daddy going?
Jack: Ummmmmmmmm... That way! (points outside)
Last night:
Ben: (bounces ball loudly in living room)
Jack: (from bedroom) I tryin' to seep Ben!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Funny Things Ben Says

After Gigi and Grandpa left today:
Ben: I'll never see them again.
Me: Ben please stop saying that. You know I don't like it when you say that.
Ben: But Mommy, when I say "I'll never see them again" it means "I'll see them in 2 weeks". It's Spanish!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Now About The Kids...

Miss Emma



Our little sweetheart turned 10 months old in January. Still no crawling, but she is eating Cheerios and crackers, and sometimes drinks watered-down juice from a sippy cup. Still no 'real' food because she seems to get frustrated when something doesn't dissolve in her mouth and we have to fish it out so she'll quit fussing.

She sleeps on her stomach a lot and Rob has been working with her on "tummy time" so she'll build the strength to start crawling. She's sleeping very well - usually 8 to 12 hours at night. She also started clapping recently. No pulling up on anything. She seems very content to sit on the floor and play with whatever is in reach - which in our house is a lot!


Emma's curl sometimes lies flat and hangs down her forehead, so I've started clipping her hair up with a bow.

Benjamin seems to like preschool, although we have missed several days with the snow closing schools. We are still working on the HIPPY home preschool as well and I'm impressed that he is so smart! The other day he drew this on his Magna Doodle, so I snapped a quick picture before someone erased it:



As usual, he is really smart with how things work and are put together as well. He has figured out that the plastic eyepiece from his spy glass, when hooked onto other things will allow them to be hung from the nails on his wall. Speaking of hanging things, he has been putting everything from teddy bears to shopping carts up there on his wall!

He seems to be getting smarter and smarter, even about social things. He is still saying funny things, but he's making a lot of interesting observations as well.


Jack's speech and vocabulary are getting better. I had started teaching him sign language, but now find that I can understand him pretty well. He's starting to string several words together and make sentences as well.



He loves to do everything himself, from taking his diaper off, to getting dressed, to putting the lid on his sippy cup, etc. The other morning he made toast almost by himself - including spreading the butter on!

He is still occasionally asking to go potty, but for the most part he is not ready for potty training. I tried one day but he doesn't seem to notice or care when he's wet so we'll wait a bit longer.

At night before I put him to bed, he brushes his own teeth and then we sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" together and sometimes "Rock A Bye Baby".

He also loves to blow kisses and now we can't get him to give anybody a real kiss at bedtime.

Also, just discovered he can count to 5!


Ben asked Jack if he wanted to come sit on his lap, then started telling him he had boney legs.


We had a fantastic 70 degree weather day in between snows, so the boys got to picnic outside.


Daredevil stunts on their bikes when they were still inside.





Post-Christmas Post - Part II: Snow!


January 10th - snow!


January 20th - more snow!


February 2nd - sooo much snow!





Jack enjoyed playing outside after the snow stopped and the sun came out and warmed things up a little bit. He LOVES the boots he inherited from Ben and good thing too because the February snow covered them. He also enjoyed helping me build a snowman.

Ben enjoyed riding around on the 4-wheeler in the snow with Daddy (as did Jack) and being pulled on the sled. We also ran around and made tracks in the new snow as much as we could 'cause that's just fun!

The boys also enjoyed digging out their bikes/vehicles and trying to ride them around in the snow.

As I type this we are getting rain, but the forecast is calling for more snow on Wednesday.

Long Overdue Post - Part I

This one is supposed to be about Christmas, but it's already February and my mind is not as sprightly as it once was, so I've forgotten a lot unfortunately. Pressing on though...

Took a quick trip up to Branson to visit Gigi and Grandpa. Got to see Mrs. Claus and Santa himself walking through the shops as we went to have lunch before heading home. Mrs. Claus gave Ben and Jack candy canes.

Another trip down to Little Rock after Christmas to see Mimama and G-Daddy. The kids were thoroughly spoiled this year! Luckily, they are sweet kids and were not turned rotten by it. =-)


The tree and gifts before the kids got to everything.


Emma got a special pewter baby cup with her name and birth date on it.


Mommy designed and sewed a special comforter for Emma too.


Ben LOVES his metronome and Jack LOVES his kitchen playset!


The kids also got lots of books in December and for Christmas, and Mommy has been stopping at the children's library a lot and getting new books to read.


Colder weather means keeping the kids occupied inside. The boys love playing in the water in the kitchen sink.

On to January...