=-)

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.

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.

Further Funnies

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

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

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.