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!

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?

=-)

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!