Halloween

Halloween 2013 was warm and we had a house full of friends and family that came over to celebrate and go Trick-or-Treating. Benji has asked to be an alligator for two years now, but it is hard to find an alligator costume. So last year he decided to be a little Monster with Matthew. This year we found a dragon costume that I was calling an alligator costume until Edmund ruined it by saying alligators do not have wings :) Benji was fine with being a dragon anyway, he said they were cooler because they breathed fire and could fly. Matthew wanted to be ooh-ooh-eee-eee and I ordered a Curious George Costume that he refused to wear on Halloween day, so he walked the neighborhood in his dragon rain coat that Grandma bought him. So technically, the boys dressed alike again this year, neither time of my doing. Our Gabriel was the cutest little pirate you have ever seen, and bears a strong resemblance to Johnny Depp (my favorite) -take a look

Matthew's 2nd Birthday

Matthew wanted a ooh-ooh-eee-eee birthday party (Curious George Monkey) I didn't want anything too much, but I did want to make his day special and fun. So we kept it small and simple. A bounce house and a banana split bar and pizza. They had so much fun, stayed in the bounce house for hours. There was only one bump head incident at the very end, which was pretty good considering our crew. Matthew was a little sad when he woke up from his nap and the bounce house had been taken away :) He loved all of his gifts. A new bike from PaPa, bath toys from Grandma, a pirate ship tent from TaTa and crew, a build a car mechanic set from Benji. 

Benjamin's 4th Birthday

8/25/2013
4th birthday party was a sprinkler splash blast!
Benjamin's birthday was a success and we did not flood the backyard like Edmund said we would. We had a slip and slide, two splash pools, a fishing pond, a basketball shark and a big round bounce ball that the kids could get inside. We also had a bubble table and a water gun station (enjoyed maybe more by the "adult" kids of the group) The day was perfect, a little cloudy and not too hot. All our favorite friends were there, 12 kids in all. The homeade pinata was a success, I was not sure how that would go, but it worked. Benji received some awesome gifts and got most of the things on his list: Big boy legos(Aunt Susan and Grandma), a monster mutt monster truck (Papa and Nick), a remote control plane (Gramps), spiral bubble gum machine (Matthew), Playdoh construction trucks (Mama and Dada), Pen Book Reader (Grandma), and the piece de resistance, a fart blaster (Auntie CaCa).
Benji played all day, even after the kids were gone we went back out and splashed and played while Dada grilled outside. He said it was "the most awesome day" He was also loving the fact that his birthday was actually on the day before his birthday, so the next day he got another birthday! But then he wondered why he didn't get any more presents :-) Lots of giggling and smiling this day. Happy Birthday my big sweet boy!

Benji's First Day of Preschool

Monday, August 19th 2013

Benji's first day of Preschool. We found a school called Aunt Melinda's that we liked, Benjamin and I toured the classroom and that is when he got really excited and wanted to go to school. The classroom is divided into learning sections, and there were toys everywhere that he "didn't have at home" and they also had a "little kids computero" that sealed the deal- He told everyone about how his school has a computer just for kids. They also have a outside atrium area, Benji said "I can't beleive they have their own park!" The school is 5 days a week, 8:30-11:30. When I said I was going to miss him he said "it's ok MaMa, just remember, 5 days of school and 2 days of playing"

The first day went well, no melt downs (me or him) and the time went by quicker than we both thought it would. "That wasn't very long MaMa, now you know how long it will be so you won't miss me so much." I have been setting the alarm for Benji lately because he insists on getting up before Matthew so that he "can be awake when my baby wakes up so that he won't cry" Sometimes he will wake up and go lay next to Matthew for over 30 minutes before Matty wakes up, just laying there waiting for him to wake. On the morning of the first day of school the alarm went of and I asked if he wanted me to snooze it and he said "No way, I have to go to school today!"  His teachers name is Miss Karen, seems very nice with a side of no nonsense. I asked what they did the first day- "We watched a movie about letters, read books and sang songs, but we didn't do no learnin" And he said it was a lot of fun, plus they gave him a snack :-) He said that they play a game and when the bell rings once they have to clean up, and when the bell rings a second time you sit down in your circle and wait for the next game.

The only thing is the timing of it, Benji goes to school, then Matty naps when Benji comes home, so they are missing each other. Matthew walked around the first day with his hands out saying "Bubba, Bubba?" But they are also both getting one on one time which is really nice.

Growing up.....sigh

First day of school breakfast

First day of school wake up smile

Driving to school

Standing in front of his school

Sitting with his class

First day of school new toy



Easter 2013

Better late than never...... Easter 2013 was so great. Both Matty and Benji totaly "got" the whole eggie hunt thing. At first Matthew wasn't sure, but after a little help from MaMa, DaDa and Bubba- he was on a roll, running around and finding eggs everywhere. We then went to Auntie CaCa and Uncle Kirks house for an amazing brunch and some awesome news. Baby number two was on the way!! Here are some pictures of our day.

 Grandma and her big boy

 PaPa and his boys

 Mama and baby :-)

 Sisters (plus bambino)

 My Boys

 My Three Boys

 Easter Family Photo Time

Everyone is getting ready for the shot, instead of saying cheese, Kirk says "Erica's Pregnant!"



 Everyone is surprised (except for the dogs)

Everyone finially gets the "joke"

 Mom might be a little excited

 Chocolate eggies anyone?

 Mouth was full the entire day

 Second eggie hunt of the day

 He's got it down now!

 Cheese

Happy Easter!!