Sunday, June 14, 2015

Benjamin's 3!!

What a fun day celebrating our favorite little dude turning three today!
 
Here are some fun facts about our little Benny Boo Boo...
 
He loves anything BOY-ish...running, jumping, climbing, making noise, anything with wheels, super heroes, making messes, dinosaurs, etc.
He can't sleep without his special blankie with his name on it and his little brown puppy, "Puppy." I pray we never lose either one.
He would live on granola bars and fruit snacks if we let him.
He loves Paw Patrol. LOVES. Paw Patrol.
He hates going to bed and most nights doesn't make bedtime any fun for any of us.
He would rather be outside.
He gives the best hugs.
He tells me on an almost daily basis "you're the best mama ever!" Heart = melt.
He's particular and likes things just-so. If something's in his room at bedtime that isn't supposed to be there, it's gotta go. When we're I'm picking up and something doesn't get put away in the right place, he moves it. {Which just gave me an idea...maybe I should start putting things away in the wrong place on purpose to get him to help me pick up more. Hmm...}
He's a picky eater.
He loves going for walks and bike rides.
He can't wait to go to preschool at the Y in the Fall.
He still has very little interest in potty training...which is going to make going to preschool a little interesting. But, I'm not pushing. He knows how to go and he knows when he needs to go, he's just stubborn. It's gotta be on his terms.
He wants mama to do everything..."No, daddy! I want mama do it!"
He knows the lyrics to a lot of the songs that come on the radio and always sings along with me in the car. It's hilarious listening to him sing Maroon 5 and Meghan Trainor.
He has the cutest dimples, a laugh that is seriously contagious and the best smile.
He wears a 3T and weighs about 26lbs...I think.
He loves the water and loves our new boat.
He loves going to the Y and always asks if Miss Cathy and his friends will be there.
He wants to help me with everything...cooking, cleaning, laundry, weeding, watering. He's my little shadow...when he's not sneaking off to get into mischief.
He loves bugging his sissy and knows how to push her buttons just right.
He  loves playing with his sissy and her Barbies.
He talks about his cousins and Grandma and Papa in WA every day. He misses them a lot.
 
I could keep going but, you get the picture. He's a sweet little stinker that keeps me on my toes and has given me more gray hairs in his 3 short years than his sister has in her 7 1/2.
Even so...we seriously love this little guy.
The struggles we went through in the 4 years before he was born were the hardest years of my life. They were hard on my body, hard on my emotions, hard on my marriage. But, our little Ben was worth every bit of the pain and heartache. Seeing his sweet, smiling face is a reminder of everything we gained, despite our loss. We love him more than words and I will forever be grateful that I got to be his mama.
 
I'll leave you with a few pics of the birthday boy at his Paw Patrol birthday party today!
 









 

Friday, January 30, 2015

Christmas Tree Hunting


How fun is it to go out your own property and cut down a Christmas tree?!
It's the best!
We've always cut our own tree from a tree farm but this year we actually got to pick one straight from Matt's family property.
We packed an overnight bag and hit the road, driving about 2 hours North to Amberg, where we picked a tree, sipped hot cocoa, went out for a Friday night fish fry and enjoyed the snow and family time.
This is definitely a tradition that I'm looking forward to repeating next year!
 
Taylor took Grandma Nettie for a little walk thru the woods...

the kiddos with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Nettie
 
Don't let that sweet face fool you... ;) 

Posing...she's a natural. :)

We even managed to get our Christmas card picture while we were there!
 
This is definitely one of my favorite family photos. <3
 
Stay tuned...I'm going to try really hard to get caught up! XO
 

SEVEN!!

{I'm not sure what happened here but, this is obviously a very late post...one that I thought posted back in October! I'm posting it now anyway, even though it's long past-due.}
 

My baby girl is officially 7.
It's not like I didn't know it was coming, but it's kinda throwing me for a loop.
Why does she seem so much older than she did last week?
Why does 7 feel so much more grown-up than 6?
 
*sigh*
 
Although her birthday has given me a bit to ponder about the warp speed at which life seems to pass us by, we did have a fantastic weekend celebrating our sweet girl...starting with a big birthday surprise on Saturday morning!
 
 
She was so sure there was a Barbie house waiting for her downstairs, but has since stated that her Grandma and Papa was a much better surprise than any old Barbie house!
 
We spent Saturday catching up and getting ready for her party that evening...a pajama party with breakfast for dinner! It was a lot of fun with a group of girls more wild than I've ever seen {or had in my house} and she got some really great birthday gifts to top it off...her favorite being a rainbow loom that she's been wanting for-e-ver!

 
We had cinnamon roll birthday "cake" and a wonderful time was had by all!

 


 
 We spent the rest of the weekend and a few days after enjoying my parents' visit and let me tell you...it was wonderful having them here! After having them in our home for 4 days, it sure was hard to see them go, though...





Happiest of Birthdays, my sweet baby girl!
May your 7th year be better than the last and bring you all kinds of fun and adventure!

We love you!!!
XO