Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sticker Time





What's better than a page full of stickers? Stickers on your face!! Ah, here's a better question...what's better than stickers on your face? A Grandma that lets you sticks stickers on HER face!! We love our Grandma and she is always such a good sport. She's so much fun and we can't wait to have her over to our house again!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Snugglebugs




Just a quick couple of pics of my sweeties. I just want to hop in between them and snuggle until I can't snuggle anymore. I can't think of a better place some days...in between the two kids I love most in this world. What a blessed mommy I am.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Ella the Artist


Ella




Ben



Dad



Mom







Ella was outside playing the other day when she ran in and said "mom...come outside, I want to show you my pictures." I followed her to the cement where she had used the sidewalk chalk to express her artistic abilities. Can I just say, I was so impressed. Sure, the pictures are cute...they are that of a four year old who sees everyone with long legs and no body. But more than that, she labeled each of her pictures so we would know who each of the drawings were. Here's where I got really impressed...she wrote everyone's names all by herself, with no help from either Jason or I. She knew not only how to write each letter, but what letters were needed to spell the names. I just had to take some snapshots of them. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Pumkins and Firetrucks










On Saturday morning, all four of us went down to the local firestation. They were having a food drive for a local shelter. They had oodles of pumpkins for the kids and each one got to pick one out to take home in exchange for some canned goods. Ella had a lot of fun picking hers out, but Ben wasn't quite sure what to do. He was more content to just look at everyone milling around. They fire department had the firetrucks all shined up and out on display. It was pretty impressive. The kids were able to climb all the way up into the driver's seat of the big rigs. It was a chilly day, but fun was had by all. It made for a great family outting.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Rain, Rain Go Away?



The kids were so excited when I told them they could go outside and play in the rain. Ella looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Here's how the conversaion went:
Ella: Can we play in the rain?
Mom: No.
Ella: But we want to play in the rain.
Mom: No.
Ben: Why?
Mom: thinking...sigh...hmmmm...

I sat there thinking and something Granpda had said to me over and over came to mind. I could hear him telling me again "if there isn't a good reason to say no, then say yes". So that's just what I did. They got dressed and I gave them each got an umbrella. They had so much fun. It was worth the wet clothes and messy feet when they came in.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

My Little Cubbie







Ella has joined the Awana Cubbies group at church this year. It is the Wednesday night program they have for kids all geared toward learning how much God loves them and teaching them bible verses. Ella was so excited when it first started in Septempber and it so eager to go each week. She just loves it. Both Jason and I volunteer in her room, taking turns every other week. It's a double blessing, because whoever doesn't take Ella to Awana gets some one-on-one time with Ben. Ben thinks it's okay, but he always asks to go to Awana with Ella. He sure loves that girl.

We work on Ella's workbook each week, reading a story, doing an activity, and learning the bible verse for the week. It amazes me how much she can remember and how fast she can memorize something. There are times that I will ask her if she remembers the verse we learned (mainly because my pathetic brain can't recall it) and she will shoot it right off.

Each week she puts her Cubbie vest on and we head off to church. Her vest is so cute. By learning bible verses she earns patches that she gets to put on it. I can't wait to see her progress as the year goes on. I bet that vest is really going to look great come spring.

I'm so proud of my little "cubbie"...but can hardly believe that she is old enough to be going. Oh, how the time flies. My baby isn't so much a "baby" anymore. Sigh.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Out Playing



I know it's been a long time since I have posted. I'm going to try and get back on this bike and do it more regularily. Sorry for the long vacation.

Ben was outside playing and I had to capture that infectious smile of his. He is growing up to be such a big boy these days. All boy...did I mention that? He lives, breathes, and sleeps sports. In fact, every night before bed he has to find his "wily hockey stick" (translation: Wild Hockey Stick). It is a must-have in order to fall asleep these days. If he's not carrying around his blue golf club during the day, then he is busy smashing cars together, or much to my dismay, racing them up and down my walls. I guess that beats the stage when he drew all over them with crayons! He is active and curious, busy and full of questions. Why this and why that. Why, why, why? Even when he already knows the answer.

When he is taking a break from the sports world, then you can usually find Ben dancing around the room, strumming his favorite guitar he got from Amma. He is a riot...making up songs and singing at the top of his lungs. You can't help but smile and want to join in acting all silly.

I can't imagine my life without this little boy. He defintely keeps me on my toes...and I love his excitement for life.