Easter Egg Hunt

Our church had an Easter party the day the Saturday before Easter. It stopped raining just long enough to allow the kids to be outside. What awesome kids we have at our church! Way to go Dana on hosting the festivities!

I love this picture of the little kids hunt. It is all the parents just pointing at the ground.

A few would join us for a picture. I love you all!

Snow Fun

Snow! Oh, how I love huge record breaking snow storms. It was like pressing pause on life and enjoying the ones I love most without any interuptions. Quality time gets me every time. It was a wonderful few days of being locked in the house. A week of fun, baked tastey goodness, cleaning, and relaxation. As busy as we can be it was so great to spend 3 days in pjs. Here are some pictures of Benjamin enjoying the snow. We actually took him out when the impressive 14 inches were still on the ground. HE HATED IT. Apparently, it is a little scary to fall off the sled when the snow swallows you up to your chest. Once it warmed a bit and the roads were a little more packed down Benjamin could not get enough. Enjoy...

Christmas Program

Our Christmas season has been packed with extra time with family and friends, parties, and programs. Little Benjamin was in his first program. To be honest when I first found out he was in the school program I thought, "why - he is 18mos old." I quickly got past the idea that one more thing would be a blast and rather cute. Well, it was not more than 3 minutes after I walked in the auditorium that I learned why they really have the 18 month olds in the musical. It is to equip you for when they are a little older. I followed all the rules about getting seats and when I could enter the building. Little did I know the only people that abide by the "picture taking -saving seats -when to enter the building rules" are the first time parents to the school. You have to have a Mama's fight rise up in you to get those seats and a good picture. Haha. You just wait next year other parents...I am coming to the game ready to play.

Ever since his program he likes to carry around his jingle bells and shake them to anyone who will sing Jingle Bells.

Benjamin's class dressed up as Legos for the Christmas Program. He did not want his picture taken AT ALL. This is the best we got.

I have tried several times to upload a movie of his program. For some reason I get an error every time. Sorry Grandparents...

Leaves

There are not many trees in Oklahoma. It is rather frustrating that the developers in this area cut down every tree in an area before the start building on it. Consequently, Benjamin has yet to see a yard overtaken with leaves. We visited some family the week before Thanksgiving. The moment he ran in the leaves he thought the long drive was worth it. He pointed to the leaves and looked at me with questioning eyes that asked, "Mom, what is this on the ground and why haven't I seen this sooner!?" Thank God for trees and leaves.

Oh, Where is my toothbrush?

Most people know that I when I grew up we always had young kids in the home. Which meant there were always moments of distress due to lost items. Let me give you and example. Every Sunday. I really mean every Sunday morning for about three years involved a frantic search for my little sisters church shoes. Somehow they got lost every week. They would be under the coach, in the bookcase, or at the very bottom of the toy box. My parents would yell at all of us older kids to look harder and quicker until each shoe was found. I remember thinking as a child, "When I am older I will make sure my children do not do this. How hard can it be to make sure your toddler does not misplace things."

Welp, it has started happening in our house. Every. I really mean every night around bedtime we cannot find Benjamin's toothbrush. We look everywhere. At times I have to get Jonathan to help me look for one of his three toothbrushes we have floating around the house. Yesterday as we were looking through toy boxes and under the coach Jonathan said something that took me back to my childhood. With frustration he yelled, "Diana, how hard can it be to make sure he doesn't misplace his toothbrush." I got a little frustrated at him for about two seconds before I laughed at myself and thought about every Sunday morning looking for Daisy's shoes. I was so mad at my parents. Haha...I guess we end up doing things just like our parents after all. Even the silly things.

The next morning Benjamin was really upset one of his favorite toys would not work right. I came over to help. What was blocking the balls from going through the pipe? A toothbrush.

P.S. - For those that are tempted, please don't tell me ways to keep track of his toothbrush. I know what the problem is. If you look away for even 3 seconds when he is brushing he takes and hides it. He really likes to brush his teeth and likes to stick his toothbrush in small weird, special places.

Halloween 2010

I knew for weeks that we had a party at church the night of Halloween. In fact, I was signed up to help with games and food. I knew we needed costumes. So I am not sure what happened. It was hours before the party and I am rummaging through the closet for costumes. This is what we ended up with....

I was something that glows. I am not sure really. The theme was "Glow in the Dark" as sons of God. I had about 10 glow sticks around my neck and wore all of the brightest things I could find. Thankfully, Jonathan had some painfully bright hunting items. I piled it on despite the fact that neon orange is not my "color." Believe it or not the kids loved it. The necklace was hit. I was mobbed after the games as I attempted to give out the glow sticks. Basically, with kids you can make anything fun.

Benjamin's outfit was sitting in the closet since Christmas. Last year my parents built a house for a couple from the east (I forgot which country). They were so nice and gave us these fun outfits they made for their son. It was perfect. Surprisingly, Benjamin enjoyed wearing the hat all night.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Benjamin threw a fit at being held when there was so much to explore. We just turned that frown upside down to get a smile.

Dad did most of the feeding of the goats. I really didn't like it....as you can see by my face.