summertime a flyin by

this summer is just a flyin by & i have really neglected writing down some of them memories in the making.  ben finished his t-ball career, much to everyone's relief.  half the time on the last game his hat was cocked to the side, but thank goodness daddio was there to help straighten him out.

when he was on first base, he'd often chat with the other team, depending on if they were "interesting" or not.  i don't quite know how he determined that.

getting his trophy with his proud daddy!

gracie celebrated her 4th birthday with lots of family & friends. she has on her "i;m crabby like my daddy shirt" from her auntie, her new favorite shirt!

her birthday wish was "for everyone to be happy!"

all the kiddos had a blast playing on the water slide! cowabunga, dude!!

by the end of the party, i think she was a bit tired out.

the next day, while daddio was "sleeping," we gave him a beautiful pedicure. 

he had socks on until it was removed.  what a good daddy!

 & i celebrated 33rd birthday with my very favorite kiddos & hubby.  we went & ate at charlie's mongolian barbeque for dinner.  ben asked why we took him there, because it was so good & made him too full!! 

some of the other random fun memories of the past few weeks:  gracie eating her tomatoes (favorite food) with ketchup - "totally good", as she would say.  "totally" has become her totally favorite word in the world i think.

ben learning to swim & jumping in the pool.  big time!! of course there are lots of rules we have & they have both been very good abiding by them.

every time he jumps off, or does a trick, he yells "did you get that mom?'' he is always making some hand gesture too.. what a clown.

ben has also learned to snap, whistle & has a loose tooth.  that boy is growing up faster than i could ever imagine.  kindergarten is right around the corner.  yikers!

i wish i would write down all the things they say on a daily basis that make my cheeks hurt from laughing each day, but i'm not that good.  they keep growing & growing into their own individual selves & this momma couldn't be prouder!  i love you my sweet kiddos!!

daddio's birthday - part 2 & 3

yes, i am very behind on our blog.  my man keeps getting older by the day!  he is now a whopping 33!!  we celebrated at namaw & poppy's with some yummy food & play.

i'm not quite sure about their nose jobs..

the 3 generations of men.  & what handsome men they are!

at home, the kiddos painted him some little houses to use as piggy banks to save up for our future house.

hunny, i hope you had a happy birthday &amp happy everyday; love you sooo much!

happy birthday to youuuu,

my favorite man in the whole wide world!!! i love you my sugar bear!

what a cutie you were at 3 & still are.  (picture courtesy of namaw & poppy's bday card to ya)

thank you for sharing the past 10 years with me. you are my best friend and i love you forever & ever & ever!!

16 years!?!?

our little ring bearer - no way!  but seriously, grant happy birthday!  we are proud of the young man you are becoming & the role model you are for our kiddos.  they love & look forward to playing with ya. 
happy birthday, buddy!

the big 0-5

oh ben, time is flying by!  you are now 5 years & 15 days old! 

your birthday morning you weren't feeling so good..  but a push up & pancakes with a candle made you feel muuch better.

5 cheers for my birthday boy!!

here's some pictures from your parties:
at home...
all the kiddos sitting down for a craft.  i was amazed at how well ages 2- 6 did at playing & having fun together.  no crying or fighting.  yea!  we had a basketball type themed party & it went much better than i could have asked for.  thank you, ben, for having a preschool party in your class & just a few friends & family over.  much easier!!

gracie at bat! 

 good hit there, sweetie!

the kids digging into the goodies of the pinata..

playing score the ball through the net (yes, mommy is cheesy, but you all seemed to enjoy!)

the party at namaw & poppy's...

 you look so old!

miss embry & gracie gal

poppy & your great aunt donna 

all sitting down for a feast of soup & pizza! 

blowing out the candles with a little help (none needed though) 

the marcum bunch with a new little guy on the way!!! beth, you look lovely!

grant & "har"monica.  grant, you have grown up way too fast too!

that's all the pictures i took! 

anyways, happy birthday to my baby boy, a few weeks late.  i love you more than the stars & the sun & you catch the drift!



whadya do? & a birthday wish

ben has decided he wants a werewolf / coyote birthday party (in december).  not my dream theme by any means.  i don't want his little friends to be scared!!  why not monster trucks or dinos or something like that, kid?  & this is announced after most of the halloween stuff is gone from stores.  so, now this momma will be racking her brain for a cake that is werewolfie/coyotish i guess.  i think i might be able to do something like this if it is to his liking.  oh the things we do for our kids. 

& miss grace today... i gave them both some "busy work" to do while i vacuumed. well... she decided to get her scissors & style some of her stuffed animals' hair as well as her own.  she know has hangs.  it's really not that bad, but when ben ran to tell me i was a bit scared.  in the morning her hair is like a rat's nest, so when i touched it i was terrified at the huge clump that came out.  scissors are now up higher & a lesson learned.   

& a happy happy birthday to my dear cousin janet.  you have always been my role model, from when i was little watching you cheer, your kindness & caring for others, to your loving ways with your child & family.  thank you for always letting me be a part of your life, even when i was an annoying little kid.  i love you. so much janet.  happy birthday!

dear namaw,

a very belated birthday wish.  i was trying to come up with some awe inspiring words - but that didn't happen.

you were & still are a cute thang!

anyways.....thank you for all the hugs & kisses

& unconditional, nonjudgmental love you give us. 

gracie loves you more than chocolate.  & ben loves you more than hot wheels - take that (from the commercial, i'm not being a smarty pants)! 

seriously, we love you so & i thank you for being the best mother in law a gal could ask for.  you are a true beauty inside & out.   thank you for driving down here at a moment's notice to help with whatever.  we so love you & i feel lucky to call you namaw & mom! 

i know i have pictures of us all together more recent, but can't find them at this moment.  but, this is a day when we were all nice & snazzy!

we love you namaw bunches & bunches!  & you too poppy!  & you too auntie jen! 

happy birthday to sweet allie!!

miss allison, 15 now, my how you've grown!  happy belated birthday, my gal.  i know i tell you this all the time, but i am proud of the young woman you are becoming.  you are always on top of everything in the household & i've always had a hard time remembering you are only ## years old.  you have always been so mature & wise.  share some of that with me - will ya?  i love you girl & my kids adore you.  thank you for being a great little cousin for me & big cousin & role model for my kiddos.  i'm keeping this post short & sweet.  we love you!!

score!! not 1, but 2!! some miami coconuts from auntie jen & a bday party

soccer on saturday, the boys were on fire.  we watching the game were freezing our tail ends off.  the whole team did great (& only 5 were able to make it). benj scored 2 goals & was super duper duper excited.  he couldn't wait to call his friends & family!  i think this boy is gonna be on the phone waay too much as he gets older if we don't watch it. 

some shots from the game:

 cheering after a score by someone (probably jackson - he rocks!) i have a feeling someday we might be saying "our boy played soccer with him back in the day " when he turns pro.   kinda like i say "my high school boyfriend pitched a grand slam to scott rolen during sectional." 

another goal!  wooo!!

ben has no lack of enthusiasm - i just love that about him!  great job buddy & galaxy team!!

& grace during the game.  of course, she was hungry or thirsty the entire time. 










after the game, we headed to namaw & poppy's.  miss grace needed some relax time.

saturday, momma & daddio went to hang out with some friends for a bit while the kiddos got some good namaw & poppy time.  gracie was ready for me to come home though, with her arms on her chest when namaw wouldn't give her anymore icing from the apple cake.  (i wouldn't have either)  i decided to have an adult beverage that night since the kiddos were already asleep (not even an entire wine cooler) & ended up feeling awful, awful, awful!

on sunday, we broke open a coconut namaw & poppy brought back from jen's.  ben was thrilled that it was ripe.  "finally, a good one!" he said (the last few they brought back were a bit yuck).

oh & jen & all, you don't know this yet but  i'd  we'd like to come visit sunny miami sometime soon!  we miss ya!

& some family pictures with the coconut.  yes, momma does take too many pictures!

then, we went to miss denyail's 4th birthday party.  what a sweetie.

morgan rockin out to a girl guitar!!

then, we headed home.  & that was the weekend.  fun for sure, but i'm still tired.