Jen sighting

We toured Abi's preschool (Cedar Cross Cooperative Preschool) today, she had a ball, she ran off with the other kids and I had to find her when it was time to leave, she didn't want to go. I was surprised she had so much fun, I think it will be a good fit for her so we signed her up for next year.

Yeah, we got to see Jen! Abi was thrilled, Jen this and Jen that, Jen come with me. We had a nice dinner and played outside. Abi is starting to get really good at riding at her tricycle.

Seeing Jen was too much excitement for Ben.

Who is that tan, sun kissed, blond?

 Having a "Hey" off

Ben's first hair cut

Well, it was more like a trim. It was very technical, I put his hair up in a hawk and cut along the top, and trimmed a little around the ears.

 

It takes a village to raise a child

Mr. Ben you bring us so much love and joy but you have really been challenging us lately. I haven't gotten consecutive hours of sleep in months. Sometimes I wish we had a bigger village (and a bigger bed) so we could share our lacking of sleep. If you weren't so darn stinking precious I might put you to bed in the garage so we could rest peacefully. No one said parenting was easy, and I don't think you can truly understand the  deepest darkest depths of parenting until you experience the up all night screaming and weeks of sleep deprivation. It gives us character, and gray hair, and wrinkles, but it is worth it. It may take a village to raise a child but no one loves you like your mom and dad.

 

Party on the Palouse 2011

I am a Matron of Honor and Abi is a flower girl! Can't wait to see my girl Linds walk down the aisle. Party on the Palouse, can't wait!

Funny little thing

Abi gabby says the funniest things, here are the latest sillies:
"Mmmmm, that's tasty!"
"It smells like dog poo in here, I guess"
"I have pony teeth"
"Dad, are you a messy Mavin?"
"I love blanket all day and all night"

Gabby

When did my little become a big girl? I love looking at her baby pics.

What baby, my baby, munch or buster? Can you tell?

One picture of each, my they look alike :)

 

Buster showing off

We had a busy couple of days. We went to the mall and played Russian roulette with germs at the play area, we went to Jared to get my ring cleaned and who would have 'thunk' they have an awesome play area for kids (a play house with 3 levels), I narrowly avoided a full blown tantrum when it was time to leave. Abi couldn't wait to go back to pick my ring up. We spent hours outside in the yard moving plants. We got Abo in swim lessons and I think I found a preschool for her next year, we are going for a tour next Weds. I always say it but I love my littles, sometimes they are challenging yes, but love um none the less. Sad I have to go back to work tomorrow :( Not sure what is up with my blog, it deleted my last post, boo.

Here is a video of buster Ben laughing and showing off, and not wanting to go to bed.

Abigail (being camera shy) saying goodnight.

SOS, LOL

Grouchy mommy (SOS)- lets just say I didn't win any awards yesterday for my patience. Thank goodness for migrane meds and that Abi does surprise me by cooperating and being helpful when I am in need the most. Everyday I strive to be a better more patient version of myself, that won't be hard to accomplish today (LOL). I came around the cornor yesterday and caught Abi hugging and kissing on Ben. She likes to mess and fuss over him, and always has to know what's in his diaper (#1 or #2), I think it's rather sweet (the first part that is).

my cute pies catching a glimpse at the sun :)   

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Well, in our case it's not so much jumping on the bed as it is both kids sleeping in our bed. They are getting in the bad habit of moving to our bed at some point during the night. Abi has figured out her child proof door handle and Ben wakes up and wants nothing more than to get into bed with us. We can hold him and rock him until he falls back asleep then we lay him back in his crib and he screams. We toss him in bed with us and he is back to sleep before he hits the sheets and doesn't make a peep the rest of the night. As much as I love um, no more monkeys sleeping in our bed!

Brad has voiced a dislike to Ben's hair being spiked up or in a hawk so I gave him another hair style to choose from, the classic butt part. -Even Ben looks depressed about it.

Today Abi said "Mom can you stop singing now?" funny because I don't really sing in front of anyone but the kids (mostly in the car), but I guess I sing to them a lot :)  -Miss Abi sassy pants sporting her tutu.

A little piece of perfect

We had a great weekend with family. I got a very special heirloom diamond ring from my mom-beautiful! The ring has two diamonds, one from my mom's orginal wedding ring and one from my grandma's orginal wedding ring, so now I can carry a little piece of them with me everywhere I go and someday I can pass the ring down to Abi. I still think about my Grandma and Aunt all the time. Almost every important event that has happend in my 30 years they have been there for. We all shed a few tears remembering and missing them this weekend.

Mothers Day was extra special this year having both Abi and Ben. It is an honor and privledge to be their momma. I love watching them grow, learn, and laugh. I get a front seat to watch the wonder of who they are. At times I wish life was a little less crazy and busy so I could relax and just enjoy them, but at the same time I am thankful for our jobs and all that we have.

Brad and I are so lucky to have such great moms. We hope they know how much we love them and appreciate everything they do for us :) We hope they had a great Mother's Day!!!!!

Grandma with all her grandbabes

 The girls (and Ben)

Ben and Evie ready to go

 Little Miss E

 My sweet littles-such goofs

 Ben and papa

Before I was a Mom-

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

~ Author Unknown

Play-doh

I wasn't sure if Abi was ready for play-doh but I got it out today thinking it was worth a try. 3 hours later she is still playing with no end in sight. There is no way the colors can ever be sorted back out but she hasn't even tried to eat it, although I can't say the same Maggie.

Sunny day happy day

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. 

 ~Author Unknown

Abi's latest masterpiece.

 I'm glad we enjoyed the sun yesterday it was a beautiful day!

 

My goodness the chickens have gotten big and their faces are getting more red.

Good morning

The sun is up, it is time to get up, go dogs go!

 Finger painting and playing outside is on the agenda for today.

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Ben is rolling over! I went to get him up from his nap yesterday and he was on his tummy, same this morning. Funny he seems to prefer sleeping on his tummy, like his daddy. As I type he is rolling around the living room. Also, I am looking into sending Abi to preschool next year, yikes! I can't believe she is going to be old enough to start preschool. I'm hoping to find a more casual one since she will be so young, maybe one not super strict about being potty trained, although I think by then she should be fine.

Abi and Sammy

Abi with Sam the extra large cat. Luckily Sam is pretty mellow and just lets Abi drag her around the house.

Sunshine

Sunshine, you are my sunshine, you make me happy when skys are gray, you'll never know just how much I love you, please don't take my blue skys away.

Spokane/Bloomsday

Before the race-gay sweatshirts and all.

 After the race-everyone did great!

All and all we had a great time in Spokane. We got to hang out with the Larson's and meet baby Lucas (3 weeks old), adorable! We got to spend time with Kris and Kristin, Glen, Jeremy and Larisa, Annie and Gavin, and Art and Jan. It was great to see the sun and get to spend some time outside playing in it. The classy moment of the weekend was feeding Ben baby food with a spork while dining at a Taco Bell in Moses Lake! It cracks me up that Abi will not touch a hamburger or hotdog but you put a taco in front of her and it's gone. We got home and found not one but two creepy babies hidden in our car, you better believe it is on!!!