Benny Turns 3!

Can it be true? The baby in our family is 3! He has undergone a miraculous transformation from this:
to this:

in just 3 short years! His birthday was full of his favorite things: lunch at McDonald's with his crew, dinner at Chuck E. Cheese with the family, and chocolate cake with white frosting, tricked out with his favorite fire trucks, police cars and school buses. Bring on the sensory overload--this kid can take it!

Benny Facts:

Nicknames: Benny Loving, Benjamin Bear, B, Baby Hulk

Likes: vehicles (especially fire trucks, police cars and ambulances), pizza, grapes, chocolate anything, the rec center, mud, his babies

Dislikes: clowns, being the youngest (he has been telling everyone he is 4)

Favorite Word: Why? (We can literally have a 30 minute conversation in which he will just say "why?" to everything I say)

Special Talents: Can spot an emergency vehicle a mile away (especially helpful when mom is driving a little too fast on the way to school), sweet smiles, figuring out when there is chocolate hidden somewhere in the house, dressing himself, transforming into the Hulk when he doesn't get his way, playing the police officer role in our family, i.e., "Mom! That is Dad's candy! Don't eat it!" and "Mom! Take off your sunglasses! It is not sunny!"

Happy Birthday to our sweet littlest guy!!

A Family of Actors

When I heard that the local arts center was casting for a theatrical production of my favorite book, "Anne of Green Gables", I suggested that Quinn try out. Then, when the very talented director Jennifer, who is in my ward, said they were hoping a lot of families would try out together, of course I didn't hesitate! I sent Shane and Sam along to the tryouts! (I am all about family togetherness, just don't try and get me on a stage!) All three were cast--Shane had three roles! Quinn was Carrie Sloane, Shane was Reverend Allen, The President of Queen's Academy (my favorite--he had to wear a stick-on mustache!), and Mr. Sadler. Sam was Reverend Allen's son, Sam Allen. (Jen was kind enough to write this part into the script, so that Sam could participate. Maybe next time I'll ask her if I can be a tree or something...) It was a hefty time commitment, and our weekend nights were shot for several weeks in a row, but it was worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to see them all in action! The whole cast did a fabulous job!

Lego Madness

I have issues with Legos. I truly believe they are self-propagating. Everywhere I look, Legos are lurking, and not just on the playroom floor: my van, the shower, the kitchen floor, under furniture, my room and the boys' room are all a veritible breeding ground for Legos. I opened my purse one day, and low and behold it was full of Legos! Did you know you could slip and fall on one, seemingly innocuous, Lego brick on a wood floor? Trust me, it is possible. The only thing standing between the Legos and the trash can is the love my boys have for the colorful little suckers. They will often spend hours building, breaking and rebuilding little "ships" and "cuters", as Sawyer calls them (I think he means "shooters", but isn't "cuters" so much--well--cuter??) Sam loves building houses. He recently made one for me, complete with a garden and swimming pool. He told me someday he would build me a larger model just like it in Hawaii when he grows up.

So even though they threaten to take over my house, car and possibly the world, the Legos are here to stay...at least for a few more years.

Recommendation

I like to think of this post as advanced notice rather than late notice! I am recommending this awesome book called "A Christ-Centered Easter". It is filled with day-by-day activities to celebrate Easter week. It can be used over and over again, and adapted to the ages of the kids in your family. This is the second year we have used it, and it has totally changed how we celebrate Easter. The kids used to be way more focused on the Easter Bunny, candy and coloring eggs. We still do those things, but now we also act out the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday, eat a Jerusalem dinner (similar to what Christ at at the Last Supper) on the first day of the Feast of the Passover, and make Easter Story Cookies the night before Easter. I noticed that it is on sale at www.deseretbook.com for $7.50, which is half price. I promise you will love it!

Surprise Snow!

Nothing like waking up to a snow covered world, when you didn't even know it was snowing! This is a rare event here in TN. It happened to be a Sunday morning (March 1), so school wasn't canceled. We let the boys go out and play for a little while before church, because we knew it would be melted by the time we got home. Just looking at this picture makes me cold--I'll have to pull it out again in August!

Sam's Music Program

The First Grade Music Program this year was so cute. The theme was "Happiness." The kids sang, "Happiness Is..." of Peanuts Gang fame, "Rockin' Robin," "Happy Together," and "Wild Thing," among other tunes. Sam had a little speaking part, which we were so excited about! He had to say, "A little on his tummy and a little on his ears," which was in reference to Bingo the dog. He was so nervous that he would forget his line, but he did great and you couldn't even tell he was worried. We are proud of you, buddy!!

Our Waterfront Property

We live next door to a mud puddle. It can be very inconvenient sometimes, as it beckons my boys to come and play in it at the most inopportune times (on the way to school, the store, church, or in 30 degree weather). But on this day, the stars were aligned...nowhere to go, warm weather and a charged camera battery. The result was messy, but very enjoyable to watch. Not so enjoyable to clean up, but we survived!