Just a Thursday

I have nothing creative or interesting to write about today.  It's just an "ordinary" Thursday at home.

Micah came over to play with Ben for the day.  He was a wee bit excited!  We played outside this morning for over an hour, riding bikes, watching the housing construction and throwing rocks in the water.

Then we came inside for lunch, played with playdough, built forts and had gun fights. 

Jonah tried to keep up.  And looked just enough like a hobo to make me admit that he really does need a bit of a haircut.

Then the boys played Leapster together while I made laundry soap.  Nothing more inspiring to finally make another batch of the stuff then being completely out with more dirty clothes needing to be washed right?  I'm such a procrastinator sometimes!

I was letting the boys listen to The Incredibles story on audio cd, and apparetly this morning was too much excitement for my sweet boy....

Yep, we're super exciting around here.  This old lady is finishing a cup of tea and folding sheets.  Be jealous.

A Sortin' Fool

I think I've been bit by the springtime fever bug a bit early because I'm cleaning, organizing and purging everything!  I've gone through all my baby boy clothing, putting them in organized tote bins, categorized by age.  They're all neatly folded....finally.  I've always lazily tossed them in tubs when the boys outgrew that size.  And I got rid of tons of clothes that weren't really my style or I didn't need.  Actually I'm ot getting rid of them, I'm going to have a garage sale with my best friend so we can raise money for our own garage sale getaway extravaganza this summer!

So today, Micah asked if Benjamin could come play for the day and he was super excited.  He packed his backpack and waited by the front door!

I think Jonah was a wee bit excited that he wasn't going to have to share attention with his brother for the day :-)

Why is it that when you suddenly go from two kids to one kid you feel as though you could tackle the world?  So, while I didn't exactly do that, I did decide to sort through all the ginormous amounts of girls clothing my wonderful SIL Anita gave me from her girls.  What a blessing to have a head start on the maybe someday baby girl? (Totally NOT pregnant btw)

This is what my living room looked like most of the day (and honestly it wasn't even all the clothes brought in from the garage yet) 

Katie and Mandy were well dressed little girls!  And it was really fun to take a walk down memory lane seeing the outfits I could remember them wearing....and even a few(or many) that Auntie April bought for them :-)

It took almost all day long and took a lot of um, "repositioning" Jonah from destroying my nice neat piles, but I got it done.  Hip hip hooray, I got it done.

Peter came home just before I put the clothes neatly into the storage totes and he just laughed at me.  He knows I'm borderline crazy when I start organizing.  I think my boys are afraid they're going to be labeled, folded and stuffed in a tote if they're not careful.  No promises boys, no promises.

I'm just a sortin' fool on a mission to organize, de-clutter, and maybe raise a buck or two for my garage saleing habit :-)

Shutup

Shutup.  No, really.  Shutup.

That is exactly what Benjamin said to me at the dinnertable tonight.

Apparently we have entered the sassified threes????

I was telling him to eat his dinner for about the fifth time in 5 minutes, and he started mumbling a few things then quietly said "shutup"

My eyes probably bulged out of my head and I must have looked at him like some crazy lady and said "what did you just say?"

It was as if he instantly knew he was in trouble and he said "nothing!!!"  all while avoiding eye contant.

I pressed him again asking him to tell me what he said.  He kept saying nothing, nothing.  He was suffering from a case of consequence fearing silence.

I told him I wasn't going to spank him but told him I was going to spank him if he didn't tell me.

He finally whispered "I said shutup"

*SIGH*  It's what I thought.

We then proceeded to have a very serious talk about how that is not a nice word.  How unkind and rude it is and how he will immediately be punished if he says it again now that he knows it is not a good choice.

I think he understood what we were talking about so I felt pretty good about our conversation.  I looked up at Peter to get his "understanding eyes" and "can you believe he just said that?" look.

Instead, he was nervously smiling.

Embarassingly smiling.

I smiled too but said it really wasn't too funny.  He said, "I know, I know....it's just that.....well.....he learned it from me."

SAY WHAT?

He continues "Remember how he was being suuuper whiny and annoying on Saturday morning?  Well, I had had enough and jokingly told him to shutup.  He repeated it then too and I told him it was not okay.  And then I apologized to him for talking to him like that."

Oh goodness.

So many things went through my mind after hearing it all.  That this parenting thing is not for the weak of heart and that it may only get harder as our kids get older.  That I really hope (for Ben's sake) that he doesn't tell me to shutup again tomorrow.  But mostly I was just grateful for a husband who lovingly knows how to apologize to his son when he says the wrong thing.  I know that telling his mom to shutup is not the worst thing in the world, but I really do hope that Peter and I can help Ben learn how to treat others with respect and kindness and love.  Not to be a "good citizen" but to be an example of Christ's work in a sinner's life.

I don't know what will kill me first.  His cuteness or his sassiness.  And yes Mom, I know I got exactly what I deserved in a son that's just like me! :-)

Benjamin is 3!!!!!!!!

Today is my oldest boy's birthday.  Benjamin, the amazing little guy who first made me a Mama, is now 3 years old.  THREE.  I don't know, three just seems so big.

We have spent the past 2 days celebrating and loving on him.  He was finally feeling better just in time for his birthday so we were really grateful.

Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to the Dollar Store so he could pick out his 2 birthday balloons.  This is always a much anticipated treat!  We ran a few errands then came home for lunch and naps.

That night we headed to Jeremy & Kristen's for a joint birthday party with their little guy Micah.  Micah and Benjamin share a birthday, just one year apart.  Almost to the minute, so it's pretty cool.  Those two guys are best friends so the fact that they can celebrate together is pretty perfect.

The boys were sooo excited to play with one another since they'd been apart while they were sick.  And we loved sharing dinner and sharing life with our friends.  Then it was time for cake!

I had found a Thomas cake pan on craigslist for super cheap so I was all set for the cake.  I am not a fancy cake decorator, in fact, I have never even used the Wilton tips before.  But I decided that I would attempt it since it was my son's THREE year old birthday.  It turned out to be the perfect project for this mama who was stuck at home all week with sick boys.

It wasn't perfect but it turned out pretty cute!

Benjamin was delighted when he first saw his cake on party morning.

Kristen was making birthday treats for their Sunday school class since their birthday actually fell on Sunday, so I decided to make Micah a little cake too so they could each have one.  He's obsessed with Star Wars so Peter suggested a lightsaber, so that's what I did.  I just winged it, but it turned out kinda cute.

Benjamin had the biggest smile on his face when we sang to him.  He was so happy to finally be celebrating his birthday.

I couldn't get over how much the boys did not look like toddlers anymore.  This is what they looked like together on their birthday last year....

and this was this year....

See what I mean?  They are so big.  Not a shred of toddlerhood left.  It is so sad how fast time is flying by.

Anyway, after cake (of which Benjamin didn't eat a bite because he doesn't really like cake) it was time for presents.  Benjamin looooved his Kung Fu Panda 2 DVD, Thomas books, nerf gun, Monsters Inc figures, blue beetle, fruit snacks, bubbles, and truck.  He is a spoiled and loved little guy!!!

It was a fabulous party celebrating my most FAVORITE 3 year old on the planet.  That night, I kissed my little boy before he went to bed as his last night being two.  Boy I love him.

Today we had church and our annual business mtg, but they celebrated with special treats in children's church and by wearing matching striped shirts (I'll have to steal the picture from Kristen)

We came home and took naps, then headed to McDonalds for dinner for his annual birthday Happy Meal!  Both boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  He came home and opened up his new Thomas Leapster game and talked to the grandparents on the phone.  Now he's watching his new Kung Fu Panda 2 show with a giant smile on his face (and his Furious 5 figures in his hands)  Oh my sweet boy, you are too much for my heart to handle.

Benjamin Daniel, because of you I now know without a doubt that being a Mama is the very best job in the entire world.  I always knew motherhood would be amazing, but now I know that it is a true gift of God.  I adore your adorable little voice, your OCD tendencies, the way you need all your owies kissed, how you sing so loudly in the car, your goofy jokes, your excitement over a new book, your sweet sensitive nature.  My heart bursts with love when I look at you and I'm so proud and grateful to be your Mama.  It'd be okay with me if you wanted to slow down on the growing up, but I'm also excited to see you learn and grow this year.  I pray you will learn more about Jesus and his love for you this year.  As always, we love you to the moon and back, with all our hearts, and sooooooo much. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Benjamin!!!!!!!

Fresh Air

Oh man, we have spent a lot of time inside lately since all 3 of my guys have been sick.  While the slower pace and playtime inside was nice.....

when it warmed up a bit on Friday afternoon we took the boys out for a bit of playtime in the backyard.  In their pj's of course!

The fresh air was enjoyed by all!  We're finally starting to feel better....the bit of lingering cough and sniffles are there, but slowly diminishing.

Off to finish a few things before Benjamin's party tonight with our friends.  *Excited*