Showing posts with label Ben. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben. Show all posts

Quite the Father!



When some of our girl cousins came to visit recently, they camped out in the play room.  This was the sign they made to claim their territory:


If you can't read it, it says, "WELCOME to the sleepover if you are Stella, Sydney, Clara, Sammy, or parents come on in!!!!  No coming in if you are not a girl."

Ben was not impressed.

At all.

I was grinning from ear to ear as I listened to Ben and Clara bicker when Ben tried to enter the forbidden territory.  They were both so self-assured and logical in their arguments.  There was just a (sort of creepy) calm boldness from both of them.

Ben, "Let me in.  I need to get something out of there."

Clara, "I'm sorry Ben.  You can't.  You're not allowed in this room.  This is the girls' room."

"I can come in.  Step aside and let me through."

"But it's against the rules.  See?  Is your name Stella, Sydney, Clara, or Sammy?"

"No."

"Well then....the sign says you can't come in.  You have to listen to the sign.  It's the rule."

"Yes, but the sign says parents can go in."

"Well yeah....but you're not a parent, so you can't go in."

"I AM a parent."

"Ben....No you're not!"

"I AM a parent.  I am the Father of AWESOMENESS.  Now move.  I'm going in."

Clara's reply was the appropriate shocked look of awe and wonder.  With an argument like that?  Right off the top of his head?  He just might be right....he might be the Father of Awesomeness.

Step aside, ladies ;-)

Read more...

Kid-Speak

I was helping Ben with his homework and asked him to hold my coffee for a second so I could teach a quick lesson in fractions (which I needed my hands for). He held the warm cup and gave it a little sniff..."hmmm, smells pretty good!"

I was having a sweet cup with lots of cream, so I told him he could try a sip if he wanted. He tried a little taste, crunched up his nose, and went straight to the kitchen for some water...all without a word.

After we'd figured out the fractions, he handed the cup back to me, ever so gently with a matte-of-fact

"thanks for helping me, mom. Here's your disgusting coffee back, which I will never learn to love."

Hahahahhaaa!

And Sammy cracked me up today too. She's been enjoying the Bible based cartoons Veggie Tales lately, but I'm wondering how healthy it is...

"Mom, why was Goliath such a big deal anyway? They shoulda just taken a big bite out of him....he was just s giant cucumber!"

Love these kids!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Read more...

But You Can Call Me "Slacker"

As much as I'd like to be the blogger I once was, I'm just not.  I can't say that I'm all that sorry either.  Blogging used to be my way to "get out of the house" and communicate with the world.  Now....I more often actually get out of the house and communicate with the world in a face to face way.  I'm loving it. 

My husband said to me recently "You seem more whole than I've ever known you to be."

He's right.

What I do miss though, is the (mostly) permanent record I was keeping of my little family's life.  One of my favorite things is to look back through my old posts and photos.  It's amazing how time flies!  

I know myself well enough to know that I'm not going to get caught up any time soon -- my piles of old prints waiting to go in albums in the upstairs bedroom is evidence of my "slacker" tendencies.  But I don't want to completely let the memories be lost, so I'll do a quick overview instead...

*********************

My baby boy is FOUR!  Holy cow - I just can't believe it.  He's the most loving, stubborn, energetic, and destructive kiddo I've ever known, and I wouldn't change a thing about him!  He is a whirlwind of exploration, destruction, and hugs and kisses....I don't know half the time if I should be hollering at him or giggling at him.  So most days?  I do both simultaneously :-)  I love you, little boy.  I can already see the courageous and fun-loving man you'll grow to be, and I am so blessed to be your Mama.

As a side note....the day of his party was one of my hardest days.  I was STUCK in San Francisco after an R+F event, and I thought I was going to miss his party because I would be getting in late.  If you saw a haggard looking, over-tired, WAY emotional woman blubbering her way through the SF airport....it was likely me.  I felt like a horrible mom, and nearly quit R+F all together.  Thankfully, I didn't miss his party.  Or quit R+F.  




Samantha decided that she didn't want to play soccer this last season - so she was my buddy as we sat and watched her siblings play.  There is simply no one who is easier to spend time with than my sweet little Sammy:


Ben is turning TEN this coming week!  And Clara can wear my shoes even though she's only 8!  I'm so proud of my kind-hearted, smart, wonderful big kids!


Clara came home with this little tidbit of joy....made my day:


Samantha took the lead of her older brother and sister, and started saving her money for her own iPod.  She worked and saved for over a year, and finally had enough money to make her purchase after her recent birthday.  Holy cow, I am SO proud of her!


Yup, Samantha is SIX.  Why does six seem like it's about 3 decades older than five?  She wanted a "flower" party with a daisy cake -- it was so fun to make it with her :-)  We also found a pink poodle pinata, which was just perfect for my little girly-girl.  Sammy is going through an interesting phase lately in which she HATES to be called "cute".

"Well Sammy, 'cute' is supposed to be a compliment.", I told her.

"But I don't LIKE it", was her reply.

"Okay.  What should I say when you look especially nice then?"

"'Pretty' or 'beautiful'.  'Gorgeous' works too."

Well, okay!!

Samantha -- I love your sweet spunk!  I love how you dance and sing and pretend.  You are a gentle and loving spirit, and I just wouldn't be complete without you in my life and heart.  I'm proud of you, my gorgeous girl!

My work with R+F is going great.  I love the people, the "work", and the perks.  I LOVE having a hope for our financial future that is now a joy to imagine.  And to top it off, I earned a free iPad from R+F last month!  My little heart goes pitter-patter every time the UPS guy drives by the house -- can't wait to get it!

Finally -- change -- change is in the air.  The season has changed.  The kids are growing.  The business is growing.  People in our lives are movin' and shakin'.....some in fun ways, some in painful ways, but all good.  I've been in the mood for change too.  I'm going to tackle painting the living room soon, but don't have time for that project today.  Instead, I settled on a new, shorter 'do:



Have a great day, bloggy friends!  Check back in another month or so for another update ;-)  In the mean time, if you'd like to keep in touch with me on a more regular basis, you can find me on facebook here:  Daiquiri fb

Read more...

Possibly the Best Photo I've Ever Taken

Sure, it's a tad blurry...but I think the full emotion going on is pretty well captured ;-)



Read more...

Blog Housekeeping

I finally did a post about Ben's recent birthday.  It's back-dated to keep things in chronological order.  You can find it at the following link: Ben is 9!

(or you can just scroll down a bit) :-)

Read more...

My Ben is 9!!!

My Benjamin is 9 years old.  Unbelievable.  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was seeing his little face for the first time, and now he's HALF way to moving out on his own!  

Let me just go back to Ben's first day for a moment....{sigh}


We're just a Billy-Bob teeth kind of family...


And now, here he is with his 'buddies'.  Not his friends.  We're not playing anymore.  We're "hanging out" with the "buddies".  Oi.  I love the action in this shot - there's just something about boys - they just can't seem to sit still.



See?  This is sitting still.  Notice the discomfort written all over their faces!


Okay, I can't help put throw in a disclaimer here.  These shots were all taken with my little point and shoot camera.  I love it's size, convenience, and ability to switch quickly to taking videos as well as still shots.  But seriously...every camera should at lease offer you the OPTION of setting your own shutter speed.  Drives me crazy.  Rant over.

Ben had a blast opening the gifts his friends brought him - building things, noisy things, and shooting things...that about sums it up! :-)




He's been after us for a guitar for about 6 months - looking forward to getting him some lessons now.


Ben had all sorts of ideas about what he wanted this birthday party to look like.  I wish someone would have told me last year that I was in the process of planning Ben's last "little kid" party!  He wanted just a handful of his best buddies, he wanted Dad to help them all make their own pizzas, he wanted donuts instead of cake, and he wanted to watch boy movies and have everyone sleep over.

What?  You don't want me to plan any games?  Make a special cake?  How about a pinata?!? 

I have to say - I just adore Ben's friends.  They're all such good, kind, and polite young men!  I hope he stays close to this circle of boys for a long time.




Does this look like a fun boy's party or what?


Luke just stuck a candle in one of the donuts, and we sang Happy Birthday.  Then we opened a few cans of frosting, pulled out the cookie crumbs and sprinkles, and let everyone go to town:










Dear Ben,


I'm so proud of you!  You've grown into such an incredibly kind, generous, gentle, fun, and smart young man in just 9 short years.  I'm so blessed to have the honor of being your mom and watching you grow.


You had a big year this year.  You saved for months to purchase your very own iPod - what an accomplishment!  You also did gymnastics, and we had such fun watching your confidence grow as you pushed yourself to try something new.  And of course, you've been an excellent student.  Your teachers have always told us that you're a great kid to have in class and that you're a "quiet leader" among your peers.


You're a tender-hearted boy, Ben.  I hope that as you grow in strength and courage your tenderness remains.  It's one of my favorite things about you {hug}.


One of the things I've enjoyed most in this past year has been watching your relationship with the Lord be tested and grow.  To hear you pray so honestly, openly, and with such devoted faith is one of my most treasured times each day.  He is with you each and every moment, Ben.  My greatest prayer for your life is that you stay tuned in to what He's telling you and that you have the courage to go where He leads. It seems impossible from my perspective...but He loves you even more than I do, and as long as you're in Him, you can be assured of a plan and a hope for your future!


Happy Birthday my sweet boy.  I love you with all my heart!


Love,
Mom

Read more...

He Did It!



My oldest son, Benjamin, has been working and earning and scrimping and saving for a good six months now.  He's had his eye on his very own iPod touch.

It was a month ago when he finally counted $200 in his savings bank.  I took him and his trusty bank to the Mac Life store near our house...it was then that we learned the iPod Touch version 4 would be announced in a couple of weeks.  Instead of being merely an iPod, the version 4 would also be able to take photos and video, and might have the cool new face-to-face chat technology.

"Well, buddy, you have a choice to make.  You can either buy the version 3 like you've been planning and saving for, and you can have it right now...or you can wait another month to see if version 4 is cooler." (it hadn't been announced yet, so we didn't know for sure what the technology would be in the new version)

"I think I'll wait", he said as he tucked his bank a bit tighter up under his arm.

He was very frustrated and disappointed to not get his new toy right then, but he was even more determined.  To ease the pain a bit, I took him to A&W for cheeseburgers and root beer floats.

And then the new iPod was announced, and it had all the cool features he dreamed of (thank the Lord).

But it cost $29 more.

He had a couple of weeks to earn it before they would actually be available for purchase...so he worked his hiney off.  And then...finally...$229 in that bank.

I picked the kids up from school that day instead of waiting for the bus to drop them off, and we all made the trek to the new Apple store in the mall.

Let me say, the new store is flat out stunningly gorgeous.  It was a combination of all those pretty do-dads and the joy in my boy's face...I couldn't stop smiling and giggling as we walked into the store.  I got some strange "are you high?" looks from people as I giggled my way past them :-)

See?!  Totally giggle-worthy (photo taken from their website - contact me if you'd like me to take it down):



The folks at the store were incredible.  When I explained that we were there to purchase the iPod that Ben had been saving for for so long...a crowd of sales people gathered around to offer high-fives to Ben and to clap.  They made it so special!  In fact, the photo at the top of this post was taken by an employee who said, "Wait!  Let me take a picture of you making your purchase!"  He then emailed it to me using the phone that I'm trying hard not to covet ;-)

(I'm hoping that by not having the money to buy an iPhone or it's monthly service, I'm actually setting myself up to buy a phone with slightly better photo and video quality than is available now.  Yeah...that's it!)

As we left the store, Ben turned to me and said "Mom, our family...we're Mac people aren't we?"

Absolutely, my boy.  Absolutely.

Read more...

The Funny Pages of Our Lives

With kids around, there is an abundant supply of funny things being said.  I thought I'd better get them documented before this sieve of a mommy brain forgets...


"Ben, it's time to turn off the TV.  If you keep watching that much boob tube, you're gonna turn into one giant boob!"

"Mom, that's just disgusting."

__________________________


"Clara, you can come out of the corner now.  Are you going to cooperate with a cheerful attitude now?  Did you have a chance to think about it?"

"Well, yeah.  And I also noticed that the baseboards over there really need a good cleaning."

___________________________


(Ben) "Mom, I know the little kids really like him, but I noticed something about Elmo: he has terrible grammar!"

___________________________


(Samantha) "Mommy, you need to change your clothes!  Just LOOK at you!  What if someone SEES you?!"

(Pardon me, my sweet and oh-so-stylish girl...I do believe that there is a law written somewhere...there is a statute of limitations on insulting your mama, and you do not meet the requirements.  I'm quite certain that you must be a non-resident of my WOMB for no less than 10 years before you start giving me fashion advice.  Maybe it's not 10 years, it might be less...I am quite certain, however, that it is more than your mere 4 years.  Thank you for listening.  I love you.  Now excuse me while I go change these ratty clothes.)

___________________________


(Luke, sarcastically)  "Yeah, I know, I know.  I'm a TERRIBLE Daddy, aren't I.  I can't believe I said 'no'.  I'm just so cruel.  Am I the worst Daddy ever?  Is this what a mean and evil Daddy looks like??

(Clara)  "No, I think the meanest daddy probably eats his children."

?!?!?!

_____________________


(Ben)  "Mom, why do so many grown ups smoke cigarettes if it's so bad for them?"

"Well, honey, it's a tricky thing.  Some people just enjoy smoking because they like how it makes them feel.  Some people don't want to smoke anymore, but they can't quit because their bodies are so used to the drugs in cigarettes that it's painful to not smoke.  That's the thing about being a grown-up.  As long as your choices don't hurt anyone else, you are free to do pretty much whatever you want.  There will always be people who make different choices than you would make...just like you'll make choices that they might not like."

"Do they WANT to die?  Is that why they smoke?"

"Of course not.  They just choose something that's not totally healthy for them.  I make choices like that sometimes too - like when I choose to eat foods that aren't good for me, or when I don't exercise as much as I should.  That doesn't mean that I want to die, it just means I made an unhealthy choice."

"Mom, smoking is different.  Smoking is like putting POISON into their body.  If they want to die so bad then why don't they just go buy a gun, give it to another grown up, and say 'here's my gun, just shoot me already, it will be better than being poisoned to death!' "

(Oh my.  The 'just say no' campaign is surely working on my boy.  Now, just to work in a little compassion...)


______________________


(Ben - he's been full of zingers lately) "Mom, did you know that boys are smarter than girls?"

"Wow, no.  I didn't know that.  In fact, I think you might be mistaken about that, my son.  Boys are not smarter than girls."

"Yes they are!  I'm smarter than....(proceeds to list several girls he knows)"

"That might be true, I don't know..."

"Maybe you don't know because you're a girl!"

"Well, you didn't let me finish what I was saying, and by the way, that was a rude thing to say.  I was going to say that I'll bet there are plenty of girls who are smarter than you.  Ben, being smart or not doesn't have anything to do with being a boy or a girl.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that I'm smarter than you."

"Oh yeah, well I can play chess, and you can't!"

"That's true.  But you're sitting here saying rude and insulting things to a girl...the ONE girl in your life that can take away your DS, the Wii, your bike, your scooter, can ground you, and who can cancel your allowance for this week.  Do you think that's a very smart thing to do?"

"Huh.  I guess not."

"I, and every school teacher you've ever had, are girls.  Guess where you learned about 90% of what you know?  From us dumb girls.  Still think you're smarter than all girls just because you're a boy?"

"Um.  No."

"You ARE a very smart boy, Ben.  You're excellent at observing, solving problems, figuring interesting things out, and even inventing.  You're smart for lots of reasons....but none of those reasons are because you're a boy.  Understand?"

"Yeah....do I still get my allowance this week?"

"Only if you get over here right now and give me a big squeeze, Mr. Smarty-pants."

(I think he got the point...but he still thinks that only girls clean bathrooms.  Might need some help from his Daddy to clear that one up.)


_______________________________


(Sammy) "Hey Mommy, do you know what a 'milky throat' is?" (pronounced miwky fwoat)

"No, what's that?"

"It's when you have a throat that just keeps saying 'milk please' over and over and over again.  If you have a milky throat, then you want milk every day over and over and over again.  That's what I have, a milky throat."

__________________________

Thomas's speech is coming along - he's able to communicate more and more lately.  It's the non-verbal communication that's sometimes the sweetest, though.

I opened my eyes this morning to his big blue eyes staring at me from about 3 inches away.  He was lying on his tummy, propped up on his elbows.  Apparently, Daddy had tucked him in next to me after he'd padded his way downstairs in the wee hours of the morning.  He sat there staring at me in smiling silence...just waiting for me to open my eyes.  He had a big toothy grin and a "Hi Mama" for me the instant I opened my eyes.  I smiled, said "Hi sweet pea", and then (to spare him my morning breath) turned my face away and closed my eyes to fall asleep again.  He reached over with his pudgy baby boy hand, rested his had on my cheek, and gently pulled my face back toward him.  He kissed me on the cheek, then pressed his cheek to my lips so I could kiss him.

"oooo Mama"

"I love you too, sweet boy"

Then he wrapped his arm around my neck, squeezed in tight with his soft breath on my shoulder, and fell fast asleep.  Sleep was gone for me though.  I didn't want to miss soaking in his wonderful snuggle, so I stayed awake and just thanked the Lord for my wonderful life.

Read more...

First Day of School {In Pictures}

I simply can NOT believe that it's time for school to start again!  Piles of notes and papers, homework, drama with friends, school programs, a crazy schedule....really?  again?  already?!


We spent the day yesterday buying the last few school supplies, labeling everything, and stuffing the new backpacks with goodies.  We also sorted through the new school clothes and the kids chose their favorites:




What special morning is complete without special pancakes?  We're Star Wars fans around here.  Thomas can't quite say "all done"...but he can say "Yoda" :-)



It's not quite her first day of school yet, but Sammy was plenty excited with all the activity this morning!


The girls both got haircuts yesterday, and I bought a special shampoo to get the summer's chlorine out of their hair.  It's so shiny now!  Of course, we also put the pink rollers in Clara's hair.  She feels (and looks) so beautiful with curls:




I know, I know...I have a thing with feet.  This is one of my favorite shots:


This one is pretty darn sweet though too:


It's starting - the kids are starting to give me the "awww mooOOOoom" when I ask for pictures.  Before you know it, they'll refuse to stand still for me.  Can you tell how enthused she is? ;-)



I gotta say - when Ben insisted on having a bag like this one instead of a backpack like usual, my heart skipped a tiny beat.  When Luke and I first met, he carried a bag that was this same style, and he wore it slung across his chest just like Ben does now.  Ben also got his daddy's broad shoulders.  



Pay no mind to the little ones running around my street in their jammies:



Even this rose seemed to be smiling this morning:


These pictures - nearly kill me.  I married a man who turned out be such a tender-hearted daddy:



Watching for the bus...


I caught Ben checking the time as he waited for the bus - something about this picture just makes my heart ache a little.  My baby boy is such a young man already.


My sweet girl - all ready and excited for her adventure today:



Here comes the bus!  I love all the different expressions on the kids' faces...happy, nervous, anxious...




I love this angle:





This seems like a boring shot, but it's what my kids will be facing every school morning.  I'll bet they'll like this picture some day :-)


Have a wonderful year, my big kids.  Remember who you are and that your Mama loves you!




Read more...



  © Blogger template Shush by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP