The Two Chocolateers

Alea and her cousin, Gideon, are true birthday buddies--May 17, 2002/2005! We celebrated their birthday with a big splash of CHOCOLATE!! We did pudding painting, chocolate Cheerios necklaces and armpit fudge. What? Yes, we supplied all the ingredients in a ziplock baggie and they squished it in their armpits (in tune to a wonderful chocolate song) until a nice ball of fudge was created-in theory-actually, they all got preoccupied and didn't bother with making the fudge. It was a great party with chocolate to dip goodies in and a chocolate canvas "finger-printed" by all the guests. We also made a great party favor of: chocolate, chocolate lip gloss, hot chocolate and chocolate stickers. It was great fun and Alea had a great FIFTH birthday party!! Happy Birthday my sweet daughter!

"Princess P"

Whoo-hoo an Easy Bake!!

Happy Third Birthday, Benton!

BIRTHDAY BOY

I think he's partied too hard!

About to blow out his Birthday

brownie candles.

The Party. . .

What cool presents he got!

Today, we celebrated Benton's third birthday! It was quite the celebration and I can't think of a better thing to celebrate than LIFE!

Three years ago, today, I gave birth to a 9 lb. 4 oz Iowan, baby boy. We knew we wanted to name him Benton after his great-great grandmother, Nettie Benton, and Gregory after his father. I didn't get to hold him until he was many hours old and when I finally got my hands on that little, pudgy, pink bundle, my heart expanded! There was such a peace about him and I just snuggled him silly at the hospital. He smiled while still in the hospital and I got to see his TWO deep dimples, I knew I'd be seeing them a lot through the years.

Benton, Ben-Ben, Benner, yes, he's our party boy. He's always ready to laugh, be laughed at, or make someone laugh. Every morning we are greeted with a "BOO" and a giggle when both Greg and I act like we're really scared.

Benton at a glance. . .

Some of his favorite phrases are: "Na, na, boo, boo", "Wanna pay (play with) me?", and "Dope (thank you)". His favorite activities are: playing with trains, cars or trucks, doing anything with his sister, riding bikes, watering the grass and snuggling with his Waee (aka Rillo). His favorite foods are: oatmeal, poptarts, tortellini, Ritz crackers, yogurt, bananas and chocolate pudding.

The other night he woke up in the middle of the night, he's been having a hard time breathing. I sat in the recliner with him and snuggled with him for a little while. While I was holding him, he looked up at me and said, "Mama, you're my best friend." It was really sweet-I'll never forget it! The days are flying and I know that times will change but for now, I'll cherish these moments I have with both of my children.

That's our Ben, he is one sweet little bundle of fun--Happy Birthday, Son!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2010

We had a great Saint Patrick's Day party! Of course green was the theme and we had green tattoos, green cupcakes, green sugar cookies, green jello jigglers, green kool-aid and green yogurt. We did a mean green craft, or two, in which the kids painted green balls which they placed on green pipe cleaners which they wrapped around head bands thus creating google eyes. They also glued jewels on their green hand prints. I couldn't find St. Pat's cups or green paper cups but what I did find was plastic shot glasses-NICE! I did it, I bought them for the kids-it was a hit. I can't say how many times I filled those silly little shot glasses with green kool-aid. That was about all I accomplished during the party. We had a great time and at least this time I remembered St. Patrick's Day! Unfortunately, I only snapped one picture during the ENTIRE day, so here it is.

My niece, August, showing

green fun!

I Wanna Be Like YOU-HOO-HOO

Ok, no visual here so just imagine. We're shopping in The Children's Place with some friends. Alea and her friend find dresses that they really want. They asked to try them on so they can strut in front of the full length mirrors they have in the dressing rooms. I volunteered to go back with them and took Benton. Once the girls were strutting around the store having such a great time, Benton began whining. Finally, I took the time to listen to the root of the whining. He told me that he wanted a dress, too. Of course, I said he couldn't wear a dress.

He did not like this answer! He sat down in the middle of the store, knees up, head down on his knees, arms wrapped around his legs, CRYING! "I want a dress, mom, I really want a dress like Alea!" How comical that my BOY wants a DRESS so badly he is willing to cry and pout in the middle of the store. I wish so badly I would have snapped a picture of him so I could tell him how silly it really was. I desperately surveyed the store in search of something for him to try on, but there was nothing flowing, shiny and pretty on the boys side of the store-sorry Benton.

A fellow shopper was passing by and saw/heard the whole thing, she was laughing out loud! I did NOT get him the dress. . .

He just wanted to be like his sister and at home I could not care less if he wants to strut around in a dress-guess that carefree attitude backfired in this instance.

Special Visitors!

We have had some special visitors! Our dear friends: Pete, Megan, Micah, Eli and Elizabeth Sorensen. They drove down from Des Moines and got to spend a few days here with us in the Texas Panhandle. We had a great time visiting, eating (of course) and doing a little sight seeing. We had to hit the Big Texan and Palo Duro Canyon. We also toured the Quarter Horse Museum. It was wonderful to have such a special visit and made me miss them even more. I love Megan because of her faithfulness and our like mindedness. She is so encouraging and I learn a lot when we're together. Their sweet little new addition, Elizabeth, was so cuddly and I was so happy to get to meet her. Unfortunately, I only got ONE picture while they were here. . .

Alea and Elizabeth
We miss ya'll so much, thanks for the visit!!

Merry Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas with family!

The most . . . interesting . . . event of Christmas was trying to recreate my most favorite childhood memories but through my children. I-and Greg-convinced my sisters-and their husbands-to spend the night at my parents Christmas Eve! My best Christmas memories are with all my cousins at my Grandparents house, now that was excitement! OK, seventeen people in my parents house, not too tight but we all had to be in rooms so the "magic" of Christmas could happen without anyone seeing. We decided to put, Gideon, Samara, Josiah, Benton and August in the "kids room"; Alea and Miriam wanted to sleep in the closet; AshLynn in with Nannie; Me, Greg, Callie, Jon, Lori and Lance in the front room. It was cozy and we found out Lance is a worse snorer than Jon (is that possible?), but we survived and our kids had a blast spending the night at Granna's with all the cousins. We thought it would be fun to watch movies and eat until we were sick. Also, there was no go to bed curfew. All the kids started fizzling out around 11 except BENTON! He was out of control and having a blast staying up, and up, and up until I made him go to bed at 1:30am!


Our group on my side is so big, we have to open presents in shifts. The kids go first and then go off to play with all their new toys, then the adults get their turn. We open one at a time so it takes a good long time and everyone gets to watch.


We enjoyed spending time with Greg's family also, we always look forward the all the good food we get over there and this year did not disappoint. It's always good to see all of his aunts, uncles and cousins. Our children are the youngest on his side for now, but it won't be long before they are the "big kids" around.

Hope your Christmas was wonderful as we reflected on the birth of our one and only Savior, Jesus!

Party pants-Benton at 1:11am!

Alea and Miriam sound asleep in the closet.

Alea and August both got princess

phones and were talking to each other.

Benton the fireman-just like Poppies and Uncle Lance.

The Perkins' girls kids

-We're missing Matt's family:(-

Samara, AshLynn, Gideon, Josiah, Miriam

Benton, Alea, August

Peppermint Bashing

We were making peppermint covered fudge for Christmas and I thought the kids could just punch the bags of peppermint breaking it all up. Well, of course that hurt their hands, so we tried alternative methods. Benton, being the thinker that he is, analyzed the situation, disappeared and then re-surfaced with his little plastic hammer. He pummeled the peppermint and had a down right good time of it! His peppermint won the "most crushed up" award and he was so proud of himself.