Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Ben

Dear Ben,

Dada and I were looking back on your first days with us in our blog to commemorate your birth and what surprised me the most was that I had absolutely NO IDEA how wonderful you would be. You are peaceful. You are sensitive. You are kind. You like to make people laugh. You are loyal to what you perceive to be your friend group and suspicious of newcomers- your trust is not immediate. You take a second to warm up. You love your mama and dada. 

These pictures are of you watching your Hood cousins sing happy birthday. You were so happy. You cherished every card and phone call and text. I thought you would by shy and not want the attention but you wanted everyone to know that today was your birthday. Good! 

Below is Benny as his friends Evelyn and Meredith and their mom Julie and me and his sisters sang happy birthday to him by the pool. We had birthday Popsicles for lunch and Em made birthday sugar cookies for dinner. 

Your intelligence impresses me on the reg. You are a natural back seat driver (a trait from daddy). Your memory is wonderful. You pay attention to absolutely everything that goes on around you. You are devastatingly handsome. 

You are my baby, buddy. I see why everyone babies their youngest. You cuddle perfectly. You give me tons of kisses. You always ask me how my meal or coffee tastes. You make sure I have my bag and phone. 

I love watching you grow into a big boy. I love getting to know more about your likes and dislikes. I love every. single. thing. about you.

My sweet sweet baby boy.

Mama

A week in the life

Below is the awesome Bible school pic. So glad Hilly dressed normally that day.  Did I mention their class was just their friends? Tough life.

The girls are in their room now for the night and I heard hilly ask Jackie across the room what she was thinking about, which I love. Brian and Michael and I used to do that all the time.

Below is Hilly en route to watch Benny Boo basically observe his soccer class. 

The HAC game room after playing on the maze. 

Then we hit the birthday circuit. First was a set of twins Jackie's kindergarten. The party was at their house and the kids had a good time. They really sort of stick together though which I am fine with. 

Benny was with his buddy Drew the entire time. 

Below is one of my best friends Lisa holding Drew. 

The sandbox. 

We then went to Hannie's birthday party. I had the location wrong but after that snafu we were good to go. 

Girls night dinner at a new restaurant. 

The next day I was battling a bit of a stomach thing and finally motivated to get moving Sunday at 1.... After hours of the kids crying over Macky. We emerged with our newest family member. 

Corncob Lucas Snowball.  Recently they've been calling him Corncob Lucas Racing Stripes Snowball.  Each child picked 1 name. Hilly suggested "Flutter."

We took him to Grammy and Pops' house. 

He was super nervous this day. But he has relaxed with us since then. 

Jackie snuggling Corncob. 

Also- new ukelele lessons!!! 

The teacher wouldn't even see Hilly for 10 min. He said "we wouldn't get anything done." In my mind I was like dude! You only need to make her feel like she is getting a lesson so she doesn't cry. He didn't get it. Sigh. 

Anyway, Jack loved it. 

I was so proud of her I took them to get their toenails painted nearby. 

Then to Rita's. Nobody finished their ice cream. Which means I ate everyone's ice cream. 

Week 2 of summer

Last Sat AM (and thus morning), Benny had soccer. He was pretty excited and then a bit overwhelmed. All the kids were 3, there were a bunch and some were hysterical. This didn't help calm him. So me and Ben just watched for awhile until he couldn't help himself from joining. 

Then he would remember he felt shy and sit down again. Rinse and repeat. 

Saturday during the day we went to my extended fam's hunting lodge (pics below) which was a great time. The kids played w Blake and their 3rd cousin JR. 

Father's Day we went on a walk and we came home and played in the pool. 

Em and Miss Amy hung for awhile. 

Ice cream from ice cream truck, courtesy of our awesome neighbors.

Monday the kids started vacation bible school. They LOVED it.

Last minute, our gymnastics friends invited them to their amazing pool. I was a little apprehensive BC we never had a play date w them before but Cara was there too and all the kids ended up playing so well. I was worried for nothing. 

Wear purple day 2 of VBS. On day 1, it was yellow day. My kids wouldn't wear yellow and hilly wore her purple dance recital costume. Just trying to get my $80 worth.

Afterwards we babysat Emily and Kate until Betsy got home. 

We got home and I caught Hilly writing out an invitation to Kyle. I LOVE how she sounded this out. 

Tennis Tuesday.

Then we had Abby's birthday party at Stratosphere. Ben was totally overwhelmed and Hilly wasn't that into it either (at first) so it sort of sucked. But Jack had a blast jumping w Payton. 

Ben did love the goodie bag though. 

Day 3 of bible school. Hilly let her freak flag fly, man. She was so serious and confident, who was I to step in her way? 

We came home and Evelyn and Mere came over to play. Payton and Hannah joined us later. 

Ice skating Wed night. The girls asked to skate a little afterwards. 

Thursday. After VBS we went to HAC for Jack's yoga and then her and Payton did a drop in gymnastics. Below she is practicing her back bend. 

Hilly did drop in dance and also karate. Jack and Payton below did a drop in hip hop class. 

Benny was too overwhelmed to try karate. Then he fell and hurt his face. He was exhausted. He gets really overstimulated. 

Friday after VBS there was a VBS show. 

I LOVE that my girls get up and dance and participate. I watched a documentary on the PS22 choir and this 5th grade teacher and choir director said if they become cynical and withdrawn by the time they are 10, you've basically lost them. This has stayed with me. I want my kids to be joyful participants in life. I do NOT want them to be too cool for school. 

Picnic afterwards. 

We drove straight to grandma's to hang w our cousins. This pic I love BC the kids are just hanging out together outside.

Pop pop clearly rules. 

These 2...

The crew from afar. 

And this below is from the hunting cabin.