Ben Is 9 & Mark's Blessing

Can you believe Ben is 9? We had a little (this is relatively speaking with my family-25 people) family party at our house on Sunday after Mark's blessing. We had a nice brunch outside on the deck since it was beautiful weather. I only gave Ben 2 shirts for his birthday since I know he hates getting clothes for gifts. He did get a cool "Mad Science" (an after school program) registration for the whole month of November and December. They are focusing on space - which Ben loves!

This is Mark's blessing outfit. In the bottom picture doesn't he look like he is impersonating the bad guy from the Austin Power's movies? I don't know his name - I never saw the movies but Mike Meyers plays him as well as Austin Powers.

Halloween 2008

This year for Halloween Emma was a "mom of a newborn", Ben was a "soldier", and Abby was a "table". Abby came up with the idea herself. It was a super easy costume to make. We used cardboard, an old sheet and lots of paper products.

Mark's Halloween costume said, "My First Halloween don't scare me". This was a gift from Aunt Jenny. Too CUTE!!!

Standing On My Soapbox (feel free to skip reading this one - venting)

I have been told on more than one occasion that I shelter my children. Well.... as of Friday I am glad I do. Abby had presentations at her gifted school on Friday. They had to prepare three projects about themselves including a power point presentation. She did a great job. This is a picture of her credo. She wants to be in the Olympics and go to Harvard Law School.

The other children's aspirations were scary. Some girls wanted to be Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, and singers. A lot of the boys wanted to be video game analysts and programmers. Some of their favorite movies and TV shows were Troy, Gladiator, South Park and Family Guy (these are 10 & 11 year olds)!

I am thankful I have such a sweet little girl!!!!!

Mark 1 Month Old

Here is a picture of Mark frowning and wrinkling his eyebrows with Mike on his birthday - one month!


Here is a picture of Mark in his first pair of jeans! Don't you love Baby Gap?



I know - I know, I need to put him on skim breast milk.

I Have Been Tagged

The rules, as provided by Lindsey:

• Link the person who tagged you.
• Tell about 6 quirks of yours.
• Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.
  
• Leave a comment to let them know.

1. I don't like to see people chewing gum. I know-I know everyone likes to do it (including me) but I hate to watch people chew.
2. I don't like people to wash their hands in my kitchen sink - I only like certain germs in my kitchen :)
3. I don't like to fill out "thank you" card envelopes addressed to myself at showers. If I can take the time to go and get a present and go to your shower you can take two minutes to fill out my thank you card.
4. I don't like to be behind slow drivers.
5. I don't like to be disorganized.
6. I have to eat breakfast or I am REALLY grumpy.

I tag Emily, Amy, Jenny, Liza, Lisa M., & Cindy
In your spare time!!!!

My Little Athletes & Abby is 11!!!!

Here is a picture of Abby and Ben after their first swim meet of the season. Abby won first place in backstroke out of 21 other girls. She also won 3rd place on freestyle against 23 other girls. Ben won 4th place in backstroke at his first meet - competing with boys who are 9-10 years old, because he is about to turn 9 next month. I am very proud of both of them.




Abby turned 11 and got big girls presents - clothes and books. Ben remarked after she opened all of her presents that she got boring presents this year. I told him that is what big girls like to get for presents. I can't believe she will be in Young Women next year.

I Had Forgotten.....

I had forgotten how time consuming a newborn can be. This blog has taken two weeks and 13 attempts to try to post. Every time I even tried to download my pictures to the computer he would start to fuss that he wanted to eat or be changed.

It has been a totally different experience this time - being older and having older children. I am enjoying the small things a lot more now.

Things I had forgotten:

1. Lack of sleep, but I love being able to go to sleep when the children get on the bus in the morning.
   
2. The joy of nursing - my favorite time is dawn
   
3. How fast they grow out of their newborn clothes
4. When they first smile at you - even though the experts say it is just reflexes - it is still a smile
   
5. Watching older siblings interact with the new baby
6. How many diapers they go through
7. How attached you become to them in such a short time
   

Mark 1 week old.



I LOVE little, baby feet!



The only time he cried in the first two weeks was during bath time. He hated baths. This is the frown he got from Mike. Sometimes when Mike is thinking he will wrinkle his eyebrows together like this.



This is Mark at 3 weeks.