Around Here This Week

Benjamin has loved just standing near Anna-Kate and whatever she is doing!

Getting Anna-Kate's hair ready for dance is her least favorite moment of the week.  They ask that their hair be in a bun, ponytail or braid.  It is the only time during the week that her hair is in one of those.  So far, I have not introduced her to the bun.  I think she looks beautiful with her hair pulled up, but she really does not love getting her hair pulled back.  

We went to Walmart for a few things the other day.  Anna-Kate picked this up and said, "this is for Leah."  Anna-Kate, who is Leah?  "That's my baby sister."  Okay.  Glad you planned and named her.  We will wait a bit before we look into that, though.

Benjamin has not felt great this week.  Desperate, I pulled out the bjourn.  He passed out so quickly!  I loved seeing his sweet little sleeping face, but my back definitely realized immediately that he hasn't been in that in months!

 "Color.  Color.  ' Kate.  Color."  This scene with those words by Natalie have been the theme of the last week or so.  Anna-Kate and Natalie have loved coloring like this!  And, it lasts happily for 20 minutes or more!  I won't argue with this being a favorite activity!

Pajama Time

Benjamin - 4 months; Anna-Kate - 3yrs, 1 month

 Benjamin - 12 months, Anna-Kate - 3 yrs, 9 months

I love my littles in their pajamas! and I love Then-and-Now's!  I feel like both of them have changed so much in between these two pictures.  A baby becomes a toddler.  A toddler becomes a kid.  Stop.it.

Sleeping

Last week I finally added a blanket to Benjamin's sleep routine.  I thought he looked too precious to not take a picture.  Every night when I lay him down, he puts his arms behind his head like this and then goes to sleep.    It must take a lot of energy to be the Super Benjamite!  (I also admit that I need to take the paci away and I have hoped that he would grow attached to the blanket a little to make that transition easier.  So far, no signs of that, haha.)

Night Night Kitty

When Grandma and Gramps come for a visit, it is time for a sleepover in my Mommy and Daddy's room.

"Mommy, can I sleep in my sleeping bag every night?"

Friday, a Preschool Valentine

"I love you from the bottom of my heart!"

We love you too, big girl!  And, I love these handprint crafts!

Anna-Kate, 3 years 9 months

with Benjamin. 12 months

Thursday Valentine's

I see evidence all around me that baby girl has turned into a kid!  I try not to be in denial, since ushering in the era of "kid" means that we get to do more things together. (Admittedly, I am not always good at this mindset; denial of her big-ness is easier!)  

With my kid, who was so excited about Valentine's Day, we made a Valentine's treat for the family! 

We mixed together a chocolate cake mix.  Plopped in spoonfuls of pink icing.

Carefully maneuvered around my little obstacles.  

Mix cake.  Dollop icing.  Microwave for 10 minutes.  (a pampered chef idea)

Lately, this Valentine baker has really enjoyed helping me in the kitchen.  At least every couple days she wants to help me cook supper.  She was so proud of our Valentine's Cake!  She loved telling Daddy all about it, explaining to him several times that he had to eat a good supper first.  Then we would enjoy it.  

As a treat she asked to watch a show before bed.  And, the true Simmons that she is, got her daddy to give her a scratch while they watched their show.

Meanwhile, our smallest Valentine didn't get any cake, but he didn't seem to mind. 

Wednesdays

Wednesdays (or Fridays) when Anna-Kate is in preschool, it is me and the babies, I mean, toddlers!  I have been thinking often recently that it is time to say toddlers instead of babies when I refer to Benjamin and Natalie.  Wow, I can't believe we are ready for that title-change!

Whether it is meal time or snack time, they get a kick out of eating together.  I seat them at the heads of the table so that I don't accidentally spoon feed Benjamin something that is meant for Natalie.  It has ended up being great since they love getting to watch each other.

I think these grins are saying,
"We're cute and we know it!"

An Important First

Benjamin's birthday weekend, I had not thought ahead enough to have a cake ready for him.  He was going to have to wait until his party a week after his birthday.  He did, however, have a very important first taste....

a Chic-Fil-A french fry!

Can you tell by that grin...he loved it!  I can't share my love of ice cream with my little man, but I can introduce him to the goodness that is Chic-Fil-A!

Tuesdays

Tuesday mornings start out looking like this

A bag and a lunch bag for Anna-Kate for preschool.  A bag for Natalie and a different bag for Benjamin to go to Lambs (Bible study) at church.  A purse for me.  A lunch bag with lunch for Benjamin, Natalie, and me.  A practice in organization, and I guess practicing for school days in my future.

12:35 on Tuesdays as we pull into Asbury Preschool's parking lot to pick up Anna-Kate normally looks like this

No amount of Wheels on the Bus or Old McDonald had a Farm can keep these two awake!  Luckily, getting them out of the car to pick up AK wakes them back up.  So, nap time 30 minutes later still happens.  Sweet little sleeping faces!

ABC's in 2013

This morning, while the kids were playing happily, I got on the computer for a few minutes.  Looking up dairy-free ideas for breakfast, in case you were curious.  Anyway, it took Anna-Kate about 2 minutes of noticing me on the computer to decide she needed to be on the computer too!

 She "helped" me for a few minutes.  When I gave up on the help, I let her type letters.  She told me she wanted to type people's names.  I would tell her which letter to type and then she would find it.  Is this why kids of today seem to know the computer as soon as they know their alphabet!?

Natalie really doesn't like for Anna-Kate to be doing something without her.  She was totally content to stand behind AK....for about 3 minutes anyway.  Then, it was back down to find her favorite toys.

Last week

Last week was pitiful at our house.  I had the stomach bug the week before.  Then Wednesday, both Will and Benjamin had the stomach bug.  Yuck!!  Benjamin seemed to be the one that took the longest to get his appetite and strength back.  For several days, this is the Benjamin we saw.  Crawled a couple paces and then laid down on the ground.  Then fussed to be picked up, and would immediately put his head on your shoulder to cuddle and rest.  The cuddles are the only nice part about a child being sick.

A house with sick ones and a mom tired after playing nurse (and a tired mom from sterilizing the entire house!) means Friday night movie night!

Now, we seem to all be better (dare I say that out loud!).  Today is the first day that Benjamin seemed to eat almost normal portions.  Hopefully our little exploring, getting-into-cabinets man is back!

Benjamin's Party

Saturday afternoon we had Benjamin's first birthday party!   

It was a nice time with almost only family, celebrating this awesome little man in our family! 

First, supper time!  The kids were great!  They all ate at the table.  The jungle-themed plates were a hit!

 

After supper, we let Benjamin open his presents.  Then, to everyone's favorite part of the party:  the cake!

Happy Birthday to you, Benjamin!

There was no hesitation, no funny business, just eating!  He seemed to really enjoy his first taste of chocolate!

Benjamin, don't worry, I have your presents under control!

Thanks Evelyn!  I am busy here myself.

And, in case you were curious, 

look at the inside of everyone else's cake!  We were proud of Benjamin's jungle-themed cake!

As hard as it was for me to admit that Benjamin had his first birthday, I definitely enjoyed celebrating him!