Let It Go

Back in December, Will took Anna-Kate on a daddy-daughter date to the movies.  She saw Frozen in the theater with daddy, her first trip to the theater.  

She loved the movie and she loved the experience!

 But, that means that I was left out!  The many times I have heard "Let It Go" or listened to everyone else talk about the new Disney classic, I just had to nod along like I understood.  

Friday night we fixed that!  It was time for a movie night with our big girl.  We put Benjamin down a few minutes early and let Anna-Kate stay up late for this movie night!  

No Frozen movie night would be complete without a Frozen treat!!  Blue Bell vanilla and all the fixin's for a sundae! 

It's fun spoiling our girl in little ways like this!

3

I am getting sentimental.  

We only have 3 more weeks to watch Natalie.  

Day 1, October 2011

One more kid and a lot of inches grown since that first day!

About 890 days later, March 2014

These three are going to miss seeing each other as often as they are used to!! 

 Three more weeks to get in lots of favorite things and lots of hugs!

Miscellaneous

I just cleaned almost 2 months of pictures off my phone!  So much randomness...

Anna-Kate had a birthday party for one of her preschool friends.  A friend from the neighborhood who just turned 11 gave AK quite a bit of dress up clothes and accessories.  This was the insisted upon outfit for the birthday party!  

The party was all about science!  It was such a neat party full of science experiments.  This was some "goo" that the kids made.

Anna-Kate was probably most excited about making snow!

Our heat downstairs went out for a couple days.  One naptime I could not handle doing chores downstairs in the cold so AK and I had movie time on mom and dad's bed instead.

This is probably the most played with toy Benjamin received for his birthday.  Gramps and Grandma spoiled!  After 4 weeks of nonstop lego train, I put the train away for a couple weeks.  Benjamin has not forgotten; he asks for his "choo choo twain" quite often!

 I love how much the little boy Benjamin looks in this picture with his muddy knees!

Benjamin says he wants to go to the "mall with Evie" almost everyday.  They are such cute buddies!  These pictures capture them perfectly, sweet and silly!

Will has really enjoyed his first weeks at his new job!  And, I have really enjoyed knowing he is in Raleigh.  One time Benjamin and I were nearby. I called and asked if he could take a 10 minute break.  He thought I wanted to talk on the phone...we are here, daddy!  Such a fun treat to see daddy for a couple minutes in the middle of the day!

The same generous girl in the neighborhood gave Anna-Kate one of her old, outgrown bikes.  This was on the short list for possible birthday gifts.  Instead we are just praying for warmth so she can get out there more consistently to practice.  More on this when she actually learns how to ride.  For now, I still have to hold on to help her steer while she gets pedaling down pat.

Can you stand the cuteness?!  

Anna-Kate is going to be a flower girl this summer in my sister's wedding.  This is a sweet preview of that coming attraction.  This is also good documentation of how long AK's hair has gotten.

One morning, everyone was in a good mood.  I took 10 minutes to sit and watch a morning cartoon with them.  This happened and melted my heart!

Natalie is flying the airplane; AK is sleeping through the flight.

This happens e.ve.ry.time we pick up AK from preschool.  They say "lunch box." Off they go!  Lots of smiles from the other parents and teachers!

When your morning is delayed...

You have time to eat a very relaxed breakfast,

and you get to enjoy some praise music before really starting your day.

We have always laughed that when Benjamin is relaxed he crosses his ankles.  During sleep he crosses his ankles often!  As well as, in the car, watching TV,  eating, ... he's just a relaxed guy!

Anna-Kate goes to "big church" with us now; she has since September.   This is the first time I have seen her raiser her arm when singing God-songs, as she calls them.  I love seeing evidence of her paying attention to what is going on at church around her!

Saturday morning

Aaahh, Saturday morning,

with one of the kids' favorite treats

"Ann'-Ka'e!  See!  Poocakes!"

We may say, "what's that?" to Benjamin about a dozen times just to hear him say "poocakes!"

A New Era

Those sweet little ones...

Did I really stay inside the kitchen and let them play outside by themselves?

A new era of parenting is starting.

Anna-Kate is proud to be the big kid on duty!  Benjamin and Natalie feel big hanging out with Anna-Kate.  Mom got supper started.  Still super slow because I couldn't stay away from the window watching them!

Warmth leads to Ducks!

Warmth, aahh, warm sunshine!  How we enjoy you!

Saturday's warm and sunshine-filled day begged for us to go outside.

We enjoyed our sunshine at Lake Lynn!  Time to feed the ducks!

These two were so happy!  This picture was barely possible.

When the bread we brought ran out, Anna-Kate found corn and other crumbs from the bridge to throw the ducks.

Benjamin was absolutely in his happy place!  He called to the ducks from through the side of the bridge.  Then he would come back out and see a dog and he would try to follow the dog, saying "pet dog pet dog."  At one point he found himself in the middle of 4 dogs, smiling and looking around not knowing which dog to pet first!

We adults have to admit, we were quite happy ourselves!  

At one point, Will had a group of sea gulls hovering around him as he threw bread straight to them!

Aaahh warm days, we have missed you!

7 Years and Counting!

7 years ago I walked down the aisle, this happy and this barefoot, to meet my chivalrous prince

proving that this really is true

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Happy Anniversary to my man!  

Official Big Boy

Benjamin is all about being "big boy" lately!  He wants to do whatever Anna-Kate is doing.  He loves to jump off everything.  He loves to tell me no.  He absolutely loves to chew gum.  His phrases and ability to speak his mind are improving all the time!  Multiple word phrases are becoming the norm.  We hear daily, "let me have it;"  "no, my turn;"  "Mom, here ya go;"  "I need ___;"  

Where did my baby go?!

To add one more piece to this growing boy's story, we knew it was time to get him his first "big boy" haircut.  No more long, combed over look.  It was time to cut his hair shorter.  

Here is Benjamin in the car right as we arrive.  I love his shaggy bed head!

He did so well!  He was curious and he was done before she was, but he never cried and didn't fight it!

And, here is my big boy with his lollipop!  

How handsome is this kid!