Out of the Mouths of Babes, Vol. 7

Jack is playing Mario Kart on the Wii. He told me he was racing as my Mii. He said, "Isn't she pretty?" And just as I thought "oh how sweet", he says, "Well...she's not THAT cute."

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Ben likes to bounce on our knees a lot.  So a lot of times we bounce to the beat of "This is the way the ladies ride....the gentlemen ride...the cowboys ride...the Indians ride....!!"  Jack sometimes sings along for the beginning. Yesterday, he sang the final verse, "This is the way the IDIOTS ride, the IDIOTS ride, the IDIOTS ride...!"  Perhaps we should enunciate a little better.

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When he isn't calling Ben "Bennie Boo Boo", Jack calls him "ya little beak", "ya little nose", "ya little stinker", "ya little goofball".  I'm fairly certain this might be my fault since I am pretty sure I call him "you little turkey" sometimes.  I can't figure out if I like that Jack does this...or not so much.

Out of the Mouths of Babes, Vol. 6

So Jack and I were having a conversation about boy parts and girl parts. And I was explaining that girls don't have what he has, and he was adamant that yes, in fact, they do. Since he apparently didn't believe me, he said, "Well, I'm going to ask the girls at daycare and check and see." Oh my.  I did ask him not to ask this question because it was rude, but he said, "You're LYING to me." So...that's fantastic.  

Cupcakes

Last night we had dinner with Jace, Laura, and Greta.

Jack was really looking forward to playing with Greta...

...Greta really just wanted to play with and watch Ben. 

But they were both on board with one thing...CUPCAKES.

We had a great time seeing Jace and Laura, and we will definitely not let so much time get by before we get together again.  

We've got the blues...

...a blue room that is.

Bob and I are complete slackers and have never painted this god awful house.

We were pregnant when we moved in and I opted not to paint, and then we just haven't made the time ever since.  We are OVER it.

We plan to hire painters for the majority of the house, but we're going to do some touchups ourselves and figured we could at least manage to really paint one room.

Jack's room.

I asked him what color he wanted.  Of course, he said purple (it's his favorite color after all).  Purple wasn't going to work for me and the decor already in his room.  So, we opted for 'celestial blue' to be exact.

After lots of blood, sweat, and tears (LITERALLY) we finished the room and got it put back together TEN whopping minutes before Jack walked in the door.

Completed project...

He was initially excited about his 'new room'....

...he has now complained that he wanted the old color back.

And then he said he was mad because it wasn't purple.

And today, we read "The Berenstain Bears Show Some Respect" lol

First Overnight...

So, Bob and I had some big plans for this weekend around the house.

And, in mentioning it to my parents, they offered to take the boys to their house. 

While I am NOWHERE near ready to let Ben go anywhere, we decided it was time to bite the bullet and let Jack stay the night.  (It's hard because it's over an hour away, and saying I'm paranoid is an understatement lol). 

When they offered,  I came home and asked Jack first before giving them an answer.  He told me, "Yes, I absolutely DO want to go to Poppy and TT's house...all alone.  And I'm not going to cry about it."  He had one moment in the bedroom with me before he left when he said kind of quietly, "I don't want to go all alone." But he let it deter him, and he went along happily. 

As it turns out, Jack had a wonderful time.  He didn't even want to come home.  So, I'd say it was a success.

And I'm sure he'll be begging to do it again soon (and I imagine so will Poppy and TT).

Here are my pictures of Ben getting into trouble without big brother to constantly corral him...

Brothers

These two are ALWAYS playing together when they are awake.  

Jack is an awesome big brother.  

95% of the time he WANTS to play and entertain Ben.

And Ben follows his big brother everywhere.

If Jack is in the room on the floor, so is Ben.

I think in this picture Jack had decided they were having a 'yard sale'. He got out a bunch of toys and set them out in a circle.  I asked him later if he knew what a yard sale was...needless to say, his definition and mine didn't quite match.

Out of the Mouths of Babes, Vol. 5

Yesterday at lunch, Jack told me, "From now on, I think I'll just call you Laura."

Um, no, big boy...you won't.

The Many Faces of Ben

We've officially entered that phase where trying to capture a picture is about impossible.  98% of the time you're going to get the back of his head or something is going to be blurry.

And poor Ben...most of his pictures are just from my cell phone.  Who has the time to bust out the camera these days?

Out of the Mouths of Babes, Vol. 4

I got summoned to Jack's bedroom about 20 minutes after he was supposed to go to bed.  He told me, "I don't want to hear ANY noises and NO talking.  It's too loud.  ... AND I have way too much energy to go to sleep." Okay, then.

Jack's Pictures

By Elisabeth Smith

Dinner Date

With my 3 favorite boys!!!

Didn't love being in his carseat.

I think all we heard from him was, "I'm bored." and "I'm hungry."

Needless to say, we don't venture out for dinner very often.  

It's just not quite the pleasant, relaxing experience one yearns for when splurging on dinner.

Regardless, every now and then, you have to try it anyway...

That would be Cheesecake Factory leftovers...and Flying Cupcake to take home!
Which probably was worth the hectic atmosphere inside our little booth with 2 crazy little boys.

Ben loves...

...his pacifiers.

Out with the Old, In with the New

We got new living room furniture yesterday.  

The sectional couch just wasn't working for us anymore.

I missed end tables and coffee tables...you know, places to set drinks.

So, when the delivery guys showed up yesterday, it was time to say sayonara to our old couch.

I won't miss it.

But I will REMEMBER it...forever.

It's the couch I brought my babies home to.

The couch I snuggled them on, nursed them on, changed them on.

It's the first couch Bob and I ever purchased together.

Last pictures on the couch...

Ben waiting for the delivery guys to make their appearance...

The new stuff...

I think we have a vote of approval!

Brothers...

It was very obvious yesterday how much these two (especially Ben) missed playing together.  

I had really not let Jack get super close or touch Ben while he was sick.

But yesterday, since his fever had finally gone away and he seemed to be back to his usual self...

...they played together all day.  

Ben followed Jack everywhere.

And since Ben has hated the bath tub lately, they even took their first bath together.

I don't think it was nearly as much fun as Jack had hoped for...

...but it made a big difference for Ben. 

He was quite a happy camper.

Ben will NOT leave this outlet alone to save his life...literally.

Out of the Mouths of Babes, Vol. 3

Jack: "Mommy, I'm very very disappointed."

Me: "Why?"

Jack: "Because I want water."

Me: "So who are you disappointed with?"

Jack: (points his finger at me)

Better...

And, finally, on the sixth day...we are fever free.  

He even has an appetite today.

Progress.