Do You Want to Plant a Garden?

 

 A little snippet from Bennett's Spring Sing and Art Show program...we adore all of his teachers, but his music teacher is also a dear friend and she re-wrote the words to "Do You Want to Build A Snowman?" 

 

 

Following the program, Bennett proudly shared with us his art pieces displayed through the Hilbert Center.  Wonderful day!

Ballet Recital

Elly Rose takes ballet with a couple little friends - every Thursday afternoon.  Her class participated in the Holiday Hoopla Recital this past weekend.  Bennett quickly picked out his favorite "team" - it was a group of girls (maybe 7 years old) wearing red and black.  He kept asking for them to come back out on stage, and last night he asked me if I took any video footage of the "red girls?"...hmm. 

 

This just makes us laugh...

 

 Rosie is in the middle.  Be still my heart...

Christmas Magic

The spirit of the season with 3 and 5-year-old babes is in full swing!  They are having so much fun talking about their elf, santa and his reindeer and singing songs in the car.  Bennett requested an increase in  home decor (claimed we didn't decorate much for halloween) and we obliged.  

 

We found a warm evening to head downtown and mail their letters to Santa.  We enjoyed how lively monument circle was on this evening.  I think Bennett asked us twelve hundred questions about the Sailors and Soldier Monument...whew.

 



 

Next up...a trip to Brown County for the annual Christmas Party and santa sighting with the Yeo, VanTassel clan. 

Elly Rose and Viv cheesing for the camera... 



 

While the girls and mamas stayed indoors by the fire, the big boys and dads went on a snowy hike through the woods and over a creek (crawling on a log!) in 8+ inches of snow...what fun!

 



 

Warming up by the fire and enjoying lunch before Santa's arrival!  Bennett's pants needed a trip through the dryer...he proudly sported his superman undies for a better part of the party.

 



 

This santa is one special guy - he has held our babies nearly every year - reading to them and carefully listening to their wish lists.  Click here to see past years...love this little tradition.

 



 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas he reads with such magic.  He knows the name of each little boy and girl - making them feel so special!

 



 

Bennett practiced very carefully the three things he is asking Santa to bring him on Christmas:  fast shoes that tie, ninja turtle legos and raphael's turtle gear.

 



 

Elly Rose didn't shy away from telling santa her wish list either:  butterfly wings and lady bugs.

 



 

We continue to drink up their goodness and little personalities.  Next up is the Nutcracker, MHCC Xmas party and a little ballet recital for Elly Rose (we were told by her teacher that in her last class she pretended to be a tiger...on all fours...for the entire class - doing her batma kicks and posses while remiaining in tiger position - we are hopeful she stands up for her recital.)

5 years ago!

Oh this sweet boy has melted our hearts since the moment we first laid eyes on him. I can barely remember life before him, and yet can not believe he is already one whole hand in years. I remember being 5 and feeling so big. In some ways it is scary to me now that he has reached an age where he will recall his own memories and experiences one day.

This is photo number 44.  It struck me as funny seeing this.  5 years later we easily have a few thousand... 

 

 

 I could easily flip through web albums of our littles and their experiences all day long...

 

 

This was his second time meeting great papa...right at 6 months old!

 



 

 Today, Bennett went to visit Dr. Cumming for his 5 year old check-up.  He did a fantastic job of withstanding 3 shots in preparation for kindergarten next year.  And for the record...he is now over 40 inches tall and weighs 37 pounds.

 

 

First birthday fun with balloons!  I remember taking him out for pizza on his first birthday - it fell on a Friday - I think it was much more of a celebration for mom and dad...thinking back to this day one year ago! 

 

And some of my favorite memories...

 

 Handsome boy!

 

 

Funny boy at the apple orchard...

Didn't want to wait too long to get him a seat at Nick's!

 



 

ZooBoo with his cousins!  The timing was perfect for a day out with family while mom and dad stayed home with his brand new baby sister.

 



 

...melts my heart - our babies!

 

 

...arriving to Disney in his Woody jammies!

 

 

...exploring the beaches of southern Georgia!

 

...taking care of his "baby!"

 

...lots of learnning and growing in JK!

 



 

...bringing Teddy along everyday as a little security in his new, big world!

 

 

...always wanting to have fun and conspire with his cousins! 

 

...more beach fun in sunny Florida!

 



 

...exploring museums! 

 

 

..."Super Bennett" pose?

 

...our handsome boy at five!

 

 

...muscle pose with his birthday party friends!

 

...blowing out that candle.  For us, that expression says it all!

 

We love you to the moon and back sweet boy!!

Elly Rose turns 3!

We are amidst birthday season (with halloween smushed in the middle) at our house.  The anticipation of candles, cupcakes, parties, surprises, a new number to proudly share when that frequent question, "how old are you?" comes up in conversation...all very exciting and much anticipated by our littles.  Although, Bennett struggles to fully understand why Elly Rose celebrates her birthday before him...

This is on the morning of Elly Rose's 3rd birthday...it fell over fall break for Bennett and I, so we enjoyed a low key day of celebrating - complete with her pick of cider slushies from the lilly orchard...yum!  Bennett picked out this yo gabba t-shirt for Elly Rose for her birthday and she begs to wear it every day!
 

 

We convinced her into an outfit change for her lil party.  My mom made this sweet frock for her and Elly Rose was quite excited when she saw it.  This year, she helped to pick out the fabric, so upon seeing it transformed into an outfit, she was quite pleased.

 



 

And...another outfit change for the day - wearing a newly opened princess dress-up frock and necklace to go with her "kitty cat" cake...we are dabbling in all kinds of animated creations these days.

 



 

We wanted to include a few of her little friends in a birthday celebration this year.  After a little brainstorming, we decided to try Build A Bear.  It was so much fun to have a handful of little ladies select, fluff, clean and dress little bears...we loved it!  Wonderful hands on activity and a little dessert to follow.

 



 

Rosie decided very quickly that she wanted her bear to wear "colts cheer-weader."  Didn't even have an interest in looking at the VAST (I had no idea of the options) selection of clothing choices for a selected animal. 

 



 

Project complete!  Happy 3rd Birthday to our little spitfire of a girl!