SUPER fun.

We are continuing to enjoy the buzz and festivities in conjunction with the Super Bowl. Over this past weekend, Zach and I took Bennett down so he could enjoy the experience. We had a great time (despite the wind). It was so exciting to see how the city has transformed and welcomed guests and media.

Check out the sticker on the JW...impressive. From the north/south, it appears 3-D. We arrived early in the day and enjoyed our one-on-one time with Bennett. It is the little things I appreciate with him...we enjoyed our lunch sitting on bar stools at a cocktail table and he was perfect - watching the people and live entertainment.

Practicing his skills (with help!) as a wide-receiver. He ran his route, prepared to catch...well, almost, then ran through blocks to score his touchdown!

Easily the littlest football player that participated during our 20 minute wait, he received lots of cheers from the volunteers and others waiting in line - it was priceless! We moved on to the Rush Zone where the footballs and coordinating activities are pint-sized. He loved it and repeated many of the activities several times.

The NFL Locker Room. Bennett checking out Rob Gronkowski's locker. When my brother called last night to check-in, the first thing Bennett said, "Tell Uncle Drew I went to the football game..." I think he felt so big and we made a big deal out of him participating.

Bennett posing as the "head" for Terry Bradshaw of the Steelers. I mean, seriously...hysterical. He kept trying to make his "mean" face. After checking out the autograph and memorbilia tents, we headed outside and walked around the village. Again, everything looked great and it was just incredible to see the city on this big stage.

I didn't want to totally leave Elly Rose out of the story. She stayed home with memaw and papaw (this is not a photo from the day, but one I snapped a couple weeks ago to illustrate her version of a tantrum...she falls to the ground and does this half cry. It is a bit pathetic). I think she had more fun staying home and it helped us to have more fun with Bennett.

We are excited for the fun weekend ahead! And, poor Peyton and Eli. I hope the media can find it in themselves to leave them alone so they can enjoy the week...

Halloween and Birthday

We returned from our Florida vacation with my family on Halloween...so this made for one busy day, but with an early flight we returned in time to dig out halloween costumes and gather all our neighbors, plus others for appetizers before beginning the door-to-door run...

Sadly, I don't have any good photos from the evening. Just quickly snapped a couple. Bennett, a fireman, and Elly Rose, his dalmation dog. Here she is inserting herself between Bennett and Charlotte, his spanish senorita. The kids had so much fun and we have so many wonderful neighbors.


This is about 1/2 of the children...we are missing elmo, a zebra and a hershey kiss, among others. For the 2 hours of trick-or-treating, it feels like the neighborhood shuts down and everyone opens their doors for the littles. Spooky music, children running about, great decor and yummy treats. Lead by the older children, Bennett embraced going door-to-door for candy, but we learned he does NOT like skeletons. He still asks about them!

6 days later we were gathered back together with family and friends for the occasion of Bennett's third birthday. I love looking back at all the photos. One year older, he really understood that this was a celebration for him...so precious. He loves for me to tell him about the day he was born and asks funny questions like did he go in an ambulance (which he associates with hospitals). I love telling him about that amazing day... 5:01 p.m. and what those first moments were like after he was born.

It is incredible to think about the growth and development of our little ones in the first few years. To look back and remember his second birthday compared to turning three. I love his expression!

Part II of birthday celebration came on his actual birthday (Sunday). We invited 5 of Bennett's little boy friends and their mammas to join us for lunch at Steak and Shake before heading to Firestation #6 for a tour of the trucks. The boys had such a fun time sipping milkshakes and taking turns pretending to drive the engine truck and the ladder truck or sitting in the back of the ambulance.

The firemen were so wonderful with the boys. Answering questions, taking pictures, celebrating our little guy turning 3 and making him feel special. Up close the trucks are SO big. The boys were as tall as the tires, yet here they have climbed all the way to the top of the ladder truck to check out the view from above.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Bennett! We love you all the way to the moon...and back. Or as you might say, "I love you...from the heart."

Back on the Wagon.

New Years Resolution: don't fall so behind on blogging that you are a bit overwhelmed by where to start. 22 days into the new year, I decided tonight is the night to write. So here I go...not out of obligation, but because I enjoy writing and reflecting on these little beings, our happenings, their milestones and so much more...

I intend to circle back on the holidays missed and these little guys turning 3, but for now it is just an update on where we are in January 2012. Satisfied and thankful to have healthy family and friends, embracing excitement for the Super Bowl activity over the next few weeks and loving the growth and learning we see daily from our babies.


We continue to be surprised by Bennett's imagination and curiosity. His backpack transforms to his oxygen tank when his firefighter duties call. Bennett continues to seek answers to understand the world around him. He loves to recite and act out stories from books. When the stomach flu hit his little body in early-December he was brave. When we discussed and made the decision to give away ALL of his pacifiers to other babies he was even more brave (although I was in tears). He is on a second round of antibiotics for a double ear infection he has had since two days after Christmas and yet he is still sleeping great.

And a personal favorite, a few weeks ago Bennett said, "Mommy, you're the best." I think my reaction has only spurred him to repeat the compliment 759 more times, but who is counting...

The relationship between Bennett and Elly Rose continues to grow. He often calls her "sweetheart" and takes pride in greeting her when she wakes in the morning or following a nap. He is working on sharing his toys with her and allowing her to be "part" of his imaginary play. It is difficult becase she doesn't comprehend what he is trying to create, but wants very much to be with him. When Elly Rose learns a new trick or word, Bennett is so excited and gives her the confidence to do more.

We are seeing more toddler Elly Rose and less baby Elly Rose. At 15- months, she moves about the house with confidence, climbs with even more confidence and has shown us glimpses of a tantrum or two. Following Bennett's double ear infection, she had the same. Like her big brother, she has been a trooper through the cold/flu season. We sent her out into the snow this weekend (for a full 4 minutes). Wrapped in Bennett's arms, she took a quick trip around the back yard in the sled.


She is determined and at times, fiesty. She doesn't allow Bennett to take toys from her like he could a couple months ago. I think she will be a little fighter. On the flip side, she can be really shy...hiding in our shoulder at church and when she wakes from a nap, she likes to snuggle. Never a big fan of Fenny, she has come around and likes to give kisses and hugs to doggy.

A sample of determination. By the time Christmas rolled around, we had removed nearly half our ornaments. She would find a way to reach them and take them off the tree. At our New Years Eve gathering, she was the first "dancing on the table" - their dining room table. Helped herself onto the chair, climbed straight onto the table and promptly stood up in the middle of it. We never even had a glimpse of "climbing" from Bennett at this age.

I am fortunate to work with many wonderful parent volunteers. The moms often ask how Bennett and Elly Rose are doing. They listen and smile and then say how fast this all goes and how much they miss what I am doing. I really try to remember this. I think I have written this before, but I love every stage more. There are things I miss about a previous stage, but there is so much reward in seeing the progress of their learning and growing.

Santa's Not Coming

This is a hot topic at our house. My son is just old enough to almost comprehend or at least I was hoping he would comprehend that if he is bad Santa is not going to come to our home. I started threatening him that Santa is not coming when he acts up and I am afraid I have played it out one too many times. I came to this realization this morning when I was dropping him off at daycare. The past few weeks were pretty tame, but this morning my arsenal came up short.

Earlier this month it was

"Santa's not coming if you do not share."

"Santa's not coming if you push your sister."

"Santa's not coming if you throw your food."

"Santa's not coming if you yell."

Then, as the month wore on it became more non-sensical
"Santa's not coming if you do not get dressed."

"Santa's not coming if you bother the driver."
"Santa's not coming unless you eat all your food."

And this morning I decided to quit the "Santa's not coming" bit when I said,

"Bennett, Santa's not coming if,"
and he interrupted and proceeded to finish the sentence with
"I am mean to Daddy with sweetarts behind his ear and brush his teeth"

Conversation ended in bewilderment on both ends. I am not sure that when E.Rose approaches this age the conversation will ever pick up where it left off.

Disney World

Whenever I think about the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I think of the line "...the gang's all here!" as Mickey does roll call. Traveling with 5 children, 6 and under (and Zach and occasionally my dad), meant a constant roll call - do we have everyone? That makes me smile. Traveling in large groups does not always mean convenience, but it is sure to mean helping hands and great memories...

Woody made the flight down! Our plane left entirely too early to worry about changing clothes. We transferred babies from beds to carseats. Bennett entered our hotel as Woody - the staff loved it! He received a birthday button upon his arrival. We were conveniently located close to Magic Kingdom - a simple boat ride away!

Hanging by the pool...dancing to music, hula hoops, jump tic tac toe game (papaw and camden in the background), our party of 11 meant we eventually earned a hot tub to ourselves. The adults were rewarded with an afternoon frozen cocktail and the kids loved playing in and around the water.

Waiting to see Mickey! It was really nice to stay on the property. We could easily move around from resort to park without the need of car seats, etc. They are so prepared for small children and strollers...thank goodness.

Magic Kingdom in sight! The boys taking it all in. Our weather was amazing. The highlights and great memories are numersous. After deleting, I still have more than 300 photos (and we forgot our camera for one entire day). Just a few that come to mind now include Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party, breakfast with Handy Manny, Disney Junior Live on Stage, The Muppet Show, my entire family pictured wearing our 3-D glasses as we headed into an interactive Buzz Lightyear ride, Peter Pan, Main Street, ice cream cones, meeting Mickey and Minne Mouse

Pluto signing Bennett's autograph book. The characters are so wonderful with the children. All of the boys were comfortable meeting them and Elly Rose was intrigued, as well. She didn't care much for characters touching her if she was not being held by one of us and she let Minnie Mouse know about it...

Papaw and Memaw with their grandbabies! No small accomplishment to get them all wearing their hats and mostly looking like they are ready to be photographed. Papaw promised some ice cream after we did the photos...good trick...it worked! And Rosie loves ice cream. She was hysterical if we were not giving her a fair share.

Its a Small World! Bennett will randomly start singing this song now...warms my heart.

(fastforward...we didn't have our camera Handy Manny and many other highlights. Thankfully, my sis and mom did!)

Legoland! Daddy, Bennett and R2D2. Zach was thrilled to see a Star Wars presence at Disney and Legoland. Legoland is located outside Orlando and conveniently, in the same community where my grandpa and Tootie live. It just opened and we had a fabulous time. R2D2 is made exclusively of little legos. You can find this throughout the entire park. One exhibit, sponsored by Ford, includes a car - close to 1 million legos to make it.

Zach, Mom and Bennett are in the fire truck...it was a race. The sight of them pumping an air-compressor to move it along, then pumping water and aiming to the window was in one-word, hysterical. At least they won! Later in the day...Zach, Bennett, Camden and I faced off against Amy, Chris, Cooper and Carson...it was a battle and our team one again :) I think Zach's pumping method left my sis laughing too hard to contribute much help to her team...

We spent the end of our day at Legoland in the Duplo Village. It was perfect for Elly Rose (and Bennett and Cooper). Clean, gated areas to explore, play with legos and participate on simple rides.

And ending our last evening out for mexican and margaritas! Fun trip with family...Bennett talks about bits and pieces of this vacation regularly. It was his first exposure to pirates and peter pan...I have a feeling his fascination with Wendy, Captain Hook and gang will continue to grow.