Details



Watching Bennett progress through this school year has been such a gift.  While still primarily focused on play, he has been showing us more and more how eager he is to learn and understand the world around him.  This progression has primarily been slow and steady, but something amazing happened upon his return to school following winter break.  It really was one of those light bulb moments.  And it caught the attention of all of his teachers (in a good way)!

 



Bennett is so aware of detail in all of his drawings, coloring, and craft projects.  He talks about it daily...constantly telling us about the detail of a picture book he has created at school (literally...a book - stapled and several pages long - leaving no creative detail uncovered).  He continually tries out his french and spanish and even asked Zach and I to ask him questions so he could answer us in sign language. 

 



 

He now has such high expectations of himself that we are continually reminding him that he does NOT have to completely start over on a coloring project because of one small detail mistake.  It has been fun to see this side of him emerge.  All that said, we are SO looking forward to warmer weather and longer days to play outdoors.  Bennett is going to begin t-ball this spring, and while I am certain dandelions and dust will capture his time and attention, I am excited to see him begin to learn and understand sports and sportsmanship!

Our babes do love their doggy!  Doesn't the love look mutual?  Bennett is always asking us to take pictures of him and Fenny together - on this morning Elly Rose joined in for a snap with my phone.

 



 

Elly Rose is convinced that, and I quote, "IU boys take their pants off!"  I have had to clarify this statement that she proudly makes to others a handful of times!  Bennett has the IU candy stripe "tear away" pants and they both belly laugh if we "tear" the pants from him.  Plain and simple to Rose, "IU boys take their pants off." Oh, and she thinks every basketball team is "Yogi." (IU's freshman point gaurd.)

 

She continues her very best effort to keep up with Bennett.  Two things I really notice about her right now...she loves to sing and she loves to read books.  She will try to sing along with anything from toddler tunes to the avett brothers.  She asks us daily if she can go to school with Bennett - this little love is determined to learn and keep up with her brother. 



December Fun.

We started off the final month of 2012 right by going tree-hunting on the morning of December 1 and spending that evening with great-grandpa.  Living in Florida, it is not often that we get to see him in December - this was a special treat for my entire family.

 



 

Bennett and Elly Rose warm right up to him.  They, too, know he is special.  Just today, for one reason or another I stated to Bennett, "I am your mother." 

Changing the subject, he said, "Who is my grandma and grandpa?" 

Me: "Memaw, Papaw, Grams and Poppy are your grandparents.  Why?" 

Bennett: "You forgot great-grandpa.  He lives in Florida."

Warms my heart.

 

We finished off the first weekend in December with tree decorating.  Bennett was very focused on this task.  There was not stopping him until nearly every ornament was on the tree. 

Saturday-morning gingerbread house making. Both littles loved the task of applying (and eating) candy to the rooftop and sides.  We displayed them all month.  This year the holidays were just that much easier for them to comprehend and discuss...understanding the birth of Jesus, an Elf named Nick joined our family and we found ourselves able to attend holiday parties with greater ease.

We visited the gingerbread house display at Conner Prairie for inspiration and made a couple trips to the Winter Wonderland at the Children's Museum.  The slide was a favorite for both babes.

Checking out the big white beard and sharing their wish lists.  When asked,  Bennett always had the same answer, "Don Crumlin, Becky Wheelin and a flatbed truck with a bulldozer."  Elly Rose's answer only varied by type of food - you might get anything from fruit snacks to cheddar bunnies...

Bennett nose-to-nose with a horse following our carriage ride at the annual MHCC Christmas party.  Look at Rosie's expression - I don't even think she realized a horse was our transportation until we stepped off the carriage...

FREEZE!  Poppy and Elly Rose showing their dance moves.  Love her looking up at him!

Bennett modeling his snowman scarf.  He literally could not contain himself following the first snow fall.  We were staying at my parents house and he was a broken record of, "can we go play in the snow?"  It was so cold and windy, but we braved it so he could get it out of his system!

Christmas Eve at my parents' home.  We spend the entire day with my family and it is chaotic and magical all at the same time.  Both Bennett and Elly Rose adore their cousins and more and more often, we are able to relax and just let them play together.

The out-takes I have of this are hysterical.  All happy to sit (gift opening up next!) and smile.

Bennett and big Buzz.  A holiday favorite.

Elly Rose conning papaw into sharing his icy punch.  She conned anyone and everyone who had a cup into sharing.

 

Papaw playing santa while the three littlest grandbabies play in Juno's new dog bed (she joined the Prather family in summer 2012). 

 

More fun to come soon..... 

Bennett is 4!

Per usual...this post is running a bit behind.  About one month ago, we celebrated Bennett's 4th birthday...for an entire week!  Festivities began on Election Day.  The Ford Family turned our polling place into a temporary circus with B and ER doing their best to help complete the ballot and applying and re-applying stickers to any willing participant.  

...then off to school!  First time to celebrate his birthday with a class.  It was so cute.  Bennett proudly carried the earth around the sun 4 times, stopping each time on the month of November so the song could begin again.  Bennett's teacher is simply amazing.  

 

 

 After finishing the song and sharing with the class what he brought to share, all the children enjoyed a yummy treat and my little guy felt so special.
 

 

Blowing candles out of his iced sugar cookie with the Prather/Quinnette crew (plus firemen) later in the week.  Bennett was very specific about his dessert choice - no cake, no cupcakes.  Iced cookies...we obliged - 3x over.

 



 

...And finally celebrating with friends on the weekend.  Bennett's continued interest in firetrucks and firemen lead us to yet another fireman-themed party.   He had a blast!  It was an incredibly warm day for November and the festivities included time in a bounce house, along with face painting, "pin the hat on the dalmation dog" and more cookies!

 



Happy Birthday, Bennett!  We love you to the moon...and back.

 



Elly Rose is 2

We celebrated this little love's second birthday a couple weeks ago.  She was so excited and very aware that it was her birthday, she is now two and her turn to blow out her birthday candles!

She had her 2-year well baby visit last week and checked out great!  She is close to 25 pounds and 33 inches tall.  At the conclusion of our visit, her pediatrician said, "well, it was great to see you, Abby, and great to see your 2 going on 5 year old daughter." 

 



Elly Rose is so incredibly independent and so very sure she can do EVERYTHING by herself.  It challenges Zach and I daily.  She wants no part of being our "baby."  She dressed herself after Dr. Cumming checked her and as he is making notes in her file, she walks over to him and says, "Dr., I put my pants on all by myself." 

 

It made us laugh.

 



Her sweet little party dress made with love by my mom.  It is my hope that one day she will teach Elly Rose to sew.  Elly Rose's baby doll adorns a matching frock...so precious.

 



After a great evening with family and friends - pumpkin decorating and bounce house jumping - Elly Rose made a wish and blew out her candles.  She never let go of that plate - it was her turn!

 



We love our sweet girl and can't believe she is two!

 





School is IN!

Slightly behind in sharing, but we have been documenting all along the way! Bennett began Junior Kindergarten this fall and it has been quite the adventure. Here is the first day for both my littles before the start of a new routine. Summers are relaxing, unstructured and generally all about fun for these two. They stay home with an incredible young lady who has such a special place in our hearts.

On this morning, Bennett is heading to his first day of school and Elly Rose back to Kris's house...she also has a special place in our hearts - as she has cared for both Bennett and Elly Rose since they were babies.  Each takes with them a little piece of security and home.  I don't think Teddy has missed a day of school, yet!

 



 

Bennett working through his VTS (visual thinking strategies) of his interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night.  We are fortunate to receive regular communication from Bennett's teachers - a weekly newsletter outlining what the children are focusing on and several pictures illustrating the week's activities. 

 

This JK program is 5 full days - it does include rest/nap time of about 80 minutes in the afternoon, but otherwise is a full day of playing and learning.  The first couple months have been a clear adjustment period for Bennett and us, as parents.  We are continually impressed with his learning and look forward to seeing this grow, but some days have been a challenge as Bennett arrives home quite the exhausted toddler. 

 

Just around the corner for us, Elly Rose turns 2...we celebrate halloween...Bennett turns 4!  It is so exhausting for him to wait so many days until his birthday finally arrives!!