What a Week!

Soccer is officially underway! We had our first practice this week and I just couldn't get over how cute Ben looked in all his gear...He specifically asked for "shark hair" as he calls it since that's the team name. I can already tell there are going to be a few issues with Ben's cooperation since daddy is the coach, but overall I'd say it went pretty well for the first week...

Ben was good and tired after all that running around...Mommy was good and tired too after chasing this mop top around the park during practice...
(I just couldn't resist throwing in a photo of this kid!) The very next morning, Ben had another first for the year - the 1st day of preschool...


He did great! He walked right in to Mrs. Angela's house like he owned the place and got busy exploring his new classroom and meeting his classmates (most of whom he already knows from church). He couldn't wait to show me all the things he did when I picked him up a few hours later. Benny Boy had quite the eventful week... and he loved every minute of it!

I So Want One...

They're doing a weekly giveaway now... yippee!

Benny's Birthday

Seeing as how Ben's birthday was over a month ago now, I thought I'd finally get around to posting some pics... bad blogger, bad blogger. We were in Colorado for his actual birthday and we sang to him and ate cupcakes, but this was the real deal at Granny & Pops' house when we all got home. He was staring down those 4 little candles in anticipation...No time for making wishes (I don't think he gets that concept yet). He could hardly wait until we were done singing to blow those babies out...
I guess he just knows the sooner we get that part over with, the sooner we get to eat the cake!
He got some fun presents too. Ben starts his first season of soccer soon, so Granny & Pops got him all ready to go...The Hopewells got him some fun color changing cars and an orange motorcycle (2 of his favorite things right now)...
And last, but not least, he got a scooter from mom, dad, and Matt Mo. He always has to take a turn on someone's scooter whenever we go to the park or a friend's house, so now he has his very own...

He thinks he's so big. And I guess he is.
Here are some little tid-bits about our BIG 4 year old Ben:

• He has more energy than any other kid I know.
• He is very excitable... and very cute when he gets excited.
• He can make you want to scream with all the questions he asks.
• He likes to push your buttons... don't ever let him know what bugs you!
• He loves anything with wheels... cars, motorcycles, trains, diggers, bikes, scooters, etc.
• He is quick to forgive.
  
• He is "Ben-gyver"... a very creative problem solver, escape artist, and engineer.
• He is a control-freak... can you say "1st child".
• He drinks milk like it's water and would eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches for every meal if I let him.
• He loves the color orange (for now... it used to be blue).
• He loves to help with things like taking out the garbage, cooking, yard work, and especially anything involving tools and/or putting something together.
• He makes at least a few trips to time-out every single day... STILL.
• He looks really cute in big boy underwear... when he remembers to put them back on after using the potty.
• He makes me smile, frustrated, almost cry, exhausted, laugh out loud every day, and I wouldn't trade him for the world!
  

We LOVE our Benny Boy!

Exciting News

I've got some exciting news to share over on my Scrap Blog! Check it out and there's a little something-something in it for you... for FREE!

Girlfriends

I have so many pictures to blog about - our Colorado trip, Ben's birthday, and other random silliness of the boys. But before I forget, I want to document the fun I've had lately with some of the best friends a girl could ask for. First up, Miss Ashley's going away party with the girlies from church...
We decided to send her off dancing - Dance Dance Revolution style...
We stunk at it for the most part, which made it all the more entertaining! Emily may have taken the highest score, but I think Adrienne gets bonus points for the best groove. She was workin' it...
When we were done embarrassing ourselves (or so we thought) we switched over to Rock Band. Juli definitely stole the show with her outstanding rendition of "Eye of the Tiger"...
Oh, what a night to remember! We laughed so hard into the wee hours of the morning. But it was bittersweet knowing Ashley was leaving us the next day. Best of luck to her little family in Portland... hope they find their way back "home" to Texas someday!

Another super fun night out was Rhonda's Roller Rink 30th Birthday Bash with some of my high school girlfriends...
In case you couldn't tell, it was an 80's theme... so fun! Ben was very excited about mommy's new look and said "you hair is so pretty!" He also liked my blue eyeshadow. What can I say? The 80's were a good decade for me.

What roller rink party would be complete without a little Limbo?...
The birthday girl showed off her moves and made it to the last round.

Hope you had like a totally awesome birthday, Rhonda! The rest of us pictured above will be joining her in the "30" club very soon!