SATURDAY

So this was today's breakfast...

Let's just say the kids erupted into cheers the second we got to the bakery. Long johns with extra sprinkles all around. I had to thank the bakery ladies for their early morning work. They made our day!

A DAY WITH BEN

Ben and I had a great day today. I was missing him after the last two days of running around and him being either at school or playing at a friends house. So I decided to just let him dictate our morning together and it was so fun. We walked the big kids to school and then he decided we needed to head to "his park." (Our neighbor hood park is called "Bennett Park" but we call it "Ben's Park.") So off we went to play, still wearing our pajamas and flip flops. It was supposed to be a rainy day so I took an umbrella with us. It didn't last long though, Ben was using it as a fighting shield, tripped and snapped all the little metal things! We made it to the park just in time for it to start raining. We played a minute, picked up tons  of "gun" sticks and then made our way back home. I am sure we looked totally homeless, little Ben shivering with his handful of sticks and me, with my bed head, trying to keep us dry with the ratty broken umbrella. Up the hills we trudged. We finally got home and Ben insisted he needed chocolate. "Just one, mom, just one." Oh, yeah. I know how that just one thing goes.... so we gathered up all of our easter bunny books and cuddled in the big chair, nibbling chocolate and cuddling. It was wonderful.

My sewing machine was sitting out on the table and guess who was totally mesmerized by it! So we sat down and together made him a little tiny "pocket" to hold all of his pennies. He helped by controlling the reverse button and was thrilled to be legally touching mommy's toy. He's wearing his pocket in the photo below and has worn it every minute since!

Later on, Ben offered to make us lunch. A few graham crackers, peanut butter and chocolate chips and wa-lah...lunch! As I was stock piling chocolate chips onto my little graham, he was neatly lining his up. I can only hope this is an indication of how he will keep his room when he is older!

I absolutely LOVE having this little guy as my daytime buddy. He talks my ear off with his stories and ideas and make believe. He is sweet and sassy and just says the cutest things. I can't imagine my days without him! Love you, Ben!

MY BIRTHDAY

Wow, the big 3-3 for  Jenni bug! My day started with breakfast in bed made by Chris and the kids. They woke me from a dead sleep and were out of their little heads with excitement! The kitchen was fully decorated with balloons and streamers in perfect birthday fashion and the whole day was festive. My girlfriend rang my doorbell at 9am and wanted to take Ben for the day. He headed off for a play date and I went to the gym and then met Chris for lunch. He took the afternoon off from work to clean.the.house. Yep, I went shopping while my house and laundry was being taken care of. Talk about the most heavenly present! He and the kids met up with me for dinner, cake and presents. It was a really nice day! I have such a good life. It is full of wonderful family, friends and a lot of happiness. Being the birthday girl is great. I should do this more often.....

SPRING BREAK

This year is the first time the kids have had a full week off for spring break! We thought about traveling, but ended up staying home and making our own fun! Here's the itinerary we came up with:

MONDAY: Gym, afternoon play date with friends

TUESDAY: "Planet 51" matinee

WEDNESDAY: Spring Break party play group, swimming at the Rec Center

THURSDAY: Picnic and biking at Smithville Lake

FRIDAY: Chuck E. Cheese, family movie night

The kids looked forward to everyday! Chores were done first thing and they were so sweet and helpful with each other so we could get out the door on time. It was a blast. The highlight of the week was probably our visit to see "Chuck..." What is it with that place? Buy a million tokens and let them loose in a sweaty game room and they are in heaven! Livi was thrilled with the rollercoaster motion ride and Nick racked up the tickets in true Nick fashion. The kid is hilarious...he sticks with the Gorilla hands and that ball throwing game since he knows he can score big at those games!

YELLOW

Chris and Nick started taking Hapkido Karate together in January of this year. They train twice a week and practice their "moves" on each other nearly every day.  After three months of hard work, they were ready to test for their yellow belts! Chris was sheer perfection out there and little Nick was darling. The audience would smile and "Ohhhh" every time he stepped up to test. The pictures speak for themselves!

Warming up with Dad...

Nervous Nicky...

A little pep talk before testing...

Dads up...

Nick's turn...

Hanging with the big boys...look at how little Nick is!

Another pep talk from Dad mid-test...

Nick sporting his "No-shirt-Chuck-Norris" look..

Ben saw this fella and said, "Hey dad! Is that your body?" "Um, yeah, buddy, that's me alright..."

broken boards x2...

Reviewing his scores..

Checkin out his new belt!

Tying on the new colors!

Way to go, boys! We are proud of you!

LEPRECHAUNS

Okay, we have leprechauns.  Naughty ones. They show up every year and the kids think they are great. I think they are a pain. They sneak into our house, make a mess and leave sugar for breakfast. Every year, it's the same thing. Writing on the walls, milk dyed strange colors, green toilet water, chaos. This year we woke up and the dog was wearing my swimsuit! SICK! The kids were toilet papered into their rooms, the living room couch was torn apart and Ben's shoe was in the microwave. The word "Stinky" was written on every mirror in the house. Gold coins were hidden all over and a little leprechaun man statue thing was hiding behind a bookcase in the living room.  Why they have chosen to visit us annually, I do not know. Maybe because my kids WAIT all year for them to show up. Maybe because this is really a holiday at our house. In fact, Olivia was shocked to find out Chris did not get the day off...

DIRT

Now that the weather is getting nicer, we've been spending a little bit more time outside. My big pots out in front are thawing out and Ben has made them into a sandbox/mudbox/garden for himself! The other day he came into the kitchen and said, "Mom! Close your eyes! I have a surprise for you!" He pulled a little handful of pretty purple flowers from behind his back and said, "I love you, mom." (melting heart.) Then I followed him outside and saw this...

His new garden! He had transplanted the budding tulips into one of the pots. So cute. Look at this face.

FUNNY

Chris found this note on his back. Since only one of our three chickens can write legibly, I am pretty sure  of where this came from....