Just another Wednesday...

We love our Wednesdays! In the morning we had a Valentine's playgroup with Ben's friends. I think Ben was in heaven eating a million cookies with friends. Then in the afternoon we went to the movies with his buddy Connor. It was our first trip to the theater and Ben loved it. We saw "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and he can't stop talking about the chipmunks.

"Mommy, Where's My Stool?"

There's something spooky about me saying "it's where you left it!!!" I can hear these same words creeping out of my parents mouths from my own childhood. Hmmm... could I be turning into my parents? Nah, but NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT...

I hear "where's my stool?" about 500 times each day, and the answer is always the same - "WHERE YOU LEFT IT." Ben literally spends a good portion of his day with his stool. He eats breakfast sitting on it, brushes his teeth on it, "washes" dishes on it, uses it to reach his light switch, etc. He even likes to make sure it's at the foot of his bed when he goes to sleep. I guess that extra boost gives him the freedom to do just about anything he wants!

If you ask him about his stool he'll be sure to tell you in a very serious manner - "Its my very special stool. Grandad made it for me. It's very fragile. We need to keep it on all four legs and we don't bang it."

An Unexpected, Super-Fun Day-

I went to bed early last night feeling totally blah - sore throat, runny nose - bummed to be coming down with a cold. I knew it was going to snow and I was dreading today. I knew I wasn't going to be feeling well and that Ben would most likely be staying home with me. I have lots of work to do (and less time to get it done with him home) and we have NO FOOD in the house...

Well, I woke up this morning feeling MUCH better - all "chesty" - but no more sore throat, the worst part if you ask me. AND we've actually had a great day! 

We played for a long time in the snow. Ben finally got to wear his boots and Joe's snow pants from when he was a kid (really cute)! We were able to use Ben's new sled from Christmas and he had a blast. AND we somehow had all the right ingredients for our favorite cheesy-broccoli soup to warm up from the cold.

Also, when we came in from outside I had a message on my machine from one of my clients... she's offering to pay my registration fee for a conference she knew I wanted to go to! Just as a "thank you" for the work I've done... wow!

So, today I'm thankful for the snow day, great clients and an unexpected fun day with Ben. 

Now I better get to work!

Bubba & Grampy night

Now that the bustle of the holidays are over we enjoyed a nice low-key night with Bubba and Grampy. You know, just a few dishes and Wii*. What could be better?

*This is only Ben's second time playing Wii - but these photos make him look like a pro, no?!

Hangover Bowl - 2009

Ben loved playing football in the annual (new year's day) family football game. It wasn't nearly as cold as last year!

Christmas through Ben's Eyes

Here are Ben's photos from his new digital camera. As you can see he's still getting the hang of his camera :)

"Let's Open it!"

Christmas Eve at Bubba and Grampy's

(with both sets of grandparents - so lucky!)

Getting tired waiting for Santa...

These pics don't even come close to capturing the fun and chaos of new gifts everywhere! Ben loved opening all of his Christmas presents and after each one he would say "LET'S OPEN IT!" He was so, so, so excited! This year Ben got lots of games (Memory, Chutes & Ladders and Hi-Ho Cherry-0), a digital camera, sled, sleeping bag, Little Einstein's Rocket, tools and workbench, new Thomas trains (fire station and railroad crossing), Batman bat cave - and of course Spiderman - just like he asked from Santa! It was a great year and fun Christmas!