Wish me luck

I have entered this giveaway and would really like to win :)

Funny Foto Friday

Ben sometimes gets my camera and takes pictures.

This is one I discovered the other day and it cracked me up.

Ben, or the flash, must have startled him ...poor Bowen!

Life's a zoo

Well, our life is anyway!

We went to "Wayback Wednesday" at the zoo because I just can't pass up .75 admission, no matter how hot it is! Plus we got to spend time with a new friend and her little girl :) We ended up in a new area and saw a few things we hadn't before, like this anteater.

Brinley insisting on taking pictures on statues, no matter how HOT they were.

Then as if they weren't tired enough, we went to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.

It was a wild day, indeed.

Wordless Wednesday

Lost Ball

Ben made signs this morning and hung them inside & outside the house.

Losd bol = lost ball, Ben

and a picture just in case you didn't know what a ball looks like :)

Favorite Foto Friday

Fly, birdie, fly!

Just the facts, ma'am

Bowen, 6 months

18lb. 4 oz - 64%

28.5 inches - 97%
head 44cm - 57%

Bowen is 6 months!

The Bear is back!

We had to move down to the floor because this "squiggly baby" as Brin calls him was about to fall off the couch. What Bo is doing....

• eating baby food & cereal, very interested in table food
• he is thisclose to crawling
• laughs at everything his big brother does
• wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 6-12 mos. clothes (the outfit he has on here, Ben wore at about a year old!)
• still teething
• grabs everything!
• still sleeps in mommy's room and nurses at night
• falling into a 2-3 nap a day pattern-morning is predictable, afternoon varies
  

He is just a doll.

Everyone adores him.

Ben & Brinley actually tell me "thank you for having our baby brother!"

First project done!

I have finished Brinley's chunky braid stitch hat. It's hard to tell but it's off-white with green, pink, and brown speckles. I love this soft cotton yarn!

And she does too, lol. It's a great lightweight hat that could even be worn indoors..I might make one for myself also :)

So far, I'm just using the loom/board even though it limits my projects a bit.

I plan to make her a matching scarf and get started on hats for the boys also, in a different stitch...so be looking for those soon!

Hillapalooza Tri

We were up and running before dawn this morning, making it out to Lake Arcadia to watch Daddy's triathlon.

So, I think yummy chocolately Hostess Donettes were in order! It was kinda serene being out by the lake...the kids were great (until later in the morning).


We hung out under a shade tree on beach blankets.

Oh, and cheered on this guy....

his first open water swim!
And he only got one scratch and survived the biking...

The reason it's called Hillapalooza, yikes!!

He had a great finish of 28th overall, 4th in his age group.

We're so proud!!

Who knew?

A pink knitting loom would make a perfect princess crown... And pink shin guards make you a super hero.

HA- YA!

Decision Time

We've been struggling for a few weeks trying to decide if Ben should start kindergarten this year or wait another year.

Truth is, with an August due date, we've been having this debate since before he was born! Yet, it has been the toughest decision I've made as a mother.

I know instances where children, usually boys, were sent to kindergarten right after turning 5 only to be held back to repeat a grade later on. I want to avoid this at all costs because it really affects their self esteem.

I assumed he would go since he's had 2 years of preschool and his teachers agree (intellectually) he's ready but this summer I've had a change of heart.

His size is average, at best (more a consideration for sports-minded Daddy, but could also affect his self esteem) and I've watched him with other boys...some who will start school and turn 6 quickly after and others who are closer to his age, turning 5 this summer or soon. He definitely identifies with those closer to his age.

Given his emotional maturity (do I need to remind everyone of the horror of having him pulled out of my car by the principal last year?) we have decided to error on the side of caution and wait until next year...
Let him mature a little and stay at home with mommy (although that may be an oxymoron-lol) before sending him out into the world.
At least this way we have time on our side.

My new hobby

I've decided to learn to knit in my "spare" time.

I was inspired by Jennifer and her adorable hats. I thought I can crosstitch, sew a little so surely with some patience I can teach myself to knit...as Bryce says "blind little old ladies can do it". Let me tell you, it is hard ya'll!

I've yet to have a good cast on with the needles so I switched to the loom and that made me feel better. I had a little hat going but realized I needed to change my stitch to compensate for my thin yarn (resulting in a very thin hat) so I unraveled it.

Then I had a cute scarf going with a chunky braid stitch and noticed I hadn't done a proper cast on, plus I think I'll used a knit board for a scarf so there's not a "back side" to it.

So I'll show you my progress when I actually have a project to show.

If anyone has experience and would like to share, feel free to leave a comment :)

Party People

No, I swear it was a party!

"I think I can, I think I can..."

You'll get it, little Bo!Even eating cupcakes is serious business.

We had fun - no clowning around!

Swim school grad & dropout

I signed the kids up for swim lessons, back to back sessions = 4 weeks of swim lessons (minus a few days for rain). I really, really want my kids to be able to swim...hence, running across town every morning for a month to swim lessons.

Ben has always been cautious around water, it's just his nature.

I thought Brinley was going to be my little water baby. Well, the weekend before swim lessons began she had a scary experience. While in a friend's pool, she stepped off into deep water. (I say "deep", it wasn't to me but it was over her head.) Ben yelled "daddy" and all we saw was her hair floating...that is a horrible sight, in case you're wondering. Of course Daddy jumped in, pulled her out and she was fine.

But obviously traumatized...

because this is her after dropping out of swim lessons the first week.

I still have high hopes for her though, when she's ready.

Ben impressed me by sticking it out the entire 4 weeks!

And no, he won't put his entire head under water but he can put his face in, blow bubbles, and is learning to float.

Overall he is more comfortable in the water, so what more could we ask for?

The last day of class, after the "test" they get to have free play.

Ben (in the red shorts) wouldn't even slide down this last year! and now he's enjoying it.

He loves floating with noodles now.

Good job, Ben!

My inspiration

Thanks for the comments ladies!
I really struggled with the color choices - important decision in life, LOL.
The pampers box sitting here beside me was my inspiration...no wonder you mommies like it ;)

Toast to a new look

While riding in the car Ben said, out of the blue, "toast... is a funny word" heehee.
Anyway, here's to the new look!

My Makeover

A bloggie makeover, that is...it's coming soon!!
Let me know what you think and I really do need to change my hair so if you have any ideas, let me know those as well :)

Gerber Baby

Believe it or not, as big and fat and cuddly as Bowen is, he's never had anything but mommy's milk....until today!!

We had some Gerber rice cereal this morning.

And Brinley was very excited, wanting to help and insisting I take a pic of the two of them.

I guess bibs take some getting used to.


My favorite picture - love the look!

He ate well and in hindsight I probably should have made more because he would have eaten it.

Who was I kidding? of course he can eat!

*Special thanks to Brinley for being mommy's helper*

Inching along...

We think he'll be crawling anytime now.