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Check out the bottom of this page for a cool little birthday tracker for Cailey and Ben!

See - Ben does have hair!

So handsome :o) We told you Ben was getting some hair. I think we should leave his hair this way!

Finally...some hot days!

This weekend was so nice (upper 70s-low 80s...remember it snowed 10 inches less than a week ago) and we got a chance to play outside in the sun. Ben and Cailey had fun playing in the water while Scott and I did some much needed yard work.

I even got a chance to clear the rock bed for some roses:

Before:

Cleared and awaiting roses - will probably plant the bushes in the next week or so:

Charlotte's Web and more...

Today I had the privilege of chaperoning Cailey's class on their field trip to the Littleton Theater to see a performance of Charlotte's Web - the theater is located in Historic Downtown Littleton. Going with Cailey on her field trips is one of the things I wanted to do while not working - I was feeling very happy today. It was very cute and the kids really enjoyed it. I had four kids in my group - which is always a little nervey...I have to keep track of four VERY excited kids...eek. But, the kids are really good and we had a good time. We also got to have a picnic lunch and ride the school bus - ooh, fun :o) :o) Cailey had a great time sitting with her friend Jacquline (her BFF, as I am told).

Scott took the day off from work to stay home with Ben so I could go on the field trip with Cailey. He had to take Ben into his office for a little bit - HA - apparently that was an adventure :o) It was great that we got some one-on-one time with the kids.

CONGRATULATIONS, JEANNINE!!! Tonight, we went to Jeannine's new gallery opening - 4 Art Studios. The gallery is great and Jeannine's photography was even better! We met Jeannine's dad, sisters, and brother - we have heard so much about them...it was great to put a face with the names/stories. We loved all your work, Jeannine, and hope to see more soon!!!

After the gallery, we went for dinner. On the way home, we spotted a place called Hungry Howie's Pizza. Scott got very excited because he remembers that pizza from his childhood. He said "Hungry Howie's" a couple of times and suddenly from the back seat Ben yelled "Hungry Howie's" clear as can be. You had to be there, but it was really funny that Ben would say the name of a pizza joint so clearly - Grandpa Rich will be proud :o) :o)

Easter...better late than never

Here are some pictures from Easter...Matt, Zach, Cailey, and Ben had to search for eggs inside because it was snowing that day.

I love this picture - Cailey and Zach were having such a good time!

The kids counting their loot...

"Cailey has more eggs than I do!!!"

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday the weather was good - only some rain in the afternoon. Today was a different story...

Scott is at a mandatory work meeting until 9:00pm...they have closed the highway southbound from Lincoln. The roads are terrible. I am hoping they let him come home early...ugh.

Here are some other new pics:

No, it's not new furniture...it's Cailey and Ben trying out their new climber and slide...it has since been moved outside ...playing in the box that the climber came in...that's still inside :o) :o)

One cool dude:

I need a time out

Well...did I mention that Ben is a ball of energy...here's how my afternoon went..at least the highlights:

Take Cailey and Ben to Subway for lunch - they are "out" of toys for their KidsPack which causes Cailey to declare that life isn't worth living if she can't have the toy (okay those are my words...but that's basically what she said)...but it could possibly get better if they substitute a cookie...ahhhh...a born negotiator. Ben precedes to pull all the cups out of the cup holder thing on the counter while I am signing the credit card slip...and then made a full run towards the chip display (that's like pure joy for a toddler)...I think I stepped on/jumped over some other customers on my way to grab him before he pulled the whole darn thing down.

Once home with our Subway, Cailey decides she's not that hungry after-all. Does anyone want to adopt a 6 year old? :o) I clean up lunch that Ben threw on the floor because he was "all done" and thought screaming "all done" at me wasn't clear.

Put Ben down for a much needed nap...his...but I could have used one. Write in the blog - which caused me to get in the shower late and have to hurry, hurry to get ready...oops.

Wake Ben up (early - he only got about 1 hour) from his nap so we can drive 20 minutes to Parker Adventist for their appointment.

Get to the ENT office where Ben really put me through the ringer...hhhmmm let's see...in the two hours we were there, Ben cried (when I say cry, I mean SCREAM) because he wanted crayons that another little girl had and wouldn't share (I didn't expect her to), cried because we had to leave the toys to go to the exam room, cried because Cailey was sitting in the big chair, cried because Cailey moved and sat in the little chair, found a way to turn on all the equipment in exam room, smashed crackers on the floor, pulled everything out of the diaper bag, spread toys from one end of the office to the other...as I am picking up one mess...he's onto the next...and finally, tore one book they had stored in a drawer - he would have torn others, but I moved all the books out of reach...so he cried. I am really glad the doctor seemed to have a good sense of humor and enjoys kids! :o) They said he could come back in two months...God help them :o) :o)

Then, we had to drive across town (40 minutes) to a Vet Hospital where Cailey's Girl Scout troop was meeting to earn their animal patch. At the Vet Hospital, Ben sat in the stroller for all of about 20 minutes before he started to scream to get out. I let him out and tried to hold him...yeah right...he's 32 pounds and when he wants down...he wants down. I put him down to see the dogs...he screamed in excitment which scared the poor Great Dane (yes, a Great Dane) and the dog began to shake. At which point I directed him away from the dog and Ben really let the tantrum fly...straighten out, limp body falling to the floor...I put him back in the stroller while cried because he wanted to pet all the dogs. I took him outside and waited for Cailey to finish her tour of the Vet Hospital. Nice.

We went to dinner and Ben wasn't any better - I left an extra tip for the waiter/bus boy.

I have handed the kids over to Scott, poured a glass of wine, and I am going to bed. :o)

Life is grand...

As many of you know, as of March 30th I am no longer working...well, let's be clear here...I am not working outside the home :o)...which I frequently feel compelled to remind myself and my loving husband. It was a hard decision to make, but I am so happy Scott and I were able to make this happen. In the short 3 weeks I have been home, we have already seen a wonderful change in Cailey and Ben (happy, spunky, and few morning melt downs trying to rush to school and work)...oh, and the house has even stayed remarkably clean and neat...I think Scott likes that part the best! He doesn't have to do dishes anymore (that was his chore prior to March 30)...apparently that task alone has made our financial sacrifice worth while :o)

Ben is up to over 50 words in his vocabulary (plus many signs to go along with his words!). We just stopped counting and recording them because he repeats everything now. He loves Sesame Street and has already mastered the art of "sweet talking" me into watching it..."Elmo...please?"...(said with the cutest little head tilt and "please" sounds like "peas"). My only concern is that he is a ball of energy and really needs some outside time every day. We have gone to the park as often as we can...but the weather is still crazy - 40 degrees one day, 70 the next. We broke down and bought a Step2 climber and slide for the backyard. He loves it and we spent this morning outside playing. He is such a sweet boy and I am loving every minute I get to spend with him.

Cailey only has 5 weeks left of 1st grade - it seems hard to believe that! She is doing great in school and seems to love every subject. She is in Girl Scouts and tap. Her big recital is June 23. She loves to dance...we tried soccer but she just ended up using the field as her personal stage - no joke...the other kids are chasing the ball and our Cailey girl is standing in the middle of the field spinning and dancing. So much for soccer...we have switched to dance.

I am now off to get ready for the ENT appointment this afternoon. This appointment will decide if Cailey and/or Ben need another round of ear tubes to help with the fluid in their ears. I'll post tonight to let you know what the doc says.

Welcome

This is our first post on our new blog spot. We wanted to have a way to stay connected to everyone about what's going on in our lives...not that it's that exciting...but the kids are getting so big, so fast and it would be nice to stay connected to everyone. I hope to make a post at least once a week and attach pictures often. Enjoy and post replies as often as you would like!