More weekend fun...

We had a fun afternoon/evening yesterday with Mike's family (Nana, Papa, Brad and Christina). We headed to downtown Akron to Lock 3 to go ice skating. Ben had never been ice skating and was really excited. I, of course, couldn't go due to the big gut, but Ben had fun "skating" with his Daddy (it was more like being pushed around the rink by Daddy).

Ben also had fun riding on the carousel with Uncle Brad and Christina. I've never seen a carousel go this fast...it was hard to catch a clear picture! Afterwards, we came back to our house and played Balderdash (the best game ever...in my opinion). We had A LOT of good laughs. A fun day!

Story of the day: After church today we went to Baja Fresh for a quick lunch. Ben had his Lightning McQueen car in the car with us and desperately wanted to bring it into the restaurant. Mike told him no because he would lose it, but he insisted, so we caved. Well, we ended up making a couple of other stops before we left the strip mall and, of course, Lightning was no where to be found when we were ready to leave. Once Ben discovered he was GONE he had a major melt down (similar to the Dora balloon incident). He wasn't throwing a fit, he was genuinely upset, hurt, traumatized by the fact that his "Lightning with the white wall tires is....guh..guh...gone." He was sobbing and could barely speak from his carseat...begging Daddy to turn around and go search for his beloved car. In the middle of his very pathetic and sad display of emotion, he said in the most heartfelt way..."Dear Jesus, please give me Lightning back. Please." It was SO sweet and sad. I am an EMOTIONAL nightmare right now due to my crazy pregnancy hormones and I started crying because it was just so cute that he would ask Jesus for help. I think he's learned his lesson now. Santa may just have to bring him a new Lightning with white wall tires for Christmas...who knows?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving yesterday! We had a very relaxing day. We headed to Mamaw and Papaw's house (Mike's dad's parents) and spent the day with his family. I was SO tired all day for some reason (probably from eating too much), so I didn't end up getting too many pictures. I did catch a few cute ones of Ben and Ellie though (Mike's cutie-pie cousin). Ben loved playing with her. I can't wait to see him with his little sister! :)

I also captured this LOVELY gem of a picture. It's my brother-in-law, Brad, sporting Granny Ina's Christmas sweatshirt that she made herself several years ago (you can't tell here, but there is puff-paint and glitter involved). He is planning to wear it to an upcoming Christmas party. If you know Brad, this kind of thing is pretty typical. You can always count on a good laugh when he's around. Bradley...you're hot. :)

We went to the outlet mall today and let Benny ride the train. He was very excited, even though there isn't much to see on the 20 minute ride other than the outside of each of the stores and the highway...woo hoo! :) Here we are on the "choo choo"...

I have such a blessed life and I know I don't thank God nearly as often as I should. So, just wanted to take a second to say that I am so thankful for the big things in life (family, friends, home, job, etc), but also all the little things that happen everyday that I know God is orchestrating for my good, as I trust in Him.

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

Randomness...

Ben often asks to sleep with one of his cars, so I was glad I could catch the photo below...proving that he holds on...even while fast asleep. :) Oh and if, by chance, he should accidentally let go in his sleep, he will wake up and search frantically for the car...upon finding the vehicle...he will fall right back to sleep. I wish that was all it took for me some nights....

I discovered, about a month ago, that Ben knows how to use a mouse. I had no idea. We have a LeapFrog computer type game that hooks to the TV and I first noticed him using it with that, but he can even sit down to our regular computer and play different games at PlayhouseDisney.com too. He is so proud of himself, but I have to admit it's a little weird to see my baby sitting at the computer...he looks so grown up!

Last night we put up our Christmas tree...a little earlier than normal....but we were in the mood, so we went with it. :) Ben LOVED helping hang the ornaments on the tree and commenting on the ones he remembered or had made.

Random story of the day: I had an appointment with my OB this morning and Ben went with me (like he has MANY times before). Right in the middle of my non-stress test he decided he had to go potty. I, obviously, couldn't take him, so I told him to just go on his own down the hall and be a big boy like at preschool. Well, the toliet was WAY too high for him to stand and go on his own, so the nice nurse offered to help. He normally stands to go and I just lift him high enough so that he "hits" the water and not anything else. Well, she sat him down and he didn't hold his "thingy" down and ended up peeing ALL OVER HER scrubs. She brought him back to me and was laughing at the giant wet spot on her pants. I felt SO terrible, but luckily she had a great sense of humor about it. He also asked her if he could pee in a cup, since he's seen me do that every time we go in there. NICE!? :) I just keep thinking about her walking around with my child's pee on her scrubs ALL day today?!!! Thankfully, I still passed the stress test! :)

Winter wonderland!

Well, last week I was posting about our hike at the park in 70 degree weather and this week I'm posting about playing in the snow...weird!? Actually, it's pretty typical for Northeast Ohio. It has been snowing on and off for two days now and I decided to let my little munchkin have some fun in it today! I wasn't going to go out, so I told him he had to stay on the deck...but that didn't last, so out I went. I did get a few cute pictures though. I especially love the top left one below. He is wearing his Daddy's hat and it was a little large! :) The fun only lasted about 20 minutes...but it was worth it!

Just some pictures of me and my best buddy! Can I still call him that when the new little one arrives? :)

Last, but not least, here he is in the lovely pilgrim hat he made at preschool today! :) The gold buckle is slightly off center...but I think I can safely say that he is NOT into art projects! I was just happy that he was actually proud of this creation!

Ephesians 6:1-3

Benny and I worked on learning a new Bible verse today...Ephesians 6:1-3. He was not overly cooperative when I was trying to coerce him into "performing" it for me on video though (I can't imagine why??!). I attempted to get it on film, no joke, about 15 times before I gave up and went with what I'm posting below. :)

Just a couple of other pictures from our day...I love when I catch a cute smile!

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your Father and Mother' -- which is the first commandment with a promise - 'that it may go well with you and that you may live a long life on the earth.'" Ephesians 6:1-3

Busy weekend...lots of pictures!

This weekend went by really fast because it was filled with fun stuff. Friday night we hung out with friends from our small group and had a blast together. I had the waiter at Macaroni Grille take a group picture of us and it turned out really blurry...bummer (Kim...just wait...I'll get one of you!!). Yesterday we attended a family wedding and Benny had an absolute BLAST on the dance floor! He made friends with all kinds of little kids and they all had a fun time "busting a move" together (it was more like chasing, crashing into each other, and the occasional "booty shake" to make all the adults laugh).

A couple of the pictures below are from Nana and Papa's camera and for some reason we all look really tan?! I think I need to get a camera like theirs so I look like I've been on a tropical vacation all year long. :)

This morning Ben's preschool performed at the Methodist church in town. We were really nervous about how he would do because he was a TOTAL grouch this morning from staying up too late last night...but he ended up doing awesome! Somehow he wound up front and center (his teachers probably figured he would end up there anyway if they didn't just do it to begin with). They sang "My God is So Big" and "Do Unto Others" for the congregation...cheesy arm motions and all! I heard his voice, loud and clear, on several occasions and the best part of the whole performance was the big ol' bow he took at the end. It was mostly funny because he was the ONLY one who did it. It wasn't part of the script. He learned it from watching the Little Einsteins. What a ham!? :) Unfortunately we were pretty far back, so my pictures leave a little bit to be desired....kind of dark and blurry..but you get the idea! Oh...and he did have on a cute sweater that apparently he made his teacher take off before he would go on stage...so he looks like a slob!

Just a couple other random pictures from our weekend. Uncle Brad and Christina were in town for the wedding and I thought this picture of Brad and Ben watching The Incredibles on the floor together was really cute. One of the rare moments when they aren't acting crazy together!

Christina got a new puppy from the "doggy shelter" recently. Here are Benny, Nana and Willow together. Isn't this cute?

Lastly...here's the belly. This picture is cheesy looking, but several people have asked for a belly shot...and this is the best I can do right now. I was 28 weeks on Friday. I just have to say that she is CRAZY...she wiggles non-stop. I sometimes wonder if she ever sleeps. I do love feeling her squirm though. I remember missing that feeling after Ben was born. Despite all the pounds I've put on (approx 25 so far...ahh!)...it's still so fun to have a little life inside and to know I'll meet her in just 2 1/2 months!

Ok..sorry for the world's longest post. I'm done now. :)

Exploring we will go...

It was a beautiful day outside today...70 degrees and sunny...so after preschool, Ben and I headed to Hubbard Valley Park to have some fun! He played on the playground, threw rocks in the lake, and we went on a pretty long hike for a little person! I made up some cheesy song that I kept singing to him..."Oh..exploring we will go...exploring we will go...hi ho the derry-o...exploring we will go." Whenever I stopped singing it he would say... "Mom, we need to keep exploring!" It was a fun afternoon and he's taking a good, long nap in his bed now!

Silly boys, fun with toys, and more of "the Duke"...

Ben's buddy Nate came over to play earlier this week and they had a blast in the basement together. Here are a few shots I caught of the two of them being silly little three-year-olds!

Ben loves toys! We had a fun time playing together in our jammies on one of my days off this week...we put together puzzles, pretended like we were cowboys, played with the ViewMaster (which now makes sounds for each "slide"...do you remember this toy?!) and of course played with the Hot Wheels!

Just a few more shots of "the Duke" from the Halloween festivities last night (and our pumpkin carving fun on Tuesday night!). Ben hasn't been feeling too hot the past couple of days and he didn't want to go door-to-door, but he was really excited about passing out candy to all the trick or treaters (and shooting them!).