Easter Egg Hunt

Benjamin met the Easter Bunny at the library's annual Easter Egg Hunt this morning...we sat patiently through the stories about bunnies, eggs, and Easter; then the library employees explained that we would be "hunting" eggs upstairs. Whoosh! The bigger kids (my guess is that there were about 40+ kids there) raced up the stairs...Benjamin and I, along with Tanya, Matthew, Leigh Erin and Ella took our time heading to the second floor...when we started getting close, Benjamin (feeling the excitement?) started to run, never letting go of his basket. It was super cute!

As we walked into the room, this is what we saw....

Eggs and candy everywhere!!! How exciting! We "hunted" and found three plastic eggs and a chocolate egg (mmm Butterfinger). We also met the Easter Bunny - at first Benjamin was cautious...who is this white, furry creature? He gave her the death stare - which he has perfected after 15 months.

Oh...she has eggs with candy...ok, I like the Easter Bunny.

We took a few shots outside as we were walking to the car....Benjamin likes to pick flowers and bring them to me (so sweet!)...

So as he picked a pretty pink flower and started coming toward me, I smiled....as he walked
right past me and gave that flower to Tanya.

Just Hangin' Around

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend just hangin' around....It starts by getting Daddy to hang Benjamin from the monkey bars...then let go!

Still hangin on!!!! Benjamin was laughing and looking around to make sure all of the other kids were watching.

Still have a good grip, but starting to get tired

PLOP!!! Benjamin landed (on his feet while his Daddy scrambled trying to catch him) on the ground in a happy mess.

Before we brought Benjamin to the park, we met up with some friends at their church carnival...Benjamin enjoyed a train ride and his very first ride on a horse (miniature pony) - even though I could tell he was nervous at first, he seemed to enjoy himself, he was all smiles when he came around the circle.

Benjamin enjoyed a snuggle from Ella at the carnival - it looked sweet at first, but they both ended up in a heap on the ground crying??! The crying stopped almost immediately as they saw the YUMMY cheesecake brownies from Vee's Bakery! Don't worry, Mommy shared with Benjamin!

As I am trying to write this (before my 5 pm soccer game), Seth and Ben are attempting to nap....more like Seth is attempting and Benjamin is doing everything in his power to keep Seth awake...singing, talking, dancing, jumping, crying...you name it! I guess Daddy will not be napping with Benjamin anymore! Wish me luck at my game!!

JELLO

I used to love watching those Jello commercials with Bill Cosby...the ones where the kids were eating their Jello with a spoon (without a bib!), and not dropping one bit. I suggest that we make a new Jello commercial, showing moms out there the real truth!!!

Nothing spells wiggle like J*E*L*L*O!!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Benjamin and Matthew hangin' out on the firetruck...this was seconds before Matthew pushed Benjamin off the truck while laughing...don't feel too bad for Ben - he smashed (literally) Matthew's hand in a door earlier that morning (I have a feeling these two will be like brothers)

I highly recommend the Lafayette Zoo (www.zooofacadiana.org) for a day trip from Lake Charles. This Friday Ben and I, along with a few of our friends, spent the day at the zoo. I was not expecting too much; people had told me it was a small zoo...but I was pleasantly surprised with the wooded setting and variety of animals. We left LC around 9 am, and by the time we got to the zoo (11 am - we were traveling with a very new baby who was hungry!) most of the school field trips were over and the "big" kids were heading out. We saw lions, bears and a few different species of monkeys before sitting down in the shade to enjoy lunch. After lunch we were impressed by some very large and equally lethargic alligators, a spotted leopard, a small petting zoo (featuring llamas, roosters, a pig, a donkey, a horse, etc...), a beautiful wolf, giraffes, lots more monkeys and birds galore. We just missed the train (closes every day at noon), but we did manage to play a bit on the playground and sit on the firetruck. The kids fell asleep as before we even got back on the interstate home. All in all, it was a great trip that I intend to make often this summer -- Benjamin loved the animals and riding in the wagon; I really enjoyed the laid back, not too crowded, shaded atmosphere.

Me and Benjamin

Benjamin and Jack playing in the shade while Jack's mom fed his new baby sister

Tanya and Matthew

Dribble, dribble, shoot!

Benjamin swinging in our backyard...weee!

Ben and his Aunt Duby having a snuggle before they left

Chasing bubbles

PawPaw Tony and Aunt Duby laughing as Benjamin tried to catch the bubbles

Today we had a nice visit from our PawPaw Tony and Aunt Duby. They came bearing gifts (early Easter basket!!) and goodies for Benjamin - he was soo excited! After a yummy lunch at Dairy Barn (Benjamin was scared of the cows this time...he would cry and moo every time he saw one) we headed to the park to play. After the park we came home to see Gracie and play in the backyard. Recently Benjamin became aware that we have a basketball goal in our backyard...one that he cannot reach. So...after holding the ball up to the goal and jumping and fussing and looking downright pitiful b/c he could not reach it, Aunt Duby said, "that's it - we are going to get that poor baby a basketball goal!" (Just a quick disclaimer for those who do not know that this poor baby has TWO playgrounds in his backyard!!!) So it was off to Toys_R_Us - Once we set up the goal and gave Ben the ball, he knew exactly what to do - he LOVES shooting the ball in his new goal! Thanks Aunt Duby and PawPaw for the great visit and a BIG thanks to Aunt Duby for spoiling Benjamin rotten!!!

Weekend Review

So we started letting Benjamin "drive" because he is always so interested in steering wheels, horns, etc...This is, unfortunately, what happens when it is time for Daddy to drive.

Just a sweet shot in his construction bubble - thanks Owen for letting us borrow it!

Driving his red car at home - he is naked for a reason...coming soon.

We took Ben to Sam Houston Park early Saturday morning to play. He had a great time!!! Gracie came with us, so the whole family enjoyed feeding the ducks, running around, and sliding on the playground.

Daddy and Ben walking to the end of the dock to look for turtles...so sweet. Seth was terrified of Benjamin jumping off (I don't blame him). When it was time for us to leave the dock to head home, Benjamin did this....smart kid, huh?

I think he is saying, "Try and get me daddy, I dare you!"

We eventually stood up and walked back to the car...

We found some big ducks to feed crackers to...poor ducks. Ben used his same "tease" technique that he uses for Gracie with the ducks....Here duckie, want a cracker??? The ducks waddle close in anticipation..."Psych!" Cracker goes into Benjamin's mouth...and repeat over and over again. Those ducks never stood a chance! They did manage to get some scraps from Seth.

On Sunday we set out to take Ben to the park by our house to play...it took a long time and a few outfits to finally get there. First outfit (cute blue and white jon jon with his initials and new navy blue sandals) - we go by Sonic (everyone loves Happy Hour) for drinks...we get Ben a smoothie and I let him hold it...bad idea. Smoothie everywhere in his lap, in his hair (cause you know he rubbed it in there), on the floor of my car after he threw the cup down...all in a matter of seconds. New outfit (khacki shorts, polo shirt, new brown "squeaker" sandals) - we make it to the park, we play and play and Benjamin squeaks and squeaks --> he got a kick out of the noise; then home to have a picnic at our table outside. As Seth and I clean up the "playground" in the backyard so it is ready for use, Benjamin finds my cup from Sonic and dumps it all over himself...second outfit soaked with Diet Cherry Coke. Third outfit - diaper and socks (cause it is late and we are tired.) - see naked picture at top.

And finally (I know this is a LONG post) - a even longer video of Benjamin, complete with animal noises.

Cake Pops - Take 1

So I thought I would make those yummy looking cake pops that I see in everyone's blog...should be easy, right? For those of you that know me well, I do not typically follow instructions or a recipe too closely (as Emily would say, "I can't be bothered by that stuff"). So...you now know why my post is titled "Take 1" and how this will go. I made the cake easily enough...simple stuff. I mixed the cake in a big bowl with some yummy cream cheese icing...still on a roll. I mix and mix until everything is very sticky (I had a friend give me a hint before I tried the cake pops -- make sure they are really sticky --> check). I scoop out handfuls of sticky cake and roll it into a ball, plop on a pan layered with wax paper and stick in the fridge. More than an hour later I check on my balls...they look ok to me. I stick my sticks into the balls, stick tray back in the fridge. Hours later, I am ready to dip. I have melted chocolate and melted icing in bowls. I grab a stick and try to lift my pop off the tray...PLOP! Next time I will make smaller balls. So the dipping process was interesting and very messy. I did complete my overall mission, though, which was dessert --- they were yummy!!! I will post "Take 2" at a later date - I always learn from my baking mistakes.

Park Pics

Here are some pics taken by our resident photographer in our playgroup (thanks Maria) at the park last week...I did a double-take when I saw them, because Benjamin looks so old in these shots. He is acting older too - climbing the stairs to the get to the slide, sliding by himself, running, kicking and dribbling the ball, trying to unlock the door to get outside on rainy days, picking out the book he wants me to read (instead of pulling off all the books on the shelf), etc! His hair looks wild in one of the shots, but I cannot bring myself to cut it...

Spaghetti!!

People always ask me where Benjamin gets his beautiful curls...well, actually it is a mixture of spaghetti sauce and meatballs; or yogurt with fruit and granola; or peanut butter and jelly...I think you get the picture. Benjamin LOVES to run his fingers through his hair while he is eating (he always has done this) -- please see video. He actually did eat very well with his spork tonight - he kept switching hands, trying to get a better scoop of spaghetti...it was really cute.

Soccer Star in the Making

Here is a cute video of Benjamin kicking the soccer ball around the living room...he had been dribbling for a while when it occurred to me to video it. I recently had my first soccer game in 6 years this past Sunday night...I had so much fun!!! I have been very excited about getting back out there again. I was the oldest female on our team, and I felt it on the field...and the next day. I woke up and could barely move my left foot. It had hurt a bit during the game, but I thought it was just because I hadn't played in my new soccer shoes yet. I went to the doctor, who sent me for an X-ray because he thought I may have a hairline fracture; the radiologist said "something does not look right" and there are some "concerning" older injuries in that foot they want an orthopedic doctor to look at --- so I am going Thursday morning. I am hoping that this is minor, and that I can continue to play, but I have a sinking feeling that I will be out for the season. Boo!