Halloween Craft Party...BOO!

A few weeks ago, Seth, Ben and I hosted a Halloween Craft Party at our house for all of Ben's friends. I have been wanting to do something like this for a while, but have been worried that Ben was too young to "get it". I was wrong...the kids had a GREAT time!! We made finger puppets, played with Halloween stickers, made pumpkin candy necklaces (which was a BIG hit with Emma), decorated sugar cookies, ate cupcakes (thanks Ella's mom), had a pumpkin hunt, and enjoyed PIZZA!! It was an afternoon of junk food and great friends! Thanks everyone for coming...we really enjoyed the time with you!
ben finding a hidden pumpkin
ben and gianna decorating sugar cookies
a very sweet moment between Maria and Gianna
ben enjoying a cuocake

emma
ella
Seth and Ben making a finger puppet

The Pumpkin Patch

This past weekend we visited Red Bluff Farms in Folsom, LA with my mom, Emily, Jason and the kids. Ben had a great time...petting baby animals (they had cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep and chicks), watching how a cow is milked, taking a tour of the farm (running the ENTIRE way...very, very far!), having lunch, riding a horse-drawn carriage, playing with his cousins AND...the TRACTORS! There must have been about 10 tractors scattered around the farm, and Ben found and inspected each and every one of them! He was VERY tired at the end of the morning (see posed pictures below), but I know he really loved this trip!

Daddy's Back!!

I feel like we have been living life in two week increments: Daddy home and Daddy away. I have not posted in a while cause I have been busy while Daddy was away...now that he is home, I have a bit of time to catch up. Here are tons of pics from the last time Seth was home as well as the past few weeks without him. Last time Seth was here, we went to the Acadiana Zoo - Ben had a great time feeding the fish, looking at the turtles, riding the train and pushing and pulling the wagon.
The next weekend, I had a great time with my friends from Poker Night in Baton Rouge when they all came to LC for my friend, Hannah's bachelorette party. We stayed at L'auBerge and floated on the lazy river, enjoyed lots of food, going out, and spending time with old friends. The next weekend Ben and I went to Covington for Hannah's wedding (I was a bridesmaid at 6 months pregnant!), then we drove across the Causeway to NO to watch the Saints game (Who Dat!) at Emily and Jason's new house. Ben had so much fun playing with his cousins...spinning and jumping and dancing all around! Last week we went to Sam Houston State Park to feed the ducks and play as well as enjoyed the St. Louis Homecoming Parade...Bern had so much fun catching beads and candy, then pushing his red car home to count his "loot"! This past weekend (Seth has been home for almost a week now), we drove to BR to watch the Tigers play (it hurts to discuss any more than that)...Ben enjoyed playing with his cousin O-Man and his Nana while we hung out with friends after the game. Benjamin ate 10 donut holes on the way to BR -- we let him hold the bag (cause his Uncle Mark spoiled him rotten that way)...and the next time I looked back, he was FINISHED with the bag! Wow! We plan on having a great week while Seth is still in town...I will be sure to post all of the fun things we are doing!

God Bless You

Benjamin and I have had a very nice week. I have lots of pics to upload and post of last week and a few of this week, but I will do that in a later post. I just wanted to remember what Ben said to me tonight. As I was rocking him and reading books right before bedtime, I sneezed. He looked at me and said in the sweetest voice ever, "God bless you, Mommy." I love that sweet baby boy!!

GEAUX!

Benjamin got to sit in a fire truck for his very first haircut!!

He had such a nice time playing with the trains, and sitting in the fire truck during his haircut

Playing in the water at the beach

Playing helicopter with Daddy at the beach

Cookies!! Today is the first LSU game day of the season, and I am soooo excited!! Benjamin has worn his LSU colors for the past three days now, getting ready for tonight. We had a great time making LSU cookies yesterday morning; Benjamin and Ella helped roll out the dough, cute the shapes, and decorate...This morning we went to get donuts and played at the beach. Then, Benjamin got his very first haircut at Pigtails and Crewcuts!! Now it is nap time, then off to Pappy's to watch the LSU Game!! GEAUX TIGERS!

Daddy's home!!

Now that Seth is home for 8 whole days, Benjamin has been getting as much "Daddy time" as he possibly can! These two boys are sooo great together -- Benjamin adores his Daddy, and has had a hard time letting him go (into another room, out of his sight, etc...). We have been busy, busy doing fun things as a family.... Daddy and Ben reading a book

Isn't that the sweetest smile ever?...right before he proceeded to throw balls EVERYWHERE!

Yesterday we had a major accomplishment, although I think it was a bit of a fluke. Benjamin pp'ed on the potty for THE FIRST TIME!!! We proceeded to have a party, complete with M&M's and big boy train underwear....a few minutes later, Ben pp'ed in his big boy underwear while sitting on his Daddy's lap!! Since I have not "officially" started potty training yet (although Ben seems to be ready), I will count yesterday as a good start. I know I need to start soon, I am just overwhelmed by the whole process --> especially with a BOY.

This morning we took Ben to the Creole Nature Trail (not realizing that it closed a LONG time ago)...we still had a nice time walking on the bridge - we spotted an alligator and lots of fish! Gracie even got to come...and she and Ben were quite a pair!

Mommy, Ben and Gracie taking a water break

A boy and his dog...

Ben looking at the alligator below in the water...Wow!!