18 months

Has it really been a year and a half since bouncing baby Ben bounded into this world with his baby blue eyes and boisterous personality? Yes, it has. Ben had his well check today and is finally "well" for a well check. Every other time he has had a fever or something curious to the Drs.

Today Ben came in at:

26.5 lbs

32.5 inches tall

A petite and perfect head (taking after his Mommy on something.)

No one rains on my parade!

What a weekend

It was a very eventful weekend here at the House house. Pop and Yaya came to visit and we have tons of fun with them. They were fresh off of a visit to see Maggie and how much she has changed, and them were bombarded with all the energy that my two can provide. It was great to heat Ben say "Yaya" and Paap." The weather was great! We are so thrilled to have some rain and a break from the 90 degree weather. Audrey flew her kite that we brought her from Boston and Ben threw things and ran around a lot. A great time was had by all.

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring!

Yaya brought face paint!

The dogs just looove Ben. I can't figure out why....maybe it's all the food!

Touchdown!!

We are a NOLE family. We celebrated and savored each touchdown today because we know it is often feast or famine with FSU sometimes, but also because we love our NOLES!

Wooo hoo. Touchdown! (Audrey is partially face painted here- hence the blue hue to the eyes).

Touchdown ticklefest!

Random fun

I filled a spray bottle with water and it has been a huge hit with the kiddos. While Audrey looks like a Sweatty Betty in this photo, she is just covered in water mist. I must admit that it does feel pretty darn good in this ridiculous "fall" weather of 92 degrees.

Quote of the day

So I am reading a story to Audrey tonight and am changing my voice for all of the characters. Kids like this, right?
"Mommy, you know you can just use your regular voice too."

Grandma came to town...

....and all she left was this gorgeous handmade dress and very happy children, and a lot of coffee cups! Come back anytime. We love you and can't thank you enough for everything you do.

P.S. Look out Project Runway, Grandma is in the house and she can sew!

She's a labeled designer now!

In training....

....to be the perfect husband. Ben loves to vacuum and swiffer, unload the dishwasher and to throw things in the trash! He's got all the right stuff so far! 

10 years.

 A long, long time ago, a boy and a girl met and decided to go on a date. She drove (a stick) and something really special happened. The boy needed a ride to school, the girl had a car. She was cute, so was he. 17 years later the same boy and girl are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. It seems to be working out. The girl surprised her boy with a trip to Boston for their 10th anniversary. It was fun, lots of fun and so much more. We had fun with family, old friends, and were able to speak without interruptions. No diapers were changed. No mac and cheese was eaten. We missed them terribly. We also remembered and embraced the funny, silly, loving couple we have always been. There was also a large Red Sox portion of the getaway, and that was the point.  There is nothing like spending time with the one you love and missing the little ones you love, and appreciating the ones who stepped up to make it all happen. Thanks Mama. We have memories, great memories.

Still kissing. These pictures are not necessarily in order, but I thought I would start the pictures with a smooch.

Buddy and Mary Ellen will be celebrating 30 years in November. Show us how it's done!

Enjoying the game.

At the Cask & Flagon.

The haaaabor.

So a girl goes to the restroom and walks up the wrong ramp...she is very happy to see her people.

Posing at Fenway. It was the most beautiful day in Boston.

The top of the Prudential building from the outside.

The view from the top of the hub from inside.

The view from our table. This does not do it justice.

A very happy, stuffed to the gills couple of 10 married years!

 Thanks for hanging out with us and letting us stay with you.

The Pesky Pole, where we were sitting.

A great time was had by all. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in our great adventure.

As promised.....

.....Ben pictures!

A boy and his vacuum. A great bond to build early on.

Hopefully he will form an equal bond with the lawn mower later in life.

Who doesn't love a Popsicle on a hot afternoon?

Yes, I know and Mommy knows that I look more like my Daddy now. Must you people really rub it in every time you see my Mommy? She was really trying to claim me.

Ben news

Little man is depressed. Since Audrey has gone to pre school, he has said "Aujee, Aujee, Aujee" about every 30 seconds. Sweet little innocent boy does not know what it is like to be an only child. He'll get over it soon, I'm sure. I promise to take pictures of Ben-Ben soon.

P90Audrey

I know the blog has been a bit Audrey centered lately, but get over it. Ben has his own runs on the blog from time to time. Here is Audrey doing some gymnastics moves on the P90X bar in Jeff's office door jam. She is way to stinking athletic. She has ripped abs and is all muscle. Ahhh, youth.

Class of 2011, Pre-school that is.

Today was Audrey's last, first day of pre-school. She had a great day and saw lots of old friends. She also came home talking about lots of new names, so I know it is going to  be a great year. Here she is trying to climb a tree after the day was over.

A girl and her cat

Bailey and Audrey have had a love/hate/fear/love relationship for awhile now. Bailey loves the attention, but can't handle the attention at the same time. Here they both are in a rare and sweet moment with both of them conceding to the others needs.

Hockey season....

...or so they tell me. I'll be honest, hockey season is not on my list of things to do, watch, or be aware of, but someone in my house is.

Golfing gal

Audrey and Daddy often embark on a 9 hole adventure. Today they had a great outing and Audrey was showing me how to tee up a ball when the returned.

Quote of the day

(Audrey throwing the tennis ball to Murphy in the back yard).

"Catch the ball, Diva! Murphy, you are such a Diva!"

The pillow...

...is complete! Audrey cut it, pinned it and stuffed it and sewed ALMOST all of it herself. Certainly better than my first attempt, and almost as good as my most recent attempt....

Audrey and her Rapunzel hair jumped in the shot at the last minute. I did intend to cut her off.

A budding seamstress

My sewing machine is finally fixed and I got out all the goodies tonight. Audrey asked for some scraps and started on her own project. She said she is making a pillow for Ben. So sweet. She really is the most loving big sister...when she is not tossing him off the coffee table.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel...

The obsession with Rapunzel has been growing for a few years now. Now that we have seen the previews for "Tangled" it has grown stronger. Thanks Colleen for the hot tip on the Rapunzel hair at Target today. I will be sure to pass this wig on to Rory next ;)

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A little bit of silly

Ben doing his best Jonas Brothers impression, and Audrey from December 2007 showing her flair for silliness.

College football!!!

We are not a fair weather family. GO NOLES!!!!! A new era of FSU football is upon us and we are ready for it to start! The kids were not exactly cooperating this morning, but as you can see, they are wearing their colors!

My littlest Nole.

The captain of our cheer squad in her custom made FSU scrubs! Thanks Gma.

A priceless quote

"Mom, are things different in Florida?"

"You mean with the hurricane on the news?"

"No, I mean how I can do stuff in FL at Grandma's that you don't let me do."

Big fish

We hit Bass Pro Shops once in awhile to ogle at the fish. It is a good alternative to the germ infested over crowded play area at Concord Mills, and much more fun, if you ask me. They have a 119 lb catfish, a 50ish lb albino catfish and according to the old dudes next to me, lots of Crappy and some Hybrids? They also have some Garr and a ton of other fun fish. Ben says "ish ish ish" the whole time and points and enjoys while Audrey breaks all the rules and hops on top of the rocks and makes faces at the fish.

Watching the "ish" through one of the viewing bubble thingies. Ben loved it!
P.S. "Big Fish" is also one of Audrey's favorite movies.

Pardon the camera phone quality. You probably don't notice the difference since my "real" camera photos are not much better. The 119 lb'er is coming at us on the right.They had just finished feeding time and there were lots of scales still floating in the water. You truly have to understand the "circle of life" to enjoy feeding time.

Quote of the day

Backstory: when we went to visit the ballet studio and get fitted for our shoes, there was a hip hop class going on for kids 8-11 years old.

"Mom, I am not going to have to do a hip hop class am I?"
"No, you are doing ballet."
"Good. Hippity Hoppity, what am I a rabbit?"
"Get it, hippity hoppity??? ha ha ha."

Blast from the past.

Into every life a little embarrassment must fall....I promised Audrey I would show her Mommy's first ballet recital picture. So, without further ado, here it is. This photo does not show the giant white feather that I also had to wear in my hair. Nor does not show the true flourescent-ness of this orange. I thought ballet was pastel?

My ballerina

Audrey has her first day of ballet and tap today. She is very excited and is ready to go!

So sweet and innocent here...

Posing!

Ben gets into the act too.

Quote of the day

"Neosporin is just for knees, so what am I supposed to put on my other boo-boos?"
-Audrey