Heeeeere's Johnny!

Here is one more pic of Johnny the snowman. This is how he spent the remainder of the day, and what he will be wearing when we find him melted tomorrow....

Here is a picture of Ben from today that I just happen to like. I so often have pictures of his huge, radiant smile, but rarely a glimpse of other angles.

Got snow?

We still do. This is the longest any snow has hung around since the first year Jeff and I moved to NC, so 2003? It's been nice and sunny today so it was not too miserable to get out and play. Audrey sledded for about 2 hours, changed clothes and then built a snowman. She is currently on snowman #3 in the neighbor's yard. Ben got in on the action too. He ate a few mini snowballs and enjoyed watching the kids play. It's all fun and games until preschool gets canceled tomorrow. Grr.

Johnny the snowman under construction.

A few accessories. He later was wearing a hockey jersey, stick and gloves, but Mama was inside by then.
Snowball fight.

This is fun! What's all this white stuff?

Just don't eat the yellow snow, ok Ben?

The Barbie jeep could have used some snow tires.

Squinting through the sunshine.

Snow!

Evey once in a while the weather men get it right. This time they did. We have snow, and lots of it. The real fluffy kind too, not the icy kind. We probably got about 5 inches. Everyone has been playing in it since yesterday around 5pm when it started falling hard. Audrey is currently sledding and having a ball! These pictures are from yesterday. Wonder if it will snow again tonight??

Self portrait.

The boys enjoyed the snow! They went nuts rolling in all the fluffy stuff this morning.
She was already up there by the time I got outside. She's fast!

Snow angel!

The house this morning.

Quote of the day

"Know what I like best, Mama? You."
-Audrey

Double digits

Can you believe it? It's been 10 months since Ben came into our lives! Time flies, mostly when you're having fun! Ben is an absolute joy and a bright light in our family. Let's see, what is the little man doing these days: Ben is crawling, cruising, climbing on everything, waving, clapping, says "Mama, DaDa, Aujee (Audrey) hi," has 2 teeth, a flourishing crop of peachy fuzz on his lovely head, and the sweetness of 1,000 spoons of sugar. Happy 10 month birthday Ben! Audrey has been planning your first birthday since the day you were born.

Valley girl

For some reason Jeff started using a "valley girl" voice for Ariel in the many Ariel books that he reads her at bed time. So, of course Audrey ahs adopted this dialect whenever she pretends to be Ariel. Furthermore, she knows it will get a laugh, and has said "I just love Prince Eric" in the most Valley girlish voice imaginable about 1,000 times this week. Gag me with a spoon, like totally!

Historical documentation....

...of my children's birth. I saw somewhere before Audrey was born that you could send wedding and birth announcements to the White House and they would send you a card back. So, of course I sent a birth announcement for Audrey when she was born, and then one for Ben as well upon his birth. I was beginning to wonder though if Obama was only going to send a card to those who voted for him, but I got the card in the mail today!

In case anyone is interested, here is the "announcement office" address for the White House:
Room 39
Washington DC
20500

Meet "Spot"

Ben acquired this adorable hat recently and Audrey thinks it is hysterical. She is always on the lookout for a new pretend pet, and Spot fits the bill.

Here's another picture of Ben just for fun. He loves his yogurt melts- in his mouth or on his nose.

Giggle-Mania

If Ben had a favorite superhero, it would be Audrey. He thoroughly enjoys all of her silly antics and hugs, kisses, and lots and lots of tickles. He says "Audrey" all the time and really misses her when she is at pre-school. She makes up for lost time though by making him giggle wildly with some sort of rolling/wrestling move. I'll have to get the giggles on audio sometime because it is the best, happiest sound around!

Who needs a Zhu Zhu pet? Not me!

In case you are not the parent of a young child, Zhu Zhu pets were one of the hottest Christmas toys this year. They are like robotic hamsters that come with all the accessories. They crawl around in the ball and move around in their cage, etc. Audrey had never heard of them until kids started bringing them to show and tell at school. So....of course she wants one. I told her to put it on the list for next Christmas and we will revisit the idea then. While we were brushing the dogs yesterday, Audrey had a brilliant idea- I'll make my own Zhu Zhu pets. Here they are, courtesy of 2 golden retrievers.

Going and going and going....

It's Energizer Ben! He is a crawling and cruising machine and rarely sits still. It continues to be a challenge to get his diaper or his clothes on as he squirms so much. Here is the little mover and shaker doing his thing.

Pajama Day!

It was pajama day at pre=school on Wednesday. Don't you wish adults had pajama days! Audrey elected to wear her Christmas jammies and take a bunny for the "Bear" parade. I even managed to get her in pigtails.

The kids.

It feels like it has been a long time since I have posted pictures of the babes in my life. I think it has only been a week or so though. Isn't it such a different world than any of us grew up in?? There were pictures, sure, but not a daily commentary of our lives. It will be so different for our children as they grow up seeing photographic proof of nearly every moment of their life. At least we have the option to "delete" before we print. Our parents printed what they had, good or bad. Ok, so enough deep thought, here is a picture of my beloved babies from tonight.

Running down a dream.....

This morning I put on my running shoes and headed out for my first run with Team in Training. I have dabbled in running before, but have not been in the greatest of shape lately. I am very proud of myself though, as I ran 4 miles in 33 degree weather without stopping, and felt great at the end too! I am very excited that I will be running the Country Music Half Marathon on April 24th with Team in Training. I am working out with the team 2 times a week and on my own 4 days a week. It is doing to be a challenge, but well worth it. Team in Training benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which donates money to research for a cure, and also directly to patients. It is the only organization that donates money directly to the patients themselves. I know too many people who have had blood cancers. Some survived, and some did not. No one ever thinks that it will be them, but it very well could be me or a member of my family who is diagnosed next. Please help me raise money for my race with Team in Training and help find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma!
Here is my Team in Training website.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/cmc10/ghouse1gpo

Haevign troulbe raeding tihs?

Yea, me too! My glasses are broken, and you know how I hate my contacts! I am not going to play the blame game here, as I have not been the most careful keeper of my glasses, but I asked Audrey where they were today and she knew just the spot! I put them on and wore them for about 2 hours. When I went to take them off they broke in half. Sigh. I can't see so good. My glasses are EXPENSIVE and I really want to replace right now, but also want to get Lasik...anyone in the Charlotte are want to recommend a Dr?? Ok, so for now I will not read any books, and will make up words to Audrey's books that I do not know by heart. FSA, are you ready to go bye-bye???

Music lover

Ben's favorite toy is the piano. This was Audrey's when she was little and she liked it...but Ben LOVES it. 75% of the time he can be found playing with this toy and bobbing his head and bouncing to the tunes.

Birth announcement!!!

Audrey informed me this evening that her Playmobil "hospital girl" delivered a healthy baby girl today. Her name was Susan and she is 90 lbs and 5 inches. Mom and baby are doing well. I guess we might have watched "A Baby Story" recently.....

Weekend away

I had the most bizarre weekend...I was responsible for only myself and I slept for 9 straight hours?!?!!? What?! I went to Atlanta this weekend for Jeff's sister's baby shower, and had a truly wonderful time. She is a glowing pregnant lady with a belly full of baby girl? Maybe boy? We don't know, but we sure have fun guessing. She had a delightful baby shower, although I don't have lot of pictures to show for it. My co-hostesses will have to email their pictures.

After a fun day at Kady's shower, I was able to see some dear friends that I don't get to see very often. Oh, how I wish someone would invent one of those Star Trek Beam-Me-Up thingies, so we could see far away friends more often! Any smarty pants readers out there, please start working on that!!! A good time was had by all. Now we just wait. Wait for baby to come along.

Kady opening gifts...realization that baby will be here in 7ish weeks!!!

The cake was delicious!

Ginger, Kari, and Buzz Lightyear
The cutest Conductor on Sodor and his Mama

Date night...with the family

We had a lovely dinner out tonight with the family. It is freezing: literally, and then some! I think the high today was 34, but by car thermometer never got above 31. Brrr. We did manage to get out and have some dinner together tonight though, and had a great time. They cook, they clean, and you say goodbye!

I'll have the puffs, blueberry, please.

Posing "natural" isn't really her forte.
These puffs really hit the spot!

10 days

10 days is all it takes for your sweet, little angel to go from 0-60. Ben has gone from mildly scooting to crawling, cruising, and climbing stairs in the blink of an eye. He refuses to lie down in his crib and instead passes out on his face after crawling around for about 30 minutes. That is at night, nap time is a longer battle. It also takes about 20 minutes to get a diaper on his rapidly rolling, defiant, freakishly strong little tush. A few bats of those baby blues and I almost forget, but no. Work it out Ben. Go to sleep.