Thursday, May 28, 2009

New Words...

In honor of Ben's new word "Balloon" which is pronounced "Bawoooooom", enjoy:





Can You Do A 5th Grade Math Question?

This is a 5th grade math problem. If you can open the spreadsheet, you'll see it's a very small list of people who have gotten the correct number.
This is not a trick question (so don't say that a bus doesn't have legs). This is a real math problem and everything you need to answer it is in the following:

There are 7 children in a bus.
Each child has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
Question: How many legs are there in the bus?

(Obviously, you don't have the attachment to see if your number is correct. Feel free to guess.....I'll post the answer later.) BTW- don't read the comments if you want to work this out on your own! Crystal got it right!!!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Family Times...

We're really going to miss MeeMom and PopPop. They leave tomorrow and we have had such a good visit with them. Ben has had such a good time and has been spoiled rotten. Puzzle Time

Ben loves to "read".


MeeMom and Ben:

More Book Time
All Smiles:



"Moooore":
We are SO looking forward to the long week-end. We plan to be outside all three days. I want to get my signature first of summer burn. Caleb wants to work in the yard. Ben wants to play with "Buh-boooools" and his "bolls". I swear, it's like he starting talking overnight!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

MeeMom and PopPop are Here!!

We are having such a good time with MeeMom and PopPop Paul! Ben has been "showing off" and talking for them. They took him out of playschool this past Monday and plan to keep him out tomorrow! (They were in Myrtle Beach midweek and just got back!)
I'm not sure that Ben realizes yet just how much he is loved. He is one loved little boy!!!
Museum Time!

"Turoooles"

There's a funny story about this hat:


Ben was afraid of it when he was first given it. He didn't want anything to do with it. He would just stare at it and get "nervous" when you tried to put it on his head. So, we put the hat on the table and all went to bed. The next morning, Ben and I went downstairs to make coffee and breakfast. I placed him in the living room to play with his toys. When I came back, he was standing on his stool, with books everywhere, while flipping through all of PopPop's DVD's that he accidentally left "in reach".....and the hat was on his head. He was wearing it like it was his best friend!

Weeeeee!!!!

Who needs a wagon?

When you can ride like this?

"Ready?"

"Set"

"Go!"


Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Ode To My Last Cookie- Ever!

(Caleb thought this work of genius was too good to only be published on my Weight Loss Blog....we were both in tears because it is SO true for me!)
Cookie, oh Cookie, why do you call to me?
I wish you would be silent and just let me be.
I really don’t want to eat 340 calories.
Cookie, oh Cookie, I want to wear that bikini!

Coffee, oh Coffee, the mornings seem so blue
Without a swig of milky caffeinated you!
If only I could drink coffee without wanting to eat
Than our love affair could continue while I lose weight.

Bugles, oh Bugles, crunchy salty goodness of mine!
When the salty craving hits, it’s to you I beeline!
At only 3 Weight Watchers points, you’re not THAT bad a treat
Unless you consume three bags in one sitting like me!

Here’s to my cravings: Be Gone! Go Away!
Find some other undisciplined person to prey!
Leave me be with my veggies and fruits to behaveOde to my last cookie ever….the start of a new day!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

You asked for pictures.....you got pictures!!!

I love this park.....for Ben of course! He is obsessed with fish....so he loved seeing this: We met up with the other moms from our Bradley Method Class.

A little washed out...but still a great shot!
"Look, Mom, No HANDS!"
Look at those HUGE teeth!
Melts my heart!
Here's a picture of Ablilene. Isn't she beautiful?


These other little girls at the park swarmed in around our little ones. It felt like high school! I was proud that our little ones stood their ground and didn't get intimidated!

Here's a picture of Timothy:


Ben with mom:


Bubble picture:
My speech patholgist friend Kerry would be so proud of that tongue!

"Ouch! I bumped my head!"

We wanted a "bench shot" of all the kids, but this was the best we could do! hehe

We settled for a swing shot!

Ben gives the best kisses:


It was a great Mother's Day!

Friday, May 08, 2009

Happy Early Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control
of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby
just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...
May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life

Early Mother's Day Photo Shoot

I asked Caleb to take a few pictures of Ben for me for Mother's day. His theme was "An Afternoon with Dad". Caleb and Ben like to do yard work together. Caleb has taught Ben how to pick up the rocks and throw them in the drain. Ben is OBSESSED with rocks. I swear, our child will DO ANYTHING that his father shows him how to do. He truly is a little Caleb.

You have to keep a close eye on him, though, while he's out in the yard....he likes to put the rocks in his mouth! Life with a toddler....

My two favorite shots. When did my baby become a little boy??

Yard Work Steps:
Step 1: Find Rock!

Check!

Step 2: Look at rock and think about eating rock!


Check!


Step 3: Throw rock in drain!



Check!

He's such a fast learner!

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Caleb's 10-Year High School Reunion

We traveled to Charlotte this past week-end to attend Caleb's 10-year reunion. We both graduated from small Christian schools, so the festivites of the reunion only took up Saturday evening! I found out later that I was the only person who didn't really know everyone else. But, we had a nice time. I am looking forward to our training in Charlotte this summer so that we can spend more time with friends!
"Let's Party Like It's 1999"
The Graduates

The Graduates and Their Guests
It was a good night!

Friday, May 01, 2009

My Prayer....

***Edited***
May 5, 2009
"Jesus carried Daddy home today at 2:42 pm."
Roger Rigney- beloved husband, father and grandfather of our friends. Please keep his family and our friends in your prayers.
***Edited***


I took the afternoon off today. It has been a busy couple of weeks and I needed the rest.

As I sat trying to decide whether I wanted to watch Grey's Anatomy or America's Next Top Model or House on-line, I received an e-mail from my friend's father's website journal. Amy's dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 carcinoid cancer in April 1995 and is now in the hospital in Indianna. As I type this e-mail, our friends are leaving their vacation with their 16-month little boy to be with her dad during this time. Instead of watching a silly show or a silly three shows, I was convicted that I better start pryaing. I love my friends and my heart hurts for them. I ask that you will follow their site and flood the heavens with prayers on their behalf. If you want more information, here is the e-mail I received:
"Dear Friends and Family,
My sisters and I created a CaringBridge website to keep you up to date on our dad, Roger Rigney. The CaringBridge website name is rogerrigney and the web address is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rogerrigney

You will need to have a CaringBridge profile to leave messages for Roger in the guestbook. Creating a profile only takes a minute and allows you to sign up to receive Journal update notifications by e-mail each time Roger’s Journal is updated.
If you have a CaringBridge Profile:
1. Visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rogerrigney
2. Sign in to your CaringBridge profile
If you DO NOT have a CaringBridge Profile:
1. Visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rogerrigney
2. Create your CaringBridge profile CaringBridge® is a free, nonprofit web service that connects family and friends to share information, love and support during a health care crisis, treatment and recovery.
Thank you for your support, thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone else.

Melissa, Beth and Amy"