Happy Happy Birthday Benson Dear

Today is B's 1st birthday!

The year has flown by, as have each of the years since becoming a mom.

His very first day!

I was going to put up a picture of him sleeping each month, but thought that might get a bit boring. This way you can see his personality come out.

1 month
2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Benson we are SO glad you are in our family. You've brought so much fun, excitement, sleep and energy to our home. You have such a fun personality and we love watching it grow each day. We love you B!

Lots of pictures

He loves to chew on the tylenol bottles. We finished off one the other day and I thought that'd be a good one to let him chew on, just in case he somehow figured out how to suck it out through the top.

He was so excited to sit on the couch all by himself.
Then Ally came along and he decided it wasn't that fun anymore.

Ally loves to ride her bike. I think, if she doesn't have a big growth spurt this summer, that this bike should last through this summer, then she'll be putting a bike on her wish list.

Ben loves to carry things around when he walks, especially if it has dirt on it.

Still has the shovel.

We don't have any weeds/flowers in our yard, so the kids have been excited to pick the ones in the neighbors yard. Ben has even figured out that if you blow or just lick the dandelions they come off of the stem and usually into his mouth.

So much to explore.

Ally, her best bud, and the neighbor dog.

Ben LOVES dogs, when he realized the neighbor dog was outside he was really trying to hurry over to see her. Unfortunetly for Ben, the dog is very skiddish around kids, so we don't let him near her. When he sees a dog, he gets all excited and says "dog". Well, at least you can tell he's trying to say dog.

Ally has the power.

Ben blowing kisses.

Hi Mom!

Little story: Last night Matt was grilling chicken for me/us. Ally wanted to go out with him, so I helped her through the door and shut the screen door behind her, she proceeded to shut the glass door also. Matt went to come in the house and opened the glass door and PLOWED through the screen door. He didn't damage the screen, just took the whole door down. So then he got to spend a few aggravating minutes putting it back in place. Now it slides much easier, thanks babe!

Last night after dessert, I told Ally to put her dishes in the sink and she did. Then I noticed that water was running, so I look over and she's cleaning off her dishes, with Matt's ear muffs on. She said her ears get cold when she washes dishes, silly girl.

All nice and clean after a shower.

From this picture, can you tell that Mr. B is in need of his first hair cut?

How about from this picture?

Or from this angle?

Last night as I was taking pictures of his beautiful blonde hair, it brought back all the memories of Sette's hair. I loved running my fingers through her hair. It was always so soft, curly and fun to play with.

We had 2 firsts happen today:

1. Ally had her first dentist appt with a pediatric dentist. It went fabulous. If you have kids, take them to a pediatric dentist, it'll go SO MUCH smoother.

2. Benson got his first hair trim. I trimmed the sides up, so I don't have to keep tucking them behind his ears. Even when tucked behind his ears, they were starting to curl out. It was cute, but not boy cute. He looks so grown up with just the sides trimmed.

Our Egg Hunt

I did Ally's hair in the shape of a heart, can you tell?

The picture kept rotating every time I put it on here.
Our backyard, after the Easter Bunny came and before the hunt started. We do our egg hunt a week after Easter, so we can concentrate on the real purpose of Easter instead of the commercial part of it.

Tiffney

Ally & Ben

Tahnee- her bucket got full so she started using her shirt.

Tara-she used her shirt as well.

Checking out our candy

Ben and Daddy

Ben found his and mommy's candy pile.

Silliness

Growing pains....

I think Ally is dealing with growing pains. She's been complaining her shins hurt and there's nothing there.
Benson has an ear infection that has a yucky nose, fever, cough and lots of cuddles as side effects.
This morning Ally was fine and then on the way to our friends house this morning, she started getting a runny nose. So now she has a runny nose and her eyes are kinda sick looking.

The bright side to them being sick, you may ask? I will be gone tomorrow night and Saturday morning and afternoon at a womens conference. Matt gets to play sympathetic daddy to the kiddos. Hopefully he fills the shoes because the kids are needing/wanting lots of sympathy and cuddles. They have also increased their complaining, which I understand, with them being sick.

Matchy Sunday

Matt's mom made the 'guys' matching ties. And Aunt Kate made the 'girls' matching dresses, I have a skirt. Lucia even has a dress to match us, when she arrives.

Daddy and Ben were doing dishes after church.

Ben always wants to help.