5 years gone by...

I'm way behind. 

Really behind.

We've done a lot lately that I need to write about. 

I just need to start posting things about our weekends again like I used to when I had time to. 

Boring posts are better than none, right?

Well... maybe not. I take that back.

Look, I'm busy. Sometimes so busy I don't even really remember what happened two days ago.

I will do better... I really will give it a valiant effort. I know these days are important to remember- because at the rate I'm going at I might not in just a few years, or even months.

The first person in this world to make me a mother, Ben, turned 5 yesterday. I can't believe that it's been 5 years. But then again I can. I can't believe that in 5 months my Ben will be in Kindergarten. But then again, if feels like the most natural progression there could be. What's new with Ben? A lot. He's so handsome. He is! I'm not sure what gene pool he swam in, but he sure picked the right one! I don't know WHERE it came from though! He's doing really well in GA Pre-K. He's starting to learn to do Math problems and find sight words and learn about the weather and authors of books and all sorts of fun things. Last month he was made the Star Student for good behavior and got to do some fun stuff at school for a week. Like bringing his favorite snack in, favorite toy, having Mommy come for lunch at school... we were very proud of him.

Ben is an excellent big brother. He's very patient with Jonah, and Jonah just thinks he's about the funniest person he's ever met. I hope it stays that way forever. Ben still doesn't eat very many veggies, but if he does it has to be baby food veggies (a work in progress). He has developed a super sensitive sense of smell and things when any bodily fluids come out of Jonah it's disgusting. He's way in to Beyblades and Spiderman and kept asking for a skateboard for his birthday but he's still on the smallish side. He's still a sensitive soul... I think because he comes by it naturally- that will never change. He's such a good kid, he has his moments trust me, but he really wants to do the right thing. The other day when I went to pick him up, I wanted to see a family project we did hanging up- but the kids and families are not supposed to be in their classroom after school. There have been people going in and over feeding the fish adn moving things out of the closets and so they asked no one go in. But I really wanted to see this project we did and Ben acted VERY worried about it "mommy... Ms Abby said we can't come in here." me: "It's ok, we'll be really quick and I'm with you. I just want to see your poster" Ben "But mommy... we're going to get in trouble. She's WATCHING us..." I don't know how he thought she was watching us, but it made me giggle a little! We are having Ben's birthday party this upcoming weekend and he's asked for a Ninja theme. So me and Ryan are doing our best to create a fun little Ninja time for him and his buddies from church and school. Ben is in CTR4 in church this year! Can't believe it! He's not napping anymore. I can't believe I'm a mommy of a 5 year old! I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent me these perfect little boys for me and Ryan to take care of. I love them both so very much. We are truly blessed!

The Circus!

A few weeks ago we went to our usual jeweler (I swear it's not as uppity as it sounds) to get my rings cleaned and made to look prettier. The owners of the store have known Ryan's family for a very long time so they are nice to us whenever we go in. As we were leaving, he asked us if we might want to go to the Barnum and Bailey circus... he had vouchers to give away. None of us have ever been so we were excited when he offered. Plus he had tickets for the Friday before Ben's birthday. So it was kind of like a fun birthday activity we could do. I had already planned the day off anyway, so Ryan took the day off to be with us.

We had to actually go to the arena to get the vouchers exchanged for tickets and that particular arena isn't very close to our house. So by the time we got there, we didn't get the greatest seats. Or so we thought. We had the front row on the balcony and the arena is sort of "small" enough it didn't feel like we were that far away. They really were just right for us. We enjoyed the dancing, the clowns, the animals, the motor cycle stunts and acrobatics... Jonah was pretty good, he was tired but he didn't fuss or whine. He mostly took turns thrashing around on us, trying his darndest not to fall asleep. I think on a couple of occasions he did for like 45 seconds and then realized what happened and thrashed around some more. He was still very good, didn't like all the noise, but he did good. Ben said it was noisy, but he liked it. He said his favorite was the lions and tigers that did tricks. He liked the dirt bikes in the cage too. And he loved the spinning elephant head who's ears light up I bought him as a souvenir. I'm not sure how much he'll really play with it though. He's got way too many toys that kid. I need to get rid of some or put some away for him to play with later so he can appreciate what he DOES have.
After the circus we decided since we were out and about to go to IKEA, which is quite a drive from the arena but we needed some stuff. We stopped at Sonic on the way, Ben wanted a corn dog and chocolate milk for lunch. We ate, and then about half way to IKEA... he got sick and threw up in the car. Ryan frantically pulled off an exit and in to a parking lot and I rushed Ben out of the car to throw up on the side of the road. That was kind of the first time I was a little... embarrassed? It was even that I was that... it was just daylight, and he's literally puking on the side of the road while people are driving by and seeing us. Then some pigeons showed up and well... they enjoyed his lunch the second time around. It was gross and we left at that point. He didn't throw up again that day, although he didn't eat much dinner- which I don't blame him. But it must've been the Sonic food. We did eventually go to IKEA after the kids both had a rest.
It was a fun outing, minus the barf and pigeons.