Christmas Trees, Blocks, Floors, and Benji

A few weeks ago we went to a friends house to have dinner, she had a gal come over to watch the boys while the adults talked. Everything was great until Benji and the floor got into a fight... clearly the floor won. It was quite sad. {and I felt really bad for the gal... he fell on her watch and she felt so bad about it}

The black eye looked really good... definitely one for the books.

In other news.... Benji can fit more than I want to into his mouth.

But he is oh, so cute. He is so fun!

Technically this is his second Christmas, but it's like his first with how in awe of everything he is.

The lights are fascinating for him.

I'm glad there are lights at his level for him to enjoy.

Every Christmas that Steve is around there are always choice words that are said while the tree is going up. And this year for good reason.... After plugging in and out and trying to figure out the cause of the problem no solution was found... so we have a striped tree this year.

It all makes for good memories.

One year and Bald

 Happy Birthday to my baby!! This year flew by!!

 I thought this was a clever idea. Benji has started making truck sounds so putting the cake in the back I thought was cute.
{We ended up having Benji's birthday 2 weeks later because Steve was gone, and then Benji was teething}

 {take a look at that hair}

He is wanting more cake... and he didn't do to bad in the mess department.... probably because I didn't put frosting on it.

 Remember I said to look at his hair.... Steve is now shaving it off.  He does this to each of the boys...

Benji was wiggly so Jason helped out.

 It took a little bit but I think he looks so cute now.

Oh.... look at all that baby hair. It actually was a good thing, his baby fine hair just kept getting tangled.

I seriously can't believe how fast this year went by!!

Here's to another year Benji! I love you!

"Not" Back to School Pictures

It's that time of year.... school picture time. I HATED school pictures. There was even one year that I had to have mine done again because they were so bad... I'm not a big picture person.

I think school pictures are dull, and boring. You sit and look at the camera, and 3.2 seconds later you are done and every kid has the same pose.

I do want the boys to have pictures every year, I just want the regular ones.

So here we go......

 James... 7 years old, 2nd grade.

 He really likes books, The Magic Tree House is his favorite series. He loves science and history.

Tommy is 6 and in 1st grade.

He is quite the ham and loves to make people laugh. He likes to write stories and is really good and just about everything. Currently he is writing a paper on cavemen.

Tim is 5 and is starting Kindergarten.

Tim loves to learn and is excited about learning his letters and learning how to read. He loves his GeoTracks and will build the most amazing tracks that you will ever see!

 He loves to laugh!

Benji is 1{yeah!} and he is in the grade of Getting-into-EVERYTHING!

He likes to run the house. When it gets quiet we know we need to go look for him. He likes to eat, open doors, eat, pull the pots out of the cupboard,  and eat.

Here are the boys, I think we all learn a lot from each other, and we all have a really good time.

This is what most of the photo shoots look like... crazy faces, babies running away, and a dog that needs to be in the picture too...

Every now and then the timing is right and I can get them all.

Here's to a great year!!!

{the dog was feeling left out so I took one of him too.}

ONE year old!!!

Can you believe that my baby is a year old??? This year has gone so fast!!! Lets take a little walk down memory lane....

Born 8-9-10 {what an easy birthday to remember}

He was pretty strong and learned early to lift his head.

Here is at one month. All cute and curled up. I love the way the light is shining on him.

Month 2... look at those cheeks!

Another at 2 months. I seriously can't get over these cheeks!

Here we are at 3 months his eyes have changed from that dark smokey blue to a beautiful blue, these eyes will be killer!

Here is at 4 months, he is getting so much bigger and so fun.

{can you believe that it's November!!! it was warm enough to do diaper shops}

Merry Christmas with a 5 month old.

Those eyes, and that dimple.... yeah... he's a cutie.

At 6 months he is sitting up and just waiting to get into things.

I have a hard time saying no to this... I mean really....

7 months and sitting up really well.

I love this look that he is giving to the monkey.... I was hoping he would like the monkey, but that has yet to be determined.

I love this picture of him!!! Look at those eyes!! 8 months came and went so fast, and Benji was turning into a ninja baby.... he was able to crawl really quietly and would sneak up on people.

Here he is at 9 months and not only is he pulling him self up on things he is pulling things off of shelves and bookcases... oh the joy!! The funny thing is... he will squeal and crawl away really fast as you come over to get him.

At 10 months he started walking... a surprise for us because all our other boys didn't walk until after a year... getting him to sit for a picture was really hard. {there was a plane in the air so he took a moment to look at it... I took the time to take the picture of him being somewhat still}

I love my fat baby!!! At 11 months... he is definitely not starving. His ninja skill have improved and I think he has super hearing too... every time the dishwasher, or refrigerator open he comes running.

Happy birthday baby!! I love you. It has been a joy to have you in our family. You keep us all on our toes. Your smile brightens a room and you laugh makes us all giggle. I know your brothers think you are a little bothersome now, but that come with being a little brother, they do love you and take such good care of you. You are so sweet and fun to snuggle... when you will let me. You are too busy trying to run with the big boys to let me snuggle you much. This year has gone by way to fast! Here is to many more!!!

Happy first year!!!

What's it called??

What is that fruit called that is yellow?

You know.... the one that most kids like?

Babies like it because it's soft and easy to chew.

You can eat it alone, or in a a split form, or even just dipped in chocolate... {that's the way I like it}

Most little one start calling it "nana" first.

Not this little one.....

He calls it a "mama"

7 months already!!

I mean really.... where does the time go. This baby is growing so fast right in front of me. I love watching him grow but it's sad at the same time.

He seems to get bigger every day I pull him out of his bed!!! His baby blues will knock just about everyone over.

His pallet has expanded to include everything off of my plate and anything off the ground.

He is very mobile now and has found his way into many things. We now have to close the doors to all the bedrooms because he gets lost.

I love the dimple that he has. And I love that it's just on one side.

He is such a happy baby! And it's really easy to get him to giggle. And he giggles at funny things.... like eating applesauce, seeing dad walk in the door, and looking at Tommy.

Until he's not...

And then he is done.