Mia Magoo is ONE!

Well, to say that I am behind on blogging would be an understatement.  Hard to know where to start.  But then I found this picture of Joe with a mustache and decided to start there.  Happy Birthday Amelia/Magoo/Goobers/Mia :).

Joe wants you to think this mustache is real.  (It's not)

Worst birthday present ever

May 22nd arrived out of nowhere this year! We were focusing on all the end of school activities for Carter & Ellie and our visiting cousins and all of Carter's baseball games and then it was suddenly my birthday. We had plans to hang out with my family, but I had this nagging urge to get to the doctor first about a skin issue I had been having. I suspected it was a heat rash, but better safe then sorry. Off I went to the dermatologist with all 3 kids in tow. Turns out it wasn't a heat rash. I have shingles. They tell me I shouldn't be around pregnant women or babies. I should have laughed at them (considering my 7 month old solely nurses and never leaves my arms), but I chose to cry instead. It hasn't been terrible, probably since Joe has stayed home to help, but it hasn't been pleasant either. I have these patches that itch and hurt like crazy all at the same time and ALL the time. And apparently shingles is mostly an old person disease. Happy birthday to me.

Last day of school!!

Nine months ago I was so nervous about Carter starting public school. The only way I could have handled it was by knowing that Carter had the best teacher in the whole wide world. Seriously, Ms. Bowen is amazing. She is patient and encouraging and so darn happy all the time! I was one of the room Mom's and Ms. Bowen let me bring both my girls with me every time I volunteered in the classroom. Ellie became a little honorary 1st grader and the kids loved her to pieces. The feeling was mutual :). I loved reading and planning their parties and being there for field day, assemblies and lunches. One little girl paid me the sweetest compliment when she said that I was the Mom who had been there the very most. On the flip side that probably means I am the most over-bearing and controlling...

Our new pet

The horse down the road had a baby.  We call her Browner, the kids think she is probably related to Brownie- a horse who lives by our old church building.  They LOVED seeing Brownie every Sunday and when she wasn't there we would imagine she was on vacation is some exciting locale.  Now we love to see Browner and will often go out of our way to drive by her.  We stopped by the other day and she sat right in front of us so we could take pictures, what a well behaved pet we have.  Wow, we are wierd.

Locks of Love

Ellie has always loved having long hair and has been ADAMANT about not having it cut.  But she is also ADAMANT about not having it brushed.  Finally she decided the hair had to go.  This was not easy for me!  I love her pretty waterfall hair.  But, it had to happen.  We talked all about people who are sick in the hospital and lose their hair.  She loved the idea of giving them her hair, so off to the little girl beauty parlor we went.  She was so casual about the whole thing.  I was trying to not cry and she was smiling and watching Tangled.  She was adorable before, she is adorable now.  And we are learning about helping others.  It's a win-win.

Don't tell Ellie, but as I am writing this post and looking at these pictures- I MISS HER LONG HAIR!!

Color Run

I have not posted in a long time.  I can tell it has been too long because blogspot has TOTALLY changed it's format since I was here last!  I'll try to figure this out as I go...

I am trying to be a runner again.  Emphasis on trying.  My friend found a super fun 5K race called the Color Run, and if they come to a city near you I would highly recommend you do it!  You show up in a white shirt and at every kilometer they have a bunch of volunteers throwing different colors at you.  Fun, right?!  Then it got even better, Carter & Ellie joined me in the mosh pit of people at the end and everyone threw color up in the air.  Major party, major color explosion, major fun.  I love that my kids really get into things :).  And as you leave they have souped up leaf blowers that blow all the loose color off of you so you don't get your car too colorful on the ride home.  This was Ellie's least favorite part NOT because it was loud or scary, but because they blew most of her purple color off (her favorite).  We'll be there next year- same time, same place.

I can do this...ish.

What a glorious day this is turning out to be! My house is immaculately clean, my floors are all shiny and I don't have to be emberassed if someone comes by and needs to use my bathroom! It's almost 10 am and all three kids are dressed and fed, Amelia is fast asleep in her swing and all I hear is the soft humming noise of the computer! I can totally handle 3 kids. I am amazing. This is probably the appropriate time to mention that the cleaners just came. Hence the clean house. And Carter and Ellie are at church with Joe. Who is doing my calling for me (he is the best substitute primary chorister EVER. I think they secretly prefer him to me). So basically all I did was get Amelia to sleep. I'll take it! Someday I will be able to do all those other things too. I think.And yes, I have my Christmas tree up. It's been up since the first of November. Give me all the slack you want but we are going to celebrate this, the second most important holiday of the year, as long as we can. And, we might put our tree up again for Easter.

Sisters, and their Brother

When we first found out we were having a girl we were a little sad (don't tell Amelia). Carter really wanted a brother and we knew Ellie just wanted a baby- plus, in my experience, boys are a little easier. But I am so grateful now that Amelia is a girl. As I see Ellie & Amelia together I can just imagine a little ways down the road when they are playing princesses together and trying on my shoes and makeup. I love having sisters and I am sure they will too. As you can see, Ellie is already smitten with her baby sister and she doesn't even do anything yet ;).



As for Carter- well, he has already done the math and realizes that the boys are outnumbered. Based on how well he plays with Ellie and how much he loves to hold and talk to baby Amelia I would say he has come to terms with it. But, he has taken up watching football with Dad (who is beyond thrilled). Seriously. He started watching the Atlanta Falcons games as soon as Amelia came home from the hospital. They better enjoy those games while they can, as soon as Amelia gets old enough to have a vote we are going to be watching a lot of chick flicks in this home...

Introducing...

Amelia Bliss Benson
October 10th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches

Nesting...?

Isn't nesting supposed to happen in the ninth month of pregnancy? I don't want to move let alone nest. Don't get me wrong, I do have a long list of things I would like to get done. I just want someone else to do them. Joe...

Todays Wisdom

I have realized a few things today:

1. We have too many bathrooms. I cleaned all 4 today. I have decided to board one up, or 3. We only have 4 bottoms that live here for goodness sake!

2. As parents our natural tendency is to favor the loud child. I have been trying to not let the squeaky wheel get the grease. And to not talk so much- I am an overtalker with my kids and I think they are only getting every 6th word anyways.

3. Pregnant feet are gross. Mine started swelling a few days ago. Yuck. At first they swell just at night but by 4 pm today mine looked ready to be elevated. Pretty soon I won't be able to get out of bed. And I'll have to watch Baby Story on TLC all day and pin stuff on the pinterest board I'm going to sign up for and have someone bring me my food. Pregnant feet are now beautiful to me...

4. I love my kids. I love my spouse. I may be a large, awnery, complaining, short tempered lady on the outside (pregnancy does NOT bring out the best in me) but on the inside I am so grateful for my life. Hopefully Joe reads this so he knows how much I appreciate all the foot rubs and the work he has been doing around the house because apparently I am unable to verbalize these things. "Thank you" comes out as "go do the dishes". Wierd.

Carter T's Big Day

Warning- this blog may be super corny, but that is just how this tired pregnant lady is feeling right now.





Monday, August 15th 2011, was Carters first day of public school. I homeschooled him last year because kindergarten was all day here and neither one of us was ready for that :). You see, we all kind of like each other and I really enjoyed being Carters teacher. Teaching him to read was very validating and I am so grateful that we will always have that accomplishment together. Of course, he is a really easy kid to teach because he likes to learn and picks things up quickly so it made my job easy.

Anyway, back to the first day of 1st grade. I dropped Carter off at school so that he could sleep in an extra half hour, and when my little man got out of the car and walked into the elementary school many tears were shed, all by me. Here comes the corny stuff. Have you ever heard the quote about how when you have children you have your heart walking around outside your chest? Well, it seriously felt like my heart was walking into that school in the form of Carter. Ellie and I tried to keep our day busy so we would not be too sad, not sure how successful that was. Cried at my OBGYN appointment, cried 3 times at Costco (too many people I know where there :), cried a few times on the phone and for no apparent reason at home. Remember I'm pregnant. And not sleeping. As soon as 2:50 rolled around Ellie and I were rushing to the school bus, where I cried when I saw Carter get off the bus. He had such a good day! And I was so grateful that he wanted to talk all about it, that is just what this mom needed! His favorite parts were buying lunch (with his own special debit card), riding the bus and playing with the one person he knows at recess. He loves his teacher and had nothing bad to say about the whole day. Which is just what every mother wants to hear.




Tuesday he took the bus to, as well as home from, school. That was really hard for me, I missed our extra half hour together. Joe took him down to the bus stop and I watched and cried from a distance. I did much better yesterday though, limiting tears to only 4 times. And when he came home he talked my ear off again :). Thank you Carter. He left this morning so excited and with some sweet goals (to play ball with the kids at the bus stop). Joe said he did it! So glad they let him play and that he was brave enough to ask. I have goals too, aside from writing this blog I am not allowed to cry today. Wish me luck.

Summer Days...part 2...

It's 11:30 am and we are all still in our pajamas (except Ellie who is wearing her new princess dress that I stayed up until midnight finishing, SO glad she likes it). What have we done today? The kids played with my pins while I made 2 pair of PJ shorts, we watched videos on youtube of space shuttles launching (literally makes me cry, I am so pregnant), Carter and I are doing school worksheets (this is fun for Carter, he is so my kid) and Ellie is surrounded by toys on the playroom floor- happy as a clam. I love summer. I feel like we are getting into the swing of summer, just as we are nearing the end. Oh well, we still have a good month left in us- and it is going to be awesome.

Summer days...

It is a sweltering Saturday (okay, it's only 90 degrees, but add the lovely humidity and it feels like 170) and here is how the Bensons are spending their summer afternoon:



Carter & Ellie- I'll be sad when a plastic kiddie pool doesn't equal hours of entertainment, hopefully we aren't even close to those days. Between the pool and the trampoline the kiddos have been happily playing for over 3 1/2 hours. I know 2 somebodies who are going to sleep very well tonight.



Joe- I am realizing, after almost 8 years of marriage, that my hubby loves to have a project to tinker on. I am always pushing for them to be FINISHED, but Joe finds joy in the journey. This fire pit is his current "hobby" and though he looks miserable to me he is actually loving every minute of learning a new skill. You go Joe :).

Dawnelle- I happily volunteered for the job of drink maker, popscicle supplier, snack bringer, picture taker and baby grower. So I am enjoying the air conditioning and getting my primary stuff organized for tomorrow (so I don't stay up until midnight doing it). Probably I should sweep. But I might make orange julius' instead...

Life Ever Changing

I am loving this age with my children. Carter is 6 and Ellie is 3. They love each other and they play reasonably well together. They will jump on the trampoline or play in the sand happily (okay, with regular mediation by me :) for hours. We don't have to take a stroller everywhere and I don't lug a heavy diaper bag with me everywhere I go. Carter is a good swimmer and Ellie kicks all around the pool with her life jacket on- happy and confident. Also they sleep, for 12 hours straight every night. I guess what I am trying to say is- I am 5 months pregnant with another little girl and struggling with starting over again. Aren't we allowed to be excited and worried all at the same time? The kiddos are MAJORLY excited about their new sister (though Carter kind of wishes it were a brother) for which I am very grateful. Ellie even shared her blankie with my tummy this morning- cute. I'm sure it will all be fine. Once this unborn child starts sleeping through the night- so basically we're talking next March/April...

The Flu and Thanksgiving

As we are now finishing our 3rd week with at least one person in the Benson family at a time suffering from the bubonic plague (or it might just be the flu, not sure which)- we are going to focus on attention on brighter times. Namely, Thanksgiving 2010.

What made Thanksgiving so great? Couple of things really: Grandma & Grandpa Benson were here, I didn't have to cook alone (yeah!), we had a southern smoked turkey (amazing, new family tradition), and let me repeat- Grandma and Grandpa were here :)! We thoroughly enjoyed weeks of food, football, long conversations and easy crossword puzzles. We always go into withdrawals when they leave, until we know exactly when we get to see our Grandparents again (it's April 14th btw).

Hidden Consequence of Daily Workouts

One Word: LAUNDRY. And not just any laundry, but the stinky kind. This better be worth it... :)

Carter T

Carter T is loving school this year. He goes to a 5 year old kindergarten class of sorts for 3 hours a day and I work with him on his reading, handwriting and science at home. He is proving to be a good student (thankfully, because as his teacher I was slightly nervous of my abilities). He is also a fantastic rule follower (for the most part).

He is my earlier riser and claims it is so boring until Ellie wakes up. Then the fun begins. He has been known to get her in trouble on many occasions because he will send her to do the things he knows he shouldn’t do (so is he really that much of a rule follower, hmmm…). I’m just glad they play well together now. Minus the princess stuff, he thinks that is “dumb”. That word has since been banned from the Benson home.

Carter is my fellow “puzzler”- he loves puzzles and will hum to himself as he tries to figure out where each piece goes. If I try to talk to him he will shush me, he needs to focus J. Carter is much like his Dad in that he is good at most things he tries. He is a great swimmer, has a fantastic batting arm, good bowler and a great reader. When he talks he uses his hands a lot- I see so much of me in him too. He loves paper airplanes right now and talks Dad into making a new one almost daily. And if you haven’t discovered Wild Kratts on PBS kids, he highly recommends that you do!

The Ellie-Bean

Our Ellie bean is a ball of singing, dancing, running, jumping, princessing energy. Yet she does have a softer side, she has been known to engage in a 10 second snuggle on occasion. She spends most of her day either mothering her baby doll, pretending to be a baby, or pretending to be a kitty cat. She is the one who makes sure everyone gets their bedtime hugs and kisses, and that we kneel down for our prayers. She laughs hysterically at all of Carters antics and jokes and he loves it (also, we have had potty talk issues at our house and she is the ringleader. The words poop and toot run rampant from her sweet mouth).

Thanks to an Aunt (whom I believe meant well) Ellie got her first princess dress for Christmas. She loves to twirl in it and she literally tells everyone who sees it that Aunt Brittany made it for her. One of the first things I hear in the morning (right after, "can we have sausage for breakfast?") is, "can I wear my princess dress?". I shudder to put it on her because I know that when we eat or go run errands I will have to forcibly remove it from her while she cries dramatically. So, it's a love hate relationship for me. With the dress I mean.

Ellie had her first haircut, by me. I thought I did such a great job until it was dry. Carter probably could have done a better job. Where are you when I need you McKenna? Where Carter is my rule follower, Ellie is my rule breaker. She will be on time out 10 times in a day for the same thing, while Carter only takes once. But she is so loving and makes sure we all know that she loves us "with all her heart."

Gingerbread House Contest

I remember our first family gingerbread attempt. I believe it was 2007, Carter was 2 1/2 and I got lots of extra candy to really do it up right. After 10 minutes of Carter screaming, because we were putting the candy on a house and not in his mouth, we finally gave up. Somehow we never got into the spirit of gingerbreading again until this year (and given that Ellie is 2 1/2 I was very hesitant). We did it for Family Home Evening, we were boys against girls and Grandma & Grandpa Benson graciously agreed to judge the pictures we texted to them.



Carter and Ellie felt it necessary to eat as much candy as they decorated with :)
Notice Ellie licking all the sprinkles off of here decorating plate


Joe got very into it- his artsy side is something many people might not know about him. And his super competitive side :). The kids lost interest after a while- you know, about the time we ran out of candy.

Girls Gingerbread house...

Boy's Gingerbread house...


Proving structurally unsound it became this...


and then this...
better luck next year fellas!