My kids get hung up on songs and we will listen to the same few over and over and over. Ellie and Carter each have favorite bedtime songs and car songs and "sing to me mommy" songs and I want to write it down so I don't forget. I am so grateful that my children appreciate and love music, that was very important to me because music is a big part of who I am and how I express myself.
**Carter's Bedtime Fave: I love to see the Temple (both verses, very important)
**Carter's Favorite Car song: Pop Fly by Justin Roberts
and This is the Day by Veggie Tales
**Carter's Go-To song if he's playing and lost in thought: Little Bitty by Alan Jackson (probably because we listen to it in the car so much, see below).
**Ellie's Bedtime Fave: Candle on the Water (from Pete's Dragon)
**Ellie's Favorite Car Song: Little Bitty by Alan Jackson
**Ellie's Go-To Song that drives me crazy: Mr. Turkey (Carter learned it at preschool)
also Running Down the Hill by Laurie Berkner Band
Unfortunately the only line from 'Little Bitty' that they seem to remember at will is "six pack of beer and a television set". Carter's preschool teachers probably think we're pretty redneck.
Friday, April 16, 2010
I have gotten so far behind on blogging our lives but I want to catch up- here's a brief accounting of the last few months:
My mom came to stay with us for 8 weeks- my clingy children took an instant liking to her. She made Ellie the sweetest quilt, including a little duck design from the quilt she made me 30 years ago when I was born!
My mom came to stay with us for 8 weeks- my clingy children took an instant liking to her. She made Ellie the sweetest quilt, including a little duck design from the quilt she made me 30 years ago when I was born!
My brother Bryon was out in Florida for work and made the 7 hour trek up here to see us (and my Mom) and it happened to be on his birthday! He introduced us to the all sorts culturally diverse foods (even went to an international food market which was amazing- it's like a playdate for kids and adults alike). Joe loves leiches now and Carter eats almost anything with chopsticks. Even lasagna.
My Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) came to see her while she was here. We haven't seen him as much as we would have liked to over the years and had lots of catching up to do! He was SO patient with Carter and let him cook EVERYTHING with him (seriously, three meals a day- we still miss him). He created a monster and Carter insists on cracking every egg and measuring out every ingredient when I cook. Good thing I don't cook much :).
Ellie's hair can be put in a pony tail! I know this doesn't seem like a big deal but it took us two years to get her hair to grow out and she looks so grown up now, it makes me a little teary.
It snowed a couple times. We took Carter and Ellie tubing and while Carter loved it, Ellie wouldn't stop crying. Apparently she is a little prissy about being cold. Then we had to practically carry Carter inside when we were done, our little asthmatic child was coughing so much he would throw up in the snow. But he still didn't want to stop. Go figure.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Carter said...
"Thanks for taking those Mom, I couldn't have done it without you." And he was so sweet and sincere. And all I had to do was take his dirty laundry and put it in the laundry basket. I know, I'm supermom :)!
Carter says the nicest things sometimes. And I love when I ignore the pile of laundry or filthy floors and take time to do something silly with him- he still talks about when we played with the pickle slices (no idea how that came about). I vow to let my hair down a little more this year!
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Turkey Days
Not to toot my own horn or anything- but I cooked a turkey for the first time and it was delicious! I know, it shocked me too. I have a healthy disgust for raw poultry and so my friend came over to help me get through it. After a nice butter massage and herbal rub- the cooking part was a piece of cake.
Our friends the Garza's made it a fabulous day filled with food, football, food, black friday ads, music and dance performances, food- but no naps. Next year I want a nap :). Joe played in the ward turkey bowl and for the first time the kids and I made it out to support him. He threw a few touchdown passes and looked great- almost like high school again:).
Christmas Traditions...for beginners
By choice, we are staying home alone for Christmas this year. We will miss our families like crazy but we (i.e. Dawnelle) thought it would be a good idea to establish some traditions and make it a magical season without the stress of travel. I know we are only 2 days into "The Benson 25 Days of Christmas Extravaganza" but I just know that this is going to be the best Christmas season ever! So far the traditions we are establishing have either come from my childhood or from my head but Joe is going to throw some into the mix. He took it pretty hard when his 25 days of football idea was vetoed...:). So here's what we have so far:
1. Making paper snowflakes to hang in the windows. (I can tell we will probably be making these every day :).
2. Christmas Advent Tree (My sister Brittany made this for me with little decorations in the pockets and they get to take one out every day. As an extra twist we put a clue in each pocket as well so that they get to go on a little treasure hunt every night. Yesterday their clue led them to a treat and today they found little snowglobes. And a shout out to my friend Jessie for the great treasure hunt idea!).
3. Candy Cane Countdown to Christmas (they get to untie a candy every day)
4. Daily Christmas Devotional (we read a few scriptures provided by the primary and take turns picking a favorite Christmas song. I think Carter is confused, he keeps calling it family home evening).
5. Christmas Lights!!!! I LOVE driving around looking at Christmas lights and we have done it 2 times in the last 3 days. The kids love it too and even if there is only one strand of lights up we stop and ooooh and aaaaah. Usually there is hot chocolate involved. Sugar free :).
6. We are going to do the 12 days of Christmas and I am super excited!! My family did this growing up and I am itching to do it again!
7. Deliver cookies/candy and sing Christmas carols
Any suggestions? I love to hear what other people do during the Christmas season. I just discovered the other day that I have a Christmas music channel on my tv. Since I live either in my car or at home we are listening to these lovely carols all day. Even Ellie has memorized a few! Here is a sneak peek at my sweet Ellie's Christmas princess dress (note the matching pacifier and the car in her hand :). I love having a girl...
On an almost unrelated topic- I made the candy countdown when Carter was at preschool and Ellie was my helper. I don't know how many candy canes she ate but I think it would probably take 2 hands to count them all! Well, I later spotted one of the candy canes stuck to her pant leg and I had to snap a picture. Probably the reason it was so funny to me was because yesterday she got a sucker stuck on the exact same spot :)!
1. Making paper snowflakes to hang in the windows. (I can tell we will probably be making these every day :).
2. Christmas Advent Tree (My sister Brittany made this for me with little decorations in the pockets and they get to take one out every day. As an extra twist we put a clue in each pocket as well so that they get to go on a little treasure hunt every night. Yesterday their clue led them to a treat and today they found little snowglobes. And a shout out to my friend Jessie for the great treasure hunt idea!).
3. Candy Cane Countdown to Christmas (they get to untie a candy every day)
4. Daily Christmas Devotional (we read a few scriptures provided by the primary and take turns picking a favorite Christmas song. I think Carter is confused, he keeps calling it family home evening).
5. Christmas Lights!!!! I LOVE driving around looking at Christmas lights and we have done it 2 times in the last 3 days. The kids love it too and even if there is only one strand of lights up we stop and ooooh and aaaaah. Usually there is hot chocolate involved. Sugar free :).
6. We are going to do the 12 days of Christmas and I am super excited!! My family did this growing up and I am itching to do it again!
7. Deliver cookies/candy and sing Christmas carols
Any suggestions? I love to hear what other people do during the Christmas season. I just discovered the other day that I have a Christmas music channel on my tv. Since I live either in my car or at home we are listening to these lovely carols all day. Even Ellie has memorized a few! Here is a sneak peek at my sweet Ellie's Christmas princess dress (note the matching pacifier and the car in her hand :). I love having a girl...
On an almost unrelated topic- I made the candy countdown when Carter was at preschool and Ellie was my helper. I don't know how many candy canes she ate but I think it would probably take 2 hands to count them all! Well, I later spotted one of the candy canes stuck to her pant leg and I had to snap a picture. Probably the reason it was so funny to me was because yesterday she got a sucker stuck on the exact same spot :)!
Monday, November 30, 2009
What makes me smile...
Here are a couple of things that made me smile today:
Carter asked me if there are little people in the traffic lights changing the colors.
Ellie let me read her two books in a row, and then she full on ran away from me when I asked her if she was poopy :).
I went to the store at Cracker Barrel and bought stocking stuffers (GO, it's the best place ever)
Joe did the dishes. We're talking ALL the dishes and the counter is clean. Wierd, but awesome.
A few months back Carter saw a tampon and asked what it was. I choked and said they were for cleaning the toilet. Today I was cleaning and he said "Mom, can I have one of those little toilet cleaners so I can help you?". I hope he isn't going to be thoroughly traumatized when he someday finds out what those are...:).
We made snowflakes for the windows by our front door, it was Carters first time making them and he loved it! Then for FHE we drove around looking at Christmas lights and drinking hot chocolate. Does life get any better than this- I submit that it does not.
Carter asked me if there are little people in the traffic lights changing the colors.
Ellie let me read her two books in a row, and then she full on ran away from me when I asked her if she was poopy :).
I went to the store at Cracker Barrel and bought stocking stuffers (GO, it's the best place ever)
Joe did the dishes. We're talking ALL the dishes and the counter is clean. Wierd, but awesome.
A few months back Carter saw a tampon and asked what it was. I choked and said they were for cleaning the toilet. Today I was cleaning and he said "Mom, can I have one of those little toilet cleaners so I can help you?". I hope he isn't going to be thoroughly traumatized when he someday finds out what those are...:).
We made snowflakes for the windows by our front door, it was Carters first time making them and he loved it! Then for FHE we drove around looking at Christmas lights and drinking hot chocolate. Does life get any better than this- I submit that it does not.
Dear Grandma
Dear Grandma,
I miss you. Things are not quite right when you aren't here. I love so many things you do and I want them done just the way that you do them. Like the way you push me on the swing- you pull me WAY back and then let me go. Mom doesn't do it right, she just tries to push me forward first. But she's learning. Almost every night I ask Mom if we can go outside and look at the stars just like you did with me. Sometimes the clouds hide the stars though, why does it do that?
We still have lots of leaves outside- Mom and Dad are not as good of rakers as you are. I'm kind of glad though because I still love to slide into a pile of leaves every day- you have the greatest ideas Grandma:).
I still like to make up my own recipes. Yesterday I microwaved some salt, flour and milk for almost 10 minutes when Mom was distracted making dinner- Mom doesn't have quite as much patience as you have though :).
Do you remember when we went to the corn maze?! I was a little nervous about getting lost but you were a good map reader- and an all around good trail buddy. Ellie got really muddy though, silly girl.
For Family Home Evening tonight we went and looked at Christmas lights and we had hot chocolate for dessert. I loved when your birthday cake was dessert, I wish we could do that more! I hope it's my birthday soon.
Mom and Dad tell me that I'm the luckiest boy ever because you are my Grandma, but I already know that! I love you Grandma, please come play trucks with me really soon. And bring Grandpa, we miss him around here too.
Love,
Carter
I miss you. Things are not quite right when you aren't here. I love so many things you do and I want them done just the way that you do them. Like the way you push me on the swing- you pull me WAY back and then let me go. Mom doesn't do it right, she just tries to push me forward first. But she's learning. Almost every night I ask Mom if we can go outside and look at the stars just like you did with me. Sometimes the clouds hide the stars though, why does it do that?
We still have lots of leaves outside- Mom and Dad are not as good of rakers as you are. I'm kind of glad though because I still love to slide into a pile of leaves every day- you have the greatest ideas Grandma:).
I still like to make up my own recipes. Yesterday I microwaved some salt, flour and milk for almost 10 minutes when Mom was distracted making dinner- Mom doesn't have quite as much patience as you have though :).
Do you remember when we went to the corn maze?! I was a little nervous about getting lost but you were a good map reader- and an all around good trail buddy. Ellie got really muddy though, silly girl.
For Family Home Evening tonight we went and looked at Christmas lights and we had hot chocolate for dessert. I loved when your birthday cake was dessert, I wish we could do that more! I hope it's my birthday soon.
Mom and Dad tell me that I'm the luckiest boy ever because you are my Grandma, but I already know that! I love you Grandma, please come play trucks with me really soon. And bring Grandpa, we miss him around here too.
Love,
Carter
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