Superheroes

This is how the boys spend much of their time these days. They love dressing up as superheroes and running around the house trying to save the pretty princesses (or as Jakey says, pwiddy pwincesses). I'm so glad they have each other!

Check out this dangerous duo...

Dangerously cute, that is.

Little Graduate

Our little Benny graduated from 4K preschool this week. I bawled my eyes out. It must be those preggo hormones. Or maybe it was because they had the song "Let Them Be Little" on repeat in the background. (That song always makes me cry.) Or it must be because I LOVE this little boy SO MUCH... and I worry about him.

So here he is with his classmates, and that's him on the screen in the background...

Receiving his diploma from his excellent teachers...

The proud graduate! (Notice the upside down certificate :))

Benny and his best bud J...

Congratulations little graduate! Now on to kindergarten!

We love you Bennybud

"Let Them Be Little"

Billy Dean

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand

Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute

How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink

Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch

I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes

Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see

Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around

It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

The Real Hero

Bennybud's newest favorite thing lately is to wear this costume EVERY chance he gets. The very first thing he does in the morning is put on the costume, and then after school he immediately puts it on again. He runs around the house jumping off couches and acting like Superman. I was beginning to think that Superman was his favorite superhero...

But today he said, "Mommy, Superman is not the real superhero. JESUS is the REAL hero. He loves everyone and He can help us when we get hurt."

So true Benny. I hope you always remember that.

Budding Artist

Over the last 3 months or so, Benny has become very interested in drawing. Although "interested" is definitely an understatement. Maybe obsessed would be a better word. He wakes up every morning and the first thing he wants to do is draw. After school, I usually let the kids play outside for a while, and then they go down for quiet time. But Benny doesn't nap during quiet time anymore, instead he spends the entire 2 hours drawing. I supply him with paper and a pen, and then when quiet time is over, every day I'll walk into his room to find this...

He usually likes to draw Veggie Tale characters...

But lately, he's started drawing animals too...

Notice the shark, the ladybug, and um... that's a camel in the middle. lol! We're really glad he's found something that he enjoys so much, and we're trying to help nurture his love of drawing. We'll definitely help him develop his artistic skills and abilities, if this continues to be something he's passionate about. His Nana and his great-grandma Moore are extremely talented artists... so it's in his blood I guess. :)

Benny is truly a one of a kind little boy. He has such a tender and creative spirit. I'm excited to see what kind of unique contribution he'll make in this world. Whether it's drawing, or anything else he chooses, I know he'll give it his all, and do something great.

I love this little budding artist.

Super Benny!

It was Bennybud's 5th birthday today. He woke up to some presents on his bed and his favorite cereal for breakfast. (These were some favorite traditions from my childhood.) One of his gifts was a super hero costume and he LOVED it! He was running around the house like a superhero all day. I even let him wear it to preschool. Here are some highlights from his special day...

Benny was so excited that we got to meet his favorite superhero (Daddy) during his lunch break.

Jon invited a few friends from work to join us for the birthday lunch. They were such good sports to wear the party hats with us!! Ha ha!

Then we had a little family party tonight with a cake, and silly string. Every 5 year-old has to have silly string, right?? It was probably the coolest part of his day... but not mine. ;) I have a hard enough time keeping up with the messes around here as it is! But he loved it, so it was worth it.

Nana and Poppa sent a birthday package for his special day, and he was so thrilled. Thanks for your thoughtfulness Mom and Dad!

I sure love my Bennybud! He is a kind, tender hearted, and imaginative little boy, and I'm so grateful to be his mother.

Happy Birthday to one SUPER kid!

Argh Matey!

I have absolutely ZERO energy tonight. I seriously feel like I've been hit by a truck. I guess taking that "boot camp" class this morning didn't help... what was I thinking?! Somehow I had forgotten about this less than joyous part of pregnancy, but I keep telling myself that he or she or (they?? eek!) will be well worth it. Anyway, so this will be a brief post. I just thought I'd upload some pictures of our little man Bennybud during his 4K halloween party today. Charity, Jakey and I got to join him for all the festivities and it was tons of fun...


Benny and his BEST friend batman... aka Dylan. Benny talks about Dylan all the time. In fact, the first thing he said after we told him we were having a baby was, "Can we name it Dylan?" I'm so glad he's found a good friend here.
Look at that face! This little stinkerpot gave me a run for my money today! He's definitely entering the independent stage. I think it's going to be a long 9 months with this guy around. ;)

Here are the kids going trick or treating around the building. Benny would always say, "Chucker chweet pees" (ha ha!) I didn't correct him cause I thought it was too cute.

Love my little pirate birthday boy (on Monday)!

And there's Charity in the back looking at herself in the mirror. ha ha!

Here is Benny's most intimidating pirate face. Argh!

Little Performers

While Celeste was rocking out at the birthday party on Friday, we had a couple other little performers here...

Ha ha... "jibberty and justice" He cracks me up!

And I'm convinced Baby Jakey is a future conductor. He really feels music, and whenever he hears it, he tries to conduct. But it's no surprise because I come from a family of musicians. His uncles would be especially proud. Anyway, so here's a video of us watching conference. The internet connection wasn't great... but it's cute anyway.

Love these kids. :)

The Sweetest Thing

Benny and Charity were eating breakfast this morning, and they started arguing about something trivial. (Charity was incensed that Benny got the big bowl with stripes again.) Anyway, their argument was escalating, so I was about to interfere. But before I could and without any prompting from me, Benny stopped and quietly said, "We need to say a prayer Charity cause' Jesus is sad when we fight with each other." So they both folded their little arms and he proceeded, "Dear Heavenly Father, pwease help us to not be mad at ouchother. Please help Jesus to not be sad. And pwease help Jesus to come down from the sky." After the prayer he said, "Charity, you need to say sorry to Jesus" She humbly said, "Sowwy Jesus." And they went right back to eating their cream of wheat.

I seriously burst into tears. I've been in a bit of a spiritual rut over the past week... I was sick last week, and I started getting behind on things, and my personal prayers, and scripture study became pretty sporatic as a result. But hearing my sweet kids pray like that instantly brought me to tears and reminded me that I needed to stop worrying, and just be happy. I am so blessed to have these special spirits in my home for this time that is going by way too quickly... and all too soon moments like these will be gone. It was especially meaningful because of all the kids, I often wonder if Benny is picking up what we're trying to teach him. When we have scripture time as a family, Celeste is right with us and answers every question, but often we'll ask Benny a question to test his understanding, and he'll reply with something totally random... like, "Ummm, in the Veggie Tales movie, Larryboy said, I want a cheeseburger." (?) So it was really precious to hear him pray like that on his own. These kids just might be learning more than we think they are!

Big Ben

My little man turned 4 yesterday! I can hardly believe it. Words can't even express how much I love this kid! He is such a sweet and tender-hearted boy and he's just growing up way too fast. We had a fun mini-party for him yesterday, but next week I'm taking the kids to Gettysburg for a week to visit my family (My little bro is playing Tony in West Side Story!!) and we'll have a fire engine birthday party then. So I'll post more pics of the festivities when I get back, but I was just reminiscing tonight about these last 4 years with my sweet Benny. The following is from a scrapbook page I made last year entitled "My little man"...

I saw something in this picture I don't see very often... a glimpse of my little boy growing up. Your growth seems to be so gradual that sometimes I hardly realize it's happening. It isn't until I look back at pictures of you that I wonder where the time has gone. That's why I cherish every moment of your childhood, because someday, you'll go off on your own... independent and capable. Someday you will become a man with a family of your own. Someday you too will look back on your years as a boy and wonder where the time has gone. Benjamin, I know that Heavenly Father has sent you to this earth for an important purpose and that you are destined for greatness, but no matter how old you grow, or what you accomplish in this life, you will always be MY LITTLE MAN.

A Sweet Serenade

Saturday afternoon was a perfect day for a picnic, so I took the kids to the park for lunch. While the kids were playing on the slides, I laid out a blanket and began to read. After a little while, Benny sat down on the blanket and asked, "Mommy, can I sing you something?" He proceeded to sing the primary song, "Mother I love you." It was the sweetest thing ever! I didn't even know he knew that song!! We've been playing the children's primary songs at bedtime, so that's probably how he learned it. I asked him to sing it again because I had to capture it on video. I have a feeling he'll make all the girls swoon someday with his sweet serenades. :)

Mother I Love You

Mother I love you, mother I do.

Father in Heaven has sent me to you.

When I am near you, I love to hear you

singing so softly that you love me too.

Mother I love you, mother I do.

I want to help you because I love you.

I want to mind you I want to find you,

happy and smiling because I love you.

Mother I love you, I love you, I do.

Cooking 101

Here's a tip for all you chefs out there...


Don't put plastic bowls in the oven on broil. (DUH!!!) This was NOT one of my brighter moments (although it provided some amusement at the dinner table tonight!)

An aspiring missionary...

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two, I hope by then I will be ready to teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

Best Buds

Celeste completed her first week of kindergarten, and did great. But little Benny has been struggling to make the transition. Before school started, it seemed like I was constantly breaking up their fights and sending someone to the naughty chair. I thought for sure they'd be happy to get a break from each other. But now that she's gone... every couple hours he'll ask... "Where's sissy?" And I'll say, "Sissy goes to kindergarten now, remember sweetie?" And he drops his head and wistfully says, "oh yeah." And when it's time for her to come home, he waits by the window and then throws his arms around her when she comes through the door. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.