Baptism Day

What a special day for Ben and our family. Ben was able to have both sets of grandparents here with us for the baptism, to make it even more special.
Rick and I gave him a new set of scriptures with his name engraved on them. We put them in the case that Rick used while he was a missionary.

Grandma & Papa

Grandma & Grandpa Nutty

The family

The baptism program was really sweet. I feel like the spirit was really there. Rick's dad spoke on Baptism, and my mom spoke on the Holy Ghost. A little girl in our ward sang a solo of "I feel my Savior's Love", and friends (Stacy & Karen) said the opening and closing prayers.

Ben was confirmed by Rick Meyer, Rich Meyer, Les Rogers, KC Brown, Josh Harmon, Rob Smith, & Bishop Koch

Rick had told Ben that when he had gotten baptised, he picked the restaurant they went to eat at afterwards. Ben was sure that he wanted to do the same thing. He picked Rainforest Cafe.

He was really looking forward to this...who wouldn't!

Turning Eight

Before school

Ben's eighth birthday finally arrived!! He had been looking forward to it for the whole year. The day started with a bang, with an impromptu acapela singing of 'Happy Birthday' from the bus stop gang.

I had written him a note in his lunchbox, letting him know, that Daddy, Olivia, Will and I were surprising him with McDonald's for lunch and that we would all be there to eat with him at school. He also brought his treat to share with his class.

After school

For dinner that night, I made his favorite, Chicken & Dumplings. He said it was a great day!

The day after his birthday, he was able to go to cub scouts for the first time. What a great time this kid had! He absolutely loves it and wishes he got to go, more than a few times a month.

I can't believe that Ben is eight. It feels like yesterday, we were bringing him home from the hospital on that rainy day as new and unsure parents. I'm excited and proud about the young man he is becoming. We love you Ben!!

Ben's Baptism

We have exciting things going on at our house this week. Look who's turning eight and getting baptised!

End of School

I have no photographic proof that Ben was actually in first grade. I was looking back through some pictures and realized I have the first day of school pictures and the last day of school pictures and nothing in between. Ben's year consisted of making lots of great friends, continuing his love of reading, and being great at math. He still really dislikes writing and coloring of any kind but babysteps right?
The bus stop gang

With the school year ending it also ended my first year of being a room mom. All of the those cute parties and all of that hard work and not one picture of anything. Of course, I feel I could have done more but I think I did a respectable job. I know Ben has really loved having me their so often.

Olivia finished her last year of preschool. This is her on Wacky Wednesday, her second to last day of school. She has an August birthday so she is going to be the baby in her class next year. We (her preschool teacher, her soon-to-be kindergarten teacher and Rick and I) all think she is totally ready for kindergarten and she is so excited. My baby is gowing up too fast!

Last Night

Last night Ben and I went on a date. We had scheduled it a few weeks ago and both had been looking forward to it. We went to Subway for dinner, then Funway for bowling and Wendy's for a frosty. It's always so nice to spend one on one time with the kids. It is so much easier for me to really hear them and talk about things when it's just the two of us. Rick had got home from work and we were about to head out the door when Ben hands me this note he had made at school. He had had an extra inside recess and he made this for me then.
front
inside
So sweet!!!!

Ben was taking pictures

Eating at Subway
Ben opened my car door all night, just like daddy would.

Bowling

Ben is growing up so quickly. I have been feeling that way a little too much lately. Last week I cleaned out his closet and reorganized his shelves. It was long overdue and they were a complete disaster. I ended up taking all of the stuffed animals and blocks out and in their place put Star Wars Legos, DS and Gogo's. When I erased 'blocks' from the label I got a little teary-eyed. I mean, how did this happen? How did my baby get big enough to have big kids toys. It didn't help that a few weeks before, Rick had brought home 'Toy Story 3' for him and I to watch. Grandma had taken Ben & Olivia to see it over the summer but we hadn't seen it. Within the first five minutes I was sobbing (way too much for an animated movie). I was saying things to Rick like "I don't want our kids to grow up and go to college" and "I want them to never grow up and never leave." Seriously, it was sad.

Then on Monday night, we had a Family Home Evening about baptism. Rick and I had gotten out old pictures from the day we were baptised to show the kids. Of coarse, they thought it was so funny to see us so little and to see their grandparents looking so young (just so you know, I think all of you look just as young and beautiful as when Rick and I were eight). We talked about how we both felt that day. Since Ben will be turning eight this year we have been talking a lot about it. Rick said to Ben 'It is your decision if you want to be baptised and.." Ben interrupted and said "I want to choose now. I want to get baptised!" It does make me a little nervous that he will be responsible for all of his choices. Not because I think that he will make bad ones (although I'm sure he will once in awhile) it's mainly because I hope that I have taught him enough to be responsible for them. Yikes! I guess we have til September to do a good job. I'm just worrying about the big kid stuff now.

Some things that happened in December...

Ben ended his basketball season with the game winning shot. A great way to end the season. This is him with his trophy.

This year instead of cookies, I decided to make homemade fudge for the neighbors. I gave them with a pint of vanilla ice cream. I wanted to find peppermint ice cream in pint size but never found it. Hot fudge is good on anything right?

Rick gave me any early Christmas present this year...recessed lighting!! Since it gets dark around 4, it gets very very dark in the kitchen. We only have the pendants and under cabinet lighting which didn't give off very much light. Thankfully our friend (who has the same floor plan of house and had put in recessed lighting at his house) came and helped Rick install it. Thanks Jeff!! As you can see he still has some holes to patch but I'm a happy camper. Will figured out that he can roll underneath the Christmas tree and grab presents and ornaments. How does a child just instinctively know that a Christmas tree and presents are awesome? Tis the season for bundling up the kids for school, unfortunately. I took this picture one day before school while Ben was waiting for the school bus. He decided to play his DS all bundled up in his snow clothes. This picture just cracks me up!

Olivia had her annual Christmas P.J. breakfast. We had a great time (how could you not, when you can legitimately go out in public in your jammies) and she had even made Rick and I a present, this cute Christmas tree.

I was in charge of Ben's holiday party at school which thankfully went great. The kids had fun and I think the parents and teacher did too. I made these little cuties for the party. Although delicious and cute, they were super time consuming, and I will only be making them by specific request from my kids. The things we do for our little ones.

Snow & Santa

Last Friday night we went to see Santa and Olivia sat on his lap for the first time without crying. It was a momentous event in our family. Ben & Olivia both told Santa what they wanted from him and Will promptly took Olivia's place as the crier. You can see in the following picture that he is terrified. Right after I took the picture he completely broke down.

Olivia with Santa. She is so proud of herself.
That night we got a ton of snow so the next morning we went sledding for the first time this season.

My little snow bunny

Daddy & Will

Ben & the hill

This was the first time Will had seen snow. He was so bundled up he couldn't bend to sit (Christmas Story style). Rick had to hold him up, he didn't seem to mind though.

Random info from October and November

1. Another reason why I love Rick. Rick took Olivia to preschool one morning and it happened to be the day to sign-up for the Thanksgiving Feast. He signed me up for juice. Not the main dish, dessert or even a salad. He is such a sweet husband! I would have signed up for something way more complicated. The other bonus is that I have zero guilt about it because I brought the main dish and desserts for last years party and I wasn't the one to sign up for it.

2. Ben is loving playing 1st grade basketball. It is pretty fun watching him play. The games are all played with awesome sportsy music also. He says his favorite part is shooting and taking the ball down the court.

3. While at Hobby Lobby last week Ben was looking at a display of Santa statues. He then said 'Hey mommy, this is what Santa would look like with dark skin." and pointed to the black Santa. He then said ' but he doesn't have dark skin.' I promise we are not racist.


4. I have been feeling crafty lately. Ok that is an understatement, I have been craft crazy over the last few months. Of coarse I'm not as crafty as my mom but here are a few things I have made.

Cupcake wreath for Olivia's room

Burp cloths

Polka-dot pumpkin topiary & feather boa wreath

Flower bow

Ruffle Table Runner

Baby Lima Bean Wreath

Sweater Pumpkins

5. I was going through some pictures and I realized I never put pictures up from Labor day weekend. We had so much fun with the Gold family visiting us. Although we took lots of pictures, we were both enjoying having someone to take pictures with the entire family. I would take family pictures of them with their camera and vise versa, which means no pictures of the Gold's on our camera. :(

On the ferris wheel at Navy Pier

Ben & Rick on the swings

Gorgeous Chicago skyline

Rebels

On the boat

6. Olivia said that she was sad that my Papa (her great grandfather who she has never met and who passed away 10 years ago) wasn't coming to Thanksgiving. She then said that he would live again and come for Thanksgiving dinner.

7. Proud parenting moment of the month: After months of asking Ben if his shoes were feeling tight or uncomfortable (we hadn't bought him new tennis shoes in over a year) and him saying no. I saw a blister on his toe and decided to take him to get new ones anyway. When the nice man measured his foot, he was a size and 1/2 bigger than the shoes he was wearing. Nice! I felt like mother of the year that night.