Girls and Boys

This is what I play with when Ben and I are playing together. Yes, we are playing McDonalds. Very fun, play food, register, head set AND....Guns. Yup. In case anyone comes in to take his money!

Later that day, while I was out, he asked Jason to come into his room to play gun store! Oh boys....

Katie has been taking archery lessons at the YMCA. She has wanted to take it since we moved here and started going to the Y. You have to be 8 years old so this was her first session that she could. She loves it and has gotten pretty good with her form and shots. She has made a few bulls eye's and has popped several balloons.
WooHoo Katie!




Outside today I found this. A sign that Spring is on its way.


Dakota enjoying the warm sun today.


And finally, my Dad and I finished the sphere puzzle! My Dad got hooked on it a few weeks back and it became his Thursday obsession. I can't blame him, it had a way of sucking me in at night too! I was a little ticked that he finished it, but then again, I did take a long break from it because it was driving me insane!
Thanks Dad.

Few Updates...

Our children are driving us crazy!
Why? All they do is fight! Is this normal for girl-boy siblings? I mean I have an older sister and I know we fought but this is ridiculous! Just when I think it's getting better...BAM! They start up again for a week straight. I don't know what else to take away. And yes, I've gone the other way and tried to do extra special things with them both and individually. So it's not like they've been neglected. I mean, I've cut waayyyy back on my Facebook time. (HaHaHa) Seriously I have. This is my second trip to Facebook rehab.

Anyway I digress....Updates Please...
Jason had a gall stone attack and had to drive himself to the ER Wednesday night! We didn't know what was wrong when he left at 12:30 AM. He had TERRIBLE pain in his upper abdomen. He was admitted to the hospital and released on Friday. He passed the stone and is almost back to normal...a little tummy trouble if ya know what I mean:)

While he was in the hospital we called him on the phone. The following is what Ben asked him immediately the first time he talked to him. First he said "Hi Dad."
Then he asked the following three questions with Jason barely able to give him an answer between questions.
1. How are they taking care of you?
2. What kind of food are they giving you?
3. How is your stomach?

Katie had some exciting news to share with Daddy and after she asked him how he was feeling she told him all about her dinner out with her principal. Yes, you read correct. At the school book fair a few weeks back Katie entered the raffle to have dinner with the principal. She bought several tickets and REALLY wanted to win! She found out last week that she did and has been beaming ever since.
So Thursday night was the big night. Great night, with Jason in the hospital but he was on the mends and I wouldn't dream of cancelling.
Well, she had a great time and her principal said she was a "delight"! My mom and I were a nervous wreck about what she might talk about, but she assured me Katie was fine and she didn't learn anything to bad about us! Phew!!!!
They went out to dinner and Katie got her usual, grilled cheese. Then they went back to her house and made a chocolate cream pie and read a story together! WoW! What a fun night.
Don't worry, Katie warned her principal about Ben coming to her school next year. She told her he never sits still. It could have been worse! She also told her about Grandpa Walter, he can't hear. Could have been worse :D
See....PHEW!

In other news....
Ben loves to help me bake Oatmeal Cookies! This has become a fun treat for both of us to do together!

I've been doing Weight Watcher's for 3 weeks and have lost 8 1/2 pounds! I have a wonderful support system with Jason being my head cheerleader!! Thanks honey for all the support!

Katie came home with her report card this past week. As expected she has continued to do very well in 2nd grade. She loves to write stories and is always on the look out for a good topic. She especially likes to write about her two best friends, animals and what she likes to do. Her next big story to be published is about Grandpa Walter. I can't wait to read that one! She also loves math. Her teacher wrote and has told us that she is very good at word problems.
OK, Mom and Dad, STOP LAUGHING!!!! She does not get this from me.
I am thankful for Jason for many reasons. Right now the biggest is that he understands Math and isn't afraid of math!

The kids and Jason have been going on hikes the last two Saturdays with their grandparents. They go to a nice trail and the kids really enjoy it. One Saturday they also took a walk at the bird sanctuary in our town. Spring is coming...

I am turning 36 next week and I'm okay with that. Last year leading up to my 35th I was pretty miserable. I think I've had such a good year and made so many positive changes that I'm ready for 36! We'll see how I feel after I have my first Mamo...

Katie has been wanting to learn how to ride her bike, training wheel free since last summer. She was very nervous and gave it a good try last fall. Well since we've been having some warmer weather...high 40's to 50 degree days,the bikes have been out. After several attempts TODAY was the DAY!!!
She was soooo excited!!!
Jason and I were SO excited to! We didn't think she'd ever get it! We both have fond memories of riding our bikes as kids so it's so cool to have a kid riding. Once again, we've had an AH-HA moment. WoW we are parents!!! We just taught our daughter how to ride her bike! I have to give 90% of the credit to Jason. He really stuck with her. I'm tickled pink by this, since my Dad taught me :)

St. Patrick's Day!

Le the Leprechaun came to visit! He was first spotted at Grandma's house and she gave him directions to our house. Lucky us. He made quite a mess this morning when he arrived! He has decided to retire at our house. The cat scared him, so he will be living outside in the flower gardens.
How do I know this? Well, he left a note of course!

Last night Katie finished making her Leprechaun trap. Her class at school, were going to try and catch one. She reported on the way home, that no one caught one. There was one on the loose at school and he got into a lot of mischief!




She decided to make her trap look like a shoe store. She learned that Leprechaun's are know to be shoe makers. She wanted to tape her voice that sounded like a fairy saying, "oh, I need a shoemaker, I need a shoemaker!" I bought a card that records your voice. That was the door. So when the Leprechaun opened the door, he'd hear the voice, go in and AH-HA! Sticky tape on the floor would catch him!

Now the mess we found this morning.

Snow Pictures

I just realized I never posted these cute pictures from our last snow storm!
Jason and I tried to build them a snow fort using their fort. That turned into a snow ball fight and Jason had the advantage of the shovel!

Snow day
So Cute


Katie starts to build the bricks


Ben's Snow Angel


Ben making his Snow Angel




And so It Begins!!!!





Now here are some really cute pics of them dancing together.
I think they may the next brother/sister duo on Dancing with the Stars :)

The Things Ben says...

So we (me and the kids) REALLY want to go to Disney in the near future. Jason is not as keen on the idea but knows at some point in the next couple of years he will need to give in. When the kids ask us to buy silly things I say no we need to save our money for Disney to help them understand we need to save.

I think...they are starting to get it.

Katie got some new clothes, from Nana. This is an FYI Children's Place near us was having a HUGE clearance sale and Katie really needed some pants, she had another growth spurt!

So last night we were talking and Katie asked again "When are we going to Disney?"
Ben responds, "Katie from now on you wear the pants that are to short. NO MORE buying new clothes. We have to save money for Disney! We can only buy food. That's it. OK Katie? NO MORE CLOTHES!"
I agreed and added, "Ben that means only one bowl of cereal for you in the morning."
Ben asks, "Can I have something else with it too?"
Oh Ben!

I am helping my Dad figure out how to center a picture! I know...he doesn't know how to do this?