I love that smile!! (and more)

Ben was extremely smiley (as if he's not all the time. He is my smiley, happy boy)one evening before bathtime, so we took advantage of it!

Look at me, I'm a big boy!!

He found something hilarious!

I love how his eyes smile!

And we found our tongue!!

Kisses!

I think this may be one of the only pics I have of both boys actually LOOKING at the camera and not making an awful face!

Ben grabbed the shower head's hose on his way out of the bathtub and started chewing on it. My little Tarzan!! :)

John was cuddling with his bear! So sweet.

When you have a mini van... (part 3)

Sarah had the day off Friday for Battle of the Flowers, so we hung out all morning. Chris was meeting Dave for lunch, so Sarah & I decided to go visit Richard & Norma (who was recovering from a 2nd neck surgery) and see Jenny's classroom. Since Chris "never gets filled up on Chick-Fil-A" and both Sarah and I love it, we stopped there on the way to Richard and Norma's. We offered to bring them something, but they didn't want us to. It was fun to see them again, and catch up on life. Richard and Norma have always been like 2nd parents to me, especially after my folks moved back up to MT. Having them as next door neighbors was just exactly what I needed. They helped me through all the days/weeks that Chris was gone at his trainings. I could always go over there whenever, just cause, or if I needed help with something, or if I needed "a man" to do something while Chris was gone. They enjoyed seeing how the boys had gotten bigger. Wicket enjoyed the boys as well!! John loved playing with all the toys Wicket had (rather than the children toys they had)
We didn't stay too long b/c we told Jenny we would come see her classroom, and she had her off period at 1:00, plus we didn't want to wear Norma out. Jenny teaches Kindergarten, so John loved all the activities to do in her classroom. He colored a picture, played with Playdoh, played with matchbox cars, and explored every nook and cranny in the room! It was wierd to think in just 3 more years he could be walking up and down the hallways of a school. (Still making up our minds about schooling options! But just the thought that he will be old enough to do so, made me slightly tear up, as my little "baby" is growing into a little boy. :o( ) We actually stayed long enough in her classroom to have all her kids return. They were excited to see visitors, and kept commenting on how much John looked exactly like a sibling of one of the boys in the class. (He actually looked a lot like the boy, so I am pretty sure they were telling the truth!)


We finally left and took the boys home to get some rest.
That evening we went to spend some good time with the Addington family. Jana finally got to meet Baby Ben, 6 months later!! She loved how happy he was, and they both actually went down really well over there. We had some really good conversations. Chris talked to Jana about a certain boy, and gave her the big bro talk. Then we talked with Jim & Jo about church, the one we are going to, and our idea of an ideal church. It was really sweet time fellowshipping. Oh, and we got to meet said boy!! Interesting fella!!! :) Chadley also came over to spend time with Sam, and he was entertaining us with stories of camping through Montana with the Boy Scouts! When we finally left around 11, we found John had moved off his pallet, and underneath the bunkbed in the room he was sleeping. It was pretty funny!


Jana entertaining Ben (or maybe it's the other way around!) ;)

Laura being cute

Anna wanted to join in


Loving his AJ!


We spent Saturday morning with Dave & Sarah, and left shortly after lunch to return to Killeen, as I had a baby shower to go to, Chris had guy time to go to, and then we had a BBQ that evening, which turned out not happening due to no naps for the kiddos and meltdowns!
John figured out (or maybe he was shown!) that if you put a ball in the top of your shirt, it will come out the bottom. He absolutely loves his Uncle Dave's pool table, and will spend most of his time ON the pool table, rolling the balls into the pockets.

Ben slept like this for about 20 minutes on the way home. Pretty much the extent of sleeping he does in the car. Ugh!

When you have a mini van... (part 2)

So, due to traffic (didn't remember there being that ridiculous amount of traffic on 1604 at 3:30, we got home to Dave & Sarah's right at 5, which is when we were supposed to head over to James & Galyn's. Chris had turned his phone off, so I ran inside to wake him, and then went back to the car to make sure the boys were ok, while he gathered himself (he was pretty much in a dead sleep when I woke him!)
We finally made it out to the Lacewell's around 5:30. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend much time with James as he had to leave for class at 6, but we got some good Galyn time, and John found a new best bud, this time a boy. Why is it that all his best buds live so far away? (More about that in another post) Noah and John hit it off, and were playing like best buds. If one ran, the other did; if one splashed in the water, the other did; if one hid in the closet, the other joined him. It was too cute! I'll let the pictures finish the story:

Galyn was fascinated by Ben and how much he had grown! I barely got to hold him ;o)

Noah introducing Jenny to John, and introducing his backyard as well!

Bryant!!!

Noah showing John his favorite gate, the one to "Aunt Linda's"


"Hmmm, what is this thing. Mommy doesn't have one of these."

Noah: Come over here John. John: No you come over here, Noah

Playing on the swing. Baby Ben got in on the action! John & Noah thought it was great to have a little one in between them.


Swing fun!! I left out the blackmail picture, that maybe will get seen on John's wedding day, maybe not.

Whenever Noah sees a camera, he does this. He loves to cheese!

We were there for bathtime so John and Ben got in on the action! And when I say action, I mean action. There was about 2 inches of water on the floor by the time John & Noah were done splashing each other and dumping water on each other. Ben & Bryant thought it was funny.


I really wish I could have had my camera as Galyn was putting the boys to bed. John jumped right up on Bryant's bed and "read" with Galyn and Noah. Well, he enjoyed looking at all the fun things on Bryant's shelf. Then while I was feeding Ben, Noah went into the closet and closed the door. John opened it and said, "Boo!" They squealed and giggled and did this for a few more minutes, until it became a game of running around the doors in the closet. (They have sliding doors on their closet) Then one would close it on the other, and vice versa. I hated to have to break up all the fun, but we still had yet to see Sarah & Dave, and the Spurs were playing and it was the boys nighttime, so alas, we said goodbye.
The Spurs game left much to be desired. Jenny and her friend left early, and we all went to bed by 10. Wow, that never happens when we go visiting San Antonio.!