Project Life 2012 Week 3

A huge 'thanks!' to Brad for guest posting last week... it went a little something like this:

Brad: You need to update your blog

Me: I know... I keep thinking about it. You could do it.

Brad: Ok. 

And away he went... with poetry, no less! :) 

Just a little info on those pictures that he included:

1, 2, & 3)Bennett wearing the Perry the Platapus mask is so funny! Santa brought the P&F game for Christmas and we've really enjoyed playing it! You get to do all kinds of fun and silly things to make it all the way through summer vacation

4) Brad did a guest appearance in Bennett's class to teach about the body on 1.10.12 Bennett made Brad posters to use to illustrate some of the topics of discussion. The most discussed thing, however, was how Brad broke the teacher's chair :)  I also heard that he did a great job teaching them!
5) On the 14th we took Bennett and his friend to the Lego show downtown. The boys had a great time looking at all of the really cool creations. I think they were inspired to build even bigger and better things. Of course, what they really wanted to do was get to the shops and spend the $7 that was burning a hole in their pockets :)


Ok, now on to week 3

January 15 - Bennett has recently become obsessed with Ninjago. They have overtaken the kitchen and the living room...

On Sunday, the 22nd we celebrated Pa's birthday at Shane's. The picture right before this one resulted in squinty eyes. This is what I got when I told them to keep their eyes open - I guess Bennett comes by the 'shocked' look honestly :)

 We had cupcakes at home before we headed out to the Pinewood Derby.

Bennett, Brad, and Pa had spent quite a long time designing and crafting Bennett's car for the Pinewood Derby this year. You can probably guess, but Bennett's car is the Auburn one in the middle :)  He didn't do very well in the races - something about a wheel that was rubbing or sticking. He still did a great job (or should I say THEY did a great job :)!

i've got a platypus controlling me...

(Otherwise titled: Project Life 2012, Week 2 written by guest blogger, Brad!!)

Take it away, Brad...

Whaat???

Well, I'll be honest, I don't really understand
How fast time's flying...my boy's becoming a man


Yet, in small moments, his boyness shines through
A pure sentiment, so transparent and true
An extra look up, a spontaneous kiss
A snuggle before bed, not a night to miss;
A grip, tight on my arm, as I leave for the day
A squeezing hug upon my return, as if to say
"Daddy, I love you."

I love you too, my little man
I love you so much, the best that I can
Whether playing games at the table
or teaching about bones
Throwing balls in the park
or sharing ice cream cones
It matters not, really, what we actually do
Just spending time together, spending it with you
Is all I could hope for...
Is all I can do

So I savor each moment
Like a blog in my mind
Snippets of memories transcending time,
Dreams to awake to and this I find:
That my son still loves me,
And waltzes me through
This dance...
This journey...
This day...
for which I'm thankful

So yes, my little platypus is controlling me
I live to share my life with him, my special Mini-Me
To make the moments count, and count the quantity
Not just seven minutes a day, but all eternity
For us to share, to live, to be
In God's forever family.

Project Life 2012 Week 1

Welcome to Project Life 2012, the '52' version! I've decided to change things up a little bit and focus on telling one or 2 stories a week, rather than capturing an image every day of the year. I really enjoyed 2011's picture-a-day, but to be honest, by the end of the year, my main model (who happens to be an 8 year old boy) was totally dodging the camera each time I brought it out. A little bit of burn-out along with the LOVE of documenting what's going on in our lives has led me to this new plan... let's see how it goes!!

January 1, 2012

We spent New Year's with the Wargo's in SC. On New Year's day we headed to the park to shoot of some really cool rockets that the girls and RT have. So much fun!

Bennett and Sydney got along so well this time (although Bennett would probably be quick to tell you that he doesn't enjoy being around girls. Of any kind. Except for me :) It's fun to see them growing up together.

 Blast off!!

 RT and Bennett getting the next rocket ready for the skies.

 Happy 2012!!

 Jungle gym fun :)

January 6, 7, & 8, 2012

 On Friday, Brad's parents took us out to eat to celebrate my birthday (which is the 8th). We met them at Shayne's for a delicious dinner and some shopping at the Dollar Store afterwards. Bennett surprised us all at the check out when he told the clerk that she could keep all of his change. Sweet boy.

 On Saturday we had a basketball game and Bennett was on fire! He got a basket!! 

Whoo hoo!!

 Sorry for the blur, but they are moving SO fast! :)

After each game, each player gets a star for their performance. It is a favorite time for each of the boys. I think Bennett got best Defense this game.

Saturday night we had dinner at mom's (ham and her famous mac and cheese!) And cookies cake of course! Yum!

 January 8, 2012. Good-bye 36, hello 37! What better way to start the day than with breakfast (and presents!) in bed?

 After church we all met at Mt. Fuji for lunch. Evie didn't know quite what to think about the flaming hibachi :) 

 Volcano!

 My boy. He loves me no matter how old I get. By the way, he doesn't appreciate someone saying that they are old. Or that someone else is old. Don't try it. It will really get him going :)

 Bennett surprised me with a crystal tree kit from the $ store. One of my favorite little treats :)

Project LIfe - December 16-31, 2011

I did it! 52 FULL weeks of Project Life!! Wow! I have to admit - this feels like quite an accomplishment! Yippee!! 

So, without further delay... here are the last pictures from 2011. 

December 16 - We received a traveling journal from my cousin Debbie and filled it out with a bunch of information about Alabama. Bennett, of course, only thought we should focus on Auburn football... there is a little more to AL than just football, right? :)

 December 17 - Date night! One of Brad's colleagues had a Christmas party, so we dressed up and went for a little bit. It was a nice party, but the best part was grabbing a quick bite to eat at Maki Fresh on the way home. We were a little over-dressed, but who cares, right?

 December 18 - Bennett loves being acolyte - and he does a really great job! Today he also drew a great picture of Pastor Kip entitled 'The Sermonator' and gave it to him after the service. Pastor Kip asked if he could use it in the Christmas Eve sermon!! Bennett's response: "I thought he might like to use it in his sermon" Ha!

 December 18 - pic#2 - We put together all of the goodies that we baked over the past few days for Bennett's teachers. The tins included chocolate covered pretzels, fudge, chocolate drop cookies, peanut butter toffee bars, and pretzels with rolos and kisses. So fun!

 December 18 - pic#3 - Sunday was a busy day! Bennett designed and put together his 'Who' shirt for Tuesday. 

 December 19 - Bright and early (see, it's still dark outside... he's probably been up for an hour by the time this picture was taken!) Bennett created an ice scene with this Star Wars figures the night before and placed it in the freezer. The excitement comes in defrosting them, apparently. He froze and thawed these guys many times in the coming days.

 December 20 -(3 pics!) My orange and blue Who. The Third graders dressed up as 'Who's' for their Christmas performance today. I love Bennett's creativity!

 The third graders did a FABULOUS musical performance of the Grinch story and Bennett had a speaking part. He did a great job! I was a proud mama!

 December 21 - Movies with friends! The first day of Christmas break called for a movie break, so we went to see 'Arthur Christmas' and it was so good! One of the best movies we've seen in a loooonnnggg time! We'll definitely be getting this one on DVD when it comes out! So funny!

 December 22 - Whew! Christmas is coming fast! We decorated a gingerbread house today and it turned out so good! I pretty much squeezed the icing and Bennett did all the rest! I don't think you can see it, but he even made a snowman and snowdog!

 December 23 - Today we helped Nana make the dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls for Christmas Eve, but I can't seem to find those pictures - they must be on Nana's camera? Anyway, here is a picture of our tree. Half of the lights don't work and the ornaments are all gobbed in the front, but I love it!

 December 24 - Getting these 2 to both look at the camera and smile is just about impossible! Boy, they sure are cute... and Bennett really wanted his picture taken with Evie. So sweet!

 December 24 pic #2 - Our family. 

 December 24 -pic#3 - Nana and her kiddos.

 December 24 - pic #4 - Bennett with Mooma and Poopa

 December 25 - Bennett and Sadie both check out the loot that Santa brought!

December 25 - pic#2 - Isn't it great to give a gift that gets this reaction? :) Mom loved the water color of her house done by Lynn. Yea!

 December 26 - Shopping the after Christmas sales is so much fun! I didn't have much to buy this year, but I managed to get some fun goodies!

 December 27 - The living room is still in post-Christmas-morning disarray. It remained this way until early 2012 :)

 December 28 - Chad and his boys came for a visit. They had a great time shooting arrows in the back yard. Bennett loves his cousins!

 December 29 - Pa got a new puppy! Her name is Abby and she is adorable!

December 29 - pic#2 - See, I told you! She's so cute!

 December 30 - On our way up to  SC to visit the Wargos. Bennett noticed the 'crack' in this peach. Ha! Boys.

 December 31 - A friendly game of 'Guess Who' with Sydney.

December 31 - pic#2 - We rang in the New Year mystery-style with the Wargo's a local wine shop. Thankfully, neither Brad nor I was the murderer. And we both survived the evening without getting knocked off :) 

I'm so glad that I documented 2011 like this. I think that it will always be something that we can look back on and remember the big and the little things. I'm struck with the amount of really important things happen in the little moments - it's amazing how God works, isn't it? 

Happy 2012!