Project Life 2012 Week 12

Spring Break!! Yippee!!

Spring Break started out with the boys helping spread pine straw at church on Saturday morning. Bennett wasn't thrilled when he came home, stating that he learned 2 things. #1 Always wear long pants and sleeves when spreading pine straw. #2 He doesn't want to spread pine straw for a living. Two very good lessons, I think  :)

We relaxed on Sunday and Monday, getting ready for our big beach trip with Gigi, Bubba, and Nana!

But before we left, we went to see the Harlem Globetrotters at Samford. It was a great show!

 Bennett couldn't believe all of the their funny antics and I could NOT convince him that at least some of it was rehearsed. Nope, he thought I was crazy for thinking so :)  Anyway, this is Bull (one of our favorites) trying to make a crazy shot from right in front of our seats!

 Whew. The Trotters won, but just barely!

On Wednesday morning, we headed for the beach! Bennett rode in the Jeep with Bubba. The girls rode in a more quiet, less windy vehicle (while Brad had to stay home and work :(

 My boy and me at The Crab Trap. Yum!

 The beach was really empty the first couple of days (of course, it didn't help that we were out there earlier than most people even get up!) 

 Without Brad there, Bennett was a little bored... but he was thrilled when some kids came along and they got together a little football game. Then a handball baseball game. I  love watching him play with other kids - he makes friends so easily. I think that will be a skill that will benefit him throughout his whole life!

 Finally on Friday, Brad got to come down! We were lucky that they let him leave work a little earlier than we thought, so he got down before dinner on Friday night!  Here are the boys in the water on Saturday morning. They have so much fun together!

 Evie was SO good on our vacation (of course, she's always good, so I wasn't surprised!  I'm happy that I could introduce her to crackers and drinking from a straw (well, with the help of her mommy) on this trip :)

 Our little family. 

So happy.

 After zip lining with Bubba, Bennett decided that he wanted to try the new obstacle course. It started out kinda low...

 then got higher and higher!

I could tell that as he got higher, he was getting a little nervous, but that's probably something that only a mom could tell. He kept right on going - carefully taking each step. Taking his time when he needed to, but never really stopping. Oh, and always smiling!

The goal of the course was to climb to the very top and then walk out on the plank to ring the bell. I was so proud of him when he got there! He rang it really quick and then backed off :) but he did it! 

How did he get to be so brave?

Wow! 

My boy sure is growing up!

Spring Break was awesome! We were so happy that Gigi and Bubba and Nana wanted to go to the beach! I hope we can do it again next year :)

Project Life 2012 Week 11

I'm not commenting on how far behind I am in posting... just know that I know and we'll move on :)

March was super busy for us because baseball started - and March 10 everything happened at once! Luckily for us, everything happened on March 10 at different times, so we were able to do everything and have fun while doing it!

First, (no picture) Bennett had his testing at a new school that he is going to next year. Of course, he reported that he did great on it (which is what he always says after any test), so we were happy :)

Right after the test, we went to celebrate Evie's first birthday! Angie had planned the perfect party, complete with enough sweets for everyone! Evie opened her presents and enjoyed seeing everyone, but when it came to the cake, she was less than impressed.

 In fact, she thought it was down-right gross! So funny! I remember Bennett didn't like his cake either, but I'm pretty sure that he didn't make any 'gross-mommy-get-it-out-of-here' faces. 

Sweet girl! What a wonderful year it has been with Evie in it!

 After the party, we headed to the ball park for the first Cardinals game! 

We beat the Braves 9 to 5! Go Cards! 

The other exciting thong that we got to do this week was the Boosterthon! At our house, we LOVE the Boosterthon! I'm sure that I've written about it before on here, but it is by far our most favorite fund raiser! 

Once again, Bennett got lots of pledges (from family) and had a great time each day learning about how to be a good friend.

 Pre-Run

 Water-on-the-go!

 Cool down lap :)

He ran all 32! Way to go!!

 Post-run.

All smiles :)

Project Life 2012 Week 10

I just got my computer back from the shop today! 2 weeks ago my heart stopped as my computer made a strange clicking noise and then gave me a strange grey screen with a question mark folder. AGH! Anyway, all's well that ends well, right? The computer is back. The pictures are safe (and now COMPLETELY backed up... a couple of times :)

So, now on with my posts!

The first week of March was fun, but not one that I took may pictures of. In fact, all I took were with my cell phone! Oh well, that's a sure sign that life is busy and exciting...

 On Monday, March 5 Bennett's school had an art show, which we always look forward to attending. There are a bunch of really talented kids out at his school (and their teacher is great too!) The best part was that we got to buy the art - framed and everything!

This beautiful hand is Bennett's, with his creative art work in it! Surrounding it are his character traits and all of the things that he likes. Wonderful!

 On Tuesday, March 6 we had a practice game against our former coach's team! It was a great way to get the season started and Bennett got to pitch toward the end of the game. He's been taking lessons for a while, so it was exciting to see his arm in action on the field :)

I love it that at 8 (almost 9!), this child truly believes that he can do anything that he wants to! I mean, why not, right? He loves baseball and he wants to pitch. I don't know how that will work out this season, but I'm gonna stand behind him - okay, well, actually sit in the stands - and cheer him on! And have a heart attack from nerves!

I'm so thankful for his spirit and the opportunity to be his mom... God teaches me about myself as I attempt to shepherd this boy. Amazing!

Project Life 2012 Week 9

February 27 was a big day! Not only did we celebrate Nana's birthday (well, we had the big celebration on Sunday, but she came over on the real day to celebrate too!) but we also had Bennett's Blue Bird Choir concert! He had been practicing for SO long and I couldn't wait to see it all come together!

The theme was 'America' and they sang wonderful songs about our great country. Bennett even had a speaking part in 'Step in Time' which was about all of the branches of our military. He did a great job and didn't speak too quickly :)

The best thing for me was seeing him all dressed up in his tuxedo shirt, bow tie, and cumberbund! 

 Here he is getting all suited up... 

 Here is a 'please smile for me. please. please' smile...

 Can you tell that he's thrilled? Tonight I learned the Bennett LOVES cumberbunds and bow ties ;)

 Oh, but he's so handsome!

Ok, so I didn't get a 'real' Bennett smile tonight. But I did get a glimpse into the future and my heart swelled and skipped a few beats. Wow. He's so cute! Some girl is going to be so lucky to get him one day! (I'm already praying for his future wife - did you know that?)

Ok, so back to the Blue Bird Program! The program was super and I was so proud of all of the hard work that all of the kids (and his teacher!!) did. It was obvious that they prepared AND they also had a good time. I do have to note, however, that Bennett pretty much looked like he was mortified to be on the stage the whole night. And I'm pretty sure that he wasn't nervous. He just didn't like the whole 'dressed-up' attire. I don't think that anyone other than his mommy would have noticed, thankfully :)

So maybe his prom date will be ok with him going casual... maybe? 

Project Life 2012 Week 8

February 22 was Ash Wednesday and Bennett had a schedule conflict... his baseball team had a practice AND he was signed up to be the acolyte at the service that night at church. Now, our stand on baseball is that once we sign up for the team, we will do all that we can to make it to every practice and game scheduled. But, of course, church is always the most important (which is why we play in a league that doesn't have Sunday and Wednesday games!)  

Anyway, I was telling Bennett about this conflict, figuring that he was going to say that I should call Mrs. Kim and tell her that he wouldn't be able to acolyte, but instead he said 'Well, baseball is a lot of fun, but church is more important. I'll just have to tell Coach that I can't make it to practice. I think he'll understand'.  Wow. How can it be that he's only 8 years old and already so smart? :)  In our Sunday School lessons with the boys we had been talking about making the right decision, even when it is the hard decision. And Bennett proved that he was listening! :)

Of course, our Coach agreed that he couldn't argue with that logic, so we headed to church on Wednesday night. The church service was very crowded, but since we were with Bennett, we got to sit right up front. We were the first ones to get the ashes on our foreheads, and the person who put them on was a guest preacher. He looked at Brad's head and said 'Oh! I love bald heads!!' and proceded to put the biggest ash cross I've ever seen! We couldn't help but get tickled about it... 

The Ash Wednesday service is so special - a wonderful way to begin the season of Lent.

 - - - - - - 

On the 23rd Bennett got a haircut and he looked so handsome! He even let me take his picture in the backyard...

Please note that it is February and Bennett is wearing shorts! It has been really warm here, but even if it is cool, he's a shorts-guy all the way! I was trying to fight it for a little while, but then I decided that I had bigger things to worry about :)

Project Life 2012 Week 7

This week the focus was on Valentine's Day!

Bennett picked out some (who woulda guessed?!?!??!) Star Wars Valentines again this year When we opened them, we realized that there was no way that he would be able to write on them (they were lollipops in plastic wrappers and the place they gave you to write was on the crimped plastic at the top... rip off!)  Anyway, I went to pinterest and found the perfect solution! I printed little cards, he addressed them, and we stapled them to the lollipops. 

Addressing...

 Assembled...

 I went to Bennett's school party and loved the loot on his desk. 

 He was so happy :)

 Then, as a special treat for me, he posed for me on a little project I'd been thinking about :)

 I think that the only bribery that I had to use was that he could eat some of these hearts...

He certainly doesn't have 'little boy' hands any more, does he? 

He assured me that I was his only Valentine this year. I know this won't last forever, so I'll take it! I love my boys!

♥

Project Life 2012 Week 6

February 11 was so busy... and I was out of town :)  

I had gone on a girls' scrapbooking weekend in Atlanta (Wednesday through Saturday) 

Saturday morning began with Bennett's final basketball game (they won!) 

Next, Saturday Bennett ran the Kids' Mercedes Marathon. This was his 4th year, and the first year that I didn't take him (Brad is usually on call), but they did just great!

 Aubie was waiting at the finish line!!

I got home around lunch and then we headed out to Bennett's first baseball practice for the season! Wow! He sure was active! He was always ready to go, go, go!

Here are a few of the layouts that I got done while away (I did 41 pages total!!) 

In case you are paying close attention, the date on this layout is wrong... It was really 2011! I have fixed it :)

I am so thankful for Brandi and Laci, my scrapbooking friends! We had so much fun holed up in a hotel room for the whole weekend! We barely left the room (once for lunch, once for dinner) had strange looks from housekeeping and the delivery guy (you doin' some arts and crafts in here?), and laughed ourselves silly. Not to mention, we were totally productive AND creative!

I'm also thankful for mom and Brad letting me get away. I know that not everyone understands the scrapbooking 'thing' but I'm glad that they let me go. I rested easy knowing that Bennett was well cared for (I honestly think that he was disappointed that I came back so soon :)