Keep it simple...

The boys and I have had a trying few days... we don't seem to be getting well at all... so at 5:30 this morning (when they got up, of course) I was trying to think of activities that we haven't done in a while that may entertain them. I must admit I run out of ideas to keep them busy so today I reminded myself to keep it simple... so we settled on blowing up one of our punching balloons and playing with that for a while!



The simple things usually make them the happiest...

...at least until Ben hits the balloon so hard on the ceiling that it pops and Conner freaks out... 6 hours later and Conner is still whimpering "boon pop, pop, pop, boon, pop!"

Playing hard with Daddy!

Resting on the grass... the boys had been playing pretty hard and were very excited because Daddy got home early to play outside with them! They all played ball and ran around the backyard like they love to do!



Ben is truly our little athlete, always has to be throwing, kicking, or hitting something!



Conner is still our snuggler and loved the attention he was getting from Dad!

Old Tricks...

Really...?! This obviously doesn't require much explanation! (Notice the closet door hanging precariously and just so you know, the changing table isn't usually in the middle of the room... now as for Conner's mischievous look, this is actually quite normal!)



Ben tries to just hang out on the couch and act innocent... but I know better!



Great start to the day...!

Mikayla's Adoption Day!

It was a wonderful Wednesday! We headed to Charles City to be there for the adoption of our niece, Mikayla, and to celebrate her first birthday! Before heading to the courthouse, the kids had lots of fun playing outside. Ben loved hanging out on the rings!!!



At the courthouse, I couldn't help but be reminded of walking into our courtroom (not exactly a courtroom since at the time, the CR courthouse was still being refurbished from the flood!) I remember thinking that finally, we could breathe... we could relax... our kids were ours and now we could prove it! I missed most of Mikayla's adoption hearing because I was standing in the hallway with Ben, who had made it clear he wanted no part of sitting quietly in the courtroom! The irony is not lost on me here!!! But, I was still thrilled to be there and watch this sweet little girl become an "official" member of our family! Congrats to Bill, Kristin, Jennifer, and Mikayla!



The boys are usually very tender with Mikayla... Ben sat next to her for a little while before she opened presents...



Jennifer also got some "Big Sis" presents!



Conner and Ben entertained all of us with their musical abilities. Conner even did a little singing while they both played the piano!

After a full day yesterday, I am trying to get the boys to have a little bit more mellow of a day (good luck to me!) but we will see how that goes...

Love to you all...

Not exactly what we planned...

Okay... so I take back the whole kids-free weekend thing because as we have grown all too accustomed to... our plans took a backseat to our first priority, our children, and specifically our Ben... As Nick and I were just about to go out for the evening on Saturday my dad called saying that Ben had had a seizure... I am going to focus on the good news here - - he recovered from it very quickly and wasn't having any trouble breathing... very good things! I am so sorry that my parents had to witness Ben in that state, but I am incredibly thankful that I have two parents who knew exactly what to do! They did everything right and I suppose it was bound to happen at some point that Ben would have a seizure without Nick or me there with him.

Our children have been such a true blessing to us. Not only to Nick and me, but our entire family... tonight as I am sitting here, writing, thinking, and praying, I am also listening to the sweet sound of my boys sleeping contently... Tonight I just thank God that I have been blessed with so much and I thank my parents for taking care of our baby in a very scary situation! I don't understand why Ben has to go through this right now, but I definitely have enough faith to know that we can be strong and keep praying that hopefully in the near future we can find some kind of answer so that this doesn't have to happen so frequently. Would you throw a prayer up for Ben as you read this... we're gonna get this figured out yet! There is no keeping our boy down! That's for sure!!! He has way too much stuff to do to slow down!

Kids-Free Weekend!

Conner and Ben got to go stay with Nana and Gramps this weekend so Nick and I headed out to Palo today in search of sun, fun, and fish! I am happy to say we found all three! Takes a little getting used to not having our two babies around, but man... we have had a fun day so far (and I know that they have too!) We are going to go out tonight and party!

Bubbles and Banana Pops?!

The boys woke up from their nap yelling "shoes" and "go outside" so that is where we spent the majority of our afternoon!

Ben was loving the bubbles today! We got a new BIG bubble wand so he focused on that for a while...


Conner was much more interested in the bubble soap than actually blowing bubbles...


Conner mostly enjoyed his new toy (free from a neighbor, can't beat that!)


The boys are loving the popcicles almost as much as I do... however there was a mysterious yellow colored one in a package I bought the other day so I had the boys try it today... (I am not very daring when it comes to food!) Apparently it was banana flavored...

Conner was not diggin' it!


Ben, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed it!