Nine Months Old ...

Eli Bennett is 9 months old today!

He still has 4 teeth (although 5-8 should be showing up shortly)...
He is a crawling machine and just started pulling himself up ...
He is better than any super expensive vacuum ... EB can find the smallest thing on the floor and it's in his mouth before you can blink ...
Paper is his favorite toy (and food!)
He LOVES J. Howard
and
He LOVES baths!

I guess I should start brainstorming ideas for his birthday? Keep the 31st of October OPEN! Oh ... the fun we're going to have!!!

Who Knew This Had Another Purpose ...

It's a well known fact that I have issues. There are far too many to address in a short blog post but after years of therapy ... I can admit that I suffer from a wide range of them! One of my issues is noise. I find most noises ... well, annoying. Scraping the bottom of an ice cream bowl makes my eye twitch. Hearing a dog bark causes my heart to race. A nighttime cadence of chirping crickets unnerves me to the core. My solution ... other than locking myself in a padded room ... SOUND MACHINES! The world's most wonderful invention of soothing background noise. We have one in our room, our kids each have one in their room. It's a beautiful thing! In our room, we have a ceiling fan running, another table fan, a sound machine, a baby monitor that is also piping in the sound machine from the nursery. Silent night ... sleeping tight!

But one use I never considered for our sound machines ...

A soothing vibration for those weary teething gums ... I guess you do what you have to do when you have four teeth coming in at the same time!!

It Took Me 31 Years To Realize ...

Some things just don't turn out like you plan them! I had the best of intentions today. I was tired of my boring monotone color hair and I made an appointment to add a little "spunk" to the do. I was even super prepared. I had 2 pictures of what I wanted my hair to look like. I showed up to my appointment at 1:30pm with the pictures in hand. First, the hair color. 2.5 hours later ... that process is complete. Hair color ... GOOD! Now for the cut. I had this gut instinct that I should pass on the haircut because it was getting late and I wanted to do the other things on my "glamour to do list" but I stayed silent. I kept looking at the picture and kept looking at the amount of hair that was falling from my head. I made comments like "Wow, that's a lot of hair." "You could probably make a wig out of that!" "Um ... are you going to make me look like the girl in the picture?" I held it together ... until I got in the car. I called Ben ... WEEPING. "This is the worst haircut. It's awful. Don't say anything to me when I get home because I hate it."

I got home to a child who decided my birthday was a great time to start throwing up. He had a fever. I told Ben to call Josh and Mikele and cancel our dinner plans. There was no way I was going out on my birthday with a horrible haircut and a sick child. And that is when Ben said, "Well, do you want me to make your day worse? There is a surprise party for you, at the clubhouse, at 6:15pm!" I felt awful that he had to give up the surprise ... but he's right, there was NO WAY I would have budged from the house if I didn't know the secret.

So ... I got rid of the red, puffy eyes ... worked on my hair ...decided it was best if I stopped looking in the mirror ... gave Eli some Tylenol and ....

SURPRISE!

The newlyweds, Jason and Michelle, cooking up the burgers ...The party crew ...
Mikele and my REALLY SHORT HAIR debut ...

Ben, me, and the VanCleaves ...

I guess we make 31 look good???

J Howard and his "birthday girl" mom. J How was in a world, all his own. Too many people laughing at his antics = one REALLY happy, crazy child! He's a wild one ...
but we LOVE him dearly!

I've only been 31 for a day and I've already grown wiser. NEVER again will I make a hair appointment on my birthday! Oh well ... I did get cute headbands for a birthday gift. Someone must have known I'd need them for the next 6 months until this do grows out!
THANKS FOR THE PARTY, Benni! It was a great ending to my 31st birthday!!! LOVE YOU!

I Know ... I'm In Shock Too!

THIRTY-ONE??!!!  Can you believe it?  Last year, I counted down the hours until I left my twenties.  This year, I'm living in a bit of denial.  31?  So much so that I scheduled a day of "REVERSE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES" ... beauty regime.  First up, good-bye red hair, HELLO BLONDE!  Or - at least blonde highlights.  Second, a little eyebrow waxing to give my face shape (or so they say on "What Not To Wear"), Third ... a little pedicure love for my toes and finally ... a trip to the mall in search of a new outfit.  I'll let you know if I feel a little younger by the time the day is done :)  Hope it works! 

And as a super surprise ... my friend Marianne and her cute son Noah decorated our porch.  She almost got away unnoticed ... but a balloon popped and we found her :)

Every birthday girl needs a princess balloon!

Thanks, Marianne!

TOTALLY THOMAS ... and A Bit of Decorating Fun!

I know, I know ... We've been back in AZ for 4 days now and yes, I'm still reliving the days of glory from our month in California.  But with Ben in Houston (he's trying to get home tonight before the hurricane hits!!) and me - doing nothing exciting with the kids except taking them to the Target garden department (and that might be considered more torture than picture worthy?)... I just haven't taken that many pictures since we've been back. 

Before we left town, Cake and Pap Pap watched Eli so we could take Joshua to the Totally Thomas Train Depot - Toy Store.  

Joshua was in Thomas HEAVEN!  He played and played and played!  

Finally, we were able to successfully drag him away and go to lunch at Claim Jumpers.  He agreed to go with us as long as "Mavis go lunch too."  

(Mavis is the "mo-key-motive" in the picture).

And ... when Bella (my mom) came to visit us in California, she bought Joshua an entire wood Thomas the Train set.  We found it on Craig's list for a screaming deal!!  When we got home, Bella came over with the "super surprise!"  Joshua has the train table and trains set up in his room and he now calls his room his "super surprise room!"  

What a happy camper!

And because my home is filled with SO MANY BOYS ... I decided it was about time to add a few ruffles to the roost!  These are pillows my mom and I made in CA ... 

 And ... a new centerpiece for our table.  My mother-in-law had lots of magazines that I went through and found some fun ideas!  

It's a good thing I've had two children and my naturally curly hair is now almost straight because ...

We're home ... and wow, is it humid!  I just threw out a picture of me - that my mom brought over today.  I thought about scanning it in but then I came to my senses!  Ben had only heard of "those days" and I think he was even shocked to see it in color!  I was 12 years old, obviously had no clue about hair products because my own family members had to stand feet away from me ... (Ben kindly pointed that out) ... because my hair was so huge.  HUGE ... that might even be an understatement.  I used to dread humidity.  But now, my hair has calmed down a bit and I own almost every single hair product known to mankind ... and I am embracing being HOME and back from vacation!

Before we left CA ... 

Ben's parents returned from their European cruise and brought Ben and J How some treats from St. Andrews ... 
Spent some time reading together ...And chit-chatting on the couch ... I think the boys wish we would have left them there!!

THANKS FOR LETTING US STAY AT YOUR HOUSE, MOM AND DAD B (Cake and Pap Pap) ... WE LOVED IT AND HAD A GREAT TIME!  

And nothing beats waking up - the morning after you get home - to have great friends come over to share a pancake breakfast.  Or as Ben would like to call it, "Breakfast at the British Open."  I did have a hard time sitting still, for a LONG golf tournament when I knew how much stuff had to get put away ... but when it was 8pm and I was still doing laundry and unpacking ... I almost wish the golf tournament was back on and I was just sitting on the couch again.  (Okay ... that's almost all true ... just take out the watching golf part.  I'd just be happy sitting on the couch!)

Tomorrow ... it's back to reality ... DAY THREE!  Anyone up for a field trip to the Costco frozen food aisle?? 

Day One and A Half ...

Back from the beach and up from a nap ...

Joshua just wasn't too sure about the crazy game of dodge ball the Wallace crew was playing.  He was up for running after the ball and tackling the ball thrower but the concept of throwing a ball at someone didn't register.  So ... he took matters into his own hands and had a "sit-in" protest.  

And ... took the protest one step further and went for the full fledged "nap-in."

Even Eli wanted a piece of the action ... "WHO IS IN CHARGE AROUND HERE?"  

"Do you really think throwing balls at people is a good idea?"

Thank goodness we moved from ball throwing to goose chasing ... Joshua totally got the concept of that game.  Or did he???

Notice that Ben is holding him down.  Every time someone yelled GOOSE ... Joshua took that as his cue to run - aimlessly - around the putting green.  (Don't worry, we played again tonight and his skills are much improved!)

After a round of intense game playing, nothing beats a little nap!  

And ... a yummy lollipop!  (No, your eyes are playing tricks on you.  Mikele was on VACATION ... Miles ate a lollipop, in his pajamas, before lunch!  We were totally living on the edge!!)

What fun friends!  Mikele asked Kate where we should all go on vacation next year and she said IKEA.  She said they had a ball pit for Joshua and she thought we might even be able to spend the night?  Anyone else want to join in?

Surfs Up!

The Wallace Crew arrived on late Saturday night and by Sunday morning, we were already having a BALL!

The kids loved splashing around in the lake and even though there were many protests to go back inside ... I believe Mikele's response was "We live in 150 degree heat.  You're staying outside!"
Mikele and our mellow guy spending some quality time on the putting green ... 
After breakfast, it was off to the beach.  The guys dropped us off and went to find parking spots.  Josh made it back pretty fast but Ben ... was gone for 30-40 minutes.  Apparently, he had to park over a mile away and walk, with the now SCREAMING Eli ... all the way back to find us.  Needless to say, he had a bit of "mellowing out" to do before he could really enjoy the entire beach experience. 
Josh and Eli ... loving the water.  Eli never did make it out of his pajamas yesterday ... this was my attempt at dressing him.  A new diaper and  ... well ... that's about where my effort stopped. 
Josh, Ben and Joshua ... wave hopping!
The Wallace Crew ... 

And ... The Bost Crew!  Just take notice of the amount of sand on Joshua's body (and face).  He had a shower at the lifeguard station, a bath last night ... and there is still sand in his ears!  We'll be bringing a bit of CA back with us via Joshua's ear ... apparently!

Lakefront Property ...

The only thing that is missing from our 10 x 30 foot side yard back home is one of these ...

Do you think Ben's parents would notice if we took it with us?

It provides hours of entertainment ... incredibly happy children ...

Brothers who squawk at each other (or was it shrieking?) ... and think it's hilarious!

And then they shrieked some more ...

And then I needed some earplugs for myself ... and the neighbors ...

I'm telling you ... everyone should have their own "lake." Or maybe ... we should
just come back and visit?

He Does Have a Cool Half Birthday ...

Our TWO YEAR OLD ... is now just a little bit older! And you thought the fireworks were for Independence Day?? Joshua would beg to differ ... or maybe I've just led him to believe that the fireworks are in celebration of his HALF BIRTHDAY! (Just add it to the list of "Reasons He Will Need Therapy" ... Reason # 794 ... My mom lied to me and told me the fireworks were for me.) We just taught Joshua to say that he was 2 years old and now ... we have to scrap that and start working on "I'm 2 and a half!" Actually, if I'm being truthful ... Joshua is a bit confused. "Joshua, what's your name?" J: "I'm two!" "Joshua, guess what? I love you!" J: "I'm two!" "Joshua ..." J: "I know ... I'm two!" Oh well! There is only so much info a little one can store in that brain ...

So ... for the 4th of July ... a celebration including a STEAM TRAIN! Joshua was THRILLED!Ben would like to mention that the picture below is what happens to someone who is OBSESSED with trains! He suggested that perhaps we should strongly encourage Joshua to be very well-rounded!
Joshua and Ben waiting to get on the steam train ...
Eli ... our little FIRECRACKER! Our train got robbed ... other children cried ... Joshua yelled, "Oh Bandit!" A few patriotic tunes ...
Two very tired children ... Joshua was determined to see the train one more time. A surprise when we got back home. Our neighbors went to LegoLand for the day and brought Joshua back a puzzle!
And ... for the Half Birthday Boy ... a "cupcake", a candle and a fabulous rendition of Happy Half Birthday to Joshua!