Running Away 12.14.10

Ben decided he didn't want to be part of our family anymore.  He said he wanted a new family.

Sophie talked him off the ledge and asked him if he'd rather just live outside in a tent.

He agreed that that sounded like a really good plan.

So sweet Sophie made him his own little tent on the back deck with noodles, cocoa puffs, blankets, and a pillow.

Yes, in December.  Yes, in Utah.

And he lasted and lasted and lasted until it started to snow, and she convinced him to come inside.

We're glad he decided to be part of our family again.

Snow is Too Cold 11.28.10

The snow was fun.

At first.

And then it wasn't fun.

Boy in the Bed 11-1-10

A boy shows up in our bed almost every night.  It's not so fun to have feet in our faces or elbows in our ribs, but could YOU resist that smile?  He's a snuggly lovey Ben, and although I look forward to having my bed back to two occupants, part of me will miss his visits.

Friend School 9.29.10

It was our turn to host Friend School.  Ben chose Zoo Animals for our topic.  Seriously, preparing for the hour and a half of Friend School took me two days.  I'm hoping to get faster at this...

Why I Love My Carpet Cleaner 9.21.10

In the background (behind the couch), you can see Natalia.  In the foreground, you can see Ben.  To the right, you can see my handy-dandy carpet cleaner.

Why is this my picture of the day?

BECAUSE THANKS TO THE BOY AND THE DOG, I USE MY CARPET CLEANER ALMOST EVERY DAY.

Potty-training the three-year-old boy (yikes) and cleaning up after the 14 1/2 year old dog (double yikes) has worn me clear out.  I hate that so much of my life is revolving around pee.

Seriously.  Did any of us know how much our lives would revolve around pee before we decided to have children?  Or before we invited a dog to live with us?

Is this something I will miss once Ben has moved out of this stage?

No.  Nope.  Nuh-uh.  There's lots about mothering I'll miss when it's gone, but I really don't think this is one of those things.

Park Time with Ben 9.14.10

I love having some alone time with Ben during the day.  He is very entertaining company.  Much of our drive to and from school involves singing songs about trains, telling knock knock jokes, and playing I Spy.  What can I say?  Three year olds turn an ordinary day into an adventure.  And every once in a while, he'll convince me to leave the dishes and laundry and take him to the park.  It's always a party at the park, even when he can't find anyone to befriend.

Helicopters and Crayons 9.13.10

David has a friend with a helicopter.  I don't have any friends with helicopters, do you?  It seems like a friend with a helicopter might be a fun friend to have, especially if he invites you to fly with him.

And this is Provo Canyon from the helicopter.

And this is Ben, coloring.  School has transformed Ben in some darling ways.  One of them is his sudden love of coloring.  He will color, intently, for longer than I've ever seen him focus.  It's darling, really.

Reading Time 9.12.10

I love watching my children interact with each other.

Hmmm.

Let me rephrase that:  I love watching my children interact POSITIVELY with each other.

I especially love when Kate and Ben have reading time together.  Ben listens intently, Kate uses her best dramatic reading voice, and I feel like something is going right in our home, at least for a short, fleeting moment.

Friend School 9-8-10

Ben has preschool at the U on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but Wednesdays are also special days for him. This summer, my friend Emily asked me to join their preschool for Wednesday mornings.  It's like Joy School, where we trade off teaching week by week.  I have loved getting to know the other moms a little more, and I love watching Ben having a wonderful time learning about birds, apples, feelings, and zoo animals with his friends.  I AM a little out of my league, though.  Check out the darling mats they sit on for circle time.  Yup.  That's the kind of darling project made by these awesome women that are part of the group.  I'm learning from them, but it's a little bit daunting.  Oh well, they'll learn to love me for who I am, right?

Just Because Ben is Awesome 9.5.10

Really.  Wouldn't you want this kid running around YOUR house?  I mean, his fashion sense is dead on.  And that smile?

(And yes, I know I'm out of order, but I forgot to download the pictures from my other camera until just now.  Oops.)

At the Park 8.27.10

So David decided to start training for the Snow Canyon half marathon again.  He took Friday off, so we took Ben to Liberty Park and ran around it with the stroller a couple of times.  Ben was a pretty good sport, but definitely was ready for some playground time by the end.  And I have to say that taking Ben to the playground is pretty much a party for everyone.

Traipsing off to the U 8.26.10

So on Thursday, I told Ben we were heading to preschool.  He said, "Where is my preschool?"  I said, "At the U."  He said, "NO!  I want my preschool at the B!"

Josh (of course) thinks he meant BYU.  I'm pretty sure he just loves the letter B.

Ben's First Day of School 8.24.10

 I wasn't sure how Ben would feel about leaving me to go to preschool.

Yeah.  He pretty much didn't look back.  And when I went to pick him up, he screamed "NO" at me.  So I'm pretty sure it's a success.

Ben's Preschool Preview 8.16.10

So Ben is three.

And being three means Ben is going to preschool.

For reals.

So we went to meet his teacher on a bright August day.  He wore his boots and carried a stuffed animal. He was not too interested in the classroom, but was pretty darned excited about the sandbox.

Ben.  Three.  In preschool.

Sigh.

(That MAY just be a happy sigh...  Or a sad sigh...  Or a mixture of the two.)

Cookie Dough 7.27.10

Ben likes cookies too.

Oh, you already know that?

Yes, I may have mentioned it.

Bubbles 7.14.10

Museum Trip and Potty Training 7.7.10

Josh and Sophie took a summer sculpture class. Josh could earn a merit badge for it if he also attended an art museum, so Katy and I took the kids to free day at the UMFA after a picnic in the park.

I love these kids:

Also, huge news. We began potty training. Ben? Totally ready. We gave him part of his leftover chocolate Easter bunny every time he used the potty. He thought that was great, because since when has Ben not gone crazy for chocolate?

When the bunny was gone, so was Ben's desire to be a big boy. No more potty training. He demanded a diaper. Seriously. He's still in diapers three weeks later. I guess I need another few chocolate bunnies. Anyone got any stale Easter candy they'd like to donate to the cause?

Toys 5.13.10

I had kind of forgotten my adoration of three year olds.

I mean, they are physically darling, trying out all kinds of different actions all of the time. Ben's running gait changes within one run from the kitchen to his room. His arms flail all over, and then he changes his stride...OK. I know. It's one of those things that's way more fun to see than to explain. And when he is trying to figure out what he wants, he holds his hands out and wiggles his fingers in this crazy way. I adore it.

And then they say hysterical things. When Ben wanted to be held at two, he'd say, "Hoju me," which is still one of my favorite things. But now he says, "Mom. I wantcha. I WANTcha." Oh, and he sings all the time.

And then they adore their toys. I love watching their imaginations grow and grow and grow. Ben has found Josh's old stash of pirates and knights (passed down from some friends whose boys are now fully grown. These toys have been loved and loved and loved some more). He carries them around in a box. I love it.

This time is flying by. Just FLYING.

Yet Another Sleeping Ben Picture 4.29.10

I know, you just saw Sleeping Ben in Sunday's picture. But he's just so darned cute.

And honestly, I wish I could just flop down on the floor and sleep with abandon like that.

Maybe I'll try it soon.

Ben 4.25.10

A lovely lazy Sunday afternoon. Quiet. Calm.

So calm that playing with your aminals might even lull you into a peaceful slumber right on the family room floor.

I know that just a couple of weeks ago I was mourning the loss of two-year-old Ben, but I must admit that his three-year-old replacement is beyond charming. Three-year-old Ben has stolen my heart. He is even more talkative, has started playing with toys for hours, and seems to handle his afternoons without naps with more resilience.

Except for those afternoons that just call for a little shut-eye. Those are nice, too.