Big Girls Don't Cry

Well Fergie, that's all I feel like I've done for the past two weeks. Cry. I have two very dear friends that are experiencing heartache on a level I can't even fathom. I won't go into details on this blog, but I just want my blogger friends to know that this is why I haven't had the energy to blog the last couple of weeks. I feel like I've been in my own mild state of depression. My mind keeps thinking about and worrying about my friends and their families.

I will say that talking to my friends and watching them go through their separate ordeals has been an eye-opener for me. You just never know when your world could be turned upside down. It makes me so thankful for my wonderful little family and makes me cherish every second I get with them.

On a happier note, I've got some cute new pictures of my sweet little boy. He got to go to the first home football game of the season last Friday night. He was so cute cheering on the Bulldogs! We were only able to stay for the first half of the game...Ben's crib was calling his name by 8:00. He grabbed my face at the game and said, "Mommy, I sleepy." P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S.

Here are the pictures from the past two weeks. They are really random, so I'll narrate as we go.

Ben after his nap today. He is having crackers and a juice bottle, "to make his throat feel better." He's been feeling a little funky the past few days, and always reverts back to a bottle when he's sick.

Hayden got to spend a few hours with us yesterday while his mommy and daddy went to a birthday party.

Hayden and Ben coloring last night.

Best buds.

Ben calls this his "baby seat." He likes to crawl in it from time to time.

Me and my boys. Ben doesn't like to share his Momma's attention with anyone else :-)

We celebrated Jeremy's grandfather's 76th birthday September 12th. This is Ben after some of Uncle Chuck's sweet tea.

Ben and Papa Stone, the birthday boy.

Ben decided to pull his race cars out of this storage bin and crawl in. I just had to snap a picture of it!

Ben and daddy wrestling. Ben will go up to Jeremy and say, "wrestle wrestle."

Jeremy's art work. I was so proud I just had to display it on the fridge.

Ben and Momma before the football game.

Ben and Momma before cousin Lauren's 10th birthday party.

Ben and Daddy watching the game. Go Dogs!

Ben thoroughly enjoying his lollipop from Ms. DeMarco.

Playing with water balloons one day after school.

Ben looks so much like Jeremy in this picture. I need to scan a picture of Jeremy at this age so you guys can see for yourselves.

The end! I hope ya'll enjoyed all of these random pictures! :-)

Last Weekend of Summer

I heard someone say that Labor Day is the last weekend of the summer. Well.....peace out summer 2010! I am beyond ready for fall! Jeremy and I had a much needed date night Saturday. We went to Olive Garden for the never-ending-pasta-bowl. We were pumped to see that their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake is back! We each had our own piece! (not looking forward to stepping on the scale tomorrow morning, haha!) Starbucks had a pumpkin spice latte, so maybe fall really is around the corner....even if Mr. Weather hasn't gotten the memo.

Here are the latest pictures of the mister. He got a haircut last Friday, so the super-blonde summer locks are gone :/ I do not like this big boy haircut. I think it will be a long time until the next cut.

Ben had so much fun playing in Aunt Joycie's tunnel from IKEA. This is probably his favorite thing to play with at her house. I pick him up right after nap time at 3:00 and playing in the tunnel is the first thing he wants to do. Aunt Joycie was so sweet to let us take it home to play with over the long weekend.

Watering the plants

I just love these pictures of Ben brushing his teeth like a big boy. Jeremy and I have been brushing his teeth for him for a while now, and it just occured to me the other night to pull up a chair and see how he does on his own. He looked like such a big boy! (and super cute in his PJs) He was so excited afterwards, and kept saying, "my brush my teeth like a big boy." (he says "my" for "I")

One of Ben's new favorite places in the house is on top of his playroom table. He says he is, "tall like Bok Tower."

Playing baseball with Daddy

Mowing and finding sticks

Dinner at Tapatios Thursday night. Ben loves chips and salsa! (He gets it honest)

There were some bushes outside of the restaurant with some sort of red berries on them. Ben tried to pick some off, but I told him not to pick them because those were the snacks for the birds. He cupped his hands around his mouth and said, "Birdies come here! I have a snack for you." Jeremy and I about fell over laughing :-)

More pictures from his favorite playroom spot

Ben loves going to the mall to ride the carousel. The last time we went, he also tried riding the helicopter and train in the food court.

Back to School!

Tomorrow is our first day with our new group of students. It is also Ben's first day with a new group of playmates at Aunt Joycie's house. He used to be the youngest, but all of his friends are starting pre-K or kindergarten tomorrow. Ben will be one of the oldest now. Jeremy and I are hoping he does well with the new group and hoping he will keep progressing with his language and behavior. We will be waking him up at 6:15 so we can leave to drop him off by 6:30. I think we are all going to be very tired next week :/

We had a lot of fun exploring Bok Tower Gardens on Saturday. We were getting Ben ready for bed Friday night, and out of the blue, he said he wanted to go to Bok Tower. It was miserably hot, but we still enjoyed it. We took Ben to the Window by the Pond. He thought the lily pads were pretty cool. We got to see the swans up close again, and Ben enjoyed feeding them.

I've posted pictures of our little Picasso below. He loves the new markers he picked out at Staples last week. They are very messy, as you will see, but he sure has fun drawing with them. I keep a nice stock of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers these days :) He'll say, "draw picture, Mommy." He thinks I'm the best artist in the world. I'm sure there are kindergartners that could draw better than me, but he gets so excited when I draw a star or a "kitty cat."

Here are the pictures from Saturday @ Bok Tower

Ben still thinks he needs to close his eyes when I say "say cheese!"

Ben found this on the ground. I'm not sure what it is, but he loved it!

I love this picture. Jeremy and Ben walking down to the Pinewood Estate.

Benny the Explorer.

We took him in to the Window by the Pond. He liked the "wiwy pads."