Bible Names...

After church yesterday, we asked Ben what he learned in sunday school.
He said it was a story about these guys that went into the fire and they didn't burn up because God was there with them. I asked Ben what were these guys names?
He said "Shadrack, Meshack, and Oregano". Priceless...

"Ben Turns 6!"

Ben turned 6 yrs. old on Sept. 19!

I can't believe how fast 6 years goes by.

As time passes, I can tell for sure that the first

born always holds a special place in a mom's heart.

I can still remember the first time I held him, the

first time he smiled at me, the first time he said

mama, and the first time he said "I love you, mommy".

There's just nothing in the world like it.

So here are the

"Top Ten Things that Ben has taught me"

10. I actually enjoy watching "Spongebob Squarepants"

and find myself laughing at it often.

9. A hug and a kiss really does make a boo-boo feel better.

8. Chocolate ice cream and chocolate milk should be considered

a food group.

7. The pain at the dentist or the doctor is always worth the prize

you get after it's over.

6. Digging for worms is a sport.

5. Wrestling with your brother is also a sport.

4. Going to the movies is all about getting SNACKS!

3. When you get new shoes, you can run faster.

2. Laughing together uncontrollably is good for your health

AND so much fun!

1.5. If you keep asking mom for another hug, she will keep coming

back into your room...delaying the "going to sleep" process.

1. Spending time with your family and playing together is the

most important thing in life.

"Ben's Open House"

This is Ben and his teacher, Mrs. Hoover.

She is a great teacher and Ben really likes her

and I'm sure will learn a lot with her. It's kind

of funny too because Mrs. Hoover has a son, Tyler,

who is in my high school show choir! :)

This is a picture of Ben with Mrs. Degenkolb.

She is the teacher's aide in Ben's class. She is

a very sweet lady and Ben really likes her also.

The first day of school he said, "Mom, I don't

think that Mrs. Degenkolb's name sounds right

for her." I said, "Well, what do you mean? What

do you think her name should be?" He says, "Oh,

I don't know. Something like Mrs. Prettiest?"

I had to laugh. :)

"Ben's 1st Day of Kindergarten"

Well, Eric and I are officially parents of a Kindergartener! It seems so weird to say that and to think that Ben is almost 6 years old! He LOVES school and is having a great time being a "big kid". I never could have imagined how big of a deal that first day would be for Eric and I. We were so excited for him but at the same time wanting to hold on to those last few "school-free" days with him. Anyway, we made it through. HA! He has a wonderful teacher and a great school to grow up and learn in. (Of course I'm a little prejudice since I teach at the school and grew up in this same school system.)

So...here's to recess, sitting on the rug for storytime, a milk snack in the middle of your day, and coloring as part of your daily assignments! "All I needed to know...I know I learned in Kindergarten"...

(**More pictures to come soon of Ben with his teachers...)

"High School Musical 2"!!

Ok, I am confident enough in myself to admit that I LOVED "High School Musical".

I own the soundtrack, will own the movie, and find myself singing along at the the top of my lungs every time I hear one of the songs! (Especially Gabriella's solo...) Anyway, I counted the days until the "High School Musical 2" premiere on the Disney channel. I thought it was a fairly good sequel to the original. Something about these characters make them fun to watch and I really love the music. It reminds me of a throwback to the days of "Saved by the Bell" ...just with added music. Anyway, call me corny if you must...but I love these kids! HA!

More Pictures from Ian's Birthday Party...

This is a picture of Ben with his friend Kaitlynn Johnson.

This is my friend Jennifer (Coleman) Johnson's daughter.
It's really cool to see our children having fun together...even
though it makes us feel OLD! HA!

I LOVE this picture! It was taken at Ian's birthday party. It's not often that I snatch a picture of them being calm and loving brothers. They are usually tackling each other or something along those lines. HA! What a sweet moment in time captured in a photograph...

"Terrific Tadpoles"

About six weeks ago we decided that it might be a fun idea to try and raise some tadpoles and watch them turn into cute little frogs. We started out with 7 tadpoles that we took out of my parent's neighbor's pond. Three of them died after about 2 weeks but the other 4 are going strong! I noticed the past couple of days that one of the tadpoles was starting to get his front legs. (They all have their back legs.) Then this morning I got so excited to see that we have one itty bitty real live frog!! It is about the size of a pinky finger nail. It still has it's tail but it has all four legs and was sitting like a real frog up on the big rock out of water. The boys are really enjoying watching them change and grow...

However, I must admit that I seem to get the most excited about seeing them change. It's just so cool! I still can't believe how they are changing from these little tadpoles into frogs. How cool is our God and His creations!!

3 Years of Ian...

My little baby boy turned 3 on July 1! It's hard to believe that he is now the age that Ben was when he was born! What can I say about a boy like this...

He is so full of life, so happy... His smile will instantly put a smile on my face and laughter in my heart. We call him the "repeater" because he repeats just about everything that he hears Ben say. He has a loving spirit that flows from him. He's a little comedian and can entertain us for hours! He loves to make up his "own" words and has a very specific nighttime routine that I must follow...complete with a certain order of songs for me to sing to him every night (and yes, they must be in that same order...HA!).

A week ago, he was singing "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of his lungs in the grocery store. A woman stopped to listen and talk to him and I believe she put it best when she said, "Boy, with that beautiful voice, that curly hair, and dimples to boot...you'll have it made sweetie!"

Happy Birthday, Ian...my beautiful, wonderful boy...

A Weekend in Illinois...

Ian and Daddy on cousin Jeff's new four-wheeler...

Ben and Daddy on the same four-wheeler...

Both the boys LOVED riding on this thing!

Guess that means I'm in for many a sleepless

night when they get older! :)

Ben and Ian with Great-Grandma Scott.

Eric with Grandma Scott. What a sweet, sweet

lady and a blessing she is to us all!

Ben and Ian with Nana and Papa Scott.

Daddy did a little fishing with the boys in the pond

behind Uncle Allen and Aunt Penny's house. This

was the first time the boys had actually been fishing.

Ben loved it and did not want to stop. Ian liked

watching but as you can see in this picture, he wasn't

so sure about actually HOLDING the fish! HA!

"Bon Jovi on American Idol"

I don't usually comment about "American Idol"

on my blog site...but I can't hold back this time!

I am not ashamed to admit that I LOVE "Bon

Jovi"! I love their music, their attitudes, and Jon

certainly is easy on the eyes. (Am I right, girls?!)

I was just so excited to see them doing the show

and to hear a whole night of "Bon Jovi" songs!

Eric loved Blake's rendition of "You Give Love a

Bad Name" and at first I disagreed with him. I am

such a fan of the band that I agreed with Jon and

Simon in that some people might hate it and others

love it. When he first started singing it, I was upset

that he was ruining the song, but as I listened I had

to admit that it was very creative and pretty cool!

So, kudos to Blake for excellent arranging but I'd still

rather hear "Bon Jovi" rock the house with it any day!

I also must say that it was a proud moment for me as

a mother when I heard Ben singing along to almost

every song! When your 5 year old son is belting out

"Livin' on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive'...

you know you've done your job as a parent! HA!

"Sunny Sundays"

"Just a swingin'..."

"Little Swimmer..."

Swimming Lessons

Ben has been taking swimming lessons at the high school.

They are taught by high school students who are on the

"Power Aquatics" team. Tonight he has his 8th and final

lesson. I think he has really learned a lot and will hopefully

feel pretty comfortable when he has to come down to the

pool during kindergarten next year.

Ben with his swimming teacher...Lindsey.

Here's little brother Ian...getting some attention

for himself at swimming lessons. You have to

be 3 yrs. old to take lessons so we may let Ian

give it a try next year.

Ben's "Cubbies" class at Awanas.

Awanas 2006-2007

Ben just completed his 2nd year of Awana church group. He received a blue ribbon for completing all his book work and a red ribbon for "perfect attendance"! He really enjoys going there each Wednesday night for "Cubbies". They are now done for the summer and will start up again in the fall.

Ian, Uncle John, Aunt Abby, Ben, Eric, and Jen

Here is another picture from Easter.
My poor dad had the flu on Easter so
that's why he isn't in this picture! :)

Happy Easter!

Here's a recent picture of my two "amigos"!

Of course, whatever big brother does...little brother must do.

Stats on the boys:

Ben (5)- answers to the following names:

Benjamin, Ben, Benny, Benny-boy,

bubby, Benny D., bud, and buddy.

Ian (2)- answers to the following names:

Ian, Little "E", Boo, bubber, gig, giggy,

and baby.

Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that it might be longer between my posts from now until summer. We do not have internet at home and I have been using my school computer to do all my posts. Well, a few weeks ago they blocked the blogger sight on all our school computers so I am unable to do postings there! BUMMER! So, I am using my parent's computer right now to do this one, but I can't get over here as often with work and the boys to do posts. I'll try and keep you updated the best I can! Love you all!

Christmas Eve Sunday

We bought these outfits for the boys for Christmas and of course we let them open them early so they could wear them to church on Christmas Eve morning. "My little men..."


























Mamaw with Ben and Ian...
Look at Ian's face...too funny!! :)












Here are pictures of Ben on Christmas Eve...waiting patiently to open presents at Mamaw's and Papaw's house!