Benton is fore!

Lindsey kept reminding me that I was spelling words wrong for Benton's birthday party, and she was right--because there are a lot of golf puns that can be used for a four year old's party.  Benton's big day finally arrived, and the party was a success.  Saturday night Tripp spent the night t prepare for his big day.  While David took the big three to church, Kate and I stayed home to meet the bounce house man.  He set up the big bouncy with slide, and I could not wait to see Benton's reaction to it.  Benton's response:  "I thought we were doing Star Wars."  Luckily he quickly decided he loved all things golf and jumped a good two hours before the party began.  It was hot by 3:00 when the festivities kicked off, but we had two tailgating tents and lots of juice boxes to try to keep everyone cool.  Benton greeted each person who entered with "what did you get me?"  We have "teach Benton tact" on our summer goals.  He also asked after each person arrived, "Is everybody here now?  Is it time for cake?"  By the end of the party he was telling people it was time to go so he could open presents.  He was overwhelmed by all the sports stuff, Avengers figurines, and Star Wars toys.  His favorite gift by far was his real light saber that Aunt Linda gave him, and he proudly announced, "I'm a real Jedi now!"  He also loved the Hulk hands boxing gloves (Jon), Nerf gun (Daniel and Brooke), and marshmallow gun (Emily).  I told David there was a theme with his siblings' gifts: violence.  I guess they know what little boys like!

 I think David enjoyed the party as much as Benton did.  Maybe one day Benton will let his son have a Star Wars party like he always wanted.

 Adorable cake!

 My crafty mom made cake balls to look like golf balls.

 Chip and Putt

 Benton's clubhouse

 Sweet cousins!  Benton was so glad to have Tripp here and introduced him to all his friends as "my best friend Tripp"

 Driving range

 Food table

 Peanut putter dip and chips

 Jump a round

 Kate loved the bouncy.  She would sit in there and let the big kids bounce her.  Once we got her out, she kept running back over and climbing in.  She is our wild child!

 Constantly on the move

 Look at all those balls!

 Cake time for kids

 Mac's got great form!

 Ms. Lynn is a special lady--these two fight over her lap

 What is a golf party without a pirate table?

 Sand trap

 Swing a round

 Sweet sister on the swingset

Benton loved his fourth birthday party and we loved celebrating with him!

Put me in coach

Tball season 2012 ended this morning after a competitive six weeks.  This was Lindsey's last year to play (because the next step is competitive league, and she is far from competitive), and she was on team Orange coached by Greg Perry.  She enjoyed socializing with Campbell and Madilyn but also did a great job hitting without the tee (usually) and fielding the ball.  Her favorite part of the season was socializing with her friends while Benton played.  Today she brought her summer folder to the game to get started on her summer work for first grade.  Everyone laughed at Lindsey in the shade under a tree at a distance from the crowd writing in her Math Journal.  That's my girl!
Benton was on team Purple, which was coached by David.  Well, David was the coach for eight players, and any other random man who was not daddy coached Benton.  He was obviously going through a phase this season and did not want his dad to coach.  So we would tell him Mr. Matt was his coach, or Popsey, or Cappy, or whoever else was in the crowd, and he would play just fine.  As soon as he got on the field he was stuck like glue to David, so the embarrassment over having dad as coach was all talk.  Benton hit and fielded the ball well, but he did not like running the bases.  That's the story of his life. 
So proud of our tball players!

 Proof that Benton loves his coach

 The team mascot, Swiper.  She swiped food, drinks, and toys from anyone who was distracted by watching the game.

 Three amigos--Campbell, Lins, and Madilyn

 He convinced B he NEEDED her sunglasses more than she did

 double trouble--Mariam and Benton

Our tiny dancer

Lindsey had her first ballet recital Friday night.  She has worked hard all semester learning to be a swan.  I was thrilled she was dancing to Dance of the Four Swans, because I remember dancing in Swan Lake twenty years ago.  Her recital was not like mine back in the Tupelo Ballet, but she was adorable and, in my biased opinion, had great technique.
Noni and B came to support the swan while Popsey stayed at our house (begrudgingly) with Benton and Kate.  Noni and Dad had flowers for Lins, I gave her a book, and B brought her a garment bag and two ballet figurines from the attic--she saved all my junk from all my ballet recitals over the years and is now thrilled to be able to pull those trinkets from the attic and pass them on!
  I have so many memories from my years performing with the ballet company, and I hope this is the first of many ballet recitals Lindsey will have.  But even if she decides she is done with one, I am so proud of my little ballerina.

 Lins is the littlest swan (second from right)

 Who knew swans were toothless?

 The little swan in front--look at those perfect ballet arms!

One lucky mom

Lindsey was so excited about Mother's Day this year.  They worked on a book about moms all week at school, and it took every bit of restraint she has for her not to tell me about it before Sunday.  Sunday morning she jumped out of bed and ran to get my gifts she made.  I'm sure all moms say this, but I was blown away by the work she had put into my gift.  The book was adorable, and she had a pot with seeds as well.  David remarked that he wished Father's Day was during the school year, and I can see why.

We went to church then had brunch at Mesquite Chop House with my parents, Davids' parents, Bupper, and Jon.  It was good food with good company, and I was honored to spend the day with both moms.  They go the extra mile consistently, and not just for their children but their siblings and grandchildren as well.  To quote one of Lindsey's books, I hope to be "just like my mom."

Later that afternoon I was folding clothes, and Lindsey noticed.  She found David in the living room, and I heard her say, "This is not Father's Day.  On Father's Day, you can sit on the couch and watch golf.  But today is Mother's Day.  You need to come fold clothes."  It was my proudest moment as a mom--my daughter is turning into me!

He's still a toddler, right?

Four years ago today, we were greeted by a huge baby with sparkling blue eyes and lots of dark hair.  Our life gets more entertaining everyday with this little guy around.
We were worried that he would be upset today on his actual birthday since his party is not until Sunday, but I think he had a great day anyway.  He woke up and we took him outside to show him his birthday present--a Transformers bicycle.  It was just before 6 am at this point, so he did not give us the enthusiastic reaction we wanted.  Then we came inside and had rainbow pancakes with whipped cream and a candle, and he got to open two gifts from B and Popsey--a real baseball glove (as opposed to the Toy Story one he uses at tball) and a Captain America figurine.  As soon as he opened that last one, Benton said, "Call Popsey right now and tell him I lub my Captain America!" 
Benton spent the day with his friends at Lynn's, and we told him we could eat whatever he wanted for supper.  He wanted a McDonald's happy meal.  We tried fervently to convince him he wanted Mexican or Newk's, but sadly they don't have happy meal toys.  So we got him a happy meal and then ate Star Wars cupcakes I made. 

Can't wait for his golf party on Sunday.  But for now, we are so grateful for our four-year-old boy.  He puts up with a lot of emotions with two sisters, and he loves all the ladies in his life.  We love our boy in the middle!

Here comes Peter Cottontail

I must start with a side note: as I was uploading pictures from my camera, I kept thinking, "My kids really don't have many teeth." And the irony is that Lindsey lost another tooth this week since these pictures were taken. The tooth fairy needs to start a checking account for the kids.

We had two weeks of egg hunts and lots and LOTS of candy. The week before Easter the Rivers hosted their annual egg hunt for our group of friends. There seemed to be so many kids there this year, but the number of families in attendance has stayed the same--we obviously just keep having kids. Kate experienced her first hunt, and she quickly learned how to pick up the eggs and put them in her basket. Just as quickly, she learned how to open the eggs and eat the candy. After hunting eggs, Kate set up camp in the Cozy Coupe car and guarded her loot all afternoon. Lindsey and Benton had a blast hunting eggs, eating candy, and playing with their friends.

We also were suckered into buying two cocoons at church that turned into caterpillars that then turned into butterflies. We have trouble keeping anything alive at this house, so I was worried about the butterflies, but they went through the transformation and we set free two butterflies the week of Easter. That, my friends, is evidence of God's miracles.

Benton with his friend Luke.  He was so confused why Luke looks so different than he did last month in St. Louis...

I love when Kate makes this face.  She looks like our own little Easter bunny. 

Lindsey had an egg hunt at school on Thursday, and she brought home more eggs filled with more candy. Then Ms. Lynn made all the kids little baskets full of eggs full of candy. We had tball practice to run off some of the sugar, but Nani was there with Easter happies for the kids that included more candy.

Friday morning I took the kids to the gym to burn off some candy calories, and when I went to pick them up from the nursery they had a sack full of eggs. Turns out the Easter bunny stopped by the gym and brought all the kids eggs filled with candy. Friday afternoon we went to the Rivers' for the kids to dye eggs. The kids were much more interested in jumping on the trampoline, but we insisted that they dye eggs because we have been doing this together for five years now and we had to get a picture of them dying eggs together. Kate kept trying to eat the eggs, so we eventually peeled a cracked egg and let her go to town on it.

Saturday was the church's egg hunt, and our church goes all out for the Easter egg-stravaganza. Tattoos, games, bounce houses, rides, a train, balloon animals, and an egg hunt fill the day's agenda. Once again, the kids had a blast and left two hours later with lots of eggs filled with lots of candy.

Saturday night we had to deal with the issue of the Easter bunny. Lindsey was not fooled into believing that man in a costume brings anything to her house, nor did she think a real rabbit could hide eggs. I'm sure we will have to explain that better next year. But the Easter bunny did show up at our house with hidden eggs (filled with coins, not candy) and baskets of bubbles and trinkets. We went to the 9:30 service at church and I loved seeing a packed church. That's how it should be every week. After church we headed home, then the kids and I went to Tupelo for a big lunch and another egg hunt at my parents' house. The kids got more candy, and my mom had a scavenger hunt planned for the kids to find their baskets. We watched a good ole southerner win the Master's and capped off our Easter weekend with some shopping on Monday.

Love how his tongue is always out.  Always.  Must have something to do with the missing teeth.

Lindsey took this picture for us.  I thought she did a great job with the photography.

...and Benton took this picture for us.