More pics...

sorry these are all out of order! I am having trouble moving them around and it is almost time for storytime at the library! :) gotta go!

Ben & Great-Grandma

pony ride

ridin' the rails

feeding the giraffe

tolar bear

1st pony ride - can't believe I forgot to mention this before! He loved it even though we were afraid he might freak- and even said Yee Haw!

Children's Museum

It's been a long time...

Well things have been pretty busy and I have been using my little bit of free time (you gotta love nap time!) to work on my other favorite hobby- scrapbooking! A couple of weeks ago Jen, Adrienne and I got together to work on our scrapbooks because we are all so far behind. Well, it really got my mojo going and now I am a scrappin' queen (at least until school starts)!

Meanwhile we also took a trip to Tipton to visit Warren's family. It was the first time we all had made the trek in quite some time. Ben did really well on the drive!! We left at nap time and he slept almost the whole way there and he did the same coming home. On Thursday we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum for their free night the first Thursday of the month. Since it was also the Thursday before the 4th they were really packed! In fact, we were within two blocks of the museum for almost an hour waiting in the traffic to get into the parking garage. Once inside, Ben had a blast! We met up with Warren's parents and his friends from Indy, Tony and Karyn Sinn and their daughter Ella who is a month older than Ben. He loved the model train exhibit, the dinosaurs and everything in the Playscape- it is this really neat area for kids under 5. We will definitely go back!

On Friday we got up early and went to the Indy Zoo. Ben was not in such a good mood, but we still had a good time. The Oceans exhibit was really neat with dolphins, seals, walruses(?), sharks (that you could touch) and a polar bear- Ben's favorite "toler bear". He also got to feed a giraffe- well actually Warren fed it because as soon as it stuck its tongue ou Ben dropped the food and Warren had to do it. It is one of the best zoos I have been to! Saturday was a quick visit to Warren's grandma and then home!

We haven't done much since then. A pretty quiet 4th with friends for fireworks-Ben was scared and stayed inside the whole time :( and Warren just got back from 5 days at a basketball camp in Floridia. I really enjoy spending time with Ben, especially since I have been back to work, but it sure is nice to have Warren home after a week of being the only one "on call"! \

I am posting some pictures of the trip. More later....

Children's Museum:

Wacky Wednesday!

Well, I was worried for nothing (like usual)! Ben went to his first session of Wacky Wednesday at Old North today. He has never been dropped off at anything like for more than an hour in the church nursery. This was for 4 hours- so I was a little hesitant about how he would do. Plus- get this!- when we take him to story time at the library, he just sits on the sidelines and doesn't get involved. But, today when I dropped him off he just took off playing and was like "Bye Mom!" When I went to get him he was a hot, sweaty mess- but having a blast. He showed me the picture he made and seemed to be most excited to tell me about having lunch from his lunch box! The teacher said he did great and they had no issues or problems. So, I guess we will try again next week! It is kind of nice to have a few hours to take care of things around the house or run errands. Plus, it gets him away from us for a little (I know he was getting bored!).

Mommy Guilt

Mommy Guilt is something I have been quite familiar with over the last year- especially the last few months. Usually when I go to bed at night it is thoughts of "I didn't play with him enough," or "I responded wrong in that situation," or "He watched too much TV or ate too much junk." But especially feelings that I gave so much of myself other places that I didn't have anything left for my family. I tried to comfort myself knowing that tomorrow is a new day with a fresh start of its own.
Just when I thought I wouldn't make it...SUMMER! Now that we have had one full week off, I finally feel like I can breathe! Yesterday Ben and I played on the playground after church. It was so fun to see him run and play. He especially loves to "drive" the choo-choo and the big truck. Today we went to story time at the library and checked out books to start the summer reading program. It was so nice to linger around looking at books and playing- not having to be anywhere! I had forgotten how nice that is. Then, it was back home to reality to clean :( for house guests coming tomorrow. It has been a stressed weekend, so I am not really psyched for visitors, but... what can you do?
I did have some girl-time this weekend, too! Thursday I had dinner and a movie with the "chicks" from work. We saw the Renee Zellweger movie- "New in Town" I think. It was a very predictable dud, but a night out nonetheless. Saturday Jen and I (and Brady) hit some yard sales. Didn't get much, but it was nice to get out.
Well, got to get back to life! More after the guests leave!

Well, here it is...

For quite some time Jen has been trying to get me to create a blog. My excuse was always time, but now that school is out (yah!!!!) I can't use that anymore! OK- well here are some new pics. We finally got in to have our pictures taken in the park. Unfortunatly, Ben wasn't really in the mood and did NOT want to pose. We did get a few good candids. And, well, there are the memories...

chase me!

"There's somthin' in my pocket, Mama."

The only time he stood still!

hmmmm...

chasing Dad