Ben's SeaWorld Day

After the Kinder Family Picnic, we decided to head on over to SeaWorld to continue our end of school celebration. How big is this guy?! He is tall enough for everything but the Great White! :)



Noah, on the other hand, is tall enough for NOTHING. I feel like the cartoon Shamu on the sign is laughing at him. Rude.



Our first stop was the dolphin pool & aquarium. Noah & Grace are obviously thrilled to be celebrating Ben on this beautiful June day.



My sweet reader – this picture is so Ben. He stops and soaks it all in, learning everything he can!



We moved on from there and watched a couple shows. Here’s Ben with one of the Azul divers.



Next we headed over to SLWO where we had a behind the scenes tour set up. The kids were a teeny bit excited about going backstage!



We’ve done PR’s at all of the stadiums before, but this time the Sea Lion crew rolled out the red carpet. They went above and beyond for my kids and showed us THE  BEST  TIME.

The first thing we did was meet a walrus. This guy is a new addition since my SeaWorld days. His tusks are impressive. He was super handsome. Ben jumped right to the front of the line to get to feed him.



Grace, who is scared of flushing toilets, being anywhere in the house by herself, bugs, running bath water, floor drains and the dark obviously does not suffer from Odobenophobia. (That’s the official name of the fear of walruses. I googled it. You’re welcome.) She would have climbed on his back & ridden him down the hallway if given the opportunity. Thankfully, she was not.



Noah does have The Odobenophobia.



After we fed Mr. Walrus, he gave us kisses.



Then Ben asked him to roar.



We ended walrus time with a nice, cool spray down.



Next up was some quality time with good ol' Elrod. He’s such a sweetie & a goof ball! The kids loved him.







Tongue!



Family Photo



The kids got a kick out of asking Elrod to do some of his behaviors like roaring…



and talking…



and making the Home Alone face.



Can I say again how awesome Elrod is? He was one of my faves from my Sea Lion days. We’ve both aged a bit since this was taken.
(2002? 2003?)



Joe grabbed my camera and took this close up. I have a TON of sea lion pictures from my SeaWorld days (like the one above), but I’m pretty sure this is now my most favorite one EVER.



When we were all done with the big guys, Sparky showed off the cutie patootie otters.



We owe a BIG thank you to Joe, Sparky & Todd for spending so much time with us and giving the gremlins such an awesome experience!

My no-longer Kindergartener / not-quite-a First Grader had a day to remember.



We were all hot, sweaty, happy messes by the time our day was over.



I don’t think Bug made it out of the parking lot before he was O-U-T. All the kids agreed that it was their favorite SeaWorld visit to date.

Kinder Family Picnic

On the very last day, Ben’s school holds a Family Picnic for all of the Kindergarten classes. (There were EIGHT classes this year!) It was such a fun way to end a great year, and a chance to see/meet his friends from classes outside of his own. We found a shady spot, spread out our blanket, and enjoyed a yummy lunch. Gavin came over to our blanket to say “hi”. :)



I don’t know where the rest of the boys were, but we did snag some pics with some of the sweet Kinder girls as they passed by.

Ben with Skyler & Elizabeth



Ben & Sweet Hope! Love her!



Of course, we had to grab a picture with Mrs. Mancias before the day was done. She was a wonderful teacher & we are grateful for the way she made Ben’s 1st year of school such a positive experience.



I can’t believe that school is out for summer. It seemed to fly by. I don’t like my big boy growing even bigger, but I am looking forward to filling our days with the pool, library, Sea World, family visits and all the other fun we have planned over the summer. So long alarm clock – see you in the Fall!

Speaking Scripture

Oh, my sweet, crazy Noah. He challenges us (to put it lightly). He is definitely the most strong-willed little person that lives in our house. I was finding myself saying out loud, to him or others, ways that he was frustrating me. I heard myself one day and it made me sad and I didn’t want him to hear me say those things (even if they may have been true in that moment.) He is a little sponge and definitely at an age where he is understanding what we're saying. So instead, when things get a little hairy, and other times, too – like bedtime and snuggle time - I try to remember to recite this verse over him instead:

“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
Genesis 6:9

The abbreviated, 2 year old version is “Noah was righteous, and he walked with God!”

Just this week, he started saying it back to me, which just might be the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m praying it takes root in his strong-willed, wild-child, two year old heart and that he puts all that energy and gumption into walking with God!

Don’t get mad, get sewin’

I hit a big sale just before Christmas and found a cute shirt for Gracie for $4 or $5. It would have been a good price for a basic tee, but I especially loved the little flowers all along the neckline!



She wore it to school ONCE. When she came home, I noticed the shirt had a few extra features. Specifically, two lovely little holes. In case you didn’t spot them in the above pic…



According to Grace, she “cut it with scissors to see if the scissors would cut it.’ Sounds logical enough.

We had a nice, long chat about what we should & shouldn’t use scissors on and I tossed the shirt into my scraps pile. Then I remembered a couple tutorials that I had pinned and pulled it back out!

First, I used this one to turn the long sleeves into flutter sleeves. I made both short sleeves out of the one uncut sleeve. Bye bye scissor slice #1.



Then I used this tutorial to convert the shirt into a maxi dress. You know, because every 4 year old needs a maxi dress. (So long slice #2.)



The piece of fabric for the skirt cost me another $5 or so, but it was worth it to not have to throw away the original shirt and say goodbye to those sweet little flowers. Gracie loves it, of course. Hopefully she doesn’t make the connection and slice up some other pieces of her wardrobe in order to get more new dresses! :)

Fun with the Featherstons

Some sweet friends moved into our neighborhood this semester and we’ve been able to get together a few times.

We were supposed to meet at the pool this day, but the weather didn’t appear to be cooperating so we decided to stay in instead. It turned out to be a really sunny day anyway, as evidenced by the kids requesting sunglasses during dinner.


These little guys are too cute.


The best part of the night was the fresh corn on the cob that I cooked. Oh, wait. No. We didn't have the corn because I shucked it, cleaned it, cooked it (to perfection, I'm sure), buttered each piece, salt & peppered it, and then placed it in the oven to keep warm. There it remained for a day and a half. Hostess of the year, folks.

Oh well... yay for friend/neighbors (freighbors?) that still love you even after you forget the corn. :)

Gracie is 4!

Quick Stats:
31.8 pounds
3 feet 2 inches tall


Birthday Questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite color?
Purple

2. What is your favorite toy?
My Little Ponies – Princess Celestia

3. What is your favorite fruit?
Peanut Butter Apples

4. What is your favorite T.V. show?
Dora the Explorer

5. What is your favorite food?
Purple Pancakes

6. What is your favorite snack
Fruit Snacks

7. What is your favorite animal?
A lion

8. What is your favorite song?
“A” Your Adorable

9. What is your favorite book?
Mouse Soup

10. Who is your best friend?
Avery, Tanner, & Addison

11. What is your favorite cereal?
Dora Cereal & “Blueberry Cereal” (Special K Blueberry)

12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A princess and take care of animals in a pet store


 My sweet Peanut – you are four today. Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR. You are so grown up and still so little at the same time. You have taken to heart my request to stop growing and you often pray for Jesus to keep you little. You have also assured me, on more than one occasion, that you will stop having birthdays when you’re 89. I’m not sure why you think that is a comfort to me. :)

The best word I can think of to describe you is sweet. I know that sounds generic, but that’s just who you are. Your little voice, the way you play with others, your sensitivity, the things you love to do and talk about… it’s all just sweet. Two examples just from today: you rushed downstairs this morning to make sure I knew you wanted a birthday DINNER instead of a lunch because you wanted to be sure Ben could come (he had school today). Also, you asked, because it was “your day”, if Ben could sleep in your bed with you tonight. As I write this ya’ll are squished in there together, snug as two bugs.


You are also VERY sensitive and you wear your heart on your sleeve. I know kids say crazy things in passing that they don’t think about or even mean, but it breaks my heart to watch you get crushed by words. “So and so doesn’t want to be my friend” or “so and so laughed at my dress”. I pray that God will guard your sweet heart as you grow up and that he will use your sensitivity and compassion in a mighty, mighty way to serve and care for others!

While you are super sweet 90% of the time, you are also sharp as a tack and you don’t let things go very easily. Daddy thought it would be funny to put the fake tattoo that you got at school on himself a couple weeks ago. You are STILL talking about it. You reminded me today that “Daddy took my tattoo.” I explained, again, that you needed to forgive Daddy and forget about it. You answered, “I’m not mad at Daddy, Mommy, I’m not. I’m just SAD at him. That was my only tattoo ever.” A tad bit dramatic. You sure can construct a pretty solid argument, too. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree there. Your poor Daddy… he has to deal with BOTH of us.


You are my velcro baby, my partner in crime. When the boys are doing their thing your favorite past time is to hang out with me. You are so affirming and loving. You are as girly as they come. You are snuggly. You love to present me with hypothetical situations that would result in you ending up in my bed… just to see if I’ll take the bait. I’ll let you in on a little secret… I will almost always take the bait! You’ve got me wrapped around that little finger of yours!

You still have most of the same interests as last year: Care Bears, My Little Ponies, animals, princesses (especially dressing up in your costumes), Dora, reading books, & playing with friends. You LOVE our little neighbor, Addison, and ask to play with her every day. You also love Avery and you bring her up often. The Collins called to wish you a Happy Birthday today and you said, “I love you, Avery!” as soon as you got her on the phone (or maybe it was after you told her about your presents and said “I’m FOUR!”)


You still LOVE LOVE LOVE music. You and I have to take turns choosing music in the car. Today you got to pick all the songs because it was your day (as you kept reminding us). It was a pretty eclectic mix on the way to Bible Study:

1) “A You’re Adorable”
(Your dance recital song – from the 50’s)

2) “Gracie” by Ben Folds

3) “Beat it” by Michael Jackson

4) “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (you and Ben are on a bit of an MJ kick lately – so much so that Noah is more adept at singing “Beat it” than he is the ABC’s)

5) The wedding song from Twilight

6) “We are never getting back together” by Taylor Swift

Speaking of your dance recital, your first ever performance is next month. I’m so excited to see how you do. You know EVERY SINGLE WORD to your song and you sing along as though you’re on Broadway. Watching you rehearse is the cutest thing ever. You cracked me up the other day when you said, “Ben, I’m going to sing my song, and then you should clap for me.” I hope that you don’t get nervous and clam up because you sure know your stuff!


My sweet teeny Gracie Belle – you are such a joy. You bring the perfect amount of spunky girly drama to our crazy clan. You can be wearing a Snow White dress one minute, and wrestling and tumbling (ROUGHLY) with the boys the next ~ usually still wearing the dress and heels. I watched you kick a soccer ball around for the first time the other day and you might be quite the little athlete, too. You are outgoing, loud, friendly, loud, talkative and a little loud. I wish I could bottle up everything about the little girl you and keep it forever… except for maybe the loud part. I am so proud of you and I think you are so beautiful inside and outside. I am so glad God picked me to be your Mommy!


Happy Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!
I love you as big as the sky!

Gracie’s Day

Gracie has been asking each day, for a little over a week, “which day is my birthday?” When Wednesday finally rolled around, she was over the moon. She continued to remind us throughout the day that it was “her” day. I don’t know where she gets his from. Ahem.

Anyway, we started our day with BSF ~ it was the last class of the year. It’s about a 25 minute drive so, in honor of “her day”, Grace had the privilege of being the DJ the whole way there. (Normally we take turns). Her playlist was well thought out and eclectic (as always). :)

When we got home from bible study, Brian had flowers and a special present for her.


Admiring her first set of pearls.


Daddy’s little girl!


After lunch we played until it was time to get Ben from school. My favorite part of the day came when Grace showed Ben her new necklace.

Ben: Are those REAL pearls, Daddy?

Brian: Yep

Ben: WOW! Congratulations, Gracie! You’re wearing a necklace of old parasites.

Oh my gosh, that kid.

Ben, Grace & the parasites came home and everyone rested while I worked a bit. When they woke up, we headed to Gracie’s favorite restaurant for her dinner of choice. In her words, “ALAMO CAFÉ IT IS!”

I tried to get a few pics of her outside the restaurant, but she was over me & my camera.


We had another little surprise for her in the restaurant:


Our neighbors came to meet us – Addison is one of Gracie’s favorite friends! We had a yummy dinner and then sang “Happy Birthday”. Gracie was all ready to blow out her FOUR candles.


Until she realized that her Daddy had bought trick candles. Poor girl. She huffed and puffed and blew each of those candles out at least three times. So I guess that makes her 12.


Lauren also stopped by to say “hi” and give Gracie a present. She was stick-her-tongue out excited.


After dinner we headed home to open a few small presents. Her favorite was a Dora the Explorer backpack and a Dora camera & set of keys. She’s been exploring all over the house ever since.

I hope “your day” was super special, Gracie! You are the cutest, most fun 4 year old that I know! Love you!