Happy Birthday Ben

 
 
 
 
 
Ben is 10! Can you believe it? I cannot..........
Ben celebrated his birthday by having an all boy sleep over. We had pizza and Garfield ice cream cake for dinner. Afterward Tim Read came to draw caricatures of each of the boys. He is absolutely amazing and the kids loved to watch him. The finished images were amazing and different just like Ben's friends that we enjoy so much! We decorated sketch books together and then the boys headed downstairs to watch movies and play. They stayed up very late an got up very early, just as you do at sleep overs - no sleep! We had cartoon pancakes with breakfast, built Legos and then, despite the cold, the boys ended the morning with a water balloon fight. What a way to kick-off the summer.

Last day of school!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The last day of school was lots of fun. We had an assembly, a band play for us, a picnic on the lawn and inflatables. Gabriella and Grandma Millen joined us for the fun. It was a mix of feelings for the boys as they are ready for the summer, but both say they had the best teachers ever this year. Josiah says he would still like 10 more weeks of school with Mrs. Hammer. Ben spent the first day of summer helping his teacher change classrooms. Can you feel the love? I know the boys have all year! Many thanks to Monique who take Gabriella from activity to activity so I could chat and not have to assist on the slides!

Never Fully Dressed

 
At the school talent show a few weeks ago, Ben sang "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile." It is a song from Annie. After trying out for Annie a few weeks ago, Ben decided that he would try singing it in our school talent show. I was so proud of him for getting up in front of the school and singing his heart out. We love you Ben!

Nyla's First Haircut

 
 
 

Nyla spent the morning at the pet spa. She is freshly shampooed, cut, blowdried, trimmed, nails done, the works! It is lovely to see her eyes again, and the hankerchief they added was a adorable touch.

Between her trip to the groomer, walking the kids home from school, and a stop at the park she is one tired puppy.

I realize I haven't posted pics forever, and now they are of a dog........

Stone colored Khakis

The other day Josiah handed me his stone colored khaki shorts.
"Mom, these are way to light to be "tan" for our uniform pants. AND pants shouldn't be as light as your skin, it just looks strange."

Vet and Vent

Yesterday we took Nyla for a check up with the vet. Gabriella has been so excited to go, and has decided she wants to be an animal doctor when she grows up. On the way there she asked,

"What is the name of an animal doctor again?"

"A Vet, it is short for veterinarian."

"What is the thing in my room that blows the air called?"

"A vent (stressing the 'n')."

"Next time we go to the vet, can we bring a picture of my vent to show her? I think she will think it is funny."

Gabriella and Nyla

We are all loving our puppy, and realizing how much extra time, love, training and attention she needs.

A cute mental image from this week....

Ben, Gabriella and I took Nyla for a walk Wednesday evening before bed. Gabriella ran into the house and changed into cute purple and white paisley pajamas (slightly too big) and dress shoes and announced she was ready for the walk. I compromised on the pjs but suggested more sensible shoes. Ben held the leash on the first half of the walk and Gabriella on the second half. Nyla doesn't really walk on a leash yet, not in a straight line on the sidewalk as you might imagine a dog on a walk. She follows her nose into yards and then greets each of us then goes back to the sidewalk. If you aren't careful you can get all wound up in the leash. So imagine Gabriella walking saying things like "Come here girl! Good girl! I love you Nyla! You are such a good, good girl!" Every few steps she pauses, raises the arm holding the leash in the air, twirls to untangle herself and then pulls up her shorts with a swift tug at the end of each twirl. This happens about repeatedly all down the street. Such a big girl!

Nightgown

Gabriella and I picked up a little pink nightgown at Goodwill last fall. She was able to wear it once before the weather turned and we had to pack it away for a few months.

I got it out this week and she has been living in it whenever possible. When I gave it to her she said:

"I never dreamed it! It is such a surprise! Oh thank you,thank you....... so much!" She hugged it, changed into it and said "Do you think it will do?" and spun around.

Such a reaction! We just watched Cinderella, and when the mice give Cinderella the dress they fixed up for the ball she said nearly the same thing. Perhaps a little too much Cinderella at our house.

The nightgown continues to be a discussion. She has asked me to save it for her for it to be a present for her daughter when she has a baby. It is amazing to me what the kids get emotionally attached to. $1 well spent.

A little wisdom from a little miss

Gabriella and I were shopping last week. As we were checking out, the clerk reminded me to cherish this time with Gabriella as they grow up so fast. She explained that her youngest was in 8th grade, and she hated being the mother of a middle school student (because it means her daughter is growing up).

G: "You hate being a mama?"

Clerk: "No, I hate that my little girl is growing up and then she is going to leave the house and I will never see her again."

G: "My mommy said that even when I grow up and leave the house we will see each other. She says that I will always be her little girl and that we will always be a family.

Clerk: "You knew just what I needed to hear today."