More Fun Things in NM

Ted helping Ben blow out his candles. Ben's 33rd birthday is December 3rd. We had a birthday party for him on Sunday evening at Grandad's which we haven't done for Ben in a long time. There is something truly special about birthdays and holidays at Grandad's with whatever family happens to be around. We laugh and eat and I LOVE it!


Sophie playing in the ball's at Grandma's school.



Ted playing on the percussion table at Grandma's school.

Ted making cookies. We would help Ted spread the icing then he would put the prinkles (sprinkles) container directly on the cookie. Then he proceeded to lick the prinkles container and cough all over the cookies. Seriously, the kid knows how to not share his cookies!

Fun Time in NM

Riding the 4-wheeler with Gary Pap.



Do you like my beard?




Reading to Sophie.

Their first bath together.

Bugs Bunny movie night with Gary Pap.

John Pap feeding Sophie coco wheats. And, no, Doh didn't know.

Black Friday

I can honestly say, I've never been shoppin on Black Friday.

My Mom and I took the kids to Pennsylvania to see my Grandma and some of Mom's family.

Grandma Ruth and Sophie checking each other out.


4 generations. Grandma Ruth thinks that Ted talks too much and that Sophie needs a wig. She's one of those people who will tell you if you get a bad haircut or put on weight!



When Mom went to warm up the van, she locked the keys in the van - running. Thankfully, no children inside. The tow truck came with another car attached. The van door wasn't closed all the way so he was able to open it easily. Good thing b/c we had to sign a damage waiver. Needless to say, the van was nice and toasty by the time we got everyone packed in and ready to go.

Ben, Andy, my Dad, John, and several others went to the WVU/Pitt game. A fun time was had by all but not a good game.

Their view from row FF in the top section. It took 5 escalators to get to the bottom of their section and then they had to climb 40 rows.

The view of everyone getting patted down at the entrance. This was after the boys got into the stadium AFTER kick off.

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving with Ben's family this year. The Tuel's, John & Terri, Heather, Steff, Cousin Billy and Uncle Mark. I have a one word description of everything until about 4pm - LOUD!!! But fun and yummy. Especially when Sophie decided to take a nap longer than 30 minutes. Ted said two phrases repetitively in the time span of about 2 hours - "I'm hungry" and "Can I have more bread?" He tries so hard to wear you down.

Ted waiting for Thanksgiving dinner. This was about an hour before dinner. He would get go play but always come back just in case dinner was ready and we forgot to tell him.

Ted, Grandad, Ben & Sophie - We went to visit Grandad in the evening with Courtney and Andy. Within about 5 minutes of walking in the front door of Grandad's, Ted was stripped down to just his pants. This was right as we were leaving and fully clothed.

Sophie snuggling with Doh after a long, hard Thanksiving. And she didn't even get to eat any of it!

Like Father, Like Son

For those of you who have seen Ben in all his glory in his hillbilly get up, you'll appreciate this . . .

NFL Network

We are truly blessed. There are so many families in Charleston that allow us to be part of theirs. I met Shawna when she was a freshmen in high school - she is currently a junior at WVU. She was involved with Young Life all through high school and I had the joy of walking through high school with her. In the process, her family started coming to River Ridge and we always did girl's bible study at their house. Then Connor came through WyldLife and is now a freshmen. WyldLife has kept their house on it's toes! I digress - I wanted to hang out with Shawna and I thought it would be great for Ben to hang out and watch NFL network. (The Godwins are ALWAYS kind about sharing their sporting events!). The absolute best part to me is the way that they love our kids. So, this is our afternoon in pictures.



Sophie slept the afternoon away.



Ben watched NFL Network - up to 8 games at one time!


Ted, however, had a very busy and productive day . . .

Playing on the hot tub with Jake.

Cutting down "trees" with Lisa.

Picking up the dog poop while Derek was blowing leaves.

Making "punkin" pie with Lisa.

Date Night

Watching the WVU game today with Daddy


Building a castle with my hat and gloves (socks) on



There's only about a 10 pound weight difference. Ted asks to hold Sophie about once a week. And he holds her for no longer than 15 seconds.

Tuesdays are generally date nights for Ben and I. On Tuesday, Ted really wanted to go on a date with us. So I told him that he and I could go on a date Saturday morning. Well, Tuesday to Saturday was FOREVER in his mind. And every morning and after every nap, I would go on his room and he would say, "I want to go on a date!" This morning it finally happened. We went to Panera to share a cinnomon roll and then ran a few errands. When I asked him where he wanted to go on our next date, he said, "Wal-Mart." Guess I better start doing some more fun and exciting things with him.

What kind of band?

Ted likes to say he's playing in a band. He has a guitar, drums, bells, and other self-made instruments. Today, he had his head in his drum and said, "Hey, Mom. I'm going to play in the band. The rubber band!"

Cold

I took Sophie to the doctor this afternoon. The "teething" symptoms have been going on for 10 days with no new teeth. And last night, she woke up with the dreaded barking sort of cough. This morning it was much better, but I still don't like taking any chances when it comes to coughing and breathing. We've dealt with that too much to mess around with it.

The doctor said it's a virus. Could be RSV but not a severe case. Nothing to worry about unless it gets worse. RSV for most babies is just a bad cold. That's why mom's like me (w/ a preemie baby) should keep their children out of public places b/c of mother's like me (the mom who takes her kid everywhere). Sorry to all of you out there.

On the flip side, Sophie is now 18 pounds, 12 ounces. Yes, she's getting up there. Only another pound and she's technically too big for her infant carseat. She'll have to take over Ted's carseat and Ted will move to a booster. So, we're on warp speed to learn sitting up by herself b/c right now riding in any sort of cart just won't happen!

The camera was MIA in Young Life Fall Weekend stuff for awhile. Now I can't find the cord to get pictures off the camera. I'll do pictures eventually . . .

Dinner

So Ted hasn't been eating dinner very well. He'll eat about 3 bites and ask to get down. It took me a couple of days to realize that less than 30 minutes after not eating dinner, I was letting him pound goldfish. So, being the sharp mother that I am, I told him he could get down but no snacks. NONE! The past 2 evenings have been a battle. But he will tell me that he cannot have snacks b/c he didn't eat his dinner.

So tonight, we're all eating dinner together. I even made his favorite - broccolli. He ate about 2 bites and said, "Mommy, can I get down and read my bible?" As serious as all get out. We laughed so hard - and said, "Nice try. But no!"

Teeth

I always say what a happy, content, smiley baby Sophie is. NOT THIS WEEK! This teeth thing is killing me - but probably her more. It truly makes me realize what a sweet personality she usually has. Is this what it will be like with the next 18 teeth???

Dr. Will

Will Gibson is our family dentist. He's a friend from River Ridge. Today was Ted's first time to see Dr. Will. All day, Ted sang the "going to the dentist" song (his own made up song), told me that Dr. Will was going to count his teeth (he guessed that he would have 5 teeth) and brush them. Ben really wanted to take him so I said giddy up!

Ted's appointment was at 4:00pm. At 4:15 Ben called to say that he was on his way home. Ted wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the hygenist. He did let Dr. Will count his teeth and get a quick brush in (with some help opening his mouth). The moving chair was what did him in. We saw Will earlier in the day at church so we talked about coming to see him later. Ted did say that he would also like to see Dr. Riley too. (Will and Riley are 2 of the Santen's kids. He automatically assumed that it was Will Santen he was going to see and wanted to see Riley too!) Needless to say, Ben didn't get any great "1st trip to the dentist pictures."

Ted has 20 teeth. I guess that's good. I jinxed myself the other day when I said that Sophie hadn't made a peep about her teeth. For the past 3 days she's CRIED all day. Which is totally not her. Today was her first day back to normal. I was thinking back to Ted and I can remember him getting the first two on the top and the bottom and after that, it was like he woke up with a mouth full of teeth one day. I DON'T REMEMBER him getting any of the last 16. Makes me feel kind of like a bad mom . . .

Missing Sounds

Ted doesn't say the "S" of the "L" sound! But he totally thinks he is.

He made this at preschool one day last week. On the way home, he told me they were "pooky eyes" (spooky eyes). Ben Santen later informed us that it was a spider. None the less, it was so funny to hear Ted ask for them.

So the other night, he was scooting around the house on his "bum." He kept saying, "Mommy, I'm going to coot all the way to my room!"

Today at church, I gave him some lemonade. I said, "Here's your wemenade, Ted." Because that's how he says it! He said, "Mommy, it's not wemendade. It's wem-en-ade!" He totally knows that I'm saying it incorrectly - and he totally thinks he's saying correctly.

tacy = Stacy

poon = spoon

tory = story

cwock = clock

Tonight we sat in the chair and said all these words and more. So FUNNY! =)

Our Weekend In Review

It's been a busy week. Our banquet was Monday and we had something every night this week which is kind of unusual at this point for me and the kids. Ben was at Fall Weekend this weekend. The Banqet and Fall Weekend always makes me think of when Ted was born. He was due December 12. We always joked that if he made it to Fall Weekend we'd be good. By the time Fall Weekend rolled around, he was born, spent three weeks in the hospital and home for a week. The banquet that year, he was still in the hospital. I was co-planning the banquet and wearing my pre-pregnancy clothes at the banquet. Not quite sure how I managed that one.


Aunt Sara came to visit. For whatever reason, she thinks our house is relaxing. Isn't that funny - I guess it's what you're engrossed in in the moment. I wouldn't say we're relaxing at all. We had lunch at the mall. She played with the kids. This was her swinging Ted around in the laundry hamper! Ted was thrilled.

I went to dinner with some friends and Matt Santen took my two kids and three of his kids to the Godwin's to watch the WVU game. Bad game - fun evening.


Tonight, I found two little bottom teeth popping through! Not a peep out of Sophie. Ted would always have teeth just appear, so hopefully we're on that same road!


Ted has had Mr. Potato Head for a year. Today is the first time he's put the pieces in the correct places . . . just not on Mr. Potato head! =)


Waiting for dinner on Saturday evening!

A Day Off

On Election Day, we had a family day. We went to the park at had some good, old fashioned family fun.

Banquets

So, I got home from Charlotte around 1:00 pm and jumped in the car to head to Bridgeport. Ben was speaking at the Young Life banquet in Bridgeport. I really wanted to go and take the kids. There are so many people that have never met the kids and we really wanted to see some old friends. So we visited with a family that we spent a lot of time with back in the day. The Aderholt's dropped off their kids there for the banquet. We haven't seen them since last summer at Lake Champion. Lucy and Ted are 2 months apart. Isaac was born in January. We're all going to Rockbridge this summer for a July assignment. I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

Isaac (10 months) & Sophie (5 months)

Ted, Annaleese & Lucy playing together.

This is the best picture I could get of two 3 year olds.

Girl's Weekend

Every year, several of my friends from high school and I get together for a girl's weekend. We've done Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Charleston, and Atlanta. This year was Charlotte again.

Bethany, Emily, Carissa and I became friends in high school. Emily and I go back to junior high but became great friends when we were in the same homeroom and had lockers next to each other. Carissa and Bethany were a year ahead of us in school. Bethany and I were in band together. Carissa had a locker across the hall from Emily and I. We all became Christians through Young Life around the same time and formed life long friendships. Janny was our YL leader.

Bethany, Emily, Carissa & Laura

Bethany lives in Glen Dale, WV and has an 18 month old daughter, Ellie, with another one on the way.

Emily lives in Atlanta and has a son, Will, who is 21 months.

Carissa lives in Charlotte with her two kiddos, Emalynn (18 months) and Cayden (4 1/2).

Janny (who couldn't be with us this weekend) lives in New Martinsville and has two grown daughters.

So this weekend, we met in Charlotte. Carissa's sister let us stay at her house. We stayed up late into the night talking. Slept in as much as Mom's of infants/toddlers/preschoolers can sleep in. Had breakfast at 11. Shopped and browsed without anyone breaking anything or throwing a tantrum. Went out to dinner at 7pm (not 5pm when no one's there) and enjoyed our time in no hurry at all. There were even a couple of surprises during the weekend.

I truly cherish this time with my friends. There are no other friends in my life that know me quite like they do. We met in 1995 - 13 years ago. We've seen each other through boyfriends, breakups, parents getting divorced, college (good choices and bad), meeting our husbands and the weddings that followed, children (sick and healthy), struggles in our marriages, spiritual struggles, multiple moves and job changes, and the list goes on. (Kind of sounds like wedding vows!!) But seriously, we have seen each other through all of the BIG major, life changing things in our lives as well as the mundance, same old, day in and day out events. I LOVE these girls.

This meant Ben was home for the weekend with the kids by himself. He is the best at taking the kids, having a great time with them, and even cleaning a little before I come home. It really doesn't bother him too much. This was his first extended time with Sophie. The only thing that could've backfired was that it was time change weekend. She typically gets up between 6:30-7:00am. With the time change, that meant 5:30-6:00am. She did wake up at 5:30 but put herself back to sleep. Church is a little crazy and strategic, but all was well. I told him that he should've blogged, but I think that was pushing it a bit!

Trick or Treat

Ted was a frog for Halloween. He said that frogs "pop" and say ribbit. "H" is one of those sounds he doesn't make right now!

Sophie was a WVU cheerleader. She was actually just going to be "Sophie" until the outfit arrived in the mail around 2 pm. Thanks, Doh!

Ben and Ted trick or treated together and then wore these costumes to preschool on Friday.

Sophie did NOT enjoy trick or treating. She didn't make it long at all.

On Friday, Stacy and I did games for Ted and Ben's preschool class. One of the games was to wrap a team member in toilet paper to make a mummy. Ted kept saying, "I'm not a mommy, I'm a boy!"