Another Christmas

Not really sure I have a lot to write about at this moment, but I have a little insomnia so I thought I'd throw a few pictures up of our most recent Christmas. Yes, we had more than one. JR's family came up this past weekend so we could exchange. It was a really great time (and the 2nd time I got to host a holiday!) The kids made out like bandits again. JR got a Keurig coffee maker that he is in love with, and my new sister in law and I are going to see The Lion King!! I'm so excited.

Here are those pictures I was talking about.

Aaron's a little happy!

Ben was very excited to see that there were more presents under the tree when he woke up.

Christmas Week #2

This was truly a Christmas Week. We arrived in Mass. on Monday night and the Christmas festivities began right away. At least the festivities including opening presents. First off, there were a huge amount of gifts surrounding the tree. The most unbelievable part was there were only gifts there for me, J.R. and Ben. Well, the new baby had a few gifts too and I think Chloe even had one. Ben almost immediately went for a gift. He opened up a cool train from my dad and Kathy, then we opened all the gifts my grandmother had left. We went and visited Nana on Tuesday so we were able to thank her in person. Here's a pic of Ben and I with Nana. Not the best picture of Ben, but he wasn't necessarily cooperating.Tuesday night there was more gift opening, Ben got into one or two.

Wednesday was fun - we had snow! There was a small, in New England standards, snowstorm that dropped 5 inches on us. J.R. was thrilled, I never got to go out in it. J.R. took Chloe for a nice long walk through the sand pits, and in the afternoon he took Ben out for a bit. Here are some pictures.

Wednesday was New Year's Eve, so we ordered Chinese, opened (the rest of) our gifts from my dad and Kathy, and after Ben went to bed, we introduced Mom and Ron to Dominoes - a Wanner family favorite! Of course, I kicked some butt! :)

Thursday we had our planned Christmas. In the morning, we exchanged gifts with Mom and Ron. Lisa, Brooke and Joe came over after and we opened their gifts. My Auntie Linda, Uncle George and cousin Cam (cousin Kelley was sick so just her son Cam came over) came over for dinner and we opened their gifts. Wow! Gifts galore. Saturday, we went to Memere's house and opened all her gifts. We barely had room to take our gifts back to Pennsylvania! In fact - we really didn't. We left a few things behind. Ben received a basket of potty training things, so we won't need that right away. We also left some diapers for the new baby. Here's a few more pictures.

I forgot how little newborn stuff is!!! Isn't this so cute?!?!
Awh, love your cousin...

Awh, love your dog cousin....

And...all the cousins...

Happy New Year

Have a blessed 2009! Be safe this week, and I'll update you when we return from Massachusetts.

Two weeks

Ok, it's been a while. In the past two weeks...I worked a lovely Graduation Gala at school, my students graduated, I spent my first Mother's Day trying to get Ben's 103 degree fever down while he beat a double ear infection, Ben has three new teeth coming in, we got rid of lots of stuff at a yard sale, we visited with Grandma and Grandpa, I took J.R. to the Emergency Room because he had the stomach flu, daycare ticked me off, Ben had lots of good days at daycare, and we are in the middle of doing 10 loads of laundry because the electricity was off in the basement and common areas.

Ok, update over, here are the pictures....
Here's my sickie with his juice
I'm not sure if there is a sick Ben in this picture with me, or if it's an alien baby
Ben riding his new toy Grandma bought for him

Party Animal

Ben was a party animal this week. Monday he had a St. Patrick's Day party, Wednesday was the birthday of one of his classmates (he had cake, pizza and cheese twists), and Thursday was his Easter party. The Easter Bunny came to that party and Ben did not enjoy him (her). It's funny because he was fine with Santa, and he had his picture taken with the Bunny at the mall and he was fine. Oh well. Here's his mall picture.

Thursday night was exciting. Ben cut his first tooth! Yay - but it only took 9 months. It's very cute on him though. He of course had some pain this weekend, but it's really starting to come through, and it can be seen when he shows us his beautiful smile.

Easter was a party all in itself. We drove up to Grammie and Pepere's house for the weekend. We had Pepere's delicious ham and spent some great time with my family. My cousin Dan even showed up - I haven't seen him in 5 years! Ben received 9, count 'em, NINE Easter baskets!! Who gets nine Easter baskets? Easter at mom's house looked like Christmas with all the baskets for three kids! It was crazy! Ben is blessed to have family that spoils him so.