Monday, December 19, 2011

That Darned Elf!

He's baaaaaack!
Some of you may have heard about the "Elf on a Shelf" phenomenom.
You buy this creepy little elf who tattles to Santa, sharing all the juicy details of your naughtiness.

That's when we found Christopher Pop-In-Kins. Same idea, but much more cute and less Big Brothery (and also not found in stores by the checkout where your kids can wonder why there are so many of them.)
He comes to our house the weekend after Thanksgiving and stays until Christmas Eve, where he presumably returns to the North Pole to help Santa with Christmas.
Anywho- our elf, Christopher, has now visited three years in a row.
Luckily for me, we have moved three years in a row, so we always have a new house with new hiding places.

This year, we thought it'd be fun to take it up a notch and have Christopher play a few pranks on the kids too. Not everyday, as I am much too lazy, but once and awhile.
So far, it's been fun for all.
The kids enjoy searching for him in the morning and we always love the giggles it brings (unless it's earlier than 6:30 a.m...then we don't love it so much).

I thought it'd be fun to document a few places our leeettle friend likes to hide!
Even when the magic of Christopher wears off, there will still be years of fun thinking of new pranks to play on each other.
This is one of my favorite new traditions.

And this is the evidence of Christopher in 2011.
He thought it would be funny hanging their undies on the tree (yes, they were clean).


Christopher has made some new friends here and they have been playing some riveting games of Uno!


I think this is the first time I have ever been toilet papered.


He even turned the milk green.


We also learned that Christopher enjoys goldfish...


...and apparently so does Little E.
(good thing that the girls were at school because they would've flipped if they saw that Eric managed to not only touch Christopher, but eat his goldfish!


We have a few nights left, so I am thinking of a few extra pranks Christopher may pull on us. One night will involve markers (of the washable variety and one night may include some twinkle lights!) So exciting!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Mr and Mrs 10 Years!


10 years.
3 kids.
8 houses.
7 cars.
100s of datenights.
15,987 hugs.
Undisclosed amount of kisses.
Bouquets of flowers.
A couple pant sizes.
A few tears.
Lots of laughter (the snorting kind).
Quite a few headaches.
Limitless love.
No regrets.

One lucky girl.
One in a million boy.
One Happy 10 Year Anniversary to my never-a-dull-moment honey!

Just for fun- this is what 10 years of mostly wedded bliss does to you!


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Nope...she's still here.


I suppose you could call me the world's best procrastinator, later anyway.
I have typed so many drafts to update our lives this past year, but could never make the time to finish, or post.
The funny thing now is I have about eleven billionty things to do today (none of which were sitting here), so I thought it would be a perfect time to update-
And make paper snowflakes,
and watch Wall-E,
and do anything BUT my laundry.

First things first...we finally moved back home, also known as Columbus.
T's work schedule was just so wonky and the yearly relocations were starting to wear on us.
So T changed his position with work, and we moved ourselves back home.

And I can say with certainty, that living so close to our families (and the built-in babysitters I called sisters) has been so so awesome.

We spent the summer catching up with some of our dearest Florida friends (FL is my second home). And enjoying a lazy summer while settling back into our new (25 year old) house.










And we've spent the fall also catching up with more Florida friends...and enjoying the fall weather.









Someone also turned two!
Yes, my sweet little bundle of 8 pound joy is now a full fledged "really-heavy-to-carry-in-one-hand" path of destruction.
And I both love it! (mostly)


And of course- my Halloweenies! For those not in the know- my kids love creating their costumes.
Of course the girls can not fathom being a simple princess.
Oh no! We have a toucan, a "fancy dalmation" and my fav, the UPS guy.




So, in a really small nutshell and for as long as I can bare to sit still in one place to update- we are still here.

Monday, April 25, 2011

I took an extended spring break

For spring break, we decided to go back to our beloved Florida.
Most people I know go to some hot spot like Disney, Busch Gardens or the Keys.
But, not the Bennetts, no, no...we go back to hang with the 'ol hood on Stonehurst.
...and I am so glad we did.

We got to enjoy hanging with some of the coolest people on this planet.
There were BBQ's with friends,


(see me- smiling!!!)
That's a happy Florida vacation smile.





And there was relaxing by our old beloved pool.
(I spent many, many hours just lounging...I mean...tentatively watching the kids there).
I love that Tom was able to relax too. I thought maybe he had forgotten how to with his stressful job, but alas, he took to chillaxin like an ol' pro.




And my beloved palm trees...(they chillaxed by the pool too)


There was a first haircut.
(which I took surprisingly well, considering his curls are now with me in a ziploc bag. But he looks like such a handsome little dude, so we are winning!)
This picture is for reference of the boy's lovely, curly locks!


After- handsome little guy!



And don't even let me get started on the awesomest and brutal event ever! I finally ran the race I have been dying to race for the past few years in Florida...and now that I no longer lived there, I was able to run it...but that's a whole 'nother post!

(notice how when I mention Florida, the word "beloved" gets used a lot?
Yeah, I like beaches and flip flops.)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

My favorite Flava.

Today marks 5 years living with Ava Laine.
More commonly known as "Flava" around here.
And it's true...she has a lot of flava!

Avie is one of the keenest 5 year olds ever. (so much so, that I fear she will be outsmarting me very soon, if not already).
Ava is passionate. (code for strong willed, which is also pc for stubborn)
She is intense and takes a lot of energy.
But she also gives out a lot more in return.
Ava is seriously kind-hearted and always looking out for the under-dog.
She has an "old soul" and often laughs at many adult jokes.
She is cautious...and you need to earn her trust.
She also has a good eye with coloring and drawing.
She has the memory of an elephant and makes very detailed observations.
(code for: you can not make a promise you don't intend to keep because she will call you on it- 3 years later).
I love this kid. She is a rare find.
(and never gives up a chance to cuddle with her Mom).

One day of Flava.


1 year- her "bulldog" face.


18 months Butterfly.



hanging at the pool (3 years)


Always intense.


4 year watermelon lover


Awesome.


Happiest Happy Birthday to me sweet intense Ava Flava.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Brows


I think there is a market for these.
Bows for the baby boy curls that Moms just can not get the courage to have cut.
I think I will call them "brows".


Shhhh...do not tell my husband I did this to my poor wee boy.
(although I think he looks awfully cute)
I will be saving this picture for his future girlfriends!
I am sure it'll be used as evidence against me one day when he is in therapy. ;)

Friday, February 25, 2011

7 years ago today...

I became a Mom to one of the coolest, sweetest girls evah!
Bryn Elise was born.
The world forever changed.

I know they say when you look at the bright side of things, you are wearing "rose colored glasses", but I like to see the world through "Bryn-colored" ones.

I think if everyone did this, the world would be a much happier, gigglier and probably bouncier place.

At 7, Bryn is such a compassionate young lady.
She worries about other's feelings,
she gets sad if she sees a stray animal.
She has mastered the art of sibling manipulation,
she likes Justin Beiber and wrote her first fan mail to him.
She changes her clothes about 7 times each day.
She refuses to wear bows and clips anymore.
She is the most amazing reader and artist.
Not the greatest eater.
She is my first little heart.

Happiest of birthday sweet girl!

Homecoming.


9 month silly.


18 months


almost 2- cutest calf ever!
(maybe the fastest too)


3.5- tuckered out Princess Flower Fairy


Lovely, lovely young lady.