More of Bennett's Baloney

So, we were sitting at the breakfast table this morning eating pancakes watching the Polar Express when the part about the naughty child came on. Daddy asked if Bennett was being naughty. Bennett's response:

"No, I naughty yesterday."

At least he's honest!

Landon's Finally Walking!

For the past month or so, Landon has been taking a few steps here and there when he's in the mood. But tonight, he really took off! He was walking up and down the hallway and all over the kitchen. So, it's official--he's up and moving!

Hi ho, hi ho. It's off to school I go!

After the whole fiasco with my job last school year, I started questioning whether I ever wanted to teach again. Then, I interviewed for a Title I reading job and got really excited about the prospect of being a support person--not in charge of the whole class but teaching in small groups and helping out in a classroom setting. When I was turned down because I didn't have the certification, it got me thinking. So, I started looking into on-line programs but never made the jump. Then, one day, Ryan sent me an e-mail from an organization called Mindstreams. I got in contact with them, and one of the consultants found and on-line program from me out of Arizona. She also sent me a variety of grants and loan forgiveness programs for Title I teachers. That's when I made the decision--I'm going to get my reading license. I never would have considered becoming a reading specialist, but because of circumstances last year, it suddenly became a topic of interest for me. I begin class on Thursday and will be enrolled for 64 weeks. Hopefully, this will open up more opportunities for me this fall to get back in the classroom and get back to doing what I love!

Christmas Cookie Baking

For those of you who know me, know that I'm not much for baking cookies at Christmas time. I'm more than happy to eat them, though!! But I happened to be flipping through my parenting magazine and found these. They are made with peanut butter cookies (I made it easy and picked up pre-made dough :-) We rolled them into an oval shape. When they came out of the oven, we added eyes and a nose. The antlers were supposed to be chocolate covered pretzels (the mini ones) but Ryan brought home gigantic ones! So, we improvised and used pretzel sticks instead. As you can see, Bennett was trying to help me and he poked the eyes a little too hard! But he had a blast helping. He also enjoyed eating them!

Christmas Tree Decorating

Last weekend, he headed out to pick a Christmas tree. We brought it home and Landon seemed to think nothing of it. He was pretty interested in all the ornaments, though!

Bennett showing off his new fire truck ornament that he picked out at the Christmas tree shop.

Finding a good spot on the tree.

Bennett thought Landon would like a tractor ornament.

Daddy helps Landon put his new ornament on the tree.

This was the best I could do for getting a picture of both the boys in front of the tree. They were not feeling too cooperative that night!

The tree looked beautiful the first time around. And then Ryan came home from school one day to fine that the tree had tipped over! Thankfully, we only lost one ornament, but it was Bennett's baby's first Christmas ornament :-( So, we found ourselves decorating for a second time!

Bennett's Baloney

Right now, Bennett is on antibiotics for yet another ear infection. Every day, we give him his "white vitamin" as he calls it--a probiotic to help ward off illness. We have explained over and over that he can't take his white vitmin while he is taking his medicine because then the medicine won't work. (Did I also mention his is in the "why" stage????)

So, here was the conversation at breakfast with Daddy the other morning--after I had already explained multiple times that he can't have his white vitmin until all his medicine is gone. He thought he'd convince Dad instead.

Bennett: "I want my white vitamin."

Dad (trying to give it back): "Why?"

Bennett: "I want my white vitamin."

Daddy: "Why?"

Bennett: "Because mommy said no!"

We just busted out laughing!! Where does hie come up with some of these things!

The Polar Express

Last year, we contemplated taking Bennett on the Polar Express train ride. It is a train ride to a near-by city, the "north pole." The cost of the trip was quite a bit, and we decided to wait. But this year, with his obsession with trains, I wanted to capitalize on that love. Plus, he's young but he's at that age where he would believe in the magic of the trip. So, I purchased the tickets and we were so excited to go!

The night before the trip, though, Bennett came down with a case of the flu, which he graciously passed to me on Saturday. I was feeling pretty yucky but was determined to go. I was checking the train schedule all day and saw that it was running about 2 hours behind, most likely due to the snow fall. At 6:00, I got a call from the coordinator saying that the train was now 3 1/2 hours late and we were going to plan B--taking a bus. I was so disappointed as I have never been on a real train but also very disappointed that Bennett wouldn't get the experience that we had been talking about for weeks. But, thankfully, he also loves buses and thought that was the best thing ever!
We arrived at the depot and had som cookies and hot chocolate. The conductor of our "bus" sat nearby, but Bennett refused to have his picture taken with him.

We also received a copy of the book and Bennett checked out every picture as we waited for our bus to depart.

We finally arrived at the North Pole and headed into a heated tent to see Santa.

I was surprised but Bennett jumped up on Santa's lap, refused to tell him what he wanted for Christmas, but did allow him to sign his book.

He also received his own bell from the reindeer's harness.

He was too interested in his bell to take a picture with mom :-)

He rang the bell all the way back to the bus and most of the way home--until he fell asleep.

The trip wasn't all that I had expected for the cost and I was really sad we didn't get the full effect with the train ride, but Bennett seemed to have a great time, and that's all that counts! Since that day, he wants us to read the book every day and he is now obsessed with the movie! But that has been one of my favorite Christmas books and I'm glad to have passed that love on to my son.

The Snow Has Arrived!

And it just keeps coming--on Saturday we must have gotten close to 15 more inches!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, it was Grandma and Grandpa R's turn for Thanksgiving.

It was a very mellow and low-key holiday this year. We went over for dinner at 11:30 and headed home by about 3:30. Not surprising, Bennett and Landon ate next to nothing of their big dinner. But Bennett had fun playing the harmonica he found in the toy basket and Landon munched on Cheerios for dessert. Bennett helped Grandma cut and serve the pie. Both great-grandpas were there and so was Aunt Kristin and Mike. Aunt Kelly and Jake spent the holiday in D.C. with their aunt. We enjoyed the wonderful meal, great conversation, and the family time.

Landon's First Haircut!

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, we decided Landon was getting a little fluffy with his hair. So, before the holiday arrived we gave him his first haircut!

He didn't seem to mind the clippers, although, like always, he had a hard time sitting still.

Handsome, huh??