Tender End-of-the-Week Mercies

Friday was a long-frustrating- end -of- the-week kinda day. Ben had a paper due by 5pm that he hadn't even started on, so that meant 1. he was going to be home all day working on it. 2. I would have to keep the kids away from him as much as possible. Sure it doesn't sound too hard right? See, I'm just boring old mom, these little guys see me sun-up to sundown, I'm old news!ha ha, but daddy...he's the fun machine, he's like the king of all that is fun & when he's home the kids go BONKERS! they love their daddy, it IS very endearing and precious. When he's at school or work they eat, Dylan takes a nap & things are mostly predictable. We have a rhythm goin' on. Of course you know where this is going right? Ben basically ruins all rhythms and naps just by being home! in a good way? anyway, to make a long day short here's a sweet tender mercy from that day.

I was trying to put Dylan down for a nap but he wasn't having it at all. He wasn't going to take a nap and mommy was the mean lady trying to make him! No really, I was! We were having a power struggle. I neeeeed that midday nap, maybe even more than he does! So in the midst of his pitiful tears he says:

"I want Daddy"

Me:"I'm sorry sweetie, Daddy is really busy today"

Dylan: "Daddy's busy?"

Me: "Yeah"

Dylan: "I want Jesus"

Me: "Okay, do you wanna say a prayer and talk to Jesus?"

Dylan: "Yeah"

so we proceed to say a prayer together and as we finish Dylan says:

"Where'd Jesus Go?"

I then explained that we can talk to Jesus anytime we want if we pray and that Jesus & Heavenly Father will listen to us, but they live in heaven so we don't usually see them in person. He listened intently and I felt the spirit in that little moment and my frustrations melted away. What a sweet spirit children bring to this world! He already knows that Jesus Christ lives and that he can go to him when he's sad:) It was a good day after all:)

Slicks & Dots

Claira has been doing this for a while but I am finally going to blog about it because I never want to forget the funny little things she does.

Claira was playing some good old Mario Kart the other day and as I was walking by she says:

Hey Mommy, can you turn up the TV two slicks?

Me: Slicks?

Claira: Two dots?

Me: Sure!

I could correct her, but I just don't want to! It makes me laugh, and I actually find that we all say it every once in a while, in fact I just heard Ben saying it today! ha! She also does this with other things too like food. Slice & piece=slick. Claira you are awesome!

Random Goodness

Claira striking one of her many poses! I think she just got done jumping here:)

Dylan turned 2! So I asked him what kind of cake he'd like for his birthday and he said a "shishy" and then I said what color? He said "wed" and so the red fishy cake was born. Obviously, this cake is in no way impressive nor did it take me any time or effort, because I wasn't feelin' the grand birthday cake vibe. Must be from all the holiday baking! I think it's pitifully cute! Claira helped with the red sprinkles and we used a huge green Nerd for his little eyeball...Yeah they make 'em HUGE! Dylan was delighted with the cake, he thought it was grand and awesome so that's all that matters!

I know, I know this picture is sooo a month ago, but at least I'm getting it up here! We had alot of fun making and eating cookies for Santa this/last year! YUM!

He was being SUCH a creep for this picture, but I just love it! I am enthralled with my banana can you tell?

My Little Helpers

Claira & Dylan decided to help me do the dishes! Aren't they sweet?! Now if only I can keep up their enthusiasm when they're teenagers! ha keep dreaming, right? As you can see, it was quite the chore, I needed all the help I could get that day! I love 'em!

Who is this Brian character?

So last night was interesting... We got a knock (or rather several loud bangs) on the front door & I was annoyed because who really has to knock like that?!?! So, I made Ben answer the door ha! Turns out it was a couple of cops looking for a guy who has a warrant out for his arrest, Apparently he used to live in our house. The cops kinda drilled Ben and were asking him who he was and if he had ID and telling him they're looking for a Ben or Brian, he was like "Uh, my name is Ben Miller" he was way freaked out! Obviously looking for a different Ben... So they leave, and we were kinda confused. 2 1/2 hours later a different set of cops come over banging on our door! I didn't even look to see who it was, the banging gave them away, so I open the door and I'm like "hi?" and they asked for Brian again, I was so confused I just kinda stared and said "No? you guys were here earlier" like seriously, 2 hours ago, it's not like this guy is gonna pop up outta my couch cushions 2 hours later! I'm sure it was just a miscommunication problem, but really! I did not like it one bit! Now our neighbors will think we are the crazy white people in the neighborhood causing trouble ha ha! It might have been no big whoop, but those cops were intense and not very polite at all! kinda stressed me out man! So, thanks criminal Ben or Brian... Thanks a whole lot.

Birthday Boy!

Here he is lookin' studly in his 2yr. old picture!

Time has flown by these past 2 years! My baby is now a toddler... sigh. I love this age, this is when he's really starting to talk in little sentences and jump and crack us up more than ever! It's also the age that the crazies really set in, Terrible two's anyone? Speaking of that- this little angel woke me up last night at 4:00am insisting he was in dire need of oatmeal! Sheesh! So after much pleading, rocking, & handing off to daddy, alas we had oatmeal at 5am and he then decided he would love to watch a movie! As soon as I put in a movie his little head started bobbing and he slowly fell onto my arm almosssst asleep, I said "are you tired?" he said " Turn off moo-moo peas, I go bed" so we finally made it back to bed at 6:30am. Not my ideal Saturday morning, but at least I got some snugs!

The Past Month!

So, I've pretty much sucked at blogging this past month so let me catch you up!

Ben has survived his first quarter of grad school, and got pretty awesome grades too! He gets 3 weeks off to party with us! YAY!

Claira always has something going on, so I may not remember everything:) She had fun making and sporting some derelict paper bag fashion wear that I helped design (with Claira's genius ideas of course), she is currently obsessed with playing Lego Star Wars on the Xbox with Ben, she is also obsessed with saying she's obsessed with everything i.e. when I need her to do something and she doesn't listen her excuse has been "Sorry Mommy, I just got obsessed with riding my bike" or fill in the blank with anything else...blocks, watching a movie, reading books:), Her new favorite color is ALL hot colors, but mostly Teal (my favorite too!!), she is getting sooooo excited about Christmas! Her favorite Thanksgiving food is candied yams and she has requested them for Christmas, and New Years ha ha!

Dylan is a hilarious little maniac he is talking A LOT! Some of my personal favorites are: Aw Man!, what the heck?!, Leave me alone... more like ye me ayow!, Alright (in a sassy voice, just like big sister...you have to hear it!), and the newest and most awesome is WAZUP! It's a joke from that TV show called The Office... he says it in a growly voice, it's great! There are many more sayings & phrases but those are the most enjoyable. He loves riding bikes with Claira and crashing into her and making her mad;) he has taken up jumping on & off everything, it's one of his newest skills and he does it all day long! he's running pretty good, he'll eat anything, and he never misses 'second breakfast' he will really eat breakfast and 5 minutes later try and pilfer my whole bowl of cereal! such a rascal!

It has been a fun/stressful/busy month for me, well I guess that's my life in a nutshell! ha! I love watching the kids play together it is so FUN!!! Ben being in school is stressful for me too but I'm getting used to it. I ate WAY too many pies for thanksgiving...and the week after lol! and I'm looking to FINALLY unpacking my workout gear (it is REALLY in a box with the tape still sealed from moving 3 months ago!!!! lol!) I'm enjoying Philly though, we've had some good times! Oh and how could I forget I went out with a bunch of girls from church to see the opening midnight showing of TWILIGHT and had a blast!!! I've read all the books and am obsessed (see where Claira gets that word now! ha ha!) I'm looking forward to seeing Ben's family in a few weeks! They are coming here all the way from California to see us for New Years week!!!! I can't wait!