Ben turns 12

Daddy got our Bunch an Air Hockey Table for Christmas. As much as I have been wanting one, I wasn't sure how I was going to make it fit in our bungalow... But just like loading the dishwasher to max capacity so that everything still gets perfectly clean, I've got mad rearranging skills and created this space for fun!


It fits perfectly and the other side of the room still feels cozy and not cramped. I crushed both children the first few games but Ben learned very quickly and is now a solid competitor. Both kids enjoy playing and will even do so on their own without encouragement. #winning

Our not so little champ turned 12 this past week. Daddy and I have been planning a boy's only adventure to Cape Canaveral for them for ages but because of covid it has been a challenge. We were finally able to make it happen and when he realized he get's to do "astronaut training" for a day he shouted out, "That's so cool!!"

He was excited to get the final book in a series he hasn't been able to find - great win, Gramma Lou! The minecraft card game is actually pretty fun as well and I learned more in one card game about minecraft than I knew in 6 years of watching the kids play on their ipads. HA!

I'm trying very hard to get into more pictures - I went too many years letting that slide - no bueno and no more of that silliness.

Ben upgraded his Christmas "lake cake" idea and requested a "volcano cake" for his birthday. We went to the store together and he picked out all the ingredients. He combined blueberry pomegranate with raspberry for the jello lava center, a chocolate cake and chocolate icing. 



I was a little leery about how it would ultimately taste (I did the baking and the building), but we were pleasantly surprised and Ben was thoroughly happy. He didn't want to go to bed that night because he had "such a great day" - it has been a very long time since I have heard those words out of his sweet mouth - stupid quarantine - and I was happy to oblige him with some extra time awake time before shutting off the lights.

This birthday memory popped up on my social media feed - I can still vividly remember taking this picture - he had just completed his first solo run down the hill on a sled and loved it and wanted another go. Those cheeks will always be delicious for me to smooch! We love you, Ben!

And we are off...

Daddy ain't slacking in the kitchen in 2021! We are off to a fantastic start using the leftover pork from New Year's Day to make yummy burritos for the next few days. Yummmmmmm. We had a great game of Pictionary this weekend - Boys against the Girls!! Guess who won?? 

The Girls crushed the Boys. Hahahahahaha.  Busted out and dusted off our old friend Hot Air Corn Popper. Such a great snack!! Why does it get put away for such long periods of time???

Went on a shopping date w my favorite girl on Sunday. We hit up the craft store. Em has been dominating the homemade jewelry game! Next time you are in town, make sure to loom over her collection! We hit up Trader Joe's after that. I usually spend about $40 at TJs when I go solo. My bill this time? $75 - that what happens when you bring a teenager along.... lolololol

Mmmmmmmmmnn, seared Ahi Tuna by Daddy. 'nuf said.

Don't let her face fool you, she was having fun leading the boys through a game of Pictionary. She and D won!

We had decent weather Monday so I kicked them outside for a little outdoor Jenga. I was impressed they were here for two whole hours and not once did they ask to play video games!!!

I discovered this Egyptian Chamomile tea at our local tea shop last week. It is my current "Dry January" go to in the evenings. Delish.

Phoebe continues to reign supreme. She is constantly coming up to us with her pull toy, "Play with me!!!"

I was trying to do yoga today and she would not let me. With every plank she tunneled further under me. She thinks we are playing a wrestling game. Oh well, I guess exercise just wasn't meant to be today. *wink wink*

Happy New Year!!!

Daddy had purchased this delightful raw ham to cook from scratch on Christmas day, but our friends sent us home with so much leftover food on Christmas Eve, that we chose to save it for Saturday the 26th. It was worth the wait - absolute YUMMMM that turned into leftover grilled ham and cheese sandwiches on Sunday the 27th. A gift that keeps on giving. :)

I finished out another 100 miles this week making my total 300 since July 5th. I never would have run this much without these challenges!! I printed out another and am already 9 miles deep - but this time I must do push ups and sit ups after every run - oh, and stretch, too!! 

Pb got a bunch of new toys for Christmas - most of which she already destroyed. The balls are some of her favorite. She loves sprinting after them in the backyard and it's the best way to tire out her abundance of puppy energy. 

Our furnace went kapluuee earlier this week. I had been acting up for about a month and this last time was it's final hurrah. We went three days without heat so there was a whole lot of snuggling on couches for body heat.

We partied up mega on 12/30 with our BFFs. It was a great way to end the crazy year knowing we wanted a quiet New Year's Eve at home. Ben always like these parties because he gets to drink soda. Hahaha!

My Yogi tea was talking to me on 12/31. I made a big decision to start a new journey yesterday and then I read this. The Universe has aligned itself for my success!!

We used Gramma Lou's gift card to grab some GBB for dinner as the pulled pork Daddy was planning to make couldn't get made because the boiler / furnace guys were here installing our new system and we had to turn the gas and water off most of the day. Ben wasn't complaining - he loves his burgers and lobster mac and cheese!

2 long days and 8200 bucks later and we have a pretty new heat / hot water system!!

That only worked for 12 hours!!!! hahahahaha - we woke up this morning to no heat or hot water and this error message. Apparently the exhaust vent was at the wrong pitch and once I turned down the heat for bedtime, the condensation ran backwards into the unit causing it to stall. Thankfully one of the crew lives close and popped by to give us the fix we needed and we are slowly warming back up!

Good bye, 2020!! Happy New Year 2021 - welcome!! Ben admitted he feels much less anxious going forward which makes me happy. I do love our little man and our Batter Bunch. We enjoyed watching the ball fall last night. I was getting pretty sleepy by 11:30 but pushed through! Ben was wide awake until 40 seconds on the clock - I yelled BEN! He snapped out of his sleep and counted down the final seconds with us. We then had a giant group hug and a kiss and we all went to bed. *grateful sigh* Cheers to a year of great health and wealth, while happy and strong.