Busy Beaver Ben

It was a busy day on the Island of Sodor. (Oh dear, sorry - that was a Thomas reference. Will I ever get to make a spiderman reference?) It was a busy day on the Island of Long. Ben's preschool class had their field trip to the DENTIST! Ben was hysterical in the cleaning room. With every explanation of a dental tool / how to brush your teeth, Ben had to comment. Our absolute favorite was when the dental hygienist was chatting about healthy snacks to eat for strong teeth and Ben said, "I love to eat snacks. I put them in my mouth and they go to my tummy, then down down down to my feet, then up up up and out to my hands then back to my tummy then out my pee pee and my butt!" I turned to the mommy next to me and asked, "Did he just say what I think he said?" She nodded her head and replied, "Yeeeeeep."

I got this.

I purposely scheduled his very first dentist appointment ever for tomorrow hoping that there would be no drama as I knew he would have fun at the Dentist with his friends today. I bet you can't wait until tomorrow's blog!

Have a little faith, Ma! I'm having fun.

After a lovely visit and a goodbye goody gift bag filled with a new tooth brush, some fishy flossers, and a few stickers, we headed home - with a quick pit stop at DUNKIN! Oh, yeah. That is how we roll. Learn healthy snacks to eat, then disregard everything we learned and eat a fried circle of sugar with sugar frosting and sugar sprinkles. Aw, come on. It's not like we do this daily. Maybe twice a month? :)

Mom, I think you are the best Mom EVER!

We hit the library after lunch. Ben conquered a bunch of new wooden maze puzzles. I was amazed - I thought there was no way he would get the hang of what he needed to do so fast. Stud. I decided it was also time to clutter my wallet more, I mean get Ben his own Library card. He was so dang cute posing for the picture. Click on the pic and see if you can enlarge the photo on the card. Super cute!

"How many Thomas books can I borrow at one time?"

Winter schminter

Last week was cold. Average temps were in the teens. Brrrrrrrr. Needless to say, indoor activities were on the to do list. Ben goes to "library school" every Friday. Its a preschool playtime program for kids 3-5. As our school district has FREE preK, the class is made up of mostly 3 year olds - Ben is usually the oldest and biggest kid there. There are tons of "stations" but Ben is always in the SURPRISE train corner. Look at this cool track he built. This particular day he had a major meltdown as we were leaving the house. It was very unlike him and I can't even be bothered to go into all the drama - but we made it there, both of us with red rimmed eyes from crying. Everyone commented how they have never seen Ben sad! I am sure this is a new power struggle thing he is trying out. It's not fun. Not at all. But I have been so spoiled with his spectacular demeanor for four years. Surely I will survive this phase...

I'm all smiles, Ma. Come on!

We got a slight reprieve from the cold on Sunday and spent a few hours outside burying trains with the remaining snow, playing with our boomerangs (one is still stuck in a tree waiting for a good wind to knock it down) and getting our vitamin D fix. Hooray!

That would be Thomas under that snow pile...

Em is loving lacrosse. This is a blurry pic of her doing a running drill with the stick. She is the turquoise blur on the left!

Workin' on my scholarship.

The party

Sunday evening I put the kids to work in the kitchen making Ben's birthday cake. They are awesome helpers when they know they get to lick the beaters and bowl. YUM!

Our little Suzy homemaker...

I like it better this way!! Don't cook it!

As Ben's birthday was a national holiday this year (Happy Ben Day!), we were able to celebrate on his special day with his best pals for a party in the penthouse. It was a bit crowded but we made the best of it. Emma played the part of party coordinator making a list of activities to be done through the two hours. The list included Pin the Funnel on Thomas, Go fishin' game, pizza, cake, train table, Korean Freeze Dance (not sure how the Korean part fits in!!), and presents. She was also in charge of the decorations. Look below at the amazing banner she handmade. No, that is not a reverse image - she wrote in "script" BACKWARDS! How awesome is this kid?

She wrote Happy Birthday Ben on each of the balloons, too!

Party favors!

Ben actually enjoyed being the center of attention this year while the party goers sang to him. I wish I could post the video - it is super cute. He has this smirk on his face - "that's right, people, it's my birthday. Sing it out!"

CAKE! Chocolate cake with a hand drawn Trolley on it (from Daniel Tiger).

Pin the Funnel on Thomas! (Artwork by big sister)

We kept the celebration going on Tuesday at his preschool. We brought in munchkins to share and the kids sang to him again. And, he proudly sported this studly hat!

Our little buddy is FOUR.

Baby Ben isn't a baby anymore.

Happy 4th Birthday, Ben.

I'll bet if I look back a year and see what I wrote so much has changed about you physically and emotionally, but nothing has changed spiritually. You continue to be the sunlight in our lives. You wake up with a huge smile every day, the smile that I day dream about when life isn't going my way, and it always makes the situation brighter. You STILL live for trains - we thought preschool would change that for you, but your love of them and your ability to create your own stories around these engines grows stronger every day. You are super smart and talk nonstop when given an ear to fill. You are a giant pain to feed, yet weigh 40+ pounds. You have a dresser filled with clothes but will only wear a three shirt rotation. You have five pairs of perfectly good shoes but will only wear the black Sketchers. Trader Joes all natural unsalted Peanut Butter is your favorite food. Milk is still your drink of choice. You may still be a Mama's boy, but your face lights up and the way you say "Daddy" melts your Daddy's heart daily. You love when your sister walks in the door after school -"Emma!" - but usually get into a fight over a toy within minutes (it's usually her pushing you around though).

I could go on and on.

You are just so easy, Ben. You are the best do my daily chores wingman a Mama could ask for. How you got to four years old so quickly is beyond my realm of thinking. I'm pretty sure I was just nursing you as a newborn in the comfy chair at 3am looking out at the night just weeks ago...

Christmas part 4???

Before I get to the Christmas part, I must remark on the photo below. While Ben was under the care of Gramma Lou he began eating steamed broccoli! (Woot! Woot!) He doesn't consume much more than the tips - and even then it is a fight, but he will eat eventually eat it - as long as it is warm (i.e. I run it under hot water at least 3 times over the course of the 20 minutes it takes him to nibble it down.). Gramma mentioned she got him to eat it with bribery, "You want ___, then you have to eat your broccoli." I am beginning to wonder if the ___ was COOKIES because every time I tell him to eat his broccoli he asks if he can have a cookie when he is done. GRAMMA LOU???

I'm only eating it because I think I'm gonna get a cookie...

Now for XMAS part 4...

Auntie Cole gave me presents for the kiddos when I saw her way too briefly on New Years Day for our layover in LA. I meant to give them to the kids upon our return to the Penthouse, but then Daddy decided to have an organ removed and I set them aside and forgot about them until today when Ben was hounding me to open his "present with the Reindeers on it and Emma could open her present with the snowflakes." I had no clue whatsoever what he was talking about, so he grabbed my hand and dragged me into my bedroom and pointed to the presents under a pile of clothes. How he knew they were there is beyond me. Way beyond me. Kinda like how is the kid that only nibbles broccoli tops for dinner already 40lbs and a brick poop house.

I think they liked them, Auntie Cole.

Emma received an "Enchanted Storybook" in which she gets to write and illustrate her own story. She got started immediately. This is my favorite page so far...

She went outside and found a unicorn.

To Flu shot or not to flu shot

That is the question...

I not a huge conspiracy theorist, but I gotta tell ya, I think this whole "epidemic" flu reporting is a manipulation of the media to get us all to spend money to support the drug companies who purchase advertisement space on the media outlets. (I won't even bother to give you my opinion on the crap that is Obamac*re...)

Back in the day the news was reported twice a day - at 7am while we were getting ready for school and at 6pm while we ate dinner. These days with all the 24 hour news outlets (CNN = Constantly Negative News), I believe journalists are forced compromise why they wanted to become journalists in the first place and invent / embellish stories just to fill the time.

As this journal is part keeping my family and friends near and far abreast of all the happenings with our baby bunch and part future readings for my children about how awesome they were as kiddos, I don't want to get political, but I do want to know I am making good decisions for my family.

Flu shot = man made virus injected into our bodies to NOT necessarily protect us against the flu virus, but to lessen the impact of the flu should we get it.

Hmmmmm. Nope! Not. Gonna. Get. It. Going to continue to eat tons of nature's flu shot - fruits and veggies!!

Be strong, Mama. Do not let the evil media make you doubt your decisions.

Oldschool Penthouse fun

The kids received some great old school games for Christmas that we have started playing. As a kid Connect Four was one of my favorite games. (I even once played Connect Four in a bar in Vietnam with the 80 year old owner who spoke no English. We bonded over those silly checkers and I left a better person.) They even did a pretty good job of sharing when it came to the Lite Brite.

Could be me circa 1976

I saw these train stencils on Amaz*n for 3 bucks and wondered if he would be able to "handle" them. The answer is yes and we now have hundreds of his art work displayed all over our home. He loves them and takes great care in drawing. Funny thing is, he using both his left and right hands to draw with equal outcome. How do we cultivate this ambidextrous-ness??

Happy Benny.

This awesome pic is exactly what you think it is - Daddy dragging Em to her room for a time out! Haha! I was teaching her how to properly play Connect Four. She won the very first game fair and square, I did not "let" her win. I won the next five and she was not at all pleased with that outcome. She started up with the "there shouldn't be any winners or losers" crap that children have been fed these days that has done nothing but breed a generation of kids who feel entitled and rely on the government to make decisions for them and pay their way in life. We are working very hard to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in our kids, a spirit of healthy competition, not everyone gets to play in every game and not everyone needs to leave with a trophy. You want to play? You have to practice and practice hard. (off my soapbox now...) She got very whiny and then disrespectful and Daddy stepped in and rectified the situation real fast. Thanks, Dad!

If my opponent ends up in a time out, does that mean I win?

Catch up time

Daddy and I came home from PA a day early to catch the New Years airplane to Palm Springs for our annual company retreat. We were bumped up to first class and started the year off in style. Thank you! Aunt Lisa, Leah and Frank watched the kids while Gramma was working, then she loaded them up for the solo drive home to the penthouse so Em could go back to school on Wed. What would we do without the Grammas???

Blurry pic of Daddy and me at the awards dinner.

On Sunday while daddy was hanging out with all the sickies in the ER, Em was invited to a princess birthday tea party. The mama pictured is my hero. She treated these gals like the princesses they are. Ben and I got to crash the party while daddy was being diagnosed with his appendix challenge.

Real tea and crumpets!

Ben has learned how to operate the camera on my iphone. I am now constantly finding pics like this in my camera roll. (Full disclosure: the penthouse NEVER looks this messy. This was a very RARE moment that Ben caught in time. *cough cough*)

photo credit: the boy

Christmas seconds

We headed out to PA the weekend after Christmas for more good tidings. Daddy spent the day cooking (yippee!) and the kiddos went crazy opening gifts from our PA family. They once again collected too much stuff and we could barely see out our rear view window for the drive home. Oi.

Santa left her a stocking of goodies at Gramma Lou's house!

Ho ho ho!

Did I post this pick yet? Em loves her new doll house. She has spent countless hours playing here. While she was at school today I watched Ben's pal Sammy from preschool. They even played with it - their favorite part being the elevator. Sshhhhh, don't tell big sister!

Thank you!

Happy New Year

Dear Bloggiary, sorry I have been neglecting you. The Batter Bunch has been busy! Three states in ten days, four flights - one aborted at the last minute and emergency diverted to Baltimore, twice our luggage was left behind, dog in kennel twice, lots of good eating with our families, inspired beyond belief at our company retreat in Palm Springs to change the lives of 1000s of people this year. Busy busy busy!

But as I write this from the waiting room of the surgical pavilion where I am the sole occupant - the receptionist has even gone home for the night - I cannot help but laugh that this is what it took to get me to sit down and reflect on our crazy Batter Bunch life.

Daddy is currently the recipient of an emergency appendectomy. His timing was perfect. The surgeon was free, the room was available, and the nurses are wowed at his positive attitude.

As am I.

Daddy Batter, we adore you. You inspire me every day to want to be a better Mother, Sister, Daughter, Friend, and wife. I cannot even imagine my life without you in it. I am the luckiest girl to have landed you as a partner in life.

I pray the Universe grants you a speedy recovery so we can dive into the next 18 months of life changing madness together and healthy.

Thank you, Gramma Lou for being in the right place at the right time once again and swooping in to our rescue.

Christmas Eve

Another beautiful sunshiney day here in Sunny Florida. I do love Winters here. I have not at all missed the cold air from NY and if I could just discover that wormhole here on Earth that allows us to live here in Winter but continue about our daily lives in NY I would be one happy Mama. We spent the morning at the park down the street again then came home and put together our annual gingerbread house with Abuelita after lunch. This particular house's "glue" was not very sticky, and as soon as Abuelita let go of the foundation it collapsed. Oh, well. The photo op was fun and Ben pretty much ate the entire house - minus the decorations which he ever so deliberately removed (after ever so deliberately placing each one!!). Em ate the decorations and could have cared less about the cookie. Two peas in a pod, I tell ya.

Don't let go, Abudiba!

We celebrated Christmas Eve the Batter way (different from my family's traditions) with a yummy seafood dinner (cooked by Chef Daddy) and then opening ALL the family gifts (leaving gifts from Santa Claus only for Christmas day...). While Daddy cooked the late afternoon away, the kids and I watched more Veggie Tales by the light of the tree.

Mommy pic! Mommy pic!

Chef Daddy is our superhero. Abuelita loves when Daddy comes to town as she is relieved of her kitchen duties and gets to sit back and relax and entertain the kiddos while Daddy takes over the kitchen. Daddy is always happy to cook - especially when he can move around in the kitchen that is sized to fit more than one person at a time.

He cheffed up a YUMALICIOUS Italian Seafood soup. I ate at least four bowls of this goodness!!

Wanna come over??

After dinner we opened gifts. These pics are not in order and I cannot seem to be able to edit them. Ben got a wooden train that he very happily glued together then painted. Ever since starting preschool this fall he has become quite the Picasso. Love this kid.

I think I'll name it Thomas.

Em was very excited to open a present with the BRAVE doll, Merida. Abuelita had given her the movie for an early present when we arrived so the doll would be more appreciated. She-so-smart.

Mom, can I dye my hair red?

Em has also spent the past few days glued to the piano. She "plays" very well, plucking out actualy notes versus banging down of the keys. I think we will start lessons in September!! The piano she is playing has been gifted to her by Abuelita. As soon as we move out of the penthouse we will make the request for it to be sent North. :)

Sing us a song you're the Piano-Em.

The before they open the gifts pic:

CHEESE!

Daddy and Em doing the mosaic that Ben gave Em for Christmas. Hooray!

Matching chin dimples.

The kids went to bed pretty easily at around 8:30 excited to see what Santa was going to bring them when they woke. The rest of us enjoyed watching the various Christmas programs on TV until past midnight. Oh, wait, Mommy and Grandpop "tried" to enjoy the holiday programs while Daddy and Abudiba had an intense political debate for a good solid 90 minutes. Ahhhh, religion and politics - and we weren't even at a bar. :)

Sunday Florida Funday

We played the day away in the beautiful weather here in sunny Florida. We started out the day at the park down the street. Moments before this pic was taken Ben swung out too far, lost his grip and landed smack/flat on his back. It did not knock the wind out of him completely, but was a solid jolt. We snuggled a bit to calm him down. He kept saying, "I wanna snuggle with footprint blankie." (his security blanket - compared to Em at this age, when something like this would happen to her she would cry and say, "I'm done here. I wanna go home.")

Park time!

After lunch Em went last minute shopping with Daddy and Abuelita leaving Ben to hold down the fort here with me and Grandpop. We used up all the bubble mix,

Bubble time!

we played with the ducks,

Duck time!

and we raided Abuelita's shipping supplies to build all sorts of stations and tunnels, etc.

When is it NOT train time?

The kids went to bed just after 8 last night without a peep and slept past 8 this morning catching up on the must needed sleep they missed out on due to airline delays!

On the road again

We choose to give the warm weather a try this Christmas and leave the cold behind. Yahoo FL in Winter! 70s and sunny and no humidity.

The usual flight we take here generally gets us in in four hours door to door. Our usual flight was not offered and we ended up with what was supposed to be a 50 minute layover in Orlando. Yep, supposed to be. Our whole trip was delayed and ended up taking 10 hours door to door. But our kids are blessedly good travelers and they made the best of the three hour plus layover - it helps that Orlando has a shuttle train between terminals and we rode that sucker at least 10 times. :)

Gramma Lou, the headphones were a hit w Em, Ben...not so much. They did spend a lot of time coloring on the plane. Lets just say the next time someone needs to puke on that flight they will be delighted to hurl into a brightly decorated hand puppet bag.

We didn't arrive to Abuelita's house until about 1am. Ben fell asleep on the connecting flight. Em was awake until just before we pulled into the driveway. Yikes!

Our Piccasso

It was VERY windy taking off. Ben was shaking! He grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go. I wasn't complaining.

Cheeks! Cheeks! Cheeks! We love to snack on cheeks.

Our conductor and his super model in training big sister.

I lied.

Yep. I lied. I thought I was on the road to healing but I am not. I still tear up at least 10 times a day. I still hug my children for one second longer than usual. I am extra forgiving when they do not listen, do not eat, do not go to bed and stay in bed...

I have read so many amazing stories this week of heroism. Of teachers who threw themselves into the line of fire in attempts to save their students. I have read eulogies from parents who are burying their 6 year old children.

Today was a very special day.

I dropped Ben off at preschool early and rushed to Em's classroom holiday celebration. They had a class / parent sing along, then we chowed on some yummy cookies (thanks, Daddy!) and then made a fun reindeer craft. It was one hour of goodness in which I got the honor as a class room parent to present Mrs. Shannon - Em's teacher, the gift from our class. This woman is incredible. She has a gigantic heart. She relates to each and every kid in the classroom on the level that they need. She challenges them, she accepts them, she encourages - praises - and recognizes their every effort. We are blessed to have her as Em's teacher and knowing the events that took place in Sandy Hook last week, it took every ounce of discipline I had to not start bawling while presenting this woman our holiday token of gratitude. Mrs Shannon, if you ever stumble across my online journal and read this post, Thank you once again for all that you do...

Em whispered to me, "Mom, you gotta get a picture with me and Mrs Shannon."

From Em's party I made a mad dash to Ben's preschool for his Holiday party.  The 3 year olds sang three songs for the parents - the first of which Ben sang loud and proud.  The 2nd and 3rd - not so much, he stood there and picked his nose eyeballing the gingerbread houses he knew he was going to get to decorate after the whole singing crap was over. 

Decorate the house and then eat the left overs! That's how I roll when no veggies are involved!