Saturday Night Supper

Ben was making a statement with the pea pods that we have used with the ham and corn chowder that Chad made for supper tonight. Not the most pleasing view but it's what you would expect from a kid. Here is what Ben's bowl looked like when he was done with supper. We had said that he didn't have to eat them once he tried them. Can't force your kid to eat something that Mom won't eat either. Just for the record, I did eat a few of them.

Ben's Birthday and Heart Break

Saturday, February 28, Ben turned 7. What a great accomplishment, I can still remember the day he was born. I won't go into that long drawn out ordeal. I don't really like reliving that.

Ben had been so excited all week as a few of his friends were coming over along with some family and one special friend was staying over night. He was bombarded with Lego presents which I have gotten some of them put together. I'll get a picture of all of them posted once they are done. They aren't small projects. Each one has over 250 pieces, combined with a child's excitement makes it somewhat of a challenge sometimes.

After everyone left Reece and Ben were playing his new Wii game, Lego Batman, see a theme here? Lego everything these days. They decided they wanted to play this all night. By 8:30 they were in their pj's, teeth brushed and watching a little TV before putting together his Bionicle that Reece got him. I was starting to get them rounded up for bed when Reece decided that he didn't want to stay and wanted to go home. First time sleepovers can be so nerve wracking for some. So, much to Ben's disappoint we called his folks and his dad came and picked him up at 10. This has made me realize how nice hit has been for Ben to stay away from us for weekends since he was a baby. He is so used to it that it never phases him to be away from us for a night or two. I can't imagine that when he goes for his first sleepover that we will have this problem.

Couples Quiz

This is kind of like the 25 things - except there are pre-decided questions and it’s about you and your spouse, not just you. Come on, play along - inquiring minds want to know!

♥ What are your middle names?Mine = Rene' His = David
♥ How long have you been together? 12 years in May (Dated 2 years)
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? about 6 months
♥ Who asked who out? Can't remember
♥ Do you have any children together? yes, one
♥ What about pets? 1 cat
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? I think disciplining Ben
♥ Did you go to the same school? no
♥ Are you from the same home town? no
♥ Who is the smartest? Chad
♥ Who is the most sensitive? me
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? La Caretta - but is is always as a family. Rarely have a night just as a couple.
♥ Who has the craziest ex? Must be mine
♥ Who has the worst temper? definitely me
♥ Who does the cooking? we split
♥ Who is more social? me
♥ Who is the neat-freak? neither
♥ Who is the more stubborn? Chad
♥ Who hogs the bed? no one - king size is perfect
♥ Who wakes up earlier? Chad every day but Monday and Thursday
♥ Where was your first date? Not really sure - we spent a lot of time at Chad and Melissa's house in the beginning.
♥ Do you get flowers often? Not often but I am still enjoying the ones from Valentine's Day
♥ How do you spend the holidays? With family.
♥ Who is more jealous? me
♥ How long did it take to get serious? a couple weeks
♥ Who eats more? I'd say it's equal but we are both cutting back
♥ Who does/did the laundry? we both do but I always have to put away the clothes
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Chad for sure
♥ Who drives when you are together? Chad most of the time

Been There, Done That

Got this from Melissa. Seems like we tend to focus on what we haven't accomplished or what we wish we could do so often that we forget what we have already done! If you want to participate, just copy this list and highlight the things you've done.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyworld.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check. (NSF)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Transition to Fareway

Well, it's been three weeks now that I have not had to commute to Des Moines. I am loving that. I miss the friends that I made down there but wouldn't trade this for the world. It is an adjustment to go from sitting at a desk all day to standing everyday. I find that I am not munching on snacks all day. Not really any opportunities to do that. You don't have a desk drawer that you can keep snacks in. I think that has really helped me. I have lost about 5 pounds since leaving Principal without even trying. Hopefully that trend will keep going.

Ben does miss a few of the boys from daycare but he gets to see them at school. Every now and then he still gets to go to day care if they have a late start at school and I have to go to work. He loves coming home from school each day with one of us. He can do any homework that he has and then get to play until mom or dad gets home from work. I promised him that when I started working in Boone that on Wednesday's when they get out of school at 1 that he could start having friends come over to play. He is looking forward to that and gets to have his first friend over this week. This is one thing that we couldn't do before since we didn't get home until late.