Dino-Bennett

I am sorry to report that Bennett no longer lives with us. It is o.k., really, because now Dino-Bennett is living in our home. Dino-Bennett only answers to "Dino-Bennett" and whatever you do don't try to shorten it to "Bennett" because he won't answer. Dino-Bennett is a plant eater that is thinking about turning into a meat eater but isn't sure because he has quite a few flat teeth.

Oh, and Dino-Bennett doesn't sleep with Bennett's blanket, "Puppies" anymore because Puppies is a baby blanket and Dino-Bennett is a big kid. That makes Bennett's mom more than a bit sad.

Waiting for a baby...

Last night on our way home from the YMCA, Bennett wanted to know when his baby was coming.

Me: "What baby?"

Bennett: "Your baby."

Me: "Bennett, we have talked about this. Mommy is not going to have any more babies, right?"

Bennett: "But I think it is going to be a boy baby or a girl baby."

Me: "No, there won't be any babies"

Bennett: "Just keep eating the healthy food and you will grow a baby."

Me: "What did you say?"

Bennett: "You know, just keep eating a lot of food and you will grow a baby."

Me: "You think that is how babies are made?"

Bennett: "Yep, so keep eating, o.k?"

Me: "Well, we aren't going to have a baby."

Bennett: "No fair!"

At this point, Jerry, Alex, and Larkin are dying of laughter.....



An hour later as I am getting Bennett ready for bed...... "Mom, you will eat your healthy food, right?"

I ignored him in the hopes he will forget about wanting a baby.....

What I enjoy about not being a student.....

Tomorrow officially marks the 4-week anniversary date of finishing my master's degree. Although, with no diploma or transcript in hand doesn't really make it official, does it? Anyway...four weeks tomorrow, and let me tell you how much I have enjoyed each and EVERY day. I only have two more days to enjoy homework-free life as I start the Educational Administration program on Wednesday. The following five things are what I have enjoyed most about not being a student:
5. Have a "pile-free" kitchen table
4. Eating my lunch without trying to do homework at the same time
3. Being guilt-free: I always felt guilty for doing homework instead spending time with my family or feeling guilty for being with my family instead of doing homework.
2. Wednesday nights....not having class or eating a bag of pretzels for supper
1. Relaxing and spending time with my family

And although my time as a non-student was short.....I enjoyed every moment. And before we know it, I won't be a student anymore....just two short years.

What we have been up to....

What a wonderful couple of weeks it has been! Here are some highlights of our Christmas--it was wonderful! We celebrated on the 23rd at our house, the 24th with the Rademacher Family and then on the 25th with the Vangsness Family! We are so lucky to have such great families...

Heading out to Rosen...in the van with Mason, Larkin, and Bennett. I have to say it is very interesting to have a five year old and a teenager in the same vehicle. You never know what either are going to say. Mason's highlight of the trip? Taking pictures of cars coming towards us. It was a little freaky if you ask me. Santa was kind enough to bring Jerry two-way radios, so we had the joy of listening to things such as "What's your 20", "Bird Cage to Dog House, are you there?" and an ever-annoying beeping which may have been code for "Kelly may go off the deep end if we don't get there quickly."

The family picture taken with a self-timer. Yearly tradition. Have to say this worked much better than others in years past. We had a good laugh...something about the button on the camera. Right, Kelly and Andria???

My beautiful family on Christmas morning. This picture actually makes me sad when I see how tall and grown up they are becoming. I am lucky, aren't I?

Overboard is a word I like to use when it comes to my parents on Christmas. They go overboard with gifts, but it is absolutely thrilling to watch the kids open up their gifts. Here is our beautiful godchild, Brynn in the center of everyone. She is pretty much the center of everyone's attention all of the time. One of her lines at Christmas which I could listen to a million times was
"Seriously Sissy (Larkin), let's get away from these boys. They are naughty."

And finally we got to surprise Mom and Dad--with a trip to Vegas. We will be going in March...Mom & Dad, Mike & Melissa, Jane & Tom, Jerry and I. I am super excited about this trip.....just wondering how much we will laugh?!?

Happy New Year, Everyone! Hope you can all stick to your resolutions. Mine is to keep up on my blog so I can make a book out of it at the end of 2011! Fingers Crossed!