7 Year Itch?

So on Saturday (April 26th) Ben and I celebrated our 7th anniversary. They say that there is a 7 year "itch" that people get. I don't know why the magic number is 7, but it expands out to homes, cars, jobs, and also marriages apparently. I am happy to report that I haven't contracted the "itch" yet! (though, there are frustrating days when I feel something under my skin a- brewin!) Yeah, we've made it to 7! It honestly feels like I have been married FOREVER! That is not a slight to Ben at all...it's just so much has happened in the last 7 years that I feel like those singlehood days are a distant (but fond!) memory. We have (almost) 4 kids in 7 years, on our second home, and lived in 5 cities (4 of them in Washington).

The day was full of running through daisy fields, having a picnic in the sun, and ending in each other's arms. Yeah right! We spent the whole (beautiful!) day at the Baseball Jamboree for Wyatt, me going to the grocery store, and Ben pulling all the moss out of our front lawn (yes in Washington, moss is a creature that never goes away!) By the end of the night we were pooped but managed to slip in a movie to relax. This was Ben's year to plan something but since we had been out the weekend before at our priciest dinner to date, with our friends the Baileys, we had jointly decided to have him plan a nice night "in" for our anniversary. He didn't, and heard about it from me...but hopefully that means that I get an extra nice payback night in return!

The weekend before we went to dinner at a Brazilian Churrascaria (Ipanema) in Seattle with our good friends the Baileys. Now, why would we go out with another couple to celebrate our annivesary? Because they have the VERY same anniversary..same day, year, and even sealing time! How ironic! So since we were both celebrating our 7th and both Ty and I had served in Brazil then we found it fitting to go there for dinner....oh what memories it brought back! Anyway, this is getting really long...

Just a shout out to Ben who is such a wonderful man. He is laid back, when I am not, patient when I am not, forgiving when I am not, and a very humble man, which I am not ...(neither humble nor a man!) I am so grateful that he stuck with me through my craziness when we were engaged and didn't run away, because without him, I would not have the beautiful and kind children I have, and not have the happy life that he creates for me in just being who he is! I love you Ben!

Hooked on Phonics Works For Him!

My little reader! Wyatt just completed the first level in the Hooked on Phonics Series. He is now full on reading little reader books! He is so proud of himself too, which is so fun to watch!

Now, I know what you are thinking.."pushy mom trying to make her son some genius"... As an early childhood majorist (real word right?) I had it POUNDED into my brain never to push a kid any more than what they are NATURALLY having an inclination to do, thus making it "developmentally appropriate". So after watching Wyatt try and put sounds he knew together on his own, I found it time to start formally teaching him through this series. My WONDERFUL sister in law, Mara, swore by these when she taught her kids to read, and kindly handed them down to me. I have to tell any of you who have a child who is showing those pre reading signs that the best and ONLY system you need to invest in is Hooked On Phonics. This is just the way that I used to teach my little 1st graders when I was teaching and didn't even know it! Look on Craigslist or Ebay and you can buy used systems for WAY cheaper than new.

Anyway, as a reward for completing his first level, I let him go to the toy store and pick out whatever toy he wanted (within reason of course!)....and what did he choose? This mega M-16 machine gun/rifle that makes continual shooting noises and is almost as big as he is....WOW! There is no prouder moment then to see your son reward himself for his educational milestones, with a mass killing weapon. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

Kesley and Eden make the jump!

Well, it's official I now have kids sharing a room! I have managed to have all three of my kids in seperate rooms until now, but with the arrival of #4, I needed to break with my love of seperate rooms and bunk the girls. This was a big step for Eden because she was not only moving to a different room and sharing a bedroom, but also moving from her crib to a twin bed. Anyway, we painted the room and made it all girly for them. Eden has been amazing since having a cage-free sleeping life too! Once she is in her bed, she doesn't get out..even when she wakes up from naps and bedtime, she will just call for me until I come get her out of bed. Kesley needs her space ALL THE TIME, so we were worried about having her sister move in on her "turf" but she has adjusted well! Next we should have pics of the babies room all decorated and ready for its next tenant!

Never Ride a Bike 7 1/2 months pregnant!

Today was the most GORGEOUS day! After a pretty crappy Spring so far, this day of mid 70 degree weather was much needed and VERY appreciated! To celebrate I had this great idea to go for a family bike ride. We rode to the grocery store (which is a short 1/4 mile away). Wyatt on his bike, me on mine, and Ben pulling the 2 girls in the bike trailer. What a sight I was! I got SO many stares that you would have thought that I had 10 arms and 10 legs. I can't decide if it was people not believing that somone of my size (ginormous prego lady) was riding a bike or the fact that my legs were so spread apart while peddling that it looked awkward, ugly and not feminine. I have now found a new appreciation for the ablity that normal non pregnant people have of closing their legs effortlessly. I never knew that that was a necessary element to riding a bike gracefully and efficiently. So, I'll put the bike away for 6 more weeks and wait until the day I can ride a bike without my legs having to be perpendicular to the seat. I'm glad I don't have any pictures to post...it might be too mortifying!

Wyatt's First Lost Tooth!

Wyatt lost his first tooth on Friday. We were eating at a " I Burger" (great burgers by the way!) just up the street from our house and as we were starting our meal I noticed his bottom front tooth was gone! When I mean GONE, I mean we couldn't find it...anywhere. So I think he might have ingested his first tooth! So there will be no cute baggie for his baby book of his first lost tooth. (I do do a lot for my kids, but rummaging through his poop to find it is where I draw the line!) He was concerned about what the tooth fairy would think so I told him we could write a note to her explaining the situation and that she would still leave money for him....what a merciful fairy! What a big boy he is becoming!