let's reminisce

Wow, wasn't he tiny? I just thought I'd post this pics for all those who really didn't get to see him in his tinyness. Note the binky to head ratio. That thing could have smothered him if it had half a mind to.

wise owl

read quickly, this may get erased

So I am debating whether I should even write this entry. I am trying to keep negative aspects of my life out of the public eye as much as possible. However I think it will be therapudic for me to be a little bit honest so here goes. Today was one of the harder days I think I've ever had as a mom. This Benson kid. Man. He can be so cute but seriously he drove me truly nuts today. The list is too long to write here but some highlights from today include breaking a glass an inch away from his baby brother, peeing on the floor twice, causing so many dirty looks in Pottery Barn that we had to leave and his crowning achievement for today was diahrea poop all over the new couch (no undies to catch it at all). To Laura and Melissa, don't be in a hurry to have kids. For pete's sake wait until you can afford to hire a nanny (and a housekeeper) at least twice a week so you don't go insane. That's really the best advice I have for those of you without kids. I am not in a position to dole out advice to those with kids because you all seem to be getting along much better than I am so any spell against insanity you know would be greatly appreciated. Ben says it would be weird if I didn't feel badly after a day like this but there has to be something I can do to keep me from feeling so upset with Benson. So I leave the floor to you. Suggestions, please. Even you wonderful dolls who don't currently have any blessed creatures of your own yet are welcome to comment. Some blind optimism might be nice. There. I feel a little better already.

all hail the queen of blogging

Thank you, Megan, for making my blog not the most boring blog of everyone I know. My new banner looks so very spiffy and I owe it all to you. You're the best!

benson saves the day

Last night Benson dropped his cup down the crack of the bed. It rolled to the most annoying spot---unreachable from above or below without moving the bed. So Ben picked up the bed but I guess got distracted or something and dropped it on me while I was half way under it. So I started yelling, "Ben! It's on my back! Help me, I can't get out!" But he said he was in a weird position so it took him a while... I don't really know what Ben was thinking, you'll have to ask him. But anyway in the meantime I was struggling to get out from under the bed and Benson came running for me and you won't believe this but he pulled me out! I looked at him and I said, "Benson, thank you! You saved me!" And he said, "Mommy was stuck under the bed and I pulled you out and now you are OK." Then he gave me a kiss on my back and a huge hug and just sat there with me. I was so amazed that he saw what he thought was a crisis and just acted. It was not a serious situation of course but his actions were so sweet and it was incredible to see him do what he felt he needed to do to save his mommy.

Bikini, Mommy!

I just went out and picked a zucchini from our garden and brought it in the house. As I was coming through the door Benson spotted the zucchini and began shouting, "I want a bikini, Mommy!" over and over. It seems that he combined "big" and "zucchini" into one super-word. Of course as soon as we got out the video camera he corrected himself and just called it a big zucchini so we have no proof, but it was pretty funny for Ben and I. The picture is from Thanksgiving but his hat says, "I <3 Bikinis" so I thought it was appropriate to this post.

Prayers

Last night Benson said our family prayer. I hope it is ok to write out a prayer because it was just too cute to not share. He said, "Heavenly Father, Help... eat ice cream tomorrow. Amen." Isn't that hilarious? You can't script this stuff! Oh that little boy is just too cute. Anyway, in unrelated news the picture is of our new leather couch. Wowie wow wow. Ben's boss is going to Korea for a year and his family is going to live with her parents so they gave us their 32" flat screen tv and their couch. We have good friends, man. We knew if we held out long enough we would get a replacement couch for the Kaleb and Suz sleeper. :)

Summer Bash

Here is a close up of one of our favorite shots of Benson. These pictures are from "Summer Bash 2007" which took place on Friday here on base. It really wasn't anything special but it was pretty cool for Benson to be able to get in the various helicopters and trucks they had at the field. The only sad thing is that we wanted to take a picture of him in the first helicopter so I made him stand in it alone and he got so scared he wet his pants. Ohhh sad! But after a change of clothes he was really excited to get in the rest of the vehicles and even pose for photos. PS I know that the music doesn't go with the slide show but I really liked the song and I figured I might as well enjoy it if I'm going to have to listen to it every time I log onto my blog. I loved Meg's slide show but eventually I had to just run my computer on mute because I couldn't handle hearing the song when I went to her blog! :) I apologize to anyone who has to do the same with mine. :)

Just Another Day in the Air Force

Mmmmm Graaaahm Craaaackers

Benson was a boy who loved crackers.
He loved to eat them in stackers.
He ate them at night,
No clothing in sight,
With milk down his belly, not backer!

Ok that was a lame poem but it's been a long day. The boy ate almost a whole package of grahm crackers if that tells you anything. He sure was happy, though!

Not Too Much to Say

Here are the children being royally cute.

Notes on a Benson

So here are some thoughts for today. First, I need a girl. I cannot survive in this boy world I've created. Benson keeps asking me to switch his Transformer from robot to car and, people, I really struggle. Between that and the car sounds and the daily Evil Kinevil shows and the lack of Barbies, I just can't keep up. I need a little girl to play dolls and Barbies and dress up. I love my boys but this is like living in a foreign country and not speaking the language. I just don't speak boy.

Second thought for today: Benson recently became the Mom in this house. You know how any time you lose something you just ask your mom and she knows where it is? That's Benson now. I discovered this the other day when I could not find the keys. I was running all over the house looking, when I started talking out loud about where could these keys be, etc. So Benson just looks at me and goes, "In the drawer, Mommy." Much to my surprise they were in the drawer he said. So have the days gone by with losing various things and Benson knowing where each and every item was. I should mention that many of them were, "In my tent, Mommy," or "in the ambulance, Mommy," but still. At least he finally remembers where he hides stuff.

Third thought: Benson will not sing. We can get him to do a single "Ahhhh" but that's it. And even that is hard. He says the words to songs but absolutely will not put a note to the words. It is weird and I was just wondering if anyone has any advice for this melody malady. I'm a little nervous he's inherited it from his father.

Sleepy Bugs

Apparently this is a really good sleeping position.

Tooting Ben's horn for him

So I realized I never posted that Ben got an A in his Russian class and so far has an A in his calc class. I just wanted him to know I am super proud of him. He is going to have to beat med schools away with a stick (like he does with me). I am really amazed by his intelligence because I've always thought my brother was the smartest person I knew but I've realized that he's only the second smartest (sorry, Todd). Anyway in addition to his super intelligence Ben has also developed a bit of a work ethic (THANK YOU AIR FORCE) and the two combined do wonderful things for a person's college experience. I guess I'll stop bragging about my amazing husband for now. Thank you, Ben for all you do.

Ode To My Benson

Things I love about Benson, a list:
I love his smirks
I love that he says, "Hey there, Mommy."
I love that he puts his hand on my mouth and says, "SHHHHH!" when he percieves I am getting an attitude with daddy.
I love that he says "Daddy" with an English accent.
I love that he will always stop what he is doing to get a diaper for Banks.
I love his kisses.
I love his hugs.
I love that he says, "No, please."
I love that he asks, "What's that?!" in an excited tone 4000 times a day.
I love that he thinks peas are the most amazing food on earth.
I love love LOVE his giggles.
I love that he runs to me when he gets scared.
I love that he says, "Yah" to just about everything.
I just loooooooove my Benson.

For some this might be pics of Benson and zucchini overkill but I thought they went so well in the series I couldn't decide which one to leave out. He loves these zucchini and spent the better part of the morning playing with them, all the while saying, "It's a BIIIIG one!"

BANGS!

I got bored yesterday so I cut myself some facial fringe. Also notice Benson's smirk smile. This is his go-to smile nowadays. Not sure where that could have come from (BEN!).

Edamame

Benson loves his edamame.

Studying

Ben really wanted his picture on the blog. :) This is what he does most of the time it seems. Good job, ben

Ben and Carrie

Last night when I was getting ready for bed Benson laid in my bed and said, "Carrie, get in bed!" I was obviously astounded by this demand from my two year old and I thought I didn't hear him right. So I asked him if he knew what Daddy's other name was. He, without hesitation replied, "Ben." Wow! How do kids pick this stuff up? Anyway so when Ben got home from camp I relayed the story to him and he explained it. Apparently last week Ben wanted to go to bed so he said, "Carrie, get in bed," over and over while I was in the other room. I guess Benson committed that one to memory (it could have been worse.) Anyway Ben thought it would be a good idea to teach him his last name and (to make a long story short) Ben is no longer Daddy in Benson's book. He is Ben Tracy. I wonder how long this will last.

Fourth of July

Well I have to admit this was one of the lamer Fourths I've ever had. Ben went to scout camp this week so I kind of boycotted the holiday. Our friends took pity on us though and had us over for caramel popcorn, which was nice, but I think the sugar made the children crazy as there were more tears than usual. I did carry my family's major tradition of making homemade ice cream and I even made the same recipe as they did so it was almost like being there with them. We decided that if Ben goes to scout camp again next year I will take the kids to a REAL Fourth with Grandpa and Nana. I really missed it. The saddest part was the thought of no fireworks because they are my favorite thing ever! I love Utah too because if you somehow miss them on the fourth you get another chance on the 24th. That's the best! Anyway a little miracle happened and we were able to see the big firework show from our back window. Benson thought it was pretty cool. I can't wait till next year for more fireworks! Oh and sorry there are no pictures. I have to buy more batteries and I keep forgetting.

First Fruits

Yesterday we harvested our first ripe veggies from the garden. We had a zucchini, a cucumber, lettuce, and tomatoes. There is really nothing more amazing to me than planting a seed in dirt and later being able to consume what it produces. I am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver right now and I love it! It is about this woman and her family as they try an experiment to mostly grow their own foods or buy from local farmers. Ben thinks I am totally crazy, but I would love to grow most of our own food someday. I think maybe we'll have to live next to Joel and Cait on our farms and have chickens and rooster alarm clocks and the whole nine yards. I can't believe I am saying this as a former Manhattan Penthouse sort of girl, but I really do want to have a little farm someday. Oh the hours of torment I've given to my father for wanting to do the same! Be careful how you raise your kids, folks. Try as the may, they cannot escape their parents' programming.