Happy Birthday Holland

Our little Holland has made it a year! Since we aren't crazy party people (and her birthday was on a Sunday) we just had a quiet dinner with family and woke her up in time to eat a little pie and open presents.

Here is what Holland is like at age one:

• total mommy's girl
• loves to cuddle, especially if she has her binkie and her blanket
• adores Bennett to no end
• just started pulling herself up to standing this week
• loves, loves, loves books
• a little too smart for my liking (she figured out how to open the DVD player months ago)
• not the most social baby, but has a great poker face
• eats pretty much anything, but prefers her carbs
• just a really sweet little girl

Happy Birthday Holland!

Just Thought You Should Know

In case of emergency, rest assured that we are in good hands.

We have the very capable Fireman Ben to rescue us. 

Since Bennett discovered Fireman Sam we have been playing firefighter non-stop. Bennett even builds his own firetrucks using my robe, his bag of tools, his bag of blocks and every throw pillow in the house, as well as an array of stuffed animals.

And while he will use almost anything as a fire hose, he definitely prefers this hose to all others. How else would he put out the fire in the bush (as he frequently informs me)?

And not one to be left out, Holland can usually be found trying to be part of the action.

Bennett has finally agreed that maybe Holland can be Radar, the fire dog. 

Poor girl.

Passing Time with the Perry's

This past week we were able to convince the Perry's to come visit us. Carli and I haven't gotten to spend more than an hour together since her wedding. It was too fun to have girl time whenever we wanted it, and both of our Kevin's were kind enough to let us spend every night chatting away. The Perry's were also lifesavers and watched Holland while I took Bennett for his stitches. I cannot thank you guys enough!

 It was so fun to finally get to meet Paige. The kids had a great time playing with each other and since they left Ben has been asking where Paige is. It was great to have them here. Come back and see us again!

(Getting three kids to sit still, by each other to take a picture...not so easy!)

My Official Welcome

 Before you have a boy everyone tells you about all the crazy things boys do and the multiple trips to the ER for various injuries. For almost three and a half years I have been pretty lucky. Sure, Bennett is a boy and does things that aren't the smartest (for instance last week he fell head first off of his toy buggy which I had told him repeatedly not to get on top of), but he has never managed to really hurt himself...until last weekend.

This past Saturday I received my official welcome to being the mother of a boy and he officially got his first battle wound. He wasn't even doing anything crazy-just slipped coming out of the shower.

He was a real sport about it all. He didn't want to go to the doctor at all, but once we were there he was wonderful. He held perfectly still through the multiple shots to numb him and the stitches. Despite his good behavior, I hope not to make any return trips any time soon.

Now if I can just convince him to try to keep this dry or wear a band-aid on it...

Wish me luck!

Labor Day

FAMILY + SHAVE ICE + SWIMMING + YUMMY FOOD =

ONE GREAT HOLIDAY!!!

Little Milestones

 Due to the outrageous cost of preschools here, we decided to form our own preschool with some friends. 

Last week all the fun started. Since then, Bennett has been begging for preschool everyday.

                                     

What three-year-old wouldn't love time with their friends singing, doing crafts and lots of other fun stuff!

(However, having pictures taken for your first day of preschool was not on his list of things he loves. Thanks Nancy for the pictures).

And, at the ripe old age of ten months, Holland has finally decided it might be worth crawling. It's amazing the things you can get to when you move. Let the bruised forehead begin!

Oops!

I think I failed to mention that we moved into our house right before we left on vacation.

And by right before, I mean 3 days before.

Yes, I have been home from vacation now for almost two months, but I am still 

unpacking...

hanging curtain rods...

trying to get the paint off the windows...

installing doorstops...

finding little this's and that's for the contractor to fix...

and having too much fun with these two...

And somewhere in the midst of everything else going on this little lady turned nine months and isn't so little anymore.