a little stir crazy

We are going a little stir crazy being cooped up, but the kids are finding ways to entertain themselves. Bailey must have been really bored, because she started playing 'princess.' Girly things like this are few and far between with her, so I had to document it.

She told us that she was the princess, and that the rules were:

1. Be nice to me.

2. No taking away my things.

3. "Most important of all mom, you must bow before you talk to me!"

4. No getting me dirty.

She even created her own little throne.

Benson was feeling like a camera ham, and did all of his 'tricks' for me, so I can finally show them to everyone. Maybe next time I'll get him to show you his body parts, like his "beep-beep" (belly button), and "honk-honk" (nose...Uncle Dan got him saying 'honk-honk). Also, check-out the awesome snaggle tooth! :)

I don't like IKE

Passing time with the neighbors yesterday evening. We all wanted the kids to get out and play so they wouldn't be so stir crazy once the storm hit.

Scary Sky last night at about 6pm.

"The Hurricane Orb" This is one of those 'lovely' Christmas light balls made out of plastic cups. We had to pull it out of our garage to make room for the trampoline. Brandon hung it up in the family room to entertain the kids and reassure Bailey that we still had power and were okay.

We give up.

This was at about 4 am (when the hurricane, still a 2, was right over us), and there was no power (the light is from the flash). The winds and the rain were so loud and scary. Both of the kids were in our bed (just a queen, next time there's a hurricane coming, forget water, I'm buying a king size bed). Benson was nervous because he couldn't see, and was feeling around the bed and realized it wasn't just me and him there. He popped up and said "Bubba?" and when Bailey told him she was there and patted him, he was so happy. I told him "Mamma, and Daddy and Bubba are all here." He said, "Guggie?" (wondering if grandma was there too) Then any time there was noise, he'd pop straight up and say, "Uh-Oh!" I realized that we weren't going to get any sleep, so we gave up and went into the family room and lit some candles, got some chocolate milk, and tried to get a radio to work. It was scary how dark it was outside. You couldn't see anything. The noise was even scarier. I was so impressed how brave Bailey was. I was trying hard to hide the fact that I was scared spit less.

It was about this time that we also realized that we had puddles forming in our bathroom, which meant puddles in the attic, getting in thru the roof.

This is what it looks like now (the view from our front door). Our power just came back on, we are SO lucky. We are right next to a power sub-station and a fire department, so they got us power right away. The power is flickering right now, hopefully we don't loose it again. It's so hot and dark. Its still REALLY rainy and windy. I'm just so glad we have power again. We do have a 'boil order' for our tap water, though. Thank you to everyone who has worried about us!

Take a Hike, IKE!

We are preparing to 'hunker down' for Hurricane IKE. It is currently a CAT 2 Hurricane, and seems to be headed right for us. Right now it's about noon, and the winds are starting to pick up and the sky is getting gray. We are expected to loose power tonight. Cypress (our city) is located in NW Harris County, north of Houston. We are about 50 miles inland, and have not been evacuated, nor will we. We are not worried about flooding, just the wind and loosing power. We have moved everything inside (including our MAMMOTH trampoline), and are about as "ready" as you can be. Hopefully we won't loose power for long. I am so grateful for the technology we have that has given us a week to prepare for this. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good or interesting pictures to post later.

pesky piano partner

With Bailey now taking piano lessons, and me actually playing (I'm our the choir pianist for our ward, and I have to practice A LOT!), Benson has a new interest in the piano. Bailey and I can't practice with out him climbing up and 'helping'. He'll sit there and play and 'sing' songs for us. So Bailey and I have to take turns keeping Benson entertained while the other practices.

My new camera face. I even say "deeeeese" (cheese) while I do it.

a little spoiled

Okay, so this might not look like your typical 5 year old girls room, but it's Bailey. With the new baby on the way that's too young to share with her sister, and too noisy to share with the brother that is a super light sleeper, we are shuffling bedrooms. Bailey is super lucky and gets her own 'suite'...the guest bedroom with attached full bathroom and queen bed! SPOILED! (she'll have to go packing when we have company, though!) She asked me if next time she gets my room. I don't think so, sweetheart. Anyway, Bailey is not big on 'too much girlish' (see "quotable" on the side bar). Her last bedroom was a really cute "Farm Room", that she LOVED, but the quilt doesn't fit the queen bed. Bailey wanted something red, and I wanted something that could still look like it was for a little girl. We agreed on a quilt. She wanted the whole room painted red, but we agreed on one wall (I'm not that bold). To top off the spoiledness she got a beautiful dresser and nightstand from Guh's house (thanks Bri!), and a new book shelf.

18 MONTHS!

Benson turned 18 months this week, which meant he went to nursery by himself for the first time this past Sunday. He went by himself with minimal tears. He was shy and snugly to the teacher at first, but as soon as the toys (balls) came out, he was good. He was a little sad at pick-up time because he was the last one to be picked up, but overall he did much better than I thought.

Playing with the kitchen set at Nursery. He loves this toy, but not as much as the basketball hoop and Little People Garage.

FACTS ABOUT 18 MONTHS:

23.7 lbs (25%...WOO-HOO...he's not at the bottom anymore!)

32.5 inches (50%...again...moved up significantly since 15 months)

His head is only in the 50%....Whoo-HOO! His body is catching up to the head!

LIKES:

Food: any kind, as fast as you can. Favorites: nuggets, "keekees" (cookies), chocolate milk (only the store bought, whole milk variety. SPOILED), apples, 'nannas' (bananas), grapes, any kind of citrus fruit, and celery, Gold Fish, Baby Yogurt puffs, and Slurpees. Really, he eats just about everything.

Books: "Go Dog. Go.," "Good Night Moon," "Good Dog, Carl," "I love Cats." "DOG" (at guh's)

Toys: Green Wrench from the toy tool set, cars (loves going to Guhs, Gavin's or Nursery to play with the car garages and ramps), BALLS ! He can find or spot a ball (including basketball hoops or any 'ball' equipment) from far away, anywhere we go.

Also likes: Playing piano with mom, or sitting under my legs and playing cars while I practice.

SKILLS:

Can throw a ball like a 15 year old boy.

Knows about 20+ words.

Uses two words together.

Communicates what he wants.

Follows simple instructions...Loves to throw things in the trash!

Folds his arms for prayers and says "MEN!" (amen) at the end.

Recognizes (before we tell him), and gets excited when we are going to Guh's house or Gavin's.

Animal sounds: Dog, Puppy, (dog woofs, puppy pants!), Cat, Cow, Monkey, Duck, Sheep, Fish, Old Lady ("The quiet old lady whispering, 'hush'" from "Good Night Moon").