Happy St. Patty's Day!

Today is St. Patrick's Day and it was gorgeous outside. So Bennett and I decided that cleaning, laundry, and all that could wait. We were heading out...

1st we went to Old Navy (one of my favorite places!) and spent a little money. Hey, I had a 30% off coupon. :) 

2nd we went to visit our good friends Megan and baby Cece and Jeff for like a minute. 

3rd we made a trip to Wal-mart to pick up stuff for dinner. 

4th we went on a walk with Daddy. 

5th we played in the yard. 

6th Grandpa Mac stopped by for an unexpected little visit   

7th we had a yummy "Irish" dinner. (not really Irish but hey, give me a break! lol) 

and 8th we had a bath, read a book, and went to sleep, WHEW! What a day! 

So, enjoy the pics and I hope your St. Patty's day was as fun as ours!  

I love playing in the leaves!

And collecting rocks!

Taking a little break

When I was young I had to walk uphill both ways...

Just too cute for words!

Look Momma!

I love being outside

Helping Daddy fill in the holes the dogs dug up

I just thought his eye was really pretty here :)

So hot after playing outside

Our "Irish" dinner: Reuben's made with pastrami, corned beef, thousand island dressing, coleslaw (instead of kraut) and sourdough bread (because I hate rye), brussel sprouts with bacon, and roasted fingerling potatoes with rosemary...YUM!

Let the wild rumpus start!

As you can tell the bedtime story tonight was Where the Wild Things Are. I LOVE this book. It brings me back. I remember my brother (who bought this book for Bennett) requesting this at night almost weekly it seemed.

Bennett I believe has hit the terrible two's early. He is into everything! Unstoppable! By the end of the day I am just exhausted with him. But it's beginning to feel more like spring outside so hopefully if it stays this way we will be able to play outside more and burn some of his energy off. He's growing so fast I can't believe it. If feels like it was just yesterday we brought him home from the hospital. It really goes so quickly. I look back at photos of him and think "Wow! You really were that small!" So although I'm anxious for spring and summer and all the fun it brings I sometimes wish I could stop time and bottle up his cute little giggles and grins in a jar so that I never forget the innocent laughter that fills my house these days.

Love it.

Like Momma or Daddy??

Seriously....this little man has grown into the toddler that he is today

My BIG boy!

Police Wife

Being a police officer is a thankless job. Being a police wife is not even thought about. We give our husbands a kiss and send him out the door hoping that society behaves for the night. We stiffen up each time we hear those sirens go through the town because we know that means they are putting their lives on the line. We hold our breaths when an unexpected knock at the door comes or a phone call while they are gone in fear that it is the dreaded Chief coming with bad news. We endure midnight shifts, overtime, meals alone, and broken plans all in the name of duty. We smile and nod when they say "Honey, I have to go." Because we know that someone needs their help more at the moment than us. We bite our tongues when people talk bad about cops because we know there is no point in arguing. I see signs/banners/stickers etc. everywhere for "Support the military, We love the troops, Firefighters save lives." While I wholeheartedly agree with all of those statements and trust me I know that their jobs are not any easier than my husbands and their wives deal with many of the same things a police wife does I wonder sometimes why no one says Thank God for the Police until they need them to come save their life. So maybe tonight while your driving your car, drinking your beer, or hanging out with a friend say a little prayer for the police that may not be protecting the "country" or putting out fires but are protecting you and the streets you live on. And just maybe take a sec to think of the wives.

Planting seeds...

Tonight we read The Little Red Hen. This is a classic book that I know many of us grew up with. Bennett and I, well I talked about the meaning of the story after. I know, I know he's only 1 but I come from a family of teachers so I believe it's never to early to start instilling the moral's of stories in my son. He may not understand now but he will someday. I never thought about how the moral of The Little Red Hen basically is if you don't put in the work you can't reap the benefits. I think maybe I needed this story tonight more than Bennett. Sometimes it feels as though you try and try for a goal but just don't reach it. Well, maybe the work just isn't done yet. I hope that someday the the seeds I'm planting in Bennett will show. That he'll grow into an intelligent, thoughtful, caring, cultured man who treats everyone with respect. So as I sit here tonight with toys surrounding me and dinner dishes still in the sink I'm happy. Because Bennett just may have learned something new tonight.

Oh! And by the way he now can say "Waffles," "Go" while pointing in a specific direction, and according to Mike he tried singing Row Row Your Boat while I was at a training today. He's growing up.

And since it's been awhile here are some pics...enjoy!

Bath time is so much fun! Especially with colored water and bath crayons!

Helloooooo in there....

Mike started brewing his own beer....this is his "label"

Mike and Jeff testing out the batch

Apparently it was a good thing that it was not cloudy or something....I'm not sure really but I liked the picture :)

My BIG helper! He loves dusting! And of course we have to have the obligatory wooden spoon in our hand too.

where do I begin???

It's been awhile since my last post but for the life of me I can't think of anything relevant that has happened. 

Mike is back on nights this month so that lends for more Bennett and Mommy time at night. Tonight we read "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" It's such a cute little book. I love when he will actually sit still for me long enough to read a book. 

Well like I said my brain just isn't really with it tonight. My thoughts are just somewhere else. 

G'nite

Ugh...

Well, it's been a while since an update so I thought I'd share a quick one.

1st- my computer has a virus so I am stuck using Mike's cell phone or his little notebook thing..boo!

2nd- super bowl was fun I loved seeing some of my friends and hanging out! Go PACK Go!!

3rd- Mike's back on days which is awesome and means that I get to see him more...love it!

4th- Bennett is such a little stink! He has figured out how to take his diaper off. The other day he took it off and I put him on the potty chair. He sat for a whole 5 sec. then got off and peed on the floor next to it! THEN today he was playing in his room (so i thought) and figured out that his closet is connected to the spare room. He ended up in there with no diaper on and needless to say it was not a #1 in there! It was everywhere! I know he's not ready to potty train quite yet but I might try anyway...I just can't do today again!

5th- I tried out a gym today. I never realized how much I miss yoga! I use to do yoga/pilates/etc. all the time when in college but quit after graduation. It was great, especially after the gross mess this morning! Bennett did ok in the daycare, only cried for a while.

Well I think that will get you about up to date. Hopefully my computer will be working again soon and I can post some pictures!

Snowed in Day 1

Well according to the weather man and Megan I need to batten up the hatches, as my Grandmother would say, and prepare to be stuck inside for a while. Here's an account of how the Mac's spent the snow day today.

 First, we got our cardio in for the day attempting to lift the large bag of dog food in the dining room. Don't judge me I know I haven't taken it downstairs yet! :)

Then we played with blocks! Although it was mainly Mike and I trying to build castles while Bennett would run by and knock them all down!

Oh...It's so exhausting playing with the blocks!

Then it was time for an art project! I may be biased but I think I have the next Picasso on my hands!

It's never a project until you've got paint all over your hands, in your hair, and on your nose and mouth!

"Picasso's" first work of art

 And to celebrate the end of the first day snowed in the house...a big (although ugly) comfy quilt and a glass of champagne!