The Big Cheese!

Oh, Chuck E. Cheese...how do we love thee? Let us count the ways...

Ben and Emily's new favorite hang-out is our local Chuck E. Cheese. It's great for them because they can run around, there is always kids to play with and it has A/C. They don't really care if they can actually ride the toys as long as they can climb all over them. Besides the instant-tension headache I get the second we walk in, it's pretty fun to take them there. Fun in a "my-kids-are-enjoying-this-but-i-desperately-need-a-valium" kind of way! Here are some pictures I took from our dinner tonight. Enjoy!

Tadoodles

We let Emily play with her new Tadoodles Toddler Paints this afternoon and she had a blast! She tasted them, learned how to splatter the paint all over herself and generally made a huge mess of herself. Most of the art pictured below was done by me. I know, I know....I'm awesome. That's where Ben and Emily get it from=)

Ben and Hazel

Hazel just learned to crawl which has opened up a whole new world for her! Here, she entertains Ben under his table. The had a meeting of the minds and played with some cars. Fun stuff for the "under Three" set!

"yeah...so, this is my place. I still live with my folks, but they're cool."

"Uh, Ben? I think your mom is watching!"

"Mom! Do you mind?!"

"Ok, where were we? Oh yeah, I was showing you my sweet set of wheels"

"We were just talking, Mrs. Ben's Mom! I promise!"

Outdoor Fun With The Benmily Show!

Since we can't really go anywhere during the day if Hazel is here, I try to take the babies outside as soon as Hazel gets picked up each day. If I don't let them run around for a bit, they get a little stir-crazy which makes bedtime especially challenging! Since Emily learned to walk, her main objective is to get in as much trouble as humanly possible. Her fav. things to do are climb the stairs, run into the parking lot, or try to walk in front of the apartment building. I am seriously on my toes the whole time! Ben, however is content to play in the courtyard most of the time. Especially if his buddy is outside.

My little trouble-maker is making a break for it!

She got all the way to the front before I caught her=)

Ben appears to be a white-knuckle driver!

Hmmm....wonder what he had planned for those bubbles?

Emily loves to play "fetch". Whose a good girl? Whose a gooood girl?! Milly is!

Ben, attempting to calm down after a case of road-rage

Emily never gets a turn in the fire-truck:( Poor baby.

Don't feel too sorry! She's veeeeery enterprising. Ben won't let her drive the car? She'll just take the Spiderman chopper.

Big smiles from Emily!

This is how I roll, yo.

Ben and his beloved Spiderman Trike(or as he calls it, Pidaman Car). He got this for his birthday, but just recently discovered it again. He LOVES this bike! He even wants it in his crib(yes, we've regressed back to the crib=D) with him at night. I am currently trying to teach him how to use the pedals, but for now, he hot-foots it like a Flintstone;)

Milly's Party!

Emily had a wonderful first birthday party! Thank you so much to all who helped make it special=) Here are some pictures of our perfect party! Enjoy!

The Birthday Princess poses for a picture

Emily is a great hostess and always makes sure to mingle with her guests!

Holding court over the trampoline.

She loved jumping on it and my cousin enjoyed the tricep workout;)

A delicious buffet of finger sandwiches, fruit, veggies and pasta salad was enjoyed by all.

Ben's favorite part was getting ice from the cooler! Here he laments his daddy closing the lid:(

Hazel had a great time!

Ben and Ruby kept each other company during the party. Here they share a juice-break.

A guest signs the photo-book I had made of Emily's 1st Year

My mom and her best friend, Mary!

Ben, enjoying his lunch.

Monica and the very handsome Bradley.

Emmie and her papa

The birthday-girl getting ready for a swim.

Lily and Milly take a dip in the pool.

Emily loves playing in the water

Cake Time!

Although very pretty, Emmie wasn't a fan of the cake.

She took two bites and refused to eat any more. She wouldn't even really touch it=(

She did enjoy finding her belly-button, however!