Potty-Train '08

All aboard the Potty Train! Toot-toot! That's right, loyal Benmily Show readers. Ben and I have officially begun potty-training. Today was our first day and he has done great between wake-up and nap-time! We've had three accidents, but all happened because we didn't get his underwear off in time--not because he didn't realize it was time to go and let me know! I am so proud of him. He is enthusiastic and loves wearing his big-boy underwear. I can't wait to just have one in diapers again!!! Wish us luck=)

Ben's Best Girl

Poor Ben! His best girl, Ruby went back to San Diego:( They loved all their play-dates and he asks to see her several times a day now. Hopefully he'll meet a new lady-love at preschool because I'm not sure I approve of long-distance relationships when you're under the age of 5;)

Little Miss Chatterbox

Emily is in the midst of a word-explosion. She says SO MANY words now! I'm sure it's thanks to her big brother, Ben. Here's a list of words Milly has been known to spout off:

Doggy
Kitty
Ben(Buh!)
Bye-bye
Hi!
Uh-oh
Button(buh-uh)
banana
water(wa-wa)
nummy/yummy
dada
mommy
yeah!
up(uppa)
no
Elmo(melmo)
Nemo(momo)
car
ice

Park Day With Nina!

Nina and I brought the babies to our favorite childhood park. There is so much to do there that we had to limit ourselves to just a picnic and some time on the playground. It had a mini-train, a fire-truck AND a real airplane. It was hotter than Hades today, so we skipped the plane and just hung out on the choo-choo. We got a few shots on the fire-truck but it was scolding hot and the fun screeched(and I do mean SCREECHED) when Emily burned her hand on it:( Poor baby. We ran it under water and then soothed them both with some ice-cream on the way back to the car. Perfect end to a perfect afternoon!

Emily relaxed as we pulled them in the wagon. She loved all the sights and sounds of the park!

B&E loved playing in the mini-train!

I think this is possibly the best picture I've ever taken. The subject sure is handsome;)

"Toot-toot! Make way for Train Conductor Milly!"

My brave girl just petted a dog! She was so proud of herself(normally she's scared silly of most animals)

Ben with his Beloved Nina

The mama and her babies.

Ben did a little jig after snatching Milly's hat to wear himself=)

Mr. Clean

I don't know where Ben gets his love of cleaning from. Anyone who knows me personally knows he didn't get it from me! He has been SO helpful lately. He saw me cleaning this morning and couldn't wait to help out. First he helped sweep, then he wanted to try his hand at the Swiffer. He loved it and went on and on about how he was "cleaning up, Mommy!". At one point, he saw me doing it on my own and he stopped me by saying, "Why you clean, Evvy? No clean. No clean, Mommy. I cleaning up". What a good boy!

Fun At The Mall

Emily loves to crawl in the tunnel!

"Come on friend, you coming?"

Emily made lots of pals at the play area today.

Mommy and Milly: Double Chins are the new hot thing!

Thankfully Ben doesn't like the coin-op machines to run. He's a cheap date!

Milly takes the wheel

This little boy was Milly's mall-boyfriend. They hugged, kissed and played the whole time=)

Ben approved of his sisters new feller. He followed him around and said, "Hi friend! My names Ben!"

New Friends

My baby boy is going off to preschool in the fall *sob*. He's very excited, so we've started networking;) We went to a park playdate on Wednesday with two of his new friends from school. Dan and I will be working at his school once a week, so I'm thrilled to be meeting some of the other parents and kids already! We all had fun and can't wait for more playdates.

FOUR Toddlers?!

We had another playdate with Ruby and it was WILD. We had Ben(2y10m), Ruby(2y1m), Emily(1y2m) and Hazel(11m). All are walking and all wrecked more havoc in our home than I even thought possible. It definitely reminded me to use birth-control;)

Ben Feels Pretty

My little gaybie got into my make-up drawer and decided to try his hand at eyeshadow application. As if his beautiful peepers need any cosmetic enhancement!

Caught Red Handed

These pictures are the by-product of the Farmers Market. What happens when you let two toddlers eat strawberries to their heart's content? Jammy-red hand prints everywhere! Look what I found on Milly's back=) Those are Ben's hand prints from one of his brotherly hugs. So cute!

The Benmily Show Goes to the Farmer's Market

The lovely outdoor shopping center down the street has a great Farmer's Market every Sunday. We hopped in the wagon and met B and E's grandma, "Gr-auntie Mary", "Auntie" Sheila and our friend Ruby for a little producing shopping, lunch and playtime. Ben and Emily love the farmer's market=) Anyone with toddlers and children should try to hit one up at least once a month. It's a great way to support local growers as well as introduce your kids to fresh fruits and veggies they might not otherwise try. If it's a free sample, you can guarantee Ben and Milly will want to try it. I think they got a full-day's worth of fruits and veggies just from samples at each booth;) We ended up buying some strawberries(when Ben says it, it sounds like Cowboys. Hilarious to hear him say, "I love cowboys, mommy!" Dan cringes and I try not to make too many Brokeback Mountain references, lol). We also got some beautiful blueberries and heirloom tomatoes. We finished the morning off with lunch and playtime and everyone had fun. Here are some pictures of the kiddies enjoying the wagon. Oh, and Ben and Emily were the envy of every child we passed. Wagons are like porsches to the Under 8 Set;)

Bounce Bounce Bounce

We went to our neighbor's birthday party and Ben discovered the most amazing thing he's ever beheld. THE BOUNCE HOUSE!!!!!!! Ben was in heaven and jumped like a pogo-stick on speed for the two hours we were there. Emily(of course!) was not a fan. The ground us uneven and she had trouble getting her sea-legs. I tried to help her jump, then held her while I jumped, but she just wasn't feelin' it. Maybe when she's older. Ben couldn't get enough and was bitterly disappointed when we had to go home! If anyone wants to spend way too much money on his birthday present(attn: Uncle Ron;p) they make mini-personal bounce-houses for kids, lol.

Big Girl at the Big Table!

My sweet widdle baby is getting SO big. She's not a baby at all anymore:( She wanted to eat her snack at Ben's table yesterday and I couldn't believe how grown up she is! It seems like Ben was much more babyish at this point(probably because he was just learning to walk). I guess it's Ben I have to thank for Emily's advanced nature, though. She's always watching him and learning!

"Yum...what do we have here? Grapes? Crackers? Delish"

Emily enjoyed the view as she dined on her snack.

"Oh! I didn't see you there!"

"wait, wait, wait. I just ate HOW MANY CALORIES?!"