Attempted Family Picture

We attempted to have these family pictures taken on December 9th. We were hoping to use them for our Christmas card. It didn't work. As you can see, getting two kids and the dog to cooperate was DIFFICULT! The more members we add to our family, the harder it gets to make a family picture work.

Tree Trimming

Decorating the Christmas tree was so fun this year. Ben was really into it. He has been rearranging the ornaments daily. The tree has been all the motivation Maggie has needed to crawl. She wants to pluck the ornaments from the tree too!

Formal Portraits 11/30/07

We finally had some formal portraits of the kids taken last week. These are the first pics we have had done of Maggie. We were thrilled with the turnout! The kids cooperated for all of 10 minutes, but that was enough time for the photographer to get about 50 shots!

Binkaholics

Ben decided he was going to allow Maggie to take a nap with him yesterday. She found a binky for herself and settled in. After Ben steam-rolled her a few times, I had to put an end to the fun. How do you explain to a 2-year-old that even though his sister is laughing, it's best if he doesn't smother her?

Cuddle Time

I love jammies and blankies together before bedtime.

Our cousin, Lili, was kind enough to invite us to her big First Birthday Party yesterday. Ben had cake and got a balloon, so it was a great day! Maggie and Ben are pictured here with their Great Grandpa Brown.

Just can't get enough!

I know, I know... but I just can't get enough of this expression!

First Trip to the Dentist

Ben visited the dentist for the first time today. We talked it up for days.... he was so excited to go that we had to leave a full hour before his appointment. So, we swung by Daddy's office and picked him up too. This is Ben in the waiting room:

He was a little apprehensive when we first went back with the hygienist, but she went very slowly and let Ben look at and touch all the tools before she even touched him.

But, eventually, she had to clean his teeth. You can see that he was less than enthusiastic!

And when it was all over, Ben got a plastic fish and two stickers. All this plus the new toothbrush we had promised he would receive. He was thrilled!

By the time we returned to the waiting room to find our coats, he had forgotten the entire thing. He was really into this huge leopard painted on the wall. Hopefully, the pictures will remind him how easy this visit was, and it will be a breeze when we go back in six months.

Lincoln Logs

Ben re-discovered Lincoln Logs on Sunday. He must have played with them for three hours. Now, he can't get enough of them. All he wants to do is "build more houses!"

Silly expression

Maggie has started making the silliest expression. I discovered today that Brian can make exactly the same face. I see where she gets it. She has been doing in constantly for the last two days.

Trick-or-Treat!

We had such a blast with trick-or-treat! The kids were great. Ben didn't even know what trick-or-treating was until he went to daycare. He came home from "school" saying he wanted to go door-to-door and "get candies." He and our neighbor, Carson, filled their little pumpkin buckets. Maggie stayed at home with Mommy and Java to hand out candy. By the time we came inside, she totally crashed on the couch in her little Maggie Moo costume.

Happy Halloween!