BBS is 4

When I look back on the last 4 years, the best word I can use is whirlwind.

Gives me a sweet picture...

... then licks my face

My Bennett.  This boy is the typical baby of the family.  I really do try not to baby him but man, it sure is hard.  Lately he has been wanting me to hold him when we are out and about.  He knows I am a sucker for his pouty lips and will normally throw him on my hip.  I cant help but think about Hunter when he was 4 though.  When Hunter turned 4, he had a 2 year old brother and a 1 month old brother... there was no hip- holding Hunter.  But, Bennett, is just the baby... and he will always be.

Ready for church.

He is not only babied by me, but his brothers as well.  Though Ash and Shep annoy the hound out of Bennett and he annoys them, they would literally take a punch to see him safe.  Hunter totes him and dotes on him... it really is ridiculous.  And then Chad is no better.  He went to give Bennett a pop on the backside the other day for flat out disobeying and guys, I kid you not, it was like a love tap.  The kid is spoiled.

Ashton and Shepherd bothering him during his picture

Hunter is always there to lend a hand

I have told him that when he turns 4, then blankie will be put up (because he sucks on it and it is messing up his teeth.)  But, now that the time is here- I am afraid I am going to weinie out. I have justified it by saying we have so many big changes coming up in the next couple months but in reality I would have caved regardless.  That being said, blankie will be put up during the day... period (I think--- haha.)  I also take it out of his mouth when I go to bed and put it under his covers or under a pillow.

I mean, how can I take this from him?

You guys know I am honest to the core.  So far, Bennett is not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to school stuff.  hahaha.  All you sweet mothers out there gasp.  I have a mini school lesson with him every day and it is not coming quite as easy to him as his brothers... yes, I know he is only 4 (Sigh) but sometimes I just look at him like, really?!?! However, if you want directions to our house when you are in Clover, he can probably get you home.  It takes all kinds. I do think he is on the verge of it all clicking into place.  He is counting much better and is doing pretty good with the letter sounds.

Good friends.

He is such a sweet kid.  He tells me at least 5 times a day that he wuvs me wo much.  He then requests a hug, a kiss, and a nuzzie (and if I am really lucky, he will then fart on me and laugh.)  Boys.

He still loves Paw Patrol and recently is enjoying Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  He and his brothers love to play Minecraft together on their Kindles.  He loves Moses but really loves GrandmaDean's cat, Esther.

Bennett loves Esther and she is so sweet to him. 

Day adventures with Mosie

My Bennett is truly growing up too fast.  He doesnt act like a 4 year old.  He talks the lingo of a 3rd graders thankfully you cant understand all he says.

Ninja turtle action

A funny story about Bennett's speech.... while eating lunch with Shepherd at school. the principal came up to the table and asked Bennett a question.  Bennett responded but the principal didnt understand him so he looked to me.  I had Bennett repeat it.  Horrified, I masked my face, and LIED to the principal and said I didnt understand either.  Bennett then repeated it twice.  Guys, I guess the principal asked where something or someone was.  B responded with "up my butt and around the corner."  Thank God his speech is not clear.  I could have died.

Bennett is the friendliest of my crew followed closely by Ashton.  He will talk to almost anyone.  If he doenst like or agree with what you are saying then he blinks his eyes at you repeatedly.  It is hysterical.

Come on!  Love my turtles.

Bennett Brady, you are created in the image of God.  You are the bookend to a family that loves Jesus.  I hope that as you grow this year that you start to feel His presence.  Though your little brain doesnt quite understand how Jesus is a better superhero than Batman (Hunter is appalled by this), I pray God begins to reveal Himself to you.  You are so loved by not only your family, but more importantly by the Jesus.

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.  Proverbs 4:23

Happy 4th Birthday my peanut butt,
~Mom

Play time

What we did on his bday....
Bennett and I have weekly trips to GrandmaDeans house to hang out.  We went yesterday but also went today as GrandmaDean and I are stripping wallpaper in her kitchen.  Bennett loves going over there, but today he was ready to get his brothers since we were going to play Putt Putt and play in the arcade.  We then had dinner at CFA and then came home for cake and presents.  He said he it was wo fun.

He requested a ninja turtle cake. 

Bowing out his candles

Singing happy birthday

Opening presents. 

Estimated stats
Weight- around 31ish (such a light weight)
Height- 39.5"
Clothes- 4T
Shoes- 10 (such a smaller foot than the other three at this age)

The Little Snow that Could Not plus CLEMSON

So, last Friday, all the weather forecasts said we were going to get between 3-5" of snow... turns out, we got 1/2" of snow with some funky ice underneath.

However, since it was the first snow of the year, the kids (and dogs) still managed to make the most of it... one time.  We pretty much stayed in the house for 2 days.

The one posed picture where they were stilll... which led to....

... a pile.  Love Hunt's face here.

This snow wasnt good for much but the boys did manage a small snowball fight and some icy trampoline jumping.

Watch Out

Chad warming up his hands

Pretty smile...

... and pretty eyes

It's 11:30 and the club was jumpin, jumpin

Do you want to draw a snowman? (sing it)

Nolan got to go to the the National Championship football game... GO CLEMSON!!!!!  So, we had Riggs.  Riggs Richard, as we call him, and Moses had quite the time together.  They are highly jealous of the other getting their attention, but they are really good friends.

Pups patiently waiting on their snowballs... The patience didnt last long

Riggs is done waiting

Moses jumping to get his snowball.

 We made pepperoni rolls for lunch.  Let me just take a minute to talk about pepperoni rolls.  I have learned that pepperoni rolls are a West Virginia thing.  You can seriously buy them almost anywhere in WV.  When I was in high school, the special needs classes would sell them in between classes.  I have had my share of the delicious little treats.  It hit me recently that I hadnt had a pepperoni roll in over a decade.  So, I looked up how to make them and Shepherd and I whipped some up.  You can make your own dough, which I will try sometime.   But, for a quick lunch/ snack this recipe cant be beat.  I half each dough biscuit before spreading it out as I like them a little smaller but either way works.  If you dont want to refrigerate them, just dont put the cheese in.

Such an easy, yummy lunch/ snack.

 We really had a nice few days doing absolutely nothing with my 4 favorite kids, 2 awesome dogs watching the Tigers win the National Championship.

Waiting on the game to start. 

My boys loved sharing my lap.

Go Tigers!!!

The Month of December and Christmas

December is always so busy.  From sports to Christmas programs to Hunt's birthday to traveling to Christmas itself; it sure is easy to get totally distracted from Jesus.  Driving back from our Christmas travels, loaded down with lots of stuff, I felt like maybe, we got a bit away from Jesus.  With all our get togethers, the name of Jesus was scarcely uttered besides a quick prayer over food and a precious Happy Birthday song to Jesus.  Honestly, I felt burdened about it and I am already thinking how to remedy the problem for next year.

Convictions are quite personal things- where the responsibility lies solely with the one being convicted. (AKA- me) With that being said, any family reading this, please dont feel like I am slamming our time spent together over break (as we were all quite spoiled and loved on.)  Simply, I need to do a better job of focusing my family around Jesus... not just over Christmas but every day.

In November, I started doing a study on the Armor of God and I purchased a kid devotional study on the Armor of God that I am doing with the boys.  We put it aside for the month of December as we focussed on Advent with the annual reading of Ann Voskamp's book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift."  We will pick up our Armor of God book once we finish the advent book (we are a bit behind.) :)

As I mentioned December is busy!  Here are some pics of our happenings of the month.

Church Christmas play-  The play was called A Rockin' Royal Chrismtas and it was so good.... probably my favorite so far.

Hunter was King Herod and had a long solo that he nailed!

Hunter singing with soldier Bennett guarding him (never thought Bennett and Graham looked alike until this picture.)

Ashton had a sweet solo as well... He was the inn keeper.

Shepherd didnt have a roll since he was in 1st grade but he knew all the songs and sang loud.  

Bennett, again, as soldier.

Ashton is doing 3rd grade chorus this year and they had their Christmas program at school.  It was cute and short.... my favorite.

Chad's family over Christmas

6 of the 7 (dont know where Joey is)

The adults getting ready to eat.  This is one of my favorite traditions.  It is Christmas Eve Eve (23rd) and it is a soup supper.  Seriously, the perfect dinner leading into the heavy foods that happen the next two days.   Thanks for hosting us Sandee.

This... right here... is why I love my father in law.  Totally rockin' the onesie as he cooks us breakfast.

Like father, like son.  Food coma.

I got a new dog niece... meet Dolly.  Sandee and I went to pick her up on Christmas Eve for the girls.  

Opening family gifts

Uncle Tommy and Aunt Sandee got the boys fishing rods and instead of wrapping them, they wrapped a box inside a wrapped box, etc until they got this piece of paper.

Uncle Tommy wrote the note.

Moses enjoying the unwrapping.

My parents house

Round 1- Boys opening presents from Chad and me

Bennett is ecstatic that he finally has the Air Patroller

Each boy got a Kindle Fire... which Shepherd said is his favorite gift ever.

 Round 2- With Zach's family

Miss Eva sporting her scarf I knitted (thanks to Grandmdean for the knitting lessons).  I gifted four of my knitted scarfs this year.  :)

Cool gift from Owen and Caelum to Ashton (Wide receiver gloves)

Nolan and a keg ornament

My pretty mom in her favorite role as Christmas Cathy! :)  

Kid 1 and 3 sporting new hats.

Dog love.

A little football action.

Caelum gets run down by Uncle.

While the big kids played football, the littles ate and ate ate.

Just some funny pics... Hunter got virtual reality glasses from Chad's parents.  The top 3 are my boys trying them out... the bottom three are my brothers and mom trying them out.  People are hysterically funny when trying this for the first time.

Hunter

Ashton

Shep

Uncle Zach

Uncle Nolan

Queenie

We have had an amazing December.  Heck, we had quite a blessed 2016.  Many many many changes are coming up for our family this next year.  From a move back home to me going back to work to school changes for all the boys to moving in with my parents for a bit, it is shaping up to be an interesting year.  

Back home

Checked off Shepherd's bucket list... a trip to the Lego Store.  

Moses was tired from our travels.

Thank you family for a great Christmas break full of laughs, food, and sweet memories.  

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.... 

Oh, and what about those Tigers?!?!  Go Clemson!