Beep Beep Jeep

I came across a good deal at a consignment sale and broke down to buy a Power Wheel for the kiddos.  Ben started off to be a horrible driver, but is getting better as the days go on.  Ashley absolutely loves when Ben drives her around and always sits in it waiting for a ride.  She has attempted to drive it on her own, but doesn't quite understand to look up when she presses the pedal, luckily she is perfectly happy being a passenger or pushing the horn.  Today Ben was even using reverse to get around the obstacles of our backyard and we only once had to help him maneuver around a tree.

Also, Ben went to his first Royal's game of the year with Brian recently and he loved it!!  I think Brian enjoyed the fact that Ben had a good time more than watching the Royals as well.  Just the fact that Ben loves sports makes Brian very excited.  We'll see how it continues as the years go on and see if he continues to like sports.

Cousins Trip

All the cousins

The kiddos and I went to meet my family for a mini vacation to a small ranch near Cuba, MO.  It was a very long drive with two kiddos who do not enjoy car rides, but it was worth it.  Ben couldn't have had any more fun with his cousins and Ash was a little too young to enjoy much.  Had she been a little older it would have been a relaxing vacation.  There were moments when she was fine, but since the terrain was not very toddler friendly she often tripped and fell which was followed by the crying and not wanting to get out of my arms.  In her defense, I had just been away on a girls trip for 5 days and came home just in time to wake her up and put her in the car.  I was still able to capture some of her good times though and her talkativeness was only around the animals.  We call her our animal whisperer.

Enjoying her pony ride

The animal whisperer

Chasing around the kitty

Now Ben on the other hand would've stayed there for much longer had we been able to.  He loved running and chasing his cousins and even playing street hockey with his two older cousins who play as well.  When his cousins would run off to play he would ask where they went and then go play with them without me having to be there.  He turned into a little boy while we were there, but the second we got home he wouldn't play in the kitchen alone with his cars even though I was 10 feet away in the family room.

Ben trying to score on Sam

Pony Ride!!

Bingo!

Anyway, there were pony rides, fishing in the river, bingo (which Ben won the first game!), bonfires with smores, tennis, hockey, swingsets, swimming pool, hayride and good times with family.
 

Cart fell over on him - he thought it was hilarious

Hockey Time

Dance party with Molly and Ella

Cousins at the campfire

Swimming

This summer we had both kids in swim lessons and although it would have been ideal to have them at the same time, that just didn't work out by the time I signed them up.  However, it worked to our advantage since we were able to go to the pool for 16 days for less than it would've cost us to go just 3 times! Crazy, but worth it.

Ben is starting to really enjoy the water more than his first swim lessons, although he's still really hesitant to go under water or float on his back.  We're slowly working on those pieces, but he did go off the diving board his last day of lessons.  And when I mean he went off the diving board, one teacher handed him from the diving board to a teacher in the water.  Regardless, he got over the fear of not wanting to do it and then liked it.  And that is a milestone.

blowing bubbles

Ashey (as Ben calls her) is quite the opposite in the water.  She loves it.  And although she loves it, there is no fear in the water which scares me.  She will literally walk into the water up to her chin and then try to sit down.  Someone always has to be within arms reach of her at all times as we've had to pull her up from the water pretty regularly.  And when she gets up, she laughs and smiles and keeps walking deeper.   Trouble.....but she loves it so much.  She even enjoys the slides which Ben is finally not scared to go down this year.  Her independence is still going strong in wanting to do things herself and of course trying to do anything and everything Ben does regardless of if we want her to - take the good with the bad I guess.

Other random pics - bike day and car wash day.

Ring Bearer

I'm long overdue for posts so this may be a long one.

Back in the first part of June, Ben was a ring bearer for my cousin's wedding in St. Louis and he ended up doing a great job.  He was fortunate enough to walk down the aisle with my cousin's little girl who is the sweetest most adorable girl you could ever meet.  They were a little hesitant right before the big moment, but walked slowly and smiled the whole way in perfect fashion.  All kids were welcome at the reception and both Ben and Ash loved dancing and had a blast with their cousins.  They were troopers and danced much later than their bedtimes with a smiles on their faces.  (The candy table probably helped keep their energy up and also explains them passing out back at the hotel though.)

Ash showing off her pretty Diane Von Furstenberg dress and new haircut.

Ring Bearer and Flower Girl!

How cute are Ben and Hadleigh?!

Updates on the kiddos:

Ben can now spell his name and points out 'B's all over the place.  He's fully potty trained (with the exception of overnight) and is still a great big brother to "Ashey".  It's amazing how each day he really seems to be a kid and no longer toddler.  I can carry on full conversations with him and he loves to sing songs.  he does miss some words and improvises on his version on the song, but it's entertaining nonetheless.  With his songs he loves to dance and he has some funny moves.  His latest dance includes a march type run and then he stops to wiggle his whole body.  Hockey has been off and on lately.  Now that we finally get to go back on the ice for his lessons, he doesn't want to skate, but at home it's still all he wants to do.  We even watch the Mighty Ducks every night.  I guess we'll see how he continues, but overall he's still athletic and loves to play sports.  He's still able to hit the baseball when you throw it at him and can switch hit, loves basketball and was even practicing his golf this morning while the British Open was on (which looked a lot like hockey).

Excited while waiting to get a haircut

Sting rays at stl zoo

Water spray part of stl's children's zoo

Ashley on the other hand is very rapidly turning into a toddler and no longer my little baby.  She's running all over with no signs of hip issues from her surgery earlier this year which is great news!  Ash loves to climb and has no fear so I'm thinking gymnastics may be in our near future this winter.  Although she's not saying many words yet (only Mama and hi), she is getting better with her sign language.  She's able to sign 'more', 'all done', 'thank you' and of course she points and waves like crazy.  And although she's normally easy going and very sweet she does like to push Ben's buttons.  I've seen her purposely take his toys and run off laughing which only upsets him and in turn makes her laugh even more.  However, Ash still wants to do anything and everything that Ben does.  I think this is starting to be pay back for all the tackling and rough play Ben does with her.  Another fun side I'm getting to experience with her which we did not with Ben is her fashion sense.  Ash loves shoes and clothes.  Just last night when I was getting her ready for bed, she walked into her closet and came back with 3 pairs of shoes in her arms.  She then proceeded to sit down and wait for me to put all pairs on her, one at a time.  Basically at any given time, she is walking around trying to find the next pair of shoes to put on regardless of if they fit her or if they are even hers.  This may be trouble....

First haircut

Excited about spray park at stl children's zoo

stl zoo train ride!

Just like big brother!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ben!

Ben had his 3rd birthday party this year and of course he had a blast.  Deebo and Papa came in town and he loved hanging out with them all weekend.  Ashley on the other hand was a little apprehensive until she finally got used to them about 2 hours before they left town.

We had his party at Monkey Bizness and he loved it.  He was able to do all the activities there this time which was awesome.  He finally wore himself out which to this day I cannot say I've seen.  I'm glad we got our money's worth and he had a lot of fun with his friends.  All he kept asking for was a spiderman party so of course I attempted to make him a spiderman cake and it turned out pretty well I think.  I even made his birthday shirt with spiderman on it.

Jack and Ben

Beth enjoying the party favors

Ashley getting into the fun

Ben, Jack and Milo - the 3 musketeers

Caroline dunking!

The train up to the slide

Erin, Kate and Julie having fun climbing

Silly kids having fun

On Saturday my parents gave him a buzz lightyear shirt and he immediately put it and ran around the backyard screaming "to infinity and beyond!"  It was hilarious!  He truly thought he was buzz lightyear.  He also got a fantastic blues hockey jersey with his name and the number 3 on it from his godmother.  He will definitely be wearing that this week at hockey.  Along with some roller blades from us so he can practice hockey at home without having to find open skating at an ice rink.

"To infinity and beyond!"

admiring big brother

hockey

All in all - it's been another fast year for a wonderful little boy.  He is the best big brother you could ask for.  He always takes time to give Ashley a hug and kiss randomly when they are playing and is very good at making sure she isn't doing something to hurt herself.  His favorite sport is by far hockey and essentially he is either doing that or lining up his cars.  He's very active, but also very loving and a great little boy.  I can't believe he is already 3.

Swingset

Last week Brian and I took a day off work to build the kids a swing set.  It of course took a lot longer than expected, but Ben's face when he saw it was priceless.  He was very excited about being able to swing in his own backyard instead of having to go to the park.  Ashley was excited for something to climb on as well.  She's all over the place exploring and loves to climb on things so this summer should be nice with the new patio and a swing set.  Here's a couple pics of the kids (including Brian) enjoying the new swing set.