Happy 4th Birthday Ben!

4 Years Old:

Randy and I can't believe that our "baby Ben" has grown up so fast! Today, he turns 4 years old. It seems like just yesterday that we were going through the excitement of having a newborn baby. He caught us off guard by how much we were going to love him from the moment we saw him, and he continues to amaze us with how smart, beautiful, caring, playful, and loving he is. We couldn't ask for a better son, or big brother for Logan. Thank you Ben for enriching and making our lives better every single day. We love you---more than the whole world! Happy Birthday!

Birth Day: 12/17/05

One Year Old:

2 Years Old:

3 Years Old:

A Visit with Santa

My mom and I took the boys to see Santa this past Friday. Ben was so excited to see Santa---and told him all of the toys he wanted this year (mainly more dinosaurs and "Cars" cars). Logan, on the other hand, was not thrilled to see, or sit, on Santa's lap at all. He cried throughout the entire visit. I guess every kid needs a crying-with-Santa picture, and we sure got Logan's this year. The photo below, is not a very good photo of the boys with Santa (it's a copy), but until I can find my USB cord to download more pictures from my camera, this will have to do! (I've got a really good one of Logan screaming...but I guess that will have to wait...until I find that darn cord...)

Weekend Getaway

In the middle of November, Randy and I were able to getaway for a long weekend, without kids! We traveled to Rockwall, northeast of Dallas, for one of my best friend's wedding. Joanne Chiang married a very sweet man, Izzy DeHerrera. And while I don't have any pictures of the cute couple myself (what was I thinking!?), you can find some here at a friends' blog: http://jamesandmeaganmoss.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-trip-to-dallas.html.

But while we were in the Dallas area, Randy and I were able to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted....because remember, we didn't have any kids with us! :-) We had a great time sleeping in, eating on our time schedule, shopping, enjoying each other...

....visiting with a dear, old, childhood friend and her sweet, adorable family. (You can check out more of her cute blog here: http://robertstephzach.blogspot.com/)

...and visiting with best friends from college and their absolutely precious, almost one-year-old daughter, Lauren. (She was so cute, I could have eaten her up for lunch!)

Bath time baby

Logan loves bath time.

And here is some evidence to show that fact:

Jingle Bells

Being silly!

Brotherly Love

Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving tends to spin by us in a whirlwind of food and over-indulgence. But how many of us stop to truly reflect on what we are thankful for? In these times of economic and financial turmoil, in a world filled with wars and political instability, I believe it is even more important that we speak out, reflect, and share with others our daily gratitudes. Here are a few of mine:

I am eternally grateful for...

my Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love He has for me.

my best friend, husband, and confidant, Randy.

two beautiful, red-headed, full-of-life children, Ben and Logan.

a loving and supportive family.

loving and supportive friends.

open-mouthed baby kisses from Logan.

butterfly kisses from Ben.

the complete love and adoration Ben and Logan have for each other.

the light in Logan's eyes when he sees his Daddy coming home from work.

the excitement in Logan's eyes when he sees his brother for the first time in the morning.

listening to Ben sing.

listening to Ben tell Logan how to play in a teepee tent in the living room.

watching my children's personalities develop and grow.

being able to stay at home with my children.

the sweet "wag" of my Bonnie's heart.

I have been so blessed in my life, and not one day goes by that I don't thank my Lord for everything in my life. I hope this Thanksgiving you have more than a "few extra pounds" to share with your loved ones. I hope you share an "attitude of gratitude" with your family and friends this holiday season---isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?

Happy Birthday Logan!

We had many wonderful family and friends over for Logan's birthday, November 1st. It was a beautiful day and the kids had tons of fun playing together outside. Here are some pictures of Logan's special day!

A very proud Mommy and Daddy with the Birthday Boy!

Firetruck-themed Birthday party!

Singing "Happy Birthday"!
Trying cake, for the 1st time!

...and really didn't like it!

He is true to his name...Logan "Rees" Hood...a Rees, through and through...because he really loved his ice cream! He even wanted to be a "big boy" and eat it (with a spoon) by himself!

Didn't want Mommy's help!

Happy Birthday Boy!

All of Logan's cousins were there to help him open presents!

Logan actually enjoyed opening his presents! He liked tearing the tissue paper...

...and playing with the ribbon....

....but really liked playing with the toys most of all!

Overall, Logan had a great day! I still can't believe my baby is ONE. It feels like yesterday when he arrived in our family...

We love you Logan! You have given your Mommy, Daddy, and big brother Ben so much joy and love over the last year...and we can't wait for more! You are a beautiful, happy, and smart baby, and we thank our Lord for blessing our family with you. Hugs and Kisses!

Getting to Sit Like a BIG BOY!

Logan loves the fact that his carseat was turned around!

Here he is sitting like a "Big Boy"!

Halloween 2009

Logan was the "Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch" this year for Halloween. And Ben was a "Skeleton" again this year. (Although, I have to preface by saying that Ben just wore a skeleton shirt as a costume...because he really doesn't like costumes.) It's okay...we don't pressure him to dress up if he doesn't want to...we just go with the flow. Maybe next year he will want to be something else for Halloween. Maybe...

Here's my Cute Punkin!
My cute Skeleton and Punkin!

We went trick-or-treating at my parent's home, left Logan to play there, and took Ben to the Hollywood Park Halloween festival. He had so much fun last year, that we all wanted to go back again this year! (Who cares if we don't live there anymore...we went anyway!) ;-)

Ben loves the putt-putt golf they put together on the tennis courts! I think he could have stayed here playing putt-putt all night!

Requires Power Tools

Halloween pumpkin carving now requires the use of... POWER TOOLS.
(Please note the look on Ben's face as the power tool starts carving...priceless!)

Ben enjoying the pumpkin carving!

Final product: Happy Jack O'Lantern!

Halloween, 3 years apart!

Halloween 2006

(Ben 10 months old)
Halloween 2009
(Logan ~1 year old)

Pink Cheeks

We had a bit of a "cold snap" come through San Antonio yesterday. So chilly in fact, that we had to pull out the kids' jackets to play outside this morning! Of course, our cold front was nothing like that my cousin is experiencing in Fort Collins, CO! (http://rossandkelley.com/2009/10/30/snow/). Whew! Now, THAT is some cold weather! :-)

If you look closely, you can see that Logan's cheeks and the tip of his nose were pink from the cold! Here is my sweet, almost-one-year-old Logan swinging. He loves to play outside!

Zipline Fun!!

We put in a zipline for Ben (and someday, Logan) in our backyard this weekend! Ben loves it! It runs 40 feet between two trees in our backyard---and Ben hangs on for the entire ride!

Here is a picture of the maiden zip!
After the 1st time, he didn't want Daddy's help anymore. He runs it back and forth all by himself! And has a LOT of fun doing it! :-)

This one's for you!

Ben was curious about what I was doing on the computer, so I showed him the blog....

And he asked, "Mommy, is this all about Logan?"

"Why are there so many pictures of Logan?"

Ohhh, I guess there are quite a few of Logan....oops!

When the toddler notices that there is an unfair number of Logan photos....I guess I need to try to fix it!

So, Ben! This one is for you! I love you!

Logan's 1st surgery

Logan had his 1st surgery yesterday, October 16th. He had bilateral tubes placed in his ears because of chronic ear infections and fluid. The surgery went very well and Logan is recovering fantastically. He was quite fussy yesterday, but that was expected. He did sleep great last night---Mommy was afraid that he wouldn't! We are looking forward to our sweet and happy Logan returning to "normal" by the end of the weekend!

Oh! And if enduring surgery wasn't enough, his first molar broke through yesterday too. Poor baby...yesterday was a rough day!

Brothers

There is no denying the resemblance of these brothers!

Logan is getting to be such a big boy...

...that he now will sit on the "pot"....

...all by himself!

**Please note, I found him like this the other morning. I don't know how long he had been sitting on the "pot", but he was perfectly content when I found him! :-)

I like Bonnie's bed!

I don't know why, but Logan has been loving to sit in Bonnie's bed.

Bonnie doesn't so much love it though...