Thanks, Amber!

My bff, Amber, got married on New Years Day. I was heartbroken to not be there, but with everything going on with Ben I definitely think we had made the right decision to stay home. That doesn't make me any less wishful when I look at the pictures from her day. Anyway, Amber you know we love you and can't wait to meet Trent.

Amber sent some goodies home with her mom (seriously she got married and my kids and I get stuff, who is this girl?!). She sent some wallpaper stickers (that will not be going on any walls) for the boys, a streamer that was hanging at her wedding for people to take to remember to pray for her and Trent, and then a little carved figurine that we have yet to find out what the deal with him is (skype soon, yes?).

This is the boys reaction to the wallpaper stickers thing:

Cheese Face

Ben has started saying "cheese" when he sees the camera. These are a couple shots that I caught of him "cheesin" for the camera.

Goofy boy

Cheese, mama!

Flashback

Remember this?

September 09

And an updated version:

January 11

Fumble-Roo-Ski

My boys all love to play a game, it is called Fumble-Roo-Ski. Yup you just say it like it looks. Basically, this is a game where Spence gets to knock the ball out of our children's hands and then everyone scrambles to get it. Here is a series of what typically happens during play

Ben started off with the ball

Spence steals it

Then arms and legs go everywhere

And then someone cries

Party Animals

It was a two party weekend. So I think that officially makes us party animals.
The first party was Carson's 3rd bday. His daddy works at the church in the kids department. (he also happens to be big brother to Mary Grace who was born at the same hospital just two days before Benjamin) Carson had his party at the church and it was dinosaur themed. His mama is super cute and creative:

Cute dino hats

digging for fossils

Paper mache dino eggs
(poor Catherine made these eggs and then had to watch the kids destroy them)

dirt cups that each kiddo made themselves (oh that is the bday boy himself)

All the cute kids

My neice, Maddie, had her 5th birthday party at one of those bounce places. We headed to Burlington Sunday after naps. Because of the nature of these kinds of parties we didn't get to see much of the bday girl. But she did come to go down the slide with the boys a few times. I stole these pictures from my mama, but you can see for yourself how my boys fared.

WHEEEE!

Ben had an escort on each trip

Zeke really liked this baseball thing

Ben was trying to convince PawPaw to take him down the slide

Cold Weather Fun

Let me just throw this out there. I HATE cold weather. Really, I do. I do not care for weather below 70, I do not care for snow, I seriously dislike ice/freezing mixtures falling from the sky, I despise not being able to get out of the house to run out our crazies. Now, some of you are thinking, "Courtney, suck it up and take those boys outside". Well, we tried that. We went to the park the other day and there was ICE in the tunnels and on the slides. Sorry, but I think that could be considered child abuse.
We are having to be a bit more creative with our play inside, but the boys aren't seeming to mind the crazy things I come up with.

We moved the boys chairs to the center of the room

and they played in them for a really long time

(even though it looks like they are having a meeting)

Just some spoons and plastic containers

but a whole lot of fun!

Zeke did not care for the shaving cream

Banished

While sweet Ben took a bath, his mama grabbed some scissors and rid the Shelton household of the Mullet! Victory is ours, Mullet. Take that!

Ben's new do

Sweet baby hair