Our little Easter Bunny

Bennett was stoked about the easter egg hunts this year... The Easter Bunny first hid eggs down at Aunt Katie & Uncle Marty's on Saturday afternoon. He cracked everyone up by not moving on past an egg until he had opened it and eaten every treat inside... Thankfully the Easter Bunny knew that Bennett liked just one m&m in each egg so it didnt take forever. It was the first real sunny day in months and it was a great way to enjoy it!

The Easter Bunny came to Grandma & Grandpa Olsen's house on Sunday and Bennett got to hunt for eggs with his cousin Alanzo (which he was calling Hunter the whole day... this is his other cousin and he decided it was easier to say than Alanzo...) They were both adorable and Bennett kept yelling "WOW!" when he found each egg... The Easter Bunny even left a very special silver egg for Bennett full of "piggies" (coins to go in his piggy bank)



BUS!

Bennett woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and wanted to go outside to play... I groaned and layered on the warm clothes to play outside with my toddler as the sun finally was breaking into our lawn. We took a short walk down the street and Bennett spotted the school Bus... Anyone who knows Bennett knows his obsession about trains, trucks, tractors and buses! He cried as it picked up the other kids and drove away. I thought... hhhmmm what would make my boy smile more than anything and I turned to Bennett and said "hey bud, wanna go ride the bus?!" and so we did...

I had to google where the bus even picked up in the area and I found a free "dash" bus that ran downtown... so away we went to park and ride the "city bus"

He talked to everyone that got on the bus and told them he was riding the "city bus" which with his toddler lisp comes out sounding like he thought the bus wasn't up to par, but he was so proud as he road all the way to the Farmers Market. He was quick to inform a standing passenger that this was not how you do it. "Sit on bus!" thankfully the gentleman thought he was cute and listened to his rude instruction to sit.

We had "mama coffee" and got some steamer clams for dinner at the Market before riding the bus back to our car... I am pretty sure he will be telling everyone how he rode the "city bus!!!"

Eggs with Bennett's friends

I really wanted to dye eggs this week to properly get Bennett in the Easter Holiday spirit at our house. I invited Meghan and the girls up and then decided to invite a couple of the moms and kids from Bennett's school. I must admit I was a bit panicked when I did a head count last night and I realized I had invited 11 toddlers over to our house to play with staining dye... but I am happy to say 10 dozen eggs later that, the kids had a blast, the moms got in some good girl talk and there was absolutely no permanent damage done.

I said many many prayers for sunshine and thankfully they were answered (at least as best we can expect for Washington in April) and we were able to hang out outside and let the kids run wild for hours. I really hope we can get this group together a ton this summer... it was a blast!

I found these cute buckets so the kids could take home their eggs...

Getting all the kids to sit next to their eggs for a picture was kind of a struggle... oh well they were proud of them :)

Thirty

When looking back at the last time my clock switched over into a new decade I have to take a quick short second and remember what the last decade has brought my life and how much the next ten years will change everything again. Ten years ago tomorrow I was a sophomore in college, studying a little and sneaking over the border to Canada where the cocktail hour was legal for 19 year olds a lot. Since then I have finished college, tackled the CPA exam, worked 6 tax seasons, met and married the man of my dreams, started our family with the most amazing little boy in the world... everything has changed in the last ten years. I cant wait to see what the next ten years will bring me...

My hubby decided I needed to kick off the next decade with a wonderful weekend away in Chelan. We wine tasted, ate at many fabulous restaurants and I even snuck in a spa day... it is so easy to forget how it is to eat a meal at a restaurant without a highchair and screaming toddler. We missed him and couldn't wait to get home to him but it was a well needed weekend away for this 30 year old mama. I ended the weekend with a long run from town to the State Park this morning... 9 miles... what a beautiful day for it!

We snuck out to the State Park and walked around, boy did it make me excited about camping this summer... What a handsome hubby I have!

Oh and I should mention Bennett had a blast while staying at Grandma & Grandpa Jones' and Aunt Katie's who took him to pick out baby chicks.... I hear that he was a little upset they didn't get to go home with the bunny he found at the farm store and he has called the chickens "kitties" but when I walked in the door he wanted to show me those "kitties" first thing!

Hello Sunshine...

B just hasnt been himself this week. Our days have been tantrum filled and exhausting... but today after the sun came out it was like a breath of fresh air... literally. Bennett and I spent the afternoon outside enjoying the sun!... thats right I said the SUN! We rode bikes & wagons, played golf & basketball and "colored" on the driveway.

So most moms that take a million pictures of their kids make sure they are wearing something presentable... and I would love to say I do the same, but my two year old has been pretty particular about what clothes he wants to wear and I have been picking my battles... I also might think it is kinda funny when my kid wears his pirate boots (on the wrong feet), santa pajama pants, Cars T-shirt and Camo sweat shirt...

I think I threw the ball about a million times... we are trying to make up for the winter!
My beautiful baby girl...

This weekend Bennett and Dad played outside for a bit on the "BIKE!" oh this spurred the tantrum of all tantrums after we took him off of his "BIIIIKKKKEE!" oh lord I have a boy boy boy!

Childrens Museum, Take Two...

Oh Bennett... He is sacked out like a champ after a long morning running around the Childrens Museum like a crazy boy with his friend Ryan, or "RY!" as he calls him. Last year I took B to this museum and we spent the entire time in the toddler room because he was getting ran over by "those big kids that werent even watching where they were going" (Our First Trip to the Childrens Museum) and I must confess that was forsure my kid this time, racing around, throwing toys and loving every second.

Thank you Emily and Ryan for a great morning and for the monster nap my little guy is now taking because of it :)

Our Big Fish...

The day Bennett got his Trach out was so exciting, he was 10 months old and we had been through the most terrifying year of our lives. Minutes after the Dr. removed the trach, I turned to the Otolarangolodgy (ENT) surgeon and I asked if it was ok we did swim lessons. He understandably looked at me like "really?! that is what you are concerned about?!" but for some reason this was such an incredibly "normal" activity that I was dying to do with my son...

Maybe it was the summers at Lake Chelan or the pool that we went to as kids with my cousins in Richland but there is something truly "childish" about leaping into the water. When B was sick I prayed that someday he would have these memorable childhood moments just like any other average child... and for the last 4 weeks our big boy has become our Big Fish!

I enrolled him into swimming lessons, twice a week at the Briggs YMCA here in Tumwater. We ended up switching him into the class with his buddy Torin from school and from day one he was a bit nervous. He just loved playing with the toys in the pool. Today was the last day of class so I convinced Joel to get off work early and join us so that I could jump out of the pool and get some pictures. And in usual Bennett style he showed off for his Daddy... He was leaping off the pool ledge like a champ and even floating pretty well with the help of his swim noodle.

He will be leaping off the back of the boat at Lake Chelan like a crazy man before we know it!
(and P.S. Check out the Mom-kini... it was my attempt at finding a one piece that made me look like a respectable stay at home mom :)

Giving Dada some "knucks" before starting lessons...

Oh that goofy mama face somehow makes me feel more convincing...

B's first report card... well done kiddo!

B and Lily take on the Capital...

This morning Meg and I took the kiddos to see a band play at the Capital. I have been an Olympian for almost four years and I have never been inside the domed capital building! The band Reccess Monkey (another fun kiddo band, check them out HERE :) played right there on the second floor while all the kids ran like crazy under the dome. I laughed with a sigh when I saw that the bright pretty golden seal on the floor was roped off and in the center of all the kids running like crazy... now I bet you can guess where Bennett was dying to be the entire time... Yep standing right on the seal. I was constantly that embarrassed mom pulling my tantruming toddler off the precious seal infront of everybody... but oh well, kids will be kids right?!

These kiddos are adorable and of course I wasnt surprized to see Bennett following and copying Lily all day... He sure loves hanging out with her!

Here's B watching the band from the 2nd floor across the dome... He would have been happy if we just let him run wild and check everything out... He was trying every door and stairwell... busy boy!!



Casper Babypants!

Bennett's favorite CD ever has been Casper Babypants, all the kids rocked out to it at Chelan last year and it has spurred many dance parties here in our living room. Casper Babypants is the alter ego of Chris Bellew, the lead singer of President of the United States, He is local and a ton of fun for kids and tolerable for adults... a win win! So when I heard that Casper Babypants was playing at our Dentist's patient appreciation night here in Olympia we jumped at the chance to invite his cousin Reece up for a night on the town!

At first Bennett dove into the crowd of toddlers rocking out and Reece was a little nervous... but after about 20 minutes right when Reece was getting the hang of it and shaking his booty Bennett was on the way out and told me "Car home mama"

What a great night with our 2 cute little guys! We love Casper Babypants and we cant wait to see him again... Check him out at HERE

Just another day in the park... Finally!

With the sunshine this week Bennett and I were inspired to hit the park... unfortunately it was a little dreary, as it plans to be for the next week straight, but oh well, it was fun! Bennett got some time to run, chase bubbles, meet some friends and get a wet toosh on the slide. Pretty much a perfect morning in the park with my guy, Hopefully the first of many more (hopefully sunnier) days this spring and summer!

 He climbed up on this table to watch these kids blowing bubbles... He can be so cautious but after a few minutes he couldn't help himself... He jumped down and went over to tell them about his favorite movie... Cars! It is so cute seeing his little social style, cautious but always willing to give it a shot.

Cousins!!

Our favorite new neighbors came to visit us today! My cousin Meg, her husband Wes and their adorable little girls Lily and Chloe moved to Olympia a couple weeks ago and we finally got the cousins together at our house.

Oh Lily, What a dolly! She cracks me up every time we hang out as I am sure she does with everyone she meets. She is smart and energetic and shows both off nearly all the time... and for this reason... Bennett LOVES her. Bennett can be slow to warm up sometimes but as soon as Lily's smiling face walked through the door he beamed and ran, talking immediately. He saw her a couple weeks ago and she must have made an impression on him!

It was a great afternoon of kids playing, baby snuggling and girl talk over a red wine treat for the mamas.  I know we can easily look forward to many more afternoons with their company... So happy they are closer to us!!

They played playdough like crazy... I never let Bennett mix the colors but they were having so much fun.. I will buy new playdough every time if they have this much fun!