My See Audi Cars

 Ben sat down at our computer the other day and said, "My see Audi cars" . 

 He loves looking at cars on the computer just as much as his daddy! 

Kevin can hardly wait until Ben is old enough to go to the car shows with him! 

Visiting Santa

 We saw Santa at Bellevue Square today. We thought getting there first thing in the morning was a great idea...so did a hundred other people. 

 We waited a little over an hour but it was worth it. Lauren loved "showing" Ben around Santa's workshop, she is such an expert and all. 

 We got a little bored and started taking some self portraits. 

Yay! We finally made it! Santa gave each kid got a cute new bear and a lollipop, doesn't get much better than that! Thanks Santa, we can't wait for you to visit our house:) 

Santa!

We are calling this a success! Both kids on Santa's lap, not crying, and no parents in the picture. So what that Ben isn't smiling & his pants look too short and who cares that Lauren has a dorky smile. Both kids are looking at the camera and tear free. Yahoo! 

Ben's First Build a Bear

 We were supposed to go see Santa today but since Kevin is really sick we canceled because we didn't want to go without him. The kids were bummed at the change of plans so I told them I'd take them to Build a Bear. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! It literally took me 30 minutes to get from the off ramp to the parking lot, then another 20 minutes to park! But once we got to build a bear it was totally worth it, the kids were so cute and had a great time. Of course they picked out matching bears. 

 Lauren's made a few bears so she's a pro, but Ben had never made one before. 

He watched Lauren very carefully.

 Lauren answered all the questions for Ben and spelled his name to the lady. Really, Ben could go his whole life without speaking if he keeps Lauren close by!

 Ben LOVED that he got to push a pedal to fill the bear with fluff. 

 Hugging it to make sure it is just right. 

 Picking out a heart. 

 Rubbing it for good luck. 

 Sewing it up. 

 Giving it a "bath". Ben could've spent all day here- another pedal to push and brushes to clean with. What more could a boy want? 

 They looked so cute carrying their boxes through the mall. 

 Not sure why the bathroom was where they wanted to do the final group shot but whatever. 

 I promise my kids aren't cross eyed, Lauren always looks away when I take her pic and now Ben is starting to do it too! 

Meet Carla (she spells it with a "C" not a "K" according to Lauren!) and Bear. I was dying when Lauren wanted me to put the name Carla on her Bears birth certificate. I have NO IDEA where she has heard that name before. Ben was super creative with his, he wanted to name it "Bear". 

Both bears are now fast asleep, nighty night! 

Thanksgiving

Our Turkey day started out a bit different than expected. Kevin woke up with the worst sore throat he's ever had, it snowed a few more inches, and I broke down in tears because a) I knew Megan & Carson couldn't come be around a sick Kevin and I had been DREAMING of spending the day with Carson and b) I thought all the out of town guests would cancel because of the snow and I envisioned Lauren & Ben & I eating a 22 lb turkey by ourselves! 

Lucky for us, the out of town guests are troopers and did make their way into town and Hadley & Ryan came over to spend the day with us also. We missed Carson & Megan but are so thankful they didn't come because turns out Kevin has strep. Poor guy, he spent most of Thanksgiving sequestered to our bedroom sleeping. 

We ended up having a really great day and are so thankful for how truly blessed we are. 

Driving

 Lauren and Ben, or shall I say "Megan & Ryan" got out the booster seats and the chairs and made a car so they could drive their children Hadley & Carson around. I tell you we are OBSESSED with the Prentice family these days!

Gobble

Every year we make turkey name cards for Thanksgiving. 

These are this years, I think they are so cute in a funny sort of way. 

SNOW!

 This was Ben's first time playing in the show at home since it didn't snow last year. He loved it!

 He kept saying, "where my toys?" He didn't like that all the summer toys were packed away. 

 Brr! The high was 23 degrees!

 It snowed more overnight so we got on the gear and headed out first thing in the morning yesterday. 

 Eating snow is Lauren's favorite.

If only the snow could just fall in our yards and not on the streets I'd absolutely love it! 

I'm a grandma

We've been playing "baby Carson" 24/7 around here. Lauren and Ben both gave birth recently. Lauren to a darling baby boy named Carson, Ben to an elephant. Oh and Lauren informed me she likes kids so much she is already pregnant with another and it will be born on Easter via c-section so she's not going to be able to make it to Easter this year. My calendar is marked. 

She is SO in love!

Lauren is so in love with Carson, he's all she talks about and wants to be with him every second of the day. It is pretty sweet to see. 

Watching the first Snow

I love how they are holding hands! So excited at the sight of the first snow falling.