Ben and Sam

Today is was 50+ degrees in Nebraska and we spent the majority of the day playing with Legos!

His teeth are growing in !

Chocolate face!

I think I might have more fun with the Legos than the boys do -- (I actually pulled out beach sand for the scuba guys)

A cake for cookie lovers --- Aunt Laura made one for Uncle Pete's birthday and tonight was the perfect excuse to make one to share with the Butlers.

I know... I know... stop flooding you with photos already.. Well I'm almost done...

We had a wonderful time during our "Happy Hoglidays" at Ft Smith with Tom, Hank, Tammy, Jacob and Ryan (who is a c.h.u.n.k.)

Never dull that is for sure! We are completely exhausted.

Ryan and Jacob

Ben-too-cool-to-smile and Jacob

at the tree farm

Cloudy with Uncle 'Tank'

Jacob and Ben with SANTA **right before they ran off in a LARGE crowd, in the DARK, and had me screaming like a crazy person when I found them ** fun times.

the family - minus the designated photographer-me

Cloudy and Ryan giving out sweet sweet lovins..

Merry Christmas everyone! Here's a little preview of our celebrations.

Tonight was Cloudy's Christmas program... they *sang* two songs. Mostly the kids just stood there on stage while the teachers sang.

This is how Cloudy looked before the program... happy right? Check out that adorable bow tie!

After his group he came to sit with us and was stoked to watch his movie!

This is Cloudy's favorite teacher: Ms Chrissy

Cloudy jumped out of the tub this evening and befor we knew it he was wearing his Jingle Bell hat and nothing else.

Streaking the house with a snake in his hand..

Just a little sampler of what *I* have to endure when trying to take photos of the boys... :D

I can't even remember what we did... I'm sure there was excitement and tragedy.

Ben took a little ski trip?

Then floated above the alligators - gadzooks!

All joking aside... these two are something else... I dont know exactly what, yet... but sometimes, when the moments right - my heart sighs.

Tonight when Ben checked the mailbox he had a package we were not expecting. He opened it to find a medal inside.

Ben won 2nd place for his age div (19 and under) of the Jingle Bell Run.

WAY TO GO to my favorite running buddy!

I thought it was a funny story, a once in a lifetime kind of thing.  A story that would go ... well on the pages of the blog.  THEN!  Last night, I step out to light the grill and consciously left the door cracked about 1/2 inch.  Enjoying the peacefulness of the snow falling, I hear *click, click click* and Cloudy holler out " I LOCK IT BEN, I LOCK IT" followed with an array of giggles!  How dare he!!!  He totally tried to lock me out again!  And what's worse, he NEVER messes with the door any other time.  I never see that child walk up to the door and play with the lock.   I'm starting to think there might be a conspiracy against me, it's now me against the "boys club".    Let the games begin. 

 

We had the PERFECT amount of snow yesterday, with the exact amount of wetness required for snowmen and snow balls!

This morning we ran the Jingle Bell 5k. Ben did AWESOME! And it SNOWED on us!

Pete was interviewed for the local news.. His Grinchy costume is pretty cool..

There were a lot of cool costumes... This guy was really cool... Befor the race he asked to take a picture with Ben, and after the race I grabbed my phone so we too could have a photo...

After taking the sitter home, Ben had fun playing outside... We grabbed the snowblower from storage yesterday, but managed to forget our snowsuits.... guess we will have to go back again today -- Looks like we need to make a snowman!! or/and go SLEDDING!