Home for a visit

We have been enjoying visits with family members who have come to see my mom. Here is Aunt Mary Beth and Uncle David with Abby!

They brought some fun gifts with them!

We celebrated Jeremy's birthday a little early.

So precious!

Abby is getting so big. She is a teething machine and she is doing so well with body control. Check her out in the exersaucer! She is ready to run!

Took Benjamin on a few boat rides...

And visited with Tricia. This is Abby's classic lip pout. Hilarious when she does it!

This week at our house, we had several visitors as well for play dates. Benjamin and Claire played while her mommy and I got pedicures. Thanks Jeremy for the treat!

They played so well together. Unfortunately, the next play date with another little girl involved sand throwing. 

Forgot this photo up above... 

Back at our house...

Benjamin and Claire played in his climbing dome. They were hiding from the lions. :)

My friend Tammy came over. Benjamin and Dominic played, and Leila and Abby kept each other amused. They are four days apart in age...Leila just has a little head and Abby has a big one. :)

Benjamin got creative with the markers while making a card the other day.He had a skunk stripe on his nose and markings all over his arms. We had a lengthy chat after that. The next day, he found a marker and started in on his own lecture... "Only on paper. Not mommy's bed. Not my belly button. Not my bed, not the wall. Just paper."  

He is so funny. He begged me to go to Kohl's the other day to see the toys. "Mommy, I want to go to Kohl's. Please Mama! Let's see the toys"

I told him OK, but we weren't buying any. 

While there, I snuck in one purchase for Christmas. I tried to make sure he didn't see. But, he heard Jeremy mention it was for Christmas. On the way out, he said, "I want to go to Christmas." 

I said, "Christmas isn't a place. It's a celebration in December. Like a birthday party for Jesus that we celebrate at church."

He started singing, "I want to go to Christmas. I want to go to Christmas."

Finally, I said, "OK! In  December."

A few minutes later, I pulled into a parking space and heard a very indignant Benjamin declare,

"Mommy! This isn't Christmas. This is a store. It's Kroger!"