Benjamin and Abby Hilty: Spring catch up

I have so many photos to post, I don’t even know where to begin! So, here is a very random roundup of the last month or so…

Benjamin’s love of trains has evolved. He now is much more interested in building elaborate tracks, and including may of this other toys in the display. You never know what tunnels, bridges and towers you will find in his room after quiet time.

This is from way several months ago when Benjamin had a celebration for dads at preschool. The theme was camping.

Abby has been developing quite the personality when it comes to shoes, purses and her attire. Here she is telling me, “Ready! Go!”

She especially likes to try on shoes of any size. She also likes to choose her own outfit. Most days, she would prefer no clothes…or just a shirt. But, other days, she likes the whole ensemble.

The kids love quality time with Daddy, and it is hilarious how they enjoy “playing” video games with him. Benjamin says, “When I grow up, I want to be a Daddy, and play the Portal Game.”

These two don’t like to take pictures together, so getting them both to smile at the camera can be a challenge! We have been having so much fun playing at parks and in our yard now that the weather is warming up!

This winter was rough with both bitter cold and sicknesses. Here we are during a bout with fevers. Both kids were pitiful.

Abby likes to be creative and explore her world. So, that means some days we discover a room filled with toilet paper, crayon all over the windows/walls/furniture and even once she sprayed sunscreen all over the family room, all while Daddy was reading an article on his phone. For spring, I bought window clings for her to decorate. I had to confiscate them when she tried to put them on walls and furniture (they stain).

Benjamin injures himself at least once a day, and it seems like the bruises are never ending. Sometimes, I fear he hits his head so often, there will be permanent damage! On the left is a bruised forehead from one such stumble, and the other two are his black eye, which he got at preschool after running into a slide. Today, he came home with a bruise under the other eye, which he said he got by running into a table. I don’t even have a photo from when he ran into the open car door last week and split open his lip. It is a miracle we haven’t had to make any emergency room visits!

I just love to see Benjamin growing into such a sweet little boy. I remember when I couldn’t take him to story time, because he wouldn’t sit still. Now, he sits in circle time, follows directions and is learning patience. This past month he was invited to a Pinkalicious party at our good friend’s house. I loved watching him interact with the other kids, and especially was proud of him when they played “Simon Says” and he was thinking outside the box with his directions. I had to post a few photos here, because some day he will wonder why I ever let him wear a princess crown at a pink party. And, I will tell him that it is so precious how he doesn’t judge things to be “girl” or “boy” stuff, and he just has fun going with the flow. I did correct him when he called himself a princess like Ana and Elsa from “Frozen.” We are still working on that concept. The last photo in the bunch is from a party we attended at an indoor water park, where his friend Dominic chose pink as his favorite color. So, it is totally a cool thing for boys these days!

I also love how these two are starting to use their imaginations a little bit more. They aren’t usually into pretend or imaginative play, but they do on occasion like to turn everyday objects into toy vehicles. They also are learning to play more together, which I love!

This is Benjamin’s “learning path” from Leap Frog and abcmouse.com. He and Abby love to tear the cushions off the couch and jump. I am looking forward to getting a couch where the cushions don’t come off so easily!

She is so lady-like. The first thing Abby does each morning is try to get a hold of one of our phones or an ipod. She is relentless.

Did I mention the kids love to hang out with Daddy? Here they are “helping” him put together an Ikea shelf.

They were THRILLED to go to the park to fly a kite a few weeks back. It was a soggy mess, but we needed to get out of the house, and Benjamin had just watched “Mary Poppins,” so “Let’s go fly a kite” was in his head.

Here are more “happy outside” pictures.

Our community group has been doing some spring cleanup as service projects to teach the kids about helping others.

Benjamin and Abby LOVE to bake. They tend to fight over who gets to pour ingredients and stir, so it makes baking more of a challenge. Still, I love that they have such an interest in it! Here they are helping to make Grandma Jan a birthday cake in preparation for a visit.