We took a trip to the downtown library this morning. They have a wonderful room with lots of fun toys for the kids to play in. We let Ben play in there for a while and he had a great time. My Mom2Mom group from church is meeting there on Wednesday and I wanted to make sure that I could get to the library without getting lost. I'm horrible with directions, but I think I can make it there now....hopefully. :)

This afternoon Ben worked on a project that we picked up this morning from Hobby Lobby. He has really been into coloring lately, so we got a wooden jet that he could color with markers. Ben concentrating on his coloring. Laughing at my silly faces...I have to do what I can to get a smile for the camera. :) The finished masterpiece!

This morning, I took Ben to Crazy Pinz to try out the Ball-O-City play area. Patty and Olivia came too.  Ben talked in the car all the way there about how he was going to throw balls with "Livia." Once we got there, he was pretty nervous. The area was kind of dark and had lots of places to crawl through. He did not want to leave my side. After a little while though, he got more comfortable and really enjoyed shooting balls from the guns. Ben put lots of balls into this tube. It would suck them up and put them in a basket that would tip over when it got full enough. Once he discovered how to work the ball guns, he was a happy camper! He got very excited when the ball would shoot out. After playing in the ball area, we let the kids play some arcade games. Ben had fun driving a semi-truck. Olivia and Ben played a game of "Ice Ball." It was hard for Ben to roll the ball all the way up to the top. I had to help him out a little bit. :) I let hi...

Ben really likes to watch football. He had to wear his #18 jersey and practice many "Go Colts!" cheers before the game began today. Are you ready for some football? Ben and Curt watching the game together. Curt let Ben play with his "big" football. They found a more comfortable way to watch the game.

Lately, Ben has really enjoyed taking baths in the morning. That's probably because I let him play with his toys a lot longer than I do for a nighttime bath. His favorite bath toys at the moment are his Little Einsteins . Since we didn't have anywhere I needed to go this morning, I decided to let him take a bath and play until his fingers/toes were wrinkly. :) Playing with his favorite bath toys. Gotta get those teeth clean too!

I took Ben to the mall today because I needed to get out of the house and do something enjoyable. It has been a very long week around here. I'm glad that it is finally Friday. Ben did a great job as we looked through several stores. I let him have a break in the play area...for once it was not crowded! Then, we met Curt in the food court for lunch. Ben was very excited to see daddy in the middle of the day! Looking very serious at the top of the slide. After sitting on this fish, Ben tried very hard to move it. I tried to explain that no amout of pushing would get it to move. He did not believe me and continued to push with all his might. We had a great lunch with Curt. I think the ketchup on Ben's face adds something special to this picture. :)

I joined Ben and Curt outside for some sledding yesterday. It was my first time playing out in the snow this winter. I am really not a snow person. I'm sure Ben will talk me into taking him out there many more times this winter. I do appreciate that Curt doesn't mind taking him out there by himself! Going down the hill with daddy. My turn to pull him up. He is not light...that's for sure. Look at that smile. He knows the best part is coming...going fast down the hill!

Yesterday my family came to visit for the day. We celebrated my mom and Izabella's birthdays. It was fun to visit and the time went by way too quickly. My mom let Ben help her open up her birthday presents. Izabella was more interested in playing with a piece of paper than opening her present. The birthday girls- Izabella turned one and my mom turned a little bit older than one. :) Ben does enjoy a good piece of cake. That is his "cheese" smile. I can't seem to get a normal smile out of him lately. :) Ben playing cars with my mom. He let her use Sheriff from the Cars movie, which is a big honor. He has yet to let me play with Sheriff. Ben tried to play a Mario Wii game with my brother Jacob and Curt. Grandpa, Grandma, and Ben I tried to get a picture of Ben and Izabella. Ben was too bored to smile and she wanted nothing to do with pictures!

Well...it wasn't really midnight, it just looks like it. :) Curt took Ben out on his sled after dinner since we got several inches of snow yesterday. I stayed in the house and cleaned up after dinner. I thought they wouldn't stay out long, but they were out there for almost an hour! Ben was having so much fun that he didn't want to come back in the house.

We had a fun week last week with Curt off of work. It was nice to spend time together as a family. Ben had lots of fun playing with new (and old) toys. He also liked daddy's new toy (his guitar for Guitar Hero). Curt let him try it out a few times. We are back into the swing of things with Curt back to work today. I am now the designated person to play cars with all day long. Ben told Curt yesterday that he was going to play cars with me today and watch movies. I guess we'll have to find a movie to watch this afternoon if the list is going to be fulfilled. :) Ben getting a lesson on how to use the guitar. Trying to figure it out, while daddy helps play the song. It's always good to have your tools handy. Unless they keep falling out of your pocket!