Fun without Sissy

While ME and I were having fun at her friends princess tea party, Ben Ben and LaLa had a fun time at The Wonder Place. Benjamin doesn't always get to go do things by himself, so this was a great opportunity! LaLa said he stayed busy the entire time!

 

"Ben Ben the Pooperman to a rekew!"

 After their visit to The Wonder Place, they stopped by Dandy's work to have a snack. Doughnuts and juice are healthy, right?

Since we moved out of our house and haven't really had a "real routine" these past few weeks, I've felt so distant from the kiddos. Benjamin has been biting A LOT at school and ME has been getting bitten at school. Talk about playing with a momma's emotions!

Anyway, I've been trying to keep some normalcy or some fun in our lives with different activities. We got to go to our friend LaLa 2's (aka Lauren) surprise birthday at the zoo a few weeks ago. Benjamin didn't care too much for posing for pictures. However, my little ham had no problem loving on the bunny and smiling.

Earlier this week, ME told me that she and I needed to go on a girls date. I asked her where we should go and, without hesitation, she said that we needed to go to the art show so we can paint her hands on a plate. I realized that she meant that she wanted to go to the art store to paint a plate. I love my little artist!

Can you see her paint palette? Of course, it contains pink, purple, blue, and green paint.

This is the plate that ME chose. She completely designed the entire plate with the exception of me helping her paint the butterfly.

The Wonder Place with the Atkins

Drew and Ryan went out of town for the weekend and we had a pretty lazy, but fun weekend around the house.

Here are a few pics of the kids watching Benjamin's snow globe that Daddy Mike gave him when he was born. The funny thing is that neither of them ever have wanted to bother their globe, but they wanted to me to play the music on his all morning over and over.

Ashley and I took the kids to The Wonder Place. I love the fact that it's never the same there.

I love a child's sense of wonder! These tubes are filled with air and you just put scarves inside of them and watch them fly out. I seriously think the kids could play with this for hours.

I have no clue why I ever bother with the darn aprons at the water tables! Ha!

Davis the elephant

Benjamin gave me a scare for a split second as I couldn't find him. Luckily, I found him at the sand table!

Check out that concentration! No wonder he wasn't responding to me when I was calling his name!

"What? Why can't I ride this? It has wheels."

I have no words for this sweet picture!

ME just loves her some Beth Ann!



I think ME's favorite thing to do today was playing "Farmer's Market" as she called it.



I love these knuckleheads...ME the firefighter, Davis "the camping guy" (aka a hunter), and Benjamin the pirate.



Buffaol Grill

Drew and I have been going to lunch at the Buffalo Grill with VeVe after church way before ME was ever born. It's actually the place where we told VeVe that she was going to be a grandma! The funny part now is that the days that we don't go to Buffalo Grill after church, the kids throw a fit because it's become so routine.

Look at how sweet and happy they are as they are patiently waiting for their "striped chips" (aka Ruffles) and hot dog.

Lion King (3D)

I took ME to see The Lion King in 3D this weekend. It was so fun to get to share a movie with her that I saw when I was a little girl. But I can't get over how different it was to watch it as a mommy. I BAWLED when Mufasa cried! And then I really wanted to sing, but ME forewarned me before the movie even started that I couldn't sing. And as soon as the first song started, she put her hand on my mouth and said "Remember, Mommy, no singing!" with her raised eyebrow teacher look.

Over to Marianna and back (Part 2)

VeVe captured a few shots of everyone playing before she headed back to LR.

I think this is my most favorite picture! I love the innocent looks of everyone looking somewhere else!  :)

Over to Marianna and back

Daddy Mike flew in this weekend for his and VeVe's high school reunion (I'm pretty sure it was their 10th reunion). So the kids and I drove over there to meet up with Daddy Mike and Drew, who was coming back home from the Alabama game. Although it was a very quick trip, we had a great time! The weather was fabulous and both ME and Benjamin were in great moods!

Benjamin had to catch a few zzzz's before he showed Daddy Mike how cool is was.

ME taught Daddy Mike how to play with Barbies.

Then she taught him how to play on "her" ipad.



Benjamin wanted to get his picture made, too. Can't you just hear him saying "Cheeeez?"



I love these guys!



Benjamin taught Daddy Mike how anything can turn into a "Neigh" (aka horse), including his foot!

ME found some of Memaw's books and wanted her to read her the "Night Night Book" before we headed back to Little Rock. I love how they are both so focused!

Tailgatin' with the Dees and Atkins

Football season is finally here! Our family looks forward to this "season" every year. I know you're probably thinking "Wait! You don't know anything about football!" And yes, you're right! But I love everything else about it...getting dressed up for the games, the people watching, and an excuse to hang out with my friends. Today was the first LR game, so we got to do my favorite football activity...tailgate. Drew Dees doesn't get up early for many things (not even work usually), but during football season, he will get up at the crack of dawn just to go to a tailgate party! I took the kids to the tailgate for a little while, too. I think they had more fun than the grownups did.

ME had to show Benjamin how to play Baggo "the proper way".

As soon as Benjamin walked up to our tailgate spot, he noticed the cookies. "Mmm...cake! Mess!" As he always says.

Who knew that Razorbacks and footballs tasted so good?

The only way to eat a cookie...all at one time!

ME got to watch the Razorback football team pull up to the stadium. Benjamin was too busy with his cookie.

ME didn't approve how the grown-ups were playing Baggo, so she had to show Marc how to play it her way.

Benjamin didn't feel too confident in Marc and Robby's Baggo playing skills either.

A tailgate is the perfect time for little boys to get to run around!

I love that ME and Davis never get tired of each other!

Is ME tougher than those boys?

Nope! I guess they can all win (as she says).

Davis found a new "best friend" at our tailgate. I'm not sure if we ever figured out who he was, though.

ME had to show the boys how to run with the football.

Benjamin took a break from all that playing to rest in VeVe's lap.



One happy Razorback family.



ME: "Really? I have to stop playing to take a picture?"