No Shirt PLEASE!

I think Bennett is trying to tell me something because yesterday he tried to take off his shirt again.  I hope my son doesn't keep his dislike for clothing.  It is cute now, but when he gets older this could be a problem!!  I just hope he doesn't try to undress at school :)

"Where is my arm!?"

I rarely get a picture of Bennett with his eyes open anymore.  He sees the camera and this is the face I get!

Bennett had a half day at school today.  His preschool follows the county school system so when they let out early so does his school. He no longer cries at all when he is dropped off and really loves school.  His teacher told me he is coming out of his shell and started dancing during chapel on Tuesday and today just danced because he just felt the need!  Since school let out early we met my friend Hether and her little girl, or really Bennett's buddy, Kennedy for lunch.  Bennett and Kennedy got a huge compliment while we were at lunch.  One of the waiters came up to us to tell us that they were the two best behaved kids they have had in the restaurant since they opened (they opened a couple of weeks ago).  He said they were talking about them in the kitchen and saying how well behaved they are.  I think it helped our case that there was a screaming toddler two tables away from us, but it was still a very nice compliment.  If only those people had been there those few times Bennett has acted up in a restaurant and we have had to take him to the bathroom for what I like to call a coming to Jesus talk.  For today I will take the compliment!!

Funny Guy!!

Bennett makes me laugh on a daily basis.  He really is so funny!  This morning we were playing in his playroom and I walked into the kitchen to get something.  Just a couple of minutes later Bennett comes running out of the playroom with his arm out of his pajamas.  I guess he decided he wanted to be shirtless.

He played like this until I got him dressed for the day.  He didn't want me to fix it, so I just let him be.  I really wish I was able to know what was going on in his head.  I am sure that would be entertaining!

Burt's Pumpkin Patch

We headed up to Burt's Pumpkin Patch for our annual trip as a family today.  Our morning started out super early especially since I got very little sleep last night.  I wanted to sleep but for some reason I just couldn't.  I only slept for about 3 hours, so when my alarm went off at 6 a.m. I wanted to cry!  Luckily I perked up quickly and wasn't phased by my lack of sleep for too long. After we got ready we headed over to my sister's house for breakfast.  Dallon cooked for everyone and it was so yummy!!!  After breakfast we all loaded up to make the long drive up to Burt's.  We got there as soon as it opened which makes the experience so much better because there aren't big crowds.  First thing we did was ride on the hay ride.  After the hay ride we searched through tons of pumpkins and Bennett picked out 3 beautiful ones.

Lots of pumpkins!

Excited to see so many big pumpkins!

Bennett and Ella

The Shirley Fam!

Our Family!  Bennett saw a tractor and got excited!

On the hayride

Bennett went over to see Pop Pop 

Ella checking out all of the pumpkins

So much fun!

This pumpkin is about the size of Bennett

Ella feeding Bennett popcorn

Ryan on the tractor

Ella wanting down from the tractor

Bennett's turn on the tractor

Today was such a fun day with family and the weather could not have been more perfect.  Last year Bennett and Ella were just babies and couldn't even walk, so it was a lot of fun watching Ryan, Ella, and Bennett run around.  I can't wait until next year already!  

More Peas Please!

So tonight at dinner Bennett ate 3 yes 3 servings of peas!  I will give everyone a minute to digest this information because in our house this has now become a big deal.  It used to be the norm but now my little guy likes to protest any time he doesn't want to eat a vegetable.  I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone watching him scarf down his peas and asking for more.  I was afraid to make sudden movements in fear that Bennett would snap out of it and realize what was going on!  One night he will eat a baked sweet potato, another night he will eat corn on the cob or like tonight he will eats his peas.  Then the next day he will act like it is the most disgusting thing he has ever seen so I am not getting my hopes up that this will be happening on a daily basis but it is progress and it made this mama oh so happy!!!

So excited about peas!!!

This is now Bennett's face when I take his picture.  I guess he doesn't like the flash :)

Such a silly boy!

Here's hoping he eats his peas or whatever veggie is on the menu tomorrow night!

Yes we are dorks...

Because we were so excited about using the Green Egg today that I took pictures!  I have to say that this grill is amazing! Tonight we grilled steaks and I never understood when people would go on and on about how good a steak was, to me steak is steak.  Jeremy is definitely a meat and potatoes kind of guy.  I am not the biggest fan of meat I could easily be vegetarian and not even bat an eye. That is until tonight.  I don't know what this grill does but holy moly our steaks were amazing!  I didn't even use A-1 which is something I always use.  I cannot wait to try out more things and get more creative.

Jeremy was excited to use his new grill!

Bennett and Patty watching

Thanks to Pop Pop for helping Jeremy get it set up outside.  This thing is so heavy!  We have plans to expand our patio which is something we desperately need to do.  Luckily my dad does this sort of thing for a living and put a bunch of good ideas in our head one being we can build a wall (I am sure there is a more technical term but this is what I got from it) and build in our gas grill and green egg into it and have a mini outdoor kitchen.  Once money appears for this large project we will get on it because doesn't money just appear!?

Charity Ride and Birthdays

Today we went up to see Jeremy's family.  The main reason for our visit was to go to a charity motorcycle ride in honor of Tamara's dad who passed away 5 years ago. He was a well respected pastor in their area.  Since he passed away Tamara and her mom have held a charity motorcycle ride every year to raise money in order to fund scholarships for students in a seminary program that her dad was involved in.  It was really neat seeing all of the bikers come back in from their ride.  There were about 80 of them so it really was fun to watch.  After the ride they had a great reception.  Bennett enjoyed the bikes and did ok during the reception but he started getting loud and restless so I took him outside. While I was outside I missed Jeremy's name being called because we won the raffle and the prize was a Big Green Egg!  For those of you that don't know what that is it is pretty much the best grill/smoker out there.  We never win anything so I was shocked that we won the raffle.  On top of a great event we also won a really great prize!!

Sweet Carder ready to see her Mommy and Daddy after the ride

Bennett running all over the place

Here comes Josh

Here comes Tamara

Some of the other riders

This woman is 97 and has done the ride in past years, she was also a student of Tamara's dad in seminary school at the age of 82!!!  No excuse to say it is too late to start something!

Bennett was excited to see all of the bikes

I told Bennett this is as close as he can get to a bike :)

After the event was over we went back to Jeremy's parents house so Bennett could nap and to celebrate mine and Jeremy's birthday.  Even though our birthdays aren't until later this month we didn't have another weekend free to get back to celebrate with everyone so we figured since we were already there we mine as well!  Gigi made a yummy dinner and had a variety of cupcakes for us to choose from so we could each have our favorite flavor.  It was a great day!

Bennett enjoying a cupcake

Swinging outside

Sleepy Carder

She is the sweetest!!

Tomorrow Jeremy and my dad will be putting the Green Egg together and finding a good spot for it outside.  This thing is heavy!!!  Now we need to learn how to use it :)

Dance Party!!!

Trying to cook dinner every night can become challenging.  It is hard keeping Bennett occupied while I get dinner together and I don't like him playing around the stove.  Usually I have him color to keep him busy but some nights I will play music and we dance while I cook.  Last night Bennett had the best time dancing!  I played this song called "Hello" that is a very upbeat, happy song and Bennett loves it.  He was going nuts so I played the song about 10 times and cooked while he danced and he kept me laughing.  After Jeremy got home and we ate I turned the song back on so he could see how excited Bennett got and he did not disappoint.  He has some moves!

Spinning around!

Having so much fun

Getting down!

After we had the 2nd dance party when Jeremy was home, Bennett was wound up!  He decided to take a rubbermaid bin and wear it around the house.  Bennett is seriously the best entertainment.

Goof ball

He was talking while his head was in the bin

He was saying "Mama"

Now I have to brag a bit on my boy.  I volunteered at his school this morning for a book fair and after I finished I was leaving and one of the preschool employees who works in the front office said how great Bennett was doing.  She actually had him up at her desk a couple of days when he was having a hard time at school, so she knows how upset he used to get.  Today she said he is a model student (I am sure she tells a lot of parents that but it was sweet to hear) and that he is so sweet and a completely different child now then when he first started.  When I picked him up today the teacher said he had another great day and he actually has a friend in class named Bradley.  They colored together and played outside.  I thought it was so cute that he has a friend.  I am just so proud of Bennett that he has gone out of his comfort zone and now enjoys school.  Jeremy and I were both extremely shy kids and even as adults don't like being the center of attention or going out of our comfort zone so I am not shocked that Bennett has those qualities.  I figured we would have a shy child, but I am glad he is able to do new things and have fun.