Back-to-School Night '10

Uncle Timmy making sure the kids have a safe ride!

Last night Will and Ben got to celebrate "Back-to-School" night at their school. The theme was "Back-to-School Round-up"- there were cute cowboy-themed decorations and games! They had so much fun. It was just me with the boys.....Rhyne was at home resting in the care of his Mom- he had an emergency appendectomy on Saturday!! I knew it was bad when Rhyne - the man who never goes to the doctor- said he needed to go to the ER!! He is much better now, just sore. Ann Phelps decided to stay with Grandmother to help take care of Daddy!

The Circus goes to the Circus

The pre-show

Will the Clown

Mae Mae with all three

I am always calling my family "The Circus"! What can I say, life is crazy right now!! Today, we took all three to the circus in Jackson. Thanks to my reinforcements - Grandmother and Mae Mae! Out of my three, I think Will was the only one who truly enjoyed it, but even he began complaining after the 2 hour mark passed - we left early. I feel like I could write one of those MasterCard (I think I have the right company?) commercials: $200 for Circus tickets, $70 for Dollar-Tree grade souvenirs, Carrying your three-year old out early because he is hitting and screaming - PRICELESS! Ben was scared from the beginning - he doesn't like the dark or loud noises. Being the great Mom I am, I "forced" him to sit through at least 2 hours of darkness and loud noises just to get the memories!! I know I have "joked" through this post, but I really wouldn't change a thing - it is all real and that is all right!!

Bed Head?

Ann Phelps has some wild hair!! You can call it curly or you can call it "Bride of Frankenstein" style. I have been searching for hair products that will help keep the curl in it all day. It does fine when I "style" it in the morning, but by the end of the day it is scary! Today while we were in Target, I combed through the adult hair products to try to find something. I am still searching! These pics were taken tonight during bath time. The pics don't do it justice!!

Motivation

It might be in my head, but Ben is proving to be a very difficult pupil to potty train!! When I try to explain how everything works, he just gives me a blank stare. I should note here that I trained Will in one week - one week!! I really thought once I trained the first boy, the second would be a breeze (ha, ha)! Today, I bought the expensive Toy Story 3 underwear (which is false advertising because it did NOT come with a Buzz Lightyear pair - Ben's favorite character!!) thinking this would be motivation to get things moving. Ben commented to me that he would be the BEST tee-tee'r ever if I bought him the underwear - we shall see!! Prayers please!

3 years

From baby....


To big boy!!


Today my middle child, Ben, turns 3! He is at his grandmother's being spoiled on his birthday today. I always joke that Ben is my "different" child. He does his own thing and doesn't care! He is so kind-hearted and loving. I spend my days trying so hard to make him NOT feel like a middle child. He is such a blessing! September 7 is a very popular birthday: Ben shares his day with - Aunt Mandy, Maw Maw, and new baby Thomas Bond (born TODAY)!!!

Ben's 3rd Birthday

He got his yellow firetruck! That is all he wanted!


He didn't grab the tickets, he just
stood there!


Getting his birthday crown

Sassy enjoyed herself

Buzz Lightyear cupcakes by Miss Christina

Will

Birthday Boy

Today we celebrated Ben's 3rd birthday at Chuck E. Cheese's! His real birthday is tomorrow, but we started the celebration a day early! Because I use this blog as a scrapbook, I will not vent here about our bad experience with a party at this Chuck E. Cheese's! The great thing was Ben didn't know it wasn't good! Much to my dismay, Ben has been wanting a Chuck E. Cheese birthday for a while. Every time he sees the commercial, he yells "Mom, see I want that birthday!"! I think he had a great time! He got to wear the birthday crown and step inside the ticket blaster machine. He just stood in the machine, he didn't try to grab any tickets! Once again, Miss Christina made fabulous cupcakes! Despite the horrible employees, I think the kids had fun! And that is what it is all about!

Thomas the Train

This is how most of my pics turned out- the

boys can't handle the bright sun and pictures!

My boys

Getting Ready

Sir Topham Hat

playing with the trains

Two years ago, I took Will to Nashville to see the "real" Thomas the Train. I was pregnant with Ann Phelps. We decided to go again to let Ben have the experience! Rhyne, me, Ben, and Will left Friday headed to Nashbill (as Ben says it). Ann Phelps was left behind because we weren't sure if the Diva would come out and make it a not-so-fun trip! It was fun getting to have boy-time. We had a wonderful trip. The weather was so nice! Today we are getting ready to have Ben's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's! It has been an action-packed Labor Day weekend!