Ben's Plate Face

While studying "All About Me" at school, the kids were asked to design their face on plates using limited resources, including a plate, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, yarn and straws.  I honestly wish I was artistic, but thank goodness Benji is.  Here are some pictures of our craft night and final portrait.  

Helping put on the glue

Paper Ben

Ben helped at first, but then decided the pom-poms were more fun as snow balls.  We had to have a few snow ball fights before finishing.

The bag of "snow balls"

I asked Ben to smile!

Snow eyes

Little things that make me smile...

So, Ben's imagination as really come to life in the last few months. He will sit by himself and play and it is so cute to watch. One minute he is Batman trying to get the Joker, the next minute he is a cowboy shooting at the indians, and the next he is Anakin Skywalker and is going after the robots. It is so cute to hear him talk about all his toys.
He is finally getting better with going to bed. He still wants me to lay down with him, but I no longer have to stay there half the night, and he does not fuss when I get up. Why should I ever complain when he wants to prolong sleeping to snuggle and laugh with his mommy?? My sleep time is way overrated! He loves to play shadow puppets while we are laying on his bed. My hand becomes the big bird who is looking for some food. The bird talks to Ben about random things and Ben thinks it is the funniest thing. Ben also likes to tell me about his day while we are laying there in his bed and usually will sing the new song that he learned. He apparently has learned a new song at school about building a house, because he was pretend hammering and sawing a house last night. He talked about his tools on his seat belt (aka took belt) and actually held his hands together like a book and pretented to "read a map" for intructions (instructions) on how to build it. I swear that boy makes me laugh!

Here are some recent conversations with Ben:

Ben ran into the living room from the kitchen and suddenly said "Ouch, my running knee hurts"
Me: "Your what?"
Ben: "My running knee"
Me: "What exactly is your running knee"
Ben: Pointing to his knee, "the knee that makes me run"
Carly: "Oh, well, are you ok?
Ben: "Yes, but you need to kiss it"

Most of you know my love of the Young and the Restless. It is about the only thing that I watch on TV and thank goodness, I can catch it on Soapnet each night at 7:00. Ben usually is playing while it is on, but apprently has been paying more attention than I thought!
A few nights ago, Ben asked to watch Spongebob (it comes on afterwards). I turned on Y&R and told him that Spongebob would be on later.
Ben: " I do not want to watch the Young and Restless, mommy"
Me: "Please, Ben. let mommy relax for a few minutes until daddy gets home.
Ben: "I am tired of Victor, he is not a good guy"

and my favorite...
Ben: "mommy, I love you past the moon. You are my best friend."

Life is pretty slow right now...

I have some new pictures to post, but am too lazy to wait for them all to unload from the camera, so I will do that later.  Not much has been going on lately.  I went away for a few days last week.  I attended a statewide conference in Charleston with some fun co-workers.  It was really more play than work and was a nice get a way.  I missed Benji and Ben, but they were in good hands at Nana and Big B's house.  We stayed here www.embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/CHSESES-Embassy-Suites-Charleston-Historic-Charleston-South-Carolina/index.do.  Thank goodness the company is not cheap and it was fabulous.  Within walking distance to downtown, free made to order breakfast, free manager's reception each night (aka free drinks and snacks), 2-room suites, and beds made of pillowy goodness.  Granted I did not sleep well because I had the room to myself and it was too quite and snuggling by yourself is just not the same, but great anyway.  We ate here http://www.coastbarandgrill.com/ and like every tourist, here www.hymanseafood.com/. They were both yummy, maybe because I was not paying, but Hymans had the best crab cakes.  My boss (from the north) never understood why someone would name the place that.  It was funny hearing her talk about it.  The owner (Eli, I believe) bought us ladies free appetizers and a few free drinks, so that was great.  We then went here for a night cap www.kaminskys.com. Apparently, Bill Murray had just left about 5 minutes before we got there.  He lost his cell phone and called back to the restaraunt to look for.  He had sat at our tables and the waitresses made a big deal of informing us that we would need to "really look" for the phone around our table.  They said that he has a place in town.  Anyway, their drinks were great!  

I came home to boys who have been super duper sweet to me.  

As you can see, there is not much happening, but fun nonetheless.  I am trying to find a fun place to have Ben's birthday in April.  Any suggestions or information on hiring Star Wars people, please let me know.