Nursery and the Dollar Store

I decided that once we moved that Benjamin would have to do the Nursery transition. For the last several months, I have been the Nursery Leader and in there with him. We talked a lot about when we move that he was going to have to be a big boy and Mommy couldn't go to Nursery with him anymore. The first Sunday we were here, I went in and stayed for a few minutes until he was comfortable. Then I left a screaming Benjamin who just laid by the door and cried for Mom. After I found this out, we talked about how Benjamin was a big boy and the Mommy's and Daddy's always come back. We told him if he was a big boy and could go to Nursery without crying that he could go the Dollar Store and pick out anything he wanted. Well, he thought that was the best idea that he had ever heard. He latched onto this told me over and over during that week told me he was a big boy so he could "go to a Dollar Store a get a toy I want." We did let him chose a stuffed animal friend to bring to Nursery to ease the transition. He clutched his bear and went to the doorway to lay down and wait for Daddy! Sunday morning came, and he cried when we talked about it again. I wasn't sure what was going to happen. He cried as soon as the closing prayer was said from Sacrament Meeting, and as we walked down the hall to Nursery. Stephen was the one that took him in and stayed a few minutes with him. Stephen reminded him about the Dollar Store plan, and Benjamin stopped. After Benjamin laid there a while the Nursery leader asked him to come over and play. He told her that he couldn't "cause my Dad is outside the door and I'm waiting for him." She made a deal with him and told him that since she was taller, she could see out the door window and the minute she saw his Dad she would tell him. I guess he bought it and started to play. We picked up a very happy Benjamin from Nursery. Monday morning (after Stephen finished reading Harry Potter that is), we took a family trip to the Dollar Store. Benjamin picked out some sunglasses "just like Mommy's" (hopefully mine are a little more tasteful) and a water pump for the bathtub. We will have to wait to see what next Sunday brings with Nursery.

Digital Scrapbooking

Here are Rebecca's first digitally made scrapbook pages. Thank you Maude and Bekki for all your help! In case some of you don't know, a lot of Costco's print 12x36 inch prints for $5. That means you can get three 12x12 scrapbook pages for $1.67 a piece. I think they look great!

Benjamin-ism III

Benjamin usually wakes up around 6:30 or 7am. The other day he slept in until 8:30am for some reason. It was so unusual that we decided to go in and make sure he was still breathing. He finally woke up and came and found us. Before we could say anything he said (in a slightly disoriented voice), "I took a long, long nap!"

Dancing

I was five years old and in kindergarten, I remember this because the crossing guard would always make my sister and I play games with her on the way home but on this particular day I was given strict instructions to come right home from school, and we went courtesy of my grandparents downtown Chicago to see the play of Annie. Both Elizabeth and I adored it, and my grandparents even bought the music on a record. I remember being in my grandparents living room and asking someone to put the record on the record player and just dancing. Twirling and leaping, spinning and striding, around the living room to the song "Tomorrow" was a ritual for Sunday afternoons after church. I can remember feeling so free and like a real dancer on a stage performing for the entire theater. My family always enthusiastically applauded and my Grandpa shouted "Bravo."

Today, Stephen and I were finishing some projects in the bonus room. We bought a closet system that we were trying to finish putting together for toy and book storage. With a two year old under foot, it was a bit stressful to keep all of the pieces out of his hands so Stephen put on some music. Benjamin just started to dance. He spun and twirled, kicked his legs and flailed his arms all while smiling and laughing. Here is a snippet of his dance. It so brought me back to my days of dancing to the songs of Annie in my grandparents living room. There is just something about dancing and childhood that brings smiles and memories.

Our New House

We arrived on Saturday afternoon to our new home. We took two days to drive it and Benjamin did amazingly well. I think that the total number of times for watching the movie Monsters Inc. was up to about 8. Needless to say, he was very happy to have no-limits on movie watching. We went to church on Sunday. Our ward seems like a good match, and we are excited to get actively engaged in callings. We camped out for 3 nights in our empty house before our belongings came yesterday which was 2 days early (the movers weren't suppose to arrive until Thursday). My comment about sleeping in our bed last night was that it felt like sleeping on a cloud after the hard floor! Monday was spent painting two rooms, the family room and the dining room. I love both colors although I was a little nervous that they wouldn't work when we started (pictures will soon be posted). Tuesday, the movers came about 1p.m. to move in our belongings. After an enormously busy day yesterday and today, we are mostly unpacked. The garage is a disaster, but that is not essential because all of the things we use regularly are put away. We have had several things damaged which is unfortunate. I think that next time we move, I will be packing my own things. So, after a whirlwind of work and events, we are here and totally exhausted!

Stephen's Latest Painting

Here is Stephen's latest painting.
I love it!