Huh??

Benjamin was just walking around the living room singing. I like the children's church he is going to. They are teaching them songs that I sang when I was young, and it makes me smile to hear him singing the same songs. Especially when he interprets it this way: I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be shaved from my enemies. Too funny.

Avery's dance video

I had the tv on in the background while on the computer this morning, and Avery started yelling "look at MEE!!!!" And she was going to town to a news fluff blurb on some basketball dancers. She thoroughly enjoyed herself.

More Reunion Pics

One of Elijah's cousins finally posted her pics from the reunion, so I stole them off her Facebook page!!

The train 'downtown'. You can climb into it and look around, but there isn't much to it.

Someone asked me if they could give the kids a pancake. Check out the syrup with a bit of pancake under it!!

Elijah and his brother Joey.

Elijah and the first round of chicken. It's all about the food!

Grandpa Pickren and Bo. Grandpa was thanking everyone for coming.

It's very rare to hear him talk at all!

Grandma Pickren saying the blessing before we ate.

More food!

More Basketball Pictures

We have all been under the weather this week, so no new pictures have been taken, and honestly nothing too funny has happened. I have agreed to two 'tv days' this week just so I can try to get some rest while I have felt so bad. We finally ventured out yesterday because everyone, including me, seemed to be doing better. I am just going to post some pictures from Benjamin's last basketball game. This was their first loss. One of the twins ended up elbowing a kid from the opposite team in the face because he wouldn't let go of the ball. He was pulled from the game as he should have been, but that did make the moral of the team drop down. Plus a kid had thrown up all over the court just before our game, so the place stank really bad. No excuses, they just didn't play how they should have. Benjamin tried really hard this game, I felt bad for him because he got the ball several times, but missed every shot. He has his first baseball meeting tomorrow to meet his coach and team. He's pretty excited about it.

This is the little sister of one of Benjamin's teammates. I just discovered two games ago that if I take these dolls to the game, she never gets up and tries to jump of the bleachers or anything. She sits quietly and plays. I wish I had figured that out sooner!!!

Reunion

We made it back safely last night from Elijah's family reunion. I thought I got more pictures than I did, I'm not sure what happened. Probably fatigue. We are all still very tired and not feeling well. I think a lot of it had to do with all of the environmental things we were exposed to while there. I swear there were at least 10 dogs in the house, plus the 6-8 yard dogs of Grandpa's, plus all the dogs that belong to people coming up for the reunion. All in all there had to be over 20 dogs running around. Plus the bonfire caused a lot of smoke (since Grandpa's idea of 'taking out the trash' is dumping it on the fire, there was a LOT of smoke), and a good half of the people there are chain smokers. Also add in the trees and grass that Benjamin is already allergic to, and you have a couple of sick kids, and me!! We are starting to feel better being back home. Hopefully we'll be better by Wednesday when we host playgroup. I'm glad Benjamin's out of school this week. It gives him extra time to rest.

It was fun being able to sit and talk with everyone again. It's taken me about 8 or 9 years to get really adjusted to Elijah's family and feel comfortable just sitting down anywhere and joining the conversation. There are usually over 100 people there, but this year several families couldn't make it so there were only around 75-80. The kids are getting better about letting strangers we call their uncles and aunts and cousins hug and kiss on them. It helps that no matter who they ask for food, it's given to them. I have no idea how many pancakes Avery ate for her 2nd breakfast yesterday morning. I know that she had a lot!!

Here are some of the pictures I took, when everyone starts posting theirs online I'll probably go swipe some and post them here:

Avery got to help Granny bake a cake for all the February birthdays in the family. There are at least 12 people with birthdays within a week of each other. They let her have the first piece since she helped make it, and since she wouldn't stop asking any and every person that walked by to get her some!! She really, really enjoyed it. I wish I had gotten a picture of the cake, but maybe someone else did and I can swipe it.

Cat Fight!!!

Right before bed last night, Elijah decided to throw a pillow at Benjamin. Now pretty much any time anyone here throws a pillow at another person, a full out pillow fight ensues. They all got really, really into it and spent a good 20 minutes or more just wearing each other out with pillows. Avery tried to get into it as well, but the big boys wouldn't share the pillows so she took off running into her room and came out with this stuffed cat she has taken to lately. Benjamin was yelling "PILLOW FIGHT" every time he hit Elijah, so Avery screamed "CAT FIGHT!!!" and threw the stuffed cat at E and then pounced him. We just about fell over laughing at her. She had no idea why it was so funny, but from there on the kids were yelling 'cat fight' over and over. It was a lot of fun, and Avery slept really well last night!

Not too much is going on here. We sign Benjamin up for baseball tonight. He's really excited about playing. He had to pick between soccer and baseball, and opted for baseball since he had never played it before. I keep trying to tell him he's going to get bored because most of baseball is just waiting, but he wants to give it a go. I know I'm going to be bored. His last basketball game was really good, the boys really went back and forth with defense and it was really enjoyable to watch. I don't get the same feeling about baseball. Plus it's outside, so their allergies are going to be great to deal with as spring rolls around.

These pictures were taken on the last nice day we had down here sometime last week I think. Right after the picture of Avery dancing was snapped, she stomped Benjamin's finger and messed it up pretty good. I am starting to see how handy his being ambidextrous is going to be. He just swapped hands for the next two days and didn't miss a beat.

SuperGirl!!

Avery and I are just hanging out while Elijah takes Benjamin to practice. I had stripped her down to her underthings while I cleaned up the insane amount of spaghetti all over the (carpeted) floor. Most of the mess was under Benjamin's chair. Anyway, I just went to put pajamas on her and decided to let her wear one of B's old Superman shirts. She loves these shirts. She asked for the cape that goes with it and I told her she would have to ask Benjamin when he comes home. She jumped up and ran to her room yelling that she had a Fancy Cape she could wear. I don't know what the shadow is on the one picture, but you get the idea: