Ben and The Wii

Ben playing Shawn White Snowboarding with Daddy
Ben preparing to jump

This is too cute not to share...we got the Wii from my parents for Christmas and Ben just loves doing it with us. At first he always wanted to step on the Fit board when we were on it so we had to create Ben his own board (his Aqua doodle folded in half). As soon as we get out the Board he will say "Mommy I want my Aqua doodle" and he puts it right by the board. He will attempt to do just about everything we do...Yoga, Strength, and of course Snowboarding :) It is so cute that some times I can't even concentrate while I am doing it! He has actually used the real board too and he loves playing the penguin game on the Fit. Greg and I were so impressed the first time we put him on the board when it is registering your weight it shows you your center of balance...Ben was right on the center the whole time...shows you how good of posture we all HAD as kids :)

A Wintery Weekend

The "Kids Tables" at Aunt Carol and Uncle Gordon's House
Ben helping sweep the ice for skating
Jeff and Michael skating

Doug with the girls...Kylah is an impressive ice skater :)

Greg taking Ben and Colton for a snowmobile ride

Family Photo Opportunity

Ben sledding with Mommy

Two weekends ago Jeff, Jess, Michael, and Andrew drove up from Tennessee so that the boys could enjoy the snow. We were so excited that they decided to make the drive that we all packed our snow gear up and headed to the lake for the weekend. On Saturday the kids mostly helped the dad's clear a spot for a skating rink and then the older kids (Michael, Kylah, and Emma) skated around with some of the dads. They also took a few rides on the snowmobile :) Saturday was the coldest day...maybe 10 degrees without windchill, so the activities were some what limited. On Sunday we had breakfast together and then we packed the kids up and drove to the Country Club to do some sledding...Ben had a great time, he took one spill in the snow (face first) but once I put my scarf around his face to keep it warm he still had a blast :) He even went down the big hill on his belly all by himself...Greg right behind him so we wouldn't have another face plant :) The hardest part about sledding with a toddler is that they want to be carried back up the hill...I obviously wasn't up for that task but with all the people there someone was always willing to help. We had a great time...I think everyone was exhausted by Sunday night...tons of activities and lots of cold, fresh air. It is always nice when all the cousins in Greg's family get together...there was only a handful that were there that weekend and there were A LOT of kids! Ben always has such a blast and it is fun for me to watch him run around and play with the big kids...he just thinks Michael is a riot and does pretty much whatever he does. The Guilds left Monday morning and it was actually snowing when they got to TN but of course within a few days they were back to playing outside...and as for us Northerners, we just keep getting the snow and cold.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ben leaving his cookies and carrots for Santa
Ben must have been good this year...tree looks pretty with presents
Ben painting at his new table from Santa
Family Pic: Gpa D, Gma D, Great-Gma, and Us
Ben hanging out with his cousin, Sam

Lila chillin' with her Grandpa Bob

What a nice Christmas we had this year. On Christmas Eve, we met my parents and Grandma, and Greg's parents and Grandpa at Olive Garden for dinner. Ben was hamming it up and loving all the Grandparents attention. Then we came home and got Ben ready for bed and waited for Santa to come. Ben was up around 715-730 and was very excited to see if Santa ate his cookies! He was so cute and almost shy when he saw all of the things Santa had left for him. He did a great job opening his presents and certain things had to be opened right away (we had to hide the paints from him so he would keep opening his gifts) His biggest gift was his craft table from Santa and he has truly enjoyed it. Now he has a place to color, paint, do stickers, and play dough...and it is just his size. We ate our traditional Christmas morning breakfast (a delicious egg bake) and then got ready and went to my parents house. Santa had stopped there too and left Ben lots of good things! We stayed there until about 4 and then went to Greg's parents house for the large Abbott Gathering and dinner. As always, the dinner was great and all of us had a fun time hanging out. Ben was asleep by 8! All and all the day was relaxing and joyful. Greg had the rest of the time off so we got some things done around our house and enjoyed just hanging around together.

We hosted New Years at our house and we had a nice time with our friends...Ben didn't make it any where near staying up til midnight but that is fine with me. 2009 brings many joys to our families and friends this year with MANY new babies on the way and a couple of weddings too! We can not wait to meet all of the little ones...especially our new little one! Ben is becoming such a little boy (trouble and all!) But I can't wait to see how he grows and changes this year and watch him become a Big Brother! He is the joy of our lives and now we are just adding to that joy!