An Early Christmas for Benjamin

For the past three weeks or so Benjamin has been asking to "go to Christmas." He still doesn't quite understand the concept of Christmas being a day of the year, but thinks it's a special place to go, kind of like the water park, or grandpa and grandma's house. Perhaps that's because his first gifts this year came while we were at a hotel in Ohio visiting Matt's sister Christa. Since we were away at a hotel and kind of "went" to his presents, perhaps he's a little confused. But boy did she pick some good stuff! He is in love with anything that moves on wheels, tracks, or in the air, so a garage with ramps and lifts and cars was just his thing. He's spent many hours playing with them since we got home. Thanks Christa!

Water Fun!

While we were gone for Thanksgiving, we went to Ohio to see Matt's sister Christa and meet her twin girls who were born over the summer. We stayed in a great hotel that had a mini water park in their pool area. Benjamin loved it!!

Checking out the big slide!

Giving the big slide a try and loving it!

Bowling Fun

What should one do when the belly is full of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and pie? Why, go bowling of course!!! Well, at least, this is what the majority of us Anderson (Davis and Agapie) kids did on Thanksgiving night. We loaded up in the big red van and headed to a nearly empty bowling alley and had so much fun!

Believe it or not, Benjamin was actually thrilled to get to go
Look at all those balls!

A little bored, poor guy!

A Family Thanksgiving

What a blessing it was to be home for Thanksgiving this year and to have my sister and her husband and their son, as well as my grandma there as well. I've always kind of taken for granted having all of my family together around some holiday, but I think as we all sat around the table together, it hit me that my siblings are getting older and it won't be many years before some of them may be married or have jobs that take them to other parts of the country, so I was reminded to be thankful for this year of having us all together.

Pretty happy about the pie!

You're supposed to eat pie with a fork???

What Else Could He Want?

I believe this is Benjamin's favorite part about Grandpa and Grandma Anderson's house. He and my brother John have such a good time with all the cars.

More Stephen

Just can't get enough of this little guy!

Family Additions Take Center Stage

Two years ago when we went home for Christmas, Benjamin was in just about every picture. He was the newest and the littlest, and, well, the cutest. This year his position as youngest was usurped by my sweet little nephew Stephen. Benjamin didn't seem to mind at all and loves his little cousin. I just think Stephen is cute enough to eat right up!

Love this face!

The best family picture we've had in years!

Benjamin loving on "his Stephen"

A Baby Shower

Two weeks ago Benjamin and I took a little trip to Indiana to visit my sister Rachel and her husband Craig and to throw my sister a baby shower. It was so much fun to see my sister's cute pregnant belly and to feel their little miracle actively moving around. I'm pretty sure that little one kicked my hand a time or two. :) How exciting for Benjamin to get to meet his little cousin in a couple of months! It was also great to get to see the rest of my family the day of the shower. My dad took Benjamin out with the boys and got some grandpa time in during the shower, which allowed me to actually host the shower. Then we all got to hang out the rest of the afternoon, which was fun.

Benjamin did SO well on the plane. I know that was God's hand on him because he is such an active little kid and sitting still on a very full plane for over two hours is not something he would normally do cooperatively.

I took well over 100 pictures while I was there, so deciding which ones to post was really hard. Be warned that there are a LOT. :)

My sister Abby loving on Benjamin
I love my sister Beka and her fun personality!

Gift opening! (My sisters Melody and Esther at the ones in the background.)

Presents!

The Diaper Cake and the fabulous edible cake made by my sweet sisters.

Yummy Food!

Rachel and her friends

The baby bottle hot potato game

Opening more gifts

And yes, it did have to snow while I was home, just to show me how much I LOVE Texas weather. :)

Cute preggo profile!

Where there are parks, Benjamin is happy!

Benjamin just loves "U Cai" (Uncle Craig)

My sweet hubby sent me flowers while I was in Indiana. It's a little scary when a big guy comes to the door of a home you don't live it and says "I'm looking for Sharon." Especially when said big guy doesn't even bring the flowers to the door until he's verified that he has the right house. But the flowers were beautiful and brightened my day!

My brother Joel had to work the day the rest of my family came up, so he came up later in the week to see Benjamin (and me as well)

All dressed up for the cold in Aunt Rachel's slippers

We went to this place called Science Central and had so much fun. Here I am attempting to pull both myself and Benjamin up with a pulley. Lets just say my upper body strength could use some work. ;)

Ah yes...The fun mirrors. This is me and my sister showing off our sexy long legs and stubby short tops. heeheehee!

Above: Benjamin playing in the water at the Science place. There was a whole area for kids his age, but he was much more interested in the big kid stuff.

Below: Benjamin riding the animal that he thought was an elephant outside Science Central.