Monday, June 06, 2011

Birthday at Benjamin's Ballpark

This little man turned 2 years old on May 30th... He was excited to celebrate!
His mama was also happy to give her little man a birthday party!
 His daddy made signs for the backyard...
 these were in honor of all the little sluggers who came...
Everyone tried their hand at the Home Run Derby... Julian was the biggest slugger!
 Eden was watching what was going on...
Caitlyn was talking to Emerson as he wrote "Happy Birthday, Ben!" on the sidewalk.
 Madeline tucked her green glove and softball in the swing with her.  She didn't want any of the big sluggers to take it away...
 Emerson was introduced to all his cousin's friends...and Benjamin's friends were all introduced to Emerson!
Ayla was ready to play ball...
 Benjamin was listening to his sweet mama tell him the order of the party...
 "Oh yeah, Mama!!!"
Benjamin was wondering if anyone wanted to play catch...
 Benjamin was having a grand time with all his little buddies at his house, celebrating his birthday with him!
Somebody wasn't too happy getting sunscreen put on his face!
 My little man... with sunscreen on his face!
 Ayla
 Benjamin found a cracker on the ground... "Benjamin, that's a dirty cracker!" I told him.  "Dirty cracker," he repeated.
The guys were doing some barbequing...mahi mahi burgers, chicken burgers, and lots of salads and chips.  My guy said the mahi mahi burgers were the bigger hit.  I had a chicken!
 Emerson loved drawing with the chalk...
 Emerson King...my little man...Benjamin's cousin!!!
 Emerson was having a grand ole time...he was dressed in patriotic colors with his baseball jersey!
 Julian and Davin played on the swings...

 Annabelle the climber!  Lindsey told me even when she was a lot younger, she'd try to climb bookshelves...actually she DID climb a bookshelf!  She took off trying to climb the play structure! 

 As Emerson was writing his ABC's (just kidding...he does know them, but certainly can't write them...yet!), Benjamin came over to see what he was writing.  I think Emerson told him he was writing HAPPY BIRTHDAY,  BEN!
 Emerson continued to write...
 After watching Annabelle climb, Ayla decided to try climbing herself!
 Davin enjoyed pushing this little toy around.  Benjamin first used it when he was learning to walk, but now, it's just fun to push around.   As you can see, Davin will be a big brother pretty soon!
 Eden's mama was teaching her the finer points of batting...
 Annabelle is certainly a cutie!  She enjoyed hitting the baseball, but she is a climber!  Lindsey has told me all along what a climber she was. 
 Benjamin was loving all this...

Benjamin was showing his friend, Eden, his new A's baseball cap. 
He showed her how it was made...and asked her if she wanted to try it on...

She told him she liked it better on him...
 Ayla wasn't too sure about all this bat and ball business...
 but with a little instruction on how to hold the bat and swing, she did a great job!
 Davin was a slugger...a slugger who already has the pivoting of his feet down...he looked a professional batter...at 20 months old!

This is Julian...Julian the slugger!  We were amazed at how he hit the ball...his facial expressions went right along with his slugging!

After the balls were hit, Benjamin's mama and daddy measured the distance they were hit.
Benjamin was trying to slug it....
so was Emerson...

Benjamin took a little break from the Home Run Derby and watched some of his buddies slide down his new slide...
Jasmine was ready to hit the ball...
Davin, another slugger, decided to take a break and eat a hamburger...
Jasmine's daddy continued to show her the finer points of baseball...
It was time for cupcakes...and to sing Happy Birthday to this precious 2 year old little man!
He patiently waited while his mama and daddy tried to light the candles on his cupcake...
It was a bit windy...

He loved his cupcake...paper and all...


The trampoline was a big hit with the kids...and made this Mimi a bit nervous...
A lot of the adults spread around the trampoline so no little people would fall or jump off!
Eden
                                                                              Madeline
                                                                                Rohan
Jasmine and her mama and daddy were ready to go home...
Benjamin yelled, "good-bye Jasmine!" as he jumped on the trampoline.
After a little jumping, static electricity got the best of Benjamin's hair!
Emerson, Julian, and Annabelle were hanging out on the backporch...
The play structure had a few moments of emptiness... just a few...

Emerson loved climbing up in the top...
Benjamin was encouraging his cousin as he climbed up...
By this time, all the friends of Benjamin's had gone home...so the boys had a grand time up in the little house...

Benjamin was starting to wind down after his big day...
Their Papa decided to read them a book...
 Benjamin's sweet mama sat back and watched her little man as he played with his cousin, Emerson...
Benjamin gave his cousin a big hug...telling him how fun it was to have him as his cousin...and his buddy...and to have him spending the night after the birthday party!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Benjamin!

Your Mimi sure does love you!!!

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Many versions of the same photo...aka...playing around in PSE9

Meet the Stewarts! Yep, this is my baby girl, my son-in-law who will be turning a year older on Wednesday!...and, of course, my little man! These were taken on May 30, 2011, the day my little man turned 2 years old!
Um...not sure which version I like best....

I've always loved black and white photos...and also sepia...
...the retro look I also love...

Tough choice!

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Hanging out after Benjamin's party

After the birthday party, which I'll post later, the boys were both absolutely exhausted.  They  both took a nap, and then...they were FULL of energy!  First, I have to say, that Benjamin, in his mind, didn't just turn two years old, but 22!  Every single time I would ask him how old he was, he would say, "I'm twenty two"...just as serious as he could be.  That's this first video.  
The boys discovered that the blow up bed was a great place for jumping and diving.  They were hilarious.  I started videoing...and I won't bore you readers of the JohnstonChronicles with all 20 of the videos - all 20 that look pretty similar - but I am including a few. 
  
Benjamin absolutely LOVES to 'drive Mimi's car'...actually, he likes to drive any car.  I think I've written before that he MUST have the door closed, because you certainly don't drive with the door open.  This time, he got Emerson in the car with him....in the passenger seat.  They were too cute!
Emerson saw the gate was open at one point, and promptly walked over to shut it. 
Benjamin was probably eating an apricot here...His sweet mama uses fruit to bribe him to use his potty chair!  It works!!!
Emerson was loving running around outside.  The boys decided to go for a walk to go see Oma and Opa, Benjamin's neighbors.  They grabbed each others' hands and off they went!





I brought the boys each a book.  This Mega Rescuers was for Benjamin...but they both loved it.  Emerson's is a story book on Cars...from the movie Cars...  I bet he had that book read to him 10 times!  He LOVES Lightning McQueen!  I loved...absolutely loved reading to both my little men!
This was taken Monday, May 30... my little man's 2nd birthday!  Well, like I said, if you ask him, he'll tell you he's 22, not 2!
Emerson didn't know what in the world to think about his cousin thinking he was so much older!  He reminded Benjamin that HE was the oldest...even if it is only by 17 days!
Benjamin wanted to get in another picture with "Mimi's green phone"... I'm not sure if he was taking a picture of himself..or me!

After a great weekend celebrating Benjamin's 2nd birthday, it was time to head home.  Gabe had left very early to go take care of a little work in his office, so we brought Emerson home.  He climbed in his carseat by himself when it was time to leave, saying bye-bye to his Uncle Donnie, Aunt Lindsey, and Benjamin...
Benjamin and his mama and daddy on his 2nd birthday!

What a great weekend!!!

Cookbooks

 I love to cook! 
 Therefore...I love cookbooks!  My sweet daughter would probably tell you I have too many...and my sweet daughter is...well, I would say she's probably correct...
 On the other hand, someone once told me that if you get one great recipe from a cookbook, it was worth the purchase.  I think I'll agree with that person! 

See that San Francisco Chronicle cookbook?  Oh, it has THE best coffee cake...  Silver Palette has Chicken Marbella, and a slew of other great recipes. 
 My guy bought be that 'Good to the Grain' last year....love it!  See the Chevy's cookbook?  It has THE best guacamole...
 I just bought that cookbook on top of the pile.  It's a vegan cookbook (no, I'm not going vegan)...and actually bought another one...but gave it to that sweet daughter of mine who I'm sure thinks I have too many cookbooks...  Lindsey does not have too many...the one I just gave her may be her only ...or maybe she has one or two...  Lindsey is a great cook...she loves to try dishes that are unusual...that use unusual ingredients... she's more adventurous than I am in that regard.
Then...there's Cooking Light..  I love that magazine...can't seem to stop subscribing.  I got my sweet daughter in law - Erica - hooked on it.  She also loves to cook...and her other half is a picky eater, but a great guy! 

So I'm grateful for cookbooks...even one with only one great recipe!

6/365

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I just recently wrote about Joshua...my baby boy...my 35 year old baby boy!  But as I was sitting here thinking about writing another post of something I was grateful for...I thought about Joshua.

When I was pregnant with Joshua, I KNEW he was a boy...and I named him Joshua long before he was even due to be born.  I knew who he was!  There was no ultrasounds...well, there might have been, but the average healthy pregnancy didn't get them.  I worked for a school district as a secretary ... and everyone would greet me with, "How's Joshua today?"  or just "How's Joshua?"  I would rub my growing mid-section or give him a pat or two and tell them he was just fine!

I had a dream about Joshua...also before he was due.  I don't remember how far along I was...but in my dream, I saw him...it was so vivid.... and then when he was born... he looked JUST like he had in my dream.  I knew...

He started calling me 'Jutze' a long time ago....not sure how that started...but it's a term of endearment.  He still calls me Mom...but Jutze is in there sometimes... I love it...

I love him... I love who he is... I love the family he has given us... I am so thankful, so grateful for him....

5/365

Monday, May 30, 2011

My Little 2 year old men!


I am so grateful for these little men!  Benjamin's actual birthday is today, May 30th.  His party was yesterday.  Emerson's birthday was May 13.  Two years old...do they come any cuter than that? 
I'll definitely be posting about the party, but I wanted to post about how thankful...how grateful...I am for these two little men...these little two year olds!  They make my heart melt...

I remember this time 2 years ago...not knowing who these little men would be...knowing they were both going to be little men... watching their mamas blossom... praying they would be healthy little guys... praying their mamas would come through their deliveries well...  just being so, so excited about their coming into this world...into our lives...

and my prayers were answered...
These photos were taken at Benjamin's party...which had a baseball theme.  
I loved watching them play together...talk to each other...take turns with each other...have a squabble or two with each other...run and jump together...

What fun they are!  

I can't imagine my life without them...

4/365