Photo Dump- Randomness

Since Christmas, we have received a LOT of snow.  WAY more than last Winter.  I, unfortunately haven't been taking as many pictures as I should have to document it all.  But suffice it to say, our mailbox was just about buried at one point and we still have snow piled as high as our front stair banister.  My mom took these pictures after a particularly impressive storm.  

We also had sub-freezing temperatures for a good month which caused a TON of these big boy icicles to form all along our roofline.  

Good times playing at Wal-Mart.  We never actually pay the money to turn those things on.  Thankfully they are content to just sit in them.  Because we're great parents like that.  :)

Snuggles for mommy!

After making this lovely creation, Ben declared it was, "Daddy!"  :)

McKenna endlessly putting on her "shows."

This particular show she dressed up all of her stuffed animals too.

More dress-up pictures from Ben.  

Intently watching a few deer right outside our window.  

SO CUTE! 

A few of you readers asked to see the Christmas collage we (Dan's siblings) gave to Dan's mom.  It turned out SO well! 

I got to see one of my dear VA friends over the Christmas break and snuggled her sweet 4 month old!  Love that baby P. 

Building forts helps the Winter days go by a little faster (if only...)

McKenna put this on Ben's head, started laughing and said, "Mom, take a picture or something!"

Trying on her ballet costume.  Her recital is in two weeks!  

This was dance picture day-- full make-up and hair done!  I think we're in trouble with those eye lashes.  

This was during a run through of their dance.  An arabesque I believe.  :)

Anyone else's kids love to do this?  :)

Ben's Birthday- Take 2

Benny got to go on a Birthday date with Grandma Sibber.  She took him to lunch at Arctic Circle, where he played much more than he ate.  But boy, did he have fun!  Then she took him shopping at Wal-Mart where he was not too pleased when Grandma put something in the cart that she happened to need for herself.  She said he kept pointing to himself as if to say, "No, only stuff for me."  Crazy little boy.  She bought him some cute new clothes, PJs, and bath toys!  Thanks Grandma for spoiling him!!

 Ben also got to celebrate at the Nelson family party.  

All the January babies!

 Then we celebrated again at Dan's parent's NEW house with just the Websters!!  The home is so beautiful and fits LOTS of people quite comfortably!  

 Opening MORE presents.  Sheesh, this kid got a lot of stuff!

 Thanking Grandma!

 Modeling his new Under Armor jacket.  So cute! 

Ben turns 2!!

Ben's 2 Year Stats

Height: 35 in ( 2.4 in increase in 6 months) 60th percentile

Weight: 26.5 lbs ( 1.7 lb increase in 6 months) 30th percentile

Our poor little guy was sick on his actual birthday.  He had a runny nose, cough, and fever off and on for 4 days before I finally took him in to the doctors the day after his birthday.  The verdict- ear infection.  Hooray for antibiotics!  Two days later he had perked up enough that we decided we could invite some family over to celebrate (in spite of a huge snow storm going on).  Cupcakes, ice cream, and presents--what more could a two-year-old ask for?  

And this little boy is learning to smile for the camera!  

Too bad he spent most of the song trying to pull down his sleeve.  Love his smile when we said his name though.   

He's showing Uncle Sammy and Aunt Lara (via face time) how old he is.  He learned how to hold up two fingers pretty quickly.  I think I only showed him once or twice.  

The party guests... minus my mom and brother who came a little bit later for presents.  

Present time

This was one of his favorite items (a stick horse that makes sounds)- thanks Grandma Kelly!  His current favorite movie is Tangled because of the horse, Max.  In fact, he calls it the "horsey movie" by signing horse every time he sees the case or wants to watch it.   

Since then, McKenna has pretty much taken over the horse and named it Angus from Brave.  Someday he'll get it back.  

With Dan's parents

These light up bouncy balls were also a huge hit.  

We also got him this bike which he's been riding (and by riding I mean, Flintstones style) around the house.  The seat also has storage a surprisingly large capacity in which he hides many little objects.  

• I'm so thankful he's always been a good eater and sleeper!  
• His language has finally started to develop.  During the month of December alone, he picked up 8 words.  So now, his total is... 8 words. :)  Mama, daddy, uh-oh, woah, ow, Nenna (Kenna), me, and diaper.  He can also sign 25+ words.  At his check up, the doctor said if he has about 20 words in the next two months we shouldn't need to get him evaluated (for speech therapy) again.

Here's a video of his talking.  I remembered to have him say all of them except for "Nenna."

*Since I started this post he can also now say "Hi" and "baby."  

• He loves to do things McKenna never would have done at this age.  Because he sees her doing it, he wants to.  For example, he loves to color!  
• He's really been into building things.  Stacking blocks and putting together lego-duplos.  
• He's not too fond of getting his diaper changed or getting dressed lately.  It's kind of a wrestling match most days and I'm sweating and angry with him by the time I'm done.  But I'm sure glad this is only a phase.  
• He loves his daddy and pretty much signs/asks for him all day.  However, he's been asking for "mama" more and more at bed time.  
• Ben and McKenna have been getting along pretty well since Christmas with all the new toys to play with.  He's even figured out the sharing and taking turns thing pretty well.  
• They still love to tease each other... Too bad that's NOT a phase.  Right? 
• He loves music singing songs.  
• He's started to be pretty expressive as well and makes the cutest faces.

We just love having this boy in our family SO MUCH! 

Ballet

We put McKenna in a Ballet class mid October.  She goes once a week and absolutely LOVES it!  

I love watching McKenna and her teacher seems wonderful with little kids.  My observations tell me she's on a pretty average skill level in the class and follows the teacher's choreography pretty well.  :)  Can't wait for her recital in March!