Gobble gobble.

Thanksgiving 2012 was celebrated at the farmstead.  The kids and I traveled northwest, and spent a few days playing and visiting and (of course) eating.  Good times were had by all.  We even reprized the late, great tradition of decorating Great Grandma's  tree the day after Thanksgiving, and driving to select Mom and Dad's flocked tree from the nursery.

 So many things to be grateful for - we started a list on the way home, and lost count. 

5:45pm

People often look at me, in shock and disbelief, when I tell them what time our kids go to bed.  Harper is usually sleeping by 6:00pm, and Bennett is about 30 minutes behind. 

Here is the typical response:  "Six o'clock?!?!"   Yes, six. o'clock. PM.  And, here's why.

5:30pm

5:40pm

 5:45pm

 5:47pm

 5:50pm

 5:52pm

 So, now you know.  Six o'clock.

HeartBreaker

 After the Chucky Cheese chaos, we came home to meet Papa and Grandma and catch a nap.  We found Papa and Grandma, but no nap would be found.  There were gifts to open, and an angry bird cake to devour. 

 Bennett described the day as "one of the best birthdays of my life!".  I would have to agree.

 The tired little gnome, and the soon to be...

 hearbreaker.

Chucky Cheese for my Birthday

When the sign went up, early last spring, for the new arrival of Chucky Cheese, Bennett decided that is where he would be celebrating his 6th birthday.  I wasn't too excited about this plan, and was quite certain he would forget.  Of course he didn't, and asked to go to Chucky Cheese every single time we drove by.  I told him (in February) that Chucky Cheese would be opening on his birthday. 

So, today, marked the official grand opening of Chucky Cheese (wink wink), and Bennett Daniel Prose's #6.

 Bennett's sixth birthday was also his first "friend" birthday.  He opted to choose 5 friends from his class because "5+me = 6".  This seemed perfectly logical.  How hard could it be to keep track of 6 kids at Chucky Cheese??

 Yep - it was the hardest thing I have ever done.  Thank goodness Kylee showed up, and kept an eye on the kid under the table, and the little girl who didn't speak.  Grammy and Grampy and Skip kept Harper busy and safe, while Andy and I ran around counting heads.  Talk about stress.

 But, the shorties had a blast.  B got some super cool gifts from his friends, and we were happy to meet the kids he talks about so much.   No one got injured, lost or cried.  I call that success.

Ummmm, what do we say about this girl?  She is (finally) learning to talk. Usually, Bennett or I have to translate, but between the two of us, we can most often figure it out.  She insists on dressing herself, and picking out her clothes, and choosing her own food.  However, she refuses to walk down the stairs or sit on the toilet.  She is proud of her mullet haircut, and will not get it cut, even though I have pointed out that none of her favorite princesses are sporting her do.  She has her own style and spirit.   Our very own little gypsy...

We got our stickers today, and proudly Ba-rocked the Vote!! It was fun to bring the kids, and talk to them about the process and responsibility.  Thankfully, there was no line, and they even let Peekaboo Bob vote, even without his ID.

Now, to go home, and watch those states turn blue.