Under Contract!

After a mere 2 weeks on the market.....after 3 offers... a lucky gentlemen will be taking over and loving our sweet lil home!  I love our house, love that it was built in the 60's, love it's charm, love that it was Ben's first home (and ours too) and love how cozy it is.  BUT, not the location, we want to be in Edmond.  I am going to miss our home, the home we put our love into and made perfect! I mean obviously it was perfect, everyone loved it who looked at it (and he offered full price) :) We are shocked but so thankful it sold so quickly.  Just a little snag in our plan, we now have to find a new place to live.... Pa's RV might be callling our name. Let's hope inspections and all else runs smoothly and we find a house soon in 2011!!



(this is not our home, but I couldn't post without some sort of picture)



Irresistible Cheeks

I can't help myself from posting one of my favorite pictures that I took last night....

Little man had a burned tooshy from eating too much sausage, so we had to let him run around naked to air it out and he walks in his room and says "oh my boots" - yes Ben, boots would go perfect with your naked self :)

John Deere Christmas

This Christmas was just as we thought it was going to be.... a GREAT Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at my parents with my brothers, sister in-law and my Grandma Duncan.  Ben didn't fail to entertain us as usual and is such a chatter box.  He loves his Uncle Nate, Uncle "Sef", Aunt Ryan, Pa-pa, Noni and Grandma Duncan!  It was a cold, cloudy day but that is how I think Christmas should be, wouldn't have minded a bit of snow but you can't have it all.  Ben was in heaven with his new toys, stylish robe and John Deere hat (which he loves to wear both). We were all surprised when Pa-pa brought the big toy out - a John Deere tractor!!! My mom had told me she was going to wait until Spring to get it, but she couldn't resist and went ahead and bought it.  Ben loved it. He was confused about the whole pedal idea but once he found it, he couldn't stop. It was hilarious...his hands were death gripped on the green bar above the steering wheel and he was zooming across the yard. His face was like g-force style, cause you know this tractor has some high speeds :) These tractor wheels are going to get some mileage in no time!  I put to use my timer on my camera and got a good family pic with the use of a tripod.  It was a perfect day with fantastic people, delicious food and fun toys for the Stinkerman!!  Upcoming for next post.... Christmas morning and Forrest Christmas... I've been in my pj's all day, literally, getting over a cold - I even took a nap, it's been just what I needed.

Kitty and Spanky

Merry Christmas from "Kitty and Spanky O'Brien" - don't we look so beautiful? Some friends of ours hosted an 80's Christmas and we didn't mess around, there was no way I was going to half ass this.  I must say I found the jackpot with my Dynasty/Dallas dress and John's get up, well the pants were FREE and the jacket was $3.  My shoulders were bumping into people/objects :) Needless to say, we did win best dressed couple!  

Kitty and Spanky.... everyone had made up names for the night

Staircase of hotness!

Notice the inappropiate gentlemen I tried to crop out?

Some of the men

Emotional blizzard

I don't know where the past month has gone, I feel like I blogged yesterday but apparently my last one was Nov 21st.  I will refer to the past 4 weeks as an emotional blizzard.  It was flooded with great news and then shattered with some super crappy news but I am digging out and I'm back with good news! I debated whether not to even blog about it but for some reason, telling what happened in writing is way better to my friends (if anyone actually reads this) than in a person.  John and I have been trying for a year to have another baby.  It wasn't working, so the doc had me try a month of Femara (clomid-like pill) to get my ovulation jumped started. It worked, however at 6 weeks I had a miscarriage on Thanksgiving morning.  It sucked.  Like everyone (including myself) says "it happens for a reason" - still it SUCKS and not the answer you want to hear.  Needless to say, my Thanksgiving break was not what I had planned but what can you do. Everyone said what they were thankful for this season, well I was thankful for Game Show Network airing a Wheel of  Fortune marathon on a day I needed it most to keep my mind busy :) Thanks Pat and Vanna. Not to mention John who kept me laughing over the break and Ben for snuggling in bed with his mommy.
Enough Debbie Downer news.... Let's get to the good stuff:
  1. We listed our house with a realtor this week and so far 4 appointments already, woo hoo!
  2. I got a promotion!!
  3. John's hard work on his lawn paid off and it looks AWESOME. Who has the green grass now neighbors! Probably going to sell the house alone based off the yard.
  4. Ben is using the potty... at daycare, not at home. But still he is going, it's a start!
* side note, remember his pooping escapade? Well recently his new thing is too stick is hand in the poop diapers and then show us and say "yuck" - not cool Ben, not cool.
  5. Ben has been sleeping great, always makes life easier on the parents.
  6. It's going to be a great Christmas!!!

We did our annual night out to Bass Pro... it wasn't empty like year, there was an actual line. What the heck... secret is out! Thanks to Noni and Papa for arriving early and saving us a spot in line.

Waving at everyone standing in line, such a friendly little man

Moose hunting

Is that Daniel Boone... oh wait it's Ben and his new friend, Mr. Raccoon

Noni teaching Ben how to shoot... yikes



Good bye bug

Thank goodness for the lovely weather this Saturday.  Ben has been quarantined inside pretty much all week due to a nasty stomach bug.... what happened to the 24 hour bug?! This bug lasted nearly 4 days but I'm happy to report Ben is bouncing back.  He has never had an ear infection but can't resist taking on this stomach bug each year.  John had to work yesterday and I think I got a slight but not as intense form of this bug and to my much wishing and hoping,  Ben took a 3 hour nap yesterday. Don't think I didn't get into bed too :)  Immediate words after nap - "outside, outside" - so out we went and got out every single toy/for sale by owner signs in the garage, played with each for about 10 seconds and then moved onto the next.... maybe he has too many options ? Or he is just a true toddler boy with too many things on his mind to focus :) 

New words lately:

- nope... which to me is less formal than the flat no, so I'm okay with it

- okie dokie... he constantly was saying okay to everything so I taught him a new version

- fire... loves to spell this word and tries to blow out my candles (from very far away, hasn't worked yet)

Those are the new words I've been hearing alot lately, I promise he says more.... in fact he says ALOT more that we try to decipher :)

John and I are ready for our Thanksgiving days off - I only have to work 1 1/2 days! We have tickets to the Thunder/Mavs game for Wed, Thanksgiving to be decided, and then of course BEDLAM on Saturday!!

Tongue out? new thing for the weekend

Playing peek-a-boo with mommy and the camera

one of many riding toys he rode for a split second

Can't be in driveway without some artistic chalk work

Bored with toys... lets drag out and read FSBO sign

On a side note, we have put our house up for sale by owner to see if we get any "bites". We want to move to Edmond and since Ben's daycare has moved further into Edmond, we figured why not now, if we can sell our house, that is.  I can't keep the flyers in the info box, I keep replenshing them and next thing I know, it's empty again... dang neighbors being nosey I assume!

Just swinging

HOT stuff

That's right, my boy knows how to pose ever so sexy....

 Lets not forget this amazingly sexy pose he showed us all at 6 months....

Thunder Up

Ben scored double candy while trick or treating at the Devon halloween party and then trick or treating at Grandma and Grandpa Forrest's neighborhood.  Much different from last year, this year he caught on to what he was actually asking for :)  Knowing he wouldn't keep an actual costume on, I found an awesome KD jersey in his size and the coolest headband (which he loves)... oh and I found him some nike hightops to finish the "costume". Cutest Thunder player in the city!!

Taking a break from this trick or treating, it's hard work

"More PLEEEASSEE"

Heading home to Grandpa & Grandma's after getting lots of candy for Mom and Dad

Obstacle course, sweet!!

Oh wait, I'm suppose to throw my ball through :) SCORE!

Hitting the Devon dancefloor with daddy

Having a blast at the Devon party and looking so cool!

October pics

It is my Friday morning off, Ben is still sleeping at 8:30 (awesome), so I decided I needed to catch up on some random pictures from this past month.  First off, I need to address Ben's current hibernation.  Last weekend he slept until 11am and 9am - no waking up at ALL.  I didn't know what to do with myself, I can't remember the last time that he didn't get up after 7am. I REALLY hope this sleeping schedule sticks around for awhile! Ben is repeating all we say, yes he has repeated s-h-i-t, bad time to be repeating us in the midst of football season :) He has really developed his language and amazes us with words he learns at daycare.  We were reading one of his books and it had an alligator and I asked whats that... he tells me "algater"... we had never gone over that word and he just whips it out on me! He waited forever to actually start talking (which really scared me, thought we would have a mute child) and since he decided he was ready to talk, its been a constant river of words from his mouth.  Things are always on Ben's terms... daycare cracks up because Ben is such a character and really when he is ready, he'll do it, can't force him. As I was telling a friend of mine, Ben is on the upswing of terrible 2's and I am loving this goofy, sweet hugging & kissin stinker! He has become very "lovey" and the tantrums are few, but I know to not expect this to last but for the time being Ben is hilarious and we are loving every minute with him! 



John seeded the lawn and put peat moss down... of course Ben couldn't keep his hands off of it

 


It's DIRT!!!

 



Cruising on my bike

BUSTED! Holding daddy's iphone hostage in our shower



Watching OSU stay in the game vs. Nebraska (in 1st half)



Poo Party

I will spare you and not be posting any pictures of what happened this afternoon.  John picked up Ben after lunch today because at 3 was the Devon (my work) Halloween extravaganza.  Ben was "sleeping" and gets up at 2:30.  When I open the door to let him out, the aroma hit me like a cow patty.  Ben had taken off his diaper and marked his entire room with his poo-poo.  I'm talking ALL over. Sheets, bedspread, pillows, carpet, and books.  The poor Splish Splash book took the brunt of this party, it appeared he drop the turds on that book!!!!! I can't believe this has happened. He walks out and says to John "poo-poo room". Uumm yes you are right, it is a poo room in which you obviously had a poo poo-party in! Not to mention, it appeared he aimed straight for the bedskirt with his pee, which in turn soaked part of the mattress and box springs (the water proof mattress cover of course isn't waterproof on the side!)

Christmas Shopping

My favorite new word from Ben... "pickle machine" but really he is saying "big ole machine".  That is what he called my Kitchen Aid mixer. 

Click here to view this video

JOHN!

Ben has started calling his daddy, well by his name John :) It's never just a normal voice level, he likes to yell it.  I love it... finally John feels my pain (I was "meme" forever to Ben).

Down and Dirty

Oklahoma red dirt kept my boy occupied for a good 30 minutes - he acted he discovered pure gold, gold that he wanted to swim in and rub all over his face and body!

Word World Bash

I realized I forgot to post Ben's party pictures... so here they are! I took a zillion and as always found it hard to post only a few.  The theme was alphabet and Word World - Ben's most favorite show in the world. It airs on PBS and might be the cutest and most educational show created.  The show spells all the characters and objects, thus has taught Ben to spell. 

Ben was napping while we set the table up and when he woke up he got so excited to see his CAKE. This birthday was the complete opposite from last year for Stinkerman.  Last year he was shy and didn't know what the heck was going on.... this year, he couldn't drag enough of his friends into his room to play! However he still didn't catch on to the whole idea of opening presents :)