Ella & Ben

Ella & Ben came for their normal Monday visit however this was not the normal because Jen came @ 10 AM instead of the 11:30 time frame so the kids played for a while prior to lunch.

Boy did they both gobble down their lunch, you would think that they hadn't eaten in days. I think both had a bottomless pit today.

Marilyn took Ben for a nap, because Jen would be coming back about 2 PM she said that Ella wouldn't have to have a nap today. Ella was going thru the house looking for whatever and found the doll in the library room and wanted to play with it, which she did for a while. Then she decided to take the baby (doll) for a ride on "Shortie"

Ben didn't sleep but about 1 hr. He sure is interested in everything. He watches Ella an @ times will do the same thing. Ella got out a couple of the little chairs which she opened up and sat them on the floor which they both sat on. Ben had a little bit of trouble setting on the chair properly but finally made it. However at times he wanted the same chair. I guess that is only normal. He was standing next to the chair that I was sitting in so I captured this moment.

Last Thursday Andy called to let us know that a package would be coming, open it before Amy & Abby left to go to Jen's an home (it was something they had been working on). Well I said that I am not sure what time they would be leaving an they may be gone by the time the package arrived.

Well Friday AM I was mowing the lawn when a pickup truck arrived with the parcel post package. Amy & Abby had left by then. I didn't take it in the house until I finished mowing. I put the package on the table and ripped the package open looking for what was inside. There were papers on the table an this was on top of the papers, etc. As I opened the package I noticed a couple of books, they were sealed in a plastic wrap and the first one was "I Love You Grandma" at the same time I heard a voice say "Hi Grandma". So I figured it was a talking book. (Yes I did). I continued to take the books out of the wrap and the first thing was to open the grandma book to hear it say "Hi Grandma" again. Nothing happen. I quickly opened the other book "I Love You Grandpa" only to hear nothing.

I was confused at this point, so I started to look to see why the voice was coming toward me as I opened the package. Well as I picked up the box I heard the voice again & it sounded like Abby's, & it was.

It was coming from the little voice toy that you can talk into, then change the speed of the voice by rotating the button on the bottom for a real slow voice or real fast voice. At first I was very disappointed that I hadn't received a talking book like grandma had. Mystery solved.

Abby visited with us the last couple days, it is always a blessing to have any of the grandkids come an spend some time with us. It can be a couple of hours or a couple days, it doesn't matter they are always welcomed. Abby said that she had found a swing her size and started to swing on this tree limb.Today Jen, Ella & Ben came out to visit with us and Abby, I was watering the lawn and Ben was wanting to help, he loves to get involved no matter what it is.
Grandma had a sprinkler an wanted to use it but she wouldn't put her bathing suit on so the girls did and they enjoyed running thru the water. Ben isn't brave enough yet to join the girls, however he did wander by the sprinkler but when he felt some water he made tracks away from it.
Now we have a couple of beauty queens, leaving the pack all by them selves to lay in the shade. Just wait a couple years.
Today was a perfect day for the kids to play outside, in the sand box running around the yard an then thru the sprinkler and shade bathing.

A fun packed week end was had in Wheaton with it starting with Amy having laryngtist and put on the disabled list. Sleep & lots of rest was the prescription for her. That didn't go over very well, Amy wanted to be with the rest of the group and we wanted her there but when you are on the disabled list you must conform to the top level managements decision.

The Francis's & Alexander's stayed at the Morgan house which was vacant due to Diane & Ron being in Florida. Amy stayed at her condo so that she could get the extra rest. Saturday was the dance recital that Abby has been practicing for. Abby's dance group had a good performance, I think each wanted to shine in their own way. There were four different groups that performed during that time and they all did a good job.

Abby provided Ella with one of her dance dresses which Ella enjoyed wearing and getting dressed up with Abby.
We celebrated Abby's birthday over the week end even tho the real date isn't until June 2 nd. We were all there so it was the right thing to do, that way we wouldn't have to make a return trip in a couple weeks. She received many neat gifts and I am sure she will be enjoying them for some time.

Scott & Andy had discussed power washing Andy's deck while he was there, so while Jen & Ella visited a friend, & Amy rested I took Ben & Abby to the park. This park is about a mile away so off we went on a long walk. Abby would run ahead of Ben & myself and upon arrival at the park they both wanted to swing. Abby even wanted to push Ben, so I had to get her placed beside Ben so that she wouldn't get knocked down when the swing returned. Much improvement was made to this park last fall & into the spring, making it very nice. I think it is geared for the smaller tykes.
I missed the soap suds and the extra fun of the bubble bath. I guess Ben had a issue of going below the bubbles an he didn't care for that, I can't blame him. However they all got squeekie clean, something they all needed seeing how they were growing things under their chins as Jen said.
Somehow they all managed to have Tiger shirts, they were going to the aquarium in Chicago on Sunday AM, then the Francis's were headed home after a real enjoyable week end with the family. There were a few issues at times but that was due to the lack of rest.

Ben turned 1 on Thursday an we had his party today. The weather was questionable all day with some rain, sun, over cast but we were able to be outside. His cousins were here to help celebrate the BIG day. Abby came from Wheaton, Ill and Brady from Warren. All the kids had fun playing in the yard. Ben did get in the activity by walking an pushing his Radio Flyer around.

After pizza an cupcakes it was time for Ben to open his gifts, Ben watched as Jen unwrapped then he did start ripping off the paper. There were a few items that caught his eye but most of them were just a gift, I am sure he will enjoy all of them soon.
I can't believe a kid that doesn't like cake or ice cream, Ben is one, however I think given time he will be digging in with both hands. Jen came with a cupcake with 1 candle on it as we sang happy birthday. He played with the frosting for a while and finally gave up by pushing in on the ground. As evidence you can see some frosting on his face. Jen did such a good job at making the cupcakes and fixing them up.
The girls had fun playing hide & seek for a long time then Amy, Andy & Scott got into the act. It was fun watching them hide behind the smallest trees. As the evening came so did the rain so we had to retreat into the house an it was time for Ben & Ella to go home for the night.

Out Side

Ella & Ben were here on Monday and they headed out side to play, where did they go first? to the sand box. They spent a lot of time there, it was a sunny day but a kool breeze was blowing.

Ben had a good time pushing his wagon around, he is just starting to walk, just short of his 1 st birthday. He was headed all over the yard an didn't seem to care where he ended up. It is fun watching the kids have fun, I can only wait for the weather to get warmer because they will have a good time in the yard an at the parks.

Ella & Ben

Well their back, with Ella being sick & in the hospital and a week for the whole family getting back to normal we had Ella & Ben today for the afternoon. We have seen them over this two week period but it is amazing how much they can change in such a short time. I think Ben has added about 10 pounds, he is heavy an solid.

He headed for the stairs an wanted to go up so he pulled the gate away from the railing and got himself inside the gate and then closed it behind him and was ready to head up stairs. When he has his mind set on doing something watch out because he is determined to finish what he has started.
After their nap & rest time we went out side to play, I think both of them were ready, however it was not as warm as it has been but with the coats on it they were OK. Ella wanted to take her coat off after running after the soccer ball because she said that she was hot but I told her that she should keep in on because she was just recovering from being sick and I didn't want her to return to that mode.
Ella even got Josh to come out an play soccer with her. We spent about 1 hour outside in the sun. As the weeks get warmer we will spend more time outside.