Steppin' out

Benjamin has started taking steps on his own. He can do four or five before he gets nervous and falls down. I know it won't be long before he is running around the house with the rest of the munchies, but it seems surreal. Has time really gone so fast? I can't believe that it is December, I am so far behind this year. We haven't started Christmas shopping yet, although we have some ideas, and I haven't even bought Christmas cards yet. On a positive note, I am loving the snow and the kids have been mostly healthy.

Last night one of my sisters gave us a computer chair she did not want anymore and I think that I might have to find more things to do on the computer. We have never had one at home before. We used a kitchen chair for many years and more recently a nice big recliner, but I am really enjoying the padded seat, wheels, and especially the swivel feature. As Steven often says, it is the simple things.

Dress up Time

Last night we attended our ward's annual chili feed/trunk or treat. Even Steven and I dressed up. Back when we were engaged (waaaay back, eleven years ago) we bought Maid Marion and Robin Hood costumes. This is the third time we have worn them, the last was back in Ellensburg in 2000, and I am happy to say that they still fit nicely. The kids all had fun dressing up, too. Mary and Rebekah were ice skaters, Isaiah was a vampire, and Emma was a red num & num (M&M), her most favorite treat. Benjamin was the scariest thing Steven and I could think of - a teething baby. The food was good - we have decided that we don't have cornbread nearly enough, and afterwards the kids got loads of candy. Next year we want to decorate our trunk and participate in the giving as well as the getting.

C'mon teeth!

I hate when babies teeth. They sleep poorly and are cranky when they are awake. It seems to take soooo long. I am of the firm belief that Benjamin has been teething for a couple of months now and still NO TEETH! I went back to the other's baby books to remember when they got their first tooth. Mary was 7 months, Isaiah was 6 months, Rebekah was 10 months, Emma was 6 months. Benjamin is now seven and a half months. I really hope that he will get one any day now...how did I make it through Rebekah?

O The Cleverness Of Him!

It has finally happened. Benjamin is now mobile. He loves to wander around the living room and has made a few forays into the kitchen looking for anything small enough to fit into his mouth. The other kids are still adjusting. They still leave things on the floor that they don't want him to get or try to sit a few feet away thinking that he cannot reach. He is also pulling himself up on anything that won't tip over on him. He has only managed to kneel as yet, but he thinks himself very big.

Getting Started

This feels like I am back in college trying to figure out how to start a paper... so I guess that I will do what I did back then and just start writing something (and edit heavily later). Wednesday and Thursday we attended open houses for the kids and decided to sign up for PTA. This is a new thing for us. I have memories of going to my elementary school with mom for PTA meetings (It was terribly boring and the seating was uncomfortable). Hopefully now that I am an adult it will be less so.

We went shopping today for winter coats for Rebekah and Isaiah. Rebekah's is a deep purple with soft fuzzy stuff around the cuffs and hood. It suits her exactly. Isaiah's is blue with stripes on the sleeves and came with a free stocking cap that Emma would have a hard time fitting on her head. Isaiah still made a valiant attempt to wear it and was heard in the bathroom chortling at his attempts.