2-10-13

 

Best part of the whole week!  Dinner at Mimi and Opa's.  Opa is looking awesome in this picture because I  tried to take a picture about 20 times.  He was over it.  Plus, we were making him play a game with us.  For the record, Opa hates board games unless it can be his turn every time.  So, we compromise.  We let him be on everyone's team so it is technically his turn everytime.  And we bribe him with brownies. 

2-9-13

Big girls date to the Baton Rouge Temple.  Of course there was a pit stop at Cafe Du Monde.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Bryan and Hayden had a failed attempt at a giant pancake,



 

made the obilgatory Circle K run,

and hung out with this cute baby at the daytime Mardi Gras parades.

When we got home, we all headed back downtown for the night parades.  Mostly so these two could bond. :)

2-8-13

Subbing at Hayden's school means that I get to walk out and find these cute girls waiting on me.  What a surprise.  They are passing the time by reading.  I love it. 

 

 

 

Friday night fun with our favorite gaming buddies.  Who knew that trivial pursuit could be so intense?!

2-7-13

I issued Hayden a challenge and she accepted.  The challenge - finish the first Harry Potter book.  The reward - a Harry Potter Lego set.

Today she finished the book and happily collected her prize. My challenge worked.  She loved the book and she loves the prize.  She has already started on the next book.  I am quickly learning that Hayden is easily tempted/bribed/swayed by Legos.

 

 

2-6-13

More Mardi Gras.  This time with Mimi.  Her apartment complex had a little (really little) mardi gras parade for the residents.  She invited us over for the festivites.  We spent the evening with Mimi eating funnel cake, chicken on a stick, and giant corndogs and watching the parade.  We love having her live so close.

I love random pictures on photostream.  This is one of them.  Bryan obviously saw an A-Team van today and had to take a picture.  Pretty funny..

2-5-13

Sister snuggles.  So Sweet. Seriously.  This picture is more than just a happy moment caught by the camera.  It tells a story.  First, I spy pink cat pajamas.  Second, I spy a stinky little stuffed dog named Clifford that has been Taylor's snuggle buddy since she was 4.  It was a thoughtful birthday gift from Grandma Jeannie and Taylor cherishes it even more now.  Third, Taylor is always willing to share her bed with one of her sisters.  Bigger bed means more space to share.  I wonder how old they will be when they stop thinking these impromptu slumber parties are fun.

 

2-4-13

Can you spot the awesome piece of music that Taylor brought home from choir tonight?  Yes, that is a medley from Les Miserables.  I think I was more excited than Taylor was.  We immediatly went looking on YouTube for videos of the music.  That search eventually led us to watching some of our favorite performances.  It is hard to beat Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. 

 

Hayden was not as impressed by the music as we were and she quickly turned her attention back to her Harry Potter book.  It took a while for me to convince her to start the series, but now she is hooked.  Do you notice the ever-present pink cat pajamas?  If they are clean, she is wearing them.  Which is a lot, because they get included in just about every load I wash.

2-3-13

Super Bowl party hosted by our favorite baby!  Ok, maybe not hosted by her but she was definately the main attraction. 

2-2-13

Good grades=free doughnuts.  Free doughnuts=happy kids.  Good grades=happy parents.  You see how this whole thing works to make everyone happy!  We had to redeem report cards for doughnuts today when we heard they had chocolate covered strawberry doughnuts, double dark chocolate doughnuts, and mardi grass sprinkled doughnuts for a limited time. 

 



Great weather, fun parades during the day, and friends to share it with.  When I say friends, I mean friends with the most adorable kids - especially this girl. We can't get enough of her smiles and snuggles.

 

A little booty shaking, wobbling, shuffling in the street while we wait for the parade.

Is there such a thing as too many parades?  Not for us! We went back for the night parades and hang out with our adorable friends again.  

2-1-13

 Another day and another Honors Program.  This time for my sweet Taylor.  Sometimes I have to take a lot of pictures to get a natural smile from her.  Not this time.  I got this genuine smile when I told her I got a picture of her "crush" by pretending to take a picture of her.  I'm ninja like that.  I love that the paper says "Certificate of Excellence."  None of my girls need a certificate for me to know how excellent they are.  I get to spend every day with them.  I already know.  I guess the certificates just tell the rest of the world how "excellent" they are. 

 

 

 One of the perks of taking the day off from working is that I get to pick my kids up from school.  I know a lot of people dread carpool.  But I love seeing my kids run to the car and hearing all about their day.  Taylor excitedly told me all about the 7th grade shenanigans while we waited for Hayden.  Payton, as usual, had an after school activity.

 

 

What does this picture represent?  It shows that the Benhams are never far from our minds and hearts.  Anything and everything makes us miss them.  Today, it was hearing Jimmy Buffet on the radio.