Big Week for Graydon

This is what a lazy Sunday afternoon in January looks like. These are my favorite kind of Sunday afternoons.


Graydon is learning to play the drums!


And it was a big week for him because he got his very first phone. We definitely gave it to him earlier than we planned, but he wore us down with all the asking. And there have been a few occasions where it would have been more convenient for us if he had a phone, so we gave in. Here is Andy presenting it to him. Graydon had to sign a contract for responsible phone use before it was his. And until he gets older, the phone is just for calling and texting - no social media yet.


Graydon also had his first basketball game this week!


Curtis is too young for the school team, but he hopes to make the 5th grade team next year. Until then, practice, practice, practice!


While waiting for me to finish up my work after school, Curtis must have been having some fun with my phone. I have lots of pictures like the following. . .








He and Bella have also decorated my dry erase board.


We celebrated Graydon's birthday one more time this weekend - this time with friends.


This was the easiest birthday party I've ever thrown. My only decoration was one helium balloon from Wal-Mart. We purchased food from the snack bar, and Graydon doesn't like cake these days, so we had donuts.




And he made out pretty well in the money department! He's already saving up for a new phone. (The free LG phone that we gave him isn't up to his high standards, so he's putting money away for an iPhone).


Some friends painted these rocks of his two favorite sports.


The temperature dropped about twenty degrees last night, but that didn't stop Mabel and me from our walk today. We both bundled up on this 14 degree day. We were only out for about 20 minutes, but we both enjoy walks so much that it was still worth it.


Tonight is the big Packer play-off game! Andy bought an antenna so we can actually get the channel. Our family is ready for some football! We just hope the Packers are too.

Adjusting

The beginning of a new year always seems to require adjusting to a new routine. For the past few years, it has meant the beginning of a new school semester for me. For the kids, it's often new activities. This year is no different. I just began my very last semester of school. Graduation day is April 25th and I am SO excited. Beginnings of semesters always feel pretty stressful for me as I look ahead to the work I need to accomplish, but I'm used to this feeling now and I know I have what it takes to get everything done. Bella and Graydon are both playing on school basketball teams. They both have practice every night - at different times. Bella's team played their first game this week and Graydon's games begin next week. Our evenings have taken on a whole new level of busy!

Here is Bella warming up before her first game.


Shooting a free throw.


She made it, now she's going for another! Her team didn't win that night, but Bella played so well. She scored a bunch of points and was aggressive. So proud of her!


Our ballers in their shooting shirts.




The boys have been playing with these balls and both came to me separately saying that they made it to the end! It wasn't until after I took photos of their accomplishments that I learned they didn't truly complete the obstacle course from start to finish, but instead bounced the ball around until it landed near the end. But I believe if they keep at it, they can truthfully complete the course. I've played with it a few times and it's pretty challenging but fun. I've made it to about level 30 and there are 70.




Bella left this note for me in my office. I love finding stuff like this.


Now that we have one week under our belts, we're starting to get back into the groove. Looking forward to more basketball games this coming week!

Happy New Year!

We arrived home from our annual Wisconsin Christmas trip a couple of days ago. Before I get into our time away, I have some pics to share from Christmas Day of Curtis on his new rollerblades. I can't believe it was warm enough for him to blade in a sleeveless shirt!




Cocoa Crazy was pretty well-behaved this year - no extra messes or pranks. But look how much he is growing!


We drove up to WI on December 26th. Shortly after arriving, we went to my Grandma's house to celebrate Jodi and Graydon's birthdays. (Jodi's birthday was that day and Graydon's was five days later).




My brothers and sisters all pitched in for one big gift for Graydon this year.




An electric scooter! He's already had a blast zipping around on this thing.


My parents got two new dogs within the past few months. I didn't get any photos of Stormy, but here is little Rocky on Bella's lap.


Later that evening, we had our Christmas celebration at Jodi and Aaron's house. The original Benetti homestead.








Can't go wrong with a "green Christmas!"









We laid low the next day before heading to Mary's for some tacos and more family time together. Rocky is pretty content as long as he has a lap to sit on.


On Sunday morning, a bunch of us went out for breakfast. Graydon and Bella started playing with their food.




From there, we made our way to Verona for some Kilps family time.

That evening, we all gathered around in the living room and updated each other on what we've been up to and also plans for the coming year. It was a great way to catch up. And while we were doing this, Tyler gave Bella a few new hairstyles!






Time for presents!






The following night we went out to dinner. We celebrated Andy's mom turning 70!

The kids had a couple sleepovers with their cousins. One night, Bella and Tyler gave each other the "spa treatment." I wasn't there for this, but apparently Bella even put on spa music and spoke in her "spa voice!" Tyler is such a good sport to put up with this stuff. 




And now, the highlight for Graydon - his birthday! Laura got all of the kids passes to Urban Air. The kids love it there!








Taking a little snack break.




Back at the house and ready for more celebrating. Graydon discovered recently that he really likes jelly donuts and preferred that to cake, so we stuck eleven candles onto one jelly donut!


More presents for this boy!




Time to ring in the new year! These horns sounded like a bunch of elephants in pain! We enthusiastically rang in the new year with New York City. However, it was technically only 11pm in Wisconsin. Most of us made it to midnight, but our celebration wasn't quite as vibrant by that point.






We fit in a couple more family visits on New Year's Day.


Bella wanted to enjoy the snow, so she made a couple of snowmen.




Here's a closer look at her baby snowman. It's so cute!


We packed up the van on January 2nd and made our way back to Indiana. I wasn't sure if we'd be able to fit everything in, but Andy made it work. We always love visiting with family, but it always feels great to come home after being away for a week.

The kids did some shopping the next day. They all had some Christmas money burning holes in their pockets.


The boys bought monitors for their video games and we set them up in their room. I was previously against this, but their video game stuff was starting to take over the living room, so I relented.


They are both very happy with their purchases. And the rest of us are happy to have a peaceful living room back.