Papa

More sad news to report...Papa went to the hospital mid last week due to some chest pains and after a lot of test they discovered that he has liver cancer. It is so bad and too late to do anything about it. They have already put him on home hospice since they can't do anything for him. He kind of knows, but doesn't really remember. I just don't know if I can handle losing both of my grandpa's in the same year let alone this close together. The one thing that I do know is that both of my grandma's are very strong women...

Easter Activities

Yesterday afternoon Benjamin and I went to Bug-A-Boo's (my sister) house to get ready for Easter. We dyed eggs and Benjamin said all of them looked like daddy. We made treats: chocolate peanut-butter Easter eggs, cheesecake nest and brownie nest.

Purina Farms

The Haupt's and I decided to try out Purina Farms on Sunday and it happened that their Springtime Village was open for Easter. We were able to get a photo with Peter Cottontail and they had a petting area with all kinds of animals. We even got to see some of the dog show until it got too windy and cold outside.

Eckert's Easter

Eckert's is my favorite place to go with Benjamin. Whenever I have an opportunity to go we are there. They have there Easter Egg-citement going on now so we we took advantage and went with Tina and her family. We got to hunt for eggs, go on a tractor ride, pet some baby chicks & bunnies, decorate a cookie, plant a seed and of course see the Easter bunny (which we had to do three times because Benjamin is in love with him). We decided to eat lunch there as we have never eaten at the restaurant and didn't even get the fried chicken which they are famous for.

 We need one of these! 

The Easter bunny gave these to him and had to bring them to school today to show everyone! 

Easter Bunny Fun

This past Saturday Megan thought that it would be a great idea if all the kiddos went Easter egg hunting at Whitecliff Park and then come over to her house afterwards for some brunch so the kiddos could play and the parents could drink!! It was a perfect day outside and I always love hanging out with everyone. Hopefully this is a new tradition we will be having yearly! 

ZOO

David and I decided that it was time to take Benjamin to the Zoo and we didn't bring a stroller. Let's just say he did great and was running the whole time except for the last 15 minutes that David had to carry him because he kept saying he was tired. We did it smart and got there right when it opened so found parking very easy and wasn't crowded at all until we were leaving, three hours later. We walked around the whole park and saw ALL the animals, I think his favorite were the hippos as they were very playful with each other. After the Zoo we headed to the Delmar Loop and eat lunch outside at Snarf's. OMG, that place was good and has great sandwiches! Here are a couple of pics from yesterday fun. 

Benjamin was refusing a nap so David took him to the park and this is what finally happened at 5:45pm...mommy was mean and only let it happen for about 45 minutes. 

Sundae on a Thursday

David had this tradition when he was younger that whenever he would visit his Aunt Barb they would have ice-cream sundaes and she would say "Sundae on a Tuesday(or whatever day they were visiting)" and I love it so much thought that we could start the tradition also and of course would wouldn't love sundaes on any day of the week.

We are having...

A GIRL!!!

Serendipity

I never knew they had a Serendipity Ice Cream in St. Louis and so excited that I found one. While David was out of town recently, Ali and I decided to take the kids to dinner and a treat (who cares that it was 10 degrees outside and had just snowed). Yummy!

Benjamin loves to cheers his ice cream cones, all the time

Benjamin had that blue ice cream everywhere but it was delicious 

Potty Trained

Benjamin is FINALLY potty trained. It has been weeks since he has had any accidents (knocking on wood). He is so proud of himself when he goes that he announces it every time. He still wears a diaper only at bedtime but asks to wear underwear to bed. He still wakes up 50% of the time wet so we tell him if he goes a week without a wet diaper he can wear underwear to bed. Out next challenge is going to be taking away his small potty...

Great Wolf Lodge

Over Valentine's weekend we decided to take a little family vacation and visit an indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, KS. On our way there we stopped to stretch our feet and enjoyed the best burgers at Booches (really is amazing). At Great Wolf Lodge, the experience was a lot of fun and suggest it to anyone wanting to go, but it didn't agree with our wallets. A lot of things were overpriced but they make it so convenient to just get it there. Every night they have story time which we attended one night and really enjoyed it as we got to meet one of the characters.

He didn't want to leave this pool since it had a basketball hoop

One night we went to Fritz's Railroad Restaurant where they deliver your food by train, you even have to order it by phone from your table. It was a slow night so we only got to see the train go a couple times, but it was a cool experience. 

My Valentine

We started off Valentine's with a fun craft at Megan's house for the grandparents and great grandparents. Benjamin had so much fun that he still asks to go over to Henry's house.

Can't you see them in this same position in ten years playing video games

Love his little big feet! 

On Valentine's Day we got Benjamin a little bag of goodies and his expression in the next photo says it all on this present. He loves it, brings to everywhere with him. 

Little Fishy

Benjamin has moved up in swim class and is doing great. He impresses us more and more at every class. He has been in there for two months now and his rating are all three's (the highest score you can get) expect for two categories: listening to directions (no shock there) and swimming independently five feet. We will for sure be ready for the swimming pool this summer!

Donald Pape

Granddad passed away on January 27. He was such a good man and I know he will be missed by many. I am so thankful that we got to spend time with him before he passed. Our last visit with him was telling him what we were having. He was so happy for us! Benjamin and him had such a bond that I am sad to not see it grow. Every time we went over there Benjamin would run into his room and start talking away and Granddad's face would just light up. We had to explain to him that he went to heaven and he insisted on visiting him. Luckily David was there and told him that place was to far up in the clouds for us to visit him. Benjamin then starred up in the clouds...

This was the best most recent photo I have of him and this is the way that I will remember him, very happy, good looking man.