6 years old!!

Today is Ben's birthday! He is a big six-year-old today. I think he woke up grinning this morning and walking taller just knowing it's his special day. Leading up to today, he had told many people that his birthday was going to be on Wednesday. The entire camp where he's attending this week is expecting cake, ice cream and treats today, thanks to the accelerated imagination of my little boy. They will be getting cake later this afternoon, but no ice cream, treats or tricks. I'm just glad he can have cake with a group of friends. Having a summer birthday hasn't given him this opportunity in summers past.

Benjamin was a sweet baby, very happy and very easy going. He started out with some physical challenges, but thanks to 1-1/2 years of therapy and many prayers, he sailed through with flying colors and you would never even suspect anything today.

With today being his sixth birthday, I thought I'd list Ben's top six list, his six favorite things...

1. Music

2. Dinosaurs

3. Taylor Bell (our cat)

4. His family

5. His friends

6. Making others laugh

These aren't necessarily in order, but six things that quickly come to mind when I think of Ben. Outside of these six things, Ben is very sensitive and perceptive. He is cuddly and affectionate. He loves to roughhouse and wrestle. He loves bugs and nature. He loves computers and reading. Ask Ben where he lives and he will still tell you he lives in Texas and is just visiting Ohio. (Just recently, he shed a few tears because he misses Texas.) He adores his sisters, although, at times, wishes for a brother. He is happy from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.

Ben, we are so proud of you and love you so much. You bring laughter and silliness into our home. We hope you have a fun birthday, buddy!

My, how time flies!

Well, it's been quite a while since I blogged! My last entry was Father's Day and it's now July 30th. My summer has been very busy and has flown by. This is the first time I have worked full time while my kiddos are not in school. I'll admit, the beginning of the summer was rough as the Mommy guilt (does anyone else struggle with it as much as I do?) settled in. However, I knew that my kids would have a great time with a babysitter who would come in and just play with them. Mix it up with some camp experiences, and they've actually had a great summer. I have enjoyed working; I really do love to work, but I am ready to have some time back. My house is ready for me to have some time back and so is my dinner table. I don't know how working moms juggle all these things! I have a deeper appreciation for them, that's for sure.

Summer here has been amazing in regards to the weather. I can count on one hand the number of "hot" days (in the 80's) we have had. Now, coming from Texas, the 80's sounds like heaven, but it can feel hot here and amazingly enough, humidity is a factor. Keep in mind that many homes, schools, business, etc. are not air conditioned. So inside is about the same temp as outside. But, again, we've had very few days like this. Jason and I are hoping this doesn't mean the winter is going to be a bad one...

My niece is here with us for 4 weeks. I'm so proud of my sister for being so brave and sending her here on an airplane by herself! And, poor thing, she left her ipod and DS in the car so had no entertainment at all on the plane (outside of the stewardess, who was quite chatty!). Add to this the excitement of Air Force One being in Cleveland at the time she was to land. Her plan was re-routed to Columbus until Air Force One had taken off and planes were cleared to enter Cleveland. She was a trooper, though I think her mom was a nervous wreck!

Although the summer has flown by and I am ready for the routine the school year brings, I am facing it with a bit of melancholy. My middle child is starting Kindergarten. He is more than ready to be there, but there's just something about sending them to Kindergarten. It seems that from that day forward, their life is in fast motion and the years pass so quickly! And, to top it off, my baby is starting preschool. She is definitely more than ready; I just hope they are ready for her!

So, for the first time in almost 10 years, I am going to have some alone time during the day. I'm not sure that I will enjoy this nor know what to do with myself. I mean, you can only pick up the house so many days before you begin to feel a bit meaningless. I am starting a list of things to do... more exercising, Bible study (want to do Beth Moore's new study, Esther), hanging pictures on the wall, scrapbooking (maybe); basically all the things I've been saying for almost 10 years I'll get done one day. However, knowing me, I will find something that will keep me busy; most likely at the kids' schools.

It's hard to believe that we have now been in Ohio for two years. Someone once told me that it usually takes women two years to begin to feel at home (in a new house, new city, etc.). I would say that statement is pretty close to being true. Texas will always be our home, but our roots here are deepening. We have a great church, excellent schools, and a neighborhood that most people only dream about living in. Top it off with four seasons and I would say we will be here for a while (or, at least, until God moves us elsewhere.)

I hope to get back to my blogging as I really enjoy writing.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Father's Day, Part 2...

Happy Father's Day...Ta-da!

Just in the nick of time, we finished the project. Jason was out of town all week, which gave us time to get this completed. The kids (mainly Em) helped brainstorm the designs, did the sponge painting and handprints themselves (with a little supervision from their OCD Mom).

Jason LOVES it! We'll go today and get a paver to set it on in the flower bed, fill the top with water and watch the birds flock to their new bath.

Happy Father's Day, Jase!

You are an amazing father and your children adore you!

Oh, and so do I!

We love you!

Oh, it's going to be so cute...

The kids and I are working on a project for Jason for Father's Day. We are almost finished and it's going to be adorable!! I can't wait to post the pics... Stay tuned!

Yes, it's summer...

...summer time is here! This is our second summer in Ohio and Ohio summers are amazing! We have been outside every day, pretty much all day long for the past several weeks. The A/C's have been installed in the windows for the season but have yet to be turned on. Windows are open at night. This is NOT Houston! So, what else is there to do to kick off an amazing summer than tent camping in the backyard (notice Emily & I opted for the indoor suite) and a lemonade stand? How could you resist a cup of lemonade from these cute entrepreneurs? Oh, they did make $16.40 profit. Pretty good for a quarter a cup, don't you think?

Happy summer to you!

Off the Hook...

Got Patience?

Please send me some!

I returned home last evening from running an errand to the sight of various objects falling from the sky onto my driveway. Oh wait...not from the sky, but from Emily's bedroom window, which is on the 3rd floor. Toys, pencils, stuffed animals, the DS (yikes!), bracelets...about 25 things in all. And how, did this happen, you ask? Well, let me tell you, or maybe just show you the guilty one...

Have mercy!

Happy 9th birthday Emily!

How did we get from this...

... to this so quickly?

Yesterday, June 9th, 2009 was Emily's 9th birthday...her "Golden Birthday"! What's a golden birthday? Supposedly, it's when your date of birth is the same # as the age you are turning. I missed mine; it was when I was 4...oh well. But, Emily turned 9 on the 9th yesterday, so she wanted to make sure that we did something extra special on her golden birthday. I'm sure that she meant something extra special would be an extra present, but instead, Jason, Ben, Abby and I each wrote a list of 9 Things we love about Emily. Of course, it wasn't difficult to come up with a list. Emily's a great kid and we are so blessed to have her!

A few highlights from the list:

I love the way your dimples show

when you smile really big. (Dad)

I love how you work hard to make your friends

feel better when they are sad. (Dad)

I love how you are brave and share

about God with your friends. (Dad)

I love how kind and caring you are. (Mom)

I love that you are truthful and

do your best to do what's right. (Mom)

I love your shiny brown eyes. (Mom)

You play with me. (Ben)

You teached me how to blow up balloons. (Ben)

You love me. (Ben)

You kiss and hug me. (Abby)

You are funny. (Abby)

You draw with me. (Abby)

On to the presents...

I love it when I get a reaction like this:

All because of these; the new craze...

Japanese erasers!

And roller blades!

(pink ones, of course)

And on to the party:

Cupcakes....check!

Craft: this...

...plus this...

...equals this...check!

Can't forget the good friends...check!

Add a night walk complete with glow sticks...check!

Top it off with sleeping in the tent in the backyard...check!

Oh yeah, almost forgot...

Add Mom sleeping in the tent, too...oh well...check!

Hope your birthday was fun, Em!

We love you and are so proud of you!

Catching up...

The Curtis Crew has been quite busy, thus the lack of blogging for a while. Hopefully, this post will serve as a quick catch up! These are in no particular order of importance, just as they pop into my brain, which is usually in random fashion!

We enjoyed a trip to Blossom Time over

Memorial Day Weekend in Chagrin Falls.

Benjamin is reading...so amazing and so sweet!

Abby is completely potty-trained!

Benjamin is registered for Kindergarten...please pass the tissues!

Emily took a trip to NYC with her Grandma to celebrate her upcoming 9th birthday!

We have FINALLY found a church home!

We have these growing in our flower beds...

gotta bring a little TX into the area!

Jason and I have lost a total of 23 pounds together!

Thanks to these folks...

Emily bought herself a new bicycle with her own money.

She saved and saved...so proud!

Ben bought himself a new scooter with his own money.

Congrats, buddy!

We attempted to grow a garden in our too shady backyard...

However, we have 10 very healthy radish plants!

I'm the only one that likes them...

I started this challenge this week...bring it on!

All is not quiet, but very well on the Curtis home front!