Letters to Santa, 2012 ed.

Dear Santa,
I want a new leapster game. And I want two coloring books because my other ones are all colored on. And we are going to be at our Grandy and Grampy's house in Missouri, please come find us. I want the movie "Brave." I will try to be so good so you can bring me presents. That's all I want. I mean, I would like two leapster games. Santa, I hope you have a fun time and a good time finding all the people. Love,
Ivy Elizabeth
ps. I would like an Ariel doll.

Dear St. Nick,
I want a Leapster game and Star Wars or Madagascar 3. And a book. I hope it's a good one. Please bring me good stuff. love,
William Ott

I LIKE YOU ST. NICK

Dear Santa St. Nick,

We will be in missori (sp) and I want a kinect, new wii game, Star Wars on leapster, a better life, whole series of Harry Potter, more baseball books, a new Christmas tree for mom and dad, the movie paranorman, are warlocks real, peace at school.

Sorry for drawing beards bad. Your best citizen,
Michael Aaron Bennett Ott
ps. I want a [wii] nunchuck

Merry Christmas

Happy Halloween

coloring with Grampy

My kindle died several hours ago and ruined what would have been a perfectly good day.
Tragedy!
Despair!
Woe!
How did I live without my ereader? You know, back before 2010? I can't even remember.
I am really quite upset about it, in a genuine way that makes me suspect I am, perhaps, overly attached to the damn thing. I mean. It's just a kindle. I can get another one.
...but it's been six hours, I MISS IT. and my heart is broken.

On the other hand, without my kindle to cuddle up with, here I am blogging. So that's good, I guess, WHATEVER UNIVERSE. WORST INTERVENTION EVER.

Here are some pictures from a happier time, back in August, when my kindle still worked and also Christofer's family was in town:

Ahhh. The good ol' days.

first day of preschool

Here is Ivy right before leaving for her first ever school experience. 

My mom is bossy and not as funny as she thinks she is.

She picked out an outfit and posed for me.

Vogue.

Then she pointed out that I forgot to buy her a backpack. Which is true.

Tough luck, third child.

There was no nervousness--Ivy just wants to throw herself in. I've been going back and forth about whether I really wanted her to do preschool this year, but watching her pleasure this morning sold me.

This wonderful amazing Ivy-girl is going to have a wonderful amazing year. I just know it.

tiny dancer

soccer players

Soccer began last week, and if Saturday was any indication this season is going to be so, so fun and also a little bit complicated. We had two games to get to, one right after the other on opposite sides of the valley, at the same time as Ivy's preschool open house. So Chris took William and Charles to William's First Ever Soccer Game, and I took Ivy and Michael to the open house and Michael's first game.

All the way to the field, Michael kept saying, "You know what I wish? That William and I BOTH win our first games." 

brothers.   awwwwww.    and also ARRRRGH!

Now, technically William's level doesn't keep score: it's about fun and skills, not competition. But let's be real, those kids keep score. And our kid, he wants to win. (He's half Bennett. He can't help it.) 

So it went down like this: William's team was losing 0-4, which frustrated him. The next time he went in he played very hard and scored 3 goals. Then another teammate scored a goal. Then William scored a fourth time ... and his team won 5-4. 

Not officially, of course. Officially, everyone had fun and learned a lot about soccer. And also about watching out for the crazy kid who wants to win.

I know what happened at the game because William told me about it, then told me about it again, then reenacted it for me, then told Michael about it when he came off the field. 

Which was good, because then Michael got a little ... inspired, we'll say, if inspired is synonymous for competitive, and promptly scored for his team.

Which was also good.

So yes, both our teams won. It was a great weekend for sports. Next we'll work on having great weekend for sportsmanship, i.e.  GLOATING IS NOT COOL GUYS.
(Sorry everyone around us/who knows us. It's the genes, I swear.)

William's First Day of Kindergarten

time for some learning, yo.

William was nervous this morning. It wasn't a surprise -- William is sort of a little anxiety-prone? -- but it did mean I spent a lot of time in the last two days having conversations like this:

William: Mom, how will I get to my classroom? I don't remember where it is!

me: When you get off the bus at school there will be people who take you to your classroom.

William: Who will it be?

me: Someone who works at the school.

William: But who? What will the name be?

me: I don't know. But don't worry, someone will be there to help you.

William: BUT WHO?

me: William, I don't know whose job it will be. BUT. There will be people. Right when you get off your bus. And they will take you to your classroom.

William: What if they lose me?

me: They're not going to lose you.

William: But what if they do? What if they don't know I need help?

me: Then tell them and they will help you.

William: BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS AND WHAT IF THEY LOSE ME?


 We have gone over the procedure exhaustively, and I have assured William (MANY TIMES) that there will be plenty of help along the way. He's excited, but my literal-minded and precise William does not like to feel so out of control.

star wars backpack!

We walked to the bus stop together, holding hands the whole way. There was already a crowd of kids there (most older), and when we stopped one of William's friends came up to him. "Hey, that's right!" she said, "Today is your first day of kindergarten! Are you excited?"
"I think, maybe, a little nervous?" he replied.
"It's going to be great. You're going to love it."
When the bus pulled up a minute later she ran to jump on, but stopped and turned around. "I'll save you a seat on the bus, William. You can sit by me."
So William hopped onto the bus (knowing where to sit on the bus was one of his many (MANY) concerns) (his mind couldn't seem to wrap around the idea that you can sit wherever you want (THE CHAOS!)) and sat beside his friend in the front and waved excitedly to me as the bus pulled away.

And all of a sudden I got so nervous. Seriously, WHAT IF THEY LOSE HIM?
As we walked home from the bus stop, I said to Ivy, "Ivy, I'm feeling a little nervous!"
 and she took my hand and said, "Mom! Don't be nervous. William is going to love kindergarten."

She's right. But I might wait by the phone today, anyway.

2nd Grade

Pictures from the last week that will not be shown on this blog because they do not exist because I keep forgetting to take my camera with me when I leave the house

• Picture of William before his kindergarten evaluation, sitting outside the room looking anxious.
• Picture of William after his kindergarten evaluation, beaming because the teacher had such nice things to say about him.
• Picture of Ivy floating in the pool in a tube.
• Picture of Charlie in the pool with his Grandpa.
• Picture of William jumping off the diving board for the first time.
• Picture of my kids with ALL their Bennett cousins.
• Picture of all the cousins playing pirates on a giant water bounce house.
• Picture of all my siblings at the temple together after doing Jeffrey's ordinances.
• Picture of my whole family at the park, playing and eating pie.
• Picture of William's first soccer practice.

And finally the one picture of I did take (with my phone):

at the airport to surprise more cousins

We've been having so much fun.  

summery violin

When my niece came over to do some pictures for the invitations to her Book 3 recital, she told me she wanted them to be casual and summery. We had so much fun. I really love to do invitations these days.

Birthday Girl

Ivy had her first ever birthday party this year, and she was so excited. She talked about it for weeks. Finally! Her own party with her own friends!

the birthday girl, showing her own Lellow hair before receiving a giant red wig that she would like to wear forever.

I talked her into having a water party, because that sounded easier to plan than a fairy party. But what do I know? At the end of the day, I still felt like I was run over by a train.

some of the attendees. I couldn't manage to get everyone gathered for a picture.

Anyway. After much waffling she decided she wanted a cakepop cake.

it's possible the wind blew out her candles before she started blowing.

And I made Pina Colada Shakes.

Which, alright, yes, that was mostly for me. I love all things pina colada. But they were excellent! And the kids really liked them! Plus, adorable umbrellas!

Her favorite part was opening presents.

Her other favorite part was the PVC sprinkler we (Chris) built.

It was a lovely day.

cousins!

just to make sure Maggie knows Gray had a great time

The End.

princess time

Ivy Elizabeth's birthday party was yesterday, and her Grandy sent her what she really and truly wanted more than anything in the world:

Her Grandy is nice like that.

Lucky girl.

Please notice her teeth. We still need to talk about this.

Her friends couldn't wait to come over this morning and help her try out her new costume. And then, of course, what good is a princess without her princess friends?

A Posse of Princesses. And now they are busy fighting Obi-wan Kenobi (William) and a clone trooper (Michael) for the safety of the kingdom.

In conclusion: Grandparents are the best.

Happy Birthday Michael (late.) (Very late.)

So Michael turned 7. Whaaaaaat? I know.
it's crazy.




























But here we are.

He just keeps getting older.

Even though I tell him not to.

Sunrise, Sunset, MOM

I love this boy like crazy.

school's out for summer

ya, this is pretty much how we feel.

under the table

gonna be a soccer player

This is the second year Michael has played soccer and the first time I have remembered to document it. On the very last day during their very last game. Yes! Better late than never is my motto. Stay tuned for fall when I blog about baseball after it's been over for 6 months.

Hustle, hustle.

He's started getting all fancy with the footwork. Here he jumps over the ball and back kicks it. What? I don't know where he learned that. School? Is that what kids do now at recess? and whatever happened to kicksoccer?

It's the Eye of the Tiger, it's the thrill of the fight,
rising up to the challenge of our rival.

Good season, guys.