Benjamin: Birthday and Poison Ivy

Benjamin has had an eventful month. He turned five and is very excited to go to school! We celebrated his birthday by riding paddle boats again (forgot the camera and haven't requested digital copies of Marianne's pictures yet). At the bottom is a video of him enjoying his birthday present--his first bicycle!


Also this month, Justin and Benjamin both got poison ivy rashes while working in our backyard. Benjamin scratched his and it got majorly infected (four prescriptions and at least that many trips to the doctor).

This picture is one of the first ones we took after the first doctor's visit--his arm continued to swell.

As this picture shows, the red got worse too and he developed a scaly layer of skin on his arm. Luckily it has finally healed. However, he broke out in another rash as a reaction to the antibiotic he was on. He has been an amazing trooper about the whole thing--he doesn't complain and the only real acknowledgement (aside from the occasional unconcious scratch/rub of the rash) is to ask for itch medicine when it gets too itchy.

Now, he avoids the backyard and only plays in the front while we figure out how to rid our backyard of the poision ivy.

Piano

Here's our new piano! It's wonderful to be able to fill our house with music.

Everyone loves to play (except Madeline who is still too small)

Our Garden and Pictures

So I know everyone wants pictures of sweet children over garden pictures (which wouldn't be that impressive anyway) but I counted eleven tomatoes on our tomato plants today!!

Below are some pictures of our sweet children. We are having a wonderful time with our growing family!
Both Seth and Benjamin love giving Madeline kisses--however, I was only able to get a photo of Benjamin kissing her.

I know doctors say smiles this soon are not social but they still warm my heart!

Here are the boys ready for family prayer with Madeline before heading off to bed.

We had given away the infant car seat we used with Seth so got to buy a new one for Madeline! It was hard to find one in a pink I liked; most of the ones I saw didn't fall in my narrow range of pinks I can enjoy--we had to order this one online and it arrived only three days before Madeline did!

Another sweet smile to gladden the heart!

We are so happy to have Madeline as part of our eternal family!!

Welcoming Madeline Ava Jorgensen!

Madeline Ava Jorgensen was born last Saturday. She was 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long. While she had to make a brief visit to the nursery for about an hour, she was able to come home on Sunday. The boys are so excited to have a little sister and love her so much already. They give her soft hugs and kisses and love to play around her. She is growing well--she was 7 lbs. 8 oz. on Thursday!

Here is Miss Madeline in a dress Aunt Marianne gave to her. She wore it to church yesterday and is an absolute doll in it!

Since we forgot the camera (and couldn't find batteries for it anyway), Justin took pictures of Madeline with his phone. Above is the first non-blurry photo--she was alert for several hours after delivery.

Here is Madeline's first picture.

The boys came to visit Saturday afternoon and immediately fell in love with Madeline.

Welcome to our family Madeline! We love you!!

Updates: B-day, Fun, and House

Happy Birthday Justin!!! (So I know the post is a few weeks late but we celebrated on his actual birthday). We surprised him with a German chocolate cake, and he got to cook on his new grill.



This is the boys "exercising"--obviously they have been watching Mommy and Daddy do yoga!

Here is Seth sitting on one of the trikes. He and Benjamin both love to play in the garage--whether or not it's raining outside.


Here Seth got some help dressing up in Benjamin's fire coat and hat--he's holding his horse which Benjamin informed us is his fire ax.

Here are the curtains I made for our big window in the living room. Thanks to Emily and Marianne for helping me pick out the fabric (and watching the boys while I deliberated!).

Here is a picture of the outside of our new house! We are working on the flower beds in the front, and Justin added some more seed to help our lawn get better established.

Here's a closer view of one of the flower beds. I took out some of the shrubs and planted geraniums instead. I also planted some wildflower seed in between the shrubs and the house. Next to come will be a border of marigolds but only so much can be done on Saturdays in between homework!

We are loving our house, but most of all we love seeing Justin more since he doesn't have to commute so far!

New House!!!

We bought a house and have moved in!! It's a lot closer to Justin's work, so he won't have such a commute. The boys love the yard and the house.

I'll post a few pictures once we get internet connected at the house!

Hide and Seek

Since I'm on today and remembering, I'll post the video of Seth and Benjamin playing hide-and-seek. It's really funny. Unfortunately, I stopped recording just before Seth pounced on Benjamin's back--it was so cute!

Enjoy!!

More Snow!!

We got more snow! This snow was fluffy and moist--perfect for snowmen!!
(Thanks to Justin for loaning his socks to keep our hands warm! Still no luck finding our mittens.)

Seth and I are in front of the bigger snowman and Benjamin is working on the small one. Justin had been helping earlier to get the big snowman together. When his hands got cold, we switched.

Seth was having so much fun this time in the snow. It was warming up and there wasn't any ice like last time. Originally he hadn't wanted to go outside but when Mom and Benjamin were outside (and then Daddy came out to relieve Mommy) he decided he really did want to come out and play in the snow!

Here is the finished big snowman. We had trouble getting the craisins to stay for his mouth but his leaf hair looked great!

Though it is hard to see, the little snowman comes up to Benjamin's knee and also has leaf hair (but no facial features cause Daddy was getting cold without a coat).

We also had a snowball fight (Seth, Benjamin and Mommy). Daddy cheered us on from inside and we enjoyed ourselves until our hands got too cold.

Here is the picture Benjamin took a few hours later. As you can see, the snow is melting already. We were glad to get out and play in the snow before it disappeared!

Snow and a Swollen Lip

So, we got snow a few weekends back--the boys loved going outside to play!

We dug out the winter stuff (had to improvise with socks for the mittens I couldn't find) and the boys went out for a blast.

Isn't the excitement of children wonderful!!!

Then today, Seth was dancing in the kitchen (I hadn't gotten his socks off yet after running an errand) and he face planted on the kitchen floor!

By the time I took these pictures he had calmed down and been fed lunch...the look on his face is amazement that the camera is so close!

This one he's trying to show off the cool big owie he has on his lip! (By the way, saw another tooth peaking through the gums! Give it three months and it will be in!)

Our Growing Family

So, in case you didn't get our Christmas letter, we are expecting a baby.

IT'S A GIRL!

We are all excited--most especially Benjamin who has been asking for a baby sister ever since Seth was born.

Here are a few recent pictures.

This was Seth this morning. He ran back and forth with this decoration for several minutes. Benjamin was also running around with an oatmeal bucket on his head. They love to play together.

Here is Seth not feeling well--Benjamin is the ever wonderful big brother cuddling with him to help him be calm and happy.

Here are the boys with their sailor hats from Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen's visit--they love playing in them.

Here is Seth enjoying his Christmas present--a red bean bag chair!

Again sorry for being sporadic--enjoy the photos!