Mr. Benjamin

Ben is rather adorable. Whether he be lounging,

discovering his pockets,

or making sure his animals are all properly placed on his bed in just the exactly right sitting position. They must sit, not lay down.

They also must join scripture study.

Even though he roars at us often now, I think he's a keeper.

New Friends, Courtesy of my Mom

One of the first comments my mom ever made when we announced we were going to move to Albuquerque was, "I have a cousin who lives there." It took us over five months and several Facebook conversations, but we finally met them in person last Friday at the zoo.

It was quite entertaining to watch them play together and then forget each other was even there...but Jill and I had all kinds of fun talking the entire time. It's like we've been friends forever already. :)

These were my only pictures of animals...

Those enormous fish swimming around under the ducks reminded me a lot of the catfish back in the Logan canal going through Blackhawk. Only these were less disgusting.

Standard back-shots that always result from a zoo photo op.

We tried to pose them all together.

Audrey refused to smile, so we told all the kids to frown. I personally find it cuter that way.

Yay for fun new friends! Even if we'll only manage to hang out a few times (hopefully!) before they move. A handful of fun days is better than none.

Closing Pop Quiz: If Jill is my mom's first cousin, how are she and I related? And further, how are our kids related to each other?

That's Just Bill.

Happy Norwegian Independence Day!

And Happy Birthday to Bill! Turns out, he's a hard one to find in pictures. After a thorough search of my own pictures, I also dug out the files of old-old pictures. As usual, your photo entertainment is seasoned with sweetness from Audrey and Megan.

P.S. I saved my all-time most favorite picture of Bill for very last. And by the way, he's with Megan.

1. What is something Bill always says to you?
A: I ask him questions sometimes, like to pick up the dog poop. But he doesn't really talk to me.
M: Always clean up his bedroom.

2. What makes Bill happy?
A: He laughs sometimes when I tickle him.
M: Playing with toys with him.

3. What makes Bill sad?
A: When I don't listen to things that he tells me not to do.
M: Not playing with him.

4. How does Bill make you laugh?
A: By tickling me.
M: He tells me a joke.

5. What was Bill like as a child?
A: He liked to eat pizza.
M: Me.

6. How old is Bill?
A: I don't know. 31.
M: 4.

7. How tall is Bill?
A: I guess 31 92 inches tall.
M: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. This tall. (Standing on the couch)

 8. What is Bill's favorite thing to do?
A: Play with me.
M: Pick me up.

9. What does Bill do when you're not around?
A: Play games. He also goes somewhere when I'm not around to play with him.
M: Goes somewhere. Go to places.

10. If Bill becomes famous, what will it be for?
A: That he can help people pick up their dog food and help with the dog's poop.
M: Everyone will know his name.

11. What is Bill really good at?
A: Bill is really good at...he knows how to fix stuff.
M: Finding me.

12. What is Bill not very good at?
A: I don't know. Because I don't know.
M: Opening the door.

13. What does Bill do for his job?
A: He helps people fix their stuff.
M: Clean up all the dog poop.

14. What is Bill's favorite food?
A: Pizza.
M: Pizza.

15. What makes you proud of Bill?
A: He can play games with Grandpa.
M: Sitting by Grandpa.

16. What makes Bill proud of you?
A: I don't know.
M: Playing with him.

17. What do you and Bill do together?
A: We play games, watch tv. He can turn on the tv for me.
M: Go around the house.

18. How are you and Bill the same?
A: We both like cheese pizza.
M: Wearing the same shirts.

19. How are you and Bill different?
A: Because I'm not married to Morgan but he is. And I'm a girl, he's a boy.
M: Not playing together.

20. How do you know Bill loves you?
A: Because he likes to play with me.
M: I sent a note to him and drawed a picture and put it in an envelope and sent it to Michael. I mean Grandma.

21. Where is Bill's favorite place to go?
A: Pizza place. I built him a pizzeria tower with blocks. He loves pizza.
M: Pizza place.

22. What do you wish Bill for his birthday?
A: A new game, like with dice. I want to tell him FAMOUS.
M: A guitar.

Happy Birthday to Bill!

Audrey Jane Brenda Shella Ella Karrie Janet Wampler

Congratulations 

to our very own 

PRE-K GRADUATE!

Audrey Jane graduated from preschool today! This was even like a real graduation, since she actually is done with preschool and will be starting kindergarten in the fall. How crazy is that.

I am happy to report that she fully participated in all of the commencement program activities. She did fabulously well, even if the pictures aren't entirely clear.

Ben and Megan did well, too.

To finish off the celebration, Dad delayed going back to work just a little longer so we could all go out to lunch at the restaurant of Audrey's choosing: Dion's. Tasty, tasty. Not to mention the lessons in straw wrapper shooting.

Hooray for Audrey Jane!

I do feel like this is an appropriate time to insert the side note of the recent change in nomenclature. It has been nearly two months now since Jane first started saying that she wanted to be called Audrey. This was not the first time that she had decided that, and we went along, figuring it would last the usual two or three days. Instead, it lasted well over three weeks. At that point, we figured we were in it to win it and that really, if she's going to switch permanently, now would be the time. Get used to Audrey in New Mexico and just be Audrey from the beginning when we get to Georgia and no one will know the different.

And then we hit the identity crisis...she wanted to switch back to Jane, but Audrey was actually sticking, at least with Chris and a few teachers at school. But then she wasn't even sure if she wanted to be Jane either, so she switched to Ella. Or Shella Ella. Or, most recently and as has lasted for the last week, Brenda. She even signed the "World's Best Mom" certificate she gave me on Mother's Day with "Brenda".

I'm not opposed to letting her choose what she wants to be called, as long as it's Audrey or Jane. I personally am not going for any random name she happens to think is cool that day. Near as I can tell, Chris has officially switched to Audrey, and I find myself split pretty solidly between Audrey and Jane. I can't say for sure how it's going to play out, but it is certainly looking to be a photo finish between the two names. I'll keep you posted.

And just for the record, I hate the name AJ. I suggest you just don't even go there.

Anyway, yay for graduation!!