6 days, 5 kids, 4 adults, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms = 1 great time!

We had such a good visit with Tyler's mom, sister and three of her kiddos this past week! There are 488 pictures compiled from all the cameras to prove it, and it was slightly challenging to choose which to post.

So here's the highlight reel!

Group shot on last night

From left to right: Kianna, Nana, Aunt Amanda, Caleb, us, Cassia and her American Girl

Nana and Ben playing an in-depth game of cars, complete with train derailments, ambulances and lots of sound effects.

Uncle Adam couldn't make the trip, but as Ben's "sports uncle", he sent down a cool air hockey table for Ben that we all enjoyed!

"Ant Ahmannnn" might have five kids of her own, but she always goes out of her way to make mine feel special. And she definitely has a fan in Ben!

I can't begin to explain how helpful, patient, fun, kind and caring the cousins were with Ben. From changing his pj's at night and singing lullabies to running countless laps around the house as Ben yelled "Chase me!", they each left big shoes for me to fill in their absence. :)

The Prentice family doesn't sit still for long, and we got to do lots of fun things during their stay.

We had dinner at Tony's and walked around the Bluff View Art District,

explored the aquarium,

celebrated all the birthdays we miss throughout the year,

played at a number of parks,

rode the carousel,

and caught fish, crawdads, and even a copperhead snake at the Hiawassee!

...and Katie Beth caught some zzz's

And oh how everyone loved on Katie Beth.

If it weren't for feedings, I'd never have seen the girl!

Such a wonderful visit. But we sure missed these two cuties, Cadence and Kalyssa! (and Papa and Uncle Adam too)

Thanks so so much for making the time and considerable effort to come visit, you guys. See you all on Skype soon!

xoxo

weekend fun

My mom made a veiled offer to come celebrate my birthday this weekend, which while thoughtful, held the ulterior motive of getting her Ben-fix. :) But who can blame her? Since their last visit, we think it's really started to sink in with Ben who Grandma and Grandpa are, which makes their reunions extra sweet.

"Now Grandpa, just like we practiced. And a one, and a two!"

Ben's got a great view up there!
As for the rest of us...

"Does anyone else feel a draft?"

"C'mon Grandma!"

Resting up after the trek into Aldridge Gardens

Oh the symbolism! While I'd love to slow down time with Ben to tortoise speed, it is always flying by like that wild hare.

I mean, really. How sweet is that face?!

Mr. Ben is into some serious walking these days and likes to hold hands too.

Just want to capture the moment

This one too. :)

While Daddy's away...

Last week, Tyler attended the annual orthodontics conference, held in Orlando this year. Well, that's what he said he went down there for, but every time I talked to him, he was riding roller coasters, going to see the Blue Man Group, or watching Alabama take down LSU. Hmm...

While he was doing all that "learning", Ben and I spent some quality time with a couple of other important people. First, the doctor. For the third week in a row, Ben's school had me come pick him up due to a high fever. Three dr's copays = $60. Three prescriptions = $30. Ear infection/fever-virus free child = priceless. (Although there is still the teething issue that I would pay good money to have resolved!)

So I spent most of the week working at home so that Ben could get some R&R. However, he did accompany me to the office a couple of times, and even helped hand out brochures at a presentation! I've never felt more like a "working mom" than when I had a baby on my hip while running a powerpoint.

Then on Friday night, Grandma came to visit! I put her right to work with feeding Ben dinner and putting him to bed - tasks she whole-heartedly embraced. I'll let Ben tell you about the rest of his time with Grandma...or YaYa, as I think he was calling her.

Grandma gives good hugs and kisses

She makes sure that I wear handmade,
seasonally-appropriate attire.
(Gobble, gobble)

We all went out to lunch and took turns doing the eating part...

...and the cuddling part.

I was in very good spirits all day,
and even helped her find some fabric.

Maybe that's why she bought me my first pair of real shoes!

I love you Grandma; thanks for coming to visit!
See you in a few weeks!

P.S. Welcome home, Daddy. I missed wrestling - Mommy can't really hold her own.

Leavin' on a jet plane...

My mom just sent this to me, and I think it is such a great picture of Ben and his Aunt Jess a few weeks ago in the airport before they had to say goodbye.

[what I'm pretty sure they were silently singing to each other:]
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Except we know she'll be back again in November...and we can't wait!

Thanks for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time!

She may not fly with an umbrella or burst into song unnecessarily, but my sister has been nothing short of a miracle nanny this week! Continuing her tour of the Southeast, Jessie Poppins has been staying with us since Wednesday and has spoiled us with a taste of life with a live-in nanny.

Ben's schoolmates and teachers don't miss him too much as he's had a 101-degree fever since Sunday that turned out to be a bacterial infection. No one wants that! But he's on a baby z-pack now and hopefully on the road to recovery. So it goes without saying that Jess being able to care for our sick baby while we're at work has meant the world to Tyler and me. Thanks again, Beet!

These two are keeping her busy!

"As a naptime spot, you're high on my list, Aunt Jess."

What happens when Ben goes shopping with two girls. Daddy can just be glad they're only antennae and that we didn't try that tiara on...or did we?

Showing of our Saturday-night handiwork. Jess is is great to have around for more than just aunt-duties - we've had a lot of sister time to catch up on too!

Fun with Nana and Papa

This past weekend, we had special visitors: Tyler's mom and dad! In true Prentice fashion, they decided on Friday to come, left Toronto at 5 p.m. that evening, and pulled into our driveway at 2 p.m. on Saturday. If I've learned anything from being in this family for 4.5 years, it's that when they put their minds to it, nothing (like sleep) is going to stand in their way!

We were so glad to see them, and excited to show them how much Ben has grown since our trip to Cape Hatteras in July.

"Well, maybe you look familiar...you're the people from the beach, right?"

They look alike, they talk alike, sometimes they even dress alike!

Sunday night pool party!

When we bought this lounge this summer, this is exactly who/what we had in mind!

Cooking up some mean burgers on his grill.

"Those burgers smell so good, I could eat this tupperware!"

Dining al fresco

Monday morning, it was back to the grind for Tyler and me, so we begrudgingly left our houseguests home alone. :( Well, not completely alone...they had kindly offered to keep Ben, so the three of them got to hang out on Monday and Tuesday. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Faye had also come for a visit, so most of their days were spent cooped up in our little house. But Prentices are a resourceful people, and they definitely made the most of their one-on-one time with grandchild #9!

Shaving with Papa

"That looks tricky. Should I be taking notes?"

"I see you, Nana!"

Since they wouldn't be around for Tyler's actual birthday (Sunday), his mom whipped up a fantastic summer meal on Tuesday and capped it off with a yummy lemon birthday cake.

"You can have the cake, Dad. But those candles sure look like fun!"

During their stay, as all four of us stood at the side of the tub to watch Ben's bathtime show, he let us know, in no uncertain terms, that he had outgrown his infant tub and developed a profound hatred for everything it stands for. Two nights in a row of that hysteria, and it was off to BabiesRUs I went in search for a new tub.

"An inflatable tub just for me? Sweet!"

Thanks for coming to see me, Nana and Papa! We don't get a lot of time, just the three of us, so it was very special to stay with you during the day. I did miss my aunts, uncles and cousins though - see you guys at Christmas!
I love you!
Ben