Time in Southern Illinois

On Sunday, we went down to Jeff's parents for Father's Day. They had suggested that they would like to keep the kids for a couple days. We decided that we thought we could handle some time to ourselves so we agreed. The kids spent 3 nights at Nana & Poppy's and Mimmie's house. Nana & Poppy brought them back home today. I know the kids and their grandparents really enjoyed themselves. In my free time I swam, ate lunch with friends, and got a pedicure. Jeff worked on sidewalk forms. I think I enjoyed myself a little more than him.

Ben in the cradle that was Daddy's at Mimmie's house.

Ava swimming at Mimmie's

Ben got to meet his Uncle Brad for the first time.

Ava & Great Uncle Terry

The Patchett Men on Father's Day

I was thrilled - Ava actually agreed to wear a different pair of shoes besides crocs.

Big Smiles

Ben started smiling a few weeks ago but in the past couple days you can get him to smile whenever you want. He is also cooing a lot. It is so cute. Here are some pictures of him on my lap smiling for the camera.

Ben & Daddy on Father's Day

Even More Pictures

I guess these posts may start to get boring but I wanted to be sure to put up all the good pictures.

Ava & Aunt Lindy

All Ava & Ben's cousins on the Patchett side.
Blake holding Gage, Kierstin holding Ava, & Hannah holding Ben.

Lindy & Isaiah with Ava & Ben

All of us with Mimmie (Jeff's Mom)

More Baptism Pictures

Aunt Lindy was in heaven getting to hold both her nephews that she had never met before. Ben is on the left & Gage on the right.

I have never seen Ava as excited or laugh so hard as when everyone sang Happy Birthday. She had a Yo Gabba Gabba cake. That is her favorite cartoon.

Ben got to meet his baby cousin, Gage. When Gage got there he had on this outfit since Ben had the same one I had to put it on him too. These boys are going to have to be tough with all the girls in the family.

Ava got this table and chairs set for her birthday so some of the kids sat here for supper.

Grandma & Grandpa. I will post more grandparents pictures later. I don't have them all on my camera.

Ben's wonderful Godparents - Aunt Martha & Uncle Jeff

Baptism with Family

We have had a wonderful past couple days with family. Jeff's sister, Lindy and her husband, Isaiah flew in from Texas on Thursday. Since they were going to be here we planned Ben's baptism for Friday evening. My family and Jeff's family all joined us for the baptism and dinner at our house afterwards. We also celebrated Ava's birthday. Ben left Riley's the day before her birthday so needless to say we weren't quite ready for a party.

Father Bill & Ben

Father Bill had all the kids come and sit with him while the scripture was being read.

Aunt Lindy flying a kite with Ava

Like Father, Like Son, Like Son. Jeff's Dad, Jeff and Ben were all sleeping.

Aunt Lindy holding Ben

Zoo Pictures

On Sunday, we took all the kids to the zoo. We had a really nice time. I had never been to Indy zoo. I go to St. Louis every year with my Biology II class so I was looking forward to a different zoo. It is a lot smaller than St. Louis but for little kids the size is really nice. St. Louis has a lot of animal houses that Indy doesn't have but I don't think kids our age would really like the houses anyway. Admission to Indy is $14 for adults and $9 for kids but there is a free dolphin show that makes it worth the cost. I sound like a commercial for the Indianapolis Zoo.

Ava cried like crazy on the carousel.

After crying on the carousel, I thought she would freak out on the pony but she liked it.

She held on to daddy for dear life when it came time to touch a goat.

Ava & Landon had to take a nap.

More Zoo Pictures

Ben was so hot so we had to take his undershirt off and just let him wear his bibs. He's imitating the monkeys.

There was a little splash park for the kids to play in. A lot of kids had swimsuits for this but we didn't know it was there so we just waited until the end of the day.

You could pet the dogfish sharks. They were about 2 feet long.

Saturday in Indy

We got to Indy middle of the afternoon on Saturday. Due to a confusion with priceline we had a different hotel than the Kirts'. Their hotel had a pool and was connected to Circle Center Mall so after we checked in we went over there. In the evening, the Jeffs went to a ballgame and we swam with the kids and walked around the mall.

Daddy & Ava at our hotel.

Martha swimming with the kids. I stayed out with Ben and watched the kids as they got out. That was a good reason to not have to wear a swimsuit.

And Martha wonders where Landon got his cheeser. Sorry Martha I had a different picture but I loved this one.

Ben while we were walking around the mall.

Swimming tuckered the Kirts' kids out. Landon is covered up with Ava's blanket. Alli is just pretending to be asleep.

Follow Up With Hematologist

Ben has his follow up appointment for the blood clot in his leg yesterday. The hematologist said his right leg was still visibly bigger than the left (which I already realized) so that meant the clot was still there. He said there was no need to even do a sonogram on it. We have to continue the injections longer. They did up the dosage amount in each syringe so now I will only have to give it to him 1 time a day instead of twice which I am much happier about. The doctor said with babies it is hard for the clot to go away since they don't use their legs. It is possible we will have to continue the shots until he is walking. If that's the case I hope he is an early walker. He doesn't mind the shots that much but I just tired of sticking him.

We had a really nice weekend in Indy. I will try to post some pictures sometime today. Martha & I had lunch with Lindsey today in Robinson. Ava wanted to go home with Martha so I let her. Therefore, I should have plenty of time to post pictures. Actually, it worked out really good because we are having everyone over Friday evening for Ben's baptism so there is lots of stuff I want to get done. Thanks Sis!

A Little Clone!

Eileen emailed me some pictures of Jeff when he was 10 weeks old. It is frankly scary how much Ben looks like him. If I didn't know better I would think this picture was Ben. Thanks for the pictures Eileen.

Happy 2 Months Ben!

Ben is 2 months old today. In a way I can't believe it but on the other hand it seems like longer than 2 months ago when the Easter bunny brought me my little Benjamin. The last month has been wonderful. The fears of having a sick baby are starting to be forgotten and we have moved on with our normal life. Normal is wonderful!

Ben goes to the hematologist on Monday at Indy. We are going to make a weekend of it. Our family and the Kirts' are going to Indy tomorrow. The guys are going to a ballgame on Saturday evening and Martha & I are taking the kids swimming at the hotel and just hanging out. On Sunday we are all going to the zoo. It should be a lot of fun watching the 2 -2 year olds and the 4 year olds reaction to all the animals. I don't think Ben will have much of a reaction to them. I hope we have good weather. I'm sure Martha & I will both post lots of pics.

Here are a couple pictures that I took today of Ben in his little chair. Does he look like his Dad or what?

This isn't the best picture but I have been trying to get a picture of him smiling. This is as good as I got.

Pictures of the kids

We really haven't had much going on lately. I worked this week Monday - Thursday. It was finals, teacher's workshop and the last day. I thought it would easier to go in and finish grades and wrap up the school year than try to do it of an evening. I enjoyed seeing everyone there. My mom watched the kids a couple days and Nana & Poppy watched them also.

I haven't posted any pictures lately. Both Eileen & Saundra emailed me cute pics they took of the kids so I thought I would post some. Thanks to both of them for all the cute pictures. I haven't taken hardly any lately so I am glad to have some.

Ben - almost 8 weeks old here. I can't believe it.

Ben should be scared.

After church on Sunday.

I thought I needed a picture of me with the kids since the only one I have is at the hospital the day Ben was born.