Happy Easter

We had a great Easter and we hope that you all did too!!!! We went to the "Eggtravaganza" that the city had on Saturday where Benjamin got to see the Easter Bunny. We also ran into Tom's boss who was helping out with the egg hunt.
Earlier in the week my friend Jen had an activity at her house where the kids did crafts and had an egg hunt. It was great to get out of the house and let Benjamin get use to being around kids. I think he gets a little board being an only child. :0)

On Sunday, the Easter Bunny hid Benjamin's Easter Basket. He and his daddy had to go looking for it.
Benjamin was so excited to see that it was filled with stuff to get him ready for eating solid foods next month. He got teething rings, bowls, spoons, and rice cereal.

Rice crispy treats and blown out eggs I made for a few friends.

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin

Benjamin started rolling over on April 2nd. He rolled over about 30 times on his own that day. It has now been almost a week and I haven't seen him do it since. Is that normal? I guess he figured it was too much work and he ends up on his stomach (which he hates) so why bother.

This was one of the last times he did it for me. By this video he was really tired and starting to get a little cranky, but you can actually see his face in it, so that's the one you guys get to see. :0)

Go Team!!!

Tom's work has a softball team. He has missed playing organized sports. It has been about 10 years since he has been on any kind of team. He has really enjoyed it.Usually they have late night games, but a few weeks ago they had an earlier one, so we got to go and cheer him on.

Solvang

The day after Benjamin's blessing both sets of grandparents went with us to a little town called Solvang. We had a great time strolling through the shops.

Benjamin spent most of the time outside with his grandpas.

Benjamin loves being outside, and even though it was a long day, he didn't seem to mind.

Blessing Day

We finally blessed Benjamin.

He looked so cute in his little outfit.

We were so lucky to have Tom's parents and mine there to help us celebrate.

Benjamin's cousin Van was blessed the day before him.

These are just a few shots that I love

4 Months

Benjamin is already 4 months old. I feel like he has been with us a lot longer than that!

We are so lucky to have such a cute little guy as part of our family.

Here are his stats

Weight: 17 lbs 0 oz ~~90th percentile

Length: 27 3/4 in. ~~off the charts (they only go to 95th percentile)

Diaper Size: 3

Clothes Size: 6-9 months

Food: Mommy milk~~ As you can see we don't need to start him on solids yet

Hair: starting to get little spikies ~~ probably brown but we're still not sure

Eyes: still blue-grey~~ but may be turning hazel

Here are some of the things he is doing now

• He can transfer an object from one hand to the other
• He can grab something from the floor and pick it up while he is on his back
• He can roll from his back to his side - still can't make it all the way around yet
• He is starting to enjoy tummy time a little bit more and can do it for longer stretches of time
• He is very ticklish under his ribs
• He is fascinated by the camera and doesn't like smiling once we bring it out

These are just a few random pictures from the last month.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The things moms will do to their kids :0)

But seriously, is he not the cutest thing ever!!!!??!!!!

Happy Anniversary

Last week was our 3 year anniversary.

I just have to say how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful man. Tom has truly been an inspiration to me and has brought meaning into my life. It is hard to imagine what life was like without him. Here are some of the reasons why I love you, in no particular order.

• You are a very motivated person and thus makes me more motivated
• You are always clean! I would never have to tell you to pick up your dirty socks (it is the other way around, you have to tell me ;0) )
• You are great with finances and help me be frugal, live within my means, and get out of debt.
• You are my spider killer
• You come up with the best nicknames like Toothless Joe, Goobito, Missy Fish, Beaker, and Dorkfish.
• I can fart in front of you with the knowledge that you will still love me when the smell passes.
• You always try to eat healthy which is something I never bothered thinking about before I met you.
• You brought politics into my life which is also something I never bothered thinking about.
• You are a deep thinker
• You helped create the cutest child the world has ever seen.
• You love me
• You love the Lord
• You love Benjamin
• You cook great salmon
• You let me sleep with my knee in your back
• Sometimes we laugh so hard we almost cry which is always fun
• You are great at planning trips
• You love to travel
• You let me be a stay-at-home mom
• You encourage me to develop my talents
• You come from a great family; I absolutely love your parents
• You try to help me remember to not take myself too seriously
• You are great with directions, we never need to stop and ask for directions because you always know where we are and how to get to where we need to go
• You always say "Thanks for dinner"
• You help me rename our favorite dinners like Sloppy Lufkins, Stirfeeta, and Chicken Mush
• You love to exercise
• You watch Benjamin while I go to the gym
• You love to camp
• Our goals in life are the same
• You bring life to my family's Sunday dinners
• You keep me warm at night
• You're my best friend
• You listen to me
• You are so cute when you play with Benjamin
• You check my spelling and grammar on every post I do on the blog
• You helped me with my homework when I was in school
• You don't wake me up in the morning when you are getting ready for work (unless I ask you to)
• You chose me to be your wife

I love you!!!!

Hidden Talents

I love it when you try something new and find out you are actually kinda good at it. I don't like to toot my own horn but I love how these swaddling blankets turned out. Embroidering the stork didn't take me very long at all. I am so glad my mother-in-law gave me the idea to do it. I gave them as gifts to the ladies in my ward that just had babies, along with pictures and written directions of how I swaddle Benjamin. If any of you expecting mothers out their want one just let me know. I had a lot of fun making them.

Benjamin was such a good sport to model for my pictures :0)

While I am talking about crafts I can't leave without showing you my latest rice crispy treats. I made them for a going away party for our friends the Sampsons. We miss you so much Natalie!!!! Sacrament just isn't the same without you sitting in front of us.

Thanks Everyone

As you can see a lot of people helped me with ideas for mutual activities. The binders will be a constant work in progress. So if you didn't get your ideas to me yet, it's not too late. I will be adding more pages as ideas come up.

So keep sending in your great ideas.

Even if it is 6 months from now. I still want to hear about it.

I am so blessed to know such wonderful creative people!!!! You ladies are truly amazing. If you said you want a digital copy make sure you give me your email address so I can send it to you.

Thanks again!!! I couldn't have done it without you.

HELP!!!!!!!!!

HELP!!! HELP!!!! HELP!!!!

As many of you know I am the 1st counselor for the Young Women in my ward.

I have just been assigned to make an idea binder for mutual activities. I know it will help our planning meetings run a lot smoother, but that means I have to come up with tons of ideas.

I have already pulled a lot of ideas off of

SugarDoodle and Light Planet

*~*~ I would like your help too~*~*

I know most of you grew up in the church and went through the Young Women Program. And some of you have also served with the Young Women as a leader. I would really appreciate it if you each would send two or three ideas that either you did, your ward did, you have heard of people doing, or you just think would be fun.

I need everything from the extravagant that requires a lot of planning and prep; to the really easy activities that requires no prep at all.

They should fall under one of these topics:

• Spiritual
• Homemaking
• Skill building
• Unity building
• Service
• Sports
• Other
  
  If you can't login to leave a comment you can always send me an email. violet_lufkin@hotmail.com

If you would like a digital copy of the binder when I am done let me know. I would hate to go through all this work and then not share it.

(For those of you who are not LDS that means that I am a spiritual advisor, a mentor, a teacher, a friend, and so much more, for about 20 girls from the ages of 12-18, we teach them gospel lessons on Sunday and then get together once during the week for an hour to do activities together.) If you would like to learn more about this program and our church click here

Spring is Almost Here

Not that it ever gets really cold here, but we have seen a slight change in the weather. It is starting to get a little warmer and the sun shines almost every day. The animals are coming out and the flowers are starting to bloom. I have had a lot of fun taking pictures of things around our neighborhood.This is looking out our front door.These are flowers next to our house.

Because it is so beautiful outside, Benjamin and I have started walking every day. We live in such a wonderful little community it is always so peaceful. The other day I decided to take my camera and tripod along with me. Here are some of the shots I took.

I love getting out into the fresh air. Benjamin does too.

Best Hubby Ever!!!

Yesterday Tom called me while he was getting ready to come home from work. He said he had a surprise for me.

I love surprises!!!!!

(I am glad he didn't call me in the morning, I don't think I could have waited all day. I may have made a special trip to his work just to find out what it was.)

When he got home he gave me this book.

I am so excited to use it!!!!

My husband is so fabulous.

He knows me so well!!!!

I am one lucky lady.

If you are looking for great ideas of activities and crafts to do with your little ones click here or here . Make sure to check the links they have on the sides of their blogs.