Back from Vegas!

Well, our trip was great!! The best part was just being with Scott and getting to be a "couple" again for a few days. We got ready when we wanted, went where we wanted, came back when we wanted. No naps or bedtimes, which was a nice treat for 4 days!! That place is amazing - the amount of money that people are "giving" away. We passed one table where the minimum bet was $300!!! Just lay $300 down, one turn of the roulette wheel and it could be gone in 15 seconds. That just amazes me. Even the penny slot machines take a credit card!!!! But it was very interesting to see. I still love NY - I didn't leave Vegas wanting to move there like I did when we left NY!!! We had a great time and glad to be back.

Scott has left for another trip yesterday until next Thursday :( We miss him so much. This is getting to be alittle too much travelling. His travelling only really seems to hit twice a year when it's really busy, but I DO NOT like those 2 times!!! So, we are counting the days til daddy is home again and then it's Thanksgiving!! My favorite time. Then we can get our Christmas tree!!!!

Here are some pictures - blogger is taking stinkin long to do these, so I'll only bore you with a few!!

Here we are at the Hoover Dam:

The Valley of Fire was amazing!!! It looked just like on Road Runner and Coyote cartoons!!

We are in the Venetian hotel and there is a waterway where you can take a boat through the shops there. This was at midnight - the ceilings are painted so it always looks like daytime!!

This was outside Ceasar's Palace - we had great weather!

And now, to change subjects - to introduce you to little Celebrate...

This cat had gotten himself into the bed, under the covers and on Scott's pillow all by himself. He really thinks that he is a person!!! I have never seen a cat make himself so at home!!!

And that's all folks...

10 Hours and Counting!!

I am all packed and minus one kid and one cat...

After I get Emma to school - I'm OFF TO VEGAS, BABY!

No new posts until Saturday - like I've posted with any regularity anyway. And thanks to both of our moms and dads, Scott got a new digital camera for his birthday, so we should have some pictures of the big city to share.

Have a great week everyone and mom, thanks for keeping the kids and Celebrate for us!!! I'll try to win you some money :)

Another Maelynn classic...

I went to get my hair trimmed last night and went to kiss the girls when I got home. This is the conversation with Maley...

Maley: "Oo get your hair cut?"
Me: "Yes." (I turn around)
Maley: "Looks nice. Did Miss Heather cut your hair?"
Me: "No. Tena, Uncle Kyle's step-mother, did."
Maley: "Uncle Kyle's step-mother?!?"
Me: "Yes, Uncle Kyle has a step-mother."
Maley: "The step-mother who killed No Night (Snow White) ?!?!?"

I laughed so hard. Her little mind works in ways that I cannot understand. Even this morning she asked me again if Uncle Kyle's stepmother is the one who killed Snow White!!!

And now the cat formerly known as Celebrate...

...has been changed to Frustrate!! Let me just warn everybody that once something poops on my bed, you have been officially moved to my frustrate list! I don't think that I made that clear to little Celebrate when I welcomed her into our home. We came home last night to a little pile of poop on our bed (inbetween our pillows, no less) and this is my new bedding!! A little pile of poop in the corner of our room, and one more cute pile of poop under our bed. Soooooooo, I'm adopting the Jewish custom of not naming a creature until we see it's true personality and self and have officially changed it's name to Frustrate. (I don't think that Emma will go for that, so it will be Frustrate in my mind forever.) This thing should thank it's lucky stars that he was Emma's birthday present, because if not, he may have found himself outside last night....and every other night.

Maybe I'm weird, but the thought of poop or pee sitting and lingering in some obscure corner of my house just about sends me over the edge of reason. I was on all fours last night crawling around the house looking under beds, couches, furniture - everywhere for some other cute piles. Only the 3 in OUR BEDROOM!! (This thing knows he needs to win my over again, he's sitting in my lap with its paws on my chest just looking up at me, purring - nice try, I'm an obsessive-compulsive weirdo - this thing will have to try harder than that!!!)

We did have a great time at the fair last night, though. The kids had a blast on the rides. The 3 of them sat together on all the rides because they're so tiny and the looks on their faces was priceless! (If there was a digital camera at the Benson household, I could share them with you :) Jars of Clay was packed and so we had to stand and hold the kids so they could see (Maley had her little ears covered the whole time) so we didn't stay long. It was a good night and Emma had fun. Now, it's off to Story time at the library for Maley (she gets to dress like a pirate, so this should be fun). Then we're planning for Emma's party tomorrow. THIS IS THE LAST BIRTHDAY PARTY UNTIL MALEY IS 6 AND EMMA TURNS 10. There, I've put it in writing, I will not be conned into another party until then.

Until later...

Happy 6th Birthday, Emma!!!

OK - we had one VERY EXCITED child when we walked in her room this morning to wake her up. She had a cold, wet lick on her face. She sat straight up in bed and said, "YOU GOT ME A BABY KITTEN?!?!?" "I have wanted a cat for my WHOLE LIFE!" So, dad and I are heros!! She was laughing and hugging and kissing this little thing - She was so happy that I couldn't have been happier!

And, the name of this new little thing is.........drum roll, please.......................Celebrate! We are calling this cat Celebrate Benson. How fitting!!

We just got back from taking cupcakes and pretzels to her class. Maelynn thought she was big stuff getting to eat with the big kids and getting to line up with them to go potty. She really didn't want to leave until I told her that we needed to go home to check on Celebrate. "Right" she says, "Because she doesn't have a mama there to help her." So true.

I was getting a little worried because Celebrate hadn't used the litter box since we brought him home. Got home today and still no clumps. So, I sat him in there and immediately he started scratching and did his business - a lot of it!! So, maybe he couldn't find the litter box. I DO NOT want this thing to do his business elsewhere - I will not stand for my house smelling of pee!!! So, keep using the litter box, Celebrate!

OK - I must go. Maley is laying in the floor coloring and this cat is laying beside her just watching her draw. She just told Celebrate, "Look, I just drew you!" So, they are having a great time together. OH - I didn't tell Maelynn that we had a cat when I got her up this morning. She was eating breakfast and the cat came walking into the kitchen and she looked down and said, "Hey, Cat." And kept eating. I said, "Maley, we have a cat in the house now!" She said, "Did he knock on the door to come in?" I guess she thought he just needed a home, knocked on the door and I let him in to stay?!? I'm just waiting to see which one of the girls will try to dress this cat and put it into the stroller first! I will have to let you know, because it is just a matter of time!

THis picture I was trying to get onto the last blog, but it wouldn't go...so here it is. This is after Logan's game and Maley is saying "Good bob!" (Good job)

Busy times in Bensonland

Well, I know that you were all surprised to see that the dentist visit is no longer first blog. (If there is still anyone checking, that is.) We have had a very busy week.

Let me fill you in on Emma's shot - horrible!! Scott took her and I have never seen such 2 serious faces walk through that door - ever! Scott said she screamed and yelled like he couldn't believe. So, that didn't go well, good thing she won't need another until she's a brave teenager (fingers crossed!)

Wenesday - Scott left for DC. Emma was out of school on Thursday and Friday, so the girls got to play, we had a picnic and went to the park. Then Friday was the BIG grocery day. I took both of them with me, so that was an experience I have not had in awhile.

Friday night my mom and sister came over for supper and then they spent the night here - my dad was working and Logan and Kyle had a "boys night". We had such a good time, just the girls!!

Saturday - my sister and I got up at 7:00 to get ready for yard sale #2! I was tired of stepping around everything in our garage, so we decided to throw everything in the front yard and see what could be sold. I made another $240!! Not bad for a morning of sitting in my yard in the beautiful fall weather. We drank so much coffee and hot chocolate because it was cold!! The girls had gloves and scarves on - it wasn't quite that cold - and we were laughing because they are 1/2 Canadian!!! Then we went to Logan's soccer game in the afternoon - which he won. He is so good at soccer!! Saturday night Kyle was nice and kept the 3 kids so mom, Amanda and I could go shopping for Emma's party and her gift.

Sunday was church and Scott's return. We had our Bible study Sunday night - a couple from our previous church came to visit our new church Sunday and came to the Bible study, so it was good to see them. Hopefully, they will be back to visit again.

This week, we have been getting ready for the BIG day tomorrow - Emma's 6th birthday. I just got back from picking up her present and right now, I have a very curious kitten watching my fingers and trying to walk on the keyboard. She walked on a key and published this post in the middle of it. Hopefully, I can get it fixed before anybody catches me!! Emma is going to be so excited when she wakes up in the morning!!! She won't want to go to school. When she gets home, after naps, we are taking them to the fair. Friends, Amanda, Kyle and Logan are going with us. Jars of Clay are going to be there in concert - so it should be a great night.

Tonight we went to my mom's for Emma's birthday supper and cake and presents. She got a very cool CD player / alarm clock. Now maybe she won't have to listen to the Rolling Stones or news about Australia! Mom even got her some kid CD's to listen to. She thinks she is so coooolll! Amanda got her 2 sweaters for her sleigh dog (he's stuffed and from Alaska and she takes him everywhere she goes). So now he has a Halloween sweater and Christmas sweater. She's already dressed him!!

Friday is Emma's party, so she is very excited about that. I will have to write how that goes. (the cat is sitting on the back of my chair and is leaned over my shoulder smelling my ear and purring - it tickles!!!) I'm not sure what Emma will name this kitten. With names that she has picked for stuffed animals like Bamboo Hawk Angel or Bobby Fra-Fra - who knows what this poor thing will be called!! (Yes, those are actual names that my child thought of!)

Saturday is Scott's birthday, so no yard sales this weekend. But we are planning another one for October 14! I'm addicted to saling things! As long as people comes around and wants to buy my junk, I'll sale it!!

Well, I'm tired and tomorrow is going to be a busy one. I will write later and hopefully more frequently.