Doing It All, All At Once

Last week was crazy. It's like, we don't do anything really worth mentioning for days and days, and then in one week we do it all. Matt was awesome and put all the pictures on here for me, so all I need to do is caption them with the coordinating stories.

After Conference weekend we got busy planning for Bennett's third birthday party, held on a random Thursday night. We are cool and do a very generic "birthday" theme every year, usually with a text message invitation. This year we got balloons, streamers, and party hats (a must-have on Bennett's list) and invited over a "few" friends (like, 30). We had a great time playing in the backyard, opening presents, and eating ice cream, popsicles, and Matt's special birthday bunt cake (but Bennett got to blow out the candles). It was very simple and very fun, and Bennett talked about it for days afterward. Matt didn't really have a party this year, but we did go shopping at the mall a few days ago and got him some nice things. And the cookie store messed up and gave us a bunch of free cookies that were really, really good, so it all panned out in the end.

Bennett's third birthday party.

Blowing out the candles (he is really good at doing this, since Bennett has a thing for birthdays and he is always practicing his happy birthday singing and candle blowing.)

Just a few of the friends that were there. Apparently Bennett is a very popular guy
(especially with the ladies)

When we were preparing to have the party earlier in the afternoon, I was inside putting up the streamers and Matt was outside mowing the lawn when he suddenly came in the house and told me not to let Bennett in the backyard because there was a snake. Since Bennett was napping, I wasn't very concerned...until Matt showed me the 4'' tail he had cut off with the lawnmower, and then described to me how the other 3 feet of snake had climbed up into our tree house. I thought surely he must be exaggerating, until he climbed up into the tree (talk about an adrenaline rush!) and found the poor guy to finish him off.

Bennett woke up before we got the snake, and he was very involved in the entire process of catching and killing it...from a safe distance.

We don't know really what kind of snake it was, but it looked a lot like a Water Moccasin...which would make no sense...

The weekend after Bennett's birthday we made a day trip down to San Antonio to celebrate Easter with Matt's family. Only two of the nine kids (and their families) were missing from the group, so there was plenty of food, games, candy (candy, and more candy) and cousins for Bennett to play with. We all had a great time hanging out and catching up with each other, and of course, eating candy.

Starting the day out with some face paint. Bennett thought a spider would be most appropriate for the Easter holiday.

Gearing up for the big Easter egg hunt. Bennett did very well for himself, without any help at all from me, thank you very much. A champion has been born. (p.s- please note that pink is Bennett's new favorite color. Matt is hoping this phase passes quickly.)

Bennett and his cousin Walker looking for eggs. They were a good team.

Showing Pop our spoils.

The boy cousins...with bows in their hair from an Easter basket. Nice touch.

After the festivities at the house, we all trekked down to do a little zip-lining over the pond. I really wanted to go, but resisted on the part of fetal safety. As it turned out it was a good thing I did, since on one of the times Matt went down the entire zip line broke and he fell straight into the pond, boots and all. Bennett and I were in the paddle boat at the time, so we helped rescue him (at extreme risk to our own lives, as the boat almost sunk dragging him out) but it was worth it just for the laugh factor. Poor Matt.

After that people started stripping down or just jumping into the pond fully clothed, and suddenly we had a full-out swimming party in Maimie and Pop's pond.

Since swimming in the pond was a very spontaneous decision, nobody was really very prepared. There were a lot of little underweared bodies in the water on this day.

"Hanging out" with dad.

After a make-shift wardrobe change, we ended the day with the traditional shotgun shoot. I even shot a few rounds and scared myself to death. I am not winning any marksmen competitions in the near future, but I will at least pull the trigger (which is a huge improvement over my shooting skills in the past).

The Monday after Easter weekend Matt had off work (because of Easter) and he surprised me with a fantastic date night to dinner and The Hunger Games. If you will remember, I totally neglected Bennett for three days while I read this book series, and Matt was able to read them during the down time at his Hospital Administration Course in San Antonio this last month. I was a little hesitant to see the movie though, because I loved the books so much and didn't want the movie to ruin that for me, but I was not disappointed. I thought they did a really good job on everything and stayed right with the basic plot of the book...except that Peta was supposed to be way cuter. Luckily for me I was already with a cute boy, so I didn't mind too much. It was a very fun night.

We also got to/were required to, attend a very fancy schmancy military ball the following Thursday evening, complete with live band, fireworks, dancing, and Miss Texas herself. The guest list was impressive with governors and high-ranking officials, and we were seated at one of the VIP tables (oddly enough). Usually military balls are not something I necessarily look forward to entertainment wise, but this one was actually really fun, and we even got to hang out with one of my good friends the whole night. Matt and I both agreed this was easily the best ball we'd been to in our military career. Thank goodness, it's about time!

At a gas station on the way to the ball, waiting for Matt to return with my salted potato chips. I really needed them right then.

This is why. Matt should get an award after this pregnancy.

Mattie and me at our table. It was all outdoors with big covered tents and Japanese lanterns. Like a fancy wedding reception. Very nice.

Me and my good friend Sarah. She is due in July as well, and apparently modest formal maternity dresses only come in one color. Oh well. We made those dresses look good.

And since Matt uploaded most of these photos, here is one of him fishing with his Army buddy this last weekend.

I don't think they caught anything, but it was more for the company than the fish anyway.

All in all it has been a little crazy trying to keep things straight around here, but it sure has been fun. Summer has almost officially started, and we are gearing up for swimming and three o'clock ice cream time. Life is so good.