Jammies, Swings and Matching Shirts

Today was PJ Day at Mother's Day Out. Ben had to have a new pair (per mommy...) and I was thrilled to find these for 8.00 at Kohl's. They have plaid pants with them, and they matched his teddy bear slippers.

It's beginning to become impossible to get a full picture of him with the newfound fascination with his, well...eh hmm.

Where does that come from???

Four months after moving into our house and I finally have his swing back in the yard...right as he outgrows it! Well, Luke will be in it in a few months, so at least it's up. He looks huge in this picture. I couldn't get the camera to expose right, it was sort of twilight out.

Jenny made the boys matching "Big Brother...Little Brother..." shirts forever ago and we are just now getting the boys into them. Luke looks like such a little elf in this picture.

And there's a stretch...

This afternoon we went on a walk. There's an amazing bike/walking trail that runs through west Conway, and there's an access point right at the end of our subdivision. Ben loved being out and about...there is a large creek as well, and he threw rocks into the water every few feet. It just felt good to be outside. The weather - well, it just goes without saying.

Hopefully it's past and we can all enjoy our weekend.

Have a great one.

Continuing the Easter Excitement...And a Small Discourse on My Love of PAAS Easter Egg Dye

The events of Saturday morning behind us, we all rested during the afternoon and had some family time that evening. Ben actually sat at the table and ate (it took his portable DVD player being on the table and the "Christmas" Grinch...aka the original animated version...for him to sit there, but progress is progress, people).

After dinner and bath time, we dyed our Easter Eggs.

Now, I'm a bit of a traditionalist in case that hasn't come across before. Things were just meant to be a certain way. Eggs were made to be dyed in your teacups, not plastic cups. And certainly not in the cups with the dye already in them. No, you have to add 3T of vinegar and drop the tablets in so that they fizz. That's the way God made it.

And it's the only time you use your teacups, so that makes it all the more mandatory.

And the dye has to be PAAS. No knock-offs. If they still came with little cardboard finger puppets and a fold-out stage, I'd have put on a show for us. I LOVE Easter Eggs that much.

Ben tried to use the copper dipper but he wasn't quite there coordination wise.

(If they ever take out the copper dippers I might need to be sedated. The day they started including TWO in the box I almost shed a tear out of sheer joy).

I can already tell Luke understands the importance of proper Egg Dyeing Protocol...

Look how he holds that copper dipper...I'm a proud Daddy.

While we waited on the last few eggs to dye, I had a discussion with Ben about why, exactly, we were not going to "Hide" from the Easter Bunny while he came...

My ten minute spiel on allowing the color to set before touching the eggs apparently lulled Luke to sleep.

Ahh...on to the baskets. One of my favorite stories from when I was an infant is of my brother leaving a note for the bunny (he was 7 years old at the time) saying, "Dear Easter Bunny: My Babby brother is only 6 months old...no teeth. Clothes will do." Thankfully that year the Easter Bunny had a sailor suit (much too big) tucked away for another occasion, so all was right with the world. Likewise, Luke received clothes.

Easter Morning...Luke in his ducky gown watching Ben search for eggs.

We had to make time hunting eggs...we had three services back to back this morning and I had to be at work earlier than usual.

He thought it was the absolute silliest thing ever that the Easter Bunny would scatter our eggs all over our house.

I think it took Jenny two hours to get the boys ready for church. Bless her. I'll NEVER be able to help her in this capacity. It's not fair...maybe she can start going to the 8:30 svc and I can at least have Ben dressed before I leave.

We weren't originally going to put Luke in this for Easter (since it's not smocked...again, tradition...but it was one tradition or another. The smocked outfit was Ben's. This was new. Tradition of new clothes trumps smocked outfits).

And it doesn't get any sweeter than this...

Confession: Shoes and socks are hand-me-downs. Could he be any more adorable?

Our family traditions are another important part of this weekend. My parents usually come to my events on Saturday, and then we spend some time on Sunday with Jenny's parents. Dad's still recovering from pneumonia so they missed The Drop :(

Sunday afternoon we were with Jenny's mom's side of the family. Ben has a second cousin who is six months younger. It's funny how much more ahead girls can be for their age because it was like they were at the exact same stage.

Dalyn's parents are celebrating their anniversary in the Bahamas. I think we're all hoping they'll have another baby, but Dalyn was OBSESSED with Luke. She'll make a great older sister someday.

I can't get over how big he looks here.

Nikko, one of many cousins with red hair, playing skateboarders with Ben. Nikko was a newborn the very first Easter I spent out on this deck.

Dalyn celebrates something...

Jenny wanted to get one last pic of the boys on Easter...both in the shirts she made for them.

Look at this precious face...he's such a laid-back baby.

Though he's not too sure what's up with this basket.

Hope you all had a fantastic Easter Weekend.

THE DROP

Words can't even begin to describe our Egg Drop this morning. Thanks to 2BC member and photographer Todd Owens for dedicating his time and STRAPPING HIMSELF to the outside of the chopper to get these amazing photos.

Our crowd waiting patiently...

Our senior pastor, who was like a kid in a candy store, was the official Egg Dropper.

Eggs Dropped, barrier tape down, kids EVERYWHERE.

Luke, of course, missed everything.

This was our vantage point...

We thought Ben might be a little fearful of the chopper, but he was VERY excited.

"Here it comes, Dad!"

My Egg...I love it!

In a day or two I'll post more details. For now...HUGE success.

Can We Talk About This...

Hillary, one of Jenny's long-time BF's, gave birth to Sadie last week. Sadie...AKA Luke's Future Wife, is such a doll.

And if this isn't symbolic of Jenny and Hillary's relationship I don't know what is...Luke chillin and relaxed...Sadie bright-eyed and ready to go!

Visit HERE to see more of Sadie.

THE DROP

Weekend Adventures

This past Friday my grandfather turned 95. I decided a couple of weeks back that we would have a small get-together for him at the retirement home (we were already planning to be in town that weekend).

The Cake. It couldn't have a name on it because it would have had to read:

Happy Birthday Dad, Mr. Bunch, Rev. Bunch, Bro. Bunch, Carl, PaPa B & Poppy B.

I guess when you live that long you've got a string of names you answer to.

PaPa is a hoot. He never misses a beat, and always knows exactly where he is and what is going on. Much more than I can say for myself at 33.

Benjamin came right in and started in on the cake (which was delicious...just a plain ole' Kroger Sheet Cake). I could eat it all day. Benjamin's arrival a few years ago gave PaPa a sigh of relief. He was, at that time, the only one out of 6 kids, 14 grandkids, and over two dozen great grandkids who could potentially carry on the name.

Of course, now we have TWO boys who can carry on the name.

But this one's going to have to wake up first.

All the single ladies roll your chairs up...

All the single ladies roll your chairs up...

PaPa has quite the following when it comes to those of the widowing kind. I think at one point there were over 30 women there. And none of them, I will add, was afraid to give her opinion on any and every subject. I was absolutely going non-stop preparing the drinks and setting things up when one of the ladies yelled out, "Well are you gonna fix me a drink or not?"

Meanwhile, Ben and Abby were having a grand time, as usual. In this pic they had just finished watching Tangled and started in on Beauty and the Beast. I think my father had enough fantasy/fiction to last him a few years.

I know this pic isn't clear and I should have cropped in closer, but I just love how they are playing soccer together. I also love the sun shadows and the fact that everything is turning green. My parents have this amazing back porch and terrific view. I need to head back up and help mom with her planting soon. Jonesboro weather is so crazy you danged-near can't plant spring/summer flowers until June.

Luke was in a great mood late Saturday night. Guess he was glad to be back home. He was absolutely laughing out loud at the big clock that hangs over our bed. He loves anything red.

Ben reading "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" to Baby Luke. This moment lasted for about 70 seconds. Then Ben wanted Luke to "go away."

We HAVE to start taking pictures with our real camera and stop just grabbing the phone. We have a really nice camera, but we're just bad about the battery being charged and the flash card being ready. Ww will try to do better.

Hope you all have a great second half of the week!

One Month

It's hard to believe it, but our little Luke is a month old; in fact, he is five weeks today. It seems like it is going by so quickly. Maybe that's because it's all more routine with the second one. I hope we're not missing anything, it just seems so easy and familiar with Luke.

We took both boys to the doctor this morning. Benjamin was due to have his three year-old well child checkup, and this was Luke's one month checkup.

Benjamin weighed in at 37 pounds and measured 41 inches tall. FORTY. ONE. INCHES. Holy cow...he's a kindergartener. He is in the 99th percentile on height...big shock there AND the 95th percentile on weight. This from the kid who will not eat. Period. Dr. P said Benjaman just proved his theory from raising his own son..."Kids will grow on nothing but air sometimes." When he checked his ears, one tube has fallen out and one tube remains. Dr. M at Arkansas Otolaryngology told us in September that "if he can make it with these tubes through the winter, we're in good shape." We did. PRAISE. THE. LORD.

Luke is in the 98th percentile on height (he's grown three inches in five weeks!) and the 57th on weight. The weight isn't a concern...he's just not a big eater right now. He's gained 2.5 pounds since he was born. Dr. P isn't worried in the least. Luke has been extremely irritable when he needs to burp, especially during the early morning hours. Warning to my family in Jonesboro: you will be awakened in the middle of the night when we come this weekend...doesn't matter what part of the house you're in. This kid has some lungs. We're going to try some OTC medicine and see what we can do to settle his stomach. Dr. P said this should be gone by 4 months.

Jenny goes in two weeks for her follow-up, and we're hoping she will be released to start lifting things, because Daddy is tiring of carrying 37-pound Benjamin in one arm and 20 pounds of baby and car-seat in the other. That's a lot of Bunch Boy to tote around.

This was Luke on Saturday...his One Month Birthday.

All I can say is Thank Goodness for different hair color, because these two boys look SO much alike.

Ben Flexing, Mother's Day 2008

Luke Flexing, April 2011

So thankful for my two healthy boys.

This weekend we're celebrating my grandfather's 95th Birthday. Dad turned 70 a few weeks ago...this is seriously crazy to think how old our family is getting. Dad's sister (who is only 18 months older than he) said a few weeks ago, "Dad (my grandfather) has lived so long, his kids are getting too old to care for him!" It's crazy. Thank goodness we're blessed with health to accompany the longevity.

I called the director of the retirement home yesterday to make sure we were on the book for his little party/reception. Papa wants to invite his "friends" which makes me laugh. I asked the director how many I could expect and his reply was, "Well, this is YOUR grandfather we're talking about..." basically meaning everyone will drop in. No one call the fire marshall, I'm sure that many Hovarounds parked in one hallway is a fire hazard.

Have a great second half of your week!

Brothers

I don't think their shirts matched on purpose. Ben had worn his to church Sunday morning, and Luke wound up in his later in the day. Then we noticed they matched.

Ben has his moments. Jenny drops him off at church for Bible Study and the late service, then I bring him home...otherwise he would be there five hours like his daddy :)

Sunday when we returned home, he went straight to Luke and kissed him and told him that he was cute...that he was sweet, etc.

Then he went to his table and ate a chicken nugget.

Then he walked over and smacked Luke on the head.

Then he went to time-out.

So begins the next 20 years of time outs and "tell your brother you're sorry"s.

Happy Mid-Week.