Big Ben is the Big 3!

Ben's 3rd birthday was a good day. This was his tractor cake. I couldn't make the right color green so this had to do. Since it was his peanut butter birthday we had peanut butter pancakes for lunch and I put Reece's Pieces around the cake.

Ben got some fun gifts including 'Brown Bear, Polar Bear What Do You See?' game...And Gator Golf, and a new train and tracks for the Geo Trax system.

Everybody enjoyed the cake, ice cream and Reece's.

Ben was very tired by the end of the day. He talked on the phone with Nana, and Skyped on the computer with Oma and Opa, and Kevin, Sandi, and Emma. He loves watching himself on the Skype camera.

Keely's friend Pumpkin

This is Keely's new friend Pumpkin. She's Catherine and Court's dog. They are moving here to work for GenMills. They stayed with us for a week while in transition. The dogs had fun together but had a hard time deciding who the boss was. Then Pumpkin realized it was me! Every time she came inside, for Keely, it was like she was a new dog and they had to start all over. Pumpkin would put up with the growling and sniffing and then make her way to me and sit down and, of course, Keely would try and block her every move. After they left, Keely would wonder around the house looking for her. I think they'll be good friends. Keely wasn't as bad as I thought she would be with the new being in her midst.

snow day

Finally snow!! The boys aren't excited yet. It's still coming down. Ben is still sleeping at 9:00 because he is not feeling well. He had a temp of 101.5 yesterday and 102.8 at 4 this am. Sleep is good for him.

Upward B-Ball

Jakob started Upward Basketball games today. It seems to be 4 on 4, 6 quarters with Devotions at 1/2 time, and very lax on the rules. The refs were not really calling double dribble or traveling today, hopefully because it was only the first game. It seemed to go pretty fast. Jakob got his team's Hustle Star because he would get back to the baseline faster than anyone else when the other team got the ball and he generally knew where to go. He's a smart kid and when it comes to sports he really pays attention to what is going on. And he scored a basket!

Jakob and Steve at half-time devotions

Asst. Coach Steve trying to remind the kids where they need to be

kiddie karoke

Over Christmas break there was a lot of singing and piano playing. Jakob learned Away In A Manger on the piano at the Schrag's and the boys all had a great time performing at the Bowen's with the fireplace as a stage.
Ben learned at least part of Mama Mia this summer from the commercials for the movie, so I put on the song for him in the car so he could learn more. He did learn a little more but not much.
Jakob and Noah couldn't stand all the attention Ben was getting, so they had to get into the act too. And Max the dog makes a few appearances.
This is one of his many performances (just ignore the first part):

What he is saying over and over is, "Mama mia, how can I resist ya? Let you Go."
They also sang Lifesong, Oh No You Never Let Go, and Sweet Caroline and a few O.A.R. songs.
Singing is something the boys often do, but we don't get often get it on tape because they start to ham it up when the camera goes on.
All we need to do is get some instruments in their hands and we'll have the next Jonas Bros! Look out ladies! Here come the Schrag boys!
This is Jakob playing Away in a Manger at the Anne and Milo Schrag Christmas in Moundridge.

Our boys are so talented!