We celebrated Ben's birthday today because Scott is going into an outpatient surgery on Tuesday to have a cancerous mole removed from his cheek. We appreciate all prayers in his behalf on Tuesday. As a result, we decided to celebrate Ben's birthday a couple of days early. He requested a "giant cookie cake". So I made a pan full of blondies, which were delish! I've never tried them before but I have now fallen in love. They are basically giant caramel squares with chocolate chips in them. How could you go wrong? Delightful. Anyway, back to the birthday fun~
He got a present from his sister Julia which was an interesting assortment of all the odds and ends she could find in her room that she didn't want anymore. Included items were: a blue lego, a cheap notebook, a new pencil, an old pencil, several pieces of her Halloween candy that she didn't want, a plastic horse toy, a used eraser...You get the picture. I guess it's the thought that counts?
Here's his new flannel blankie.
And taking a page out of the wisdom of the book of my parents we purchased Ben his very own basketball hoop like they did for Ryan when Julia was born. That was the best $20 dollars they ever spent on anything, Ryan got so much use out of it and loved it SO much, and we're already on that path for Ben. We spent a little more than $20, but he loves it and has spent all evening shooting hoops. Even the older kids spent a good hour playing hoops with him. The legacy lives on!
This is the "Adjust and Jam" Litte Tikes Basketball Set we bought for Benjamin's 5th Birthday. I would not suggest buying it. It has been a nothing but a major pain in my side. First the net would not stay in place. I finally got twisty ties that come with garbage bags and rigged them into each and every slot to keep the net in place. PAIN! Then the rim would not stay up, it kept falling down. Finally I noticed a hole in the middle of the plastic rim closest to the backboard and I figured out a way to jimmy rig the thing up and over the backboard with some yarn. The yarn that I used was made out of cotton, so it kept ripping. So then, I decided to reinforce the yarn with masking tape. AAAHHHHHHHHHH!! Is anyone else sick of this basketball hoop yet?
Yesterday the yarn that had not been reinforced with masking tape ripped. So I took all of that yarn off and decided that an acrylic yarn would probably work better. So, that is what I spent this morning doing. Hopefully, it will last longer than 1 day. I think my next stop is wire if the acrylic yarn doesn't work. Anyway, we have taken to calling it the Golden Gate Basketball hoop since the rigging resembles the wiring on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And remember dear friends, if the plastic of the rim does not directly insert into the plastic of the backboard, DO NOT BUY THE DANG THING!
