Name That Benich!

For you regulars who poke around in the blogging world, this will be easy for you, as 3 of these faces have been posted here before. Your challenge...name those Benich faces!! I was lucky enough for both of our mothers to contribute our 6 month pictures. I can only say that when I saw them, I nearly fell down. There is NO DOUBT who Aubree belongs to!!! She has Benich written all over her face!

What's funny though, is how the kids can look like different people depending on their expressions. Let me see if I can illustrate this point through pictures...

Benich genes...

After seeing these pictures, Tom now refers to our baby girl as "Mini Me". Thank goodness we're not close to Halloween!!!

Now here, I think she tends to look a lot like Brock in this picture...so does that mean Brock had the Benich genes too??

The Lone Ranger???

Well, eventually the Dornak genes seemed to kick in!!

Happy Birthday Brock!

Well, it's official. I have a FOUR year old! I still find that hard to believe.

With the house up for sale, and the baby shower planning, and a couple million other things, we had a pretty small party this year...and I actually LOVED it!

Fewer things to think about, fewer party favors to make (and better!), fewer thank-you's to write, etc. :) But not to worry...ALL THE FUN!!!

On Monday, Brock's birthday, we brought cupcakes to his class. After school, we stopped at McDonalds for some play time!

Tuesday afternoon, we planned to celebrate Brock's birthday at Incredible Pizza. We told him he could take two friends of his choice. He picked Kaitlin, his long-time best friend from school. (They literally started daycare on the very same day in April of 2005. They have been together ever since.) He also wanted to bring his best bud, JP. JP lives on the street and the boys have so much fun together. It's so much fun to watch boys play together. It's completely different from watching girls! Like I've said before...raising a boy is a very enlightening and exciting experience! I wish everyone could do it!

On Saturday, we hosted a baby shower for my sister. After the shower, we had a family party for Brock at my mom's house. His almost-cousins (My cousin's kids) were there. They had a BLAST! I only wish I could have captured the silly string war on camera!! I was too busy with the shower to be outside for all the exciting kid-moments!

Prayer Request...

I had so many wonderful stores to post. We've had a VERY busy week and had lots of exciting adventures...such as birthday parties, baby showers, seeing family, etc.

Unfortunately, towards the end of my sister's baby shower, my cousin's fiance received a phone call anyone would dread. Her brother had been in a terrible car accident. I am heartbroken to report he passed away very soon after the accident. My prayers go to her, her father, and the boy's twin brother. What makes this story even more heartwrenching is that her mother passed away just a few years ago. She is in the midst of wedding planning, with two showers coming up in March. My heart aches even though I cannot begin to understand the unsurmountable pain she and her family is experiencing.

Please keep her and her family in your prayers. She is one of the very sweetest and most lovable girl I know. My cousin, who I love dearly, is so lucky to have found someone like her! I thank God she has an unbelievable relationship with her future in-laws and lives close by so they can help her through this difficult time.

Lord, in times like this, it's hard to understand your Will. It's hard to understand why things like this happen to such wonderful people. I ask that you comfort them and keep them close. Reunite mother and son in Your Kingdom and may they both watch over their family from up above. Amen.

Valentines, Rodeo and Lots of Fun!

WHAT A CRAZY FEW DAYS!!! And LOTS MORE TO COME!

Here's a quick run-down on what the Benich family has been up to...

Friday, 2/13 - Valentine's Parties at school!
Saturday, 2/14 - Spent the day at the San Antonio Rodeo!
Sunday, 2/15 - House Hunting!
Monday, 2/16 - Brock's FOURTH Birthday (we'll dedicate another Blog post just for this one soon!), cupcakes at school, Aubree's 6-month checkup & shots :(
Tuesday, 2/17 -Brock's mini-party at Incredible Pizza
Friday, 2/20 - Brock's 4-year checkup and shots :( , off to Cuero to prepare for more fun
Saturday, 2/21 - Dede's Baby Shower in Cuero, followed by a small family birthday party for Brock
Is ANYONE as TIRED as I am??? All this, and somehow I work full time and must keep the house cleaned for showings! Good thing I have such a great husband who helps out with all this stuff!

Tom came home Friday afternoon with a lovely Valentine's bouquet for me, Spiderman candy for Brock and a single Pink Rose for his baby girl! What a GUY!!


Brock had a TON of FUN at the Rodeo! His favorite thing was riding the "horse merry go round". Aubree even tried out some horse riding before we left home. We love her pink boots from Uncle Jeff! What little cowgirl doesn't need pink boots???

Stirring his lasso...like chocolate milk!

My Little Piggies are "Pig-ture" Perfect!

Having fun in the petting zoo!

The Benich Family in their cowboy hats!

1/2 Today!

Our little princess is 6 months old...or, 1/2 a year!

In grand Dornak family tradition, she had a 1/2 birthday cake to celebrate this milestone! Aubree was going on about 4 hours without a nap, and nearly fell asleep in her cake...but she did seem to enjoy it! It was the best thumb-sucking flavor she's ever had!!!!











For Fun, here are some other 6-month superstars! (If I can dig up a 6-month picture of Tom, we'll post it soon!)

Brock Austin @ 6 months (8/05)

Lorelei Anne @ 6 months (10/79)

They Make Me Laugh

Well, I've found if I go too long between blogs (too long meaning more than one day!), I can't ever choose what story or event to blog about! One thing is for sure...my kids keep getting funnier by the day! For all you parents out there, those of you with older kids can probably agree that each "phase" just gets better than the last! For those of you with younger kids...all I can say is if you think they're brilliant and funny now...just wait until next year when they'll blow you away again!
Brock's current kick is Superman and Star Wars. As a mom who had no older brothers growing up, it's very eye-opening and entertaining! I'm learning more about super heroes than I ever knew possible. I am also being enlightened into a whole new childhood through the eyes of a boy. QUITE different from the girl perspective! I've said this many times, but I feel SO blessed to have both a boy and a girl. Aubree is only nearing 6 months old, but they are already so different. It's so much fun to experience the super hero fantasies through little boys and know I have the ballerina princess fairy tales coming with my baby girl.

Here is just a sampling of the fun we've been having lately:

Some people use this as a baby activity mat...apparently, we use it as the living room centerpiece! I don't know who is having the most fun here...the kids or the dog!


Brock and Elise swing at the park. I think both of their faces are hilarious!


I'm cleaning my room...glance over, and Brock...um, I'm sorry, Spiderman, is walking over to me with Q-tips hanging out of his ears and he's singing his own Valentine's Day Song. WHERE does he come up with this stuff??


That's my girl!!! Miss Flexibility at a young age! Her momma can still high kick like a champ! Though, these days, I pay for it the day after!


My little Lady...Bug.


LOVE the GRIN!!! With ALL those months of fussiness...this grin is HEAVEN!


OINK! OINK! Brock shows off his barnyard side at Addison's birthday party!


Spiderman and Spiderbear. The next Batman & Robin!


I get a kick out of this picture...and love those eyes!


My little pink & chocolate princess!

Wine of the Month Club

Tom gave me the BEST gift EVER for Christmas this year! He enrolled me in the Wine of the Month Club! It was so thoughtful and something I'd never get for myself, or ask for! Those are the BEST kind of gifts! I've had a lot of fun trying out new wines...but so far I have found out I have pretty cheap taste!


In this Wine Club, I get all white wines. Some I can pronounce, some I can't. Some are delicious, some are not quite my favorite. The one thing consistent is the thrill I get every month when I open my wine package to find the newest treat waiting for me!!


Thanks Honey! I absolutely LOVE IT!!!

I Believe

I received a good email from my mother-in-law today and it inspired me to share some of the statements I read, and create some of my own!

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
You should always forgive...but you don't have to set yourself up to be hurt again.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
As much as you say "Do as I say, not as I do", your children WILL follow by example. Walk straight, make good decisions and set the right example for them.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
A child's smile can turn a bad day into a blessed day.

I Believe...
Love fails, only when you fail to Love.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.