Well it has been 2 years since I first started it and a lot has changed. It is not just the Benson boys anymore there is an addition. A little princess names Sophia, who happened to turn 1 yesterday. Today she had her 1 year check up and got 5 shots. Lets just say she is not happy with mommy right now and she is going to let me know.

Lets get everyone caught up. We are still living in Maryland. We live in the house I spent most of my teenage years in. I lost my job in October 2008 and then a few months later I was pregnant with the gift you see to the right. If it wasn't hard enough to find a job in this economy it is even harder when you look pregnant. They will never say that they aren't hiring you because of it, but you know. I just recently passed my insurance licensing exam and am now an independent insurance agent for Aflac. It isn't perfect in this economy, but it is something. Not that I don't have enough to do with taking care of 4 kids, but I love to work. Coleman had back surgery at the end of April this year. It was a long road to recovery, but he is doing amazing. It is nice to have my husband back. He can do things that he couldn't do before without an immense amount of pain. He is no longer working in the drilling industry, but instead in the delivery industry. Last month he started with UPS and it is going great. He loves the job and I think this is the only job he has ever honestly said that about. I'm just happy he has found something that he enjoys doing.

The boys are growing up so fast. I look at CJ and see a little man. He is now in 4th grade and is loving school. The boys go to St. Joan of Arc school, which is a small Catholic school in Aberdeen. The small school has really helped him. The kids that were in his class last year are the ones in his class this year. I think for him the small class size has helped him out a lot. He loves math and science and is really good at it. He loves playing sports. His favorite of course is lacrosse, but he is really started to understand football more. His team has made it to the playoffs so they have that game this Saturday against Edgewood-Joppatowne. I hate to talk negatively but it will really take a miracle for them to beat them, but you never know. I'm just glad that the season is winding down. It is not easy dragging 3 kids to sports with a baby in tow.

Jacob is now in 2nd grade at St. Joan of Arc. He is definitely a little socialite. He seems to know everyone in school no matter what grade they are in. Apparently he has a girlfriend, but I don't really know if she knows. He is my little ladies man and always has been. I worry about what he is going to be like when he is a teenager. He is so much like me when it comes to knowing what we want that we butt heads constantly. It is a constant battle of will. Who can hold out longer. I always win because I am mom, but it is defiantly becoming more difficult as time goes on. This fall he decided to play football instead of soccer. He seems to have a natural knack for whatever sport he plays. It doesn't take him him long to pick stuff up and be good at it. His coach informed us that he has what it takes to play football if he chooses to. That is the problem, getting him to choose a sport to play. He loves them all and wants to play all of them.

My little Benjamin. When we informed him that there was going to be another baby, he looked us dead in the eye and said "No I the baby." We thought "Crap we are in for a lot of trouble." Turns out he is the one that gives her the most attention. He loves her to death. He is still struggling with the fact of not being the baby and having to be a big brother now, but he is doing well. He is now in 1st grade. Can't believe it, my little baby in 1st grade. He is just like CJ in so many ways when it comes to school. I tell people he is his twin just 4 years apart. They act the same and they think the same. They do however like some things different. Ben is really into trucks and John Deere. He loves digging in the dirt and playing with the neighbors son Nat.

Then there is the newest addition, Princess Sophia. I swear she was born a diva. She likes things done her way. At the same time though she is a very happy and content baby. She rolls with the punches as long as she is getting attention. We never really had a problem with her sleeping through the night and even now at one she is just a little more vocal and get around. I love having another girl in the house. Pink is starting to take over. NO MORE BOY STUFF! Unfortunately she is attracted to whatever the boys have. Whatever they have must be better than what she has. She was born November 3, 2009 which also happens to be her great-grandmothers birthday also. What a birthday gift the Nana, her first great-granddaughter. She was born 3 weeks early, but she had a plan of when she wanted to arrive. I say she decided to come because she had heard that her cousin had been born and had to make an appearance also. She has been a great addition to this family and I feel now that we are complete. I've never felt that way before. I just felt that I had all I could handle so that was it. Now we are complete and happy.

Hopefully I can keep this blog going this time. I get so wrapped up in doing everything that I forget that I need to take some time and share what is going on in our lives.