Daily Rudd

Barney says

2009-03-11T12:25:00.001-04:00

"You are special"

I think everyone is special. This statement made me feel good.

I am special! :)

Sickness over

2009-01-29T15:10:00.001-05:00

Yeah! The sickness has finally left our house!!! I think my boys are finally healthy again. Now I just need to scrub down the house and get rid of all the germs hanging out.

Sickness

2009-01-27T23:51:00.002-05:00

The boys have been sick since Friday and I am getting sick of buggers. Now I think I am getting the bug. Oh the joys of motherhood!

Evil Wii Fit!!!

2009-01-05T23:22:00.002-05:00

Evil Wii Fit running!!! Ben LOVES it and mom hates it! But I have done it and plan to do it again and again and again... evil wii ;P

Happy Holidays!!

2008-12-31T18:45:00.011-05:00

Oh the holidays are among us... we have traveled near and far... seen snow, sleet, rain, cars in ditches, semis blocking the expressway and IKEA (mom's favorite store).

Here are my boys

Me and my little ones

Ben loves to jump into the banks of snow

Jon hanging out on the couch

2008-12-08T20:54:00.002-05:00

Well, we got a new dog. He's very affectionate, a little noisy when he bangs around in his cage. We still have to potty train him, but I think he will learn eventually.

He already knows where the dog food and bowl is, just need to teach him how to eat and drink from it without making a mess.

I think we will call him JonJon.

Communion

2008-10-07T11:42:00.002-04:00

This is what happened during Mass on Sunday.

After reciveing the Body of Christ (Eucerist), I walked back to the pew with Ben. We sit down, Ben turns to me, holds up a cheerio and says "Jesus Christ". Then offers me the cheerio. I took the cheerio & said Amen. He smiled.

Bless his heart.

I'm gonna get you bird!

2008-08-14T23:13:00.002-04:00

The boys made the news

2008-07-26T12:37:00.005-04:00

I'm involved in a group called First Steps and we had the public launch on Thursday. Both of the boys and I made it on the diffrent news channels. Here are a few weblinks for the video:

WZZM 13 Jon and I are on around 45 seconds

WOOD 8 Jon in the stroller around 1:20

WXMI 17 Look at the videos to the right of the video player and select the one called "Early Childhood Program" 7.24.08 Ben is at the 43 second mark and "talking about chalk" at 1:10

Ben was so excited to see himself on tv. He wants me to play the WXMI video over and over and over and over....

Water!

2008-07-21T00:32:00.002-04:00

My Benny LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES the water...

It's been a long time

2008-07-21T00:18:00.002-04:00

I know it has been a long time since I have posted.
It's something that I need to keep up to date with... sorry I have been slacking.

In the past few weeks: Jon was in the hospital, trip 1 down to Indy for the 4th and then trip 2 back to Indy for Aunt Mary Ellen's funeral, trip 3 from Indy to Grand Blanc for my dad's 60th birthday party, trip 4 to Lansing for Karen's Grandfather's funeral...etc...

I am praying that this summer goes a bit better from here. We are headed to Grand Blanc today to spend some time with my parents and eat my free meal at Zehnder's

That's it for now~Bren

Long over due...

2008-07-12T18:29:00.004-04:00

It has been a long over due task to write into the Blog. Recently our life have been very hectic. work travel for work and sickness of the boys. More on that later.

Last week we loaded up the boys and headed to Indiana for my almost usual trip to Morse Reservoir for the 4th... The 3rd was a long and tiring drive with the boys, trying to keep them entertained and happy for the 6 hour drive. Alas at around 4 p.m. we arrived safely at Edgewater and had dinner with Aunt Mary Ellen, Uncle Jack, Chris, his girlfriend Libby, Meemaw and BaBa. We then took to the car again to continue down to Indy to Visit JB, Kiki, Patrick and Sam. All was looking very well. We had planned for Aunt Mary Ellen to arrive around 9:00 a.m. to help us ferry the boys, all 4 of them to the lake. Mostly because J.B. and Kiki had to make rounds in the morning and our car could take only 3 boys, but only if we crammed them in.

Long around 8:00 a.m., I received a call, one that I will never forget. JB had said that his mom was in the hospital and that we should might have to watch the boys for a little longer. He was leaving work and would be around later. This call was the beginning of the changing for our lives.

On July 4th, Mary Ellen's prognosis was terminal due to a brain aneurysm. She passed to heaven the following Wednesday.

Today was the day that we laid her to rest, next to her first husband, my uncle, Jack Hardigg.

Also next to her father and mother John and Louise Barton.

I have known her my entire life, but never had fully acknowledged what a wonderful woman she was. She has always been my Aunt Mary Ellen, some one that I obeyed to the letter ( for the most part) when spending the usual week of summer vacation in Indiana growing up. She was always nurturing, guiding, supportive and all around wonderful mother figure. But the thing that I never knew, was that she was this way with everyone. She was truly a wonderful person, and I have a new mantra for my interpersonal relationships, both at work and at home. WWMED. Obviously, What Would Mary Ellen Do? I will use her life, love, and history as an example for how I need to be. I will remind myself to be more like St. Aunt Mary Ellen.

And to Mary Ellen, it is a privilege to have even known you for as long as I have, but it is even more of an honor to have been related to you. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers as I, with brenna try to raise my children as well as you have.

Visiting the Boyd's house

2008-05-12T09:51:00.003-04:00

We went to Indy to visit JB, Kiki, Patrick & Sam. It was the 1st time that we got to see Sam and they got to see Jon. We had a wonderful time playing, going to the park, visiting the zoo and seeing Uncle Jack and Aunt Mary Ellen.

Meijer Gardens

2008-05-04T23:47:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite places in Grand Rapids is the Frederik Meijer Gardens. Ben, Jon and I recently took a trip with Grandma Cindi, Grandpa, Mari, Lena and Anna-Maria. Earlier in the month we also went with Memaw. It was her fist time and we sure had fun. Enjoy the beauty!

Ben took this picture of me

I like to eat!

2008-05-04T23:44:00.000-04:00

Jon's kissing his mommy

2008-05-04T23:38:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter!

2008-05-04T23:34:00.000-04:00

Hunting for eggs at a local easter egg hunt.

A sleep at the Jumperoo

2008-05-04T23:26:00.003-04:00

Jon had so much fun, he fell alseep!

Fireman, fisherman & car mechanic?

2008-05-04T23:12:00.004-04:00

So what will Ben be when he grows up???

Working on a VW just like his daddy!

Bob the builder

2008-04-29T08:56:00.004-04:00

Ben really enjoyed the Bob the Builder exhibit at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum during his spring break from school.

Dadadadadadadadada

2008-03-26T14:28:00.001-04:00

Dadadadadadadadadaaa.... that is what Jon keeps babbling today! Now if he could just go back to mamamamamamama.

Our friends are having a baby

2008-03-25T17:35:00.002-04:00

Our friends Uwe & Audrey are having a baby girl today! We are so excited to meet little Lola!!

Visiting Memaw & Baba's house

2008-03-11T00:08:00.008-04:00

We drove to Woodstock to celebrate Baba's 15th birthday! (It must be hard to be a Leap year baby-a celebration only every 4 years!)

Jon sure knows what he wants...

Ben loves blackberries...

What a nice cuddle...

Happy 15th Birthday Baba!!!

2008-03-11T00:04:00.003-04:00

Visitors to the Rudd house

2008-03-09T22:01:00.007-04:00

Memaw & Baba visited a couple weeks ago & had lots of fun!

Here's Jonathan getting a bath

Ben getting caught with his hand in the water =)

At lunch with Memaw & Baba

Jon looking very happy at the mall

Off to Karen's & Grandma's house we go!

2008-02-27T10:37:00.010-05:00

It's been a great couple days for the Rudd brothers!

Monday we stopped by Auntie Karen's house and she finally got to meet little Jon Jon! We had lots of fun & Ben got to play with Issac's toys.

After Karen's house we traveled to Grandma & Grandpa's house!

Jonathan getting love from Uncle David

Jonathan & Grandpa having a nice cuddle

Aunt Abby & Jon playing peek-a-boo

Jon's thinking, "This is MY cuddly blanket!"

Here comes the tickle monster!!!

Jonathan likes his new rattle

Well that's it for now...have a wonderful day!

The crud

2008-02-04T22:24:00.000-05:00

I have the crud. The one that makes your throat feel like it has razor blades. The crud that makes you hack up for left & right lung at the same time. The crud that makes you sound like a man. Yuck! I hope to feel better soon. It sucks trying to take care of the kids & being sick.

Oh %@#$!!!! & Barack Obama???

2008-01-21T22:28:00.000-05:00

Oh yes, Ben uddered the words "OH &@#$"! I guess I need to watch my mouth around him. I don't swear as much as I did when I was working.... Maybe momma needs her mouth washed out with soap! That or I need to stop driving Ben around in my car when I am in crappy traffic.

The other day I was driving Ben home from school and he says, "Mommy I don't like Barack". So I asked him who Barack was & he said "Obama". I shook my head and said "Ben what did you say???" He said it again! I don't know if he heard it when I was listening to Rush Limbaugh on the way to school or on the way home listening to Sean Hannity. I can't wait for my little Republican to be able to vote!

Christmas! 4 Times!??!?!

2008-01-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

Since the grand parents are spread out between Grand Blanc and Woodstock, and we had to to be nimble and quick. In total$, we ended up having 4, count them, 4 Christmases in the span of 3 weeks. Whew. Now people can understand why I had to go back to work to get some rest! Here we go... Try to follow along if you can.

We started out with Ben's Holiday Songfest at school. I made a crucial mistake and let him see me before the show started. Ben wanted to come sit with me. He didn't sing a single note during the whole performance :( Luckily, we knew he knows the song because he's been practicing at home for the last month.

I did get to video tape it, but being the novice camera man I accidentally taped over it later.

Our first stop for the Holidays was the Weber family Christmas party. This year it was held at Uncle David and and Aunt Gayle's farm.

(pics to come)

We all had fun on a hay ride. But Ben also got to ride a Welsh Pony and the Goat!

(pics to come)

After all of that, and dinner, we got to open the "stocking's" and presents.

After a quick drive home and a furious pace of packing for 2 kids, 2 dogs, presents and ourselves, we got some sleep. In the morning, we got to open the presents from England, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis.

Ben was a lucky boy and got a REAL tool box and REAL tools for working on projects around the house with me.

We then travelled to Woodstock for Christmas with Meemaw and BaBa.

Ben and BaBa hung the stockings by the fireplace in hopes that Santa would be generous.

And of course he was :)

And there were presents under the tree as well!

Bren and Jon got bitten by the Christmas bug. Jon maybe a little more :)

Then after driving back to Grand Rapids and a day of work for me, we spent New Years' Day at Grandma and Grampa's house. Yet another tree and even more presents! Will it ever end?

Grandpa got to show Ben the finer points of driving a train around the tree.

Whew... I'm tired just reading about it all again. We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season, ours was filled with family joy and sharing and that is all that matters.

Wrapping up the Holidays, all of us wish you and yours a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Will, Brenna, Ben and Jon

Happy Holidays!!

2008-01-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

Well, as we have been travelling for the holidays, a week in Woodstock, New Year's day in Grand Blanc (through the worst snow storm so far this year), we haven't had a chance to update the blog. But now we're back in town and somewhat settled, here are some pictures...

Ben and Jon say "Cheese" for the camera in Woodstock.

While in Woodstock we got about 8" of snow.. All that fresh snow was put to good use, sledding down the hills, and...

a Snowman taller than Ben!

When we got too cold, we came inside and warmed up by the Hot Tub. Steamy!

Santa & Cookies!

2007-12-18T23:36:00.000-05:00

Ben & Jon with Santa at our Moms Club Holiday Party

Ben & I had a blast last night making sugar cookies. He loved the frosting. Remind me next time I decide to make cookies, NOT TO FEED THE KID SUGAR AFTER 7PM!!!!! He was wired until 10:45pm! Lesson learned.

Great blog

2007-12-13T21:43:00.000-05:00

Lysa TerKeurst has a blog and today it had a really good message about Christmas.

Busy...

2007-12-13T08:57:00.000-05:00

We have been busy here... Sorry I haven't had a chance to update you all.

Brad & Jessica watched Ben & Jon while Will and I went to Will's Holiday Party for his work. It was great to have a date night with my husband. We need to do that more often!

I started to go to MOPS here at a local church.
I have had a lot of fun & actually had a night out ALL BY MYSELF!!!!! It's wonderful to be around other women without the kids.

Ben is practicing his singing for the Holiday Party on the 20th. So far I have heard 3 songs, Make New Friends, Continents and This is My School. I think there is 1 more that I haven't quite seemed to decipher.

Jon is being his happy self. He is sleeping through the night and is a very happy baby. He's amazed by his hands and loves to suck on his thumb.

More Pictures from today

2007-12-02T20:14:00.000-05:00

Will's thinking about how tough the ice looks

Will's working hard & Ben's playing in the snow

Ben & Jon

My men =)

It snowed & turned into ICE

2007-12-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

The boys didn't play outside yesterday, it was the calm before the storm. This morning we had snow & ice. More ice than snow. Here are some pictures from this morning.

Here's Ben with his ice ball

Daddy & Ben

Rough Day, Brighter Days Ahead

2007-11-30T22:04:00.000-05:00

We had a rough day today. Ben had about a 10 minute nap and then the day was downhill from that point. Why is it that when 1 child starts to cry the other one cries too?? I know that tomorrow will be a better day.

It looks like we are in for a nasty winter storm. I am hopping that Will & Ben get to play outside in the snow tomorrow. Maybe Will can give me a break & I can play too with Ben outside in the snow! Last weekend Ben made snow angels with Grampa and really enjoyed it.

Pictures from Thanksgiving weekend

2007-11-28T14:39:00.000-05:00

Here we are at our Thanksgiving celebration. We are thankful for many things, especially the birth of Jonathan this year.

Uncle Dave & Aunt Abby with Jon

Grampa sleeping after dinner

Jon hanging out with Grandma Cindi

Ben & Grampa showing off their snowballs & the huge snowman they made!