Benita Likes...

While we were in Island Park last weekend, the women watched THE EDITED VERSION of the popular French film, Amelie. I highly recommend it, but ONLY if you can get it edited. I bought mine from Cleanflicks online. In the intro of the movie, as every character is introduced, there is a montage of what unique things each one likes and dislikes. After the show was over, we sat around discussing ourselves and coming up with fun lists.

Here's a candid look at our quirky mother. I liked these pictures of her best. Cute, huh! Becky just took them for their Christmas cards.


BENITA LIKES:

Washing and reusing disposable dishes (she really does! We can't just throw them away!)

Using toothpicks to clean her teeth

When dogs lick between her fingers (eeew!)

Taking candid pictures of people eating (most of the worst pictures I have of myself were taken by my mother while I had food heading into my mouth)

Drinking the leftover "juice" after we eat all of the pickles, green beans, etc. out of a jar

Impromptu speaking assignments (She LOVES to talk!)

Leading music vigorously while listening to the radio (I wish I could include a video here of her doing it!)

Making instant friends with strangers everywhere (There ARE NO strangers to mom--just potential friends whose life histories she doesn't know, yet)

Sleeping in

Going for long walks



BENITA DISLIKES:

Bras that pinch

Bangs in her eyes

Being unjustly accused of things by her daughters (I can't remember exactly what made her say this one so heatedly! I think it had something to do with accusations about her toothpick usage)

War movies (This is where genetics finally comes in. I can't even watch the battle scene in Mulan. It's just too intense and violent for me!)

When people turn their children loose in her house

Mom is so easygoing! It was hard getting her to think of things that she dislikes, while the rest of us were saying them so fast that I couldn't write it all down. I guess we know that in order to get along with her we should never visit until noon, leave our kids in the car, make her walk all the way home when we go shopping, and happily smile for the camera with food in our mouths. Even though I love her, though, I could never bring myself to encourage Olive, my dog, in her bad habit of licking between mom's fingers! That's so gross! Mom's a fun person!

Guess We Know Who Mom Likes Best!

In the past few weeks we celebrated Devin's and Maren's birthdays, and after looking at the pictures, Devin is kind of feeling like the red-headed step-child in the Symons family. Here is a picture of his party.

Now here are the pictures of Maren's party. She invited friends over to make bracelets, homemade pretzels and cheese, and have cake and ice cream.

They had lots of fun playing dodgeball on the trampoline, too!

Devin wants more blog time, so let's look at his picture again.

Poor Devin, look at me stepping all over him to give Maren the juicy bug!

Ok, in all fairness to me, we do birthday parties with friends on even years---Maren is 12 and Devin is 17--- AND I made him a super delicious homemade 3-layer sour cream chocolate cake with homemade cream cheese and chocolate frosting! Super delicious, I tell you!!!! Devin says his neck still hurts from me stepping on his head.

First Date....Finally!

Here's some breaking news! Devin has finally asked a girl out on a date! The lucky girl was Cammi George, a girl he knows from his carpool, and she's really cute and sweet! He asked her to the Homecoming Dance at Century. Hurray Devin! You did it!

Here's how he asked her: First he made a giant Chinese take out box out of a sheet of poster board and a the wire from a hanger, and a tag that said Devin's Delivery Service. It was so cute, but I completely forgot to take a picture! Then we made homemade fortune cookies with fun predictions inside like "A tall dark young man is in your future," "You'll have a great time at Homecoming if you say yes," etc.

Here's how she answered him: She left a delivery on the doorstep with two eggrolls and a note that said "I'd love to roll with you to Homecoming!" Very cute!

Here's how the night went: First they had dinner at Andrew's house. Andrew spent last school year in Italy and became quite a cook, so he made them spaghetti with a steak and pepper marinara, cheesy french bread, and a caesar salad and cheesecake for dessert. Devin was in charge of appetizers, so we made stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta and artichoke dip. He said they were a big hit. I made sure he took a pack of gum to share with everyone, since we put plenty of garlic in the food we made. That's Italian!

Here's how the dance went: Believe it or not (I personally find it very hard to believe) Devin and Cammi danced all but two dances! I asked Devin if they still play fun songs like Rock Lobster, but he said no. Apparently, I'm getting old.

Here's the final tally: All in all, it was a fun night. He said he had a great time and might even try dating again sometime! Yeah!