A Much Needed Break

As you can see from Ben's face, we had a great, and much needed, time away. We had a great time hanging out for a few days in the Twin Cities and then driving thorough 2 1/2 hours of cornfields to my grandfather's farm in southern MN for his 80th Birthday Party! Here are a few pics from the week.

Benjamin, as usual, was a great traveler... we had a direct flight which made if WAAY better than last time (plus the fact that Andrew was there) and, as you can see from the picture, he got to use daddy's ipod!

The weather was beautiful, Andrew had a good time reading and relaxing.

Ben was the center of all his uncles' attention.

I just thought the chair was cool.

Ben wasn't quite sure if he liked the grass.

Micah and I in front of the boat before we got to go for a ride up the river and back... and dinner too! Yumm...

The boat. It was a wonderful, peaceful evening.

The view of downtown Minneapolis on our walk around the lake.
One of the amazing houses overlooking the lake.
Just havin' fun waiting for everyone to get back to the car. :)
We love Uncle Buzz!
No trip to the Twin Cities is complete without a trip to the Mall of America. Ben got to see it all... backwards. :)

Minnesota State Fair!

In Minnesota the State Fair is a HUGE event. It lasts for 10 days, we went the first day, a Thursday at 10am, and there were thousands and thousands of people there. Here are a few of the highlights.My mom and Benjamin at the entrance gate.
My lovely cousins Megan (L) and Bridget (R).
Ben enjoying the water fountain.

Ben wasn't a huge fan of the animals at first. Tired babies and animals don't mix. In this dog's defence, he was so sweet and just licked Ben. The red eyes make him look evil.

Again, not a huge fan of the animals. Ben saw sheep, rabits,birds, cows, pigs and horses. If we go next year I am sure he will enjoy it A LOT more.

Micah obviously loved the pigs. I couldn't get him to turn around so Micah got a picture with the pig's rear end... oh well. :-P
Enjoying fair food! This is my uncle wayne and my brother micah.
The best view around.

My prize turkeys. ;)
Smiles.

Yummy frozen lattes.
And a few pictures to leave you with... trying on hats...
Love it...

Grandpa's Big Bash!

Here are a few pictures from my Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party! Most of the family was able to be there, and we advertised in 2 newspapers and sent out invitations too! He had over 100 people at his party! He was so popular!

Here is Benjamin sitting at the piano in the basement of my grandpa's church (where we had the party). I remember my great grandma Hazel (my grandpa's mother) playing on this piano. She would pray songs for the children and we would sing before we split up for Sunday School.

Ben & my cousin Paul.

Ben and his Great Grandpa Bill.

Ben & my cousin Daniel.

My Grandpa & his girlfriend Gloria.

My grandpa and his three children. L-R Elaine (my mom), Grandpa Bill, Ruth (whom we call Auntietootse... don't ask me why) and Uncle Wayne. :) My grandmother passed away almost 10 years ago. :( We all wished she could have been there.

Ben, Me, Andrew & Grandpa.

Me and my Grandpa's older sister Helen... who has been just like a grandma, we love her to death!

Minnesota

Hello dear people. We are here in Minnesota for my grandfather's 80th birthday party and a family reunion. We spent 5 days in Minneapolis/St. Paul and now we are staying at my uncle's house. Here is a video from when we were at the Mall of America... doesn't my dad have such great talent? Hopefully it will hold you over until we get home in a few days.

It is a little hard to tell, but there was a guy playing the hoola-hoop Wii Fit game. So dad was "playing" as well. :)

No Going Back Now

This little man is on the move. Isn't his little crawl hilarious? He will do just about anything to get my cell phone. :)

Berry Picking

There are a bunch of while blackberries that grow in the woods around our house, so my mother-in-law and I went berry picking!
Here is my mother-in-law Sarah picking berries... in all honesty she did all the work. I just watched the baby. :) And after we picked 8 cups we went back to her house and made jam... it was SOOOO yummy!!! It was a wonderful day.
And Benjamin... after all that watching and being pushed around... fell asleep. :) Ahhh... the life of a baby... :)

Munchkin Pics

Ivy's water bowl is a huge favorite.
Gotta love that wood.

Munchkin Pics

Ivy's water bowl is a huge favorite.
Gotta love that wood.
Who needs expensive toys when you have old phone books and a junky remote control! This kept his WAAYY happier for WAYYY longer than any toys he has.
Hi Mom, watch me crawl.
Check me out! I am so big and tall!

SING LOUD

...it's a big world.

WHY

Why I haven't posted in so long:

• Andrew is now working 6am-6pm
• Andrew's boss was admitted to the hospital
• We don't know when he is going to get out
• Being the finance guy isn't so much fun when there isn't any money to "finance"
• I have been working
• This involved taking Ben to my mother-in-laws, feeding him, running to work, working, running back, feeding him again and then going home
• I have also started selling Usborne books in all my spare time
• We have sorted through MOUNTS of paperwork that has been piling up
• Our house fell off the market
• I found a new realtor since the last one was, well, a dill weed... so to speak
• I met with the new realtor
• It is back on the market to day
• Pictures being taken tomorrow (it was supposed to be today but when she got here her camera was broken)
• Ben is crawling all over the place - although it is more like walking on all 4s
• Ben is pulling himself up on EVERYTHING
• He has not mastered falling on his butt after pulling himself up
• Oh yes, and my mother-in-law and I froze 10 servings of peaches for smoothies, 7 peach pie fillings and canned 5 jars of jam and 7 jars of dilly beans EACH. Chili sauce is next week.
• And we have had someone living with us for the past two weeks. He leaves tomorrow.
• Not to mention all the normal stuff like shopping, cooking, changing diapers, walking the dog, cleaning and sleeping on occasion. :)
• Oh yes, I almost forgot... this is FINALS WEEK for Drew... so he has been studying every minute he is not working, stressing about work or sleeping.

Bumpersticker of the Day

ALL OUR FACTORIES ARE OVERSEAS

ALL WE PRODUCE HERE ARE RICH EXECUTIVES

On The Go

Well, he won't move for just anything, but it he wants it he won't be stopped! :)

6 Months Old

I cannot believe that Benjamin has been in our lives for 6 months now! (Well, 6 months and 9 days... yes I am that slow). He has changed so much since we brought home this tiny little 6lb bundle. He is now 28inches and almost 17lbs! According to the charts he is very tall (95%) and skinny (37%). I am pretty sure it is because the kid NEVER stops moving! He fidgets ALL the time! I was watching him today, even while nursing both legs are kicking, his arms are flailing and he is trying to roll over... all at the same time! In the past few days he has REALLY started moving. He does the army crawl forward, he still gets on his hands and knees all the time, he is mastering going from crawl to sit and back again, and he has started pulling himself up on your leg, the couch... whatever is in reach. It won't be long before the little man is walking! AAHH!

He is babbling all the time as well. I think I got him to say mama today... although it was more like mamamamamamama... but I will take it. :) He is so much fun! And such a blessing in our lives!