Baby Mozart

Bennett has a new favorite toy - the piano!

Note to viewers with musical ears: Please don't judge the piano, it was free and tuning a piano is not in the Elwer family budget right now. Please set aside the out of tune notes and enjoy the cuteness of a little boy who loves music.

This was Bennett's first time sitting at the bench - we have no idea where he got the idea to turn the pages - he must just know in his soul what to do!

I heard the piano playing as I was putting away laundry... this is what I found!

Here's my men this morning before church working on a piece together.

Happy....

Reformation Day!

(What? Were you expecting something else?)

Don't know what I'm talking about or what the picture on the cake means, click here

For a closer look:

Creative genius and baker: Sarah Elwer

Stencil genius: Adam Elwer

M-U-R-R-I-E-T-A...

...Murrieta (clap, clap, clap) All the way!

Yes friends, it's true, we went to a MVHS football game the other day and I was rather surprised to hear the same cheer that I learned in middle school still being "performed"! But it does bring back fond memories because that cheer was very influential in my life. How you may ask, well without it I would have never learned how to spell Murrieta! So, I'm glad it's still around to teach people all over town just how to spell the name of this lovely little city :)

The Elwer's joined the Howley's (and one Moore) at the MVHS vs. TVHS JV game this last Thursday and rather enjoyed ourselves... I know Bennett was sure interested in the game :)

(Just kidding!)

We had a great time cheering on #19 and being shocked and amazed that the referee actually deleted a touchdown that had happened 3 plays prior to an issue arising! (Kind of nuts I tell you!) But either way the Nighthawks beat the Bears and that's all that really matters!

Good Game Uncle Casey!

Fall Is In The Air

We made it to the pumpkin patch!

We saw some pigs run around a track...

We went through a corn maze...

Bennett tasted the corn maze!

Bennett and Adam played on the tractor

But other than those few happy pictures most of the rest look like this...
Yeah, not the bast day, but if it wasn't for a sleepy boy who just wanted to nurse and go to sleep, it really was a great afternoon. We went at about 4 in the afternoon so it wasn't too hot or too crowded, if only Bennett had gotten the memo about just what a perfect day it was... oh well!

Look at his face - he is so not enjoying all the fun that there was to be had!
Uncle Aaron let Bennett have a pumpkin, he liked it a little, mostly tried to chew on the stem...
... Bennett wasn't too thrilled when his Uncle took it away....
... but he was very happy when he let him play with his sun glasses all through dinner at Rosa's!

Fun day!

Happy Fall everyone!

Play Days!

I don't know how many of you know this, but we have a park for a backyard!
I'm not kidding, that's what you see when you look out Bennett's window - it's wonderful! (we are very blessed to have amazing neighbors/friends who let us use the backyard they put in)

So, a while back I was thinking, "Oh poor me, I don't see my friends, blah, blah, blah..." and then it hit me - I HAVE A PARK BEHIND MY HOUSE! I could actually stop being lame and invite people over! Thus the birth of the play days at the Elwer's. (1st and 3rd Tuesdays, mark your calenders!)

Plays days have become a favorite to many people (Adults and children both)! Some of our guests are not fully prepared (or able) to enjoy the full capacity of the backyard, but they are fun to hold and all are welcome!

Other's just want to have a relaxing time in the sun or the shade...

And then of course, we have the one's who are ready to run and jump and play (and swing of course) !!!


If you haven't been able to make it to a play day yet, you really should come to one! They are always a great time to catch up with friends or let all your energy out (depending on your age, you can select which you would like to do)!

Waving

This new "skill" melts my heart

Lately...

Lately we have been busy! I don't really know why, but it just seems like it has been go, go, go!

Here's some recent happenings:

Burke and Hillary got married and we had a lovely time celebrating with them!

Bennett still loves to look out the window at the horses next door. look at that little profile!
I found a cute washcloth with a ship on it that really needed to be turned into a hoodie towel for Bennett Boy!
We went and celebrated Grandma's birthday and Bennett had the time of his life playing against the sliding glass door...
... and we had the time of our life laughing at all his hilarious faces he was making!
"Helping" with laundry has become a favorite game around our house
Adam wants to make sure Bennett has a good grasp on the sound board so he's stating him on his training already
Okay and this is just kind of sadt: Bennett woke up from his nap the other day just crying like a crazy man! I had no clue what was wrong until I went to change his diaper - look at those hand prints on his stomach, I think both his arms were asleep! My poor baby!
Bennett has had some "play time" recently and has actually been pretty good with his friends. Here's Wyatt and Bennett both very interested in the rain forest action happening on the bouncy seat.
Cowboy Bennett made a break for it at CSB (Community Bible Study) the other day after Olivia put Gunnar's hat on his head.

Bennett Still LOVES tony! You can just not keep that boy away from him (or his bed and toys - YUCK!) I don't know what it is but that boy just loves this silly dog!

Here's a video of Bennett doing what he loves to do most right now - climb up on things and "walk" along them - he's pretty stinking happy with himself!

This last video is so sweet! Adam took it the other night while I was away. If you can get past the fact that it's filmed in the wrong direction, it's adorable!


That's about it for now, but I did hear an interesting discussion the other day on NPR about how people have gotten to the point where they think that if they don't post what they are doing online than it didn't really happen/matter. That may have contributed to my recent lack of blogging :)

One "Step" Closer to Walking...

So last Friday, I took this little video of Bennett playing in his room. I honestly thought this phase of him "trying" would last a while...

However yesterday, I set Bennett down to play and went to rinse his diaper (so I was gone 3 minutes at the most). I walk back in the room and this is what I see!
He's up there for a couple minutes and finally lets go because he tries to get me. I thought - will he try again? He most certainty did a can be seen below!

I quickly realized with the skill in the above video the bed would have to move too! Here he is demonstrating just why his bed is now on the lowest setting

It's true, they grow up so fast!

What's high in the middle and round on the ends?

OHIO!

Yes, folks it's true, we packed up last weekend and went to Ohio very last minute! Unfortunately, Adam's grandmother passed away on the 3rd, 5 days before her 79th birthday. Adam really wanted to go to the service since he missed his Grandfather's service due to being at summer camp 3 years ago. However it just wasn't an option due to the cost of the tickets. But then, rather out of nowhere, the family offered to help anyone who wanted to go but couldn't due to money. So we made a couple phone calls, everything worked out, and then the next thing you know we're packing and taking our 6 1/2 month old baby on a plane to Ohio!

Here's some highlights:

Just before take off of the first flight! Bennett did so well! I just nursed him going up and coming down and there were no problems at all!
Adam's Dad and Step Mom picked us up at the airport and we drove straight to the hotel where there was a family dinner waiting for us all! It was really nice to meet the Elwer side of the family. It's funny to see so many people that looked alike all together! Unfortunately I didn't get any of the group pictures from dinner on my camera but hopefully I will get one in my email soon enough!
This was Bennett's first time meeting his Grandpa Elwer (adam's dad - if you couldn't tell from the fact that they look so much alike)
The next morning we drove about 30 min to South Charleston (The families hometown) to the Catholic Church where the service was to be held.

Here's some pictures of Grandma (Yolanda)

The church was BEAUTIFUL!!! I wish "protestant" churches were this pretty!
Bennett and I had to sit and wait for a bit as Adam and the other grand kids were the pallbearers.
The service was really beautiful. I don't think I have ever really listened to what was being said during a Catholic funeral before (since my last one was probably 10 years ago) but now that I have - I love that it was so complete! I loved that they took time to remember that Yolanda had already died with Christ in baptism. It really was beautiful. Two of her son's Ken and Jeff got up to speak and the Priest was great too! He did such a good job explaining everything I wasn't confused about what to do at any point during the service. Although I might have been confused about this:
Yes, folks there is a reason I am Free-Methodist and not Catholic, but I'm still so glad that the body of Christ has so many different expressions just like the people involved in them. (And truth be told, I do wish I went to a church with a bit more "traditional liturgy" I love the unity in knowing that people all over the world are studying the same scriptures and thinking on the same promises each week... but that's a different blog... back to the trip)

After the graveside prayer service, "the boys" took a picture together. They are in birth order from left to right - Michael (Adam's dad), Jeffery, Kenneth, Gregory, Patrick and Steven.
Here they are one of the last times they were all together: Back row Ken, Mike, Greg, Jeff. Front row: Steve and Pat.
Here's the grand kids (and one stink'n cute great-grandson) who were able to make it to the service. left to right: Josh, Katie, Liz, Katie, Jackie, Jenny Bennett and Adam.

Family picture at the luncheon afterwards

With Adam's Dad and Step Mom.

So after leaving the luncheon that the church ladies made for us (complete with homemade mac-n-cheese!) We headed out the farm where all the boys grew up. When the Elwer's lived there they had chickens (100,000 of them) but the people who live there now have pigs. The wife of the family that lives there now was so kind and showed us around. Bennett was a bit overwhelmed by the pigs!

In this video, at the end you can see just what a difference there is between a "normal" baby pig and a "runt" - it's kind of crazy!


Michael looking at the barn he constructed back in the day.

Here's the house:

And from the farm we drove to the airport and flew back home! We were literally on the ground in Ohio for 25 hours! But all in all, I really am so glad that we were able to go. I think it was good for Adam and it was great for Bennett and I to meet the family! We were so blessed that the money was provided to take the trip!

This last picture is from the last leg of the journey - the flight was very empty and Bennett got his own seat! (But he was asleep about 10 minutes after this picture was taken and I just held him the whole way - but the extra room was nice nonetheless)

And just because it's too cute to pass up posting - everyone got a bag of pictures to take - this one was included in Adam's bag - this was taken on August 10, 1994 and yes, I think my sweet husband is wearing a fanny pack! How cute is he?!

6 month pictures

Look at this cute boy!

He is now 20 lbs 8 oz and 27 3/4 inches "tall". That's over an inch a month and 2 lbs a month! No wonder this boy has to sleep so much! (He's in the 82nd and 86th percentile)

I figured 6 months was a good time for another family photo, so we also took these:

And then seeing how everyone from my side of the family was actually in town and available, we took some family pictures with my parents and brothers too. I think they turned out really well, except for Aaron and Brian both leaning in the "sibling" picture - who knows what was going on there?!