Nap time

Two days a week I have a little side job I do from home during Bennett's nap time {usually around 1pm} This day, however, things were a little different and Bennett didn't get into bed until about 2. I was thinking that he would go right to sleep because he was up past his normal nap time. So, I left him with his pile of books like usual and made my way to "the office" to start working.

For about an hour and a half, while I was working 3 feet from his bed {there is technically a wall between us, but our walls are more for looks and not so much for keeping noise out/in} I listened to Bennett "reading" books to Buzz Lightyear and rolling around and making tents with his blankets ... the kids was NOT tired! But he stayed in his room, never came out once, and I got all my work done, so I wasn't really that worried about it.

For about the last 15 minutes of my working I didn't really hear much coming from the room, so when I was finished I went in to check on him.

Poor guy, when I picked him up he was so freaked out!
I don't think he had realized he had even fallen asleep!

Like Father, like Son

We went to the park to celebrate "Baby La-La's" 2nd Birthday...

... and our son "Adventure Boy" had so much fun!

Take note of the fireman's pole to the left in the background....

Who taught him how to do this?  Not me or Adam!
We were rather surprised by his "go get'er" play ground personality!

So... ya know, it was a pretty typical playground, and the only people at the park were with the birthday party so yeah, we might not have been watching "adventure boy" every second as we were sitting in the shade on the picnic tables talking with friends ... that is until we heard the cry! {you know, the real cry, the "I'm in pain cry"}

The first thing I saw was Bennett crying and falling into the sand each time he tried to stand up and take a step towards us! It was about the saddest thing I've ever seen! As retold by Gunnar (and eventually Bennett when he calmed down) Bennett had decided to go down the fireman's pole but missed and basically just jumped about 4 feet down and then landed wrong on his ankle! He kept telling me, "Me jump, down, down, down!" {complete with hand motions of course}

The next couple days our sweet, usually fast moving, little man looked like this ... it was pretty pathetic {but still, so cute}

Frog Jacket

When we first got this jacket he would cry when I even tried to try it on him (it was a hand-me-down) but now he LOVES it and I am so so so so happy each time he puts it on!

Last week's rain was fabulous for so many reasons, but I think the frog jacket was at the top of the fabulous list!

Bed Time

Without really trying to Bennett and I have created a bedtime routine that I am rather in love with.

First we read a book or two or three... then we pick out people to pray for (said list can include anyone from Mommy and Daddy to Uncle Casey to his monkey or trains or even himself - I think it's pretty stink'n cute when he picks himself!). After praying for them we always sing the same two songs which are usually followed by requests for more books to which I kiss him and say, "You can read books but mommy has to go get ready for bed too and I'll be back to check on you." and without a doubt he's asleep within 15 min with a giant pile of books next to him!

The other night as I walked out of the room I was thinking, "Oh I wish I could get that on video so I don't forget how cute he is singing those songs." After a week or so of thinking that same thing each night I figured I might as well try and it worked perfectly! I was worried the camera would throw him off and he wouldn't want to sing but he didn't even notice that I set it on the edge of the bed and I captured a very typical evening with my sweet boy... this video makes my heart happy, I really could watch it like 100 times a day!!!

for the love of puzzles

So Bennett kind of has a problem right now... he is obsessed with puzzles. Like he cries if I even attempt to put them away! At least 5 to 10 times a day I hear ... "Mom, help me puh-puh" and the funny thing is, he doesn't need my help at all! He really just wants me to sit with him and say "good job" every time he  gets a piece in the right spot (which is constantly because the kid is kind of a puzzle master)

Last week, Bennett wanted to spend time with Adam but Adam needed to work so Bennett brought his puzzles to Adam ... pretty creative solution I think! :)

A couple days ago, the poor kid (after skipping a nap to play with some friends) sat down to do "puh-puh's" and he totally fell asleep! Dedication, I tell you, dedication!

I finally captured a bit of the puzzle master in action a few weeks ago ... watch and enjoy the cuteness (I'm pretty sure we need to start math flash cards next week with him! ha ha!)

This morning I pulled out the camera after watching in amazement as he just worked his way right through a 48 piece puzzle. Granted he knows the characters well, so it wasn't like he had never seen the pictures before but still, I'm pretty sure he's off the charts in spatial reasoning skills for a 2 1/2 year old (proud mama talking here of course)!


By the time nap time came around, our kitchen table was full of "puh-puh's" that Bennett was soooo proud of! 

(You have to hear him say "sting -ray" he totally thinks its two words and it is sooo cute when he talks about his Sea-Life puzzle!)

Tent boy

So, I wasn't in the room for this but my understanding is that while Adam was making the bed, Bennett got on it and said he wouldn't get off because he wanted Adam to make a tent. Sooooo, Adam, being who he is, just kept on making the bed. All I got was a hand motion from Adam of "come her quickly" and I grabbed the camera on the way .... this boy is just too much!

The Joy of Cards

So last week sometime we had my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner and cards and while eating and setting up the game (Hand and Foot, of course) Bennett was playing with the cards and the card shuffler, yes, we own a card shuffler,  and having a great 'ol time! So, being who I am, I grabbed my camera to take a picture of him...

Then he wanted to show me his cards ...

Then he wanted me to take a picture of everyone ... ha ha! Love him, he's a future blogger for sure! 

And then finally, my super smart husband takes the camera and records this video
This had already happened a few times but his reaction is still just as good as the first time! 

Makes me laugh every time!

The Last Day of Summer

School is in full swing for us here and last week, the day before Adam had to go back, we took one last summer trip to the San Diego Zoo!

We parked next to this! Seriously? What the heck?! 

Our little tour guide

He's so big and brave now! 

Bennett's first penny print was of course of an elephant!

He loves "Eh-Eh"'s soooo much!
I'm so glad I caught this totally spontaneous act of love! 

The polar bears were out playing!

He just took off running when he saw the "hop-hop"!!!! 

Happy Man! 

Waiting for the train

3 generations on the train 

Train riding is serious stuff these days!

Showing me his "Lie-lie" his Grandma bought him! 

What a perfect end to a great, great summer! 

Now bring on Christmas break and baby Elwer #2!!!!

Fresh from the Garden

Bennett has a thing for cucumbers! He will eat them any time, any where! He loves them! But until recently I didn't realize that he would even take them off the counter and just start chowing down before I could cut it up!

I wonder how long it will be before he makes the connection between what he's eating and this guy: 

Happy Birthday to Brian!

We celebrated my brother's birthday a few times and had a great time every time! 

On his actual birthday, we met up a the duck pond so Adam and I could run errands and Bennett could have some fun with his Aunt and Uncle. 

Later that evening, we met up for dinner together at Chipotle followed by dessert at White Lime! Bennett LOVES White Lime, he's pretty funny there! 

Trying to hold his ice cream in and say cheese at the same time! Talented kid! 

After ice cream we all went and watched the season premier of Project Runway together! (Super manly, right?! ha ha! Adam said that he was going to watch "the Gunn show") 

We didn't all have our astronaut pants on but we all did make it work! :)

Then a few days later we celebrated again with lots of friends, family and carne asada!

Mostly Bennett just enjoyed the fact that the people's house we were at had a doggie door! 

When it was time to sing to "Uncle Brian" I put Bennett up on a stool so that he could see better ... but without realizing it, I'm pretty sure he thought I was putting him in front of HIS dessert! haha!

And well, then when we sang, our suspicions were confirmed!
He for sure thought it was his birthday!


Lucky for Bennett he has a very nice Uncle Brian, who doesn't mind sharing and even let Bennett help him open presents!

Happy 25th Brian! 
Hope you had as much fun as we did!