Tim Mow

Bennett loves our neighbor Tim. He always tells him hi and bye as we come and go (even if he is not outside). So on Sunday morning, when Tim was mowing Bennett was more then happy to watch him out the window for about 45 minutes while he mowed the open lot. The whole time he kept yelling - HI TIM!! What makes it even funnier is that Travis and Papa play softball with another Tim - he is BIG TIM to Bennett :)

Where'd da phish go?

That is what Bennett was wondering on our fishing outing earlier today. Travis came away empty handed... is that anything new?! It was Art by the River at the State Park, so admission was free, their were lots of crafters down by the beach and they were giving free train rides. B and I walked through the art area, watched the U of M raptor center talk about the owl that she had and rode the train. What a great day to decide to go to the park... we had no idea of what was happening there.

Bennett on one of the trails:

Watching daddy fish - wondering where they are:

This is the only action we saw all day (casting):

This is the owl that we saw:

And the train. Of course, Bennett would not pose for a picture on the train, so this is as good as it gets!!

Paging Dr. Plotnik

Bennett had his two year check up yesterday and passed with flying colors. To give a recap of the visit...

- Height was 50th percentile

- Weight was 32.8 lbs - 90th percentile, along with his head

- They drew his blood for a lead check

- His hernia in his belly button area is looking very good and almost totally healed

- He did not get any shots as he has a runny nose and a cough

- He has all four of his 2 year molars

- He was happy for the visit except when they drew his blood. This picture was after he got his sucker for having his blood taken.

Papa, are you playing?!?

Tonight Travis was away with some friends from VK for a golf outing. They golfed in Red Wing and spent the night at the St. James Hotel. That meant that Bennett and I were going to spend some time with Nana & Papa. Papa went golfing with some friends, so the three of us went out to dinner and went to Babies R Us shopping. Bennett got a few new things from Nana and then we came home to play with Papa. Bennett and he played Jenga, basketball, baseball, golf, puzzles, read -- they did it all. Well, actually now that I look back at the pictures, did they?

It starts out with Bennett walking to find a certain toy, Papa is laying on the floor.

Bennett finds the toy!

He then hands it to Papa who is still on the floor.

Papa, are you playing with me?

Come on and play Papa or I am going to get you with this golf club ;>

OK so you golfed enough today, what about baseball?

Oh, Papa wants to play with the "big ball."

Bennett finally gives up and decides to join Papa on the floor in a game with the puzzle.

Unfortunately, puzzles don't work very well upside down so he will just use Papa as a back rest :)

All the while Oliver was laying on my head - the perfect resting spot, why not?

And what was Nana doing you ask, cleaning of course!!!

You better not be taking my picture she says...

Yes, these two balls don't belong here --

They actually belong over here!

What to write?!

So I have been writing on this blog for 90 days now, tonight is the first night that I am struggling with what to write. We haven't pulled out the camera since we came home from GA. Life has been filled with the catch up duties that follow any vacation - work at work, work at home! So, I thought I could just write about what I love about Bennett at 2 years old.

1. He sleeps through the night -- every night!

2. He can follow your directions. Take your shoes off Bennett & he sits down and does it.

3. Recognition... B can recognize pictures, places and things. When we drive past the middle school he says "Nana teach." We pull into the neighborhood he says "baby house." I have a picture of Bennett, Elleny and Ember in the picture frame -- he looks at it and says "Elleny."

4. He loves Heather's house and everything about it. Heather, Cress, Reece, Gracie, Taren, Talen, Sammy & all of his friends. He loves the games they play, the forts they build, running outside in the sprinkler, playing basketball, the food. It is all good :)

5. Bennett has the greatest expressions. He is amazed at helicopters, airplanes, big trucks, motorcycles, dogs, babies and birds. Not a one of this things slip by Bennett without him noticing and calling attention to it.

6. He is now able to communicate most of his wishes to us. If he is thirsty he will tell us if he wants juice, water or milk. If he is tired he will tell us that he wants to go night-night. If he went potty he tells us that he pooped or peed.

7. He loves to give hugs and kisses - to everyone that will take them from him. It is so cute to ask for a hug or kiss and see what you are going to get. Usually they are big and slobbery ;~>

8. He is a good eater and normally never gives a fuss over what he is eating. If he is not hungry he won't eat and I don't worry, because I know that when he is he will let me know. We all know that he has a little extra to go on!

9. Easily excitable... he loves all the little things in life. We bought him a new hockey net and as I pulled it out of the car tonight you would have thought he won the lottery. He was squealing with delight. The same things happens most nights that he sees Papa - so sweet.

10. He loves us. He loves us for everything that we do and just how we are. Sometimes Travis and I will be acting silly with Bennett around and I will comment that if he were older he would be saying what DORKS we are for how we are acting, but for now... he loves it! And we LOVE him!

Pictures

We were worried that we did not get any good pictures of Bennett during our last mini session... we were wrong!

Nana, Papa!!!

Watching the planes!

While we were away Bennett enjoyed his time immensly, but one thing was missing... his nana & papa! He was so happy to see them tonight when we returned home and they did not waste anytime getting back into the swing of playing and having a good time together!