Our Big Boy!

Hello all!

Benson is becoming such a big boy! A couple of nights ago we tried Benson in a 'big boy' bed. He lasted about 10 minutes, the second night he lasted 2 hours. We heard a thump and Daniel went to check on him. He was standing on the ground by the end of his bed. Daniel picked him up and Bens just started feeling his face. When he realized it was Daddy he snuggled in. Daniel put him in his bed and he stuck his hand up with a sock in it. Daniel took the sock and Bens fell right back asleep. So last night Benson made it all night! Yay! I went into his room this morning and he was still in his bed happy and having fun.

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks. We got "Boo-ed" last night. We were given some chocolate cover cake suckers... they are so good! If anybody knows how to make them please send me the recipe!! Anyways, enjoy the pictures!


Bens was only happy when he was upside down in the picture!




Bens has taken to putting is food in his hair.

Portland

So we have been here in Portland for a couple of weeks now and we are loving it. Everybody here has been so nice. There are quite a few families living in our complex that are students at the Chiropractic College.

Benson has started making friends with some of the kids. Well not so much friends as someone to steal toys from. They go back and forth taking the toy from each other. Sometimes it is great but others Bens or the other child get sad so we are working on the whole sharing aspect of friendship. It is kinda neat to think that he is going to be actually friends with these kids by the time we leave.

Benson has found a cupboard that he likes to sit in. I have my pots and pans in there right now so he doesn't fit so well. I think I may be rearranging my cupboards so that he can sit in there. He thinks he is so clever. Next time he gets in it I want to take a picture so I can post it for you!

Brooke's wedding went really well, I think I mentioned that in the last blog. I finally have pictures to put up though.

Enjoy the pictures and have a wonderful day!

Short One!... Not really.

We are in Portland now and enjoying it. The house is pretty well put together. There a few boxes left upstairs that need to be dealt with but that will come. We have met a lot of great people here. There are a quite a few members of the church that are chiropractic students in our complex so we are looking forward to getting to know them.

We had a couple over for FHE last night and had fun. They have a 15 month old son. It is funny watching Bens and Chandler play together. They were both tired last night so anything Chandler played with Benson would try and steal it even though he never plays with those toys!

Brooke's wedding went really well. I have never seen an Island theme wedding before but it was great. We are so happy for Brooke and Aric.

This is one that I meant to post over a week ago but got distracted. Here it is!

So things are just rattling along here. We are busy getting ready for my sister's wedding (2 days and counting!) and packing to leave for Portland (6 days and counting!)

Bens has been pretty good. He learning how to climb on things all over the house. If we are not careful he is on the deep freeze or unstable shelves or climbed out of his high chair and is on the counter top! He definitely keeps life interesting!

Today he closed a door on his fingers. I saw it happening and couldn't stop it. My mom had him "doing dishes" today while she cleaned in the kitchen. He was so cute! He almost climbed right in the sink a few times. He played there happy as can be for about an hour until he fell off the chair and bit his tounge (I can't remember how to spell that for the life of me!) and bumped his chin. He is doing a lot better now though!

Well it may be a while before I get to blog again but once we are settled I will get back online! Until then here are a few pictures of Bens from our trip to Utah/boating, petting zoo/corn maze and doing the dishes! Have a great day!

Pictures, Surgery and More.

So some people may already know but I went in for a small surgery on Monday. Nothing major! I have been having abdominal pain and didn't know why so they went in to take a look around to see what was going on. Kinda strange but the doctor didn't come and talk to Daniel or me after the surgery so we still don't know what it was. I am recovering now and have had a lot of help from family. Mycousin's wife took Benson on Monday and yesterday and my Mom has been taking care of Benson today.

It has been nice to be at home and settle back into a normal routine after our vacation. Bens turned 16 months old yesterday and has gotten quite the sense of humor with it! He was hiding around the corner from us yesterday and played peek-a-boo with us. When he finally walked into the room he let out a loud "ha-ha". What a smart kid!

Benson super cute moment for the week though happened at church on Sunday. Daniel was out in the hallway with Bens near the end of Relief Society/Priesthood and they were walking towards the RS room. All of a sudden Bens started running towards this little girl and gave her a huge hug. He just stood there smiling and hugging her. Daniel came and got me out to see and then Bens let go and walked away. He turned around and ran back and started hugging her again. I think he is trying to learn from how his Daddy snagged me up or something! Now he has officially had his first kiss (around 9 months old he and a girl in our ward crawled to each other and kissed) and his first hug at church!

I can't remember if I wrote this while I was gone or not but my sister is getting married in September. We are super excited for Brooke and Aric. They got engaged just before I left for Utah and have decided to get married before Daniel and I go to Portland. We are glad they decided to do that for us! So that is all the big news on my front. Here are a few my favorite pictures from my cousins wedding as well. Enjoy!

Utah!

So Bens and I are enjoying our trip here in Utah. Our trip down took an extra 3 hours because of border crossings and a wrong turn! Oops! Bens did really well with traveling down.

My cousins wedding was really nice. I did a slideshow for them and that was a lot more complicated than it needed to be but it has all worked out and looks great. I will add some of my favorite when I get back to Canada. The Open House last night here at my Aunt and Uncle's house was really nice. The weather even cooperated. The wind died down just before the reception and it started to sprinkle ten minutes before it ended. We had dark clouds glooming around through out the day so it could have poured!

I should be going. I need to get ready for church. With just me with Benson I am only going to 1 hour of church so I don't go crazy! Have a great Sunday!

Home... for a bit!

We made it home after a wonderful vacation! Bens and I are only here until Thursday though when we go down to Utah for my cousins wedding.

We spent a week in the Okanagan and enjoyed the beautiful lake. Bens didn't like getting in the water but once he did he would swim around with his water wings. He liked to get into two man dingies and float around with his Auntie Rachel or Uncle Jordan. He was such a good sport! He has a nice little tan now.

Our first day at the cabin Daniel and I went across the lake with a bunch of his cousins and Aunts and Uncles to go cliff jumping. I have never been interested in doing that so I jumped off a rock that ranged from 6 to - 2 inches from water level. I was goofing around and therefore my thigh hit the water weird. Luckily I was the only one to have an "injury" of sorts.

On Benson's 15 month birthday (July 26) we went and visited Daniel's Aunt Heidi at her new cabin on the Okanagan Lake. We had a lot of fun playing in sand, swimming and just relaxing. Benson especially liked being able to play in the sand. He liked grabbing handfuls of sand and dropping them beside him. He was really cute!

Daniel and Daddy Danny (Daniels new name for his dad!) helped in the beginning stages of putting a play set together. Once all the landscaping is done it will be a beautiful little spot. There is a nice little swimming area shelter by rocks that we were able to play in.

On Wednesday we made our way to Edmonton and made it back in time to greet Jared at the airport. He came home from his mission in Carlsbad, California. It was great seeing him again. It was neat seeing Benson and Jared together as they had not met yet. Jared was good with him but unsure how to hold him.

We finally made back here yesterday and have unpacked and done wash. Now it is time for me to pack up for our trip to Utah. I am flying back next Thursday so I won't be gone from Daniel too long! It will be nice to home again but I am looking forward to the wedding! Anyways, I should be off. Have a wonderful week!


On our way to the Okanagan... what a cutie!



Having fun in the sun!



Bens wasn't too sure if he wanted to play with the pool noodle!



Having fun with Uncle Jordan and Mom on the water trampoline.



Bens loved being around Cocoa the dog... he would stick his hands in the cage and poke Cocoa. She was a good sport about it!