Trip to Grandma's

These last two weeks Benjamin and I went to Utah to visit family. Benjamin was very excited to go.



Well...he was equally excited by bubble wrap, but that's beside the point.


While out there, we spent time with the Daltons. It was so fun to see everyone. Benjamin was thrilled to play with Katelyn.



So much so that they wore each other out (and everyone else).


The sunshine was wonderful and the food that everyone brought was great. It looked so tasty, Benjamin wanted to get in on the action.


We also visited other friends in Utah. We frequently went to Sofia's house. While I talked to Laura, the two of them would play. When Sofia wasn't viewing Benjamin as a rival, they had fun.


Mostly, though, we hung out at home. There was plenty of stuff to do there. For example, plants to pull over.



Pianos to bang on.


And walkers to cruise around in.



All in all, we had a wonderful time. Seeing friends and family is always wonderful and the amazing weather was an added treat. Benjamin definitely loved it.


In addition, that walker was so much fun, that Benjamin came home and pretended he was in it. He walked across the living room before he realized he wasn't and fell down. I wouldn't say he's walking, because he doesn't seem to realize he can yet, but when we give him a goal, stand him up and let him go, he walks to it. It's amazing! We'll see how long it takes him to realize he's doing it and try on his own.

That's so funny

Benjamin is now 8 months old and he's developing the cutest little sense of humor and quite a love of mischief. Every day I try to find fun things to teach him and try together. The other day I took out a spatula from the kitchen and we made a mini catapult. I took the scrunchie from my hair, laid it on the handle of the spatula in front of him, and hit the other end, sending the scrunchie flying in an arc through the air. I expected him to watch it and maybe even smile, but I didn't expect the hilarity that ensued. He couldn't stop laughing! He watched it once or twice and then decided to join in. He tried to grab the scrunchie before I could launch it. If he succeeded, he'd burst out laughing. If I grabbed it from him and tried to put it back, he resisted, laughing the whole time. He was such a little rascal! He made a game out of stopping me! He seemed to love thwarting my efforts as much as he loved watching it soar through the air.


A few days later I got out my jenga game and we played with the blocks. He loved chewing on them the best, but what elicited more riotous laughter was knocking down anything I built up. It became a game to see how many blocks I could stack before he'd knock it down. Each time he'd swipe at the tower, he'd laugh and laugh, especially if I responded with an outraged, "Hey!" He would look up at me and bust up laughing. We played this game for nearly half an hour before he tired of it. It was so funny.


The final thing that I found so much fun was a game I played with him to teach about magnets. I came home from work on Saturday and he grabbed hold of my name tag, which is attached with a magnet. I sat down on the floor with him, let him hold one part of the magnet while I held the other. Then I brought my part close to his. As my magnet attracted his and he felt it pull together, he laughed out loud at the sensation. I encouraged him to try to pull them apart and as he felt the resistance and the eventual give, he laughed again. Over and over, attach and separate, he played this little game in various ways, laughing all the time. It was fascinating to watch such a young little person find such fascination in science.

This is a really long entry, but I just wanted to share how Benjamin is growing up. So, as of right now he'll either be a physicist or a demolition expert. :)

Kelly and Benjamin like to read the scriptures together.


Kelly changed Benjamin and got him ready for bed, but couldn't resist a little more fun for the evening. Nothing says fun like putting pants on your head. :)


Once or twice a week I need a few minutes extra to myself and Baby Einstein is happy to oblige. Benjamin doesn't take his eyes off the TV the entire 20 minutes. I don't know how it does it, but I am eternally grateful.


A few more cute photos.