Storing Up for Winter

Isabella is acquiring something that Benjamin never had - fat stores. No matter how much I fed Benjamin, he never had fat rolls or a double chin, but my sweet "little" girl has these in abundance. I think this picture is so cute because it captures her in all her double-chin, poofy hair glory. They say you're awkward in middle school, but I'd say infancy is pretty funny too. :) I just wish I could capture her smile on camera because her whole face lights up and you can't help but smile back.


Just a few quick pics of Benjamin and his buddies, before I go to bed. We had a little swim get together here today and it was so much fun. Despite toddlers' inability to share and frustrating tendency to only want what someone else has and only while they have it, I loved watching them play together and eat together. I wish we could have people over every day and so does Benjamin! As soon as they left, he thrust his arms out and wailed, "Maya!!" in his most pathetic voice. I can't wait until he and Isabella can play together.

Pure Joy

Ah, to be two. Music making ball poppers and overnight campouts with dad are enough to get you dancing and shrieking with delight. This last weekend Kelly took Benjamin on a church-sponsored campout. I stayed home and had a girls' night with Isabella, while the two boys went out into the woods and did manly things - lit fires, got dirty, and ate junk food. Benjamin had a terrific time with the others kids there, and besides getting so many mosquito bites that he looks like he's got chicken pox, it went well. He came home filthy and exhausted, which is just what I expected. He took a shower and a long nap and then told me all about it. Well, since he can't talk yet - it was a lot of hand gestures and sound effects, but it clearly made an impression on him. :)



He woke up from his long nap to find that Maya had come over to play and he was more than willing. The two of them are the cutest couple. If they get married, I'm showing this movie at their wedding. They pulled out the ball popper machine and danced the afternoon away. Check this out. This is pure joy.

2 Year Photos

Thank goodness we only do this once a year. You'd never know it by looking at the photos, but Benjamin was dragged into the photo area kicking, thrashing, and screaming, and was still crying hysterically up until moments before these pictures were taken. I was seconds from giving up and walking out when the photographer discovered that Benjamin liked the colorful feather duster she had. Suddenly all was well in toddler world - for about 5 minutes. Thank goodness that she was quick to get all the shots we needed. Here's the result. I'm quite happy with them. It's somewhat hard to see them here since the copies they email you are such low quality, but you get the idea.

Goodbye Camera

This is the last picture on our camera - the picture Benjamin took just before it crashed to the ground - directly onto the lens. I know - why did I let my two year old play with the camera?! He was doing so well! He was actually taking some good pictures and being careful and it was a perfect distraction while I changed Bella's diaper. But all good things must come to an end and thus end his days as a photographer. Goodbye dear camera. We have loved the last 6 weeks with you. I have seriously bad luck with cameras lately! Our previous camera went swimming in the fountain at the zoo the day before Isabella was born. Our next one is on its way here now. Please pray for its survival.

Things are still going along well here. I just got pooped on by Isabella as I wrote that, alas, but truly, they are. That's life with a newborn, I guess. It happens more often than I'd like. But she's a sweety and very patient. Here's a few pics to enjoy while I go clean us up. Benjamin has started getting pots out, putting on his apron, and pretending to cook. It's so cute. Everytime I ask him what he's cooking, the answer is always eggs. Also, he's decided he wants to be David Attenborough when he grows up. Every day he wants to watch Planet Earth or Life of Birds or some such documentary all narrated by the marvelous David A. I let him watch while he has his snack and I cook dinner. It's so fun to see how into these shows he gets. I can't complain - it's educational!

Birthday and BBQ Fun

This past week has been a lot of fun. We celebrated Benjamin's birthday on the 2nd and then we had a BBQ with friends on the 4th. For Benjamin's birthday we went to a nearby beach with some of his little buddies and their moms and then out to lunch at Red Robin, as we'd done for his 1st birthday. We went there because they sing and clap for you on your birthday and he LOVED it last year. However, he has become somewhat shy these past couple months and rather than smile and clap along as he did last year, this year he hid his face in the bench and ignored them entirely. That is, of course, until the moment they left, at which point he popped back up and frantically signed, "more!!!" That stinker!


This year the big hit was the onion rings. It was his first time trying them and he really got into the whole dunking thing. He just couldn't get enough sauce on them to suit him.


Our BBQ on the 4th was great, and Benjamin especially loved it because his friend Maya could come over. They played in the pool together and ate their weight in watermelon. Benjamin also loved the sparklers Kelly bought for him. We've been lighting them every afternoon since.




Isabella continues to be our sweet little girl. Sleeping soundly each night and smiling often during the day. She's a real pleasure to have around. I think it really makes such a difference to have done all this before. I notice such a difference in how I react to issues with her compared to Benjamin. I'm far less stressed this time around about everything. It's really nice.


However, I have to mention, today we had our first sibling rivalry issue. Bella was propped up against one of Benjamin's stuffed animals and he adamantly declared, "mine!" and tried to pull it out from under her. It was an all out temper tantrum when I insisted he share it with her. After a time out, though, he acquiesced and she was allowed to keep the dog. I'm sure this won't be the last time something like this happens. I guess that's life with siblings - something I never had to deal with. Consequently our family home evening lesson tonight was on sharing and how Jesus shared his loaves and fishes with everyone and we should share with others too and be like Jesus (or Joo-joo, as Benjamin calls him). He seemed to get what we were talking about. I assume it will be a while before he actually applies it. :)

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Today is Benjamin's 2nd birthday! We are so blessed to have this amazing little boy in our family. I was inspired by a friend of mine to create a little montage to celebrate the past two years with Benjamin. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :)



As a birthday present to Benjamin (and to me, especially), Isabella slept through the night last night! 10 hours straight! As with Benjamin's first full night, I awoke at 6am in total panic and rushed to check on her. Of course, waking her in the process. A wonderful milestone has been attained. Yipee!