Petting Farm

This past Saturday we were grocery shopping and the store was having a special day of some kind and there was a petting farm set up outside. We took Benjamin in for a few minutes (it was free and you can't beat that) but Benjamin didn't seem to enjoy it too much. He made faces pretty much the whole time and wouldn't touch any animal except a baby chick. I only got a picture of that on my phone and I haven't figured out how to download those pictures to the computer yet so these are the ones I have. I love Benjamin's face in these!

Mini-Golf

This is a little late, but on Pioneer Day last week we went mini-golfing with our friends Bart and Rebecca and their daughter Addison. It was so fun to watch the kids play with the clubs and golf balls.

Ways Benjamin Has Fun These Days

Climbing on and off our bed

Making a pile of books on top of Dad

Eating any kind of pasta... his favorite!

Lounging in his Elmo chair watching The Price Is Right and eating grapes

Playing with Bubbles

It's Enough to Make a Mother's Heart Stop...

...BUT Benjamin absolutely loves it.

I have to turn around and pretend that Benjamin is safely on the ground playing with his Dad.

Honestly, it doesn't bother me to see other kids tossed up in the air. But when it's mine, I get so nervous and it's hard not to run over and grab him and keep him safe and close to the ground.

Does anyone else feel this way too? Or do I need to chill out a little?

18 Months Old

(I saw this done on someone else's blog and thought it was totally cute and it would be fun to do for Benjamin at 18 months old... so I copied it.)
Name: Benjamin, Buddy, Dude, Little Man

Age: 18 months

Accomplishments: Feeding himself with a fork or spoon. Can go down the slide by himself. Says a few words (Dad, Please, Jesus, Moo, Woof). Signs many words (eat, more, please, thank you, ball, baby, cracker, etc). Recently learned how to open the DVD player and put in a new DVD (on top of the old one) and closing the door.

Known Weaknesses: Getting away as soon as his diaper is off. Waking up earlier than usual on the weekends. Was known for being an easy-going little guy until he turned 17 months- then the tantrums started.

Superpowers: Finding the smallest of objects on the ground (ants, grass seeds, grains of sand), picking them up, and giving them to you. Melting anyone's heart with his wink or smile.

Benjamin LOVES to slide...

Apparently Benjamin didn't get enough exercise running around the zoo yesterday, he also wanted to play on the slides when we got home. But who can say no to a little boy saying "peeesss" and knowing this is what his face will look like when he gets what he wants?

And what did Benjamin try to do first thing when he got to the top of the slide?

Go down head first- laughing the whole way.

This kid is not afraid of anything... except the vacuum cleaner. But that's a whole other blog post.

Blogger won't let me post any of the longer videos. It keeps freezing up on me so here's a short one instead. Benjamin is quite the shrieker when he's excited and having fun.

Thanks to Uncle Rob for helping Benjamin slide over and over and over and over....

We Went to the Zoo!

We decided last minute to go to the Hogle Zoo with Aunt Dianne and Uncle Rob yesterday. Benjamin had a good time and loved the animals. It was the perfect day to go- the temperature was in the 80s and it was overcast. Most of the animals were really active, so that was fun too! We all had a good time and took lots of pictures- there were too many to post so I chose a few and put them in a slideshow. Enjoy!

New Fun with Old Favorites

Benjamin had too much fun playing with his old toys today while we were setting up the new baby's room.

Our Holiday Weekend

Thursday evening we left Provo and drove down to St. George to meet my mom and brother for the weekend. We left about 6pm, hoping that Benjamin would fall asleep in the car before we got there- that didn't happen. But he was very good in the car and didn't fuss at all for the entire drive. We got there late and Benjamin enjoyed playing with Grammy and Uncle Blake for a little bit before we made him go to bed.

Friday was the Fourth of July and we went down to the pool at the condo we were staying at early in the morning before it got too hot. Benjamin did not seem to enjoy it at all unfortunately. In fact, he wouldn't have anything to do with me in the pool- I guess he still hasn't forgiven me for dunking him underwater during swimming lessons last March. (I don't think I posted about the lessons after the first one- Benjamin would get so mad at me for dunking him- he even bit me on the shoulder once!)

Here are a few more pictures from Friday-

Benjamin with Grammy and Pugzy

Playing in the Fire Truck kiddie ride at the (air conditioned) mall

Hanging out with dad before the fireworks started.

On Saturday we went to Zions National Park and had some fun there before heading home.

Benjamin loves his Grammy!

With Grammy and Uncle Blake

Beautiful Zion scenery

Benjamin driving Grammy's car

I Love Unexpected Blessings

Like when you're counting pennies this month because of some unexpected circumstances that depleted your cushy bank account- and then you find out that your cell phone company actually owes you money instead of you owing them.

Awesome.