July

It's already August! Where did July go? At the beginning of the month we found out we're having another baby boy around Thanksgiving time! Benson gets a little brother. He looked like a healthy little guy. We're excited!

I have lots of cute little pictures of Benson. His little personality is so funny. We sure love him.

He loves putting on Daddy's clothes. Here he is dressed up to head out to a rig! The helmet might have been a little heavy for his head--he's leaning.
He loves playing blocks with Daddy. He'll grab blocks from the toy room and put them in Dan's hands to convince him to play.

He spends a good portion of the day driving his little cars around the house. He's become really quick--especially around corners. He picks up the car and swings it to the side.

For Dan's birthday he requested 2.8 candles instead of 28. I think he's feeling old.

Amanda came to visit for a few days last week and we loved having her! We're so glad she's living closer and hope to see her often!

We went to an Astros game which Benny actually did really well at. He spotted this ball from a block away. He has a knack for spotting balls everywhere. But when I tried to get this picture Benson was much more interested in the ticket scalper than me. The scalper saw my unsuccessful attempts at getting Benson's attention so he stood behind me and got Benny to smile at him for the picture! Texas is truely one of the friendliest places on earth.

Again we tried to get his attention but the game going on behind us was much more exciting than the picture. A true boy!

At this point the game was pretty much over. Astros were down by quite a few runs--but...Amanda, they did win the series against the Cubs! :)

Benny isn't afraid of ducks, but they were nervous around him. They'd eat from adults hands but this little miniature person was a little scarier!

Walking with Amanda and scowling at the camera. We hope this scowl is just a phase thing.

Benny sure took a liking to Amanda. She blew bubbles with him, played cars, read books...

And just a few more pictures...Dima found a turtle in our background and the boys were fascinated.

Daddy and Benson playing chicken with the fountains.

A turtle came to visit us on our morning walk and Benson wanted to jump in and take a swim with him. Dad held him tight! You can see the turtle coming to say Hi.

Beginning of Summer Update

We went to Dallas this weekend to see family! It was a perfect weekend for it! We were able to celebrate Father's Day with them, see Tricia perform in the play Okalahoma, and we went to Flower Mound's Wild About Flower Mound festival.

Benson took his first pony ride and loved it! Here is proof:

He made good friends with Grandpa and in this picture was fascinated by a balloon flying away. He later got a balloon of his own that he kept safe.

He was most excited for the Bounce House...until he was inside it. Then he was a little nervous and clung to his parents.

The petting zoo was of course a bit hit as well. This little guy loves animals!

Here are Dad and Benson being flowers...not the most masculine photo op but appropriate for a Flower Mound festival.

The car rides to and from Grandma's house are always an adventure but the BYU Cougar hat kept Benny entertained for a few minutes.

Just a few other pictures from this week. Benson's favorite chore is laundry! I think I could spend all day folding clothes and Benson wouldn't tire of it. Here is one of his favorite places to help me:

And these are a tribute to Uncle Tanner who is on his mission. We saw these PJs and thought of him! "It's All Good" Tan!

Another one of Benny's favorite places--the high chair. (Doesn't he look a little like Carter Jensen in this picture?)

Here is Benny at the fountains waiting to get squirted. It took him a little while to warm up to these but he came around!

We went Blueberry picking last weekend and he spent most of the time like this:

We left with about 10 lbs of big, juicy, tasty blueberries in a bucket and a little boy filled to the brim. His blue face tattle-taled on him!

Foster Family Update

The Cub Scouts had their Arrow of Light Ceremony a few weeks ago. It turned out really good! Benny was captivated by the whole thing! He tried to be a good helper during the week while we worked on costumes and then he was fascinated by the ceremony.

This is the cast photo. Dan was the yellow chieftan (top row 2nd from right.)
Here are the Boy Scouts doing a dance around the fire.
The boys receiving their arrow of light coming in on a canoe.

The chieftans shooting their flaming arrows into the pond.

The chieftans dancing around the fire.
Great job scouts!

Sundays have become tricky days at our house. Church is from noon to 3:00--right during Benny's nap. I thought this picture captured it well. Right before we left to church he carried Pooh Bear into the kitchen where Dan and I were eating and laid him down to use as his pillow on the cold tile. Poor kiddo--I think he was trying to tell us something.

Here is just a cute picture of Benny eating with his soaked shirt!

A couple weeks ago before bedtime I pulled out the video camera--this little video catches Benny walking at the beginning and talking at the end. He's growing up too fast.

Ultimate Practice

Our friends introduced us to the Houston Ultimate Club a few weeks ago, so Dan has been pulling out the Frisbee more often and decided it was time to begin working on Benson's form!

Happy Birthday Benson!

My little guy turned one this week! We had a little party for him the following weekend, but on his actual birthday I wanted him devour a little cupcake and open a present. Benson wasn't feeling well, but I was bound and determined to get that photo with cake smeared all over his face. So...I set to work. And when the big moment came...it was a disaster. We tried everything--putting a taste of it in his mouth, smashing the cake with his hand, but he would have none of it. So...I decided to give up on the photo for that day because I was sure I could get it that weekend. But, the weekend party came and again he refused the cake--I was so sad.

I was telling a wise friend of mine about my birthday photo sadness. She is a 70-year old lady and she said that when I am her age flipping through photo albums I won't give much thought to the picture perfect moments, but it's the ones with the stories behind them that will be most meaningful to me. I feel better about Benson's first birthday! Thanks Sister French!

So here are our meaningful moments! Benson took very little part in destroying this cupcake.

And again at the weekend party, he simply stared with disgust!

But, the party was fun! There are 3 other families in our ward that have little ones born within just a few days of Benson so we did a joint birthday. Look at their cute little onesies with their names on the back--and the matching bibs!

Dan found his hidden talent--balloon art!

Benson's 1st Christmas!

We spent Christmas with the Foster's this year in Dallas! We had the whole family together (except Russ)! It was great fun!

Benson wasn't the biggest fan of Santa! In fact--he was terrified. Poor kid!

But, the older guys seemed to get along with Santa better!Christmas morning with his cousin Cierra.

All the cousins on Christmas morning! Benny doesn't want to be grouped with the girls. Bowling after Tricia returned home from her mission! Welcome home Tricia!