Castaway Club 1

We've been at Young Life's Castaway Club for about 10 days of our month-long stay.  John is working as one of the Head Leaders on camp, keeping activities up and running for the month.  We did the same assignment two years ago at TimberWolf Lake in Michigan.  We're happy to be at camp again and happy that both Logan and Bennett get to experience camp!  We are living on camp with about 10 other families - four families in our house and the rest in the house next door.  There are a total of 10 children - all under the age of 5!  Its a busy place around here and lots of fun.  We had several rainy days the first week, so I don't have too many photos to share, but will post some here for the eager blog readers!

Beautiful Pelican Lake

Our staff house - The Dory.  We live here with three other families.  Each family has two children...its crazy fun!

One of our first days here the sun was shining and we explored the dock below The Dory.  Logan tried fishing a little with the other kids, but he didn't really get the concept and kept putting the pole deep into the water.  I told him he would have to wait until Dad could take him fishing some day...

He sure did like the minnows!

Later that day, we headed to the beach!  Bennett loved his first day on the beach but decided sand doesn't taste too good.

Logan also loved his first day on the beach.

I can tell he is going to love camp.

On a not-so-warm day, I got out the buckets and paintbrushes for some sidewalk painting - always a hit!  Rafe (from Illinois) joined in the fun.

The kids also love hanging out on the small playground.  Even though there isn't much, the kids sure use their imaginations and have a great time.  Bennett loves climbing around and trying to keep up!  He is the "baby" of the families staying in the dory.  Only one 6 month old baby on camp is younger than Bennett.

Rainy days last week called for a few trips to town (Detroit Lakes, MN), watching some movies (on portable DVD players), and play-doh like the kids are doing here.

Happy Camper Logan

Our friends, the Donnellans and Katie came for a short visit when they brought some of the EC kids to camp.  Logan was clearly very excited!  We got to spend some time with them and it was great!  Logan sure loved the wagon Lisa brought for him.  She also brought a floaty vest for Bennett's birthday.

Meals are crazy!  Eating in a dining hall full of 400 high school kids sure is entertaining.  Logan and Bennett both enjoy looking around at all the action.  Its a little challenging to get them to eat when they are distracted.

The Volleyball Tournament at the beach!

Some of the girls from Eau Claire!  Our kids from Memorial, North and Chippewa Falls high schools are here this week!  Woohoo!

Despite all of the crazy activities on the beach, Bennett took a cozy snooze in the stroller.

Bennett's first dip in the lake!

Nice weather made for a great day at the beach today.  The kids loooooved it.

Sailboats and canoes were out on the calm water.

Logan and friends.

Logan could throw sand into the water all day long.

This wagon is amazing (Thanks, Lisa!).  Logan piled all his sand toys in there and took it all the way to the beach and back!  After a long day at the beach, no nap, lots of sun, and an ice cream cone...this is the look Logan had.  One tired boy!  He actually fell asleep at the dinner table at 6:30.

Bennett, on the other hand, had a very long nap snuggled in the stroller (again) and stayed up late with me tonight for a little Mommy-Bennett time.  It was great.  Love sunny days and hoping for more this month while we're at beautiful Castaway Club!

Bennett Turned ONE!

We had a great time celebrating Bennett's first birthday on Saturday!  He was born at 8:12am and we up awake to remember the moment Dr. Dovre said, "Its a boy...another big baby boy!".  Hard to believe Bennett was an infant at this time last year.  Now he is walking a little, talking a little, laughing a lot and keeping us all very busy!

We were about to embark on our big summer adventure, so we spent the night at my parents' in Stillwater.  It worked out well because we got to have a little birthday breakfast for Bennett with my whole family before we had to leave on Saturday.

Goofy picture, but Bennett's "1" shirt was so cute!  Thanks, Rachel!

Fun Family Photo!  Bennett was luck to have some special people for the morning of his birthday party.  Amy (Andrew is on the road playing baseball this week - we missed him!) and my cousin Jody and her husband Tadd (visiting from Minot, ND) were there to help celebrate...

Kyle and Ali came to enjoy breakfast with us, too!  Bennett loved hanging out with them - he couldn't get enough of Kyle.  

I made some giant muffins for Bennett and my dad made his famously delicious pancakes.  Bennett enjoyed both, I think...as did the rest of us!  Of course, Logan was a big helper when it came to Bennett's birthday.  He helped with the candle.

Yum!

Practicing walking...

Logan was also a big help with the presents.  He had to help Bennett open each one.  As usual, Bennett didn't have much attention span, but special thanks to all for the very nice gifts!  Logan understood it was Bennett's birthday and now calls Bennett "a big baby", instead of a "tiny baby".  Logan also thought that the day after Bennett's birthday he was already "one and a half".  Not quite, but the concept is there!

Bennett also got to face forward in his carseat for the big trip up North!  Big boy!

B was pretty tuckered from all the partying and no morning nap.  He's Mr. Moo (B) and Mr. Moose (L) just chillin in the back seat as we left for the adventure of a lifetime!

When we arrived at camp, we got to meet lots of new friends and after dinner, we celebrated with a mini party for Bennett.  What a lucky boy!  We shared Cookie Pops with all our new friends at camp and they were a huge hit!  Good thing because my sister, Amy, and I were awake making them until 1am the night before.

Cookie Pops!

Logan helped hand out the special treats while Bennett dug into his first cookie with gusto!

Playing games!  I don't even know what Logan does, but Bennett loves it and its their little game.

"What a great birthday!"

This this messy face and shirt means the birthday was a great success!

Check back soon for more camp updates!

Another Milestone

Tomorrow we will mark Bennett's first birthday!  I honestly don't know where the time has gone.  We've been so busy keeping up with the boys that this year has passed in an instant.  What a wonderful year it has been.  The transition from one child to two children was great for us - Bennett has been such a joy from day one!  He is such a little ham: always smiling, flirting, cuddling, and cooing.  He really has been a perfect baby.

I suppose I will have to stop referring to him as "the baby" soon...not yet, but soon.  I'm convinced Bennett's first word is "Mama".  He sure does say it a lot to me (or to get my attention!)...we'll see if it continues.  Bennett is going to walk on his own any day!  He LOVES to walk holding our hands or pushing anything that will move.  He also loves to climb and recently mastered the stairs.

Bennett wants to do everything Logan does - I hesitated buying any new toys for Bennett for his birthday because he is happy to play with whatever Logan plays with.  They are starting to play together more and more.  They have certain games they love to play - especially playing in Logan's room and climbing around on his big bed on the floor.

Once again, we will be driving for the first birthday!  As a mom, I seem to feel the need to celebrate the first year and because we won't really have a party, I sent out these photos of Bennett (click here to see Logan's bday announcement) and hope that you will think of him on his big day!

Very Special Visitors

We were sooooo lucky yesterday to have some very special visitors!  My cousin, Jody, and her husband Tadd are in town from North Dakota.  They are spending some time away from their beautiful twin girls and took an afternoon to spend with us in Eau Claire.  The boys LOVED them both!  It was such a fun day!

Bennett was completely smitten!  From the moment Tadd walked in, Bennett couldn't get enough!  He really LOVED Tadd - and Jody, too!

Logan also had a fun time showing off.  He was talking up a storm, dancing around, and showing all his toys.  Jody and Tadd remarked that Logan was really not shy at all.  When they arrived, he said, "You were here when I was a really really really tiny baby!"  I had been talking to him about when Jody and Tadd were in Eau Claire the last time, Logan was only five weeks old.  We've seen them many times since, but never in EC!  Thanks for making the trip!

This time last year...

Thinking back to this time last year has so many emotions for us.  We were so excited to meet our new baby (and find out if it would be a boy or a girl!); we were so busy finishing up projects around home before the new arrival; we were wondering what life would be like as our family of three grew to a family of four.

Our neighbor took these photos one night, just a couple days before Bennett was born.  She couldn't believe we were out playing frisbee...well, she couldn't believe I was out playing frisbee!  Its amazing: Logan looks so little (and I look so big!).  Logan has grown up to be such a great big brother and a big boy in just one year.  Our family of four is so wonderful and life is so rich.  We really had no idea the dimension Bennett would add to our life.  We're so thankful for our beautiful boys!

The Children's Farm 5

Our last day at The Children's Farm on Monday, May 24th.  I am just now getting around to posting photos...its been a little crazy lately!  We were sad to have our farm class end, but we are so thankful we were able to experience it!  It was so wonderful for Logan and his confidence and independence really grew during the four weeks we were in class.

The Children's Farm is only a little more than five minutes from my parents' house, so it was perfect to drop Bennett off and head to the farm with Logan.  Bennett got to have some special time with Nana while we were at the farm.  We were always back to the house for dinner and baths.  Then each week we got to see Papa and Amy before we headed home in the car - both boys would fall asleep for the drive after a busy day.

There was a special new feed bucket full of grain for the piglets!  Logan wanted to be sure to feed the pigs and hens on the last day.  After a month, he knew just what to do and was very independent.

Logan with the hens.

Having a conversation with the calf:

Logan: "Hey big guy!"

Calf: "Moooooooo!"

Logan: "Are you hungry? Do you want me to get some food or are you just drinking your baby bottle still?"

Seriously!  It was so cute!  Logan really befriended the animals and grew to love them and know them well.

Of course we had to rake some hay for the horses Felicia and Midnight.  Logan loved those wheelbarrows so much.  I'd love to get one for him!

It was blistering hot so they had some great activities set up to keep the kids cool.  This water table was a big hit!  

There was also a big group painting set up on the side of the barn, in the shade.  Logan left his mark.

He hadn't sat on the tractor...until now.

Look at all the activity in the garden!  The garden was a little shaded by the trees, so it was a good spot to be out of the sun.  Logan always loved being in the garden.

Checking on the beans we planted earlier...

Digging, of course!

I got this sweet picture of a grandfather/grandson who were in our class.  Unfortunately, they left early because of the heat and I was not able to get their email address to send the photo.  I thought this was so cute.

We explored in the sandbox (also in the shade!).  Logan just loves playing in here.  He even rescued a few spiders (yikes!).

The zip line!  Logan did a great job trying, but he wasn't quite able to hold himself up.  When he is older, he will love this!  Maybe we will get to take another class at the farm.  If not with Logan, I hope to go back for the same experience with Bennett when he is old enough!  

Our Great Weekend

Here's the boys...just lounging in the baby pool: representing how we spent most of our great holiday weekend!  The weather was amazing and we took full advantage of our time together by playing outside, eating picnic lunches, catching up on outside projects, and taking walks.

We put the slide into the pool...Logan is a little big for the slide, but he still enjoys it!

Bennett was content to sit at the top (with Mom as a spotter, of course!)

Sunday evening we took Logan to enjoy his first shave-ice.  YUM - so perfect on a hot day!  All he could say was "DE-LISH!"  That was a lot of sugar, so it took a while for Logan to fall asleep that night (totally worth it, though!).  Look at that blue tongue!  Logan was hoping it would stay.  He asked me the next morning: "Mom, is my tongue still blue?"

Bennett tried some, too...it was a little too sweet for him, I think.  He had fun just hanging out in his stroller!

We also hit the Memorial Day parade with our patriotic little boys!

Both waving their flags!  What fun!