Spunky Benny - 23 Months

Here we are: almost all the way through Bennett's 23 month!  This weekend he will turn TWO!  We can tell Bennett is becoming a big boy:

He is saying more words, phrases and sentences everyday.  Some of his favorites are: "Stop it!", "I don't want to!", "I did it myself!",

He is becoming very independent.  Bennett likes to do most things by himself - especially when he sees his big brother master a task!  Along with his gaining independence comes a stubborn boy with a quick temper!  We are still learning how to help Bennett express himself and keep calm before "the point of no return"!  As you can see in this photo, he has a lovely fashion sense!  He was determined to wear this to church last Sunday.  I was a little scared...not willing to "rock the boat" when the morning was going well, I actually considered letting him wear this to church.  Yikes...luckily, he willingly put on some different pants before we left.  Whew!

On the other side of Bennett's temper is a sweet boy who loves to cuddle.  He is so snuggly when he wants some love.  We cherish those sweet moments with Bennett!  He and Logan also love each other so much and love to spend time playing trains, cars, airplanes, and running around together.  Now that its summer, they love to play in the sand and water together!  Its going to be a great season for us!  Bennett is getting big, so he isn't easily pushed around by Logan anymore...he will push back!  The boys are now truly becoming brothers, not just siblings that coexist anymore.

Everyday with Bennett is a joy!  He is a blessing to our family and our lives.  Can't believe he is now two...I'm hoping that "terrible" won't be attached to this year (I'm banking on already being there!).

Coming soon...

Bennett's SECOND birthday is just around the corner...can't believe its here!  Saturday and Sunday we'll celebrate, but, as usual, we don't have a party planned.  So, in an attempt to celebrate - just a little - with family and friends, I sent out this photo today...

The attempts at getting this photo were many and desperate.  I realized very late last week that I didn't have any photos to send.  Yikes!  I still had to take the photo, edit, order, receive, address, and send the birthday announcements!  Oh no.  So, I was determined to get something.  Anything (ok, maybe not really anything) to send!  Here is the journey....it speaks for itself!

"No pictures, mom"!

Logan singing "happy birthday" to Benny...in his underwear, of course!

Hmmm...this is not working!

Downward dog yoga pose!

We changed venues and I retreated to BRIBES!  See the M & Ms?!

This is actually the final photo, but I cropped it in picnik so you can't see the M & Ms bribery.  Sneaky me.

Logan had to have his turn...he is SO ready to be FOUR!  This photo is so funny...Logan and I look at it and love to LAUGH!  He is so funny with his crazy expressions!

Think of Benny on Sunday...his big day!

Building the church

Jacob's Well - Eau Claire: WQOW NEWS LAST NIGHT

Here you can see a video of our new church addition being built! This is a pretty amazing project and if you're interested, you can follow the blog. Over 5 years ago, the same group came to build our existing building and now they are here to build our new youth wing. This is the first building specifically built for youth in the whole area. So, there has been great news coverage...in fact, that JOHN in the grey "Bauer" t-shirt, hard-hat, and safety glasses at the beginning of this news clip. He has been able to spend a few hours working on HIS new youth wing! Exciting times!

Almost the end...

It's hard to believe its almost the end of Logan's first year of preschool.  It seems like we just started the year - I can remember how excited he was on his first day in September!  Luckily, he continued to be just as excited for school every Tuesday and Thursday.  It was a wonderful time for him to meet new friends, learn new skills, and explore new things.  Noah's Ark really is an amazing school and we are so lucky to be part of their little family!

Even Bennett has really gotten into the routine, getting excited for "skool!" and grabbing his backpack when Logan does.  I'm not sure who will miss school more...

Next winter, Bennett will be old enough to join Camp Come & Play, for 2.5 year olds.  I have a feeling he will be ready!

Before school on Tuesday, Logan said, "Mommy, I love Mrs. Lien.  She is a great teacher."  Of course, it made me melt.  What a special place to have teachers who are so dearly loved by the preschoolers!

Logan has grown so much this year and I know he will be sad to have school end (so will I!).  The week will be pretty long for  Logan without his two afternoons at school.  We'll have to get creative with some new ways to spend our time.  Today is the official last day and they are celebrating with a ride to Cold Stone Creamery on the city bus!  John is joining in on the fun, so hopefully I will have some photos to share!

Spoiled by Friends!

We were so lucky to be spoiled by our friends yesterday!

My close friend, Carrie, and her six month old sweet baby, Rebecca visited us from Michigan!  It was Rebecca's first visit to our house and only my second time seeing her.  She is seriously the cutest little girl!  My boys really loved her and loved doting on her the second she arrived.  I wanted to keep her...but she went back to Stillwater with Carrie yesterday to spend a fun week with her grandparents and cousins!  Carrie and Rebecca arrived in the morning with lattes!  Yum!

Then Avery came, too!  My dear friend Kim came with a delicious lunch for the moms and the kids!  Her adorable daughter, Avery, is so special and just 6 weeks younger than Bennett.  Avery is such a good talker - she can say both "Logan" and "Bennett" perfectly - and those are not easy names!  She always looks so cute in her little girl clothes.  I loved having a house full of girls yesterday!  With the moms and daughters, my boys were outnumbered!

The kids played really well together while the moms enjoyed some much needed catch up time (with our lattes!).  Lunch was "Delish", as Bennett would say, and we even had time for more playtime before naps and the drive home.  We are so lucky to have friends who make us feel like we don't live far away. Our friends drive to Eau Claire at the drop-of-a-hat to see us, spend time with us, and watch our kids grow.  We are blessed!

Many thanks to Carrie, Kim, and the girls!  We loved having you!

Children's Farm Open House 2011

Today we got to go back to The Children's Farm!  We are lucky to have a spot at the farm this year again for Logan.  We will be attending class with Logan on Fridays in June and July!  I think this year John will get to be Logan's grown-up for farm school, which will be extra special!  Its sure to be a wonderful experience again this year (last May, Logan and I attended the Spring on the Farm class).  Of course, Logan was thrilled to be back at The Children's Farm!

This year, Logan can pump the water all by himself!

Bennett was in on the action at the farm this year, too.  Last year, he spent the open house in the backpack!

Giving the goats some water.

Logan was excited to take the wheelbarrow of hay to the baby calf.

The baby calf needs a name, so Logan suggested something like "Fido".

It was a nice day, so I thought the pigs had the right idea...laying in the sun!

Logan was pretty excited to see the ponies again: Gertie and Midnight!

And Bennett wanted his photo by Gertie, too.  

In just one year, Logan seems so much older at the farm!

We played on the playground and in the sandbox - one of our favorite past times.  The boys were hungry, but didn't want to leave.  I should've packed a picnic lunch, but I didn't think of it.

Logan wouldn't take a photo with Mama...oh well.

The boys loved the cat, soaking up the rays.

They gave a little performance on the step of the shed.

Bennett is the anti-hugger right now (just for Logan).

Before leaving, we visited the baby chicks...

and played in the playroom...

Bennett loved the fish!

Logan played farm.

Bennett didn't want to leave, he took a seat by the pretty flowers.  

We start at the farm in a couple weeks!  What fun!

Week of Friends

We've had such a fun, busy week at our house!  The weather was nice for a couple days, so we spent plenty of time outside!  We also got to host lots of friends!

Carter came Monday morning!  We haven't seen Carter for a while but his parents were in Ireland this week visiting Jon and Holly, so it was nice to have Carter over.

Then we got to see Baby Elise and her mom, Katie on Wednesday.  We don't get to see them often, but Wednesday is Katie's day off, so it was fun to have a little playdate!  Elise is 6 months old and just learned to sit up.  The boys were enamored with Elise and "her tiny toes and tiny fingers".

Logan wanted to write something for Elise, so I told him the order of the letters.  He's really gotten into spelling and learning letters' sounds.

On Thursday, we got to have our friend, Brighton, at our house all day!  He came over and we had breakfast, played outside, ate lunch and he went with while we dropped Logan off at school.  Brighton is now our new neighbor!  His family has moved into their house just a few miles from us and we're excited!

This morning, we got to have Logan's friend, Isaac and his mom here.  The boys have become really great friends at school this year and it was fun to see them play together.  I have to ask John to upload some of the video from this morning!

What a week full of fun and friends - we are so lucky!