Happy Trick-or-Treat

Since it is Halloween we decided might as well dress Ben up and let him play in the front even if we aren't taking him candy begging...
We had fun - laughing and running.. I'm not sure about Ben tho.

Photographer in training

Many of you have already looked at the new pictures in his album.. so you know that we got in another round of pumpkin photos yesterday... Ben has become more interested in the camera and equipment than ever.. anytime we get out the camcorder b/c he's doing something cute or funny.. he stops.. b/c he'd rather play with the camcorder.. same with the camera..

Pumpkin Picking

I tried to take photos of Ben today.. but he wasn't very cooperative.. I'll try again tomorrow before nap time.. we are usually way more happier..
But I think this turned out pretty cute..

Self-destruct

Today we had a ton of running around to do... Unfortunately we did it during "nap time" and once we got home.. a certain little boy REFUSED to nap.. instead he played quietly for about 15 minutes.. I would have thought he would be exhausted seeing how this same little boy decided that he was going to SCREAM from 330AM till 440 AM and not let anyone get sleep.. But instead he's waiting for the perfect inopportune time to self-destruct.. I know it's coming.. just waiting until it happens...

Playing Outside

Ben's pumpkin bag

NanaMom sent Ben a trick-or-treat bag.. and he loves to carry it around and put his toys in it..

Uncle Queep is running the Chicago Marathon today!! Track him at http://chicago.activeresult.com/lasalle/search.adp?bib_list=12297&refresh=300

Go Pete!

GO BEVO!!

We had Michele, Zoe, Hagen, and Layla over to the house to watch THE TEXAS vs Nebraska game... and What a game it was!! Lots of yelling and screaming and not just the kids fighting over toys... It was lots of fun and thankfully (oh so thankfully) Texas pulled it off and actually won... 22 to 20.. Everyone's talking we'll see this game again during the Big XII Championship game.. Let's hope so -- seeing how we know we can beat them.. teehee..

The Sweater

I finally finally finally finished weaving in the ends on Ben's sweater.. and I might add "OMG HOW CUTE!"
I think the sweater is almost as cute as the boy...

15 month Well-Check

Today I took Ben to the great Dr. Amstutz for his 15 mo. well check and shots.. We have a new nurse and OMG!! what a fiasco..I was torqued after waiting 5 min after his appt just to check-in b/c no one was manning the desk.. Then another 15-20 min wait to get seen... THEN the Dr. wasn't even in yet.. To top it off the nurse didn't know that we were supposed to be getting shots.. and I was walking out.. ready to argue with the receptionist to get my copay back.. Until Finally a knowledgable nurse came and explained Ben can get shots, and would just have to wait for the DTAP until 18mo.. since they "could not give it b/f his 15 mo." (we were 2 weeks early)... The Dr. sees us.. Ben's healthy as ALWAYS.. and progessing fast.. he has already accomplished everything on the 15-18 mo "what kids should be doing" list.. and after getting 2 shots.. we started to leave and they pull us back into the room.. b/c the Great Dr. opened THE BOOK and researched that YES indeed Mr Ben COULD get DTAP b/f 15 months.. I'm sure this reads as blah blah blah.. but I was TORQUED!! and just had to ramble for a bit.. The only good thing about the dr. visits is the "free" advil and tylenol we get.. wohooo.. HA..

Happy kid

Ben's packing up and ready to be shipped off.. since it's a cooler I think he should be preserved.. who wants him?

Children's Place had an online sale and Ben got a mad amount of clothes.. this is one of his outfits
He's not in trouble.. he just likes standing in the corner... (you can see the blue in this photo -- it's only on the bottom 1/3 of the wall now.. and maybe not for long.. we're testing it out)

What a mess

If you keep up with our ramblings - You know that I made the traumatic mistake of painting - well in order to fix the mess - last night after Ben went to bed - I began re-painting the walls - and around midnight I wasn't quite finished but I was done.. pooped.. down for the count and left my mess knowing I would just have to start over again today when Ben was napping.... Pete however, stayed up and finished for me.. but still left the mess.. This morning after Ben had breakfast and clean clothes on he thought it would be fun to play in the mess.. now we have one less pair of britches.. b/c he got paint all over them.. Oh well.. That's what I get I guess..
And -- while he was at Michele's today - the kids were playing with blocks.. and I heard Ben kept "eating" them.. and Layla was not happy about it.. so she chunked a block and knocked him in the head.. whoops.. Ben's ok -- he's tough.. he has a nice red mark above his eye..but nothing worse than what he usually does to himself.. and Miss Layla apologized..

Happy Saturday

Hi ya'll! Today all Ben wanted to do was read read read... everytime we finished one book.. he would go get another.. So fun... He enjoys flipping the pages, whether you've finished reading the page or not...
Other than that - not much took place worth mentioning.. We watched our game tonight.. and again GO TEXAS!
Texas 63 vs Baylor 31! What a game.. Ben LOVES when we yell TOUCHDOWN! He giggles and throw his arms up as to mimmick the refs.. Too funny.

Baby it's cold outside...

Current Temp: 43 Wind ~20mph Real Feel: 35!!
So we can't stay cooped up in the house all day.. we have to get out and play some right?? Well Ben thought it was fun for a bit.. Usually he is hard to convince it's time to go back inside.. not today.. He was headed for the stairs b/f we were.. Guess he doesn't enjoy the cold either...

I'm rubber-man

Recently SuperBen has been bouncing into everything! And has the bumps and bruises on his noggin to prove it. He gets in such a hurry and doesn't realize that where Bailey goes he sometimes can't fit. He's a tough boy though.

Chocolate Face

Ok -- So after a little grumpiness, a little arguing, and a little nap.. Dad FINALLY dragged us to the lake kicking and screaming (me AND mom).. But as usual Dad was right and we had a BLAST! So fun! *sigh* and maybe the last time... THIS YEAR..
So ~~ on the way home since everyone was giddy about the great time at the lake... we stopped and got snacks and gas.. and mom gave me some of a Twix bar.. and OMG YUMMM... I got it all over me! but it was SOOO incredibly good.. If you've never had one of these.. You gotta go get one..
Oh yeah - GO TEXAS!
Love Ben

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Thanks Aunt Maybee

Aunt Maybee sent me some pretty..umm.. cool.. things in the mail. I got this great shirt that says "If mommy won't My aunt will!"... and a John Deere dinner set: cup, bowl, and plate. I like the bowl better as a hat.. what do you think?

Fall... New Shoes... Mohawk...

I got new kicks today! A new Kohls opened just down the street - so Mom took me there, and I got a pair of Vans! Now all I need is a skateboard... (or a wakeskate...)




It's officially fall... and we've got plenty of leaves in the back yard. I played in a pile of leaves and had a ball...






And... during bath time I got a new doo. Check out the Mohawk..Dad grabbed the camera, so I decided I might as well smile, although I didn't like it one bit. You know how camera shy I am..

Mom and dad decided since it was almost 90, we had to go to the lake again. They wouldn't let me swim though... At least I got to sit on the end of the boat and splash my feet some..

We opted out of going to the zoo this morning.. so instead Ben and I took a stroll through Halleck park. The leaves are falling and the trees have some great colors. Too bad Ben wouldn't pose for me, there was great opportunity for some shots.
He had fun walking thru the leaves and watching the geese swim in the pond.

Manly bonding time

Yesterday was a great day to be outside! The boys decided to mow the backyard, and finish some chores out back. Ben had a grand time playing in the girls water dish while we cleaned and drained the pool.