surprise party!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL!!!

 We planned a surprise party at Sugarhouse Park to let Aunt April know how much we love her. Ben was so so exited. I had to wait to tell him about the party until the day of, and I still told him a little early because he kept asking all day if it was time for "apee's" party yet.

 Michelle found the most perfect balloons for the party!

 Since Ben has clearly picked Uncle Jason as his very favorite person in the world. Everyone is competing to be Cole's favorite. Kara really, really want to be the favorite!

 Even though Apee was a bit late, Ben finally to to tell her, "Suh-prize! Happy Burt-day!"

 Of course we had to crown Apee as princess for a day! And it had to be pink!

 This is Adri's brand new duck! So cute! He can drink from a bottle! Adri is the best mama duck I know.

 Oh Sally. She is so grown up! She is turning 8 this year!! How can this be?

 Calvin has a thing for cupcakes. I like to think that he prefers my cupcakes. The last couple family gatherings we have had he has swiped one while mom and dad were distracted! So funny to turn around and find Calvin stuffing his face as fast as he can!

 Cole was content with his graham cracker, but he didn't know there were cupcakes.

 This is Cousin Lisa and two of her beautiful children, Parker and Katie. Ben kept thinking all the Balfour girls were Aunt April. Whenver one of them arrived at the party he would yell,"Apee is here!" They all look alike. He was so so confused.

 Great Grandma Fowler. 92 and still going strong. She always looks so cute.

 Best buddies Weston and Ben. They have finally decided that they like each other! Check out the hand hold! It is so fun that they are to the age where they can play with each other.

Of course they fight for time with Uncle Jason, but that is just because he is awesome and they can't get enough. Jason took them to go feed the ducks.

 Good thing Jason comes with big muscles !

"tell me dat story again mommy"

ben is really curious and really smart. his is constantly asking me "a cuz why mommy" to try to figure out the crazy world around him. i know when i have really sparked his interest with my responses when he says, "tell me dat story again mommy!" for example, he saw the fire escape ladder in our widow well and asked, "what's dat mommy?"
me: "a ladder"
ben: "whats it do?"
me: "helps us get out if there is a fire and we can't get upstairs to go out the front door?"
ben: "a cuz why mommy?"
me: "if our house catches on fire and we can't get out we need to use that special ladder"
ben: "a cuz why mommy?"
me: "so we will be safe"
ben: "a cuz why mommy?"
me: "so we don't get burned by the fire"
ben: "a cuz why mommy?"
me: "because fire is really, really hot and it can burn us. it is really dangerous."
ben pauses for processing time . . .
ben: "tell me dat story again mommy"
so then i have to tell him the "story" 30 more times until he understands. what a guy. i also had to tell him about drowning a million times after we watched the lifeguard jump in to save a little kid and we have been through what tornados do a billion times.

oh my boys . . .

oh how i adore these two boys! they are so darling. they are boys through and through. rough and tough and goofy. but even after all the wrestling they do love each other. and i love them!

Nine Months Old

 my sweet little baby boy is growing up so so too fast. scott and i always say that we wish we could freeze dry him just as he is now.

crawling from Britta Bruderer on Vimeo.

he is officially crawling. he is really sneaky when he crawls. he won't really do it unless there is something he really wants (ie my phone). or he does this hilarious mischievous crawl when he knows he isn't supposed to get something, like ben 's sippy cup or the stairs. he does this burst of super speed. sadly, he did take his first trip down the stairs this last week. i saw him right on the edge of the stairs and i yelled,"no cole!" so what did he do? launch himself down with a huge smile on his face! ouch. he has also learned how to pull himself up on things. he hasn't stood up in his crib yet, but he loves to pull himself up on the stairs. he gets so proud of himself that we usually get a booty dance after his big accomplishment. this week he has been cutting his first two teeth!

he still eats everything in his path, sand and rocks included. i have to watch him like a hawk. i gave him a pickle the other day and he got so so so mad at me when i had to take it away to bite off a piece so he wouldn't choke. he loves pickles. maybe that explains why i liked them so much when i was pregnant with him.

 his favorite game is peek-a-boo in his crib. he likes to hide behind the bumper pad and then pull it down when i say peek-a-boo!

 

when he sits in the grass he always pulls his leg up, both if he can, because he is not crazy about the texture of grass. he is still sleeping all through the night which is so glorious. love love this sleeper baby. his naps are a little funky with teething happening, but i will take solid nights over good naps any day.

he is still our little sunshine ball. every morning he is just so excited to see me and be alive. he is so smiley and sweet. we love you!

 

fun facts:

he just learned how to wave hello and bye-bye. he waves like a pageant queen and it is adorable.

he loves to open and close things. especially doors and this little toy treasure chest.

he is obsessed with the door stops.

he is a water baby and loves to splash at the pool. he isn't scared at all. 

when he stands up we sing him,"shake your booty" and he does! so cute!

when he is tired he buries his head into me and snuggles.

he loves to snuggle his stuffed penguin that aunt chicken gave him when he goes to sleep. he always grabs the penguin's beak and then snuggles it to his face.

soccer buddies!

 This is Ben's soccer team. Where is Ben? On the sidelines with me crying of course. But how cute are these guys? They wanted to hold hands while they played.

 Then they all wanted to be the goalkeeper. Coach Brad got them back on track.

 Ben insisted on holding somebody's hand to play. Luckily, he thinks Coach Brad is cool, and Coach Brad is AWESOME and lovingly helps Ben get into the game.

Brynner decided he needed to hold Coach Brad's, also his dad, hand. And then Ben had to hold Brynner's hand.

 Ben was a little too rough and tough for poor Brynner. He dragged him all over the field.

 Luckily, Ben is really good at kissing "owees" better.

 These two decided that that soccer was not the game for them, throwing pinecones was way more fun.

 But they did play soccer with each other after the game was over!

Ben isn't the star forward, or even on the field much yet, but progress is being made and someday soon we hope he will love the game. If not, hopefully he will at least have fun!

tubby time!

classic car show

 SWEET!!! I am not sure who had a better time, me or Ben. I have a serious fetish for old cars. Scott always asks me what my dream car would be, thinking I will say an Acura MDX or Lexus that. But I could really care less, a car is just a car to me. But old cars that is another thing. If it was even remotely practical I would lust after one of these cars.

 C'mon, these cars are sooooo much cooler than anything you see coming out of a factory these days!

 They don't make them like they used to! Sigh . . .

Can you find Ben? Look really closely at the hubcap.

 This was an Amphicar! Yes it drives on land and in the water! Check the propellers underneath!!

 This was the "Mater" truck. The owner left it all rusted and added some Mater stickers. The kids were all nuts for this one. Even though it didn't have a tow hitch, the kids all thought it was the real Mater.