Grandma and Grandpa Must be in Town

I'm not sure how it happens, but whenever Grandma shows up, Benjamin's hair always stands up on end... (wink!)

Benjamin Prayed Solo!

Last night Benjamin was getting impatient waiting to say the dinner prayer. He already had his arms folded, but Daddy was still busy in the kitchen doing last-minute dinner prep and everyone else was talking and NOT getting ready to pray. Benjamin wanted to eat! What else was there to do, but say the prayer himself? It was amazing -- all of the parts of the prayer were there: "Dear HF, Thank you for food, Thank you for [something not quite intelligible], Name of JC, Amen." I've never known of a two year old who could pray without assistance. Benjamin is an awesome kid!

Daddy's Boy

I was just going through our recent photos and thought this one was cute enough to make the blog even without much of a story behind it.

A Haircut... or Lots of Hairs Cut a LOT!!!

About a month ago I was getting tired of my hair and started entertaining the idea of a drastic haircut. I grew my hair out after Nav school, so this is the first time it would be short in 7+ years. On Thursday I had a "Merry Mommy Morning" with the Bradley girls where half the moms stay with the kids while the other half have some time alone to do whatever they want. I saw it as the perfect time for the haircut.
The hairstylist said she took of 7 inches from the base of my neck. If I had waited for 3 more inches to grow I could have donated it to "Locks of Love". There goes my impetuousness again.
I'm still a bit traumatized; especially yesterday when I washed it, but I am getting used to it. It is easier to take care of. Ryan says he likes and Benjamin didn't freak out when he saw me so I guess it's all good.

Benjamin's 1st "Camping Trip"!

The Bellevue Public Library's summer program is "Catch the Reading Bug" so they had a camp out last night with a bug theme. Benjamin is eating his first s'more. They're really good slathered with peanut butter. (The peanut butter was from ants on a log, but I was inspired and it was really yummy).
There was a bad lightening storm with lots of rain, but our tent didn't leak!!!
Daddy and Benjamin reading in our tent. "Chooo Chooo!"
Benjamin and Mrs. B the children's librarian during breakfast. We've seen her every Wednesday at Baby & Me Story time for the last 1.5 years.

Benjamin's Birthday Cake

Here it is: Benjamin's 2nd Birthday Cake.

Originally it was going to be a background scene with "Lightening McQueen" on it, but when Benjamin saw a picture of a school bus cake and said "School Bus! School Bus! School Bus!" I knew I was making the wrong cake.

I'm a bit bummed out that I ran out of space on the cake and couldn't get Benjamin's entire name on it and that the lines on the windows aren't straight, but I think it's better than the one we saw in the picture. Ryan was impressed.

As you can see, Benjamin enjoyed "helping" me clean up the cake batter. *** Note: No toddlers were harmed in the process of taking that photo. *** I.e. no Salmonella. He also ate one of the tail lights when I was assembling the bus and was really upset when I didn't let him eat more. He had to settle for a doughnut "wheel". No, I don't usually feed him candy and doughnuts for his afternoon snack. I was hoping he would stay asleep long enough for me to finish the bus, but I was too slow for his nap.