Wii, Park with Papa Wayne and Tractors!

Ben's little friend Sean is a Wii wizard. He showed Ben how to play last weekend. Ben was so excited the next day to explore at the park with cousin Jillian and Papa Wayne and find tractors!!Instead of lifting him up, Jillian just put Ben on top of the fountain to get a drink. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Ben's First Black Eye!

Ben got his first shiner this weekend, and daddy is so proud.(We wont tell anyone that he got it by falling on Grandma Sharon's coffee table in the middle of his happy dance). :)

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same...

Our friends Donna and Bill and their 2 1/2-year-old son Sam came to visit from Milwaukee! Donna, Vanessa, Renate and I were pregnant together and the boys have had little playdates since they were a few months old. The boys (and their mommies) have gotten older, but Kai is still Mr. Congeniality, Sam is a bundle of non-stop energy, Tristan is still as easy-going as ever and Ben still prefers to be the independent observer.

From Left to Right - Kai, Ben, Sam, Tristan and Tristan's friend Ryan at a playdate September 2007Moms and babies January 2010. Ben is still not a big fan of group photos. Look at Kai looking at him like WHAT is wrong with him???:) Ben hanging out with Kai, September 2007 Me, Donna, Vanessa and Renate (you'd never know it but Renate has baby #2 due in May!)

Christmas Break 2009! Hello 2010!

Miss Ellen working with Ben - he loves her visits.Slumber party with Johny, Jillian, Amber and Sam (Uncle Mark stuck around for a little bit)!
Reading a book with Uncle Mark.Watching "Harry and the Hendersons" with the cousins.Breakfast the next morning.Watching Sponge Bob the next morning with Johny.Telling Johny what's going on...Hailey and her mommy invited us to The Clubhouse Fun Zone in Ventura!Ben loved the jumpy house.Playing with Hailey.Ben spent the night with Grandma Sharon and Papa Joe while mommy and daddy snuck out (and took a much needed break from writing my thesis) for a date night with Aunt Kathie and Uncle Chad!New Year's Eve party at the Miller's!Happy New Year!!!Christmas break ended with Papa Wayne's 78th birthday dinner!
Looking forward to an AMAZING 2010!

Merry Christmas!

Ben had an amazing Christmas with his cousins. We had to hide this truck from Aunt Cori and Uncle Bryan because he didn't want to pay attention to ANYTHING else on Christmas morning!
Who's kid screwed up the family picture??? :)The youngest and oldest cousins, Bobby and Ben.Jillian LOVED her owl Build a Bear.Our two gorgeous nieces, Sam and Amber.Sweet Amber took care of Ben ALL DAY on Christmas...a little mama.

Ben and Santa 2009!

We wouldn't be good parents if we didn't make Ben sit on Santa's lap once a year, right? :) Almost a perfect Heisman pose...
Remember last year?

Playdate with Sean

This was the first time Ben and Sean had played together since Halloween! They both love playing with their dads.