"The Bener"

Our sweet boy is 22 months- almost TWO years old!! He's been doing so many new things, I had to go ahead and post about it! 

At some point we realized Nate had given Ben the hilarious nickname, "The Bener", and we thought it was so funny that it actually caught on.  So here are some photos and a little about what the Bener is doing at almost 2 years old!

 

Sweet boy at Easter in his bow tie, about 20 months old. 

He's all over the playground when we go.  Unlike Nate and Lilly at that age, he doesn't care who is there, he just wants to run around and give me a heart attack.   

 

 Always getting into something!

 

 Nothing is sweeter than a baby after their nap.  He's usually so happy when he wakes up.  There was a short time when he scared me, not wanting to take naps, but I think he was just teething because now we are back up to an afternoon nap that lasts a couple hours (Thank you, Jesus).

 He climbs on everything.  (Now, he is even climbing up on the chairs to get on top of the kitchen table.  More things Nate and Lilly never did!)

 April 2015

 

 Watching Elmo.. AGAIN

 In June, Brian and I got bikes so we could try and take family bike rides.  Ben wasn't sure at first but now he LOVES his little bike trailer!

What he does as soon as I say "Let's take a bath"!  He loves taking baths and can't wait to get his clothes off!!

 

 Trying out the pool for the first time in his new floaties.  He loves the water and does pretty good with the floaties.  He's not ready for us to let go of him yet, but at least he loves being in the water! Taking all three of them to the pool by myself can get a little hairy, but we do it, and so far we are fine!

 Before Daddy went after his head with shears some time in June..

 And after!  What a handsome fella! Good job, Daddy!

 

As of the past couple of weeks, he thinks he needs to sit at the table like a big boy.  Our high chair days are numbered.  And even when he does sit in the high chair, he WILL NOT let you feed him anything (I CAN DO IT MYSELF)!  It's a little messy, but I think he's doing a great job with fork and spoon for his age!!!

He didn't want to talk for a long time but has just recently started trying to copy everything we say.  He says "OOPS!" and "There it is! (Er et es)" and finally says MOMMY (sounds like Bobby, like someone with a cold would say it, but I'll take it)!  He's been saying Daddy for months, but it is the cutest thing ever to see him run to the door when Brian gets home from work, yelling, "Daddy!  Daddy"!!  He tries to say milk, but sounds like "UK!", he loves to say "no" and shake his head no.  He says "Okay" in the most adorable way.  We'll be getting ready to go somewhere and I'll say, "We're almost ready to go, I just need to get your bag, okay?" and I hear his sweet little happy voice "Okay!".  I just love that!  He's always humming a long to Elmo and Barney songs, which are still his favorites! 

We are always losing things and finding them in the trash can so we have to be very careful and watch him when he is around the kitchen!  I have found toys, my shoe, remotes, and I'm sure there are things that we never found! 

 He loves exploring more than the big kids ever did, and isn't scared to go off by himself, which scares me a little.  He's still really shy and when anyone he doesn't know (and a lot of times people he DOES know) gives him too much attention, he has a total melt down.  It's so awful.  That reminds me, I need to blog about Stephanie's wedding in Colorado- I'll do that very soon ;).  He has definitely hit a more defiant stage, but I guess it doesn't bother me as much because we hardly notice one more person screaming and being dramatic in our house!!  Amazing how much easier it is to tune him out, being the third child! 

 

I'll write more when he turns two, but had to post a quick update about how adorable and squishy he is lately.  He's just growing up so fast and becoming such a sweet little boy.  I'm so grateful I get to spend so much time snugging with him, my sweet little buddy..

Officially first graders!

Well, as of last Friday we have completed Kindergarten and are officially moving on to first grade!  It was a busy last couple of weeks, so just wanted to post about some of the end of year happenings!

The school had a fun Art Gala, where we were pleasantly surprised to find out Lilly had a piece of her artwork framed and hanging up by itself in the hall!  We are so proud of her.  She loves art and pays so much attention to detail.  I don't know where she gets this talent, but it certainly is not from her momma!  Nate even mentioned that someone in his class saw her art on the wall and said "Wow!  That's your sister's!  She's a great artist!"  It was sweet to see that her was so proud of her, too  She was beaming with pride that night, which is a pretty awesome thing to see.  She had mentioned before that the art teacher never picks her art to hang up on the walls, so I was really glad she was recognized like this.  I think she deserves it, as hard as she works! 

 

"Prickly Pear Cactus" By Lilly Pierson!

 

Some fun caricatures the kids had done at the art gala.  Nate's really made us laugh!! 

 Here they are ready for the Kindergarten awards ceremony!  They sang some cute songs with all their classmates and then they did a slideshow with pictures of all the kids having fun throughout the year.  They did the awards a little differently to save time I guess.  They just had a slideshow showing the pictures of the kids who won the different awards.  That was sine with me, since we were trying to keep Benny calm and he was ready to get moving and starting to get fussy!!

Side note about this award (Academic Excellence)- this is the BIG one, apparently!  Only one boy and one girl from each class chosen for this one.  For overall best grades in all subjects.  So proud!

Lilly is pretty much on the same reading level as I am after this year!  She amazes me, how fast she has just picked up on reading and writing.

 

Nate also got a certificate for being a "Bronco Buddy" which is someone helpful and outgoing who the teacher choses at the beginning of the year to help new students as well as current students who need help finding their way around the building, or just need a buddy.  Good job,  sweet boy!

 

End of the Year Kinder party (just playing games and eating pizza outside).  The other cute little boy in this picture went to the same in home daycare as Nate and Lilly when they were not even two years old, and this year he and Nate were in the same class!  Small world!!

 

 

 

A few pictures I took of Field Day before they started making parents with younger siblings there leave!  :(

 

Nate's class won the coveted Tug-of-War trophy for beating all the other Kindergarten classes!

 

First and last day of Kindergarten.  They've grown in so many ways..

Mrs. Stinson and Lilly

Mrs. Kelley and Nate

 

Here's to a fun summer of sleeping in, watching cartoons and snuggling, swimming, sprinklers, snow cones, playing with friends and NO RESPONSIBLITIES!  Woo hoo!