Special Thanks for the Birthday Gifts

Benjamin had a great party in Minnesota and then came home with new clothes and new toys to play with.

Here is Benjamin playing with his new "Lock Puzzle"

Here are Benjamin and Timothy with birthday gifts from Aunt Shelley, Nana, and Grandma Joy. Benjamin and Timothy LOVE the Thomas the Train books. They ask to read them several times a day. The good part is, they actually sit still for the whole story.

Fun In Minnesota

Benjamin enjoyed the trip to Minnesota. We celebrated his 3rd birthday there with some friends. He did well in the car. On his way back to Thompson he played with his new toys. His favorite car toy was the "Robox" aka a robot and the lizard he got from the Sherman family. When we got home, he played with his "lock puzzle" and watched the Thomas the train DVD. He would watch it all day every day if we let him. Here are some pictures of his journey.

Here is his birthday cheese cake with three candles.

Benjamin and Josh from Worthington, Minnesota

A different nursery for Benjamin means new and exciting toys!

Benjamin does a good job of keeping himself entertained during a car trip.

Here are Timothy, Benjamin, and Emily Pearce. By the end of our stay, Benjamin had a good system worked out for playing together: Emily tells Benjamin what to do and Benjamin follows Emily around. They did watch movies together in peace.

Life in Canada

I have made several new friends while here in Canada: Charles (Chewsie), Kia, Gabe, Isaac, Russel and Wesley. I play with Russel and Wesley at their apartment almost every week. I see them all at church and I have lots of fun.

I am good at telling Mommy what Timothy is doing, and of course helping him do all the things he shouldn't be doing.

I like playing with my fisher price garage and my Tonka dump truck I got for Christmas. My favorite toy is a helicopter that Jeremiah (he's 11) gave me from his toys. I request to sleep with it almost every nap and every night when I go to bed.

I am still working on the potting training business, much to Mommy's dismay. I hope I figure it out before I get married!

Busy, Busy, Busy Summer

I spent the summer at a very big playground. Mom and Dad called it Camp Victory. All I know is there were swings, slides, horses, and a golf cart for me to ride. Here are some pictures of me enjoying all these fun things.

Here I am on the Tire fwing (aka tire swing)

Here I am with my riding buddy Ms. Landa Gail. I let her do

the driving so she thinks she is in charge, but I know better

Here I am with Isaac on the horse. I also got to ride on the saddle by myself while one of the workers led the horse around. I love the horse.

This is my buddy Jon. He played with me and let me help him while he worked. One of my favorite things to do with Jon was to "work." This means sweeping in the dining hall after the meals were done.

Thanks for reading about my summer. Life is good when you are 2.

Make new friends

Timothy of course is my very best friend, but traveling to other churches means I make lots of new friends on Sundays.

Here I am with my friend Nathaniel in Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He is about 14 months and walks on his knees.

Here I am with Timothy, Evelyn and Caleb Hawn in Minnesota

This past weekend I met these fun friends in Portage La Prairie in Canada.

Timothy, Holly, Angie, Benjamin, and Benjamin (me)

7 mos ; 10 yrs ; 3 1/2 yrs ; 5 yrs. ; and 23 months

Canada Craziness

Here is Benjamin in all his toddler adventures:

Helping Daddy move things with the two-wheeled cart.
I found some really cool blue stuff to eat. I found out it was chalk for pool sticks.
Here I am helping Daddy to tape the church door before it was painted.
Daddy let me ride on his shoulders while we visitied Pishew Falls. It was really pretty. Notice the cool shoes in these pictures. . . I sadly parted with them because Mommy accidently left them in Canada. Maybe in future pictures you will see my new pair of shoes. Here I am after one of my rare naps in the car. We were on our way back to the States. Don't you love the hairdo?

Benjamin loved being in Canada. He had lots of Daddy and Benjamin time for two weeks. He went with Gregory on lots of little errands and has become more of a Daddy's boy.

A Whirlwind of a Trip

Well, we all survived the trip to VA and back. This is how it went:


Friday: 5:00 p.m. we left


1:30 a.m. we arrived in Indianapolis to stay at the motel

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. we left the hotel to head to Pennsylvania


3:30 p.m. we arrived at our destination in PA: Camp Canaan


Sunday: Gregory ended up preaching both services since the Pastor was in the hospital


8:00 p.m. we leave for VA


12:01 a.m. we arrive in the driveway of Nana's house


Monday-Wednesday:
We slept in and ate lots of good food. Benjamin had his first experience in a pool:

Here he is before the first dip in the pool.

The sun was out, but the water still felt a little chilly. Mommy enjoyed the swim too.

Benjamin liked the water and playing with the balls.

Grandma got in the pool with Benjamin for a while too.

Thursday-Friday:
There was another birthday party for Benjamin on Friday at Great-Grandma Bowling's house:

Even on the second-go-round at the candle on the cake deal, Benjamin

was still a little hesitant to get near the candle

After blowing out the candle (with a little help) we discovered

why he was so upset: his long blonde eyelashes got singed!

Benjamin over came his fear of cake and indulged in a

whole piece of cake with lots of sugary icing

Our Return Home:

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. We left Grandma Bowling's house

Around 2:30 we stopped at a rest stop and had a picnic lunch (complements of Grandma Bowling).

8:00 p.m. We arrived at another hotel to spend the night.

Sunday:

We slept in, had continental breakfast, and drove from about 10:00 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. Mommy was VERY glad to see the apartment. Bejamin went down for a nap and so did Mommmy. Daddy took the time to relax and catch a little nap too.

Walking Around

I like to read and eat books. Daddy reads me a story

almost every night before I go to bed.

I haven't mastered the walking around bit yet, but I'm a tough

little boy. I pick myself up and keep going.