New Game & Cleaning

It's been HOT and muggy in STL, so we've been spending a lot of time inside... BUT we invented this new game that Ben loves. I go around and hide his barn animals and take a photo of where they are. Ben holds the camera and finds all of the guys (in order). Sometimes I've been known to put a "giant chocolate chip" (AKA Hershey's Kiss) with the very last find.

We also have a new method for mopping the floors. I read on another blog that you wet rags, spread some cleaner around and scoot around on the floor. So I told Ben that we were going to ice skate in the house. It's the most fun I've ever had mopping - chasing each other everywhere. We'll definitely be doing that again, and look at that sparkling floor!

Innsbrook with Cousins-

We had a great Innsbrook weekend with AJ, Charlie, Uncle Chaz, Mags, Uncle Tim, Auntie and Bubba & Grampy. Ben got plenty of time to practice his swimming, jumping in the water and playing with his cousins. He also learned about the Nintendo DS and talks about them non-stop (like his big cousins have).

Noodle Jar-

Our friend Melanie started a "noodle jar" with her son Connor... so we decided to get in on the action. If Ben has good behavior, is a good listener or is kind to a friend he gets a scoop of noodles in his jar. If he doesn't listen (a big one these days), is rude or mean, a scoop is taken away. After about a month of trying today was the day he filled his noodle jar. SO as his special reward we headed to Toys-R-Us where he got to pick out a small toy. It was very exciting and he took his job very seriously... he's already planning his reward for the next time his jar is full. I must say Melanie nailed this one... Ben has had far fewer time outs since we started the noodle jar and he usually makes good choices once we give him a warning that we'll take a scoop of noodles away. Thanks Miss Melody!

Budding Artist

A dragon boat with 3 blasters

How our 'fridge currently looks as Ben's gallery. He hangs them himself.

The bulletin board in his room is full too!

Working on drawing a castle...

The finished masterpiece.

4th of July-

We had a nice, relaxing weekend at Innsbrook for the 4th. Ben enjoyed the fireworks and his glow sticks (he remembered we had them last year - the kid has a memory!). One of the coolest things that happened was when he realized he could swim by himself with the help of his life jacket. He was in the lake with Grandad and Joe and said "I CAN FLOAT!" He was so excited and was tooling around by himself in no time. The swim lessons are paying off. He'll be a swimmer in no time.

Beautiful Day at the Garden-

Pool fun with cousins!