Mom Craft, Climbing and More!

I started making Ben's stocking in August of 2006. At the time, I thought it would be no problem to finish it by Christmas. . . well, thanks to the help of Aunt Amanda, it's finally done. At least I made the deadline this year!

Ben's favorite new toy is the step stool. We can't keep him off the thing. I guess he has extra energy to burn now that we can't go to the park as much with the cold weather.

My attempt to photograph Ben with the tree. I guess it wasn't in his plans for the day!

Joe and I put up the tree last night after Ben went to bed. He woke up this morning to find a lit tree and thought it was amazing. He looks at it and ooohs and aaaahs, points to things and has been (so far) very gentle.

Ben and I went to our playgroup this morning at his friend Dillon's house. . . well, Dillon has a working train under his tree, and Ben LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I guess we need to get a train too!

The Big Game

We went to Uncle Tim and Aunt Amanda's for the big Mizzou game last night. Well, the game was a bust, but Ben looked cute in his Mizzou gear (thanks to his Columbia cousins). Look at Ben consoling his Grandad when the Tigers were down. . . he must have known what was going on!

Table Manners

Ben always puts his feet up on the table - ALWAYS! If he's in his highchair he rests both feet on the tip of the table and when he's in his booster at least one foot always ends up on the table. I thought it was about time we documented it. Perhaps one day he will learn some proper manners. . . then again, who knows!? I'm sure Joe would still do it if he could :)

Apples

The other day I was on a phone call with a client and Ben was having a fit. I picked him up and he saw a bowl of apples on the counter - he wanted one so I let him take one hoping he would quiet down. . . Next thing I know he's eaten about half of the apple. Ever since he's been hooked. He takes bites straight from the apple just like a big boy. So much for dicing up every little bite he takes!

Currant Cookies

Ben eating his first currant cookie.

Cousin Charlie was in charge of the cookie sheets.

Ben and Daddy cut a few cookies.

It's safe to say they've both eaten more than they made!

Some cookie bakers in their matching aprons.

Charlie got to spend the night at our house like the old days, so that was fun!

Innsbrook

Despite an ear infection, we decided to take Ben to Innsbrook last weekend. He seemed to have fun while we were there. His favorite game was opening and closing the bi-fold doors to my parent's bedroom. It was literally ALL he wanted to do. We had a fun, fall visit!

Happy Halloween!

Despite both Ben and I having colds we had a fun Halloween. We stayed home this year and "skunk" Ben had fun trick-or-treating! We went to three houses in our neighborhood and he was pretty impressed with the candy situation. When we got home he kept taking his candy out of his bag and putting it back in (saying "oooohh." and "mmmmmm" as if he really knows what candy is). He had his first sucker - and seemed to like it pretty well. He also thought it was cool when kids came to our door and definitely wanted to be part of the action. Thanks again to "Auntie Kristina" for her awesome handy work on his costume (we were going to do face makeup with whiskers and a nose, but he was SO congested we decided against it)!!