Update

Well I have been busy with all of the normal day to day happenings and also getting ready for our trip to Boston and for my mom and sister to come visit! Lots going on!!!
I am really excited for our trip. We are staying in New Hampshire for about 5 days and touring around that state, Vermont and Maine. Then we go to Boston for our friend Jason's wedding and a little site seeing. My Aunt Barbara and cousins Ella and Tara are coming up to watch Ben while Brent and I go to the wedding. I'm really excited for them to meet him and plus I haven't seen them in a long time!
Ben is doing good. He has 4 teeth now - well three and a quarter- but it will be a solid 4 in no time! He is still cruising around anything he can lean against. We keep wondering when he will take that first step. He can stand on his own but only if he doesn't know he's by himself! He is getting more adventurous and has started climbing on things which means I really have to keep a close eye on him now because sometimes he falls off backwards once he gets up. He has also started waving, which is so cute. He doesn't do it all the time but for some reason likes to wave a lot when I change his diaper...funny guy!
He also "dances" when there is music from the radio, his toys or the tv. It's mostly just moving his head and bobbing up and down but super cute.
The other funny thing he does is if he hears clapping or a sound resembling clapping on tv he claps too :)
Ben will be one years old in a matter of weeks...I can hardly believe my baby is growing up so fast *sigh*...this past year has just flown by...
Brent has started his new job with Coffman Engineers this past Monday. He seems to like it so far so we will see what the future brings!
That's all for now but we will have tons of pictures and video from our trip when we get back!

Our 5th Anniversary!

The Fam - before Brent and I went out...


Eagle River from Skyline




Looking towards Wasilla/Palmer

My Hubby

Saturday was our 5th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long already! This has been a great year in our marriage with the birth of our first child and moving into our first home. I'm excited and curious what the rest of our years will bring us!
On Friday night Brent and I went out to celebrate and left Ben with his Auntie Brittany and Grandma Debbie. We went to Haute Quarter Grill in Eagle River - it was quite tasty. But I ate so much I didn't even want dessert and I ALWAYS want dessert! We had also planned to go see My Bestfriend's Girl in the theater. Now Brent and I haven't seen a movie in the theater since War of the Worlds... yes I KNOW it's been forever! Anyways, we get to the theater and they say they only take cash! What is this a mom and pop movie place? Brent hardly ever carries cash (who does these days?) but happens to have $15 - but the movie is $19.95. Hmmm... of course I forgot my purse in my rush to get out the door with all the things Ben needed for being at Grandma's. Brent tries to go to the Chinese place next door to see if he can strike a deal and get some cash with his Visa - no luck. So we rented a few movies instead and then drove up Skyline to check out the views because it was such a pretty night.
Here's my theroy about movies in the theaters:
I have a hard time paying the ridicoulous amount it costs because we get Netflix for $8.99/ month and probably get on average 8 movies/month. We get as many snacks as we want without paying an arm and a leg, we can watch in our pj's, nobody talks during the movie and if a baby cries it's ours and we can just pause the movie until we are ready to watch again. So yup - that's why we haven't seen a movie in the theater for over 3 years! :)

Future Weight Lifting Champ!

Grrrrr.....I think I can lift it....


Yup I can! It even tastes good!

Ellie and Ben

Ben getting advice from an older woman...


Sharing the activity table


Ellie and Ebee


Ellie asking if she can "see" her picture!

A couple weekends ago we had our friends Summer, Andrew and Ellie over for dinner. Ellie just turned 2 and is so much fun! I can't wait until Ben is her age and can communicate with us with something other than crying! :)

My Boys

Looking so cute in his new fleece bear outfit from his Granma Cathie


I hope this isn't a sign of things to come, but Ben has ALWAYS been obsessed with Brent's beer!

New Address!!!

We have a new address! I'm not posting it here for obvious reasons, but I am going to send out an email. If you aren't on my email list and would like our address leave me a comment here with your email address (I won't post your comment on the site so your email will stay private) and I'll send it to you!

Our Deck

The "door to nowhere" now has a purpose! It leads us right out to the deck! It's a little late in the year to be putting a table and chairs out but come next spring I'm sure we'll be out here a lot!

Fall in Alaska

Before the Fall Winds...


After... and yup that's snow on the mountain across from us! Winter isn't far off!


Beautiful trees right above our driveway


Looking out... the mountain turns red in the fall - it is so beautiful!

Fall in Alaska is short but so pretty. If we are lucky it won't get too windy too quickly and the yellow leaves will stick around on the trees for longer. I think this is my favorite season because the air is so crisp and you finally stop hoping for warm days because you know they are done and it's time to look forward to snow!

Helmet Head

Yup - we got Ben a helmet! You might think I'm crazy but after the scare I had from his fall a couple weeks ago on the concrete this provides a little piece of mind for me. It's called a Thudguard and is super light. He doesn't wear it all the time, I just pop it on when gets adventurous and decides to walk along the walls or cupboards. He doesn't seem to mind it at all either which is amazing!

Lil Buddies

The boys and their Grandma


They are their fathers... Mr. Serious and Mr. Goofy


Rub a Dub Dub two boys in a tub...


Let us out!

Ben has been having a really great time with his cousin Landon. We have them over to visit often and sometimes we go to Debbie's to visit. The boys don't necessarily play together but they do interact a little. But I am really enjoying having Brittany around... it gives me sometimes to hang out and chat with on a regular basis!