an update ~ September 2010

These three little munchkins are so much fun! Here's a quick update on each of them...

Benjamin still loves Kindergarten. It's been 3 weeks and our morning routine is pretty dependable, and I love it! Benjamin wakes up on his own, gets out of bed, gets dressed (I lay his clothes out on the ground at bedtime), makes his bed, goes to the bathroom, brushes his teeth, and says his morning prayers. All without even waking me up or having to be harped on, or having to rush out the door. It's blissful. He likes to get all ready before I see him so that he can 'surprise' me, and I think that's just great!  At some point I usually wake up (~7:15/7:30am) and go downstairs to get out his lunch from the fridge and start breakfast.  If he gets all ready for school early enough (~7:45am) then he gets to choose any breakfast he wants, such as waffles, pancakes, or crepes. Then we can enjoy our morning and breakfast before we leave to go to the bus stop at 8:10am.

(This is a picture of him showing off his nicely made bed, one of the first times he made it all by himself. 

He learned how to make his bed all alone the week before school started.)

So, that's our routine. However, he's getting more and more independent! The other morning I woke up at 7:50am (which is later than usual) and since it was quiet I thought we had both slept in. But when I checked his room, his bed was made and  his clothes were gone, so I knew he must be downstairs. I went downstairs and this is what he looked like.  He had found his lunch in the fridge and put it in his backpack, his shoes were on and tied (a little loose since he's still getting the hang of it), and his jacket was zipped up. Totally ready for school! What a good boy! 

But after this morning, I'm thinking this might be getting out of hand!  I woke up to the sound of the front door opening; I looked at the clock and it was 7:51am. I went downstairs to greet Benjamin, and he was in the front lawn (with shoes, jacket, and backpack on) peering down the street to where the bus stop is. I called to him, "Benjamin, what are you doing?"  Well, he was completely ready for school and was seeing if it was time to go to the bus stop (if anyone was waiting there yet).  Um, wait a minute. Hold up! That is one step too far!  He's such a crazy boy! haha! I said, "Have you had breakfast?"  "No", so I guess he forgot about that part. I said, "Sweetie, I like to walk you to the bus stop. I don't want you to leave without me!"  My goodness, I encouraged him to get ready on his own and now I've created a monster!  :)

As you can tell, he likes to be able to do grownup things on his own. There was once when his bus dropped the kids off a few minutes early, before any parents were at the bus stop yet. I was in the front yard getting ready to head over and I watched him cross the street with some other kids and run to our house alone, and he thought that was pretty cool. Now when I pick him up lately, he acts happy to see me but also disappointed that he couldn't walk home all by himself, and sometimes he says, "Mom, I want to walk home alone!"  But I just tell him that I like to pick him up because I'm so excited to see him and then he doesn't mind anymore.  :)   What a funny boy!

(This is a picture of us at his Kindergarten orientation on September 7.) 

 

 Eliza is such a darling! She loves princesses and makeup and baby dolls. She is a sweet girly girl!  :)
When I get up in the morning I go get her from her crib because although she never calls for me, by 7:30ish she's always awake. She just likes hanging out in her crib, sucking on her binki and sitting or laying with one of her stuffed animals and a blanky. If she's been up for awhile (in the morning or after a nap) she will start talking or singing to herself, but she almost never calls for me.
Anyway, after getting up, we go downstairs and she eats breakfast while I walk Ben to his bus stop and wait for his bus. She is such a no-rush kind of girl. She doesn't mind leisurely eating her breakfast while we're gone. (She takes every meal at a leisurely pace, slow but steady. :) ) Once I get back, our day together begins!  She is so easy. She's still at that stage where she enjoys playing with toys and busily doing her own thing while I work nearby (tidying up, doing dishes, feeding Sam, organizing closets, etc).  Yesterday after breakfast she put everything on the floor up onto the couch, calling it her 'car'.  It was so funny when I finished with the dishes and looked over at her nestled behind about 1,000 toys on the couch. There were babies, blankets, toys, diapers, a folding chair, a dish towel, a book... I have no idea how she tucked herself into that seat! I got quite the kick out of it! And I pulled out the vacuum to take advantage of that impeccably clean floor! :)

She found her popper toy, which we call her 'vacuum' and got right to work with me, vacuuming alongside of me. :)  I have to mention that she is wearing her much beloved Tinkerbell pajamas. She feels like such a princess wearing them.  :)  It's so cute. She also has a pair of Tinkerbell flip-flops, which she loves as well.

The other day, after doing some puzzles together, I asked her if she wanted to paint her nails with me. She was so excited! She said, "Sure, sure!" I told her she needed to get dressed first, so she ran to her room and said she wanted to get dressed all by herself (Ben is rubbing off on her!). I got out an outfit for her to put on and then walked to my room as she closed her door. Just then I remembered some little task I needed to do downstairs, so I went down there to do it while I waited for her to get dressed. As I was downstairs I heard her open her room and run into my bedroom and shout, "I'm all dressed!" I heard her stop as she realized I wasn't in there and then run to my bathroom to look for me. I called up to her, "Eliza, I'm downstairs!" Suddenly I heard her crying at the top of the stairs. I ran up to her and held her and said, "What's wrong?"  Through her sweet little tears I caught the words, "--going to paint our nails!--" and I realized that she thought I wasn't going to do it with her anymore. It broke my heart! She is such a sweetie!  I assured her that we were still going to paint our nails together, and we went into my bathroom to get our nail polish. She got really excited again, and had such a good time painting nails together!  It was seriously so cute. She was very proud of her pink nails all day. At dinner time she showed me how some of her nail polish was coming off and I said, "oh, yeah, it's chipped" and now when she says "my nail polish is chipped" it sounds so funny coming from a little two year old!
Here she is showing her pretty pink nails. :)

Samuel is the sweetest, best natured baby ever. Seriously, he is such a doll!  He is now 6 months old and weighed 15 lbs 12 oz at his doctor's appointment this month (which is ~25th percentile). After I get back from taking Ben to the bus stop I go get him from his bed and bring him downstairs to feed him, around 8:30am. I think he probably wakes up around 7:45am, but he just sucks his thumb and hangs out in his bed until I come get him. Which is a huge blessing since it's so much easier to get Ben out the door first and then come back and start to feed him.

He loves to roll onto his tummy, probably because he feels like he can look around better that way. :)  He is interested in any toy or box or paper that may be lying on the floor, and if it's close enough he will manage to get to it (rolling, stretching, and squirming his way over) and grab it. He's at a fun stage where he is starting to enjoy toys and be able to handle them with his little hands. It's so darling how he gets very excited about a toy!

A few weeks ago I was putting Ben and Eliza to bed while Jed worked on a presentation in his study. I asked Jed to hold Sam while I finished up with Ben and Eliza so that I could feed him and put him to bed after I was done with the older two. Jed got out the swing for him and set him next to his desk. (He has only been in the swing like once ever; he just doesn't need it - he is so content being on a blanket on the floor during the day.) Well, while I was putting them to bed, Sam fell asleep in the swing like this! Jed took his picture. What a little sweetheart! That swing put this tired little boy right to sleep!

He is such a joy in our home. He is a sweet little angel. Last night he was fussing a bit while I was cleaning up and Jed remarked, "I think that is the first time I've heard him cry in a week" and it wasn't even a real cry. It just goes to show that he is honestly the sweetest little baby in the world.
When I go to him while he is laying on the ground, he gets so happy and excited that he starts to squirm around. It's like he can't contain all that happiness!  I just love to lay by him and tickle him and play with him during the day. He is so darling!

Ben's first day of Kindergarten!

 

Benjamin had his first day of Kindergarten on September 8th. This is what I wrote in his journal that day:

On Tuesday, the night before Ben’s first day of Kindergarten, we set out his clothes, his backpack, and his lunch and he went to bed very excited about school the next day. Wednesday morning, I was downstairs finishing up Benjamin’s lunch and I heard him coming down the stairs. I went to greet him and he said, in a just-woke-up groggy voice, “I’m ready.  – I just need to get dressed…”  I sat next to him on the stairs and gave him a hug. Then, the excitement hit him and he fully woke up and said, “I’m so excited! I don’t know what it will feel like to be sitting on the bus! I will be sitting by a new friend – I will make him a new friend to me!”

He got dressed and we ate breakfast. Then as we were at the door to go to the bus stop he said, “So, is it right next to the Hendricks old driveway?”  I said, “No, it’s a different bus stop.  But I’ll walk you there.” He said, “Oh,” and opened the door. I thought to myself, did he think he was on his own at this point? My word, if so, he didn’t seem too ruffled by the thought.  

We waited for the bus and I took a few pictures of him. When it pulled up, he was about to follow the others onto the bus, but I held him up so I could take another picture of him. He waited patiently and cooperated, let me give him a kiss and a hug, and then boarded the bus without a pause or a glance backward!  I had to peek my head in and remind him to sit at the front – he was too excited to remember what I had just said to him about sitting at the front. :)   He was off on an adventure and anxious to get to school and begin!

I held Eliza and together we watched his bus drive away. She said, “Will we see Ben?” I told her he would come back in the afternoon.” Then I got a lump in my throat. She said, “When I see Ben I will be so happy!” When I didn’t respond, she pointed to the retreating bus and said, “There it goes!”  Then we walked slowly home and I thought, “it’s going to be a long morning…”  I thought about him all day, and sent up many prayers that he would be happy and comfortable there.

When 4:00pm finally rolled around, Jed and I took Sam in the stroller to the bus stop and waited there. I felt so excited I was actually jittery. I just couldn’t wait to see my little boy and find out how his first day of Kindergarten went! After a few minutes the bus came round the corner, and we were right there when the kids were let off. Benjamin was the second one off the bus and he came bounding down the steps, with a huge grin, and into my outstretched arms saying, “I loved it, Mom! I loved it!” I felt so happy! I gave him the biggest hug; I just couldn’t get enough of him!  He was so cute!  It was such a happy reunion!  Jed and I then sat outside with him and asked him all kinds of questions about his first day of Kindergarten, while he ate all his lunch leftovers. :)  It was so fun to hear snippets about his day, and he was pretty cooperative and talkative, so that was great!

I can’t believe my sweet little five year old is going to Kindergarten. And ‘all-day’ Kindergarten, too - from 8:15am until 4:10pm.  What a long day!  Anyway, he is his own little man now. He is so ready for Kindergarten, I just knew he would blossom in that environment. He is smart, mature, cooperative, capable, enthusiastic, friendly, and fun-loving. I think he just loves going to school, having a teacher, meeting new friends, having his own seat and his own backpack, eating lunch with his peers…. He is completely ready for this step. I’m happy for him!  

 
(While Jed and I were asking him all about his day, he was being so funny and cute that I decided to grab the video camera. After awhile, he wanted a turn videotaping us talking about our day! :) So here he is videotaping Jed talk about what he did that day. :) )

First Taste of Food!

Sammy's momentous occasion of tasting real food for the first time!
Daddy gets the honor of giving him his first bite. yum, yum, yum!

That is the funniest 'YUCK!' face I have ever seen!
He is six months old now. I can't believe how time flies.

Eliza wanted a turn feeding baby Sam.

Yellowstone and Montana visit

After our reunion in Idaho, Jed & I drove up to Montana with Michel so that we could spend a few days with her and Ryan before heading back home.
We took the scenic route back, and drove straight through Yellowstone National Park. It was so neat! I've been there before, but it was really fun to see it again. The geothermal activity is incredible. Just driving on the road, we would see steam coming up from several spots on the countryside just off the road, that were not marked and not attractions. There are so many in the park, they just pick the best ones to mark on the map and build boardwalks around! We found out that the park has 60% of the world's geysers. Wow.

Here is a picture of Jed in front of some hot springs. The trickling water is scalding in some areas. The calcium carbonate form interesting deposits, and bacteria living in the water make beautiful color patterns.
Here we are witnessing Old Faithful erupt! We got there just 10 minutes prior to when it was estimated to erupt, so it was perfect timing!

Little Samuel, peeking out from his blanky. It was a blustery day, so I was trying to keep him warm. He was busy sucking his thumb, but when he saw me looking at him he immediately gave me a cute smile.

We stopped to look at some geysers, fumaroles, and mudpots. Inside this mudpot there was white boiling, squelching mud. It was amazing. It was loud and gurgly, and between clouds of steam you could catch glimpses of the spouting hot liquid.

This was a beautiful blue crystal lake from a hotspring.
Anyway, it was a very neat 'scenic route' on our way to Montana!

Once in Billings we relaxed and spent a lot of time with Ryan & Michel, which was very fun!
We played outside one day with these ball-type of toys that you swing up into the air and then catch when they come back down. The boys immediately got one stuck in the big pine tree and so the rest of the time they were all gathered around the pine tree throwing up balls and other things trying to get the ball dislodged. As soon as they succeeded, and we all clapped, another one landed in the pine tree and the dislodging party started all over again! :)

Michel and Sam watching as the guys throw things into the pine tree...

Benjamin and Eliza absolutely loved getting to play with their sweet cousins, Jenna, Shane and Kiersten. There were a few times when Ben and Kiersten (who is one year older) played make believe all afternoon and had a great time together.

Ryan, Michel, Jed and I spent a few nights playing games together, which was so fun! This particular night we played Cranium, which turned out to be a blast! There was once when Jed drew a picture of a baby, trying to get Ryan to guess what it was. Everyone was stumped until the time ran out and Jed told us what it was supposed to be. The drawing did not even slightly resemble a baby, and we had a very good laugh at that one!! Haha! I'm laughing right now just remembering it! It was so funny! I even tried to keep the picture, but Jed stole it back. haha! I took this picture right after we were teasing him about it. Oh, good times!

Idaho - Walker Family Reunion

After visiting my family in Utah, we went up to Idaho to attend the Walker Family Reunion with Jed's parents and siblings. We all congregated at their cabin in Island Park, which is on Henry's Lake. It was a fun place to spend a week with family. And here is the clan!

Emily made all the grandkids these darling Family Reunion t-shirts. There are now 13 grandchildren in the family. Each t-shirt is personalized with their 'birth order' number on the sleeve: Ben is #5, Eliza is #8, and Sam is #12. (PS. Gotta love that look on Ben's face. He must have been pretending there was an imaginary 'bad guy' right there, and he was threatening to knock him out with that raised fist of his.)

Here are some highlights!

Family Olympics!

Contest #1 - Build the tallest tower of twinkies (or whatever those are) on your Daddy's forehead! Ben is concentrating hard, and Jed is trying to give him a level ground to work on!

This contest was to find bubble gum at the bottom of a bowl filled with whipped cream, without using your hands. :) Lookin' good, Ben!

Race with the marshmallows! Little cherry girl is getting help from Daddy.

4 Wheelers!


More Fun & Games!

The adults started racing each other in piggy back rides. Apparently they even talked Ryan & Michel into competing, but I missed it! That was one tiring race... I was exhausted at the end of it. Took every ounce of my stamina and strength. :)

The adults also had jousting wars. I totally gave Jed a walloping! ;)
Actually, I could hardly get any momentum behind my joust, much less stay on the wood plank. I wasn't much competition, I'm afraid!

Benjamin showing his skills on the rope bridge.

Jackson and Ben are displaying a feat of agility and courage never before attempted!
This clever trick is called "The Pass!"

Hanging Out!

Baby Sam got lots of cuddles from loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.
Here he is with Aunt Cerissa.

Sammy and Benjamin are enjoying Grandpa!

Samuel and Eliza, giggling at Daddy's funny antics.

Argh! Pirates are a-comin'!

Bart and Emily put on a GREAT pirate treasure hunt for the kids! Complete with their own pirate show introduction, costumes for everyone, treasure clues written in rhymes, and a treasure chest chalk-full of fantastic treasure, edible and otherwise! It was exciting for everyone!

These pirates were a-rearing to go find their treasure!

Benjamin taking his turn reading the next clue to the treasure!

Eliza decked out in all her pirate glory, complete with pirate stickers plastered all over her, beads from the treasure chest, and an eyepatch that she would not take off for a long time afterward!

Here I'm holding the cutest pirate of them all!

The Lake!

Hanging out at the lake was a ton of fun! We made our way around in a partially functioning paddle boat. It got really exciting when we were out at sea with it loaded down with people and it started sinking deeper and deeper into the water...
We were all screaming to everyone on land, "HEEELP! We're SINKING!!!! We're gonna DIE!!!"

(Okay, fine. So I was the only one screaming.)

Ben & Jed fat doggin' it on the tube.

Ryan double doggin' it.

Jed and his Dad. Always the gutsy ones. As usual, Benjamin is intently watching and learning... (click on link to see Ben witnessing these two lunatics jumping off the roof a few years ago...)

Ryan rented a jet ski for two days and we had a blast with it!

Pulling the kids in the tube...

Trying to kill each other by going break-neck speed and taking screeching turns...
Brian was the champion stunt driver. Jed wasn't bucked off, by the way. Made me proud.

Here we are taking a ride in Bart's fishing boat.
For some fishing-boat-reason, there were holes in the bottom, so there was always some water sloshing around at our feet. Had to perch yourself perilously on a little square blow-up seat in order to stay clear of the damp. Not prime for a relaxing, carefree & lazy ride, but definitely fun nonetheless. :)

Found an interesting necklace floating in the lake water.

When I blurted out "a snake!" everyone turned to see. But the real shocker apparently was when I reached out and grabbed it so we could all get a closer look. I guess my sisters-in-law didn't know that I love snakes! Come on, guys! Don't you know that I love snakes, toads, lizards and turtles and anything like unto them?! :) Doesn't anyone remember Snakey?! :)
(Each link takes you to pictures of when we discovered these awesome creatures.)

Jed and Ryan made a zipline by attaching a rope to a pinetree on the shore and pulling the other end of it with the jet ski. Crazy guys! But they definitely had an entranced audience!

Thanks for the fantastic reunion, everyone!