Adventures in Bennionland

I have a ton of blogging to do about our trip to Utah. Things like:

- adventures with Steph & Ali
- Walker’s 3rd birthday extravaganza
- dinner & fun with Grandpa Karl & Hugo
- THE train ride with Grandpa Steph
- Utah State Fair

But we all agree one of the highlights for each of us was spending time with our baby dear. Baby Addie that is. I fear she’ll be sixteen and the boys will still call her that! She’s the boys first cousin (as we’ve proudly talked about before) and once again she kept us enchanted.

I was hoping – to be perfectly honest – that being around a baby would cure me of wanting any other children. She was way too cute for that.

And this is what you look like when you are the actual parent of the baby

Last week we took a breather from the norm and headed up to Santa Barbara. Eric was gone on business and we needed a change of scenery. We were all thrilled to see Noonie and Jon – but the trip turned out better than expected!

We met Lyndsy at the beach before she had to go to school. The boys were thrilled for some beach time (which is quickly fading) and the weather was warm enough to go in the water. We hung out at the beach for about three hours before I got a little restless – I think the boys could have stayed for longer.

Oh, I am so in love with this kid!

How’s that sand taste Will?
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Need a nap Walks? Sure, take a leg!

Need a nap Will?

We took a walk on the pier – which we rarely do. And got a treat.

While on the pier one of the boat companies told me that our whole family could take a little ride for $6 – of course I’m always up for an adventuresome bargain! Walker was not sure how he felt about a boat ride – but Will was all for it!

Our boat was name the ‘Lil Toot’. Yeah.

Not quite sure why Will can’t smile normal. And Walker’s face shows thinly veiled fear.

Lyndsy then met us again after class – and she hit the jackpot with the boys! I thought the boat ride couldn’t be topped – but I am gld to say I was wrong! Lyndsy took us to the old Goleta Train Depot (score!):

Will wore his tie from Lyndsy’s wedding the whole time.

Then we went for a walk around a local lake (score! score!).

Both boys were filthy by the time we got back to the car. Good fun.

We then headed up to pick Jon up from work. I forgot to take my camera with us – but the boys got to see a bunch of farm animals. It was great to see Jon’s new location and then have dinner with the newlyweds!

Needless to say the boys were asleep within ten minutes into the drive home! What a day!

beans?

I took this picture to remind myself that I do – against all better judgement – let my kids be kids.

The other day I spent a good hour building Lego construction vehicles (a cherry picker for Walks and a dump truck for Will). We then played and played together – until they realized they needed something to pick up, dump out, carry around in their “instruction” (neither boy says construction) trucks.

As most of you know – I’m not a big fan of messes and it takes a magical moment for me to let go of panicky thoughts and give-in to down & dirty play. So it was a major surprise when the first thing that came to mind was beans.

They played for another hour, picking up, dropping off, and carrying around the beans.

And then I walked away. When I returned (a mere two minutes later) I realized that the trucks had lost control of their functions and flung beans all over.

I just smiled. I think I’m growing as a mom.

(click the image to see the entire bean massacre)

(oh yeah, and Will counted EVERY bean as we picked them UP!! And Walker made a valiant attempt to count them too!)