Home sweet home

It was a pretty calm weekend around the Benson house. Daddy got to spend several hours of quality time with his boys while Momma got some solo retail therapy. A sign of things to come, Mason ponders thoughtfully with his Binky as he skims the paper with Daddy.

His new favorite place is hanging out on this quilt, in the floor.

A quick comparison....Looking back Braden started out with a LOT more and darker hair! I don't know where they both got those chubby cheeks (on both ends)!

Taking a quick mid-afternoon nap!

I love Mason's expression in this picture. . .it's like
"Geez, Braden, does this lady ever stop with the camera?" The answer is NO!

This is a new invention since the days of Braden. . . .a Bumbo seat. Our good friend Bridget passed this one along, and the idea is to serve as support for learning to sit once they can hold their heads up. A completely new experience for Mason! This was our first stab at it and it didn't take long for him to decide it wasn't for him. . .the sad thing is, his thighs got stuck in the leg holes and it took all three of us...two to hold the seat in place and one of us to plop him out. Then Braden took his turn sitting in the seat, and his skinny little legs didn't even touch the sides!

Preschool Rocks!

Braden has started back to the Pitt State Little Gorillas preschool, although he insists it is NOT called "Little Gorillas" because he is BIG! His first day back was a little rocky. . .after a weekend of coughs and sniffles we had to leave preschool to go to the Doctor which resulted in a positive test for strep throat and a penicillin shot, which was every bit as traumatizing for me as it was for him. He had to get it in his left "cheek" and I had to help hold him down. I think Daddy will be doing the kindergarten shots. Regardless of how his day went, he sure looked cute!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a very busy Labor Day Weekend. It started off on Friday with a trip to the petting zoo for Braden. He got a big kick out of feeding the goats. There were more than just goats, but they were the safest to feed. One of the goats was not very friendly and didn't like to share.

On Saturday morning, Braden ran his first race, a 1/2 mile in conjunction with Little Balkin's Days. He was so proud of himself because we've been to one of Blake's races, and Braden was thrilled to be "just like daddy!" All of the kids got a ribbon at the end!

On your mark, get set, GO!!!

Mason got lots of attention and face time as well. He and Daddy hung out together while Braden and Mommma went on a train ride with friends. The boys couldn't sit still when the Conductor came around to punch their tickets. I'm sure they expected him to punch a word just like on "Polar Express."

Dillon, Braden and Logan

Braden & Logan looking out the window of the train

"We got a mad boy here. . ."




a.k.a. Slim

Back to the hills. . . .

Braden, Mason and I made a weekend trip to Mountain Home. Blake drove us to Springfield, where we met Becki and Brandon for lunch. Becki drove us back to Mountain Home, while Blake headed over to St. Louis for some guy time! On Friday night Braden, Becki and I ran to Wal-Mart. Ann & Kenneth of course sent Braden with a little spending money. He immediately found a transformer toy, Bumble Bee, that he wanted, but wouldn't budge until we got Optimus Prime for Blake to play with. He thought Blake really needed a toy, too, even though he wasn't with us. So Becki bought Blake a toy, too, and told Braden he could take it home. Braden insisted it was Blake's. . . but amazingly when it came time for us to take it home, Braden agreed!



On Saturday, Braden and I joined Leslie, her kiddos Hunter & Katelyn, and Donnell for lunch, while Ann, Becki & Blake G. took Mason to lunch. Since Mason didn't join us, Donnell stopped by after lunch so she could meet him.


Saturday night, Becki's leadership class was hosting movie night in the park, so Ann kept Mason, while Braden, Blake G. and I went to the movie. Blake helped Braden climb this giant inflatable wall until it got dark enough to play the movie, which was one of our faves, Ratatouille.

Sorry this video is sideways. . . .

Sunday we all headed back to Springield, where we met Brandon for lunch at Olive Garden and Daddy picked us up! It was a great trip and made me realize that if there was ever a time I would like to live close to family. . .it is now! It was really nice to know that Mason was in good hands while Braden and I got some time together!

WWF

On most nights I get Mason down and while he's taking his sweet time falling asleep, I sit in the living room and listen to Blake reading Braden his bedtime stories. I smile to myself at all of the fun voices Blake puts with the characters and all of Braden's endless questions. As they wrap up the last book, I brace myself for what is coming next. . . .either the sound of light sabers or swords smacking against each other or, like last night, amateur wrestling night in Braden's room. I keep waiting to hear the bed crash to the floor, and am anxiously awaiting the day we get to buy a new one. Poor Mason has no idea what he's in for. Blake better keep in such great shape, so that he can soon take both of them on! Two younger brothers prepared him for this!





You also get to hear Braden say "Don't let the bed bugs biiiiiite" just like his Nanna said to him, while she was here. He loves to say it "just like her."

In the neighborhood

We were thrilled to have company on Saturday. Etta & Derek just happened to be in the neighborhood (on their way home from a concert in KC) and came by for a few hours to meet Mason and be entertained by Braden! We had a great visit and lunch before they had to head back to Fayetteville.



Another great day in the Benson backyard. Will came over for a few hours, while Blake grilled and finished painting our new deck addition. I don't know what we've done to this boy, but he LOVES to pose for the camera.

Time flies...

Uncle Tyler is cleaning off his computer and emailed me the last 3 years of Braden's pictures that I had sent him. Looking back on some of these really tugs on the memory strings, and how Braden has grown and changed so much. It also peaks my interest as to how Mason is going to look at these stages. I couldn't resist posting a few of these oldies of Braden.

You're thinking chocolate, right? Try dirt stuck to the drool on his face.

Braden at 18 months. The funniest thing about this costume is Braden recently spotted it in the closet and has now added it to his Spiderman ensemble where he's either this spider or Spiderman.

Cardinal fan. . .surely not!

Christmas morning 2005. He still LOVES this batting helmet!

Almost 1

About 14 months old, posing with the flags on Melrose Avenue in his patriotic swim trunks

I'm not letting go of this cracker, just to smile!

Daddy taking Braden to his first birthday party, for his friend, Jabe.

What are you looking at? Swimming in Fayetteville. This is also the day 4 adults were watching braden and he still fell into the pool. Tyler swam over to get him as Blake jumped in and landed on Tyler's head. Braden was not phased in the least, but he did come up sputtering.

Splish Splash...

Mason loves bath time, and is quickly outgrowing his "baby bath tub" but isn't quite big enough to join Big Brother in the big tub! Although Braden did offer last night, as long as Mason didn't pee in the water! No promises there.

Sunday Smiles

A typical Sunday afternoon at the Benson house. Mason giving us some smiles and talking to the birdies on his swing, while Braden and his buddy Will covered every inch of the back yard.

Fight Club: I'm not going to lie, this did end in tears, but not because of pain, but exhaustion from all day playing and hurt feelings. They were well aware that I was taping them and watching their every move! The mother in me wanted to stop them several times, but as the camera operator I was loving the footage! I hope Will's parents appreciate my director's vision when they see this! Will has just seen Kung Fu Panda, so he was practicing his Kung Fu moves, all Braden knows is the the wrestling/Star Wars moves his daddy teaches him before bedtime! He's quite good with a Light Saber, but no weapons were allowed in this round!

Blake took on Braden and his buddy, Will, for the afternoon. He let them run themselves ragged in the back yard! Mason and I joined them in between cat naps and feedings. He loved hanging out in the stroller and watching all of the action.





Mason taking a mid-morning snooze. . .in one of his favorite positions, on Mom's chest! All that smiling wore him out!


Big Brother is GREAT at getting all of Mason's smiles! This is Sunday morning, "guy time" while Mom got a little extra beauty sleep, Blake got some great laughs out of our boys.