Fun Times with Benjamin

Benjamin is such a joy in our lives. He has a very playful personality and is always coming up with something cute to do. He still only says Mama and Dada, but he jabbers non-stop so we know once he starts to talk he will catch right up. He has great motor skills and can all ready walk down stairs (most kids just scoot up and down). We love making Benjamin giggle and playing with him and he loves spending time with us too!





Playing an off-duty fireman



There's nothing like child labor! Benjamin feels like a big boy when he helps sweep and I get a clean(er) kitchen floor.





One of Benjamin's favorite costumes - pantless firefighter with flashlight and drum.

He's even cute while he's sleeping! Dennis went in to check on him during his nap and Benjamin had stuck his foot through the bars of his crib.

Shopping with Uncle Sam. Benjamin loves having Samuel and Kami so close-by.

A typical Friday night - a mostly-naked baby climbs up on the back of the couch all by himself.

Benjamin loves his toy basket, even if he doesn't use it for its original purpose - to keep toys in it. To Ben the basket is more like a wonderful plaything that inspires all kinds of creative uses and is usually a type of fort in which to watch cartoons, pile up diapers, climb in and out of in various positions, and to stand on top of.

Oh no! Sucked in by the couch!

I bought Benjamin some mittens because the weather is getting colder and Ben needs to keep his hands warm. Benjamin loves them so much he brings them to me to put them on his hands even when we're not going outside!

The Rest of Summer

I must have realized I would miss summer at this time, which is why I waited until November to blog about summer vacations. See? It was part of my plan all along to wait this long!


Eastern Idaho State Fair


All set for a day at the fair!


Testing the hot tubs

Riding the Carousel. Benjamin loved it so much he actually started crying when we had to get off.

Driving the boat; Benjamin comandeered BOTH steering wheels!

Riding with Aunt Liz

Visiting the big horses in the barn with Grandpa

Benjamin preferred playing in the sawdust to riding horses though.

The only fun part of the fair I failed to capture is the vast amount of fair food we consumed while we were there. We love going to the fair every year!


Pirate Island Pizza

Pirate Island Pizza - Me, Dennis, my sister Liz, Dennis' sister Kami, and Dennis' brother Samuel took on the Kracken - 2 feet in diameter of meat-lover's paradise in pizza form. Benjamin liked the crust the best.


Benjamin didn't get to play any games at Pirate Island (they have an arcade), but he got to ride a little merry-go-round they had and he LOVED it!

Mecham Family Reunion

Woohoo! A family reunion with a trampoline! They also had a bouncy house but I didn't get any pictures of it.

The Joe Mecham Family: Samuel, Rachel and Benjamin, Dennis, Joe, Darlene, Korissa, Kami and Conner, and Devin. What a good-looking group!

Settling down on Grandpa's lap after a long day of reunion.



Thompson Family Reunion

We went up to Dubois, Idaho to put in Great-Grandpa Thompson's military headstone. While we were there we decorated his grave with some flowers.


Of course, whenever the Thompsons get together there is plenty of good food! At the cemetary we had Rachel's Aunt Donette's famous Fudge-filled Cookies, soda, water, candy, cookies, and crackers. Don't worry; after we were done at the cemetary we went back to Idaho Falls for lunch. :-)


Feeding the ducks by the falls in Idaho Falls. Most of Benjamin's bread ended up on the rocks below his feet, but Daddy helped him get it to the ducks.

We love to see the temple!

Giggling

Benjamin had such a great time playing with Aunt Liz while we were in Wyoming. Every time I watch this video it makes me smile.

4th of July

This is the first year since we got married that Dennis and I went to Wyoming for the 4th - one of my favorite holidays to spend with my family. We always go to Tensleep (population: 310) and enjoy the festivities. The following is my ideal 4th:

Gearing up for the Tensleep parade!

It was sunny and warm - perfect weather.

Benjamin picking up candy

After the parade we have a picnic lunch in the park, then a family favorite: Pooh Sticks.

Basically we throw sticks off one side of the bridge and see whose stick makes it to the other side of the bridge the fastest, a la "The Winnie the Pooh Movie".

Swinging at the park after lunch

Can't wait for the rodeo!

Small-town rodeo with the Big Horn Mountains in the background.

This bull was so stubborn - it took three cowboys to get him back in the pen.

Benjamin didn't like loud fireworks, but he enjoyed the snakes!


A family of sparklers


The day ends with us lighting fireworks out of the city limits. There were so many people lighting off fireworks we really didn't need to light any of our own, but my dad set off a couple that were perfect. Just for the record, there are VERY few fireworks that are illegal in Wyoming; it makes for a great show.

La Pieta

In June and July there was a local art supply store that had a life-sized replica of Michaelangelo's "La Pieta" on display with free admission. We took advantage of this (twice) and were amazed by the beauty of the statue. The original is in The Vatican, behind several sheets of bullet-proof glass. This replica is made from a cast of the original statue. Even Benjamin appreciated the beauty - he kept pointing and gasping the whole time we were there.


The whole statue


Details of the fabric carved by Michaelangelo. He made this statue in his mid-late 20's and when it went on display nobody believed he had done it so Michaelangelo snuck back to the statue later and carved his name on the statue so there would be no doubt that it was his work. It is one of only a few pieces by Michaelangelo that is signed by him.

Remember, this was carved out of stone. The details of the muscles were amazing.

Just to prove we were really there!

Popcorn!

This is the first song Benjamin learned. He actually learned it just after he turned 1, but I have been slacking a bit in posting to the blog...