video day

Enjoy your New Years everyone!

We're off to ski Targhee in Wyoming and hang with some pretty kool kats..

And ev'rybody tells me that its cool to be a cat
It's cool for cats.

Coooooooooooool for caaaaaaaaats....

Post 101: Old and New Traditions

We hope everyone had a rockin' Christmas!!!



I just noticed that I have hit the 100 mark on this blog thingy. Just when I was thinking no one cares about it, Shirley let me know of several people who read it all the time - I had no idea! So I guess I'll continue - for a little while longer. I guess until the B-ster can actually tell me he wants me to stop! until then, on to another year....

This year we were able to celebrate Christmas with Nona and Grandpa in Helena!!



The season started off with some old traditions:
*Rory turning on the Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving

*Taking a family hike to cut down a Christmas tree in the hills of Helena

*Rory making Christmas cookies 3 weeks ahead of time and hiding them from me (which I found)

*Watching White Christmas as we decorated the house and tree


*Watching White Christmas two more times before Christmas so Rory could morph into Bing Crosby a few more times.

*Taking the Independent Record's Empty Stockings list shopping and buying gifts for Helenans in need. This year we actually cut down on Christmas gifts for family so we could contribute more to the community - thanks to everyone for understanding! Hopefully next year Bennett will truly understand what it means to give back! This year he just had fun eating pirate's booty in the shopping cart :)

*Decorating cookies with the Harringtons!

*Attending a few Christmas parties

*Opening a few of B's presents a week early (tee-hee)...probably won't be able to do that next year!


*Skyping with far away family:

silly family.

*Making Nana's recipe for breakfast casserole for Christmas morning.

And I'm sure there are a few little traditions I'm missing.

Now for the NEW traditions:
* These bad boys:




Nona and Grandpa arrived safe and sound Tuesday night. The next day Nona helped me make a recipe for gingerbread and Grandpa took the lead as architect to cut out the pieces just right. Emily, Chris and Cate came over to help decorate one of the houses.

* Blackfoot Beers with Babies on Christmas Eve: well, maybe this won't happen every year....but I think it should! It was fun to get all the kids together while the parents enjoyed some tasty beverages.




*Setting up Bennett's gift from you-know-who the night before you-know-what. I can't believe we already have to start with that! But we did...


We all had a lot of fun with Nona and Grandpa this week. We are very lucky to be able to spend the holidays with great family and friends (thanks to the J - Doc's for inviting us over for Christmas dinner!). And we are so LUCKY to have HEALTHY happy lives! Thanks for all the great gifts!! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with love.

B-log: 16 months

At 16 months,

* Bennett is feeding himself:


This makes for a huge mess but at least it frees me up in the mornings to take care of other 'chores'.

* He knows more signs, like Mama, Dada and potty (and I seriously think he understands what it means already!!!)

* He still loves books and we have them stashed all over the house and car. There's a box of them beside his carseat, a pile in the bathroom, his bedroom, the living room, the dining room and even our bedroom for those Sunday mornings I just want to cuddle in bed!



* He has a new toddler carseat - no more bucket seat! He's so much happier and comfier - no more screaming when I would try to wrestle him into the tight straps! It made a huge difference on our 4 hour round trip to ski last weekend - he read books, clapped to music, played with trains, talked to us. Much better situation.

* He knows a lot more animal sounds - cow, horse, sheep, chicken, duck, bear, lion, tiger, dog.

*He COPIES everything you do. If you are leaning against the counter with your feet crossed - he'll stand the same way. A couple weeks ago Rory was pushing against the washing machine (that was off balance during spin cycle) and Bennett copied the same thing on the dryer...even crossed his legs like Rory.

* He gives kisses and hugs to all his Cassie Care friends




Have we hit mullet stage yet? What do ya'll think?

I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow...

Where it's snowing
All winter through
That's where I want to be
Snowball throwing
That's what I'll do
How I'm longing to ski
Through the snow-oh-oh-oh-oh

happy thanksgiving

We are thankful for trains and make believe...




for windows...when it's 10 below zero...



for friends and family...



for bathtime...



for turkey...



And for this happy, healthy face...



Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

thanks for the bubble wrap

I think tap dancing might be in his future...

B-log: 15 months (going on 15 years)

Whew, time is flyin' by. It seems like this past month Bennett has turned into a little adult. A very, very small adult.



* He's still trying out new words each week. Lately its been: Done, All Done, Dat, And Dat (he knows grammar already?), and Haaa (for hot).

* He understands pretty much everything you say: let's go change diaper, take a nap, go take a bath, brush your teeth, get a book, bring Momma a beer. Oh...well, we're not quite there on the last one but workin' on it.



* He brushes his teeth. He tries anyway - he basically just chews on it.

* He helps with laundry and vacuuming

* He can give "knucks" and likes to see you "blow it up!"

* He throws temper tantrums and hits when he doesn't get what he wants. And those are fun.

* He loves, loves, loves being outside. I'm ALL for that - I'm so glad he likes playin' in the dirt and leaves and picking up sticks. But he loves it so much he screams when he is forced to come inside. And that's fun too.



* He dances. If the Rolling Stones come on the radio he's beeboppin' his head and rockin' to the music and if Simon & Garfunkel come on, he just sways his head and body back and forth. How does he know to do that? Kid's got rhythm!

*Oh and he even danced to the Time Warp and Hot Patootie on Halloween!!
He loved it.
I Loved it!!
We ALL LOVED IT!!!!

Fall pics

Cassie took some incredible photos of Bennett in his new Montana tee from Dig This Chick. These are probably some of my favorite pics she has taken of him so far. Thanks Cassie!!!

Grrrrr...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!