Beating the heat!

We have had a fun week trying to stay cool in this heat! We have been wishing more than ever that we had a pool since water seems to be the only way to stay cool outside. We've been playing in sprinklers, kiddie pools, and lakes all week.
Several of the pictures below are from our lake day at my cousin Brandi's house. Her home is right across from Lake Isis in Avon Park. It is a small, but beautiful lake. The water is so clear! It has been used for scuba diving training in the past. Ben enjoyed his first boat ride and Jeremy got to kneeboard for his very first time!
I don't think these high temperatures are going anywhere anytime soon. I'm so glad I have a job indoors! Jeremy and I go back to work in two short weeks. I'm glad Ben will still get to enjoy the outdoors with his Aunt Joycie. They have lake days and play in the sprinklers a lot. He is a water baby for sure!

I thought this was a neat picture

Cooling off with a grape popsicle :D

playing with band-aids

Ben wanted to play with his train first thing in the morning

putting supply boxes together for each table in my classroom :D

playing with his cars

lake fun @ cousin Brandi's house

laughing at silly cousin Billy

helping daddy drive the boat

Jeremy getting ready to kneeboard

Whee!!!

July, don't leave me!

Where has this month gone? I am so sad that this is the last week of July. Ben is already at Aunt Joycie's house this morning and Jeremy is at the Webber Baseball Camp. I am supposed to be cleaning, but updating the blog sounded much more fun :D

Jeremy and Ben had colds last week, so we hung around the house for almost an entire week. B-O-R-I-N-G! I think Ben was happy to get out of the house this morning. Mom and Dad just aren't as much fun as the "big kids" at Joycie's. I had to put my glasses on last night and Ben said, "mommy wearing glasses." I said, "yes baby, mommy's wearing her glasses." He said, "Miss Tassie glasses, too." My cousin Cassie wears glasses that look very similar to mine so he was letting me know! He still can't pronounce his C's very well, so Cass is Tass. He is still having a hard time with L's, too. I think it's because you have to put your tongue on the roof of your mouth to say L words. I learned what those types of words are called, but can't seem to remember the technical term. He says "wotion" for lotion. I tried to emphasize the L for him the other night:

me: "Ben, say lo-lo-lo-lo LOTION."
Ben: "wo-wo-wo-wo WOTION!"

HA!

Here are some random shots of Ben from this past week. He is getting pretty good at climbing and sliding down the whale slide. We didn't get as much outside time as we usually do. It rained a lot here towards the end of last week.

He played in the pool for about 10 minutes, then decided to do this:

Daddy is hoping this enthusiasm for mowing sticks around.

Ben's Gary Busey hair (http://images.buddytv.com/articles/breakingnews/gary-busey.jpg)

Ben's "leave me alone, I'm watching Dora" face.

The Sweetest Voice in the World!

Here are a few videos of Ben talking. His little voice is so sweet! I love the way he says "car" in the first video. I hardly ever catch him on video anymore because he always wants to hold the camera (as you'll see in the 2nd & 3rd videos). Enjoy!

Scroll down and pause the playlist to hear the videos :)

A Relaxing Week

We have had a very relaxing week at home. I know that sounds funny since we are on summer vacation, but some weeks really are more relaxing than others. Ben went to Aunt Joycie's house every morning from 8:30 to noon this week. He loves playing with the other kids. They had a picnic at the lake this week. Ben told us he "ate sandwiches." I just love hearing him talk. It's so cool to hear what's on his mind.

Ben discovered a new talent this week. He can cross his index and middle fingers on his left hand. Jeremy said he had the cutest look of "awe" on his face when he discovered this new talent. He is developing a stronger independent streak with each passing week. Some of his new phrases are, "Ben do it" and "blah blah blah now." We're trying to get him to say please instead of now at the end of his requests....it's a work in progress :) He is doing very well with thank you's and you're welcome's.

We have exactly 4 weeks left of summer vacation. I am not ready to start thinking about a new school year, haha! Maybe I'll be motivated when August rolls around. Here are the latest pictures of Benny Bear.
practicing his new skill....crossing his left index and middle finger :)

Grandpa keeping Ben entertained @ Red Lobster

goofing off in the parking lot

mowing the yard

pointing at one of the trees and telling me how daddy "cut it with chainsaw" :)

riding in the radio flyer :)

not sure what he was doing here, but he has a big smile on his face :)

play room pictures