Ben Laughing Video

Apparently Ben would have enjoyed watching Joey Lawrence on Blossom!

NYC Trip

Greg and I at the top of the Empire State Building
Sarah, Greg, Lindsey, Marc, and Kailer too:) on the subway
Kailer (2 1/2 months)
Marc, Stephanie, Lindsey (Kailer), Jimmy, and me
Greg and I in Central Park

Greg and I had the opportunity to visit NYC for a long weekend. Ben stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa Abbott and was spoiled like crazy :) He seemed to do really well so that made Greg and I feel good. We had a great time and did so much in so little time. It was really nice to spend some time with Lindsey, Marc and Kailer...when they are in Michigan they have so much family to see, we usually only end up seeing them for a little bit. Lindsey was a great tour guide and we couldn't have done all the things we did without her. One of Greg's good friends lives in New York and we were able to spend some time with her and her boyfriend too! Overall we had a wonderful trip and it was nice for Greg and I to spend some time together, even though we both missed Ben, we knew he was in good hands.

Cute Ben Pictures

Ben checking out our first snow of the season
Does this face make it obvious that I am up to something?
Ben and Santa
Ben with his favorite pals, The Backyardigans

It has been awhile since our last post, so I thought I would just update with some pictures. Everyone is doing great! Ben is so much fun and loves to make us laugh every day. He loves tickling people, pets, etc... He says a bunch of words and tries to say a lot more. He does some sign language...which he learned only by watching his Baby Einstein DVD in the car. He thinks everyone with a beard (white or not) is Santa or HOHOHO as he calls them. It has been a blast getting ready for Christmas this year because we get to see it through the eyes of a child again. This week we need to make Christmas cookies...can't even imagine the mess that will come with that, oh well! This time of year always reminds us of how blessed we truly are.

Visiting the Guilds

Michael taking Ben for a ride in his truck
The kids at the park
Ben trying to figure the radio out
Ben driving the four-wheeler

Andrew showing Ben what cabinet to play in
Michael and Ben checking out the pumpkins
Ben (13 months) and Andrew (10.5 months)

As always we had another great time visiting Jeff, Jess, Michael, and Andrew in Tennessee. We left Thursday morning and got to their house around 7:30 pm. Ben was such a trooper in the car...he slept a little, played with toys, read books, and watch movies on his new DVD player (he was really excited when the first movie started) We only stopped twice both ways...once for lunch and then for dinner. Ben had a little trouble falling asleep the first night after being in the car for so long but he deserved to run some energy out...so he stayed up a little late :) Friday afternoon Greg and Jeff went golfing so Jess and I took the kids to feed some ducks and to play at the park. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun, Michael made friends with some older kids and Ben and Andrew just played in the sand. Saturday we took the kids to Sabbath School and then we enjoyed the wonderful sunshine and warmer weather (low 70's). After the kids got up from their naps we drove to downtown Chattanooga and watched some of a rowing competition and went to Ben and Jerry's...yum! On Sunday, Jess and I were able to do a little shopping...with no kids! Of course the kids slept great for the dads and were just waking up when we got home...always works that way :) The boys all played great together...Michael is full of energy and keeps us all laughing and Andrew is the smiley, "I am up to something one" Ben had so much fun watching/trying to keep up with Michael and he seemed to enjoy actually playing with Andrew. It is amazing how quickly they grow...we wish we could see more of the Guilds, but we will take what we can.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Daddy, Ben, Kendal and Mike
Daddy and Ben...by a ghost
Ben showing Daddy where to start
Ben and the finished product
Ben and Kendal waiting patiently to trick or treat
Attempting to hold hands to walk together
Our "Little Nemo"
"Trick or Treat"
We should do this more often!

This year we had a lot of fun for Halloween...Daddy was gone last year so this was his "official" first Halloween with Ben and boy did we have a good time! Last Saturday started it all...we went downtown with Kendal and Mike and did some trick or treating (it was a little too cold though) Tuesday dad and Ben carved a pumpkin (mostly dad but Ben watched) Then of course the actual day of Halloween we went trick or treating with Krieders and Schmidts...the kids looked so cute and did a good job! We probably only made it to about 10 houses, but the kids walked a lot of the way. We all went back to Schmidts and the dads handed out candy...lucky kids, stop at one house and get enough candy for 3 houses! We managed to just barely squeeze in one game of Sequence before Ben was ready to crash :) What a great time!

Fall is in the air

Ben sitting on the fork lift at Dexter's Cider Mill
Does he open his mouth wide enough?
Our first visit with Kailer :)
Ben with his pumpkins
My cousin Jason and his wife Nicci and daughter Jenna
Great-Grandpa Fred and Ben collecting leaves
Kendal and Ben at the pumpkin patch
The 3 trouble makers :)
Mom and Ben checking out the pigs
Mom, Ben, Lindsey and Kailer on our second visit
Ben and an amazing sunset

Okay...so I know it has been awhile since my last post but we have just been enjoying not having too much going on and just spending time together. Here is what we have been up to: the weather has actually been really nice for the last month and just recently have we had to pull out the coats :( But that's okay the nice crisp, fall air isn't so bad. We have enjoyed checking out different cider mills and Ben definitely likes the donuts and cider! We also got to meet Kailer for the first time a couple weeks ago...we were so excited and she is such a cutie. Ben was not so sure about mom holding another baby...good thing we are nowhere near that thought yet :) Lindsey, Marc, and Kailer even made it to our house during their stay and Greg was happy to see Kailer too. We meet with the neighbors for our "2nd annual pumpkin patch Halloween pictures"... we did the pictures right away and Ben wasn't quite ready to cooperate (he needed a donut first) but we came away with a couple of cute ones...it is a lot harder to take pictures when all three kids can get away! Speaking of pictures, we took Ben to get his 1 year pictures taken and what an experience that was! We did end up with a few really cute ones...but barely (he was all over the place) So...other than my cousin's wedding we really haven't had too much going on. Ben is all over the place and is still a lot of fun...a lot of work too! He loves the moon and pumpkins and Shrek (Schmidt's have a giant blow-up one next door) he gets SO excited every time he sees him! Next weekend we travel to Tennessee to see the Guilds, so we should have some pictures from there!

Ben Turns One!

I am One!
I love my wagon from my mom and dad
Happy Birthday at Red Robin Yeah! Ice Cream is my favorite.
My pal, Riley
Birthday Cake...not sure of it
Opening presents
Cheese!
Ben and Nick (17 months)
Now I will eat the cake (no pressure this time)

What a great weekend...Ben's actual birthday was on Friday so we took him to Red Robin to celebrate before his party on Saturday. What a great place to go out to eat with kids! He really enjoyed them singing to him and eating the ice cream! Saturday was great...the weather was perfect and we were surrounded by great friends and family. Ben received a lot of wonderful birthday presents (how quickly you can run out of space in a house!) He wasn't so sure of eating the cake in front of everyone...but of course Sunday night he had no problem eating it :) He seemed to have a lot of fun and loved his balloons...he tries really hard to say balloon, very cute! Sunday we enjoyed a nice and quiet day at home...we took a nice wagon ride around the neighborhood and stopped at the Kreiders for a few hours. Ben and Maddy played great together...as they get older you can really see how they could all end up being good friends. Monday was Ben's 1 year wellness visit...4 shots this time-yuck! He was not very happy about those, but he has been acting fine (no fever or fussiness) so I can handle that. He is still off the charts for height 32 1/2 inches and staying pretty consistent with his weight 24 lbs. 13 oz. He looked healthy and the doc. was even able to see him walk. How much they change in one year!

Mackinac Island Wedding

Andrew (9 m.) and Ben playing before their long trip
Ben walking with the girls to get on the ferry
Ben and Grandpa checking out the horses
Even carriage rides can put a baby to sleep
The Bride and Groom at the Rehearsal Dinner
Kelly and James Wedding
Mommy and Ben after the ceremony
Emma, Kylah, and Michael did a great job in the wedding
Ben and Daddy
All of us with Great-Grandpa Fred

The first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Loeffler
Michael after eating some wedding cake
Andrew, Jess, Ben and Mommy
What a beautiful view
The 3 of us with Kelly and James

The whole fam. before we left Sunday
Ben and Mommy on the ferry-time to go home

What a crazy, busy, fun weekend. It all started Thursday when Jeff, Jess, and Andrew came up to stay the night (Michael stayed with G'ma and G'pa) Danny and Nichole also stayed. We all had a great time talking and telling stories, it was really nice to see Jeff and Jess a little before the busy weekend. Friday morning started early for Greg and I since we still had to pack. All eight of us were ready and out of the house by 9:15 am (pretty good) We arrived in Mackinaw City around 2pm for the 2:30 ferry and hurried to the Inn...the rehearsal started at 4. After rehearsal about 30 of us took the carriage to The Village Inn for The Rehearsal Dinner. It was a wonderful time and great food! Most of us were exhausted so we went back to the condo to crash. The wedding ended up being beautiful...early in the day the weather was a little questionable (30 mph winds) but by 4 you could not have asked for a nicer day. Kelly looked amazing and the ceremony was in a very peaceful, wooded area. We are so happy for Kelly and James, they are a great couple! Sunday came too soon and we were all sad to have to go but at least we bought some fudge on our way off the island. Ben was a trooper the whole weekend...he is really a good little boy! Only a few more days until his birthday...I still can not believe it.