It's HALLOWEEN!

Well we had a GREAT time carving our pumpkin today and going trick or treating! The highlight had to have been Benjamin passing out the candy tonight! He was so sweet and wanted to give the kids candy. He wasn't too excited about going at first, he couldn't figure out why WE just didn't give him candy. He knew we had loads to hand out, why couldn't he just have it :)
We finally got him out ... and he was READY!


We first stopped at the Lindquists for a family photo...





Then we were really set to go... up and down the "hills" of our neiborhood with the Lindquists. We tried telling Benjamin to say "trick-or-treat" ... but that's a little bit much for his vocabulary. He did say "thank you" to almost everyone in sign language - but not too many people knew what he was saying -- but it's the thought that counts! Jonathan took Benjamin to the ONE really scarey house and he loved it, he came out saying... "rawwww"! Here is a picture of Benjamin and Jonathan actually trick-or-treating...





After trick-or-treating ... we headed for home so that Benjamin could check out his candy and FINALLY see the jack o' lantern we had been working on which he helped clean out! He was most interested in what was beneath his HAT ...
and also looking inside to see why he was lit up so BRIGHT!




Home at last ... now time for daddy to hand out candy ... LOTS of it, me to clean up, and bath for Benjamin ... BUT ... we figured out that he LOVED handing out the candy! Right after prayers, and before bed... the door bell rang again ... Benjamin ran to the window, grabbed some candy and was waiting to give it to our trick-or-treaters! He was a BIG help! What a GREAT evening!

Date to the Duck Pond!

Well if anyone loves ducks as much as I do ... it would have to be Benjamin! One of my favorite past-times, while living in Provo, was riding my bike to one of several duck ponds! Now we still can ... but there are usually only 3 ducks -- two white ducks, and one mallard which has a green head!

Yesterday we went for a walk to see "our" ducks -- Benjamin LOVES when they start quacking! "kak-kak" was actually one of the first words he ever said ... fitting that he can now say "duck" and "quack quack". Benjamin also LOVES to throw anything he can find into the pond ... just thought I'd share a few pictures of one of our favorite places, and doing one of our favorite things... the two pictures are of Benjamin "LISTENING" ... and his reaction after they started "QUACKING!"

There are several boulders on one side of the pond... it was nice and cool -- and Benjamin just sat in my lap ...

what a sweet moment for a mother!

Ward Halloween Party!

Well Benjamin sure loved the idea of dressing up to get his OWN candy --- and that he got to eat at the party! We had a fun time at our ward Halloween party ... Every year I ams so determined to think of something for Jonathan to wear ... and I've struck out the 3rd year in a row... I need to get to thinking earlier I guess!

Benjamin is a little golfer this year ... he's figured out that if he wears his costume... he gets to get candy! We are excited to go trick-or-treating on Wednesday!

Saying Thank you, Thank you in his OWN SPECIAL WAY!

This to me all in all describes Benjamin's personality! He is a very sweet natured child and loves us! He is getting so good at saying please and thank you -- vocally and through sign language. I love this picture -- a candid shot as he thanks Jonathan for giving him "more cake"!

Rachel's Birthday

Well Jonathan made me a birthday cake on Sunday -- and per my request -- only iced half of it ... who has chocolate icing on a butter pecan cake! I enjoyed my ice cream and cake. Benjamin LOVED blowing out the candles, and even more - eating the cake!

Visiting the Owens

Here are some fun pictures from our trip up to North Georgia! Benjamin and I enjoyed the day with my sister's family at Prater's Mill while Jonathan was playing golf. Benjamin had a blast with his cousins and aunts and uncles. He LOVED the cat that they had and playing outside!

Ringgold Football Game!

We enjoyed going to the Ringgold Footbal game on Friday night -- it was pretty chilly but we cuddled under blankets! Benjamin's favorite was the mascot Tiger! They won 51-20!

Pumpkin Patch Time!

Well -- like many others -- we went to visit the Pumpkin Patch... but with our playgroup! We heard lots of fun stories and then got to enjoy all the pumpkins. Benjamin REALLY enjoyed picking up the walnuts -- and trying to place them on the pumpkins. You will see -- that Benjamin had his own mind made up about a few things...

General Conference Weekend!

Well we've sure had a WONDERFUL weekend -- enjoying Conference! Benjamin also discovered his first Grandaddy longleg -- and couldn't figure out where he was hiding in the flowers. We also have had a few silly moments since we've been inside a lot ... Jonathan put Benjamin's shorts on his head -- and he loved it, and took them off -- and kept wanting them back on! Probably the only time his waist will be the same size as his head :)

Car wash ...

Jonathan and Benjamin had a great time washing the cars! Benjamin even found a SURPRISE in the bucket of water ... the football Jonathan got for him at work ... unfortunately - within the hour, it rolled down, down, down into the gutter. Thank goodness for Chick-Fil-A ... Jonathan got ANOTHER one for him yesterday at work!

FHE Scavenger Hunt!

Last Monday for Family Home Evening we went on a scavenger hunt in our backyard! Benjamin had a great time picking up everything! Much to Jonathan's surprise, there were berries in October! The hardest thing for me to find was the bug -- Jonathan just got an ant out of the fire ant bed - I wasn't that courageous. I just found a dead moth! If anyone has any fun fall FHE ideas that you can do with a 1 year old ... please share! --