Posting Absence

I know it has been a while since I posted, but so many things have happened since then. Seth got a job in Grand Isle working to clean up the oil spill, so I have been on my own with Benjamin for the past few weeks. Seth took our computer and the adapter for the camera to load pictures, so I have been without both for a while. Now I have a computer (thanks LE!), and I plan on getting an adapter as soon as I can remember to put it in my cart at the store - I have lots of great pictures to upload! So, sorry it has been a while, but I promise to get back into the groove of posting every few days very, very soon!

Lollipops - I LOVE 'em!

How do you get two kids to sit down and smile so that you can take a picture? Lollipops!!!

And that only worked for a second....

Strawberry Fields Forever

On Friday afternoon, Benjamin and I met Emily, Virginia and Owen at Miss Heather's Berry Farm (www.thfarms.com). Even though it was very overcast and even lightly sprinkling, we both were insistent on picking some strawberries, since the season for them is almost over (maybe 1 week or so left). I arrived a little before Em and the kids, so Ben I took a look around while we waited...we were barely out of the car and walking toward the fields when the man who was in charge (Mrs. Heather's significant other) came riding up on a BIG tractor (making Ben go crazy with tractor glee) to make sure we were ok and to answer any questions we may have -- how's that for service?! The Berry Farm has a few different fields of berries, rows and rows of them; as well as a play area for the kids complete with swings, TONS of tractors, diggers, a spinning wheel, a cow to milk (I am not kidding - this big plastic cow has a bucket of water in his back and plastic udders that the kids can squeeze to make the "milk" come out), a bull to ride, a petting zoo area, and a few other things. Since the farm was deserted because of the rain, we had the whole thing to ourselves. So after we picked berries with the kids for a while, we let them play at the play area (less than 100 yards away) while we finished picking.

Owen got to ride on Emily's back, while Virginia would pick a berry and eat it immediately instead of putting it in the basket (smart kid, huh?).

Benjamin had a different strategy altogether - pick berries (got that part right) that are not red, but WHITE (read not ready yet). This picture is the only one of him picking a fairly red berry - everything else was clearly the wrong color...but he sure did enjoy himself!

Can you tell which berries Ben picked?

After we each had a flat to go home with, we headed toward the petting zoo and play area. There were roosters, turkeys, ducks and baby chicks, goats (including a 3 week old named Bucky), rabbits, horses and pigs.

Ben walked around in a daze for a while, not sure which animal to go see...he was clearly overwhelmed (but happy).

Ben and Virginia bot really liked the rabbits, and they spent a large amount of time at the cage, sticking their fingers in.

Emily, however, was VERY impressed with the baby goat, Bucky.

Virginia and Ben swinging on a "horse"

Ben playing "peek a boo" with Emily - the only way we could get all three kids to smile at the same time...until Ben decided to start doing his own peek a boo instead of just being amused with his Aunt Emily's.










Perfect, smiling shot of all three kids on the tractors....

We really enjoyed the strawberry picking, and I would highly recommend Mrs. Heather's place - they were friendly, and the farm was clean and perfect for kids of all ages. ***I had a pic of Ben, naked, in the big sink outside of the barn where all the animals were (I couldn't get it to load)...why? Because after we played with the animals, Ben got excited because Bucky was jumping and bucking, and the goats were eating the droppings underneath the rabbit cage...so...Ben ran toward them, scared them away and hopped under the cage himself! I was horrified - Emily, of course, thought it was hilarious. Needless to say, there was LOTS of washing involved before the trip to Covington could be made. Never a dull moment (or a clean one it seems lately)!

Missing Baton Rouge

Even though I am happy living in Lake Charles, I still desperately miss Baton Rouge (like all the time). This past Thursday Ben and I went back for a quick visit. We spent Thursday afternoon with Scotty - having lunch, shopping, playing at the indoor park, eating ice cream, and riding on the carousel (all at the same place). Thursday night I went to dinner at PF Chang's (think chicken lettuce wraps!) with some of my girlfriends; I even got to see my long lost friend Hannah who is now living in small town Arkansas. I also got to eat at one of my favorite spots in BR - Zoe's for lunch on Friday. Benjamin and Scotty after a wonderful day together

Benjamin and I stayed with my friend Angela who has three little girls - Gabby, Annabelle and Lily (Lulu). Benjamin was in HEAVEN, because there were so many toys to play with (toys he had never seen before!). Now you may want to know which toy he loved the most? Not the pink Pottery Barn Kitchen complete with every utensil, food item, cup, plate, etc...Not the pink double baby buggy with two matching babies to push around, not even the V-tech horse that makes noises....nope. Look below.



Do you see it? Ben's favorite toy was the blue princess tiara! He found it at the bottom of a toy chest and immediately put it on, came to me and smiled. He then went to the mirror to see himself, then walked around the house with the tiara on his head. If it fell off, he would bring it to me, point to his head, I would put it on him, he would go "check" in the mirror, then begin walking around the house again...LuLu joined in the fun by grabbing a fireman's hat. She tried to trade hats with Ben once, and I will let you guess how well that went over.

Now I had to grab my camera and take a picture...so that I could show it to Seth. Because even though I knew Seth would be fine with Ben playing with a crown, I also know that Seth will not be buying him a tiara to play dress up with in the future - it will be fireman hats, boots and football jerseys I am sure. Friday afternoon we met Emily and the kids at a strawberry patch -- I will post separately about that adventure. Then we spent the rest of Friday and all day Saturday moving my mom into her new house in Covington. I am exhausted...

Lulu playing fireman...she was so sweet to Benjamin.

Angie and Lily

Lily giving Ben a hug, Ben trying to wiggle free