Yeah!!! The last day of school!

Today was Skylar's last day of first grade. She is pretty excited for summer...

Two boys get a hair cut to start off the summer.

Kellen's eye was bothering him all morning. After his nap, he could not even open his eye and he just kept his head under his blanket. I took him to the eye doctor and they said he has irisitis. Basically, his iris is inflamed and so every time his eye would adjust to light by dilating, it would cause him a lot of pain. So they put some Novocain in his eye and they also paralyzed his iris so that it would not move. It should be cleared up in 24 hours.

Please meet Ryan and Susanna...

Skylar and James spend their first day of summer playing dress up. I don't know, James looks pretty good as a girl and Skylar, well, she looks more like a scarecrow to me. They had a lot of fun and that's what's important!

A Big Day!

Ten years ago today, JT and I got married. I can't believe it has been that long! We have done a lot in those ten years...4 kids, three moves, two dogs!

JT got a new wedding band from me for our anniversary. I got a trip to Italy: 4 days in Rome and 4 days in Venice! We are planning to go in Septemeber/October!

Mommy sneaking out of the house for a date!

Thank you Maria and Johan for thinking of us on our big day!

Also, Marilyn and Jim have finally move to Sioux Center. The house is done and the movers were here today!

Back patio

Craft Room

Library

Kitchen looking into dinning room

Kitchen

Home Theater

One dirty girl!

Skylar went to Tulip Time with a friend and this is what she looked like when she came back. I have never seen a child get so dirty. Did she literally roll around on the ground?

Guess who???

Actually, this is an old picture of James. I just think him and Brennen look so much alike!

James Is Done With Preschool!

Yesterday was James' last day of preschool, so they had a little program for the parents.

Skylar and James came back from a bike ride and thought it would be funny for Brennen to wear a helmet. He thought he was pretty cool being part of the gang!



Am I cute or what?

Fishing on the Rocks?!?

I was putting Kellen down for a nap and when I came out, this is what I saw. Fishing on the rocks??? I have no idea what he was thinking, but he sure had fun.


Look at me... I am staring to inch around on the floor!

I am pretty proud of myself!

Kellen is very excited for Brennen's new abilities.

Good Job, Brenne!!

The Next Generation of Trekkies

Papa has got Skylar and James hooked on Star Trek. Here they are watching it all together!

It quickly turned into tickle time.

Meanwhile..."Mama, I need you!"

"Look, the water is all gone. I let it all out!"

Oh well, I guess it's time to dry off.

Finally, this little stinker refuses to sleep in his bed during his afternoon nap, so he sleeps in his swing. One of these days, he won't fit anymore and I think I will have a very tired baby!

The Last Benbow Graduates!

We went to Ames this weekend for Lena's graduation. The kids absolutely love staying at Lena's house (because she spoils them silly)!

Hey Lena, we're here!

On Saturday, we went to the graduation ceremony. The kids did a pretty good job sitting through the whole thing.



Mom, I'm bored!

After the ceremony...



Then we took the kids to the park to blow off some extra energy.









After the park, we went for Japanese dinner. The kids loved it. I wish I could of gotten a picture of Kellen diving into Byron's arms for safety after the chef lit the grill on fire. It was priceless. Then Skylar kept complimenting the chef, telling him how "talented" he was. Skylar and James especially loved the part where the chef threw a shrimp at us and we were supposed to catch the shrimp in our mouth. They both caught their shrimp and were pretty proud of themselves. Kellen got hit in the eye twice. I don't think he quite got what we were doing. Overall, it was a great day and then they collapsed into bed.

Happy Birthday Henrik!

Brennen's Personal Stylist

Brennen is so loved by all of his siblings. They really dote on him and will do anything to make him smile (although it really does not take much)!



Special Note to Maria:
I have been getting your emails and calls. I have been trying to call and email back but I am not sure that you are getting my emails. Have you gotten any in the past week? I am not forgetting about you! All is well with us, we are off to Ames this weekend for Lena's graduation!

Mommy, Look what I found!

"Mommy, I found a birdie egg. I'm going to watch it hatch!"

Little did I know that when I went to put Kellen down for a nap, James found (and stole)a nest under the deck complete with two eggs and decided to put it in his old turtle tank for keeping. He thinks that these eggs are going to hatch into little birdies. I tried to tell him that they probably won't hatch now that he took the nest away from the mommy bird. He is convinced that they will and I am to come and get him from school the moment they hatch.

Mr. Happy Feet!

Brennen is always moving his feet like he is running. We call him Happy Feet. Here is just a little example. I will try and get some video of him on his changing table where his legs are just moving, moving, moving.