Pumpkin Patch

Ben and I went to Ranalli farms in Tontitown this morning to check out the pumpkins. Ben touched every single mini gourd and mini pumpkin in the display area. He didn't really take a bite...but he pretended to about 50 times.
Checking out the "goose" gourds as Ben called them.
BOO! (Actually he said ROAR!)
Ben and the mini pumpkins.

He's saying pumpkin instead of cheese.
more loud pumpkin....it's just that saying pumpkin doesn't create the same smile effect as cheese

He was very proud of himself for stacking the pumpkins.

I like this series of pictures...you can tell when he's getting tired of me.

Once Ben discovered the wagon he was either in it or pushing/pulling it. His friends Ellie and Lauren Moore.

Ben's big boy room

We have a new bed (a queen! Yes, we've been sleeping on a full size for 10 years). So, Ben has a new BIG bed. I switched some furniture around so he has a bed-side table and a lamp. He's so grown up. And he is reading his new children's Bible. He's perfect.

The funny part is that he wants to sleep in his crib. He likes to play and read on his big bed. And check out his new cowboy boot bank. Great grandma-Snodgrass (that would be Gramps' mom)gave it to Ben. It even has some change in it.

Ben in his favorite attire: shorts, tee, winter boots, batting helmet, and ball.

The Barn

My parents recently gave me my childhood doll house that was yellow with a white roof and a few frills. Now you can see the transformation. Although it still looks more like a "dollhouse" than a barn, I had fun painting, sanding, glueing, and hammering. I still have some of the furniture and with the added cows, horses, dinosaurs, cowboys, and Little People, it'a a regular community barn for the whole town.
It's time for her to go to bed.

This is Ben's favorite horse. He calls it his peanut butter horse and he likes to put as many "guys" on it as possible. Great Aunt Ruth gave two buckets full of toys to Mema just for Ben. There are horses, cows, dinosaurs, old fashioned cowboys and Indians, whales, dogs...you get the picture. It's hours of fun for us both :-)
Cowboy Glenn here is roundin' up the dinos.

Panda Bear, Panda Bear

The video is a bit dark, but Ben couldn't be cuter! Granny gave Ben this book last weekend so he wouldn't feel left out when dad was opening birthday presents. At first Ben was bummed that his gift was a book but after reading it a few 1, 000 times it's now his favorite book!

Preschool Bound!

Ben is FINALLY at school. He's been asking to go all weekend. This morning he escaped outside TWICE ready to go to school. He walked in, met Miss Johnna, and went straight to the bus and started playing. He was telling me that the kids in the bus were going to school.

First day of preschool pics with dad and mom.

Trying to get Ben to sit still and smile is difficult. He can't help but move around and he's so interested in looking at the picture on the back of the camera after it's taken. These pics were taken just before we left for preschool.

Yes, he's going to be THE cutest kid in the whole preschool. And probably the most ornery!

Happy Birthday Auntie Auntie

My little sister is a big girl! :-) She's the BIG 25 and we celebrated by calling the hogs.

Andie starts her second year of teaching on the 25th and will be teaching 3rd graders. Those lucky kiddos will be getting a fantastic teacher.
Andie listening to our amazing rendition of happy birthday.
Ben helping his Auntie blow out the candles.
Smile birthday girl
Hmm...Ben had a taste of the cake before Andie!

Ben giving Auntie Auntie some good hugs and kisses.

Andie even shared her cake and ice cream with Ben.

Grandma Jo and Ben singing to Andie.

Home Run

Batter Up!

Ben was given a baseball helmet from a friend at one of our play groups today. He has worn the thing all day. When I told him he couldn't wear it during his nap he had a bit of a breakdown.
waiting for dad's pitch....
Jake throws the pitch just right so that it bounces first and then Ben can really smack it! This one hit my camera and I was standing right by Jake.
Foul ball
Ben Pujols here working on his on base percentage.

Stratman Colorado Trip 2008

It's official. The Stratman family, although spread out, has visited each home site now. LA, Siloam Springs, and now Colorado Springs has been christened by each family. We all spent the last week with Nate and Kim and had a BLAST. Deb and Gar stayed in the basement on the double bed and Jake, me, and Ben stayed at the Antler Hyatt in downtown Colorado Springs! HA. Reverse that. No, it was perfect to stay with Nate and Kim because when Ben and Ruthie went to bed we could all talk and eat and drink things we didn't want our kiddos to hear, eat or drink. We climbed mountains, played in parks, went up Pike's Peak, saw Nate's church, got to see Bee and Scott, ate like royalty, and had SO MUCH FUN chasing after the kids and making sure that everyone shared. And, with Bee and Scott in the house our belly's were full and our cheeks tired from laughing.
Deb giving the kiddos a bath.
Nate and Kim's cool back yard.
Hanging out in Nate's truck after an afternoon of playing at the park and splashing in the fountain.