Boys build forts...

At least according to Jeff, they do... Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree because Ben loves forts. Jeff was gone a few days last week so I took a page from his book and helped Ben build a fort. From this picture, you can tell I am a very amateur fort maker. Really, this fort was for Bunster (per Ben's decree) but Ben and the other bunnies got to enjoy it, too.

Bike!

Ben is getting pretty good on his strider bike these days. He loves to stride around the whole neighborhood...

Hot Tub

Brody got to take his first hot tub a few weeks ago and just like his brother, he loooooved it! Here are a few pics of his first 'swim.'

And according to Brody, the best part of the hot tub is the nap afterwards!

 

Daphne!

While in San Diego, we got to see Daphne, our fabulous friend from college, her 2 year old daughter, Harper and her way-too-much-fun hubby, Tony. Seeing such awesome friends like this makes me wish either they lived in Monterey or that we need to go to San Diego more often! We met the Skogen's in Old Town, let the kids run around and get space ship balloons and went to a Mexican restaurant where they make their tortillas from scratch in the front of the restaurant. All I can say is Yum.

San Diego Zoo

While in San Diego, we went to the zoo with the Texan Bolgers. Us Monterey Bolgers had so much fun with the Texan Bolgers even though we got hailed on, literally, as we were leaving the zoo. I think the highlight for Ben was the panda bears but for Jeff and I, the orangutangs were beyond fabulous. The zoo was so great we will most definitely go back next time we are in San Diego!

Sea World

We went to Sea World with Grandma and Grandpa and holy cow, Sea World is AWESOME! We saw the Shamu show which has 5+ killer whales doing amazing tricks, Ben got to feed sting rays (his favorite under water creature), we saw a walrus, polar bears, sharks... really, this place was amazing and a major highlight!

San Diego, Part I

Between Christmas and New Years, we went down to San Diego for a little family vacation and to see many Bolgers. We had a great time but our trip was definitely too short.

The start of the trip was a highlight for Ben... the plane! Our flight was insanely early but the 5:00am wake up for Ben didn't hamper his excitement to ride on the plane. This was Brody's first plane ride, too, and he did really well... pretty much just slept right thru it!

There is an air and space museum in Balboa Park in San Diego so Grandma and Grandpa took Ben there for a Christmas present. Ben had seen the brochure of the museum and had heard all about the actual planes and meteors that were housed in the museum so he was BEYOND excited to go. The Texan, Washington and Southern California Bolgers came so it was quite the deal. When asked to this day what his favorite part of his vacation was, he says the air museum!

 

We went bowling one night with all the Bolgers who were in town. Brody got to meet Great Grandma B.

 

On our last day in San Diego, we went to lunch with Great Grandma B and Grandma and Grandpa. Ben made Great Grandma B a crown with a purple cross on it since she was wearing a purple sweater.

 

Someone is 6 Months Old Today!

Brody has a very big day today because it is his 6 month birthday! His personality is coming out more and more each day and to say he is a smiley baby is a huge understatement. He smiles and laughs at everyone and everything and we can tell he is going to be a little rascal (in a good way, of course) when he is mobile! He loves when his big brother comes to talk to him and he is trying to crawl... although he gets very frustrated when he only moves a foot. What a sweet little blessing he is!

Christmas Catch Up

Blogspot has been having some technical difficulties so I haven't been able to upload pics for a while. Thank goodness Jenny figured out how to make it work and shared the secret. So... much overdue is a recap of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

We spent Christmas Eve at an annual party at a friend's house. Tons of people, lots of kids, insane amounts of Italian food, good wine... all in all, a perfect way to start the Christmas weekend, for sure. Here is a pic of Ben in his Christmas Eve church and party outfit. This is the one pic we got of him in the bow tie. He hated it and it lasted about 5 minutes. But you can't tell from this pic! (and if you are wondering about Ben's hair 'do, that was all Jeff... I make no claim on that...)

After Ben went to Bed, Mitch (our very mischevious Elf on the Shelf) got busy 'decorating' the house to surprise Ben when he woke up on Christmas morning. Mitch not only 'decorated' Ben's door with crape paper but he also 'decorated' the living room and hallway. Fun clean up, yes. This whole 'elf on the shelf' thing is mentally draining but this was Mitch's last hurrah before next year so he went big before he went home. Ben got a kick out of it, for sure.

 You can barely see in this pic but Brody slept in his swing thru out Mitch's decorating... yes, Mitch may be mischevious but he is also very quiet...

Ben woke up and somehow got out of his room without messing up Mitch's madness... and as you can tell, he was very confused and surprised...

Obligatory pic of Ben's cute Christmas PJ's while playing with his 'funny face' stocking stuffer...

Thanks to Pinterest, this was our breakfast Christmas morning... Reindeer pancakes. Cute and tasty. Pretty fun.

One of Ben's Christmas gifts that he loves... yep, an astronaut suit... surprise surprise that he loves it...