Ta-Da Tower

Benton, oh yes, Benton again. We did some Sam's Club shopping and he has been helping carry in the groceries. He grunted and groaned with the boxes and sacks but got the task done. We sat down for dinner and he quickly gave us the "all done" sign, something-much more important-was pressing him for his time! He got down from the table and began methodically moving and stacking the boxes from Sam's. He worked really hard and deliberate until the grocery tower was as tall as him. He took a step back, grinned at his mama, stuck his hands up and said "ta-da". He was so proud of his life sized tower of food but the "ta-da" was way too cute! He posed for many pictures with his hand out toward his creation and the movement was always accompanied with a "ta-da".

Benton-“The Independent”

Yet another story on Benton, he just keeps us on our toes and laughing! It all started like a regular day, I was downstairs goofing around on the computer and the kids were playing nicely together. I was about to get lunch going but had to “check out a few more things”. Alea has gotten into disappearing upstairs and usually resurfaces wearing a different outfit. When she disappeared, I didn’t think much about it and when Benton followed, I thought, “Good, they’ll get some alone play time upstairs together”. About ten minutes later, Alea comes down-in new clothes of course-and we start looking at pictures on the computer. I was listening for little brother to follow any minute and minute after quiet minute passed. I thought I’d better go check on him. I stood at the bottom of the stairs and yelled, “Benton Gregory”. No answer . . . I hiked up the stairs and glanced into the playroom, no Benton. I noticed the bathroom door was closed and visions of my two year old drowning in the toilet quickly invaded my thoughts until I heard snoring!?!? I looked in his bed and there was that sweet little guy. He had crawled into bed, placed his paci in his mouth and curled up with his dinosaur-Rillo. I instantly started laughing, he looked so peaceful. I never thought my child would just decide to go to bed and DO IT. I quickly snapped a few pictures, turned off the light, on the fan and covered him up for his self-appointed nap. My goodness he’s independent!

Sneaky Benton

I had to share this story on Benton because it is so cute and typical! He learned how to open the plastic eggs and get the foil covered Hershey’s eggs out early in the morning. Within minutes he learned how to unwrap that irresistible chocolate from the foil. Of course this was too early in the morning and it’s just not right to let children feast on chocolate before lunch! He continued to find foil wrapped eggs and they continued to be taken out of his hand for “sometime after lunch”. What does that phrase mean to a two year old? Eternity, forever, never, perhaps? Why wait? He could find a way around this one. He just had to think about it. Ah-ha . . .

He would sneak a foil egg and lay face/chest down in the Dora chair. He would lift up just high enough to unwrap the chocolate, pop the candy into his mouth and chew completely. He never made a sound and barely moved. The only part of the plan not totally thought through was the trash left behind-in the chair! He was so proud of himself for coming up with the ingenious plan to eat candy before lunch; he was just giggling and giggling in search of more unsuspecting foil wrapped eggs. All that was left in the chair was foil-blue, green and pink. Oh, sneaky Benton!

Happy Easter 2009

Happy Easter All! I hope you had a great Easter as you spent time with family. We had a wonderful, relaxing time at the Meyers’ home as we tried to point the children toward the main focus of Easter-Jesus’ resurrection! They are still young, but old enough to understand some of the importance of Easter.

Of course we did an Easter egg hunt and dyed eggs-in celebration of Jesus. This was the first year Alea was really able to participate and have a fun time. She asked me if we could dye some more eggs this morning! We had a marshmallow fight before church and a “chubby bunny” contest ended the festivities-congrats Greg and Kevin who tied. May we always remember the power Jesus displayed over death as we celebrate HIM on Easter!

More Spring Break

More Amarillo Pictures:

Alea and her Uncle Matt (Mops).

Me, Ashlynn Vinson and Benton.

All the Perkins girl cousins out with their moms-Cheese!

Benton reading Ashlynn a book.

Spring Break in Texas!

We had such a great time with family and friends while we were in Texas last week. Alea really didn’t want to come home . . . Here are some random pictures I took-enjoy!

Benton with his great-grandma, Nannie.

Alea skating in a princess dress!?!

Oh, the SNOW.

All eleven Perkins grandchildren-together at last!

Three cousins enjoying the tree house.

Happy Second Birthday Benton!

My baby is TWO, or DOO as he says. We had such a great time back home and ended our Texas trip with Benton’s second birthday party. We were surrounded by family and as everyone sang Happy Birthday, I was reminded of how loved we are. Callie was a gracious hostess and we feasted on nachos and cookies. We focused on a “GO” theme and that’s about what everyone did the entire party, go to the kitchen, go to the living room, go eat, go watch Benton open presents, go out in the snow . . . What? Snow? Yes, Benton’s second year was kicked off with one of the biggest blizzards Amarillo has seen in years! It was a Des Moines worthy snow and we felt right at home trudging through the big falling flakes (Samara shoveled the sidewalk-what a sweetie), stomping off the snow before taking the soaking wet shoes off our feet, and then staying inside until time to go. We did get to bring out the shorts and flip-flops the rest of the trip, just not Benton’s birthday. Ah, welcome to the Texas Panhandle.

Benton has had such a great two years of life; he brings his family so much joy! His dimples are always ready to make an appearance and a belly laugh is only a tickle away. He loves to hear funny words and if you find the right combination that will make him laugh, he’s a captive audience. He enjoys eating, mostly on mommy’s lap, eating mommy’s food but has always had a big appetite. Even when his eczema turned into a staph-infection and covered his body, he was happy and playing. And then there’s the pouting, which is so hilarious! He crosses his arms, as little as they are, pooches out his bottom lip and faces a wall until his point is made. He will also melt into the floor or do a belly flop on the floor to show dissatisfaction. His fascination lies with things that move (thus the theme of his party): trains, airplanes, tractors, trucks, cars and bikes. He’ll play all day long at his train table with an assortment of toys as long as his mom and sister are close. Which brings me to his love-Alea (Uh-uh in Benton terms). Siblings have an undeniable bond and it is so evident with Benton and Alea. They share a room and they will often time chat while they go to sleep and wake up talking to each other. He adores her and everything she says, does, wants to be and wants to do. She can talk him into or out of anything-which can be either good or bad. Happy second birthday, My Son, may we celebrate YOU this year and many, many more to come.