Arts & Crafts @ the Y

October 13, 2013 | Chantel

Ben made these construction-paper corns-on-the-cobb at Y during arts and crafts. He really likes going toÂ the Y and they even featured Ben and this activity on their Facebook page.

Beach Day 9-14-13

October 13, 2013 | Chantel

Blake, Hana, and Ben went on a beach day in the Daytona area. They had a ton of fun. Blake buried Ben in the sand and, when trying to pull him out, Ben’s forearm was pulled out of the elbow socket. There’s video evidence that there was no foul play – Ben and Blake were laughing and playing up until the second it happened! Beach day ended with a trip to the hospital. After a quick adjustment for his “nursemaid’s elbow,” Ben was fine. Now we have to be gentle because this is now more likely to happen again until his ligaments harden around age 5. We also discovered that Ben’s health insurance is garbage – after insurance, Ben’s brief hospital visit cost $700.

Downtown Disney

October 13, 2013 | Chantel

We went to downtown Disney in September to do some free pin trading, walk around, eat some good food, etc. Ben and daddy “went” on an archaeological dig at a dinosaur-themed store.

Legoland 8-31-13

August 31, 2013 | Chantel

Today we went to Legoland in Winter Haven. A local nonprofit offered tickets for $30 per person (a steal!) as a fundraiser last month, so we swiped a few tickets. Here are some fun photos of our long, hot, fun day at Legoland.

Ben and daddy build a Lego car:

Ben rides a roller coaster! The Dragon roller coaster had a minimum height of 40″ and Ben just made it. So at 2 years old, he rode his first roller coaster. In the photo below, he may not look super happy, but he was really excited afterward and said “Yep!” when asked if he had fun.

Other photos of our day:

Souvenir from Legoland:Â his hand print turned into a rubber ducky. Last year we purchased a print of his hand transformed into 5 penguins on a glacier.

Ben tries the “ABC Mouse”

August 31, 2013 | Chantel

We recently bought a subscription to the ABC Mouse website, which is supposed to help Ben learn to use the computer. We discovered it was a bit too advanced for him. He may be taller than the average 2 year old and speak better, but he definitely uses the mouse like a toddler!

Working on potty training

August 23, 2013 | Chantel

We are in the early stages of potty training. We will be transitioning to pull-ups in the next couple weeks.

Louisiana photos

August 23, 2013 | Chantel

Our trip to Mandeville, Louisiana in July 2013.

Chillin’ in Daddy’s office

August 23, 2013 | Chantel

: Coloring with Mommy on Daddy’s white board

: At Mommy’s desk

Edenton, NC

June 1, 2013 | Chantel

This past week we traveled to Edenton, North Carolina to visit my grandparents (Ben’s great-grandparents, GGPa and GGMa Shafer) and my dad (Ben’s grandpa Tim). While it was a long drive (13-15 hours each way), we enjoyed the calm, laid-back town of Edenton. GGMa, GGPa, and Grandpa adored Ben, as evidenced by all the affectionate hugging/kissing photos. They said Ben was very well behaved — Â our Ben? Thanks Shafers for the warm welcome and hospitality!

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: At South of the Border, Dillion, SC

: New duckies from South of the Border. At Ruby Tuesday in Fayetteville, NC

: New duckies from South of the Border. At Ruby Tuesday in Fayetteville, NC

: Ben w/ GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: Ben w/ GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: Ben w/ GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: Ben w/ GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: Ben

: Ben w/ GGMA Myrna and GGPA Shaf

: Ben at the “little house” (storage for the water pumps system)

: Ben at the “little house” (storage for the water pumps system)

: Ben and GGPA Shafer at the “bigger house” (storage shed)

: Ben and GGPA Shafer at the “bigger house” (storage shed)

: Ben and GGPA Shafer at the “bigger house” (storage shed)

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben, Blake and GGPa Shar playing soccer in the backyard

: Ben in the Food Lion shopping cart

: GGPa Shaf and Grandpa Tim making breakfast

: GGPa Shaf and Grandpa Tim making breakfast

: GGPa Shaf and Grandpa Tim making breakfast

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: Blake and Ben playing with “3D” sidewalk chalk

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: GGPa Shaf, GGMa Myrna, and Ben

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Ben’s ready for the pool

: Family playing Wii Bowling

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: GGMa Myrna and Ben

: GGMa Myrna, GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGMa Myrna, GGPa Shaf and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: Grandpa Tim and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: GGPa Shaf and Ben

: Ben loves spicy food

Mother’s Day 2013

June 1, 2013 | Chantel

For Mother’s Day 2013 (really, the Saturday before), Ben and I went to spend the day with Nanna Brenda. We visited Great-grandparents Moran in Palm, had lunch in Ormond Beach, and then Grandpa Tom watch Ben while mom and I got a pedicure.