The Rhythym is Gonna Get You

I love this picture of Bentley dancing! He's got moves!

Security Guard Joel

Last night we went to the Museum of Idaho to catch the Ink & Blood exhibit before it leaves this weekend. Within 30 seconds of entering, security guard Joel approach me and informed me that gum is not allowed in the museum and ordered me to spit it out. I felt like I was back in 4th grade, except that in the 4th grade I was an expert gum concealer and would never have been caught chewing by Mrs. Wyatt. You could learn everything about the Bible that you have ever cared to know, I was experiencing A.D.D. and settled to just look at the items in the cases and focus on reading the 3 lines accompanying each. I learned completely different things than Chod did (he was able to concentrate enough to read everything on the walls and watch the videos and Guttenberg printing press demonstration---but I got to see the Wicked Bible) and it took me only 1/3 of the time it took him.

I gladly volunteered to take Bentley to the Children's Discovery Room (he was having a hard time too). The children's room was stocked with a tee-pee, a log cabin, caves, an eagles nest, and a waterfall. There were drums to play, coon tail hats to wear, a water pump to pump, and
of course computers and TVs.

I put a coon tail hat on Bentley and just as I was about to pull out my camera (they are also forbidden in the museum) security guard Joel walked in...I was pretty sure at the sight of my camera he would ban me from the museum for life...so I have no pictures to remember this occasion from.

Excuse Me

Tonight at dinner, Bentley was being extra whiny and as he sat tearing his noodles into little pieces and dropping them on the floor Chod played interpreter.

Bentley: I da ku ma acky but

Chod: Your aching butt?!

Me: Bentley! Where did you learn such things!?

Chod: Grandpa

Me: hmm

....thanks a lot dad.

Sody Pop

In my last post I mentioned Bentley's love for rootbeer, but his love for carbonation in a can doesn't end there.

This picture was taken a few mornings ago right after he had gotten up. Chod went to get the broom out of the closet that stores his stash of pop and Bentley snagged this can of cream soda and would not let go of it. He was insistent that he drink it right then, right there.

But alas, I am the mom and the can went in the fridge.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks...

Bentley loved the baseball game! I'm not sure if it was because he had friends to run around with, the nap on the way there, the dancing music, or the rootbeer, but I think it is safe to say that baseball is his new favorite pastime. We left at the bottom of the 7th because it was getting late and the score was 9-0. Go Chukars!

Little Buckaroo

Bentley made it through his first rodeo Friday night. He enjoyed watching the "horse" and sharing his popcorn with Grandma.

I like green things.

The pantry door is open and at Bentley's eye level he is faced with cans of pineapple, mandarin oranges, pie filling, fruit cocktail, and green beans.

Bentley after much deliberation he grabs...

...the can of green beans of course.

Wonder Woman

Karisa has often been called Wonder Woman or Sheerah and this is why:

This afternoon we were sitting on the loveseat in her TV nook, she was feeding Dalanie and I was watching the frustration coming down the stairs. Hudson was carrying as many blocks as he could hold, coming down the stairs in search of his loader, dropping and picking up blocks the entire way down. All of a sudden I see Bentley doing cartwheels down the stairs.

Before I could get to him, Karisa (the nursing mother) dove across the floor with Dalanie in one arm and managed to break Bentley's fall without injuring her newborn.

She has some pretty good floor burn as evidence of her heroic act.

I so glad that she didn't hurt the baby trying to save Bentley.

And that is how the super hero earned her name.

Happy Birthday

Today is my sister Karisa's birthday.Even though she is younger it has always been hard for me to keep up with her. Since we are so close in age we were able to do a lot of things together. We were in almost all the same school clubs in high school, went to Russia together, and had the same major in college. She pushes me to be better and I love her for that. She is amazing!
Happy birthday Keese!

Feeling left out

Remember this post from about a year ago?

Well the season hasn't started and all I am hearing about is football. It is almost like Chod has something to prove. Last year Bentley was the league champion, and the year before that I was, so I think he is feeling a little left out of the trophy case.

Clean cars are overrated

Way back before I was married I had a very clean car. It was washed weekly. I Armor-alled at stoplights. I threw away my garbage and didn't eat in the car.

Then I got married and started slacking a little. Maybe its because I figured is was partly Chod's job too.

Then Bentley came along. Instead of wiping off the dash when stopped, I now reach for the dropped object behind my seat. Fruit snacks are handed out freely. And there are milk splatters on the seat, ceiling and doors.

Last time my mom rode with me she said "Nik, did you ever think your car would look like this?"

And she didn't mean it in a nice way.

But in all fairness to me, it wasn't that bad. right?

Mom, I cleaned my car this morning. Want to go for a ride?

Toothpick

Bentley was playing with his toys last night as I was getting dinner ready. I said something to him and he looked up with a completely serious face.

He had a something hanging out of his mouth, it looked like a piece of wood. I asked him what it was and he continued staring at me.

Then I asked "is that a toothpick?"

This is not Bentley.

He broke into a huge smile all the while keeping the toothpick in place.

I glanced over and noticed my top drawer was open. The drawer the toothpicks are kept in.

Toothpicks are used solely for checking the done-ness of cakes and such while baking in our house, so I find it hilarious that he thought to stick it between his teeth and carry on.

A collector?

Times this by 3:


And now you decide.

(I already know my answer)

A Chinese Choir

Friday, Corrine and I crafted. Well, it was more like we visited every fabric store in Idaho Falls and then we sewed.

She wanted to make a purse.

A purse that when she opened the flap would cause her face to glow...





If that doesn't make her face glow, I'm not sure what will.

Bath Time

Tonight after Bentley was bathed and ready for bed he was playing so well, so I let him continue playing. He would run out in the front room, look around, pick up a toy and run back , to what I thought was his room. After a few minutes of this I started paying closer attention to what he was doing.

Then I heard a splash.

I asked Chod if he had let the bath water out, to which he replied no.

I went in to investigate and found a few toys and other random objects in the bathtub.
Chod thought it only confirmed Bentley genius-ness when he pointed out that he put in animals that are supposed to be in water, the frog and the turtle.

So I asked him to explain the USB cable, a belt, and a Laffy Taffy....

I heart Crayola

Its school supply season! I love this time of year. You can find crayons for less than a quarter and it is the perfect season to stock up on office supplies. I don't have a school-goer yet, so my time in the supply isles are free from the pressure of finding the needed items and watching my bank account drop as my hard earned money goes to buying hand sanitizer and the specified brand of glue stick.

Yesterday, as I was filling my cart with colorful crayons, markers and pencils (thank you Crayola) I stopped my cart long enough to compare the difference in Sharpie vs. Bic permanent markers (Bic's are a few dollars cheaper, by the way) when I turned back Bentley was grabbing arm fulls of things off the shelf and throwing them in the cart. At first I was a little shocked, until I realized that this is most likely how he saw me. As things like this were running through my head:

"mmmm 20¢ for Crayons? I'll take 2."

"Markers. I think my markers are probably dry by now. One in original and I'll take a pastel one too..."

Bentley saw his mom grabbing whatever caught her eye and throwing it into the pile without rhyme or reason.

At home Bentley has found much delight in holding packages of Crayons and running his hands over the marker windows. He packs around a box of wooden pencils like it is a treasure.

Maybe one day I will open the container and show what markers can do...but until then, they are all mine.