A Wonderful, Craft-Loving Boy

Last night was my birthday.  We celebrated with a family chicken stir-fry dinner at Mom's from Lori's great cooking.  All six brothers and sisters were there and several nieces and nephews.  That was nice!

Ben came home with me so we could spend the day together while Shante' worked.  We went to NH Orchestra where Ben drew pictures and played.  Ben is an awesome kid who is so good the entire time!

After orchestra we went to Archibald's Restaurant at Garner Village.  Ben had his usual faves, Broccoli Cheese Soup and bread.  We made a special request of maraschino cherries recalling how that was the only part of the dessert Ben ate last time.  We were so lucky to get the same waitress.  She brought Ben 13 maraschino cherries in a dish.  Ben was in heaven!

After eating we headed to  Mulligan's for a game of miniature golf.  We were the only players on the whole course.  The weather was about 50 degrees.  I was surprised how well Bensen did.  It was fun and having the course to ourselves made it nice.  Then we headed for the craft store where we bought several things to do.  Ben made lots of crafts at my house including a necklace and fish for Charlotte's birthday.  One of them is in the picture.  We ate taco salads for dinner.  Shante' came about 7:30 p.m.  Another great day with a wonderful boy, Ben.

Shante's Birthday

Derek, Shante', Ben, Norma, and I celebrated Shante's birthday by having lunch at Red Robin.  Then Ben and I went home for craft time and fun while Shante', Derek, Laura, and Randy saw a movie.  We met up later that evening at The Cheesecake Factory.

Ben makes a spooky spider!

Our spiders

 Spider eating & making marshmallow-M&M sandwiches

Surprisingly good!

Ben relaxes drawing in the beautiful, sparkly book

Bensen, Randy, & Charlotte--

Waiting for a table

A Great Birthday for Shante'

A beautiful smile and yummy cheesecake!

Aren't they cute!  Happy Birthday, Shante'.

 

HALLOWEEN

2011 10- A Beautiful Fall Day in American Fork Canyon at Granite Flats

 

 

 

Trunk-or-Treating with Bensen

My favorite little buddie, Ben, so many wonderful activities with you lately.  Tonight we went to my ward Halloween party with you wearing your Halloween costume.  I remember loving ward parties as a kid and were so exciting to me.  We had white chicken chili with bread sticks and lemonade.  You got some real treasures from the fish pond:  sun glasses, an army guy, and a long roll of sticker.  So fun.  Then you trunk-or-treated at the cars and you got great treats.  At my home you split up your candy giving me a few.  Later you made a beautiful picture out of the stickers.  It's such a treat for me to spend time with you.  I love you so much!

P. S.  Your mom told the cutest story of you hanging up your costume on a hanger last night, then getting hanger clamps to hang the gloves with them wanting your costume to last.  You are so careful and wonderful about treating things well.

A couple of weeks ago after spending time at Liberty Park with Charlotte and Devin, Bensen and I stopped at Cummings Chocolates for a chocolate strawberry, but Bensen found a better treat for him.  A Halloween candy skewer.  We decided to make our own on Tuesday.  Your mom dropped you off at 3:30 p.m. (to go to work) and we made our Halloween skewers.  What a fun time we had putting them together.

You told me later you had given all of them happily away. 

"Puss N Boots" and The Aviary

Bensen and Gaylene got in line at 9:15 a.m. with free tickets to see the preview of "Puss & Boots."  We were closer to the end of the long line, but were able to get the last two tickets to this fun 3D movie.  We felt so lucky!  Afterwards we at hot dogs with ranch dip, chips, and mandarin oranges at Gaylene's.  Ben was having a great time at home, but once we got to the Aviary at Liberty Park we had a lot of fun.
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Lots of incredible ducks!

Ben loves feeding ducks.

My best little buddie

Ben & the scarecrow

An Aviary Picture Diary 











The weather was absolutely perfect.

We completed a bird treasure hunt and Ben received a pumpkin bag of great goodies.  His favorite activity was an art project making an owl.  Ben's second favorite was drawing pictures on the table paper.  We saw tons of birds including a bird show.  What a wonderful day!

Standing on their mud nests.

Loves playing in the sand

 

We never saw a peacock open it's feathers up; the male just isn't trying to impress the ladies right now.

Swallowed by a pelican

Drawing on the table paper in Chase Mill.

 

We're cute birds aren't we?

What a wing span!