Videos of Bennett and Mollee

Bennett Laughing

Bennett crawling on hands and feet

"Let's Go Fly a Kite!"

Lots of Fun in August!

Hey, Everyone!

We've had a really busy month... summer has gone by so fast! Bennett is six and a half months old now... we can't believe it! He loves to eat and he's getting everywhere by rolling and scooting. He loves to talk and yell... and I love to make him laugh! Being a big sister is getting more fun all the time!

Of course, being Daddy's Little Girl is fun, too. He likes to run through the sprinklers with me... here he is flying me!

We had a bush in our front garden called Ellen's Blue Butterfly Bush. Mommy bought it last year because it was obviously meant for her. I love it because it has pretty purple flowers and it really does attract butterflies (which I LOVE! ) Here's one of the many different kinds that come to visit. Today we had two orange ones on it!

Out in our backyard we had a beautiful white crane in the pond. (Remember, you can click on the photo to make it bigger if you want to... just hit the 'Back' button on your browser when you're done and you'll get back to the blog!)

Foxx and Kate came over one afternoon to play while Aunt Melissa got a much-deserved pedicure. We played at our park on the swings! So much fun...

Foxx was so good to us... he pushed us so nicely! We had fun pretending to kick him!

He even took time to check on Ben, who obviously loved the attention!
Bennett used to take baths in the kitchen sink, so I'm giving my baby a bath in my kitchen sink. I like taking care of my babies!
I like taking care of my brother, too! Here I am reading him a book!
Now I'm feeding him! See how I'm showing him how to open his mouth wide? He loves it when I feed him.

Uncle Rod, Aunt Peggy, Tighe and Carlee gave me these great folding chairs. We keep one in the living room for me to use... just like my mommy, I have to put my feet up somewhere!
We have a blueberry and a blackberry bush in our backyard. I sure love finding the blackberries and picking them... then eating them right off the bush!


Aunt Pam came down all the way from Escanaba to visit us! She stayed for two nights and I had so much fun with her! We went to Frederick Meijer Gardens... it was so nice! Here's Aunt Pam by a little orange tree like she used to have when she was a kid.

Here we are visiting the tropical gardens...
I wanted to ride this horse, but Mom wouldn't let me. I still don't understand why...
(By the way, that's me and Aunt Pam leaning against his hoof!)

There was a really big hill at the Gardens and Aunt Pam tried to show me how roll down it... that's me at the top, and some other girl watching Aunt Pam's form so she can do it right, too!
We held hands as we walked through the Gardens.
Bennett got a kick out of our afternoon, too. He loved seeing everything... and eating the camera case!

There is the really neat replica of the Great Lakes that you can play in... they have boats and squirters there, too! It was nice to cool off!

I guess the water isn't just for the kids...

We walked along a boardwalk path and found this neat little beaver dam underneath... with real fake stuffed beavers in it! It was so much fun... I didn't give a dam about anything else!

The hibiscus that Aunt Kay gave us last year is in full bloom... Daddy had to take a picture! Isn't it beautiful! Oh, Aunt Pam, Mommy found the present you left us. You didn't mention it was outside! How cute... thank you!

We went to Manistee to visit Gamma Penny... and guess who else came? Gamma Jackie, Aunt Mary Beth and Hunter, too! It was a blast! It rained Saturday morning, so we all layed low, but then we got to play outside after naps! Here are Ben and Gamma on the porch. Uncle Richie and Aunt Pat came over to visit... they are always so great to have around!

Uncle Richie took Daddy out fishing and look what Daddy brought home! It was almost as big as me! I thought it was cool, but I didn't want to touch it. Thank you, Uncle Richie! We love salmon! And thanks to Aunt Pat, too, for fileting it so nicely!No salmon for Ben... yet. But he sure loves all the veggies and fruits he's tried! This is soooo cool! Daddy found a Preying Mantis in our yard and caught it so I could see it!

This past weekend we went to Gaylord because Uncle Will came home from Florida for the weekend. It was so good to see him! We sure missed him! And, of course, we love hanging out with Uncle Don!

Aunt Steph and Uncle Adam were there, too! They brought Woody to come play! We had seven dogs at Gramma Jackie's house one night... it was fun! I love dogs!
We also had a birthday party for Hunter and Aunt Holly! We made cake for them and sang Happy Birthday!
Then we opened presents... and I got to help!
Kelly's kids, Hadley, Claire and Logan came, too... Hadley and Claire sure liked Bennett!
Hunter got a sleeping bag for his birthday... I took it very seriously!
He also got a tent! It is so neat... we had nine people and a dog in there!
Two of my beautiful aunts who were in the tent with us... and Ben!
I have my butterfly hat and BALLOONS! That might be my favorite part of a party... except maybe the cake and singing!
Monday morning, hanging out with Aunt Steph!
We had brunch at Grampa Dave's. It was so good! Here he is with Bennett... Handsome guys, don't you think?
Ben's wearing Hunter's hat... too cute!
Two of the handsomest guys I know...
It was so nice to spend time with everyone! We miss everybody already, and we know we won't see Uncle Will for a while... maybe not even until Thanksgiving! But we know he'll keep up the good work in medical school... we hope to see many more 94s!

Anyway, hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer...

Love, Mollee

Friends and Family

Well, it's already August. We can't believe how fast this summer has gone. We're so lucky, though, that we've had a chance to spend time with so many of our friends and family!

Daddy is still working really hard. We wish he was around more. But when he is, he often has things to work on... like his surgical logs or presentations. Sometimes, we help (more often, we don't!) Here's Bennett helping Dad with his logs.

Oh, happy Ben just woke up from a little nap (tsk, tsk, Mommy, for letting him sleep on a pillow on the couch!) and found his toes... his favorite toys!

We got the exersaucer out the other day, since Ben's been wanting to stand up and grab and hit things. He LOVES it!

We went up to Lewiston to see some really old friends of Mommy's... the McPartlins. They have known each other for a really long time! My grampa Dave used to work with Rick, and then Grampa, Rick, Mommy, Shannon and Alyson all worked at InteliTouch (with Aunt Jen, Uncle Wally, Uncle Dave, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Cy, too! I just learned a new word... nepotism!) Anyway, Alyson has two sons, Josh and Zack, and Zack sure thought Bennett was neat! He helped a lot!

Here's Alyson and Zack playing with Ben!

Shannon, who is Mommy's age, has a daughter named Alanna, who is 12 1/2... and Shannon looks like she could be her older sister! They look so much alike!

Alanna let me play with her cool heart necklace. Sharron is Alanna's grandma. She's very nice!

Shannon is playing peek-a-boo with me!


Here are the grandmas... Betty, Jackie and Sharron!

Matt is Alyson's husband... he was lots of fun to play with and brought fireworks. Too bad it wasn't dark enough yet!

I asked Grandma Betty to pick me up... then I changed my mind!


Here's a picture of the whole crew... missing are Rick, and Meghann and her husband Chuck. We wish we could have seen them and had more time with the rest! Hope you all enjoyed your Up North vacation!! We miss you!

I wasn't feeling so great the next day when we got home... I had a runny nose and a cough. I laid on the couch for a while and Mommy thought I looked very cute curled up in a ball... I didn't think she looked cute with the camera!

But Bennett was feeling fine and having a great time in his exersaucer!

See this trick I taught Ben? He's stealing Daddy's glasses... without looking! I'm so proud!

How come Daddy and Bennett are sitting in MY chair??

Mommy couldn't resist this cute one of Ben rolling on the floor playing with his feet...

Or this cute one of his bare bottom!

Or this really adorable one of him sleeping in his carseat with his hands behind his head!

Gamma Penny came to stay with us one weekend while Mommy was working. You know Ben loves to sleep in someone's arms, right? You think Gamma's enjoying it??

On Monday, Gamma and I were dressed alike in yellow tops and khaki bottoms! We looked so cute together (although we often do...)

Daddy's so proud... I know how to use the stethoscope (although I can't say it very well...)

Sitting in the Bumbo seat, playing with his toes...

Miss EB and Carolyn came over to play one evening... Dr. Brad was in Africa teaching about God and how to be a good obstetrician (we're glad he's home now!). It was so good to see them! Carolyn loved Bennett... good thing, too, because she's going to be a big sister early next year! Congratulations... being a big sister is fun!

So Bennett got his first veggie... carrots! Don't let that look fool you... he loved them!

Saturday, Daddy was mowing the grass while I was napping and found this little froggy for me! It was so cool! I kept saying "Oh my Goll!" (like Gamma says) and giggling. I sorta wanted to hold it, then I didn't. After a little while, we let him go back home to the pond behind our house. I waved "Bye, Froggy!" and it's nice to know he's still there.

Sunday was a beautiful day so we played outside in the backyard. We got our bathing suits and sunglasses on and set up the umbrella so that Bennett didn't get too much sun. I was supposed to wear my hat, but I wouldn't keep it on. But how cool does Ben look in his sunglasses? (By the way, they only stayed on for a little while, then he chewed on them!)

Mommy, Bennett and me in the pool. I loved squirting and splashing!

Daddy had the whole weekend off, so naturally on Monday he was really really tired. He got home in time for dinner, but fell asleep playing with Ben on the floor. See? Ben is being attacked by Elmo and Daddy's snoring away!

And one more, just to give Daddy a hard time, I'm actually sitting on him, Ben is rolling all over and talking, and Daddy's asleep. Poor Daddy. I know we wear him out! But we sure love it when he's home!

Well, not much else is new here. Everyone is doing pretty well... Ben's growing like a weed and claps his hands now. He has a lot to say. So do I, for that matter. Anyway, I gotta go take a nap. Hope you are well. Mom's going to try to do a Kodak Gallery upload soon and send out the link in case you want to order some photos...

See you soon!
Love, Mollee