Petit Jean Camping

We took Benson camping for the first time!

Busting a move

Nothing better than eating outdoors. Two of Benson's Favorites.

Bear Cave Trail

Picture does not do it justice these spiders are so big and disgusting.

Another scenic hike after swimming

Family photo at another cave

Bensons first Fire

Benson and Buddy Bennett enjoying some Marshmallows.  They could not wait for Smores.

Benson loved roaming around playing with sticks and rocks.

Some of the fun people that joined in on the fun.

Bret entertaining the kids with his messy smore eating

Bret had two days off of school so we joined some friends for a camp out in Arkansas.  We went Thursday night by ourselves and others came the next morning.  It was really fun to hang out with Bret after Benson went to sleep and sit around the campfire.  We were not alone for long though.  A skunk and then racoons joined in on the fun.  They were not shy at all we would flip our flashlights around as we heard them rustling and they were ten feet away from us.  Bret had to throw rocks for them to get moving.  We were more worried about them then they seemed to be about us.  It was an extremely warm night so Benson slept with just a diaper on.   Bret and I tried to stay as far apart as possible so we would not touch our hot bodies. I slept more than I thought I would but I was ready to get out of the hot tent as soon as the first signs of morning appeared.  We got up had a wonderful breakfast, and went on a quick hike before it got too HOT!  The others showed up afterwards and we spent most of the day at the pool.  The kids loved going down the slide and jumping off the diving board.  Benson loved to just play on the stairs and practice going under the water.  We enjoyed another hike to a cave after dinner and then had some cobbler and smore's while the kids played. The adults had fun just sitting around chatting.  The men were enjoying conversation so much they started giggling.  Even though Bret says the were not giggling just laughing.  Oh boys!!! Such a fun night!  And even nicer it was a cool night I had to pull a blanket over me which was so nice compared to the night before!  We got up packed up camp went on another quick walk and then headed back home. Thanks everyone for such a fun weekend!  We had been talking about going camping for a long time so it was nice to finally do it.

OH BENSON

I had some doughnuts sitting on the table and had given some to Benson the day before and he had been wanting more from then on.  I left him alone for a few moments and when it was quiet I knew there was going to be trouble.  I came out to find him on the table.  I tried to act upset because he knows he is not supposed to be up on the table but as I pulled out the camera I told Benson to look at me and he turns with a big old grin saying "cheese" What a little stinker! I probably should have taken it away but I let the little piggy eat the whole thing.  After all I bet he had been scheming for a long time.

Sprinkler Park

My friend Lauren set up a fun outing to go to a sprinkler park.  It was about 30min away but it was a lot of fun!!  It had a lot of fun different water features as well as a lake and pretty scenery and across the street was a large park.  Benson loves water so naturally he loved running around.  He also loves kids especially girls so he followed one around for awhile.  It was fun to be around friends and enjoy a hot day out with the kids!  

Bruiser

Benson is a non stop kid!  He is so busy getting into everything and exploring and has started to push me away a lot.  He is wanting to be very independent as well as a dare devil which scares me.  These are his battle wounds they heal very quickly but not as quick as the new ones come. 

A little bit of everything

Our little family.   Plus Bret's buddy Jackson!

 Benson loves to relax in the car he uses the cup holders to get comfy.  Benson was tired so I put his jacket over him as a blanket and when I looked back again he covered himself.  I guess he is use to sleeping in the dark seeing as he sleeps in a closet. 

Botanical Garden

 Many Trips to the ZOO

My friend Becca has a pass to the zoo and is so kind to invite us along as guests to go with her and also get all the bonus perks of being a member to feed the birds! 

Benson loves to walk across anything that is uneven or has a slant.  He walked across this bridge a few times. 

 Bret's school put on an event at the zoo on Saturday and Benson and I thought it would be fun to join. Bret helped make and give out bracelets which the beads changed color from the UV rays.  They let them in early to set up and Benson and I walked around the zoo without anyone else around it was a crazy feeling but super cool to see the animals by ourselves. 

Walking Around

We have some ponies that live in the neighborhood by us and occasionally we go for the long walk over there and feed them.  Although I think the boys eat more than they give to the horses at least Benson does.  

 

 

Tunica Aquatic Center

Too Much Fun

Going Up

Straight Down

 We went with our friends the MacDonald's to an indoor pool over Memorial weekend.  We had a lot of fun playing in the water with the kids. Some even got brave at jumping off the platforms and diving boards.  I really wanted to try but i figured that a belly flop probably would not feel good to the baby.  

Random pictures of Benson

I think he looks so big in this picture.  Marching around on his own.