two.

 a letter to my two year old.

dear bentley von,

today we celebrated your SECOND birthday! it was a really fun day-starting off with you getting your new bike (which you have been asking about for months!) and doughnuts (which were also a request). we had a fun lunch party with some family & hung out here at home. we stayed inside for most of the day because it is so sweltering hot! it was fun to sit & talk about memories of when you were born. the stress of not knowing how long it would take, and the pure joy & relief of when you were born. i'm sure i say this every time, but i can remember so clearly your dad saying "it's a BOY!" and all i thought was "i don't even care." not that i didn't care about you, but just knowing YOU, our baby was safe & sound & out in the world, that was all i needed to know. 

this past year you have grown so much. you are talking up a storm! a new phrase is "stop doing that" (which is corrected into PLEASE stop doing that). you assign descriptive colors to things. i think usually it is just a shot in the dark, but sometimes you are right. (sit in the black chair-you mean blue.) you are good at playing toys, but have more fun if dad is doing it with you. you are clingy to me, and a terrible eater. you always say you want strawberries, but then usually don't. you are still working on using your potty chair & prefer to be naked. you say "no like it" if you don't like something-and you always have an opinion on if you like or dislike things. you always ask to use your body wash in the bath & still like to be all wrapped up like a "bath baby" when you are all done. you are sweet & observant. i had made a birthday banner for you & when you saw it you said "mom, WOW!" you tell me that i am pretty. you ALWAYS want to go somewhere. you will suggest options like "grandmas?" or "wal-mart?"

you are such a joy, bentley von kliewer! we are so thankful to have you in our family. i know god is going to use you for something special. we are so glad you are ours. you aren't my tiny baby anymore, but the little boy your are becoming is something that i can be proud of.

i love you, mom

father & son.

i suppose i should be posting some big mothers day round up of photos of bentley & i.
but the reason i have ANY time to post is because of the time bentley spends with his dad.
he has done a major switch over to wanting to work & watch & play with his dad whenever he is home.
if he hears any creak out of the back door, he runs sprinting to it, yelling DAD!
the last couple of nights, i have been working on things inside (or, maybe just browsing facebook) & i will realize that it is pitch black outside.
and the guys are still out there.
so i will go poke my head out,
and yep, they have the head lamp on & the screwdriver, just working on the gutters.
or there they are, tools everywhere, bright lights shining, under the pickup.
bentley still gets rushed inside when ever he is hurt.
he needs ME for that.
and i can usually find the best snack.
or matching socks.
but dad, he plays the best with trucks, and tools.
just what our little boy needs.

both "texting"

building.

while getting our newsletter ready to be mailed, i did what any desperate good mom would do...get everything & anything out to keep my child entertained.
1. crayons
2. letter/number magnets
3. raisins
4. yes, the tupperware trays & paper sacks are out too.

the crayons, magnets, & raisins were all jumbled together. i thought, in attempts to regain some order in our shambles, that if bentley had larger containers he could pick up easier.

and this is what i turn around to see.
a tower being built.
and let me tell you, we don't build towers! i mean, at least i have never sat down & done this with him.
boys.
always keeping their moms on their toes.

(i promise, B wears clothes. there is just usually a long transition time between jammies & the outfit for the day...)

on the go.

this is where bentley has spent most of his time this last week...
and he was a trooper.
we made a quick trip to kansas.
shawns grandpa passed away...it is sad for us, because we will miss him.
but so awesome to know he is with jesus. and his wife.

we will be making the same trip in less than 2 weeks for thanksgiving...

things to add to our car entertainment stash:
more balloons. (even though B actually LIKES popping them)
glow sticks. um, you can't see toys when you are driving at night!
fruit snacks
new ipod apps for kids
box of kleenex to play with

any other good ideas?

basketball season 2011-2012 is upon us.
the mens team had a scrimmage against the alumni last night(and can i say coach kliewer was looking good in his uniform!).
and both teams have games starting this weekend.
i can already tell there is going to be less basketball watching/more child chasing this year.
these guys (in the picture) are all about a year apart...the athletic directors daughter, the mens coach-his son, and B.
bentley may be the youngest, but he isn't the smallest! he is as tall, if not taller than Trey.
there was a bleacher incident, of falling off. but nothing to serious.
and cars.
must bring more toy cars to play with. driving them along the bleachers is all the rage.

drive.

this is bentleys FAVORITE thing! playing in the car!

baby camo is about the cutest thing...

and if we HAVE to be inside...might as well get a little crazy & tip our cozy coup over so it is easier to crawl on. and, while we are at it, only wear one shoe. this is not one shoe off, its is one shoe on. he brought it over to wear. but only wanted one.

new carseat!

 this is how we used to roll...

but now we are a big boy!
but we still love our pink bunny.