The Mast Family

Silhouettes

2011-12-30T13:41:00.003-07:00

I remember visiting my Grandma & Grandpa Johns' house when I was little. In their bathroom, they had hung really cool silhouettes of each of their children when they were young. I loved looking at them. And I could always pick out which aunt or uncle they belonged to! I've been wanting to do the same for my children and I found some really simple directions online. Now, all I ned to do it frame them. The first is Philip and the second is Benjamin.

More SUmmer Pics

2011-11-13T13:16:00.002-07:00

Philip got to go to the dentist for the first time. I love the dentist, so the boys to also! We spent a lot of time with my friend Amanda and her kiddos Jordan and Trevor. New this year, we bouhgt a membership to the Butterfly Pavilion.

Mast Family Visits!

2011-11-13T13:09:00.001-07:00

Later in the summer Justin's brother Jeremy, sister-in-law Nikki and their girls Alex Regan and Hailey along with his parents came for a visit. We had a blast!

Misc

2011-11-13T13:05:00.002-07:00

Random photos from the summer. Our dear friends, Liz and Nate, left for Nicaragua. While they're gone we get to babysit a gorgeous painting Nate made for Liz. We love it! Justin's been trying to get the boys interested in soccer!

Philip turned 3!

2011-11-13T13:00:00.002-07:00

Philip turned three on July 4th! We had monster cake pops, Toren & Amira for the day. Philip wanted to go swimming and do fireworks!

About time for Part 2!

2011-11-13T12:55:00.002-07:00

I am limited by blogspot to upload five photos at a time. You all deserve an update so I've decided to limit photos to five per event! This first batch is from when my sister Kendra, brother-in-law Kevin, their children Ellie and Ethan and my parents came for a visit!

Summer Part 1

2011-07-10T11:26:00.003-06:00

We began the summer with a really great camping trip. I'm not exactly certain where we were: somewhere in the Rampart Range area. We chose the perfect campsite for our family. The boys had a really great stream to play with. Justin and I found lots of paintballs to smash. :) We were surrounded by a great forest for hiking and exploring. We just had a marvelous time!

Nana & Paupy Visit

2011-04-03T17:25:00.003-06:00

A few days after my parents left, Justin's parents drove into town!

Justin's parents got Benjamin a bicycle for his birthday. He's learning!

We went for a hike at Cherry Creek State Park.

While at the park, we stopped by our beach!

Here is a good shot of one of Denver's first fires this season. We're praying that an early start does not mean a worse fire season!

Benjamin turns 4!

2011-04-03T17:13:00.002-06:00

March 11th, Benjamin turned 4 and my parents came for a visit. Benjamin requested Puppy Pops instead of a traditional cake. They were fun to make, but a bit more challenging than I expected! My parents got him a ukulele and we bought him a few books. His friend, Simon, came for dinner.

We all went to the zoo. The boys had a great time!

Denver's St Patrick's Day parade was dowtown while my parents were here. So, we and the boys ventured down for their first parade! We had a really fun day! (And a busy weekend!)

Sidewalk Chalk

2011-03-02T16:47:00.002-07:00

The boys really enjoy drawing on the sidewalk. Here are some examples:

I asked Benjamin to draw a picture of me. Thanks to our preschool curriculum for Handwriting, he's got all the essentials! When telling our neighbor about his picture he commented, "I can't draw fingers yet, so I only drawed[sic] a little line for a hand. Only Mama can draw fingers." The other while characters are Bob and Larry (from Veggietales). After I drew the rest of the family, Benjamin decided we all needed a floor to stand on. Benjamin also asked me to draw a "M" for Mama.

After Benjamin drew "mama" he asked me to draw a Benjamin and Philip holding hands. And he, of course, drew a floor to stand on and the "B" and "P."

Philip asked me to draw a yellow Larry, the cucumber. Benjamin thought he also needed a floor and ears so he can hear!

Aquarium

2011-02-11T15:36:00.004-07:00

We had a family trip to the Downtown Aquarium. We promised the boys that when we had finished painting the ENTIRE house, we'd celebrate by going to the aqurium. None of us had been to Denver's aquarium, so it was new for everyone. We had a really nice morning there. We even got to see the mermaid show! The boys loved it! Enjoy the photos!

I should mention that Justin and I are both awful at remembering to take our camera when we go out. This is the reason I wanted a camera on my phone as soon as the technology was possible. These photos are from our new iPhone and I think they're the best phone photos yet!

I think even the fish was posing!

The boys each wanted their picture taken with "Nemo"!

Winter Outting

2011-01-25T17:02:00.005-07:00

Today was our (mostly) monthly day out in the mountains. We took the boys snowshoeing at Echo Lake. We also had a very cold picnic lunch!

Sometimes during the winter I think it's too cold to go outside. That is NOT the case for our boys! They would play outside every day if we let them. Benjamin's learning that it's hard to pedal a trike in the snow! We also went to the National Western Stock Show. We didn't take many pictures, but we did get one of each of them riding their ponies!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-22T22:45:00.004-07:00

Okay, folks! I really am going to try a little harder to keep up-to-date on our blog! Here is the obligatory Halloween photo! November and December were insane, whithout much thought to taking any pictures. We moved and moved again. We are currently living in our townhouse in Aurora, and plan to be here for a while. Following are some photos from our Christmas shoot that didn't make it into the cards. I like them! I will try to keep posting!

Another update

2010-09-26T14:31:00.007-06:00

Okay, it's been too long... again! What can I say? It's been a busy summer. We came home from our big roadtrip with a soggy bathroom. So, we had two unplanned bathroom renovations! For bathroom photos, see my Facebook page.Here are some photos from our summer. Enjoy!

I made a really amazing blueberry pie that looked beautiful too!

Philip on his 2nd birthday.

Plilip's birthday was on a weekend, so Justin was working. But we has friends, Jason, Amanda Jordan & Trevor to share his birthday dinner!

We all enjoyed corn on the cob this summer!

Our first summer camping trip was in southern Colorado, near the Royal Gorge. It was HOT!

For our second camping trip we planned two nights at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. We bought a new, two-room tent (which is huge!) and had a wonderful time!

On Labor Day, we had a picnic and hike at Barr Lake State Park. It was a really nice time as a family.

Justin went on his first three day backpacking trip since we've been married. When he graduated with his Bachelor's degree the only thing he wanted was to go backpacking. That was in January, so we planned it for the late summer! He had a wonderful time of relaxation and rejuvenation.

2010-06-22T08:29:00.004-06:00

Here are pictures from our "big trip" so far. Our first stop was Grand Marais, Michigan, where Justin spent his last two years of high school. There were 5 in his graduating class!:

There was a river leading out to Lke Superior. Justin found a nice painted turtle.

Jeremy (Justin's brother) and Nikki celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary while we were there.

This is the shoreline of Lake Superior. There was a nice beach on the bay at Grand Marais.

No one knows who took this picture, but we all like it!

The fam.

Painting some rocks we found.

The boys at a friend's house.

Most of the shoreline of Lake Superior is rock and pebble. The boys had a blast looking at rocks and tossing them into the lake.

While in Gand Marais they hosted the annual "Splash In" where a dozen or two sea planes come into town. They have challenges on Saturday and we had lots of fun watching them!

Catch up part 4

2010-05-15T16:20:00.001-06:00

Here are a bunch of photos from our Easter weekend in Estes Park with Oma and Opa. Both Benjamin and Philip enjoyed their first Easter Egg Hunts!

Catch Up part 3

2010-05-15T16:18:00.000-06:00

Here's the photo process of re-doing our floors...

The boys spent a good deal of time with Nana either upstairs or outside. We ate meals wherever we could find the space!

I used our Dremel to get a tight fit around the fireplace. I'm very proud of the finished work!

Catch Up part 2

2010-05-15T16:17:00.002-06:00

March 11, 2010: Benjamin's third birthday...

The boys beating daddy with birthday balloons!

Benjamin helping make his cupcakes

Here's the finished cupcakes!

This was our first ever kids only party! Benjamin invited three of his friends over for cake and bowling!

Benjamin Welch was the star bowler!

Catch Up

2010-05-15T16:17:00.001-06:00

Okay, here are a few pics form March when Nana & Paupy visited.

Snowshoeing

2010-02-25T15:30:00.002-07:00

Be sure to check the older posts. This is my forth one today. I'm trying to get everyone up to date!

After breakfast with friends, we drove up to Echo Lake. It's on the road up to Mt. Evans. We've been anxious in getting the boys out in snow again. Plus, Justin and I haven't been snowshoeing in a while. Justin bought a nice sled to pull the boys in, so we set off to try it out. We couldn't have been more pleased! They were wonderful; and seemed to have a good time!

Friends

2010-02-25T15:25:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we had breakfast with some friends of ours. Joel, Jenny and Nadia are serving in Mozambique with MCC. Here are some photots.

Small Farm Visit

2010-02-25T11:03:00.003-07:00

A friend of mine from work has a small farm. Her two children raise sheep and pigs for 4H. They breed their own sheep and just had 4 sets of twins! So last week, we went for a visit!

These are the newborns. They are only two days old. They stay in a heated area for the first three days, then they'll join the others.

This is the bull.

This is where all the mamas and lambs go.

And this is Benjamin and the bull.

They have two huge, sweet dogs.

A Few Events

2010-02-25T10:59:00.003-07:00

Okay, so Amanda, Jason, Jordan and Trevor came over a couple of weeks ago to go sledding. Behind our back fence, we have a hill that's perfect for two-year-olds!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T21:16:00.004-07:00

This Christmas we missed so many friends and family. We wish all of you the most blessed year yet! This year, we spent a quiet Christmas at home, just the four of us. Of course, it being a weekend, Justin worked that evening, but all of our celebrating happened between our Christmas Eve Service, home for a nice dinner... big breakfast, and gift opening. It was lovely and I think the boys enjoyed themselves. Here are some pictures from our week...

Christmas coffee was topped off with whipped cream, so the boys each had a bite!

The boys each got several books, which is great. I truly believe you can't have too many books! (Right, Dad?!)

From Oma and Opa, Benjamin received "My Tot Clock" and I'm hoping it's a miracle-worker. I'll keep you posted. The face of the clock changes colors for different times of the day (bedtime, waketime, naptime, etc.). Like I said, we'll see how it works!

We got a cat for the boys for Christmas, though she's really a family gift. She's quite fond of Justin and me. She tolerates Benjamin very well, but is still frightened by Philip. (For good reason.) I've never been a "cat person" but I'm enjoying her presence very much. She's three years old and very sweet. I have one issue, though. She's very talkative for a cat and it seems her most vocal time is during the night. We're working on that. It helps that she's so cute. (That's what they say about babies isn't it?! Oh well... it works in this case too!)

More Pics

2009-12-25T19:44:00.003-07:00

Okay, here are some more pictures for ya'll!

This is the first year I let Benjamin help bake cookies. It may be that he's not napping anymore and I can't hide the activity from him! He had a lot of fun and was actually helpful!

Our Christmas Tree cutting day was cold. Nine degrees to be exact. The boys had a great time riding in the car, but not a wonderful time cutting down the tree. Justin and I agreed that this tree had to be visible form the road!

And here it is!

...decorated!

Benjamin had fun with the decorations.

This year we went to the Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. The boys had a decent time. We think they'll enjoy it more next year. Hopefully, it will become a family tradition!

This is a random shot from later that night that we enjoyed!

Justin took the boys sledding out back and this year it was enjoyed by all!

Then Justin pulled them around for a while. They loved it. Mostly! ;)

Nana & Paupy Visit

2009-12-22T09:35:00.004-07:00

We've got lots of pictures to share from the last month. I'll upload a few today and then again in a couple of days. By them, we'll have Christmas pictures to share!

These are from Nana & Paupy's recent visit:

Benjamin has recently begun playing games. So far, this is our only one. But he loves playing "Hi, Ho, Cherry-O" and asks anyone around to play with him.

Benjamin's fascinated with Justin shaving. While Paupy was here, he helped Benjamin with his first shave!

This barn is the boys' Christmas gift. It has been in the family for generations. It's big enough for even our 8 year old nieces to climb inside! Paupy played with it as a child, as did Jeremy and Justin, Jeremy's girls and now our boys. What a gift!

2009-12-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Family Photos

2009-11-13T19:00:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone! We had our Christmas Photos taken this week by our good friend Sarah. Check her out at: www.sarahchristinephotography.com. And if you're planning a wedding soon... you're in luck. 'Cause it's her specialty. Give her a call--she's awesome! Here is a sneak peak!

Can you tell that I had to hold Philip the entire time?! He's transitioning now into one nap each day instead of two and it's been a little rough on him. He had a bad evening the day of out photo shoot. Of course, Sarah did such a great job making the boys laugh, they actually cooperated! LOVE THEM!!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T21:32:00.002-06:00

I thought you all would enjoy some pictures from Halloween this year. Benjamin was a St. Bernard (so cute!!) and Philip was a lion (so cute too!!). Philip wasn't too fond of his mane. He may have been afraid of it; I'm not sure. He cried both times I dressed him in it! :(

In the morning we went "trick or treating for health" at the hospital Justin & I work with. The office staff came in and opened the doctors' offices for the trick or treaters. In the afternoon we went trick or treating at a near-by church. It was a lot of fun.

This is Philip with his first dum dum (sucker). I think he liked it! Benjamin was really excited about the glow in the dark finger and spider ring the dentist's office gave him. He wanted me to take a picture for all of you! Enjoy!

Mark, Sarah & Heidi

2009-10-03T20:17:00.003-06:00

Our friends, the Schoenhals family, came out for a quick stop Thursday. They are in the area for some language acquisition classes. Hopefully, they will ship out to Thailand in January to begin their 3-year mission term. In the meantime, we were able to spend some fun times together.

This week

2009-10-03T20:13:00.002-06:00

Monday was Justin's 33rd birthday. To celebrate, we spent four days in Estes Park. Beth was able to go with us for the first three days, she took all the pictures then, but here are some photos from our last day.

Peaches

2009-09-05T21:07:00.003-06:00

Last week I preserved (or ate) 36 pounds of peaches. I froze 6 pints. I canned 7 quarts. And I made 10 pints of peach sorbet. Yum!

We went to a new store this week that I love! It's called "Beyond the Blackboard" and I think it's for teachers. Oh well. I found two "write-and-wipe" books for Benjamin on Pre-Printing. He loves them already, and of course, I'm amazed at how well he does with them.

Camping Trip

2009-08-26T14:57:00.004-06:00

Okay, so we finally got Philip out for his first camping trip. I was nervous and not sure of how he would do. As it turns out, he did great. This first picture is our campsite. We were very pleased with the set-up we found. It was just a mile or so from a campground, but if we can avoid paying to camp, we will. So, we found this cozy little spot right next to a creek in National Forest. Beautiful.

There's my boys. Aren't they cute?!

Okay, so if you ever wonder what it's like to go camping with two inquisitive little boys... it's dirty. I couldn't believe how dirty our campsite and our boys were!

Philip was very happy to be dirty!

Getting ready for bed...

Very early morning breakfast. Yum.

Odds and Ends

2009-08-26T14:42:00.004-06:00

Here are a few more photos. This one was from a few weeks ago. We went to a nearby park that has a mini-waterpark. Philip loves going, but on this occasion, was run into by a much bigger boy. He somehow got teeth marks in both his top and bottom lip and chipped one of his top teeth. Cute, though sad.

Every Sunday night our automatic sprinklers go on. The boys love to play in them and I finally look some pictures of them. I think this last weekend may be their past time.

We received a really cute hooded towel for Benjamin as a gift. I finally took time to see how it was put together and make one for Philip. I am very proud of how it came out and thought they were too cute!

Nana & Alex Visit

2009-08-14T22:02:00.000-06:00

Be sure to check the next post. I wrote it before this one. Justin's brother's oldest daughter, Alexandria, came for a visit along with Justin's mom. We had so much fun having them here! Alex, the boys adored having you! Benjamin still wants to know if you're sleeping on the top bunk! :) We also had Philip's first birthday party while they were here. Mom, do you like how Philip is using his birthday present?!

Ah, yes! Philip insisted on eating his cake with a fork!

Thanks for the truck, Mom!

2009-08-14T21:36:00.002-06:00

I know, I know! It's so frustrating to check someone's blog again and again only to see the same picture at the top of the page. After a while, it seems like I have so many things to catch up one, it's pointless to try. However, I will. Try. Since I last posted...

We went to Mexico!

Benjamin peed on his first campfire! (He'll hate me for this one later!!)

Philip turned one! I like this picture because it was taken on his birthday and it shows the little nose scrunch that he does all the time. I think it's SO CUTE!

Philip started walking...

And Justin and friends, Perry and Simon, went on the annual boys' camping trip. This is their second year doing it. Next year it will be dads and four little boys! Yeah!

Day in the Mountains

2009-05-14T13:59:00.005-06:00

We were finally able to make it to the mountains as a family. Benjamin was so cute saying, "Go uh mountains!" the whole way there. We went to El Dorado Canyon State Park. So, any of you who drink El Dorado Spring Water, this is where it comes from!

We only walked a short distance, as it was very windy and cold. Benjamin enjoyed throwing rocks into the river and Philip really seemed to enjoy riding in the carrier. Enjoy the photos!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T09:36:00.003-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all my motherly friends! Recently my grandparents came out for a visit from Pennsylvania. Here are a few pictures from their visit.

More Pics

2009-04-18T14:08:00.003-06:00

I forgot to add some photos. This first one is our most recent family photo.

These next two are from our box house. We recently received our new washer/dryer combo. I'm learning to love it, but it is taking time to get used to the new drying system.

April Blizzard

2009-04-18T12:25:00.005-06:00

Well, our April storm has been much more blizzard-like and our March Blizzard. It's been cozy here inside watching it snow, almost relaxing. Luckily, it's a weekend and we don't go out much. They're calling for 60s Monday and 70s for the rest of the week. Yeah!
This one's taken right when the snow started. We accumulated about an inch then it rained for a few hours and then started snowing again.

This one was just taken. I think the storm is letting up. It's getting warmer and starting to rain again.

Here are a couple pictures from Easter morning. We didn't do a lot to celebrate, just Easter baskets for the boys.

New Pictures

2009-04-05T21:02:00.007-06:00

Nana and Paupy were here last week and we celebrated Benjamin's second birthday. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. To share a glimpse of my life I'll share a little story. I sing to Benjamin often. He has several songbooks and asks me to sing to him. This afternoon, we were playing upstairs. I put in the CD of Veggie Tales' Silliest Songs. I was singing along and Benjamin says, "Mom, no sing. No sing, Mommy!" Oh, okay! I guess I'll stop now ;)

We had Benjamin's birthday dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant (during our March "Blizzard").

Benjamin helped to build his first snowman. He and Nana are adding Pine needle hair.

Here's Benjamin with some of his gifts. The movie Cars, a tricycle and the easel behind him.

Benjamin had a Winnie the Pooh ice cream cake. Yummy!

Benjamin would ride his trike and Philip would crawl after him all the way down our hall! Benjamin was a little annoyed.

I decided to be brave and follow my sister's lead. We dyed Easter eggs for the first time. I figured "the more, the merrier"! So we invited a buddy, Simon, and his parents!

A Few Pictures

2009-03-15T14:23:00.003-06:00

In January we went to Steamboat Springs for our 5th anniversary. Beth was able to come with as as our "nanny" so we could go out for the evenings. It was great! Philip turned six months old during that trip so Beth had a little photo session. These first two pics are from that. Next are two pictures of Benjamin from our time there. And last is a tub shot from last week. They grow up so fast!

It's been too long

2009-03-14T16:19:00.002-06:00

We moved the computer into the boys room in December. At first we thought it wouldn't be a problem--that we would still be able to get our computer work done. Instead, we use Justin's MacBook to do everything. I haven't been able to post picture from the mac, but I'll try again.

In the meantime, the news at our house is:
#1 We have a two-year-old! Benjamin turned two last Wednesday. We've been celebrating all month long, and will continue to do so until Justin's parents come out in a couple of weeks.

#2 Philip was diagnosed with Pediatric Asthma. He had been sick for most of the month. I took him in to see our pediatrician and she said he has asthma. So, we have a nebulizer and an inhaler, which both seem to help. We live very close the the nation's #1 respiratory hospital, so Justin and I are thinking about taking him to see someone there.

I'll try to post a few photos in a little while.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T11:05:00.002-07:00

A Few Pictures

2008-12-23T08:18:00.001-07:00

First is a picture of out Christmas tree in the woods. We have yet to take one with it set up in the house! My parents came out for a visit. Here are two pics. Also is a picture of Benjamin's new bed. He did SO WELL! He stayed in his bed all night until I came in morning to get him up! I am SO proud!

Happy Haloween!

2008-10-31T21:30:00.004-06:00

I know, I know! It's been too long again since I've updated so, here are a bunch of photos from the past few weeks.

Sunday Clothes

2008-10-08T16:06:00.005-06:00

A friend's mom found Benjamin's suit at a yard sale and got it for him. I just had to take a picture of them Sunday morning. They are just TOO cute! Oh, and sorry, that's the best picture I took. :(

I tried to get a picture of Philip's smile. He is adorable with a smile across this face. I'll try to get better ones soon.

We have a nieghborhood cat who comes around to visit. He is so good with Benjamin. This is Benjamin giving her a "hug!"

Family Day

2008-09-29T19:14:00.003-06:00

We love our family days!! This weekend Justin was able to stay home from work Sunday night, so this morning we went for a drive. Our purpose this week was to see all the amazing fall colors! We left first thing in the morning, right after breakfast. These first pictures are from our first stop at Kenosha Pass. It was time to nurse Philip, so we got out and took a little break. Every time I nurse, we try to keep him up for an hour before he naps. At Kenosha Pass we were able to go for a nice walk, partly on the famous Colorado Trail! A few weeks ago Justin taught Benjamin how to smell things. For some reason he bypasses the flowers and goes for the trees! It's really cute!

We didn't end up making it home until 5 pm. And the boys did great! They hardly fussed at all. Of course, every time I nursed Philip we were out of the car for about an hour. And that sure helped! Here are a few more pictures from our day.

Happy 32nd Birthday!

2008-09-24T19:45:00.003-06:00

Well, technically, Justin's birthday is the 28th, but we celebrated today. This year Justin's birthday falls on a Sunday, so we had to celebrate another day. Beth came over to babysit (THANKS!) and he and I went out. First we went indoor skydiving. It is definitely as fun as it sounds. I could easily become addicted! I think Justin might say the same!

So here's how it worked... We didn't actually jump out of a plane. We just walked into a wind tunnel. The speed of the wind ranged from 120 mph to 150 mph. There was an instructor in the tunnel with us (one at a time) and he would help guide us into the right body shapes. We had a short training time where we memorized the four hand gestures. We were also able to watch some other guys more experienced and pick up on some moves. Our instructor told us we may attempt anything except flips. So, we both were able to turn around in circles. With more time we could have learned side-to-side, left and right, and up and down movements. It was awesome and I can't wait to go again!

Fall weather

2008-09-13T11:25:00.004-06:00

It's nice and cool here today. Who knows what next week will bring. For now, the Mast family is enjoying the fall-like weather. It even snowed 2 inches in the mountians! Winter will be here before we know it!

I thought you'd enjoy these pictures my friend Marika took last weekend at brunch with some friends. Thanks Marika!

More Pictures

2008-09-03T20:12:00.005-06:00

Okay, it's time for some new photos. The first photo is Philip and the second is Benjamin at about the same age. So, do they look exactly the same?

This next photo is from our first family day trip to the mountains. We went up to Echo Lake for some snacks and a little walk.

Thanks Nana for the Tigger sweatshirt. When he's not wearing it, he insists on taking it to bed with him!

The boys are now taking their baths together. They both seem to enjoy it. Sometimes, Benjamin gets to help wash and rinse Philip.

We borrowed a baby gym play thingy from some friends. It was intended for Philip, but Benjamin finds it every bit as entertaining. I have to help him lie down underneath it or else he'll lay on top of Philip.

Paupy's Visit

2008-08-25T12:06:00.002-06:00

Justin's dad, Paupy, is here visiting this week. Here are some photos.

Random Photos

2008-08-15T20:42:00.007-06:00

We took the boys to Starbucks in their double stroller. I think they liked it. While I was getting the picture from my phone to the computer, I found some other photos to share.

When Philip was one week old, he had an ultrasound of his kidneys. In utero, he had some excess fluid in his kidneys and the docter wanted to make sure he was okay. He was and is. His kidneys are completely normal and we shouldn't ever have to follow-up. I took two pictures. The ultrasound tech said that I wasn't supposed to, but she said I could anyway as long as I didn't get her in the pictures.

This picture is from our first trip to Subway. It was a few months ago. I might have been about 6 or 7 months pregnant. He enjoyed the bread and cheese but wouldn't eat the tuna salad. Hmm.

And this one is from Benjamin's first airplane ride. We found earplugs handy to keep the Captain's announcements from waking him up!

Pictures

2008-08-10T14:24:00.003-06:00

Thank you to Beth Bosscher for taking our newborn photos. We got too many great ones to share but here are a few. Beth is a dear friend of ours who is working on turning her photography hobby into something more. Once she has her website up and running we'll be sure to let you know!

More Pics

2008-07-23T19:51:00.003-06:00

Okay, I still don't have a lot of time but here are a few photos from Philip's first few weeks. We had our newborn shots done today. As soon as I have permission from our photographer, I'll post some! In the meantime...

Baby #2

2008-07-14T15:16:00.001-06:00

I figure it was about time to post some photos of our little Philip!

Well, a hungry baby calls. I'll try to post more soon.

Corn on The Cob

2008-06-27T19:54:00.002-06:00

So, the last two times we've made corn on the cob, I cut some corn off of my cob to give Benjamin on his plate, and he loves it. Well, this evening we decided to let him try his own. He's been doing really well following direction and mimicking. I can't believe how well he did with his own cob. Granted, they're miniature, but he had two and ate 95% of the corn off all by himself. Well, I had to turn it a few times. I was afraid he'd eat right through the middle!

Swimming

2008-06-14T19:58:00.003-06:00

It's starting to get hot here. It's warm one day and hot the next. This past Tuesday I took Benjamin to the pool for the first time since swimming lessons. We went with some friends who took pictures... Thanks!! I wasn't sure how he would react to the cool of the water. The pool where our swimming classes were was pretty warm. He loved it! We also got to try out one of his birthday presents!

I know he looks naked, but he IS wearing his swim diaper!

Baby Shower

2008-06-14T19:37:00.006-06:00

Last Saturday Shadia threw a shower for me. Since this is baby boy #2 in less than 2 years we have mostly everything we need, so we asked for diapers. We're not going to try two in cloth diapers for a little while. Thanks to everyone who was there, I had such a fun time. And thanks Shadia for providing the great space, yummy food and fun games! We have been blessed with such wonderful friends!
A group photo from the shower

"How big is Jessica's belly?" guessing game

"Who can drink soda fastest from a baby bottle?" game (I can!)

"Pin the pacifier on the baby" game

Me in all my hugeness!!

Vacation

2008-05-31T20:24:00.004-06:00

Last week, Monday through Friday, we went on a family vacation. It was one last trip before the baby comes. We went to Red River, New Mexico. The drive was a bit brutal, six hours in the car. Well, I guess it was about 5 hours with 2 half hour breaks thrown in. Here are some pictures. I'll maybe add more later.

Also this evening we went to a wedding, so we got all three of us in one pic. After the wedding, Justin went to work, so I was left with Benjamin. I can't believe what happened! I was getting Benjamin in his carseat and he was playing with my keys. I noticed he was pushing buttons, but it didn't really register in my brain. I tossed the keys in the front seat, like I always do, shut his door and then noticed he had locked the doors! I ran inside for backup. Rosie and Liz (THANK YOU!) drove to the hospital (a short five-minute drive through two red lights!) to get Justin's keys. Anyway, we're fine. I don't think Benjamin was too traumatized! Am I the worst mother ever?!

Update

2008-05-20T20:43:00.004-06:00

Sorry it's been so long. Benjamin was sick again, this time for 5 days that were pretty brutal! I am feeling okay about being pregnant, although I feel ready to be done.

Benjamin finished his swimming lessons this week. He even got a certificate. The class is a Parent & Tot class for kids ages 6 mo to 3 yrs. I mostly wanted to do it to get him used to the water. Our community pool opens Friday, and I think we'll be frequenting it! Here are some photos.

Preg-O

2008-04-30T15:48:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I figure you all should know about the pregnancy updates. On Sunday evening I was having uncomfortable cramping. It wasn't until bed, when I was finally able to relax, that I noticed, they were more contraction-like. They were coming and going every 4 minutes. So, I called the doc and she wanted me to go in to the hospital. I dropped Benjamin off at a friend's (thanks Amanda!), it was then around 11:30 PM. Justin met me there and we went to the hospital. They monitored me for a while ran some labs, did an ultrasound. Basically, the contractions were not labor. Thank God! They were probably caused by a combination of dehydration/ trying to do too much, and having a cold come on. ( I woke up the next morning with a cold!) They sent me home at 3 AM, and Benjamin woke up in his own crib. He didn't even seem to mind all the commotion! So, that's my story. So here is my new life as a pregnant mom of a 1 year-old. Trying to relax and drinking lots of water... (I don't think the photo does my belly justice! I'm pretty big already!)

Sick Boy

2008-04-25T18:47:00.002-06:00

I feel like Benjamin's always sick. He's never very sick, but he gets a cold or light virus often. This past week, Justin's been giving him pep-talks. Justin's telling Benjamin that he can't be sick the first week in May when Nana & Paupy come to visit. (It seems that every time Nana's here, he's sick. It's great to have the extra help, but not as fun for her!) Well, I guess Benjamin decided to get this sickness out of his system before their visit! :) As usual, it's not bad. His temp was 101.8, and he's just been a little cranky and very clingy. The clingy/cuddly part is cute for about a day and a half. By the end of the weekend, I'll be ready for him to play again!

Updates

2008-04-18T19:45:00.004-06:00

A few new things have started happening lately. The first is that Benjamin has begun to pretend. This totally caught me by surprise. I didn't think he was old enough. Justin bought a big box of pretzels and on the outside is a picture of a pile of pretzels. In real life, he loves them. One day he started "picking up" the "pretzels" and putting them in his mouth. Then he would bring one to me. Since then, he sometimes picks something up from his palm and hand it to me. I always take it and thank him, though I'm not exactly sure what it is! :)

In the last week, he's also starting putting his whole hand in his mouth. I'm not sure what purpose it's serving. He doesn't suck on it or chew it. I guess he's working on more teeth, but I'm not a good judge of his teething. We also went to the zoo again. (I'm hoping to go often!) It was a very windy day and I think he had an allergic reaction of some sort, his eyes and forehead turned red and his eyes watered a lot! Anyway, here are a couple pics from that day.

Oh, and it's official, Benjamin has fat feet. Oma, his sandals fit well except that the straps were a little tight because of the fatness of the feet! :)

The Zoo!

2008-04-05T22:10:00.003-06:00

This year, Justin and I bought a membership to the Denver Zoo. I wasn't sure how Benjamin would respond to the animals, but he was surprisingly aware! I was so impressed at his interest in all the animals. We went with Cole and Crisi, had a blast and can't wait to go again! In fact, we're planning a trip for this Thursday! At the entrance to the Zoo, there was a man in a Frog suit, and Benjamin LOVED him! He kept wanting to go back and hold him some more. I think he thought it was a stuffed animal!

Haircut!

2008-04-02T19:15:00.006-06:00

Benjamin had an exciting day today. The first Wednesday of the month is Justin's day to get away to the mountains, but I guess he's feeling pretty good. He said he didn't think he needed to get away, so we spent the day together as a family, going for a hike at Cherry Creek State Park and having a picnic. It's not Benjamin's first, but it was his first eating real food.

We saw six deer and one coyote. Justin was a bit disappointed that he saw more wildlife in the middle of Denver city than on most hikes in the mountains!

After Benjamin's nap, he got his first haircut. Here's a before

And after

Birthday Fun

2008-03-23T20:00:00.005-06:00

Happy Birthday, Benjamin! This is a photo my mom took on Easter Sunday. I think we'll use it as his 1-year photo. Is he handsome, or what?!

Next are some photos from his Birthday Party! Thanks to everyone who was able to make it. And we missed all of you who couldn't be here.

I think Benjamin enjoyed himself. At the very least he enjoyed his cake!

Gym Time

2008-03-17T10:22:00.003-06:00

This past Thursday, I took Benjamin to a baby play gym. We've been there once before, but this time Shadia brought her camera. Thanks! Benjamin wasn't as content playing on his own with the foam shapes, but we practiced walking. He's doing quite well, and is now walking around the house more. It's cute!

Snowshoeing

2008-02-27T19:47:00.008-07:00

Okay, so it's been a while since the last update. Am I repeating myself? On our Family day to the mountains two weeks ago, we took Benjamin snowshoeing! He never enjoys the process of getting into his carrier, but once he's there, he is quite content. Here are some photos.

In other news, Benjamin is doing really well with finger foods. Here is a photo of his first all finger-food meal: chicken, carrots, & cheese. I guess "C" was the letter of the day.

We had our ultrasound today... it's a BOY!!! Yeah!

The Children's Museum

2008-02-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

After today, Crisi and I asked ourselves why we waited so long to visit the Children's Museum. Denver's Children's Museum is wonderful. It only took us 20 minuted to get there. It cost $7.50 for both of us to get in, and we had a blast. However, by the end of the day I think I was more exhausted than Benjamin! Crisi, Cole, Shadia, Toren, Benjamin and I met up there for a fun playdate. They have one long, winding room for kids birth to age 4. It stars with an area just for babies. There are mobiles and a big cushion. Then down the "road" is the area for older babies, with mirrors, toys, board books, and a neat area that we used to practice going up and down steps! Further down the "road" is a play cabin and at the far end is a garden with play vegetable to pick and the "Apothacary." The boys had so much fun and we will definately be going back for more visits. I meant to take my camera, but as always, forgot. So here are some pics form my phone. Yeah!

And just for good measure, we thought we should be sure to let Oma and Nana know that Benjamin likes his vegetables, even when they're in his hair!

Update

2008-01-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry folks, it's been a while since our last update. I know I always say that life is crazy but the past month has been extra crazy! In 3 weeks, we had two funerals (one for which we had to travel) and a previously planned baby-free vacation to celebrate our anniversary. So, there was lots of packing, unpacking, blow-out-diaper-diarrhea, babysitting, funerals, viewings, first trimester tiredness. We've been a bit busy. So, life is starting to get back on track. So, I thought I'd add the ONE picture we've taken of Benjamin in the last month! :) He's finally graduated to the big-boy tub! Yeah!!

Daddy Day

2007-12-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

Today, Benjamin spent most of the day whith Daddy. Mommy had a much needed break having breakfast in Boulder with friend, Liz! (Thanks for breakfast!) Justin and Benjamin met with Pastor Roy (Hi!) in Golden and then went for a hike on South Table Mesa. Here are their photos! (Yeah camera phones!!)

Update

2007-12-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been forever again since I updated! Sorry! Here's our big news: I'm tired all the time... becasue I'm pregnant. Yes, we're excited and yes, it was planned. Also since the last update, Justin's parents came for a visit. Benjamin had his first turkey dinner. Benjamin met Smokey the Bear and cut down his first Christmas tree. Benjamin got the croup. Benjamin got his first ear infection. Benjamin cut another tooth... with another one to follow shortly. Here are some pictures from the last month.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

So, I'm a week late on the Happy Holiday, but really, did you expect better? Last week, our friend Beth gave us three days in Breckenridge while babysitting Benjamin. It was our Christmas present, THANKS BETH!! So, here are her pictures of his first Halloween, with Beth, Megan, Jake and Bob. Also is a picture of Benjamin and Colton today. Don't they look mischievous?!

Pics

2007-10-26T21:56:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's been forever! Here are some photos of the last couple weeks.

New Photos

2007-10-09T21:12:00.000-06:00

Okay, so here are some photos from the week.

This was our attempt at capturing Benjamin's teeth on camera. It didn't work out well, but I think the picture is pretty funny!

We went to Target this week and Benjamin sat in the cart... yeah!!

We took this photo today while Benjamin was talking to Nana on the phone. I thought it was pretty cute!

Teeth?

2007-09-28T18:45:00.000-06:00

This has been a crazy week for poor Benjamin! He came down with pink eye on Tuesday. Today, it spread to his other eye, which we anticipated. But yesterday when he was crying, mouth open WIDE, I saw a tooth poked through the skin! And it looks like the other lower one is close behind. I looked again today and it sure looks like they're both through the skin, but I'm just not sure.

Today is Justin's birthday (Happy 31st!), and this year he wanted to go camping. We made plans to camp out Wednesday night and visit an alpaca farm Thursday morning. Well, with Benjamin having pink eye and Justin still getting over whatever virus he has, we opted to stay home. We did drive up to the alpaca farm (check out their website at www.daybreakcriations.com) though so here are the pictures. We also had a picnic lunch that day, so there's a shot of Benjamin enjoying lunch. As soon as I have a good picture of the teeth, I'll be sure to post it! Oh, the gray and white alpaca's name is "Curious" for obvious reasons!

I should maybe add that included in our 5-year plan is moving west and buying land. One of the ideas we're exploring is starting an alpaca farm ourselves. It seems to be a profitable business in fleece production as well as breeding. Plus, we both love the idea of raising our family on a farm. So, we're planning on spending the next few years visiting farms nearby (or those in New York and Indiana when we visit there) to learn as much about the animals and their care as possible.

Pay It Forward

2007-09-22T21:41:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I don't have a lot of time on my hands, but this sounds cool. I'm thinking everyone could use a little love right?!

Here's how it works: I will send a handmade gift* to the first three people who leave a comment requesting to join this PIF exchange. The gift will be of my choosing and you will receive it within 365 days. The only thing YOU have to do in return is “pay it forward” by making a similar agreement on your blog.

*NOTE* - The “gift” you send doesn’t have to be handmade. Make up your own specifications and post them on your blog.

If you want to join, leave a comment with your email address (so I can reply - spell out the email if you don’t want it harvested), and we’ll hash out details.

6 Months!

2007-09-22T16:33:00.001-06:00

So, it's been a while, I'm sorry! What can I say? Life has been busy. Since I wrote last, Benjamin turned 6 months old! These are two photos from the day he had his shots. He was in one of those grumpy cute moods. Of course, the grumpy is only cute for a short time. Three days later, still with a temp, it's not as cute! I keep thinking any day now he'll crawl. Cole has been crawling for weeks now, and Benjamin seems to be keeping a close eye on him.
So aparently, Blogger doesn't like the videos my phone takes. Next time, I'll try posting a video fromour camcorder. Again, the camera phone is just always around! Love to you all!

Starbucks

2007-09-09T19:37:00.000-06:00

We had a family morning out to Starbucks this week. Since Nana requested a picture without the pacifier, we did take one.

Then I continued to take pictures as he tried to figure out how to put it back into his mouth. He can't quite get it in right yet! As usual, these pictures were taken with the camera phone. We always forget to take our camera out!

2007-09-05T21:24:00.000-06:00

We went camping again! This time it was for only one night, Sunday. Justin bought us a new tent to accommodate our growing family! It's great! It's 10' x 13' and Benjamin's Pack N' Play fits in too!

Now that he's moving around in his sleep I figured he should be contained in something. :)

Benjamin's such a curious little boy. He seems fascinated with every new texture he experiences. It's amazing to watch him learn and grow. This weekend he discovered dirt and grass. We go to the park often but I guess the grass cradles him under the blanket so he doesn't roll much. Well, that wasn't the case this weekend. He rolled off his blanket on several occasions and loved making the new discoveries!

Video Test, Again!

2007-08-26T21:02:00.000-06:00

Okay. Let's see how this video thing works. This is playtime in his Bumbo seat taken with my phone.

Pictures

2007-08-26T12:35:00.000-06:00

I went through my phone and downloaded some photos you all would enjoy. The carrots are new today.

These others were taken this past week. Cole is a champ at sitting up and we're still working on sitting up time. Benjamin really prefers lying down.

Hiking

2007-08-25T18:50:00.000-06:00

On thursday, both Justin and I had a free day. We figure, what better way to spend a day than hiking?! We want to be sure to love Colorado every spare moment we have. We even talked about getting a Colorado State Parks Pass. There are so many state parks in the metro area to enjoy. We haven't because of the cost. We shall see. We took out the baby backpack and gave it a whirl. The boys seemed to enjoy it. And I didn't even mind carrying our daypack, for a change!

I saw on the home blogger page that we can now upload video straight to blogspot. Maybe we'll experiment with that soon! Love to you all!

Update

2007-08-19T20:38:00.000-06:00

Okay, so maybe my sister is right that I only update our blog every other week. It wasn't my intention, but, boy, life is busy with a baby. Anyone suprised?! So here are a two pics from last week. One of Cole and Benjamin playing on our bed... supervised, of course! That day, the boys had too much energy, so we got out the jump-a-roo! They both were a bit confused at first, but by the end of the day they loved it!

Friends

2007-08-08T15:36:00.000-06:00

My friend, Shadia, and her baby, Toren, come over often. Either they come to our place, or we go there. Here's a cute picture from today.

Bumbo

2007-08-06T18:43:00.000-06:00

Cole's parents bought Benjamin a Bumbo seat. Now we practice "sitting up time" like we used to have "tummy time." Benjamin's a pro at tummy time; though I think he hates it more now. He's also really good at rolling. This is one stage we were really not looking forward to! I like putting him down on his changing table and washing my hands or grabbing clean clothes, but we can't do that anymore! Now, when he's lying on his back, he'll roll over, realise that he's on his tummy and start crying. It's really quite funny! As I was sitting at the computer, Justin was getting Benjamin ready for his bath and I now have evidence that it's not safe to let him lie.

Haircut!

2007-07-29T20:22:00.000-06:00

So, I finally gave in to the heat (and suggestions) and cut my hair back to the length it was a while ago. Really, I think I prefer it short. It took about a year, though, to come to that conclusion. So, here's a pic for you. Benjamin's doing well. No new pictures tho. Blame it on the fact that I had Cole (the boy I babysit) every other day this week! Love to you all!

Camping!

2007-07-19T18:55:00.001-06:00

These are various shots from our "weekend." Benjamin was amazing! We've been blessed with such a wonderful, low-key baby! This evening though (we just got home this afternoon) Benjamin's been cranky. We think he wants to keep on camping! The green tarp is our rain shelter that Justin rigged up. The first day there, just outside Buena Vista, near Mt. Princeton (which justin climbed Wednesday), it stormed hard. Benjamin was napping when it started and slept right through it! It also rained Wed afternoon, so we went for a drive around the beautiful area! All in all, it was a wonderful trip and we were sad to return home.

Busy Week

2007-07-13T19:44:00.000-06:00

This past Monday friends Beth and Bob came over to can. Mainly Beth and I did the canning and Bob watched Benjamin--very helpful! We made salsa, tomato juice, spaghetti sauce and garden special, a base for soups and other stuff. It was tons of fun. The next day, Justin built me shelves in our crawlspace to store it all. Yeah for handy husbands!

On Wednesday, Benjamin had his 4-month check-up. He's doing well, but still throwing up lots. Note to Nana... You were right. We were wrong. I was firm into believing that Benjamin didn't need food until he was six months old. I wanted him to be able to sit up, on his own, in his high chair. Torns out, he does pretty well with it reclining. Our good doctor suggested we give him oats to help keep his food down.

So, Thursday we started him on raw oats boiled with formula. Like any first foods, he wasn't quite sure what to do with it, but he's adapting quickly and doind a great job! He gets oats after two feedings each day. So far, so good.

Vacation?

2007-07-04T12:46:00.000-06:00

We arrived home from our trip last Thursday, but I'm just now feeling that I have time to catch up our blog. Here are some photos of our trip.
Jessica and Benjamin on the plane.

Hiking with the Smiths

Meeting some cousins

Going for a swim. He's not sure he likes it yet!

Meeting more cousins and a great-grandma.

Four generations of Masts.

Our trip was good but exhausting! Benjamin met all seven of his great-grandparents, his four aunts and uncles and five cousins. He also met a great-great aunt, several great-aunts and uncles, second cousins, first cousins once removed. He spent time with Oma, Opa, Nana and Paupy.I figure he's met nearly everyone he's related to! Considering all the traveling and people, Benjamin was marvelous! We couldnt' have been blessed with a better baby!

2007-06-20T18:34:00.001-06:00

So, we're on vacation now. We left Monday at 8:30 am and arrived (finally) at our destination Tuesday evening at 4:00 sans luggage! Needless to say, it's been rough so far! We'll keep you updated and hopefully we'll have some good pics for ya'll!

2007-06-13T15:05:00.000-06:00

I'm slacking on my blogging duties! I apologize! This picture was taken two weeks ago for church. Thanks cousin Ethan for letting me borrow your clothes!

This picture was taken last week during one of Benjamin's naps. I can't imagine that it's comfortable!

This one was taken today. I'm working on getting him to fall asleep in his pack 'n play instead of in my arms. This is especially important on days when I have Cole. I've gotten into the bad habit of putting Benjamin to sleep in my arms for his naps and then laying him down. Today, we had success in about 20 min!

Brunch

2007-06-02T20:45:00.001-06:00

Today was a great day. To all the women meeting monthly: I had a wonderful time, as always! This month I also brought Cole. It was lovely to get out of the house with the two boys. I think being cooped up all day makes the time drag by. Today, with the help of a few friends (I get by with a little help from my friends...) time flew by. Today was one of firsts! Well, one really. Today Benjamin went into the pool! We didn't go under water as I didn't want to go under or hold a cryin baby. There were a few too many people there. For dunking practice, we'll go to our pool, which is less crowded. Anyway, he seemed to enjoy the water. He went in wearing one of his BumGenius diapers without the insert and it workd like a charm! For any of you unfamiliar with the diapers you can check them out at www.cottonbabies.com. Later! And thanks again, ladies, for a wonderful time!

Aaw!

2007-05-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

I took this adorable picture on Friday when we were at the park. I've been meaning ever since then to get it online. I actually took it with my phone (it has more megapixels than our digital camera!). Anyway, it took me about this long to figure out how to get it from my phone to the computer. Plus, life's been busy. Cole decided to be an over-acheiver and start teething at 3 months, so he's been cranky (to say the least!) I hope you all enjoy the pic!

Picnic

2007-05-23T19:47:00.000-06:00

Tuesday was the first free day that both Justin and I had since he went back to work. We planned to have a picnic at Echo Lake. Well, the weather report didn't look too good, but we decided we'd go anyway. When we got there, we cooked our Ramen and as soon as we finished, it started snowing... perfect timing. We were all bundled up and I think Benjamin even enjoyed it! I'm also including another pic of Benjamin and Colton. I laid them on the floor and perhaps they noticed eachother!

Mother's Day

2007-05-13T19:57:00.000-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there! I had a fabulous day. We actually celebrated on Wed. evening because Justin works all weekend. He and Benjamin got me the most beautiful gift ever! It made my first Mother's Day perfect and I will remember it forever! The middle stone is Benjamin's birthstone. Isn't it lovely. Today, we went to church and enjoyed a wonderful brunch. Yum, yum! I also figured I should add a picture of Mom and Son.

I'm also including a picture of Benjamin and Cole on their first play day together... one of many!

Tummy Time

2007-05-06T19:15:00.000-06:00

Today the three of us went for a walk in the park. Benjamin got to enjoy "tummy time" there and really seemed to enjoy sucking on his fist. I also tried to capture a smile for ya'll!

Baby Genius

2007-05-05T20:54:00.000-06:00

There seems to be such a fine line between over-educating our infant and letting him stare at a blank wall all day. All these Baby Einstein things make me want to play music and read to him and rattle toys and make his hand press the "three, tres, trios" button to play a catchy little tune with blinking lights. I'm lured into believing that my child will be smarter, healther, more successful if I do these things with him. While I believe babies learn through imitation, generations of healthy people have existed before the age of Baby Einstien. I feel guilty over not knowing the rub-a-dub-dub song to sing as I bathe Banjamin. In fact, I know by memory very few nursery rhymes. I don't know the tune to "Ring Around the Rosey." What's going to happen to poor little Benjamin's brain developement if his sad mother doesn't teach him these things? I have confidence in the genes we gave him, in the love we will give him, and I trust in God to work wonders through two unqualified, humble parents!

Smiles

2007-05-02T21:21:00.000-06:00

For the first time today, Benjamin actually smiled at me. He's been smiling in his sleep since day one, and I told a few of you that he smiled at the wall a week ago. But today he finally responded to my strange noises and stranger attempts at fishing for a smile. It was cute, adorable really. And I can't wait to see more of them!