WSU Volleyball Game

Just when you thought Ben was all smiles all the time...here is a photo without any smiles. Sam has been wanting to go to a WSU volleyball game for many months now. Every time we drive past the arena on campus where they play (it's on the way to church) Sam states that he wants to go to a volleyball game. Finally the season started this weekend and we ventured out along with 6,020 others to watch WSU play KSU. Ben did great for the first couple of matches, then he just couldn't fall asleep. There were too many people to watch, and too much noise. We even went out of the arena to the concourse a couple of times, hoping that I could just get him to fall asleep, then go back and watch the game. But there were more people to watch out there too. We tried to get a shot of the boys together, but Ben was uncooperative.

I'm not sure you can see it, but Sam has Trident gum in his mouth. He has been asking for gum as a "snack." After several sticks of Juicy Fruit, we decided that if he was going to chew this much gum, we should find something sugarless. Sam selected the "tropical twist" flavor, commonly known as the "orange gum." We've learned to never leave home without it.

Sam was entralled with WU shock, the mascot for WSU. He met him at the game, and couldn't stop talking about him. "Where is Wu Shock?" "Wu Shock has a big nose." We should have tried to get a picture of them together. Maybe next time.

Ben and the Pooh Tree

Uncle Kevin sent Sam this Pooh tree, and Ben is just beginning to enjoy it. He knows how to hit the music note to make the tree "sing" and likes to try to eat Pooh. He has tried to pull himself up to standing a few time, and the tree and Ben have crashed to the floor. Doug went to get Ben out of his crib after his nap this afternoon and Ben was standing up holding onto the rails of the crib. So Doug lowered the mattress again tonight.
Here is a picture of Sam from May of 2004 with the Pooh Tree. (he would have been 10 months in this picture.)

Ben Swimming

We are sad to see the swim club we belong to close next week, especially since we will be out of town for the final 3 days it will be open. So we went tonight for our last swim. Ben LOVES being in the baby pool because he can "walk" in his ring all over the pool. He is fasinated by the fountain of water on the side of the pool. When I took this video I didn't even know that you can now put videos on the blog. Hope it works!

Our good friends Scott, Jennifer, and their son Joey sent Sam a birthday present a couple of weeks ago. The package contained a blow up dinosaur as well as a dinosaur book. Scott went on about how every little boy needs a blow up dinosaur. So, we finally blew up the dinosaur and look what happened. Our little dinosaur friend is quite useful around the house. He is also potty trained and likes to binge on a little snack every now and then. Enjoy!

Look Out Road!

Our friends Jeff and Marti Baxter gave us this little car for Sam and Ben. Their grandson was done using it so they handed over the keys and title. Sam is too big for this car, but Ben sure enjoyed cruising around the driveway. From this picture directly above you can just see the concentration on Ben's face. Notice he is not using a cell phone nor is he eating or adjusting his ipod.

The result of a "happy plate"

Sam often times has trouble finishing all the food on his plate. He is a slow eater! But on the grand occasion when he eats everything on his plate, he can choose his desert. This is the result of a happy plate desert of oreo cookies.

Budding Musicians?

Ben and Sam at their respective piano keyboards.

Ben LOVES microphones? Will he be a singer, or a news anchor when he grows up?

New Babies at the Sedgwick County Zoo

Sam and I went to see the new babies at the zoo. We knew about the giraffe, but we didn't know about the baby anteater (he's riding piggyback on his mom.)

The next day we went back with dad to show him the animals and Sam brought his stuffed giraffe, "Raffi," to see the new baby giraffe.

Ben 7 months old

Ben is now a pro at sitting up. He LOVES his toys, and can play in his room for long periods of time. He just began crawling (or maybe just dragging himself along) on Sunday (August 5th) to go along with his skill of pivoting which he has had for some time. He is beginning to get into Sam's toys in the living room. We can't just put Ben down on the floor and expect him to be satisfied with his toys anymore. Sam is pretty good at sharing, but most of Sam's toys are not safe for Ben (mostly because anything Ben can get his hands around goes into his mouth.) Now Sam says, "Mom!, can you pick Ben up." or "Mom!, Can you put Ben in his crib?"

When we came back from our California trip, Ben had some respiratory problem, which then turned into a fever the next week. I'm not sure if they were related, but we had a copay for his 6 month checkup, a copay for the minor emergency center, and a copay to see the doctor when he had the fever, along with 2 prescriptions. I thought the medical problems increased only when you turned 40, not 6 months. Oh well. Even more frustrating, his fever which he had had for 3 days, returned to normal right after we visited the doctor. He is still the master of drooling, as evidenced by these pictures, but I still do not see any teeth popping through. Ben loves eating, and can gum cheerios down by the handful. He is eating with us at lunch and supper, and it is fun to have everyone at the table together. Ben smiles at everything and at everyone. We are always getting comments when we are out for how "healthy" he is (why don't they just say he is chubby? We all know that is what they are thinking.) and what a great smile he has. We got these same comments when Sam was a baby. We are so blessed to have such happy babies. (Was it just a few months ago we were wondering if he would ever stop crying and be happy!)

For comparisons, here is a picture of Sam at 7 months. It is obvious that Ben outweighs his brother at this age

Hokey Pokey Elmo and Ben

Ben has really begun to get into his toys, so we've been digging in the toy box for some of Sam's old toys that Ben might now appreciate. Doug found Sam's Hokey Pokey Elmo, and Ben loved it. Here Ben demonstrates putting his right hand in and his right hand out...

The Shaffers move into the 21st century

Thanks to the generosity of Uncle Kevin, we are now the proud owners of an Ipod. Doug loaded some of Sam's Pixar books on CD onto the ipod and Sam and Ben are enjoying listening to it. Sam isn't too sure about keeping the earbuds in his ears, but would rather hold them up to his ears. Ben just wants to eat the cord.

See what the professionals can do

Here are the latest professional pictures we had taken for Sam's 4th birthday and Ben's 6 month pictures. Sam is almost too silly, but we did get some good shots.

Sam Shaffer, Age 4

Sam had an official Birthday Party this year with "friends." We decided to have it at the Swim Club we belong to. It seemed like a great idea, but we didn't take into account lugging all the food from the house to the car to the swim club, and setting up for a party away from home. The kids all swam for an hour or so, and a HUGE thanks to Auntie Kerri who "supervised" Sam's swimming so Mom and Dad could get ready for the party. Then we played a few party games (good job dad!), and had burgers and hot dogs, along with cupcakes for the birthday boy. Sam cashed in on the gifts. We took pictures of the attendees, then Grandpa Shaffer went to work with his laptop and cordless printer printing the pictures to send home with the kids as a party favor. Back at home, Sam enjoyed 3 days of birthday with the party at the swim club on Saturday, with the Shaffer's on Sunday, and then with the Keefers on Monday (his actual birthday). Sam can rip open his presents, and move on to the next gift before you can say "what did you get?"

Sam models his shark goggles and shark fin snorkel.

Catch Up!

Sorry, again, it has been a long time between posts. Here are a couple of pictures of Ben . The first is at Exploration Place, the second is at Riverside Park. Doug is gone this weekend for a church men's retreat, and Sam is spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa Shaffer's house. Ben is down for the night, so let's see how many posts I can get done!