Beachin'!

 There is something about the water that calms my soul. The minute I get around it my shoulders relax and I am at peace. When I get to the beach though, it's far more than that: My spirit rises, sense of freedom soars and there's an indescribable feeling of giddiness and love.  I was more than excited to share this feeling with Cameron. I wanted to light a spark of memories for him.  I wanted him to find his own love for the beach, because these are the memories that we're really good at.

I'm not sure what I was expecting of his first trip to the beach; he is our kid after all. To say he was fearless, is an understatement.  He was independent and he embraced it even more than I could have ever expected.  He didn't even a flinch at the waves, or make a bitter face at his first mouthful of salt water. I was so proud!

Because I grew up in California, I have lots of memories of the beach but it was never an every day occurrence. Trips were still special and typically planned in advance. I have memories of the elders in my family always saying that they liked taking the kids to the beach because there's so much to do without really doing anything at all. When my sisters were little, my Mom used to say that we could pack lunches, a towel and a cooler of drinks, go to the beach all day and never once was there an "I'm bored" or "I'm ready to go" before it was time to go.  Everyone always left sun-kissed and happy.  Kids always slept better that night then they had since the last time we were at the beach and the memories of sand castles, chasing waves and searching for sea shells lasted far longer than that one ride at Disneyland. 

Tim, on the other hand spent far more time on the lake growing up, and didn't always love the idea of sand in your cracks, but he's been a good sport when I need my fix and allows me to convert him into a beach person a couple times a year.

As much as I like remembering the good things, I have to add that there were a couple of speed bumps along the way. This is A Benton World after all, and it wouldn't be a story if I wasn't honest about our luck. 

 *Our old dog Tucker ran away from home for a couple days while we were out of town, but I'm happy to report he's home and resting in time out now. 

*The beginning of what looked like pink eye started to show up on our first morning at the beach, but luckily we were able to nix it quickly, and the sea air did wonders for it too!

*The beach without an umbrella in your drink isn't exactly the same...but nugget basked in the salty air with me and soaked it all in!

Thanks Mr. Beach for giving my boy a wonderful first experience!  Those speed bumps are nothing compared to Cameron's laughter and excitement.

I'll be cherishing these memories until next time...

Loving Big on Small Moments!

When life gives us small moments, we love big on the memories. 

Pumpkins were carved and painted (even a Benton World pumpkin!).

A Family Date Nights at Top Golf that included sillies and lots of laughter!

Since Cameron isn't old enough for Top Golf, we took him to ride the Zilker Zephr Train on Sunday. It was gorgeous and he loved it so much that he fell asleep.  We ran into these smiling faces on our ride! It's definitely more fun to wave at people that you know when you're on a train ride! :) 

Happiness is more than a lifestyle or a place that we find ourselves. It's the minutes, the active choices that we make in life to smile and enjoy.  It's realizing the blessings of a $2 train ride and the fact that your boy can't stop saying choo choo because he's so excited!  It's finding the humor in perfecting a good golf balance with a pregnant belly.  It's hugging your sisters that you haven't seen in months and remembering that there really is nothing like the love of family.

Finding My Way

Parenting seems to be a topic that is always in the spotlight. Before Cameron I never payed attention, or just chose to tune that stuff out, but now I feel like it's all haunting me. Everywhere you look there's another article, idea, new and improved something that will make you a better parent. 

What's right and wrong for some is totally different for others. It's not black and white and we all choose our priorities differently. However, if you take yourself too seriously, how are you ever going to see the hysterical moments as they pass you by. I mean sometimes it's just worth it to take a picture of your kids butt crack. :)

I just started a book called Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us and so far I'm loving it. Tim even read a page and thought it was hysterical. Sometimes it's nice to hear other people's realistic tales of what life is really like and not just the white-picket-fence, perfect homemade applesauce stories of what other moms like to share.

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There was also this little gem that was on a fellow bloggers website and it was just too good not to pass along.

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I'll just say that I tend to fall in the middle. I'm not serving home made kale chips but I'm not serving gummy worms and soda either. It's a balancing act and just like everyone we're just trying to find our way to the other side without falling off into the hot lava too many times!

Behind the Zoo!

Recently we found the perfect gift for my Sister-in-Law, Erin who is the biggest lover of animals.

At most zoo's you can find an adoption program for a specific animal - a really creative, special gift for anyone.  At the Waco Zoo (Cameron Park Zoo) though they include a behind the scenes tour with their animal adoption. Tim, Cameron & I decided that we wanted to do this for Erin, but we couldn't take the pressure of picking which animal when we know she's the Queen of Animals!  After looking through the 30 or so animals that they offered adoptions for, Erin chose the Sumatran Tiger. This past Sunday, we were finally able to make the short road trip North to Waco and meet some Tigers. Let me just say that even though they had their eyes on Cameron, I really enjoyed learning more about the zoo and about these magnificent animals!

I was told that I could take pictures, but that they didn't want people posting things on facebook. Hopefully, posting here is ok though? Enough talking -- check out some photos!

After seeing the tigers so close, it was hard to go back into the zoo and see the other animals from "far away".  There were 5 tigers total, a Mama, Daddy and three 15 month old cubs. They were intense and shockingly Cameron didn't even seem scared. He was so tuned in to what was happening and just stared really. 

However, when he saw this elephant outside after hanging with the tigers, he was all smiles trying his hand at making elephant sounds.

 Fall is upon us and we enjoyed the cloudy day walking around the zoo.  More than that though, we loved spending some quality time with Erin!

So, note to self: If you're looking for a really creative gift for someone that enjoys animals check out your favorite zoo's adoption program!  They don't all do the behind the scenes tours, but regardless it's a sweet gesture, that benefits some really terrific animals!

This Time Around

I thought it would be fun do a little catch up on this pregnancy so far. I promise I won't over-share, that's not really my style, but maybe this will be a fun way to keep track every so often?  I have to give credit for this little questionnaire, I stole this little bumpdate from another blog that I read.

Size of baby: Navel Orange

Baby's size and weight: 4", 2.5 oz

Baby's development: 
Nugget has hair growing on its head. 

Maternity clothes: Some. I'm trying really hard to wear everything I'm able to to before I can't.  Like today, I'm wearing a really cute fall dress that is pushing it's limits in the belly department (and might remind you of Pocahontas), but it's October (darn it) and this is my only chance to wear it until next year!

Gender: To Be Determined. :)

Movement: Just some twinkles here and there. I was told that the baby was hanging on the back wall - whatever that means - so I will probably start to feel Nugget sooner.

Sleep: Every night is different. I've had some wild dreams!

What I miss: I'll be honest here -- WINE!

Food cravings: nothing really specific yet. My biggest issue is that something sounds so good and then I get it and it doesn't taste as good as I thought it was going to.  It can be such a let down sometimes.

Symptoms: Let's see, there's the visible bump, the taste bud thing and then the fact that I'm beginning to feel my skin stretch. That's the weirdest sensation ever.

Cameron is: clueless I think. His teachers say that he knows somethings up, but who knows.  We'll see how things change when we start working on rooms though.

Tim is: hysterical. (what's new?) This morning he said that we should consider names of guns for Nugget's name: "Winchester", "Remington", the list kept going and I told him that he could consider them all he wanted.

What I'm looking forward to: some quality time with "the Aunts" in the coming weeks, Halloween & a weekend trip with some old friends!

Best moments:  Having someone wonder if I'm pregnant, but they don't know how to ask because I'm not full blown belly yet. It's pretty comical.  Is she fat or is she pregnant? What a question!

The Great Pumpkin

 Last year when we took Cameron to the pumpkin patch he slept through the whole thing. This year we were determined for a fun-filled-family outing.

After a stop in downtown Elgin at Maxine's Cafe (yum!), we hit up the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm's Fall Fun!

There was lots to do -- including a hayride, farm animals, a playground and picking out pumpkins!  A few years ago we went to Sweet Berry Farm for the pumpkin patch and I can say that they are both great day trips for the family!  There is a bit of a difference between the two though.  Elgin isn't as expensive, but there isn't as much there either; we were there for maybe an hour and a half.  Sweet Berry Farm's in Marble Falls has a lot to do (you could spend the afternoon there) but it all adds up.  So it really just depends on what you're looking for.

Let's just hope it's not "crack" near the hay maze...

Cameron -- he was on the hunt for The Great Pumpkin!

Unfortunately, we can't get him to stop calling them "balls" (even watermelons have become "balls").

Selfie-style family photos are really difficult sometimes. 

This photo though, it made the entire trip so worth it!

He found the one he wanted, but couldn't figure out how to get it to the car...

I'm really excited for the awesome weather that's in store for us this week, it's too nice to be inside and we definitely enjoyed all that we could today!

There are pumpkin's on our front porch now and I feel like fall is finally here! Hooray!

Now, if we could just figure out what Cameron should be for Halloween!

October Goals

A blogger that I follow shares her goals at the beginning of every month. Then, when the next month rolls around she crosses off what she accomplished and moves what she didn't down to be included with the new months goals.

I kind of like the idea -- it gives her some accountability. Although, I'm not the super creative photographer that she is, I think I might give it a shot.  As I began to think about my goals and type this though, I can only think of one-forever-ultimate goal...be happy.  Eh, come on you can do better than that. Get specific, but let's keep these goals realistic shall we?

October Goals:
- (now that we sort of have a plan for the misfit rooms in our house) get started on those room makeovers!
- do one fall craft project
- hit up a pumpkin patch
- decide on Halloween costumes -- (stat!)
- prep and motivate yourself for running the turkey trot on Thanksgiving
- try one new recipe
- organize the attic; purge!
- go see a movie - in a theater!
- consider beginning your Christmas shopping? eeek. ok at least think of ideas?
- take those 3 pairs of shoes to the shoe hospital for their yearly check up
- plan a camping trip
- go dancing/have a date night
- do something new and different. (oh wait, I already said I was going to try a new recipe! bahaha!)

We'll see how I do with this come November...
How about you? Got any big goals this month?

via lovethispic.com

Weekend Re-Cap: Fish Faces, Dog Crates & ClassicBoyStuff

I know I've said in the past that I buy my dog food online, but this weekend we were getting low so we decided to take a trip to the pet store. Cameron loved it! At every corner there was something else to look at and try to say. We started with the small critters: mice, a ferret, hamsters and guinea pigs. They are fun in the cage...but we don't want to bring any of them home. 

Then we ventured to the fish and practiced our fish faces. Cameron thought this was hysterical!

The turtles were our next favorite spot. We went back to them twice!

There were also 2 cats, some lizards, a bird room and there was a small dog "round-up" (adoption event) going on too! We must have been there for an hour!  After leaving the pet store, we realized that the rain had stayed away so we zoomed over to the park, but sadly, this guy fell asleep on our way there so we went home instead.

Confession:  He normally wakes up when I get him out of the car, but this time he didn't. It was too close to lunch time (and his afternoon nap) that I decided to just let him take a little cat nap in my arms since he was so peaceful.  Yes, I was a bit selfish too -- I can't remember the last time he slept in my arms like that. These are the moments when I can really tell how much he's grown. I like to remember where his body fit against me when he was a baby asleep in my arms in comparison to where and how he fits now. 

We tackled a classic car show and auction this weekend!

This was our second year there, and it's still so interesting and fun to watch.  

I will admit that I had my eye on a classic jukebox that was for sale, especially when they played Patsy Cline to show that it worked and Cameron started dancing in front of all those people. Yup, he's definitely my kid!

This beauty went for more than $70,000! Besides the obvious wow-factor, I loved that when the blinkers were on you can see the small signs at the front that say "turn" and they actually flash when the turn-signal is selected.

As a family, we gushed over this gorgeous boat!

At last year's car show & auction:
the stroller is bigger and the baby is smaller! :)

 

While we watched the auction and listened to all of the sounds in the crowd, Cameron decided he wanted to do what the other men were doing and sit against the far wall to watch the cars roll in and out. He makes friends wherever he goes.

Tim's favorite by far was this Camaro. 

Our plan was to head to a BBQ after the car show, but as we were getting ready to leave the skies opened and the rain started.  Instead we grabbed an early dinner and went home for an evening inside. 

Cameron has recently decided that the dogs bed and crates can be a lot of fun when he's playing.  It seems that just about every one of our friends children have played in Tucker & Leeya's dog crates, so why not Cameron too! It's like a right of passage!

Thanks for a great weekend, family! I enjoyed it all.  Especially the fish face giggles!