And...

...I'm back. It seems that life happens even when you haven't had a chance to blog about it.

Actually, that's a lie. I haven't been too busy to blog, this is simply one of those cases when the longer it's been since I've done it the harder it is to start up again. So here is my gateway post...I'll leave you with a couple photos from my trip to Louisville, KY last week and a promise that I will be better. If I wait much longer we'll be living in our new house and Ben will be starting Kindergarten.

Oh crap.

Rob called me the other day after he picked Ben up from the YMCA drop-in daycare to tell me that Ben had earned himself a nickname.

King of Explosive Diapers

At least once a week the kid leaves the Y in pants he didn't arrive in. It was a proud moment, but it reminded me of a story I wanted to share that lead up to said nickname.

A couple weeks ago Rob was swimming at the Y and he saw the drop-in daycare lady walking toward the pool. Instantly he knew two things.

#1 She was coming to get him.

#2 It wasn't to tell him Ben was playing so nicely

Rob said his first thought was, "Oh crap."

AND IT WAS!

Ben had blown through his diaper - poop up to...well, I'll just end the story there.

Houston...we have basement walls

This week they put the footings in and poured the basement walls. It was so cool watching them do that. They pour cement into the molds with the crane and tubing pictured below. Hey! Whatever works...

Pshu...pshu...

We went to the zoo on Friday night. Ben wasn't too keen on most of the animals. I should clarify...he liked them a lot from a safe distance. His favorite items at the zoo, by far, were the golf carts the zoo keepers were driving and the zoo train. He also really liked the birds, especially the ducks.

Towards the end of our trip we came across the white tail deer exhibit and for once it wasn't in front of my car. It took about two seconds for Ben to realize this animal, stick his pointer finger out like a rifle and say "Bumpa" followed by a "pshu...pshu" sound. His Grandpa Ron was so proud of his littlest hunter.

On Saturday we celebrated Ben's birthday, even though his big party is this weekend and on Sunday we headed to McDowell Dam with my parents and their neighbors.

I just couldn't believe in my years of living in Bismarck I had never been to the Dam. It was perfect for kids...nice sand, sun, water, park, picnic area. All the componants to make a great day.

At first Ben wasn't too sure about the sand on his feet, but he got over that quickly. We can't wait to go back.