tis the season for snickerdoodles

first day of preschool

Our morning conversation:

"Bentley, would you like to wear a dress or jeans to your first day of school today?"
"Dress."
"Which dress?"
"umm."
"?"
"that one. no, that one."

When we stepped out of the car at the preschool and Bentley donned her backpack, she said, "I excited!"

First day of preschool pose complete with signature cheese face.

With her apple for Teacher Anna.

Bentley's nametag has a butterfly. The kids get "name signs" that help them identify where their cubbies and nametags are, etc. She found her cubby fairly quickly and stowed away her backpack and sweater at the beginning of class.

Bentley didn't want to wear the art smock at first. I called it her "Art Dress." I think that helped.

Inspecting animal puppets with Teacher Anna.

The cornmeal bin. "I dump it."





Bentley carefully selecting her next color with concentration tongue out in full force.

After exploring time (playing, arts, etc.), it was circle time and Teacher Anna read a story and then illustrated and sang a song using a quintessential preschool felt board.

**Note, it looks like she is the only kid in class. I just carefully selected photos without the other kids for privacy reasons.

wisdom

To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned. After the first victory, evil would die if the second victory did not infuse it with new life... I could do nothing about the first victory of evil, but I could prevent the second.

Miroslav Volf's, "The End of Memory"

Lord, my heart has wrestled with either things committed against me or things committed towards those I love. Help me to not respond (even in my thoughts) in such a way that would allow evil to win, but in a way, by your strength, that would end it. Help me to choose your way; a way that gives love life, not death.

the jewelry box

I found this antique jewelry box when out with my friend Kathy the other day. Just today I filled it with Bentley's treasures. Among them, was a pair of clip-on earrings and necklace from her Great Nana. Bentley needed no assistance with the necklace. When she brought the earrings to me, I asked her if she would like to try them on. She stood in front of the mirror as I carefully clipped them on (they are super lightweight). Her mouth fell open and I told her she looked like her aunt pammy. She sported those earrings for at least 20 minutes, checking them in the mirror every once in awhile.

and now she's two...

for more of miss bentley brooke, click here

in a pickle

When I was first dating and then engaged to Drew, I was told by him that his family said I had two faults; one, that I did not like beer (still don't, would rather have wine), and two, that I did not like pickles. Though these have not changed, I am still invited to Dillapalooza, a family fun pickling event. Perhaps the fact that our daughter loves her Papa's pickles, makes up for my distaste for them. Leave them as cucumbers for me, please.

Our pickling adventure started at Duris Cucumber Farm.

Mother and daughters (notice the baby girl bump)


"I ride bike, please?"




And our Washington Sweet trying to push the onion wagon...









...and the finished product inspired by a drawing of Bentley's signature "Surprise Face" by our friend, Charity

diaper dance marathon

Get ready for some serious diaper dancing. This video is no less than 10 minutes long - woah. Kudos to you if you last through the 4-song hilarity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkV3mCLf1xU

**Again, to see the video, copy and paste this link in your browser. We are keeping our family videos unlisted at this time.