Sweet Tree Hugger

These pictures were just so funny I had to blog them. There is a sitting park just behind our house that has a small "hill" Ben was bound and determined to climb. The slope kept getting the best of him, but he'd just get right back up and keep trying. Finally, he made it to the top, and in exuberance, hugged the nearest thing to him--a tree. :) Oh, our sweet little guy.

Benjamin definitely keeps us on our toes. There is no end to what he will get into. I'll spare you the list of all the things we've caught in his mouth, because it's. . . well, downright embarrassing. He is such an explorer. Mom's guess at fifteen months of future occupation is engineer, just like the Papa he's named after. He LOVES to take things apart and then put them back together. Taking the lid off a pen and putting it back on could entertain him for hours. Of course, that also includes taking lids off of shampoo bottles (sometimes with them upside down) and unplugging/re-plugging electrical devices too.

A couple of weeks ago, Cody aptly called him "A tornado filled with the joy of the Lord." Though he is learning to protest quite effectively when he doesn't get his way, Benjamin is the happiest, bubbliest little guy. He loves to laugh (especially when prompted by his sister) and try to make you laugh. His smile, and that darn perfect dimple, light up a room.

In other news, we feel like we've officially entered the "dog days of summer." We're not sure what that expression actually means, but we feel like it has to do with being so hot that all you can do is lie around. We've been really blessed by several cool spells to provide some relief in between those days when you can't leave your house it's so hot. We feel like those respites are probably over now. This week it will be in the mid to upper 90s all week. Again, we are so thankful for our jerry-rigged air conditioner.

We will leave a week from Thursday for our two week vacation in Scotland. My uncle has a home there he is so graciously allowing us to stay in. It will be our first flying experience with Ryan Air, the uber-cheap airline that is now debating selling "standing-room only" tickets. We can't express how much we're looking forward to vacation though. We need a break from the oppressive spiritual environment here desperately. We need to refill our tanks that are now bone dry.

Until then, we press on with summer school supplementing. Hannah is really enjoying the history but abhors having to work on English. She's looking forward to a vacation too. :)