Happy 2nd Birthday Bennet!

Happy 2nd birthday Bennet! It's hard to grasp that 2 years have come and gone. You are becoming such a wonderful textbook toddler. We love every minute. The smiles and talking along with the whines and tantrums. We hope your 3rd year is as special as the last.

Here is a video of photos from her 2nd year.


Bennet Leona- Your Second Year

Scout Speaks

Ok- she really doesn't speak, but she's sure making some noise. Nick shot this video today and thought Grandma's & Grandpa's would really enjoy it.

Christmas Came Early

Ha! Ha! Hell has officially frozen over in WI. Specifically at our house. After 7 years without cable we've now joined the other 90% of the U.S. and have satellite television.

Last week I came home for lunch to see the Dish Network truck in our driveway. No more bunny ears "There? No to the left. There? Nope- a little to the right". No more static. No more wondering how beautiful Patrick Dempsey really is. No more "Honey- move to the other side of the couch and see if it comes in better".

I am so excited. It is so crisp and clear. And I must say- this whole dvr thing is the coolest thing EVER! I'm just giddy! You can pause live tv! And I can watch Grey's and tape the Office and Scrubs.

We were still taping shows on the vcr. Although the only one that worked was in the bedroom. But the tape wouldn't come out so you had to watch it in there. The vcr in the living room had a tape that would eject but when you recorded something on it all the dialouge sounded like it was spoken by the Chipmunks.

Thank you Nick! I know I was hesitant to take the plunge but it really is soooooo cool! I love it!

Ho Ho Ho!

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas! The other day we took the girls to visit with Santa. We'd been talking to Bennet about him for a couple weeks in the hopes that she wouldn't be too freaked out. She really liked him. We haven't seen her sit still for a photo in a long time! She even gave Santa a high five when she was leaving.

Scout Ann- 3 Months Old

Scout Ann is 3 months old today. Someday's it seems like time has flown by and other days we think, "Wow- she's still so little. Only 3 months old"



She has really become a smiley, giggly baby in the last month. Seeing her respond to our voices is so cool. You'll see her look around the room for Bennet or Jones. And she LOVES to be nekked. (Great- I hope she outgrows that by puberty ;)) Whenever we change her diaper she'll just look at us and get a big grin on her face. During bathtime she just sits there and coos. I swear she could soak for hours if I let her.

O Christmas Tree

Last year we began the tradition of cutting our own Christmas Tree. I have fond memories of doing this when I was a child. Nick humors me and helps continue the tradition for our family.

We went to Newby's Farm to pick out our tree. It was coooo-ld outside this weekend. What do you expect? It's December in Wisconsin right?

We went first thing Saturday morning to try and beat the impending snow storm. Bennet just ran and ran, tripped over a stump or two and then ran some more.
Since it was my idea, I cut the tree. I'll admit it, it was a little workout chopping that sucker down. Nick did the manly thing and helped haul it out of the woods. That's Scout in her car seat all bundled up. Our blog topper shows her cute winter sweater coverall.

Just as we were riding the hay wagon back to the shed it started to snow. Once it started it didn't stop until the wee hours of Sunday.

A couple of hours later this was the scene. We got 8-10" inches on Saturday afternoon/night. Bennet LOVES the snow. I couldn't get her snow pants on fast enough. When we shoveled and snow blowed on Sunday she kept running through the spray like a sprinkler. Crazy kid.

Black Friday

Not exactly in the spirit of holiday giving, but I REALLY wanted a new HP photo printer that Best Buy had on sale. So- at 4:21 a.m. Mom and I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out to the chaos that is Black Friday. Best Buy opened at 5 a.m. We stayed in the warmth of the car until 4:50 a.m. and then got in line.

I am continually amazed at how many people get up at the butt crack of dawn for a deal. Count me in that crazy group I guess. We were done at Best Buy by 5:20 a.m. We stopped at Old Navy too and then went home.

6:12 a.m. back home with my birthday present to myself. Was it worth it? I saved $70 on the printer and $30 on a super cute carrying case that was free. $100 saved and a happy scrapper was definitely worth it.

Bachelors & Benedicts Gala

Saturday night Nick and I had the chance for a real date. It was pretty nice to get out alone together for a night.

Nick's Dad is part of a group called the Bachelors & Benedicts. From what I understand it's basically a group of guys that get together once a month for dinner and have drinks and cigars. It's a brotherhood of sorts. Sounds like my kind of group!

Every other year they throw a big black tie gala at the Grand Theatre downtown. They have several different rooms set up with music. A Rock-n-Roll band, string/piano combo and a pop vocalist. Someone told me there was close to 500 people there last night. Then at 11 p.m. they serve breakfast. Nick's convinced that that idea came from someone who had too much to drink one year and wished they had stopped at Perkins/Denny's for some breakfast before heading home. :)

I loved the name of this wine. Hob Nob. Tony & Jenny Sweeney
Nick and me

Damien & Julie Sweeney

Barb and Roger (Mom & Dad)

This is our series of self portraits.

We had such a good time. Delicious food, crisp cold drinks, hot music, family and friends- simply a perfect celebration. Thanks again to mom & dad Sweeney for a memorable evening!

Kari @ 32 Bennet @ 23 months

Ah- November 21st. Today is my 32nd birthday and Bennet's 23 month birthday. It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone. And that in a month Ms. B will be 2! This past year just flew by. And what a good year it was. Here are my some of my favorite things at 32

• Adult: Nick- he continues to make me laugh on a daily basis. Sometimes at him, but more often with him
• Toddler: Bennet- My favorite time of day is when I come home from work and she runs out of Nick's office shouting "Mama, mama". Melt my heart.
• Baby: Scout- She is such a happy little person. She makes 3 a.m. feel like noon to me. I just want to soak her up!
• Animal: Stoli and Jones- Especially when Stoli wants kisses or Jones wants to lounge with me.
• Place: The cabin- I'm looking forward to spending long weekends there in 2008!
• TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother, CBS Sunday Morning, The Office, Scrubs and Grey's Anatomy top the list.
• Music: I'm on a total country trip lately. Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwear (I mean Underwood)
• Hobby: Scrapbooking- All of it. My online friends, the photos, the products, the layouts, my cool new scrapspace. But most importantly the way I feel when I'm doing it.
• Day of the week: Saturday- b/c mail call brings the new Entertainment Weekly.
• Fattening Treat: Point Black Cherry Cream Soda and vanilla ice cream floats. Sooooooo good!
• Color: Still red, but I've been on a brown kick lately.
• Adult Drink: still a good glass of red wine or ice cold beer, but lately I've been loving a Vodka with that new Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
• Phrase: "Just a Moment" I seem to be saying that alot lately.

PJ Weekend

Bennet is fighting a icky cold so we're having a pajama/comfy clothes weekend. Getting the house ready for our out-of-town family (and in town family) to arrive this week.

B always loves her bomb pops but even more so when she's feeling sick. They must feel good on her throat. Poor girl sounds so hoarse it just breaks your heart.

Scout has really started to love her swing lately. She just oohs and ahhs at it. She also sticks her tongue out ALL the time. It's comical.

A new favorite photo of Nick and Scout. She has started to just love her daddy. Who wouldn't right?

Scout at 2 Months

It's hard to believe that Scout is already 2 months old. The time has just flown by. In the last week or so she's really started to smile more. Which of course makes us smile more. She is really starting to coo and make more noises when we look at her too. In the last week she's had 3 nights where she's slept for 7 hours which made mom VERY happy. I'm hoping it's the start of a trend.

This was one of our favorite outfits from when Bennet was a baby. Thanks again to Mark, Sara, Mallory and Meghan for the adorable threads!

The most asked question has to be "So, how is it with 2 kids?" The answer- Wonderful. Of course it's an adjustment, but we can't remember life before there were 2. It just seems normal. You find a way to juggle things. Scout is a pretty laid back baby which helps alot. And Bennet has really taken to her for the most part. Like any toddler she has those days where she is jealous and only wants mom/dad, but that's to be expected.

The second most asked question is who she looks like. Sometimes I see a little Bennet in her. Particularly when she's sleeping. Other times I see Nick and even a little me every now and then. She surely is her own person that's for sure.

Happy Halloween

Here are some photos from our Halloween. The weather got pretty chilly once the sun went down, but Bennet still had alot of fun. Like I said, it's the Year of the Kitty. Here is our real Stoli cat, stuffed animal Stoli kitty and Bennet kitty :)

Scout was a cute little pumpkin. Don't you want to kiss on those cheeks?

Gregg went as a Bomb Pop (Popsicle) which is one of Bennet's FAVORITE things. We had originally thought of making a Bomb Pop costume for her too.

Carving Pumpkins

My brother Gregg had some time off of work so he decided to come and visit for a couple of days. It was such a pleasant surprise. He hadn't been to our house in almost a year and we hadn't seen him since July- so it was nice to hang out and catch up.

Tuesday night we carved pumpkins. I'd forgotten how goopy they are on the inside. Eew! In the old Mom Trunnell tradition we even baked the pumpkin seeds when we were done. Nummy!

It's the year of the Cat around here. It's all about kitties. See Bennet is holding her dirty Stoli kitty. Well- eating it is more like it. As long as she weans off it by college :)

The finished product.

Nick and Scout snuggled and hung out with us.

Bennet had more fun drawing on her little pumpkin.

A group shot of Gregg, me & Bennet. Gregg's Frankenstein pumpkin turned out really cool!

A New 'Do'

We finally got tired of trying to keep Bennet's hair out of her face. The fact that a piece of hair got stuck in her runny nose and therefore gave us a special 'treat' was the last straw. So- we took her for a hair cut last week. She looks so different.

It didn't start off too well. Even with a cookie AND a sucker.

Wait a second- there's a mirror? Let me see dahling!

A face full of sucker juice and a new do. Ready to hit the town.