Bennett and His Headlight

Dan got this head lamp for Christmas last year and it quickly became Bennett's exploratory "doctor" light. He likes to put the light on his head and examine everything in his path. He just looks plain silly!

Hmmm...what lurks inside the speakers??

Visit from Craig and Joey - Lake Arrowhead

Got a visit in August from my brother Craig and my nephew Joey. Bennett and I went up to Lake Arrowhead to join them and my mom and Cheryl for a few days of fun (poor Dan had to work). Bennett played mini golf for the first time on this trip and loved it.

Craig, Bennett and Joey waiting for a table to eat at Papagayo's.

Bennett on the little train ride (he only rode it 6 times!). I just loved that the scenery behind the train was so pretty!

Bennett with his hole in one at mini golf (we just looked the other way when he picked the ball up a few times and put it down about an inch away from the hole then shoved it in the hole with his club. :o) Oh - and he stole Craig's club from him. :o) Craig had to concede to the cuteness!

Bennett and Joey goofing around on the golf course.

Joey was multitasking by blowing bubbles with his bubble gum while aiming at the same time.

I have been to Arrowhead a million times in my life and never stopped to see this little plaque at the bottom of the hill about the Arrowhead landmark on the side of the hill. You can see the Arrowhead on the hill very faintly in the background.

Maui

We just got back from a trip to remember from Maui. It was such a great time. We definitely made use of all of the swimming pools in our condo complexes! So relaxing and I can't wait to go back again someday.

Our view from the lanai of our condo. Ahhh....relaxation!

Dan, Bennett, and Sam riding in the convertible that we rented.

Bennett and Sam in front of the Pioneer Mill where we went to the Lahaina Plantation Days Festival.

Bennett acting like a bullfrog. The night before he was chasing frogs all over the place (lots of those in Maui!!)

Bennett and Max hanging out watching Scooby Doo at the Condo.

Dan and I on Date Night in Maui - went to see Warren and Annabelle's magic show...such fun! My cheeks hurt from laughing afterwards.

Sunsets in Maui

The sunsets in Maui were spectacular...wish I had a few more pictures of them. I just love watching the sun dip beneath the ocean beyond. Beautiful and breathtaking!

Haleakala Crater - Maui

On our second day in Maui we all piled in the cars and traversed the beautiful Maui countryside and up the mountains to see the Haleakala Crater. At the top the elevation was just over 10,000 feet and the air was thinner up there...not too mention quite a bit cooler too. It was the ONLY place in Maui that I needed a jacket. The Crater itself was so neat...the colors looked like they were painted on. Dan said that this was a bit what he imagined Mars looking like.

Sugar Cane Train Maui

On the first day in Maui, we took a ride on the Sugar Cane Train which is an old train line that ran Sugar Cane from Honokowai to Lahaina. The kids loved it!

Montana

We took a wonderful trip to Missoula, Montana last weekend to meet up with Dan's side of the family on his dad's side for Dan's aunt's 80th birthday. I love Montana...so pretty and scenic and everyone is so friendly. It really is a very pretty place. Had so much fun celebrating with everyone. Happy Birthday Aunt MaryAnn!

The scenery of the Missoula hills off the back yard of MaryAnn's house.

We went to get ice cream one night down the street from our hotel at a place called The Big Dipper Homemade Ice Cream. It was yummy...Bennett thought so too!

Amanda and Sam eating some ice cream.

A bunch of us tried to hike up the hill behind the University of Montana to the Big M on the side of the hill...a fun thing to do locally. Bennett only made it 2 switchbacks before he was ready to go back down. Dan and a bunch of other family members made it up to the top though. The M is 620 feet up from the base of the mountain.

All the kids at the party were playing cowboys and robbers...Bennett didn't have any toy guns, so he used his six guns instead (fingers :o)

Cousin Andersen looking oh so cute in his cowboy attire. :o)

Bennett and I down by the train depot...he was happy there I swear...just not at the moment that we snapped the picture. :o)

Family picture of the immediate family on Dan's side.

Ardis and MaryAnn (it was her birthday that brought us all to Missoula!)

Bennett and I riding the Carousel in the middle of town.

Max with his binky and play sword. This is how he rolls. ;O)

Bennett chilling in the rocking chairs in front of the Cracker Barrel.

Us on the way back to the car...sadly no Cracker Barrel for us for awhile...when will they get one in California??

Dan and B in front of the steam locomotive on display at the train depot.

The 3 cousins and Uncle Joe posing with the huge fish sculpture in the park behind the hotel. There is artwork everywhere in Missoula...sculptures everywhere you turn.

Dan the pack mule entertaining the kids with horsey rides...and some of those kids were not light weights...including Bennett!

Bennett and Max petting the very friendly kitty at Marie's house.

Bennett and Dan petting Snappy, one of Marie's horses.

The 3 cousins eagerly awaiting their turn to horse back ride.

Joe and Max on Snappy the horse.

All the kids ready to go and Dan and Marie leading the horses around.

Cousin Max and Cousin Joshua.

Cousin Sam eating some ice cream (the kind with the hard chocolate shell on it!)