Home Sweet Home on Easter Sunday

Sitting in my big boy high chair.

Holding Matthew's hand.


I love my Easter basket!

It's been a long day Mom.

I sure missed my Dad!

It's tough coming home from vacation - I have lots of rest to catch up on!

Ben and I are home from our trip to Puerto Rico. It feels so good to be back in MN although I could do without the snow! Ben was a great traveler - I actually received compliments on the airplane on how well-behaved he was. Chris met us at the airport and had Ben in his arms about 2 seconds after we came through the door to the baggage claim. Ben chattered to Dad all the way home - he has lots of stories to tell him!

Chris and I hosted Easter dinner at our house today. It was nice to spend the day with family and hang out at home. Ben sat in his high chair for the first time while we ate dinner. He is really trying to sit up on his own so he enjoyed sitting in his chair while everyone was at the table - he likes to be where the action is! We wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope that you were able to be with loved ones today. We are truly blessed to have Ben in our lives and we find joy in every second that we spend with him. Happy Easter!!

Coqui, Coqui

We hear "Coqui, Coqui" all day when we are outside. Coqui are little frogs that sing that song - I really like hearing them and I imagine Ben does too. I bought him a little stuffed animal Coqui and posed him with Ben during our ride home from Old San Juan today.

Last Day of Vacation!

I wonder what it would be like to be on my tummy right now...

If I get these legs moving maybe something will happen..

so close!!

One more nap with my Grandma - she's so good at putting me to sleep!

It's our last day in Puerto Rico. We have had a great time, especially spending time with my Mom, but I think we are all ready to head home. Ben and I really miss Dad, Bella, and Gaby and Grandma misses the Old Cat and Grandpa. Ben has learned some new tricks that he can't wait to show Dad - he can now scream when he wants something, he can stick his tongue out when he watches someone else do it, and he can roll from his back to his stomach. The first one isn't so fun but the other two are pretty neat. This vacation/volleyball tour was a nice break from the cold weather and snow of MN but I am anxious to get home and back into out routine of daily activity. I am hoping the weather will warm up and stay that way soon - I hear we have had a new round of snow since we've been gone. Having Grandma is Oregon is going to be very hard, Ben has really enjoyed spending time with her and he is going to miss her terribly (so will I). Ben and I can't wait to see Dad tomorrow and hope that Grandma and Grandpa will be in MN soon (April maybe?!?)!

Tummy Time on vacation?!?

Mastering gross motor skills is hard work! Mom even makes me do tummy time on vacation! Sometimes I think she just likes to have something to take pictures of...

Old San Juan

Mom, Grandma, and Ben getting ready to head up to the fort.

Grandma and Ben in Old San Juan

That's a lot of cannonballs - where's my bottle?

Afternoon siesta in Mom's arms - here's the beginnings of my new awesome tan lines.

Just about done with this sight-seeing stuff - where's my bottle?

Ben, Mom, Grandma, and Nao (MN Volleyball's Director of Operations) went to Old San Juan today to do a little sight-seeing. Ben was a real trouper - it was very windy and sunny and he just went with the flow. We started out at Castillo San Felipe del Morro (a historic fort in Old San Juan) where we toured the entire fort. There was a lot of walking and once Ben had his bottle he fell asleep in his carrier. We really made sure Ben had lots of sunscreen on but Mom forgot to put some on herself and ended up with some interesting tan lines from the carrier. We did a little souvenier shopping before we headed home. We ate dinner at one of our players family restaurants in San Juan this evening. The Puerto Rican cuisine was excellent. Ben hit a wall right after dinner and we made our way home to put the little guy to bed. He had some cuddle time with Grandma this morning so Mom could sleep in a bit. Grandma wasn't complaining about that at all!
Ben wanted me to relay a message to Grandpa in Oregon: I miss you so much and can't wait to see you. You won't believe how much I've grown! I'm sending hugs and kisses home for you with Grandma and hope that you will come to MN soon!!

2-0 in Puerto Rico

Ben and Grandma watched the Gophers take on the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey (equivalent to NCAA D-2 college) today in the first volleyball competition of the trip. The girls won 3-0 and played well. Ben wasn't to thrilled with all the noise in the gym - the Puerto Rican fans have noise makers that they use when a good play is made. He took a two hour nap with Mom when we got back to the hotel before I had to leave for the 2nd match of the day. We played a Superior League professional team and won 3-2. Overall it has been some very good volleyball and the girls are playing well. Ben and Grandma hung out at the hotel this afternoon and evening and now Ben is sleeping in his bed as I write this. Tomorrow is a day off for the team and Mom, Grandma, and Ben are going to try and do something fun together. Ben and Mom wanted to write a message to Dad, Bella, and Gaby: We miss you so much and can't wait to see you Saturday. We love you!!!

Beach Bum

Waiting to get in the water!

Hmm...my pants are wet and I didn't pee

Lookin' good in my swim trunks and hat

Tired boy

Got my green on for St. Patrick's Day!

Mom and the team at the PR Olympic Training Center

How many little boys can say they spent their first St. Patrick's Day at the beach in Puerto Rico with 8 college volleyball players? That's what Ben did today - he got his first beach and ocean experience at Isla Verde Beach in San Juan. We got him all greased up again with sunscreen, put his swim trunks and swim diaper on, broke out a new hat and hit the sand and surf. Ben seemed to enjoy the sand in his toes and the warm ocean water. He wasn't too sure about the waves, they caught him by surprise - quite a change from his usual bathtub experience! His "swim" tired him out pretty quickly and he spent the rest of our beach outing taking a nap in my arms under a palm tree. He and Grandma hung out together at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon and evening as I went with the team to practice at the Puerto Rico Olympic Training Center. Tomorrow Ben will see his first volleyball match as the girls compete against the University of Puerto Rico and a pro team.

The Pool

Get ready pool - here I come!

Not too sure about this anymore...

What's an Iguana?

Water is a bit cold Mom...

This is much better!

Again, cold water Mom!

Ahh, warm and toasty in my towel.

Mom likes this flower a lot.

Here's one of those Geckos she was trying to show me.

Rock on - ready to go back to the room.

We took Benjamin to the pool today after I came back to the hotel from practice. The weather was overcast and not too hot and humid so I thought it would be a good day to try out Ben's water wings. My mom brought him some new swim trunks from Oregon and we got him in his new swim diapers. He even had his AquaSocks on - he looked ready for some serious swimming. He had his sunblock on, his hat, and his SPF t-shirt just in case some rays of sun were peaking through the clouds. Mom and Grandma got their swimsuits on and we were ready to go. The pool area was pretty quiet so after a lot of pictures I headed in with the boy. The water was a bit cold so we started out by putting his toes in the hot tub. He seemed to like that so we went back to the pool and got the legs and butt wet. After some surprised looks from Ben he seemed to enjoy his time in the water with Mom. We ended our pool adventure back in the hot tub to warm the legs up again. Grandma and Ben then wanted to show Mom some of their favorite spots in the hotel so we went for a stroll. I stalked a few geckos and tried to show Ben but they didn't seem to want to say Hello (I should say Hola since we are in PR) to us. Ben let us know that he was ready for a bottle and nap so we ended our pool outing and headed back to our room. Tomorrow we hit the beach for some fun and sun in the surf!

Ben's Thoughts On His First Day in Puerto Rico

My hand tastes as good here as it does back home.

I had a good day hanging out with Grandma and Mom - I'm hoping to check out this thing they call a pool tomorrow...

I think I heard a bottle being made up with my name on it!

I wonder how those Gophers did today against Illinois...maybe Mom will cruise the internet tonight and let me know in the morning.

Ben and Grandma - Reunited

Waiting for my Grandma

Here she is!

Ready to stroll!

Grandma Sharon made it to San Juan a little after we did Friday night. She had a long day flying also -from Portland, OR to Philadelphia to San Juan. But she sure did perk up when she got to the hotel and saw Benjamin. It took her about 2 seconds to say Hi to me and get past the door to where he was laying on the bed. He had lots of stories for her, talking on the phone just isn't the same. Grandma cuddled and talked to Ben until he told her he was very tired and needed to get some sleep. They spent Saturday morning together as I had to go with the team to practice at 7:30 am. They went for walks, checked out the hotel and pool, had some food, napped, and read books until Mom got home around 2 pm. Ben got to break out the new spring/summer wardrobe - he was looking cool down at the pool. He's thinking that maybe he'll break out the swim diapers and new swim trunks to hit the pool tomorrow. Stay tuned!
PS - We love you Dad (Bella and Gaby too) and miss you tons!