State Fair 2009

We had a great time at the State Fair yesterday! Alyssa and I went with Mom, Dad and Allison. We saw the dog show, the bird show and a diving show. Alyssa loved the petting zoo. We sampled fried potato twirls, funnel cake and fried peaches (yummy!). It was a little humid outside, but other than that it was a great day to be at the fair. Big Tex had a miniature train running around the base of the display this year. I really liked that. We had fun looking at all the arts and crafts and walking through the car show. It was a really fun day! To make it even better, it was $1 admission day when you brought 3 canned goods. What a deal!





My little pianist

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Alyssa Turns 1!

It's hard to believe that Alyssa is 1! We had a nice party to celebrate a couple of weeks ago. Here are some pictures...

My big girl on her birthday!



Cake time!


Showing Daddy her yummy cake

She liked the bows on the presents the best


She got her first baby doll





Playing with the ball machine toy from Grandpa and Grandma Bennett

Riding in the car from Mommy & Daddy


Reading a book from Aunt Allie and sitting on the beautiful quit from Grammy (my mom)


It was a great day! Alyssa is not walking yet, but she is most definitely a toddler. Her favorite foods are watermelon, peas and bread. She especially likes playing with her baby doll, ball machine and reading books. Her first word, and only word so far is "this". It's pretty cute. She points and says "dis?" (as in "what's this?") She also likes playing with the dogs. She throws the ball to Kaylee and likes to sneak up on Miko and pet him. It's been a great year! I'm looking forward to watching her grow and learn this coming year. She is a joy, and we thank God for her.

Baby Bennett #2 On the Way

We are excited to announce that we are expecting again! Our little one is due 4-8-2010.

After a little bit of a rough start, everything is looking good now. I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks for the 12 week sonogram. Because of the complications, I've had 3 sonograms so far. (A very nice added bonus to countless doctor's appointments and blood work). It is so amazing to see that only a few weeks ago I could only see a small dot on the screen, but today I could see the face, arms and legs moving around. Amazing!

Anyway, we're pretty excited! Thanks for sharing in our joy.

- Julia

Alyssa and Miko Tear It Up

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Fourth of July 2009




Our Summer Vacation

Andrew has been on vacation the last 2 weeks, and we have had a lot of fun doing things around town. We decided to do a "staycation" this year. We've had a nice mix of relaxing days as well as days where we've gone and done fun summer things.

I've particularly enjoyed watching Alyssa experience many "firsts"...like...
...first time in a big swimming pool
...first time at the lake
...first trip to the zoo
...first time to Chisholm Park Aquatic Center
...first time playing in the sand
...first time meeting Great Grandma Bennett

Here are a few pictures of the fun times we've had.

We've been playing outside almost every morning. Alyssa particularly enjoys swinging on the swing that her Grandpa Bennett made her.


Alyssa likes her sand and water toy.

Splashing in the water is fun!

Look at all this sand on my hand!


Now I have the sand all over my face!

One day we drove out to Lake Mineral Wells State Park. It was fun! We had a picnic dinner overlooking the lake...Andrew fished...and then we went swimming in the lake. It was very hot!

Time to go home. All tuckered out.

More swimming...this time at Grandma and Grandpa Bennett's while Andrew and I went out on a date! Dinner, bowling, air hockey and snow cones...so much fun!


Summer reading club...ok, not really, but she does love her books.


We went swimming at Grammy and Papa's pool with Aunt Allison. 1st time in a big swimming pool! She LOVES the water!


At the Zoo! It was again, really, really, really hot, but we still had a good time. Alyssa's favorite parts were the aviary, where Andrew took her out of the stroller and the birds were all flying around...and the aquariums.


Andrew's Grandmother just moved to town. She had been living in Arkansas, so we enjoyed going to visit her and also letting Alyssa meet her for the first time.



Well, it has been a fun couple of weeks. it's sad that tomorrow is Andrew's last day off before he goes back to work. We are thankful for his job, and also thankful for the time off.