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I love smelling like a campfire!

We went camping with Matt's Apex band this past weekend, and it was so much fun! We've already talked about trying to go again sometime before it gets too cold. Spending an entire evening outside laughing and eating around a campfire always results in a very happy Jody! Beck (and his friend Jonas) stayed with Matt's parents for the whole night, and I think they had just as good a time as we did (Thanks, Steve and Denise!). Here are some pics from the trip:

The guys sitting around while the girls were probably somewhere chopping wood, making fire from flint, or putting up the tents. You know how it goes... :)


Melissa and me...the gigglers!


Me and Matt...gearing up for the fun.


One-handedly cooking the burgers...skill!


Drew and Melissa...they love to match!


Justin...I'm just not sure what this face means.


Elizabeth and Rob...they secured the site for us the night before and slept in the rain. That's true camping commitment!


We were playing a card game called "Wizard." Melissa is apparently "in character."


Drew providing light for the card game...and simultaneously preparing for a job in coal mining.


Mark joined us for a couple hours. This guy has some good stories.


Josh, me, and Matt...BFFs.


Melissa and me...I think we tried this picture about 5 times. Girls...


We love camping!


Really love it...


Best part of camping! 


No wait...THIS is the best part of camping: bacon & eggs over the fire!

Choo Choo!!

I have been absolutely buried in work this week, and I haven't been able to be as interactive with Beck. Fortunately for me, he keeps himself busy and doesn't normally get into things he shouldn't. However, this morning, he was in the living room by himself for a few minutes watching Thomas the Tank Engine (he's obsessed with trains lately). I came around the corner to check on him and saw him sitting on the coffee table (which he knows he's not allowed to do). I don't even know how he got up there to sit like this. He was saying, "Choo Choo...Choo Choo!!" And then when he saw me, he put his hands up like he knew he was caught! Haha!

You should see the other guy...

...except the "other guy" is a big concrete slab, so I'm pretty sure he's doing just fine.

Yesterday, while Beck was playing with some sidewalk chalk at grandma and grandpa's, he fell over (face-first) into some concrete. He's doing just fine, and he seriously doesn't even care at all that his face looks like the product of a UFC match. I think it makes him feel tough. I'm sure this is just the first of many to come...(but it still makes a momma feel sad).

Learning to face his fears of...a ball?

Let me start out this story by reminding you that Beck was 100% NOT scared of this guy when we ran into him on vacation a few weeks ago:

Yesterday, however, my mom bought a ball for Beck while we were grocery shopping. It's a ball that has little suction cups all around it so that when you throw it, it sticks. It also has a cool light inside. Beck was so excited about it while it was still in its package, but when mom took it out of the package, you would have thought he was staring face-to-face with a shark. The kid was terrified. I don't even get it.

So we decided to face his fear of that horrifying ball today. Watch all 3 videos...

It's too scary...but he wants to like it!

It begins to lure him in...

Over it...he likes it now!

And he has been playing with it and singing to it and talking about it ever since. Everytime he throws it and it lights up, he says, "Cool!" I'm proud of you baby-boy!!

Best buds...

So Beck has entered the beginning stages of friendship. He gets very excited whenever I say, "Jonas is coming over." He runs through the house squealing "JODEEEE!" Yep, I'm not sure how he's hearing that pronunciation of the name, but he's convinced that's how you say it. Friendship at this stage consists of Beck making sure Jonas has his sippy cup at all times, requesting a "cah-ker" (cracker) only to give Jonas the first bite, and sitting close by while Jonas gets his diaper changed (to show his "I feel ya, brother" support). So there it begins...cute!