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<channel>
	<title>Our Life and Times &#187; Benjamin</title>
	<atom:link href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/category/benjamin/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com</link>
	<description>Because sometimes, things happen.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:03:39 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<item>
		<title>Morning People</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/09/09/morning-people/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/09/09/morning-people/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:49:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Toad</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=2332</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some people are born morning people: Some people&#8230; aren&#8217;t: Brought to you from the files of &#8220;trying to get the kids used to waking up earlier for preschool&#8221;.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some people are born morning people:</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/morning_ben.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2333" title="Benjamin is a morning person." src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/morning_ben.jpg" alt="Benjamin in the morning." /></a></p>
<p>Some people&#8230; aren&#8217;t:</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/morning_nata.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2334" title="Natalie is not a morning person." src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/morning_nata.jpg" alt="Natalie in the morning." /></a></p>
<p>Brought to you from the files of &#8220;trying to get the kids used to waking up earlier for preschool&#8221;.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Funny Kids</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/09/01/my-funny-kids/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/09/01/my-funny-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:14:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Just For Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=2147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One morning Ben came running into the house, very excited and shouting &#8220;Mommy mommy! A snake in our yard! Come an&#8217; look!&#8221;  I was pretty confident that he had NOT seen a snake, but figured I&#8217;d better check out whatever he was so worked up about. Apparently he had never observed a snail before and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One morning Ben came running into the house, very excited and shouting &#8220;Mommy mommy! A snake in our yard! Come an&#8217; look!&#8221;  I was pretty confident that he had NOT seen a snake, but figured I&#8217;d better check out whatever he was so worked up about.</p>
<p>Apparently he had never observed a snail before and he was COMPLETELY FASCINATED.  He wanted to know all about them.  Especially the trail of slime.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6448.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2312" title="sm_MG_6448" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6448-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="530" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6457.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2314" title="sm_MG_6457" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6457-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="579" height="868" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6452.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2313" title="sm_MG_6452" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sm_MG_6452-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="795" height="529" /></a></p>
<p>Look at that snail, running for his life.  Don&#8217;t worry, we politely returned him to a bush when we were done observing (we only kill spiders, and sometimes ants).  I know my mom is laughing right now because I used to tell her, &#8220;Snails are my friends!&#8221; and make little homes for them.</p>
<p>PS- I was planning to add a bunch more funnies to this post, but WordPress is giving me trouble this week and won&#8217;t save drafts, so I lost a bunch of work. <img src='http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif' alt=':(' class='wp-smiley' />   Hopefully more blogs coming soon!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ben&#8217;s Birthday Recap!</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/29/bens-birthday-recap/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/29/bens-birthday-recap/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:25:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1953</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On his actual birthday, Ben got a donut for breakfast (it&#8217;s tradition). That day was pretty normal.  Had a MOPS planning meeting at church, followed by a play date. That evening after dinner, Ben got to open his present. I was trying to get him all pumped up. Hard to tell who was more excited: [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On his actual birthday, Ben got a donut for breakfast (it&#8217;s tradition).</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0926.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1968" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0926" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0926-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0925.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1967" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0925" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0925-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="359" height="539" /></a></div>
<p>That day was pretty normal.  Had a MOPS planning meeting at church, followed by a play date.  That evening after dinner, Ben got to open his present. I was trying to get him all pumped up.  Hard to tell who was more excited: Ben, or Natalie?</p>
<p><object style="width: 425px; height: 350px;" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/qrEa_Og-vQI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qrEa_Og-vQI" /></object></p>
<p><object style="width: 425px; height: 350px;" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/-1S9Aeb50lo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-1S9Aeb50lo" /></object></p>
<p>We got Ben a balance bike for his birthday. It doesn&#8217;t have any pedals, he is supposed to learn to coast along and balance on it.  He really likes it but is just a little bit too short still to work it properly.  Give him another inch and it will be a lot easier!</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0965.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1969" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0965" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0965-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0970.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1970" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0970" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0970-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a></div>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0977.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1971" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0977" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0977-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0974.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1987" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0974" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0974-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="359" height="539" /></a></div>
<p>The next day was Ben&#8217;s party.  We invited his best buddies Isaac, Jack and Will (and their families) for a little lunch and cake.</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3656.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1974" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3656" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3656-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3774.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2010" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3774" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3774-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3674.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-2009" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3674" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3674-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3774.jpg"> </a></div>
<p>It&#8217;s pretty easy to entertain little boys&#8230; some bubbles dumped on the ground are a great thing to play in!</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3684.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1976" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3684" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3684-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3684.jpg"> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3687.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1977" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3687" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3687-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3665.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1975" title="smIMG_3665" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3665-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="585" /></a></p>
<p>The cake is my favorite part, you may have noticed.  This one was three layers white cake with Swiss meringue buttercream with a touch of lemon juice (quite possibly my favorite frosting ever).  The filling was strawberries, lemon curd, and more frosting.  It turned out very similar to a Bread Basket cake, if you are familiar with that Camarillo bakery.</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3688.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1978" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3688" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3688-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3706.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1980" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3706" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3706-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a></div>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3724.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1982" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3724" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3724-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="540" /></a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3718.jpg"> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3718.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1981" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3718" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3718-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3727.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1989" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3727" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3727-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3737.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1990" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3737" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3737-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3673.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1988" style="width: 32%; height: auto;" title="smIMG_3673" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3673-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<p>My friend Katie took pictures so I could concentrate on the party.  This is not the greatest family picture, but at least we tried!  And the birthday boy was happy, that&#8217;s what matters, right?</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3768.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1991" title="smIMG_3768" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3768-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="881" height="585" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3684.jpg"> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3684.jpg"><br />
</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Two-Year-Old Benjamin</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/20/two-year-old-benjamin/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/20/two-year-old-benjamin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:47:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1904</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Happy Birthday Ben! (Pretend I wrote this three weeks ago.) I can&#8217;t believe the &#8220;baby&#8221; of our family is now two years old!  He is talking up a storm and showing his hilarious personality.  I really thought he would be the quiet one, since his big sister could talk your ear off!  But he repeats [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Happy Birthday Ben!</p>
<p>(Pretend I wrote this three weeks ago.)</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0012.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1929" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="smDSC_0012" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0012-685x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0646.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1928" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0646" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0646-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<p>I can&#8217;t believe the &#8220;baby&#8221; of our family is now two years old!  He is talking up a storm and showing his hilarious personality.  I really thought he would be the quiet one, since his big sister could talk your ear off!  But he repeats everything she says and has built up quite a vocabulary of his own sayings. His little exclamations are so funny:</p>
<p>&#8220;So cute!&#8221; (very high pitched)</p>
<p>&#8220;Watch this.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Oh maaaan, never EVER!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I do dat! I do dat!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Yeeeaaahhh, I know!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Okay dokay!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;I the leader!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Seeya! &#8216;Morrow!&#8221; (See you tomorrow)</p>
<p>Even though he will copy anything you say, Ben refuses to say his own name.  This is clearly some sort of joke, because he finds it very funny.  He does refer to himself as &#8220;buddy&#8221; sometimes, for example, &#8220;Buddy come too?&#8221;</p>
<p>His favorite joke is to hide one of his shoes behind his back while you put his shoes on, shrug his shoulders and say it&#8217;s &#8220;Gone! Hiding!&#8221;</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0769.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1922" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0769" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0769-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0869.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1918" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0869" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0869-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<p>He is still inseparable from his beloved brown blanket for long periods of time, but has been good about leaving it in the car when we are out and about.  Ben changed the blanket&#8217;s name from &#8220;Beeky&#8221; to something more like &#8220;Beekadee&#8221; and sometimes even &#8220;Beekadee Boy&#8221;.  He definitely thinks it&#8217;s a boy blanket. The other day he was asking me, &#8220;Where Beekadee? Where him go?&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0772.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1923" style="width: 98%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0772" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0772.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Robots are one of Ben&#8217;s favorite things.  One day while he and Natalie were playing with the cooking utensils he was thrilled to discover a robot (AKA bottle opener) in the drawer.   The other picture is Ben pretending to be a robot.  He did this himself while playing in Andy&#8217;s side of the closet. (I try not to keep too many toys around&#8230; hence the playing in unusual places.)  He does a robot walk and talks in a robotic voice.</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0741.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1921" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0741" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0741-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0895.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1919" style="width: 49%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0895" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0895-682x1024.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<p>He is a loyal brother to his &#8220;Dada&#8221; as he calls Nata (confusing at first, but he calls Andy &#8220;Daddy&#8221;.)  We could not have asked for a better playmate for her!  It&#8217;s fun to watch now that he is understanding and so involved in the games she comes up with for them! What a guy.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0904.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1920" style="width: 98%; height: auto;" title="sm_MG_0904" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sm_MG_0904.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a little video from my phone, of Ben counting.  He can actually count to ten when he&#8217;s not hamming it up for the camera!</p>
<p><object style="width: 425px; height: 344px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/0en6fGeZMUo"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0en6fGeZMUo" /></object></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0012.jpg"><br />
</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Imagination</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/14/imagination/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/14/imagination/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:13:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I love to see what the kids come up with when left to their own devices.  One morning they built a &#8220;rocketship&#8221; out of chairs and car seats, completely by themselves.  Here they are doing their &#8220;1-2-3&#8230; BLAST OFF!&#8221;  Natalie is great at coming up with fun make believe games and Ben is thrilled to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">I love to see what the kids come up with when left to their own devices.  One morning they built a &#8220;rocketship&#8221; out of chairs and car seats, completely by themselves.  Here they are doing their &#8220;1-2-3&#8230; BLAST OFF!&#8221;  Natalie is great at coming up with fun make believe games and Ben is thrilled to play along.  I love how well they play together.  This was actually back in February and I didn&#8217;t have a chance to post it, but I thought you all might enjoy one of my favorite things in action.  This is why I keep the camera in arm&#8217;s reach!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0001.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1908" title="smDSC_0001" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0001-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="670" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0001.jpg"></a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0005.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1909" title="smDSC_0005" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smDSC_0005-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="671" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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		<title>Someone Turned Two&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/06/someone-turned-two/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2011/04/06/someone-turned-two/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:45:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have not forgotten that Benjamin had a birthday last week!  I have lots to share about him because he is such a hoot, but not enough time to write up a post, or even process all the pictures.  I have some video to share of him, too&#8230; he&#8217;s talking so much and doing so [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have not forgotten that Benjamin had a birthday last week!  I have lots to share about him because he is such a hoot, but not enough time to write up a post, or even process all the pictures.  I have some video to share of him, too&#8230; he&#8217;s talking so much and doing so many funny things, it really deserves a full post!  Coming soon&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3699.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1898" title="smIMG_3699" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3699-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="525" /> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3743.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1899" title="smIMG_3743" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smIMG_3743-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="351" height="525" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Underwood Farms</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/11/17/underwood-farms/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/11/17/underwood-farms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:21:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1603</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I keep forgetting to post these pictures of Ben&#8217;s first pony ride!  One day Natalie was at a birthday party, so Benjamin and I headed over to Underwood Family Farms with my friend Olivia, and her daughter Grace.  Underwood has a really fun setup with animals, rides, games, tractors, and giant fields full of pumpkins.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I keep forgetting to post these pictures of Ben&#8217;s first pony ride!  One day Natalie was at a birthday party, so Benjamin and I headed over to Underwood Family Farms with my friend Olivia, and her daughter Grace.  Underwood has a really fun setup with animals, rides, games, tractors, and giant fields full of pumpkins.  Ben was really interested in the turkey (it was bigger than him).</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0010.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1604" title="smDSC_0010" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0010-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" /></a></p>
<p>Ben got to have his first pony ride!  I wasn&#8217;t sure how he&#8217;d do&#8230; mostly because he sometimes decides to scream about strangers he doesn&#8217;t like.  But he was way too pleased to notice any of that.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0024.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1606" title="smDSC_0024" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0024-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="524" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0023.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1605" title="smDSC_0023" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0023-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="525" /></a></p>
<p>Grace and Ben:</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0025.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1607" title="smDSC_0025" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0025-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="699" height="466" /></a></p>
<p>I think this is the last post involving pumpkin patches&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0025.jpg"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0033.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1608" title="smDSC_0033" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0033-1024x685.jpg" alt="" width="697" height="465" /></a></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0038.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1609" title="smDSC_0038" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0038-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="694" height="461" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Hilarious</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/11/04/hilarious/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/11/04/hilarious/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:21:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1550</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s a good thing we keep the camera handy so we can remember  funny little moments like this.  We were getting ready for church when Andy caught Ben &#8220;shaving&#8221; his face with my hair dryer. Not so funny: in a 24 hour period, Ben broke my steam mop (so sad), brought me a dead bird [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s a good thing we keep the camera handy so we can remember  funny little moments like this.  We were getting ready for church when Andy caught Ben &#8220;shaving&#8221; his face with my hair dryer.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_0122.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1551" title="DSC_0122" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_0122-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="335" height="500" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_0123.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1552" title="DSC_0123" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_0123-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /></a></p>
<p>Not so funny: in a 24 hour period, Ben broke my steam mop (so sad), brought me a dead bird that he found in the yard, and burned him self on the toaster.  He keeps me on my toes.</p>
<p>Natalie wanted me to take her picture with the paper full of &#8220;N&#8221;&#8216;s she wrote for Grandma.  She said, &#8220;WAIT! Let me put my pen in my ear first!&#8221;  I started to tell her that we do NOT put pens in our ears, then realized she was doing the same thing I always do with my pens.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0002.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1568" title="smDSC_0002" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0002-685x1023.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="500" /><br />
</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0028.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1569 alignnone" title="smDSC_0028" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0028-685x1023.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="498" /> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0029.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1570 alignnone" title="smDSC_0029" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/smDSC_0029-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="499" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>September- A Picture Post</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/09/30/september-a-picture-post/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/09/30/september-a-picture-post/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:20:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1472</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just another day of dress up with Natalie, the Snorkeling Cowgirl Princess in a backwards shirt! Little Lights had a transportation themed field trip the Oxnard Airport, as well as the train station.  My kids were a little scared of the airplane and Natalie refused to sit in it when she had the chance, but [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just another day of dress up with Natalie, the Snorkeling Cowgirl Princess in a backwards shirt!</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0082.jpg"><img title="smDSC_0082" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0082-685x1023.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="475" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0098.jpg"><img title="smDSC_0098" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0098-685x1023.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="475" /></a></p>
<p>Little Lights had a transportation themed field trip the Oxnard Airport, as well as the train station.  My kids were a little scared of the airplane and Natalie refused to sit in it when she had the chance, but that&#8217;s okay.  Maybe transportation isn&#8217;t her thing.  I have a feeling next month&#8217;s farm field trip will be more her style.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0050.jpg"><img title="smDSC_0050" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0050-685x1023.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="475" /> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0067.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1474" title="smDSC_0067" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0067-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="475" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sm1017146316_27.jpg"><img title="sm1017146316_27" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sm1017146316_27.jpg" alt="" width="643" height="427" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0050.jpg"> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sm1017208359_50.jpg"><img title="sm1017208359_50" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sm1017208359_50.jpg" alt="" width="647" height="428" /></a></p>
<p>The kids got new pajamas for fall.  This is a REALLY. BIG. DEAL. in our house.   These pictures are blurry because I didn&#8217;t use the flash but too cute to not post.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0034.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1476" title="DSC_0034" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0034.jpg" alt="" width="645" height="428" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0025.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1475" title="DSC_0025" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0025.jpg" alt="" width="647" height="433" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0006.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1480" title="smDSC_0006" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0006-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="321" height="477" /></a> <a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0013.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1481" title="smDSC_0013" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0013-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="321" height="478" /></a></p>
<p>Natalie had her first trip to the dentist.  I am glad I waited till she was a little older because she did amazingly well!  She had a full cleaning, and didn&#8217;t have any cavities.  She talks a lot about plaque now.  Ben is also really picking up on oral hygiene.  He loves for us to brush his teeth, and the other day I caught him brushing his baby&#8217;s teeth.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0038.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1479" title="smDSC_0038" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0038-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="474" /> </a><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0056.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1478" title="DSC_0056" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_0056.jpg" alt="" width="317" height="473" /></a></p>
<p>It&#8217;s great that Ben loves babies because we have a little buddy named Will who comes to our house on Mondays while his mommy works.  The kids ADORE him and it&#8217;s so much fun to have him around!  Nata can play on the floor with him for hours, and Ben showers him in kisses.</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0014.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1482" title="smDSC_0014" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0014.jpg" alt="" width="637" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="../wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0034.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1483" title="smDSC_0034" src="../wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0034-685x1024.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="475" /></a></p>
<p>September was a really busy month but there are some highlights for you at least!</p>
<p><a href="../wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0050.jpg"> </a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Haircut</title>
		<link>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/09/17/haircut/</link>
		<comments>http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/2010/09/17/haircut/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Sep 2010 05:19:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mollie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Benjamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life & Times]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/?p=1447</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Someone got a haircut this week.  This is the before picture&#8230; obviously!  Ben&#8217;s hair is super light so I didn&#8217;t really notice till I took this picture with the sun behind him.  But yeah that hair was getting a little crazy.  He&#8217;s cute, regardless! \]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Someone got a haircut this week.  This is the before picture&#8230; obviously!  Ben&#8217;s hair is super light so I didn&#8217;t really notice till I took this picture with the sun behind him.  But yeah that hair was getting a little crazy.  He&#8217;s cute, regardless!</p>
<p><a href="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0017.jpg">\<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1446" title="smDSC_0017" src="http://thetoads.hawkbats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/smDSC_0017-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="477" height="717" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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