Political

No, this post isn't political. I am becoming political. I guess.

Ben is helping with our Sunday school teacher's campaign as she runs for the state House of Representatives in November. He has been out knocking doors with her and her 'people' and attending campaign meetings.  They've asked him to be in charge of the social media aspect of her campaign, so he gets to update Facebook, make her web page look good, etc. Well, little did they know that he is pretty busy getting things ready for school. Last night as we were getting ready for bed, I asked him if he had gotten around to updating Facebook for her (because he was talking about getting it done Saturday and Sunday), and he let out a big sigh. 

Nope. He didn't get to it. He said I could do it if I had time.

Well, I have time, and I spend quite a bit of it on Facebook. It wasn't too hard to post some pictures on her wall for it. So, that's it.  I'm being political.

You can check out her webpage, or facebook/twitter Bly for MN House. 

Guess this is good practice for when Ben runs!

For those who only come to see Russell pictures, here you go! This is his favorite activity--eating burp cloths. Thanks for sending more, Becky!

Russell's Books

Russell loves reading books! He stares intently at the page, looking at the pictures and listening to the story.  Today he helped me turn the pages and was hitting the pictures of different vehicles in one of his books. Yesterday we went to the library to pick up more books so he can read other books besides those in his own little library.  I was impressed with the public libraries selection of board books. It was huge! I was expecting a little shelf, but they had several little (and by little I mean short for the little kids) shelves filled with board books.

One of my favorite ones he got was this one.

It is illustrated to look sewn.  Cool, huh? Okay.  At least I think its pretty cool!

Russell really likes some of his other books like

 

We love them too! Hopefully Russell develops a love of reading early that will stay with him for his entire life.

 Now that Ben has finished summer school and the bar again, we've been enjoying a relatively relaxed few weeks.  We took a trip to my parents right after Ben finished the second day of the bar exam, but we took no pictures while we were there.  Guess we were having too much fun!

Ben has been working on his classroom and getting stuff ready for the fall.  Here is a look at his classroom.

We've enjoyed getting outside to enjoy the weather.  Rochester has a lot of walking paths and parks, so we always have some place to go.  

 

Russell enjoys walks, too.  We got caught in a rain storm from that big black cloud, but Russell stayed nice and dry in the stroller.  Ben and I didn't fare so well!

 

We have also enjoyed lots of yummy food.  We made our own juicy lucies, and they were delicious!

 

 Our egg stuffed zucchini dinner and garlic gnocchi was also delicious.  The good cooking hasn't helped tons in losing the baby weight, but it tastes really good.  Ben is happy that now I'm the one staying home because we have such good food now.

Russell has started to actually like things like the singamajigs and his little penguin toy.  It's a good thing little penguin made it's way to us from Grandma's toy chest.  He smiles and gets excited when he hears it!

 He has also decided that he can sit by himself without one of us holding him.  It doesn't happen nearly as much as I'd like, but it's getting better, and I can get a few things done. 

That sums up life for us in Rochester.  What's new in your neck of the woods?