An 8 Year Old Interview: Bennett

Continuing our birthday interview tradition here is what Bennett had to say entering his 7th year (see interviews from his 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th birthdays):

1. Favorite Color: Red
2. Favorite Toy:  Tie between Grossery Gang, Beyblades, and Legos "if this question does not include technology"
3. Favorite Fruit:  Strawberries
4. Favorite TV Show or Movie: No idea.  I don't have a favorite.  I do really like Beyblade Burst.
5. Favorite thing to eat for lunch:  Pizza
6. Favorite Game: Beyblade, Subway Surf, Grossery Game, Jetpack Joyride(tablet), Blokus (board game), Trash and Sleeping Queens(card game), 
7. Favorite Snack:  Fiber One Brownie Bites
8. Favorite Animal:  Lizard
9. Favorite song:  The Greatest Show
10. Favorite book: Can you just put all of the books I read?  
11. Who is your best friend: Jay, Luke, Bradford, Carson
12. Favorite thing to do outside: Jump on trampoline with Beyblades
13. Favorite Drink: Pink Lemonade
14. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  my blue and white dotted blanket
15. Favorite thing to eat for breakfast:  Waffles or Pancakes
16. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Salmon, Strawberries, and Cucumbers
17. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Engineer....I mean, Duderancher
18. Imagine you can become invisible, what would you do?  I would sneak into an ice cream shop and lay $1million on the counter and buy a bunch of crazy ice cream stuff.
19. I am very proud because I am good at math.
20. I am afraid to go on the Zurg ride at Disney World.
21. Name one thing you do really well?  Beyblading 
22. Describe what it means to be a good friend?  It means to be kind and loving.  It means to spend time with them and point them toward God.
23. Favorite time of day?  I don't have one
24. Describe your best day ever?  Eat pizza for breakfast, eat pizza for lunch, eat salmon for dinner.  Play with Graham all day (if we didn't fight).  Play Grossery Gang and buy 20 Fungus Amungus packs.
25. Describe your favorite hobby: I kind of don't really have one
26. Climbing is fun.
27. I wish there were a law that said on March 28th everything is free.
28. What makes you feel sad?  When Zoe draws heartbroken pictures (she did this when Bennett hurt her feelings).  
29. What makes you feel happy?  New stuff.  Then I said, "Really?"  He said, "Not for very long.  Friends.  Friends make me happy."
30. Pretend you can fly.  Where would you go?  Italy and eat spaghetti, meatballs and pizza.  I would ride in a Gondola. 
31. Where do you want to go on vacation? To the beach
32. If you could choose a different name what would you choose? I don't know
33. What is your favorite thing to do with mom and dad?  Play, not anything specific.
34. What would you say about Jesus?  That He is our Savior and He is wonderful.

2 Year Old: Levi

(This was written on his 2nd Birthday.  Photos taken at 25 months)

Time keeps ticking which means my baby boy is 2!  Every year seems to go a little quicker than the last and this year has been no different.  Levi loves vehicles with trucks being his favorite.  His day is spent playing with trucks, looking at truck books, pointing out trucks while we drive, walking to our neighbors to play with their outdoor trucks, digging in the sand with trucks, and occasionally riding his trike or balance bike.

Around 18 months his vocabulary began to explode.  He now puts together 2-3 word phrases.  Many of his words and phrases are not clear to others, but I typically know what he is saying.  He says"

• Bulldosh for bulldozer
• Trwuck for truck
• I 'anna see for I want to see
• Woee for Zoe
• Bent for Bennett
• Weeooo, Weeooo for ambulance and police car
• Cackers for crackers
• Spidee for spider
• Awk me for rock me
• Tank You for thank you

He loves to dig in the sand and the mulch with his vehicles.  He loves to jump on the trampoline with his siblings.  He enjoys crawling around the house playing dog and cat with Zoe.  He loves splashing during bath time.  He loves to climb up the ladder to the monkey bars, attic, top bunk, pretty much anywhere.  He is crazy coordinated and desires to do everything his brother and sister are doing.  

He is still most easily comforted by his boppy (pacifier) and boppy/stinky (lovie).  At this season in my life he may have them until he is 4.  Life is too short to worry about it.

His favorite time of day is when daddy comes home. 

He is by far my pickiest eater.  He prefers breakfast foods.  He almost always will eat:

• Yogurt
• Sausage 
• Eggs
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Applesauce
• Goldfish, animal crackers, granola bars, sugary foods :)

No matter how many vegetables I put on his plate (which is daily) he will not chew them up and swallow them.  He may chew on them for a few seconds, but always spits them out.  If I cook ribs or wings for dinner he almost always eats them, but everything else is a "sometimes" or never food.  He will sometimes eat cheese, meatballs, bread, a bite of carrot with dip, grapes, orange, banana, grilled chicken, pureed veggie pouch, pulled pork, and salmon.

He used to be the best sleeper.  At bedtime we would walk in lay him down and he would sleep until 6 or 7 a.m.  All of that has changed.  He now wants to be rocked before bed and nap.  He often cries and yells for us once we lay him down.  He wakes up anywhere from 1-3 times at night and is up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. with 5:30 being the most common.  He takes one nap a day typically around 11:30-1:30.  

Favorite Toys:

• Tonka Dump Truck
• Mack Car Hauler
• Various Cars 
• Schwinn Roadster Trike
• Tonka Vintage Dump Truck and Cargo Carrier
• Take-n-play Diesel Works and trains
• Fisher Price Little People Sit and Stand Skyway

Favorite Books:

• Slide and Find Trucks
• ROADWORK
• My Little Machines Library
• My Big Truck Book

He wears a size 2T and a size 6 diaper.  Unlike his siblings he asks to wear a shirt with a truck or train on it almost daily.  For a few months he would be very upset if I choose something different.  Now he has expanded his choices a bit :)  

He has entered a more challenging phase, but to be honest he mainly makes us laugh and entertains us.  His lack of fear often leaves me nervous, yet laughing hysterically.  His toddle and his constant asking to go outside can make me crazy, yet make me smile.  His refusing to get in his high chair or car seat or crib can evoke anger, yet I think of his sweet face and it all fades.  

To my truck loving rooster,

I love you.  You have come in and swept us off our feet.  The way you adore each member of our family in your own way brings joy to my heart.  You hug us one minute and hit us the next :)  You are our little firecracker.  I pray God uses your love for life to spread His truth to the nations.  I pray He always guards your heart and your life.  May He mark you with His spirit, so that you always know He loves you and is with you.  I love you so very much and am grateful to our God that He placed you in our family.  Keep being joyful little man.

Love, 

Mom