Auntie Amanda came to visit!!

After we had to say goodbye to the Larmores, we headed to the airport the same day to pick up my sister!  Benjamin was soooo excited to see his Auntie Manda.  He was running around the airport like a crazy man and was really happy to see her!

Of course when Auntie Amanda comes to visit, Benjamin gets the much beloved CHEESEBALLS! :-)

We took quick trips to Albany and Salem for hair cuts and shopping, we went to parks, we shopped in Eugene, we swam in the backyard, we went to the aquarium and spent the day on the coast, we went to the Oregon Zoo, we went to a minor league baseball game......it was an awesome 2 weeks.  Of course we had lots of downtime in between those outings that made for some good sister catch up sessions!  Here's a few pictures of our fun times together!

 We went to the ocean for the day!!!!

Benjamin loved watching all the animals at the aquarium exhibits!

he loooooves sharks!

he is mildly obsessed with all ocean life and loves sting rays

all star shaped things are starfish to him :-)

one of his favorite words to say is anemone (thanks to a fun library book)

jellyfishs

 after the aquarium and a picnic lunch, we headed to the beach.  It was a beautiful day!  Auntie Amanda was so good about playing in the sand with him

 he obviously LOVES it

 coming back from a very cold dip in the ocean (which he didn't like at all, thanks Daddy)

 our little Baywatch babe :-)

sweet little feet :-)

We also spent some time watching Benjamin swim after naptimes since it was finally summer weather

he loves to go swimming

except for when Mommy takes away his shark toy because he kept throwing it, ha! :-)

Peter worked a little extra some days so he was able to take a day off and go with us to the zoo!!

Benjamin loved watching the bears

it was fun to watch him point and recognize things

 the bears put on quite a fight/wrestling show for us and Benjamin talks all the time about "Bears, tackle, bear tackle"

 this boy loves tractors and was happy to ride on one

 the petting zoo part is always fun

 beautiful giraffes

 so much fun riding on Daddy (you can't see it great in this picture but he uses Peter's ears as his reigns, I love it!)

a whole day of animals and his Aunt....he was in heaven

our crazy little family

a lot of love between these two

my beautiful sister and me

Mt. Hood was beautiful on this perfect sunny day

Benjamin was OUT COLD within 1 minute of getting into his carseat later that afternoon

On Amanda's last night in town we went to a minor league baseball game and had a great time

Daddy and son enjoying the baseball game

a fun last evening together

Thanks again for coming to visit Amanda.  We had a BLAST.  I loved having someone to talk to during the day, you were a great help with Benjamin and he obviously adores you.  This is what I would most times I would look in the backseat and see Benjamin staring at his Aunt Amanda.  Nothing but love, sooo cute :-)