Ben's Snow Adventures

Ben was so excited when he saw his "Cars" snow boots that he put them on right away... He didn't even wait for me to remove the tags!!

Ben plows through the snow.

Daddy pulls Ben through the snow. The next day they went sledding for real at Thorne Street Park. He had a blast then, too!

A view of the pine tree out back.

The back field. It was prettier when the snow was still fresh, but it still looks nice here.

Ben and Daddy made a snow tractor (not sure how much Ben helped), and then Ben destroyed it! The video below reminds me of a Japanese Godzilla film!

And here is Ben, making a snow angel. I love it. He looks like such a spaz!

Too funny not to post immediately...

Ben told Andy, "Arwen is happy" (referring to our kitty -- one of three).

Andy said, "Really Ben? How do you know?"

Ben: "Because I'm not chasing her."

Ah, so true!

2008 Family Portraits

Alex the Thumb Sucker!

So, for a few days time Alex was crazy about his thumb. He has gone back to trying to get his entire fist in his mouth, but for a while there he was just going to town on his right thumb. He was putting himself to sleep doing it. I don't have that recorded, but here's some precious evidence that Alex has been taking after his dear Uncle Thom...

we carry your heart

e. e. cummings wrote...

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time, Andy and I fell in love over the poetry of e e cummings. This one was always special to me. It seems to have a whole new meaning now. We all carry Jake's heart. So many of us have loved (and still love) him.

As so many of you know, Jake's heart lives on. For many months, Andy and I, and our parents, have followed the lives of Jake's heart recipient through his family's blog. In the beginning of October they contacted us anonymously through the donor organization. This is the way the organizations ask you to do it. Well, soon after, as we have indicated in previous posts, little Beckham went through a tumultuous time. We debated over what we should do. We had wanted for so long to contact his family, but we couldn't find the right words. Now we needed to tell them so much at such a difficult time. Ultimitely we decided to give full disclosure and tell them everything. So about three weeks ago we sent them a letter, including several ways to contact us.

Last night we received an email. I cannot possibly put to words how it made us feel to make a real connection with this family which has meant to much to us for so long. We love Beckham as we love Jake, for he has our little star within him.

So, this poem strikes such a chord. We all carry Jake's heart, a part of our lives that has been forever changed by his little life. And Beckham truly carries Jake heart, and Kim, Nate, Gwen and all their family and friends, too, carry Jake's heart. Jake may have left us physically, but he will never truly die, because he lives on in so many wonderful people. We cannot express our gratitude to all those who have followed our journey, and Beckham's, through the last fifteen months. Our hearts are full.

If you would like to share anything with the Scadlock family, their blog is scadlock.blogspot.com.

Alex and Carson

Alex got to "hang out" with his buddy Carson the other day, who is just nine days older. Look how cute they are together!

Alex and Ben play "Fish Lips"

Every time I watch this video I think, "It looks like Ben's too rough!" But as you will note, Alex laughs hysterically every time his brother gives him, "fish lips!"

Thoughts and Prayer Request

It has come to our attention that Jake's heart recipient is having some medical difficulties, including a clot in his brain. He continues to have ups and downs, but they are very hopeful. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Though we've never met him, this little boy means an awful lot to us, and that is to say nothing of how much his family loves him. We are hoping for a quick and full recovery.

Another Very Green Halloween

Once again, Ben wanted to be a tractor for Halloween. I should have known I was setting myself up to do big costume projects after last year. As many of you know, at the ripe old age of two, Ben fell in love with tractors. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if green blood runs through his veins. He likes all tractors, but John Deere seems to be his preference. Never mind that his Grandpa Tom has a New Holland and we have an old Ford (we're not counting little lawn tractors here).

It was suggested that I could simply reuse last years costume. It needed only minor repairs. I agree that Ben would likely have been happy, but I felt that would be a cop out. I was sure I could improve upon the design - plus I had fun making it. So, I asked Ben what kind he wanted to be. Without much hesitation, he suggested a John Deere Lindeman Crawler tractor. Jesse Lindeman converted John Deere tractors into crawler tractors before John Deere made them - Ben learned about these in one of his John Deere videos. The challenge was on.

Ben wasn't the only one that was green in our family this Halloween. Alex made his Halloween debut as a "Little Monster." Lately he is a smile, laugh, and cuddle monster!

Enjoy the pictures below, and feel free to leave a comment!

Holly gives a hoot, Alex the little Monster, Ben sans tractor (but still with JD green), and Andy with cobwebs on his shirt at Michael McNaughton's Halloween party. Fun was had by all!

Ben arrives at Odessa - the school has Fright Night the evening before Halloween for the kiddos.

Alex is a very docile little montser.

The brothers Campbell before heading out for trick or treating on Market street in Corning. Ben created the "Hat Tractor" as he calls it. Even toys dress up for halloween, I suppose.

Ben, Holly, and Alex as we begin our trick or treating on Market Street.

Above: The picture I worked from. I think Ben's is a pretty good charicature of the real deal.

Below: Ben in his John Deere Lindeman Crawler Model BO Tractor with dozer blade.

Alex the cuddly monster.

The Strong girls make adorable monkeys. Lorelei above with Todd, and Katarina below.

The pinata at Michael's party was a hit, but it wasn't hit. It was the pull kind. Michael's Mommy must have learned a thing or two by watching America's Funniest Home Videos!

Ben allowed Fisherman Michael to test drive his crawler tractor.

Left: Halloween 2008 - Ben as John Deere BO Lindeman Crawler Tractor
Right: Halloween 2007 - Ben as 1925 John Deere Spoker D Tractor

A blast from the past - last year's costume:

Above: Halloween 2007 - Ben as a 1925 John Deere Spoker D. All that was reused from last year's costume was the license plate, the SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) triangle, Ben's hat, and - of course, Ben.
Below: A real and very rare 1925 John Deere Spoker D (the only year they were made).

Smiles from Alex

Here are some photos of Alex smiling, and even a video! It's a little long, though. I wish I had a photo of him smiling at Ben like he did yesterday morning. He even laughed at his brother -- it was wonderful.

Pumpkin Carving at the Campbells

Last Wednesday, we carved pumpkins!

I put Alex in what was going to be his Halloween outfit. Note how snug -- he will not be wearing it on Halloween! I thought he'd still be in 0-3 month clothes at the time I bought it, since Halloween comes before he hits three months. Ha!

Ben needed some encouragement in order to dig the yucky stuff out of his pumpkin. We told him it needed to be excavated -- that did the trick!

After Ben dictated what he wanted his pumpkin to look like (it needed be a mad face, with "mad chomp ups," or teeth, in other words), he took to running laps around the dining table while Andy and I worked on the pumpkins (one for each of us).

Ben with the pumpkins: from left, mine, Alex's (both carved by me), Ben's (it looks a little bit feline), and Andy's (both carved by Andy).

Alex wasn't terribly interested in taking this photo, so it's not the best!

Pumpkins displayed in the window... Spooooky!

More like, "so chubby it's scary!" No, Alex -- you're adorable!!!

"Kiss Me Kate" article

The following is from the Odessa File. I'm not sure at one point in the show the photo of me was snapped. but it's prior to me tearing up the note that you can see peeking out of my shirt! The scarf is my new accessory -- keeping the throat safe and warm. Performance info is contained within the article -- I'd love to see you there! It's really taking shape, and such a fun show.

'Kiss Me Kate' is fast approaching

WATKINS GLEN, Oct. 24 -- The Lake Country Players will present "Kiss Me Kate" on November 7th & 8th at 8 p.m. and on November 9th at 2:30 p.m. in the Watkins Glen High School Auditorium.

The photos here were snapped on Oct. 23 during a rehearsal.

Ticket prices for adults are $12 at the door and $10 in advance. Seniors and students will pay $10 at the door and $8 for advanced sale tickets, available from cast members.

Questions concerning tickets or the performance can be directed to Tim Benjamin at 607-351-9260 or to lakecountryplayers@gmail.com

The cast list for the play is as follows:

Holly Campbell -- Lilli Vanessi / Katherine
Steve Hovis -- Fred Graham/Petruchio
Kelsey Olafson -- Lois Lane/Bianca
Robert Cornelius -- Bill Calhoun/Lucentio
Mike Truesdail -- Harry Trevor/Baptista
David Scott -- General Harrison Howell
Bill Cornelius -- 2nd Gangster
Andy Parker -- 1st Gangster
Jane Daum -- Hattie – Ms. Vanessi’s Dresser
Khaya Makhubu -- Paul – Mr. Graham’s Valet
Anthony Curren -- Ralph – Stage Manager
Beth Clark -- Wardrobe/Ensemble/Women's Quartet
Gene Holleran -- Pops/Priest/Men’s Quartet
Andy Blanchard -- Gremio/Riley
Jacq Goehner -- Hortensio/Flynt
Sam Capozzi -- Stagehand/Core Dancer
Chuck Luppe -- Stagehand/Philip/Men’s Quartet
Charlie Cole -- Stagehand/Haberdasher/Gen. Howell’s Driver
Adam Zimmer -- Dance Captain/Gregory/Core Dancer
Sarah Calk -- Core Dancer/Ensemble/Women's Quartet
Hannah Capozi -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Tesha Carrigan -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Deanne Combs -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Hasniyah Larayos -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Amy Moore -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Meghan Moore -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Grace Terry -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Martin Eccleston -- Core Dancer/Ensemble
Nancy Cole -- Ensemble
Zandra Lewis -- Serving Wench /Ensemble
Barbra Lavelle -- Ensemble/Women's Quartet
Michelle L. Benjamin -- Ensemble/Women's Quartet

Photos in text:

Top to bottom: Holly Campbell; Steve Hovis; (L to R) Sam Capozzi, Adam Zimmer, Martin Eccleston and Chuck Luppe; (L to R) Robert Cornelius, Jacq Goehner and Kelsey Olafson.

Trip to the Iron Kettle Farm, 10/14/2008