Florida

Ben, Alex and I spent our week vacation visiting Ben's dad in Florida. We hit the beach, the aquarium and some really good restaurants. Alex liked the aquarium, but he was just a little too young to be captivated. He did like to watch the fish swim right in front of him though.
Alex LOVED the sponge and of course immediately tried to put it in is mouth. ewww.

The alligator vs. Ben (he wouldn't get too close even with the glass separating them).

I love this picture.

We were in a hurry when we got Alex's swim diapers and when we got home we realized that not only were they pink, they also had the little mermaid on them!

The first time the water touched Alex's feet he screamed, but Ben and I love the beach too much to be thwarted by a few tears. We kept dipping him in until he decided he was okay.

pictures of the boy.

He bounces himself to sleep...


After swimming for the first time...

One day before school we decided to do a quick photo shoot on our front porch...

It was going pretty well until this...

And when we changed him he turned into our little hillbilly...

but what a cute hillbilly...

a few of my favorite things...

So Ben posted some pictures from Christmas but left out some of my favorites.
There is only one recent one of Alex (sorry grandmas!).

This is from just a few days ago.

Law Schools, Music

I recently got into the University of South Carolina, making me 6 for 6 with 2 more to hear from!

To celebrate, check out an awesome French band, Phoenix. They recently won a grammy; you've probably heard their song from a certain car commercial.

Here

The Holidays

Alex's first Christmas

Alex and his cousin Grace

Alex and his aunt Haley at Christmas dinner

Aunt Haley, Alex's Nana

Me and my boy Mike - Christmas Edition

Alex's cousins Noah, Gwen, and Ryan (I may have started this pillow fight. Maybe.)

Alex thinks Uncle Cameron looks nice

Until he tries to eat him!

Alex and me, chillin' Yuletide style

The Fentriss Headquarters with some festive snow

We're buds

Too cute to leave out

This was Halloween (another holiday). Forgot to post it!

More pictures will come (Dixie's take on the Holidays). - Ben

Alex's Experiences with Rice Cereal and The Beach Boys

(Alex with cousin Jacob)

Alex needs to be sung to constantly. What can I say? He loves music - just like his daddy. If I don't sing "Fly Me to the Moon" to him after I turn the lights out, he'll refuse to go to sleep. Since he was born, Beach Boys' songs have been the most popular with him. Below is our own version of "California Girls":

The California girls are fake with their dyed blond hair and their tans
And the Texas girls, well you'd have to speak Espanol to hold their hands
The New York girls are different and they might come off as mean
And the Idaho girls, I'm going to tell you straight, they'll want your baby at fifteen

So I wish they all could be Virginia girls
I wish they all could be Virginia girls
I wish they all could be Virginia girls

We've started feeding Alex some solids. Here he is eating some rice cereal for the first time a week or so ago.

He likes it. Really.
-Ben

Grandma

My grandmother passed away recently. She was a smart, great woman who I loved to talk with. Below is a little bit more about her.



MOWBRAY, Joan Copeland Fentriss, of Chesterfield, went to be with her Heavenly Father on January 12, 2010. Joan was born in Long Island, New York on February 7, 1931. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy MacCallum Copeland and Carroll Pray Copeland; her brother, John Copeland; and her grandson, Stephen R. Fentriss Jr. Joan leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband of 31 years, Claude Robert Mowbray; her children, Stephen R. Fentriss (Patty), Laurence C. Fentriss, Cynthia F. Luck (Mike); her daughter-in-law, Cynthia B. Fentriss; her grandchildren, Shelly (Scott), Kristen (Andy), Ben (Dixie), Haley (Cameron) and Megan; her great-grandchildren, Brooke, Julia, Jacob and Alexander; her stepchildren, Glenn Mowbray, Claudia Wilson and Chris Mowbray (Marie); stepgrandchildren, Chad, Ryan, Christa, Steven, Alex and Scott; and her stepgreat-grandchild, Camden. Her family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bliley's- Chippenham, 6900 Hull Street Rd., where a funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Scottsville Cemetery in Scottsville, Va. Joan attended Averett College and the University of Richmond. She was a former vice-president of the Trust Department at Suntrust Bank, from where she retired. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had many devoted friends from her church family. Thank you for your love and support. She was a devoted wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma. She leaves us with many life lessons and treasured memories. Special thanks to the many caregivers, Janet, Louise, Emily, Jenny and many other friends that cared for Joan before and during her illness. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to either hospice or the Alzheimer's Association to whom the family is very grateful for their support.