the-benders

Counter Productive

2012-01-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

Claire's Standing Tall

2012-01-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

In the last week or so Claire has started to stand all on her own. Such a big girl. It won't be long till she starts walking!

Ski Trip

2012-01-26T20:57:00.000-08:00

Nathan and his cousin, Brighton having a good time on the Bendowski ski trip.

Just Playing Around

2012-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

MBG Train Show

2012-01-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

A trip to the botanical garden for the train show and a romantic stroll.

Bowling

2012-01-12T20:13:00.000-08:00

Nathan went bowling for the first time. He had a tough time staying focused, but all in all we had a great time.

X-mas Photos

2012-01-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

Train set

2011-12-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

Well I finally got the train set up on the mantel last weekend. Even pulled an all-nighter. Pretty impossible to work on it when Nathan is awake. I added a level now so there are bridges and tunnels. Take a look.

X-mas Tree

2011-12-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of our tree up. Nathan was really excited about it this year. He loved putting the ornaments on the tree.

Cutting down the x-mas tree

2011-12-16T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics from when we went out to cut down our tree. It was Claire's first and it was a lot of fun for everybody. We got to ride a tracker out to one of the areas... Nathan couldn't stop talking about how awesome that was.

Dear Santa

2011-12-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Nathan got to tell Santa what he wanted for x-mas the other day at school. He probably was talking to him about dragons.

Yum!

2011-12-07T14:03:00.001-08:00

Check it out...

Claire is feeding herself... and sometimes she even uses an utensil.

A good big brother

2011-12-07T13:53:00.001-08:00

With each day Nathan seems to find a new way test our patience. But it's moments like this that remind us how small those challenges are. Look at how concerned he was that Claire might not have enough toys to play with.

Nuts

2011-12-07T13:51:00.001-08:00

I think we found the source of our squirrel problem.

St. Joe State Park

2011-11-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

The weather was so nice on Sunday we thought we would make one more road trip for the season. We collected acorns for fall decorations and leafs for an art project.

Just The Cutest Little Thing

2011-11-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

Okay—I know everyone says this about their little ones... but she is just the cutest baby ever! Look at here standing there. Adorable!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Camping at Pere Marquette

2011-10-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we drove up to Pere Marquette for our first official camping trip. Nathan enjoyed some smores near the camp fire and Claire was delighted to wake up to some fresh outdoor air.

More Gulf Shores

2011-10-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from our trip down to Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores 2011

2011-10-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

Lake Carlyle

2011-09-20T05:09:00.000-07:00

Another Bender family reunion at Lake Carlyle.

Camping Trip

2011-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

So we made plans to go camping last weekend. We got a little busy and we were not able to make it out to the camp grounds. The problem was that we told Nathan that we were going to go camping and he was super excited about it. The only solution was to pitch camp in the backyard.

Claire's first sleep-over

2011-08-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well not exactly. The Streets brought over baby Tess and the both of them had a nap together. Two cute!

Come sail away

2011-08-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

My brother Josh "participated" in a charity for Wings of Hope. You were suppose to build a boat, and then race it in the Grand Basin in Forest Park. His "boat" pretty much came in last place... but it was the most epic fail ever!

Steam Train

2011-08-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Went out to Wabash Frisco Railroad to ride their tiny steam trains.

http://wfprr.com/

Claire's Laugh

2011-08-15T21:06:00.001-07:00

Art Project

2011-08-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

He's normally more of a impressionist painter, but he is taking a hack at some abstract. Actually, it was kind of cool. Nathan squeezed some glue onto a paper, added salt, and then painted it with watercolor.

Block Party

2011-08-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

We had a block party last weekend. Some neighbors set up a pool in their front yard and Nathan had a blast.

Looking out the window

2011-08-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Growing faster than roller coaster

2011-08-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Kids say the darndest things

2011-08-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to see how Nathan's speech has been developing. He has been compiling complete sentences for a while now. However, we can't help but to share some of his more profound, or more accurately—humorous ones:

"Daddy, I am very proud of you. You are my best friend."

July 24, After completing a train made out of cardboard boxes. We think he got this "proud of you" from one of his shows.

"I am not very happy with Freddie eating my bears. That makes me sad."

July 26, After Freddie (our dog) ate one of Nathan's tiny plastic toy bears.

"Umm, I just love you."
July 29, We normally tell Nathan "I love you more than _____." I think we picked it up from one of his books and it's kind of a little game we play with him. After doing this last week, he said "I JUST love you." It was pretty cute.

Build-A-Train

2011-07-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

How to build a cardboard train in one evening... just to get destroyed the next day.

Claire's Sitting

2011-07-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

Kind of. She is so close though. She will sit still for a few seconds, then she gets really excited, flares her arms out, and loses her balance.

Summer Days

2011-07-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Gotta love those long summer days. I know the weather has been getting crazy hot lately, but it sure beats cabin fever in the winter. There is SO much more to do in the summer. Just look at these kids having fun.

Tower Grove Park

2011-07-10T21:37:00.001-07:00

Claire Bear

2011-07-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

I know, I know—it's pretty ridiculous but we finally got our hands on a Care Bear and we couldn't resist the photo opp.

Great Grandpa

2011-06-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Playing trains with Great Grandpa.

Touch her toes

2011-06-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

Claire just starting touching her toes last week.

Shades

2011-06-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Smile for the cameras.

Heads-up!

2011-06-18T09:47:00.001-07:00

Lake Carlye

2011-06-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

We went to lake Caryle last weekend for Claire's first trip to the beach. I remember when we took Nathan for his first beach trip he was a little freaked out by the water. Well, Claire was the opposite. She loved it.

More to Love

2011-06-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

You have to see her at the very end of the video, she has the cutest most bashful smile. Enjoy.

Fort de Chartes

2011-06-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we took a trip to Fort de Chartes to see the Rendezvous. It was basically a lot of people re-inacting a 1700's French settlement. It was pretty cool, Nathan was not as in awe as I thought he might, but he got to see some cows—so that was cool. There was a person dressed as Jack Sparrow. Not really sure what that had to do with the Fort. It was pretty funny though.

I Got the Blues

2011-06-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

A bit too matchy-matchy?

Hanging Out

2011-06-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

Just hanging out during a nice summer evening.

Cooler

2011-06-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yep, looks like we might need to get a pool for Nathan.

Nathan's Birthday Party Mash-up

2011-06-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Three!

2011-05-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Nathan turned 3 last week. Crazy. Check out the light-bright that Shannon scored at a garage sale last weekend.

Piano

2011-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

We got the piano from goodwill — don't know where Nathan got the baseball.

Floored

2011-05-17T19:25:00.001-07:00

Still Loving the Trains

2011-05-17T19:24:00.001-07:00

Visit to the Garden

2011-05-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

We went to the Garden last weekend to see the tree-house exhibit. It was pretty cool. I don't know if you are allowed or not, but Nathan had a great time climbing and jumping off of one of the houses.

Easter

2011-04-25T20:11:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics of the kids from Easter.

Smile

2011-04-25T20:09:00.001-07:00

Take a look, Claire is starting to smile!

Baseball

2011-04-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

While cleaning out the garage over the weekend we fond a patio umbrella that worked perfect for t-ball. I was actually amazed by how quick Nathan picked it up.

My favorite is when it looks like he hits the ball and takes off to first.

Graham Cave State Park

2011-04-05T20:56:00.001-07:00

We took a trip to see Graham Cave near Columbia. The cave was very disappointing. I guess it was starting to collapse so they were to filling it in with gravel and it had a fence all around it. Although, the trails in the park were great. There was lots of little creeks for Nathan to play in and a big waterfall.

That's Cool

2011-04-05T20:55:00.001-07:00

Tug-a-war with Fred and Nathan

2011-03-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Thinking

2011-03-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

Cars

2011-03-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

They had real life cars out at the Transportation Museum. They were pretty cool, but I don't know if they were worth the 2 hour wait in line.

Hawn State Park

2011-03-21T20:42:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday we went for a hike at Hawn state park. Nathan hiked 3 of the 4 miles. It was a bit more of an adventure than what we were expecting, we had to brave through the chilly waters of pickle creek to make our return back to the car.

Trains

2011-03-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

A long awaited trip to see the trains.

Hi there.

2011-03-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Morning Hike

2011-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

We decided that we all needed to get out of the house on Sunday so we made a trip over to Illinois. We did some walking along the bluffs up by Alton . The weather was great!

Too Cute

2011-03-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

Helping Josh

2011-03-02T05:37:00.000-08:00

My brother Josh just moved into his new apt. Here is a pic of Nathan helping Josh put his cable line away.

Claire Bear

2011-02-21T05:22:00.000-08:00

Claire Bear from Matt Bender on Vimeo.

Baby Girl!

2011-02-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

Say hello to little baby Claire Jacqueline Bender, aka: Claire Bear.

Ski Trip

2011-02-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

belated xmas

2011-02-08T20:01:00.001-08:00

Should have posted these earlier... oh well, better late than never.

Snow

2010-12-16T02:18:00.000-08:00

Good thing his dump truck has 4-wheel drive.

Frosty

2010-11-30T22:02:00.001-08:00

My knee hurts.

2010-11-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

No he did not hurt his knee, I guess he picked this up when Mom hurt her knee earlier in the day.

MY knee hurts. from Matt Bender on Vimeo.

Halloween

2010-11-01T22:08:00.001-07:00

It was Nathan's first year to helping carve pumpkins. He was a really good helper and he enjoyed the mess.

Jump

2010-10-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

Gulf Shores: Part 2

2010-10-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

We put together a short video of Nathan enjoying Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores from Matt Bender on Vimeo.

Apple Picking

2010-10-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from when we went apple picking. We picked a lot of apples...we should be good if we ever have a nuclear fall out.

These pretzels are making me thirsty

2010-10-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Shannon made some pretzels with Nathan last week. Yum. I love how concentrated he is on rolling out the pretzel dough.

Momma

2010-10-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

We took a trip down to Suson Park to see all of the farm animals. Nathan enjoyed going through the barn and saying hello to each and every cow and horse by name. Look who's starting to show.

Train Spotting

2010-10-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

The largest operating steam engine in America (perhaps in the world) rolled through town over the weekend. We got to see it before it headed out west to Wyoming (i think?). We saw it downtown and then drove out to Pacific to see it again. In Pacific we were actually able to get right up next to it on the tracks.

Gulf Shores

2010-10-04T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Bender Family took a week long trip down to Gulf Shores Alabama. It was great. On the way down we stopped in Memphis to eat some BBQ and go to Mud Island. Nathan loved playing in the sand and swimming in the pool. We got up early a couple of mornings to see the sunrise and to collect seashells. On the way home we made a detour to New Orleans.

Lake Carlyle

2010-09-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

The entire Bender Family spent Labor Day weekend at Lake Carlye. This is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend, Nathan with a couple of his cousins.

Peachy

2010-08-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

Here is Nathan peach picking last weekend.

Nice Ride

2010-08-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of Nathan on his big wheels that Grandma Bender got him.

Train Show

2010-08-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Me, Shannon, and my brother, took Nathan over to see a train show in Belleville a few weekends ago. It was a little disappointing but they had a really cool Lego train setup.

Going Shopping

2010-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Check out Nathan at his second favorite shopping store "LaGrands." (His first is Sappington Market – they have a trains.)

4th of July

2010-07-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July weekend was pretty laid back. We beat the heat on Saturday over at our friends house hanging with their little boy Colin, chilln' by the pool. The two boys had a great time despite Nathan being a bit of a bully.

We went to the air show on Sunday. It started out great! Nathan loved our metrolink ride down to the riverfront. However, once we got out in the bright sun waiting for the airplanes, things took a turn for the worse. We lasted about 10 minutes and promptly headed back to the metro. Too much sun and not enough fun I guess.

In the evening we went to the Webster Groves fireworks show. Nathan was all excited to go down there. In the car he just kept repeating "fireworks, fireworks!" Although, when we got down there his tone softened and he was soon saying "Nathan Scared." He did all right. I think he still enjoyed it once daddy was able to comfort him, but he would not remove his hands from his mouth until a half hour past the show.

On Monday we took another trip out to Lake Caryle. It wasn't too crowed and there was a bit of a breeze. Nathan had a great time swimming, but he mainly stuck to the beach. He actually let us bury him up to his neck in sand. He loved wiggling his toes and watching them poke out of the sand.

Night Moves

2010-06-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Workin' on our night moves
Trying to lose the awkward teenage blues
Workin' on out night moves

Good Boy

2010-06-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

You will only understand this if you have a dog.

Lake Carlyle

2010-06-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

Over Memorial Day weekend we drove out to Lake Carlyle for a little fun in the sun. Nathan had a great time helping Dad build and destroy sandcastles. Here is a video of the little monster stomping victoriously through the remains of one of those castles.

Choo Choo I'm Two!

2010-05-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated Nathan's second birthday. I don't think I've every seen him as excited as when he came down from his nap to see a cake decorated as a train. Shannon and Aunt Joy outdid their selves. The cake looked and tasted great.

The cake wasn't the only cool thing about the party. He got a mini wheel barrel, a remote control train (that the dogs hate), trucks and a train table. We are still recovering from the joy of getting our very own train table, it's been very tough getting Nathan down to bed at a decent time.

Puddles Rock!

2010-05-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

Last week was pretty much nothing but rain. Pretty big bummer, but we made the most of it. We pushed some mulch into the gutter and instant dam. Nathan couldn't resist throwing some rocks into it either.

Truck

2010-05-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

We borrowed my Uncle's truck the other weekend. Nathan loved it. I think that our next vehicle may have to be a truck.

Easter Cousins

2010-04-09T20:33:00.001-07:00

Water is very tempting! No they are not trying to find easter eggs, the boys are trying to find a cat.

Easter Tie

2010-04-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Check out the easter tie that Shannon made for Nathan. Too cute right? Well don't worry, it ran a little big and Nathan has plenty of growing to do... so don't be surprised to see Nathan back with it next year.

Easter Egg Fun

2010-04-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

We had Tony, Jen, and Max over to dye easter eggs. If you can guarantee that an activity will be messy, I can guarantee you that Nathan will have a great time.

Say Cheese

2010-03-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Train, train, train, train

2010-03-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

Nathan went to the Transportation museum with his Aunt Joy. As you can see, he was very excited about it. Running from one train to another train and then back to the same train. Left on his own, he might have just ran back and forth the hole day.

Elephant Rocks

2010-03-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

Since it was so nice out this past Sunday we decided to take a road trip down to Elephant Rocks. Nathan had a great time, but he needs to work on his hide-n-go-seek skillz.

Hi Josh!

2010-03-09T06:47:00.000-08:00