Mr. Independent

Oh, I just can't get enough of the lake this summer. Neither can Bennett.

Last weekend he rode in the tube for the first time with me. Bennett was very indifferent about it. I thought he'd be afraid to do it - nope! But he wasn't overly excited either. He just kind of sat there like that's what he was supposed to be doing, no big deal. While we were riding, I asked him if he was having fun. He said, calmly, "Mm hmm."

We were back at the lake this past Thursday to visit with some of Josh's family, and Bennett wanted to ride in the tube again. He had been playing in the it, just while we were swimming near the dock. He fits so nicely in that little hole that Josh decided he should try it by himself.

I was a little nervous about it, but there was absolutely no one on the lake that day (it was a weekday and school had started back), he fit nicely down in that tube, and Josh's dad and I were both in the boat with Josh, all prepared to jump in if we needed to (I was not in a swimsuit, but you better believe I'd have been in that water in a heartbeat if I needed to).



I apologize for the camera work. I was trying to watch him -not through the camera lens- and lost him a little bit.

At the beginning of the summer, Bennett would jump into the pool or lake to Josh, Pop, Poppa, whoever. But he hasn't wanted to jump the last several times we've been at the pool or the lake. I don't know why. But I guess after tubing all by himself he had a newfound confidence and was ready to do it again - this time, not even needing Josh to catch him. As he says, "I'm gonna do it all by myself!"



I can't believe he's getting so big. He's an actual 'little boy' now. It's so much fun to watch him growing up. I'm trying to really take it all in and not let it just zip right by me. But try as I might...