THE TRAVELING GARDNERS

Tomorrow is our big move day. We will be moving on to base. If you didn't get the address update that I sent, just call or send me an e-mail. We have been going non stop getting ready for this move. But hopefully life will settle down once we are moved and set up in our new casa ! We won't have Internet after today for a couple of days. It will take some time to get everything set up again. Thankfully the movers will be packing, moving, and un -packing for us! No heavy lifting for this prego ! I will post pics of the new place when I get a chance! Lots of love, Leah, Ben, and Bean

Dan has hurt is ankle. He says that it is the size of a cantaloupe! Ouch! So he will be knocked out on Motrin and elevating his leg for the next couple of days. Let's hope his ankle returns to normal size soon! We love you Dan!! Feel better soon!!!! In other news ~ Dan is safe and well besides the ankle. He has had some trouble with all of the sandstorms and 100' weather. My Mom and Tom are going to mail him some Hepa Masks that Tom can get from his hospital. Hopefully this will help! I can not imagine the weather and conditions over there. Just keep him in your prayers and thoughts. :) WE LOVE YOU DAN!

I just got an e-mail from Dan. He mentioned that the Toby Keith concert on his base that was supposed to happen, was cancelled due to a really bad sandstorm. Toby was unable to fly in. And then I was browsing the net and getting the latest scoop at people.com when I saw this article. Article on Toby Keith and his USO tour I think Toby is one tough cookie, and a really great guy who truly supports the troops. Maybe Toby will be able to re-schedule for Dan's base tour? I am so grateful for the USO tours and the energy that they bring to the base. It really helps raise the morale of the soldiers. And I am grateful for celebrities like Toby Keith who continue to do the tours even when it is a very dangerous place to be.

This was one of of my favorite days in Buffalo. All of the family getting together and eating some delicious pizza, real Buffalo wings, and Grandma Gardner's delicious dips!!! It was so great to be able to meet all of Dan's family who made you feel just like you were really (in my best Godfather voice) "part of the family". Good food and family - what is better? Dan and Aunt Sue Ben playing with the classic hot wheels with Aunt Sue Scooter time! The "pow wow" with Uncle Chris, Aunt Sue, Dan, and Sammy ~ Aunt Sue cruisin along I think he likes it...... It's the scooter gang....... Back at home....back to the hot wheels...... Aunt JoAnne and Great Great Grandma pose with Ben.....Ben however can not keep his eyes off the cars.... Cousins David and Sammy posing with a sleepy Ben..... Just sitting around the table - Uncle Steve, Dan, Great Grandma, Tommy, and Aunt Kathy Grandma Gardner and Aunt Kathy Dan and Uncle Chuck having a little military ch...

While Benjamin took his afternoon nap, Dan and I snuck off to have a lunch date! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Gardner for watching Ben!! Everyone in Buffalo was talking about Ted's Hot Dogs. Dan insisted that I had to try one. And it was delicious! Dan holding the belly while we pose in front of the main sign. You can't tell in this picture but Dan is showing his New York pride by wearing the Syracuse shirt that Rob got him! Later on back at Grandma and Grandpa Gardner's house - Aunt Sue, and cousins CJ and Sammy came over to visit. Benjamin LOVED spending time with his Great Aunt and cousins! Here Aunt Sue set up a car ramp for Ben to play with - Some of the cars that Ben was playing with were old hot wheels that all of the past generations had played with when they were kids! These cars entertained Ben for hours! Football time! Cousin CJ playing pass with Dan across the lawn Cousin Sammy and Ben playing their own game of pass. Daddy pasisng the ball to Ben Down, ...

Before we headed out to Niagara Falls, we made a quick stop first. This was a very special experience. Ben went to Carmen the barber to get his hair cut. Carmen cut Dan's hair when he was Ben's age, all of Dan's cousins, and even Dan's dad's and Uncles hair too! So this was a generation hair cut. We were excited to have Carmen cut Ben's hair, because he will soon step down and pass the business on to his son. ~Carmen was so patient with Ben. Daddy bribed Ben with grapes through out the hair cut to make sure he sat still. ~ Dan, Ben, and Carmen posing for an after pose. ~ The after pictures in front Carmen's shop.

WEEK 9 MONTH 3 The winding down of the first trimester is rolling right along. It's hard to believe but this Momma is already in the 3rd month of pregnancy! Exact info about Baby at the 9 th week - The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and almost disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing -- it's quite large compared with the rest of the body and it curves onto the chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.6 to 0.7 inches (16 to 18 millimeters) from crown to rump and weighs around 0.1 ounces (3 grams). The tip of the nose has developed and can be seen in profile, and flaps of skin over the eyes have begun to shape into eyelids, which will become more noticeable in the next few weeks. The digestive system continues to develop. The anus is forming, and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, start to form this week. Your baby may make some first...

Drive to Niagara Falls We came so close to Canada. I say I have now been there because we were at the gate to cross. But we never "officially" went in because we did not have a passport or birth certificate with us. We fell in love with Dan's rental car. The Toyota Prius Hybrid. Just about 50 miles to the gallon. Dan drove from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York and did not gas up until in Buffalo!!! It was actually very roomy in the front and back! We are seriously contemplating trading in our SUV. But the big question - can it drive through snow?????? Munchin on his happy meal and representing the Padres. ;) Family photo in Niagara Falls National Park - Notice who was chewing on his jacket most of this trip. (He's cutting a molar) Gorgeous, breathe taking...choose one..... Named in 2007 as the 10 th most beautiful spots in America. " Niagara was at once stamped upon my heart an IMAGE OF BEAUTY." - Charles Dickens Daddy and his little twin Trying...