The Dynamic Duo!

The day began innocently enough. Elliot came to spend the morning with us while his sister was in preschool (accompanied by her mom)... The boys seemed happy doing some basic finger painting in the back yard. While enjoying some banana muffins.


I went inside for just a minute, and when I came back, both boys had managed to get more paint on themselves--and in their hair--than on the paper!



They played.


And climbed.


And played some more.


It was a great morning!

Ben and His Horn

A couple of weekends ago the UC Davis Marching Band was at the Farmers Market. The players welcomed kids (and grown ups) to come check out their instruments between songs, and Ben was particularly fascinated by the horns... The first instrument we bought for Ben was a recorder, which he still calls his "horn," and we think (and hope) he's definitely going to end up playing someday.

Needless to say, the largest horns were the most interesting for Ben, and we spent quite a bit of time watching him explore. One of the band members was particularly friendly, and even showed Ben how to blow into the mouthpiece (which Ben didn't want to do). But it was clearly the highlight of Ben's morning!

Spring Has Sprung!

The weather has been very spring-like for the past couple of weeks (though as I write this it's raining again!). We've had lots of fun outside... playing with friends, working in our garden, and hanging out at the park. Here are some random photos:

Ben "hupping" me trim the hedges. Note that he's using his plastic toddler-friendly scissors. He became very frustrated when they wouldn't cut very much!



My recent favorite photo. He's sucking on a "wa-pop" (lollipop).


Flowers blooming at the park! (Wa-pop in his mouth.)



Ben loves the sand box at the park...



We go for a wagon ride almost every day around the neighborhood. Here Emma and Elliot join us!

Lots of photos...

During Papa's visit, he and Daddy did quite a bit of sailing, leaving Ben and Mommy to fend for ourselves. We spent lots of time at the park and hanging out. Here are a few pictures...




Ben very much enjoys spaghetti dinner...


Last weekend, after Papa left, we took Ben to the boat for the day. We're hoping he'll grow up comfortable with the water and sailing. So far so good! He had a blast playing and "hupping" (helping) aboard...

Papa Comes to Visit!

Last night Papa (Frank) arrived for a visit. We're so sad that CeCe couldn't come too, but we've already had her with us... this is video of Ben reading "CeCe's Book," a recordable story that has her voice! Needless to say, he LOVES it...

Here's Ben reading the book on his own...

A Funny Story...

Today I took Ben with me to pick up a tree I found on Freecycle. I love Freecycle and have found some wonderful plants and trees for my little garden. This morning I went to pick up a small, unidentified tree from a woman on the other side of town. I told Ben we were going to get a tree! He seemed very excited. When we arrived, he jumped out of the car and ran to where the woman had the tree in a wheelbarrow... I said, "Look, Ben, a tree!" At which point he dissolved into tears, crying "Treat, I want a treat!" It was kind of sad. And cute.

When I told Jonathan about it he said that this was a story he hopes we'll remember years from now. So I'm writing it down here.

Later in the day, Emma came to play and she and Ben had a great time dressing up in hats and scarves...






In other news... Ben has figured out how to ride tricycles!

Benisms...

I wanted to write down the funny things Ben says, primarily so that I have a record of them myself. But it occurred to me that some of you might be amused as well, so here goes!

Random Benisms:
*nannies = bananas
*supie coo-ah = super cool
*Star Hoes (formerly Stah Whores) = Star Wars
*Dahth Vadah = Darth Vader (yes... he's watching Star Wars, and yes he seems to have a Boston accent!)
*Eeiss = Ellie (my friend's daughter)
*Eeott = Elliot (our friend across the street)
*ah-some = awesome
*boo dozer = bulldozer
*finging = swinging
*fimming = swimming

Ben seems to have a strange obsession with benches. A few weekends ago I took him swimming at the gym. On the way in, he tripped and fell on the sidewalk and skinned his knee. Since then, he proudly states, "I fall off bench. I got owie."

Here are a few shots from this morning... playing with trains and trying to get a decent photo with Mommy.