More Thanksgiving in New Jersey

Playing the piano at Aunt Carole's with his big cousin Sundar.

Thanksgiving in New Jersey

Aaron's father Yuri decided it was time to pull out the 30-year-old Lionel electric trains and set them up. He and Aaron spent the entire morning fixing the engine. Benji, on the other hand, was perfectly content to just push the trains around the track by hand. --Victoria

Drinking from a big boy cup

Bracelets

Apparently it's a fad among kids these days to wear little rubber bracelets that are shaped like animals, cars, whatever, when not on the wrist. Benji was given a pack of these and decided he would be trendy. --Victoria

Happiness is . . .

. . . watching trains all day at the babysitter's house. There is a train yard just outside the window and Benji must think he's in heaven. --Victoria

Best Track Ever!

This counts as the best track we've ever built because we used every single piece of track we own. Which is not actually easy. --Victoria

Happiness is...

a yellow balloon.

Chillin' in his Crib

Asleep In The Car

Benji-In-A-Box

Benji and Xavi

Playing with his friend Atigun

Atigun is 4 1/2 and his mother is a friend of mine from law school who also lives in DC. Benji and I sometimes visit them for a while in the early evening. Atigun may be two years older than Benji, but they both feel the same way about trains and tracks.

--Victoria

Stirring Bubbles

Wearing Mommy's Slippers

Making Dinner for Super Daddy

Pasta Face

Visit to New Jersey, part 2

We went to a local park with a little train ride and a merry-go-round. Benji loved the train but was a little less certain about the merry-go-round, at first. --Victoria

Visit to New Jersey, part 1

These photos are from our visit to New Jersey a few weeks ago. In the second photo, you can see how scraped-up Benji's knees were -- in some ways, he's turning into a stereotypical little boy. --Victoria

Enjoying Halloween Treats

Halloween #3

Last night, we went to the "Hilloween" street party at Eastern Market where Benji got to jump in a inflated bouncy house and we all got a ride on a hay wagon. After that, we went trick-or-treating for a few blocks, which Benji thought was very fun. Unfortunately, he was too shy to say "trick or treat!" or "happy Halloween" to anyone passing out candy until he was safely out of earshot.

He was dressed as an adorable little pumpkin. At one point, a group of older children dressed in scary costumes passed us and Benji turned to us and said proudly: "Mommy an' Daddy, the babies ran away from me!" Sure Benji. Sure they did.

And for nostalgia's sake, I've included a photo of Halloween #1.

--Victoria