Happy Painter

Rub a Dub Dub, Three Boys In a Tub . . .

We had friends visiting DC from New Jersey.  Benji loves playing with their sons, Max (who is also 3) and Lucas (a little older).  Aaron took Benji over to visit at their hotel room and they gave all three boys a bath in the giant tub there.

Potty Adventures

Sometimes he sits backwards on the potty.  Sometimes he forgets to pull up his undies and pants while he's washing his hands.  Life is never dull.  Merry xmas!  --Victoria

Happiness is . . . a playhouse from cousin Sundar

After-school snack (popcorn)

Playing at the Park

A little earlier in the year, when it was a little warmer, of course.  --Victoria

Dancing with our Morris Team

 In early November, we had an end-of-the-season dance tour with our Morris dancing group.  Benji loved it even more than usual and decided that he was going to take part instead of just watching.  At first, he just danced on the side with me.  Then he decided that he would run through the middle of the set.  I only let him do this when it was safe, of course!  The second photo is one of my very favorites of all time.  --Victoria

School Open House at Breakfast

A few weeks ago, Benji's class had an open house during morning breakfast.  It was lots of fun to meet his friends and their parents, and to see his teachers in action.  In the first photo, Benji is sitting with Leo, one of his two best friends.  In the second photo, he's enjoying a muffin -- very much, apparently!  --Victoria

Hadfields Visit

A few weeks ago, Benji's grandparents Richard and Pauline Hadfield traveled from Oakville, Canada, down to Washington, DC.  We had a great visit and Benji loved spending time with them.  --Victoria

Another nap attack!

Dinner with Friends

With Xavi and "baby" Kai.  --Victoria

M&Ms

Aren't they supposed to "melt in your mouth, not in your hands"?  --Victoria

Watching Morris Dancing

Playing Games

He doesn't know how to play most of the actual games yet, but he does enjoy moving the pieces around.

--VM

Indian Wedding

This past weekend, we attended the wedding of Ben Master and Beverly Fong.  Ben is Yousef's younger brother and their father, Bashir, is from India, so this ceremony provided me with an excuse to buy a salwar kameez, a lovely style Indian outfit that I've wanted for years.  I also bought a kurta pajama for Benji.  Unfortunately, we didn't get many photos, but I'm hoping that other people did.  Meanwhile, you can see that Benji looked fabulous and had a fun time hanging out with his friend Xavi.  The ankle in the upper left corner of the first photo is me, so you can see a tiny part of my outfit.  --Victoria

Conversations with Benji

Yesterday, Benji and I were walking to school.  We talked for a while about what a nice day it was, and about what specific things made the day particularly nice (the mild weather, the blue sky).  Then we had this conversation:

 

B:  We don't have your bicycle.

V:  That's right.  On Wednesdays, I take the metro train home because, in the evening, I go to work as a teacher.

B:  And now you're a lady again.

V:  [amused]  Yes.  I can be a lady and a teacher.  And a mommy.

B:  You're MY lady.

V:  Of course.

B:  But you're not a bad lady.

V:  Um... no.  Do you have a bad lady?

B:  No.

V:  [amused] That's good.  Am I your good lady?

B:  Yes.

V:  [more amused] Am I your good Mommy?

B:  Yes.  But people get mad sometimes.

V:  Yes, they do.

 

... and it continued from there, with other topics (being mad is a feeling, what people do when they are mad, the fact that they sometimes need to apologize later).  He cracks me up.  I also LOVE being able to have these conversations with him.  I love him more and more every day.

 

--Victoria

Election Day

Aaron took Benji with him to the polling station. When they arrived, Benji was pretty crushed that President Obama was not there. The volunteers gave him a cupcake and numerous stickers to make up for it. When he got home, I taught him to say "Vote early and often." He is very proud of being a good voter.  I'm proud of him too!  --Victoria

"Mommy, I'm making a house!"

(or, at least, a floor plan?)  He was very proud of the house.  --Victoria

Poor Little Nose!

Benji took a tumble in the playground at school yesterday.  The teacher called me to "give me a heads up" that he had scraped his elbow and nose.  I'm glad she warned me -- poor little guy!   I suppose we're lucky we haven't had more of this already.  As you can see, it hasn't stopped him from smiling.   --Victoria

Monday Playdate with Xavi

Last week, we took them to the park, where they borrowed a friend's tricycle and took turns pushing each other.  --Victoria

School Friends

An unidentified boy, Leon, Benji, and Leo. Benji said "No, that's my friend Leon!  Don't pull him!":

Benji, Leo, and Aidan:

Leon, Leo, and Benji:

Leon, Leo, and Benji:

Things Benji Says

"Mommy, me an' Julian an' Leo an' Leon an' Aidan went to the Tower of Power!"

Don't ask me to explain.  I have no idea.  I do know that he's enjoying school a lot and that he's really having fun with his new friends.

--Victoria

Cheap Sunglasses

On our ride out to the apple orchard this weekend, Benji and Xavi took turns playing with my sunglasses.  --Victoria

Visit to Toronto over Labor Day Weekend

Benji got to spend time with his cousin Gavin, who is eight years old now.  I've included photos from when Benji was 6 weeks old and Gavin was five, and from when Benji was one-and-a-half and Gavin was six.  I find these indescribably sweet.  --Victoria

First Report Card

The note in his backpack read:

9-4-12

Benji listened to teachers when asked to sit on the toilet (only 1 initial refusal) and peed in the toilet twice!!

:)  Ms. Morrison

Waiting at the airport

After visiting family in Toronto for the weekend, Benji amused himself with cookies and toy trains and trucks while we waited at the airport for our flight back to Washington.  --Victoria

First Day of School!