Birthday Party

My friend Glyn recently turned 29 and held a music and pizza party at a local restaurant.  Aaron was at game night with the boys, so Benji and I went to the party.  Benji was fabulous -- he was really well-behaved and enjoyed the music a lot.  When he wasn't dancing or singing or clapping, he played quietly with his toys.  What lucky parents we are...  --Victoria

Benji the Chef

I cut some hot dog slices for him and started to fry them up, but he really wanted to stir them himself.  He was very good and careful about the parts of the stove and pan that were hot.  --Victoria

Busy Day at Work

So tired, apparently, that he can't even climb the front stairs to our house.  --Victoria

"I'm in ze woods!"

Blocks

Super Strong

"Mommy, I'm super strong and I'm going to push this tree out of my way."  Good luck, little guy.  --Victoria

A nonchalant musician

Floor Nap

Yesterday we went to the zoo in the morning.  Apparently, that tired Benji out so much that he fell asleep in his room in the afternoon, with his head in a box of trains and tracks.  He was out for at least three hours!  --Victoria

Things Benji Says (polygons)

Benji loves the band They Might Be Giants, who have a number of CDs for children.  One of the songs is named "nonagon" and it's about a nine-sided shape who throws a party for all his multi-sided friends.  Benji loves this song.

A few days ago, we were at a store with six-sided floor tiles.  Benji said: "Look Daddy!  So many hexagons!"

Later, he was looking at an eight-sided doorknob in our apartment, and said:  "Mommy, it's an octagon!"

His spongy brain continues to amaze me.  I wish I could learn information that quickly.

"Mommy, I'm swimming in de ocean!"

Birthday Party at the Zoo

Return of the Nap!

Now that Aaron has a job, Benji has been staying at the house of a neighbor who runs a home daycare.  The other child there is a little girl named Ariel, who will be three in the fall.  It's a nice chance for Benji to play with someone his age on a daily basis.

Ariel is also a really good influence on him.  She hasn't given up her daily nap, and when she lies down on her cot, Benji is usually willing to lie down on his cot and "just rest" -- which usually ends up as a two-hour nap!

The day this photo was taken, they apparently both played so hard that they fell asleep before they made it to the cots.

--Victoria