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