Playground photos (part 3)

Benji taught Tamar and Daniel how to climb the curved climbing wall on the toddler playground.  He was a great coach, showing them what to do, encouraging them, and cheering for them when they reached the top.  --Victoria

Playground photos (part 2)

Benji showed Tamar and Daniel how it's done!  He's always been very cautious with physical activities and gross motor skills so I'm glad that he's becoming more adventurous.  --Victoria

 

Playground photos (part 1)

At the toddler playground, Tamar tried to master the curly climber and Daniel showed off his gorgeous smile.  --Victoria

Trip to IKEA (part 3 -- Tamar and Daniel practice lounging)

They loved trying out the little chairs when we went past that part of the store.  I had a hard time convincing them to move on!  --Victoria

Trip to IKEA (part 2 -- Tamar and Daniel check out big kid beds)

One day soon we'll get them "big kid beds" and they were excited to check them out when we went past that part of the store.  --Victoria

Trip to IKEA (part 1 -- Benji in the ball pit)

IKEA still has play areas for kids so they can play while their parents shop.  Benji **LOVED** the ball pit and begged for another trip to IKEA soon!  FYI -- he's the kid in the orange shirt, in the middle/left of the photos (except for the one where he's totally submerged!)


There was a window into the kids' play area and Tamar and Daniel and I watched him for a while and took these photos.  Fortunately, they were old enough to understand that the play area is for "big big kids" like Benji -- although they did keep asking where he was while we shopped, and I had to keep reminding them about it.


--Victoria

 

Daniel asks for help

"ELP MOMMY!  ELP!  ELP!  I STUCK!!!"

He wasn't really stuck.  He just wanted someone to appreciate how silly he is.

--Victoria

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Daniel's New Haircut

He's so handsome!

--Victoria

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Tamar and R show off their sunglasses

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Last weekend at the park (including the pre-park sunscreen party)

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Our Fouth of July Party

Benji worked hard helping Aaron shuck corn that we roasted in the oven (SO DELICIOUS) and served along with MANY other dishes.  Tamar didn't want to nap but eventually she fell asleep in my arms and I took her up to her bed for a proper nap.  Later on, after dinner and seeing the fireworks, she contentedly asked "Iss 'Merica's bufday?"  --Victoria

 

 

Gifts that keep on giving . . . (sand table)

Some toys have staying power beyond all expectations.  Victoria's parents (Richard and Pauline) bought this sand table for Benji, probably at least 4 years ago.  Benji played with it for ages and he still does, except that now he's joined by Daniel and Tamar.  In today's photo, Daniel decided he would cruise up to the sand table on the tricycle and use it as a chair while he played with the sand.

--Victoria

Sunday afternoon playdate fun (part 2 -- lots more stuff!)

In addition to reading, cooking, and play-doh time, the following activities also happened:

1. All the kids did some drawing (which I did not catch with my camera),
2. While Tamar kept working with play-doh, the three boys tried to play a game of chess -- R had requested this and Benji valiantly tried to teach the two-year-olds how to play chess with absolutely NO success -- Daniel stole all the knights because they are shaped like horses),
3. R and Daniel worked on a wooden puzzle for a while,
4. Tamar informed me she was playing the "toe drum" while using the potty,
5. Benji built a tower out of wooden blocks which he posed beside for the photo below,
6. We all had dinner (also not photographed), and
7. Daniel went to bed early because he had basically skipped his nap earlier in the day and was melting down, but Tamar and R ended the evening by taking their "babies" for a walk in strollers and after a few laps of the kitchen, asked if they could take them outside.  They had a fun time pushing the strollers up and down the sidewalk until R's father arrived.

It was a fun and busy day!

--Victoria