Christmas photos

I've been planning for weeks to take some formal Christmas photos of Benjamin. Because we've both been sick, it's been put off. We're both still coughing quite a bit, but I finally broke down and got it done. He was fairly cooperative. We did some in front of the Christmas tree then as a reward he was allowed to take the bears into the family room. I had sat down to download the pictures when he asked me to take some more pictures of him in front of the fireplace. My favorites are on Facebook.

Family Photo

A few weeks ago when Benjamin got his new church clothes we asked Dad to take a family picture for us. I've been experimenting with face swapping in Photoshop to get the best smile on Benjamin. Is it too obvious that this photo has been Photoshopped?

Visit with Santa

Today we braved the crowds and lines at the mall and took Benjamin to meet Santa. We've only done it once before (his first Christmas) and we figured this was the right year to do it. We stood in line for an hour and by the time we got to the front Benjamin was ready to go. It was hard to get a good smile. He was very hesitant to talk to the strange man, but eventually warmed up to him and looked to be telling him quite a story. When I went to retrieve him he was saying something about the guitar he wants for Christmas. I don't know what else he told him. We had discussed beforehand what he was going to ask for and both items he is getting, so I'm not worried.

Thanksgiving 2010

I just posted some pictures of our Thanksgiving on Facebook. The highlight of my day was the fact that Benjamin actually ate what the rest of us did. In the past he's eaten baby food, slept through the meal, or eaten stuff like chicken nuggets or spaghettios. The only thing we added to the table for him was carrots because he doesn't eat corn (strange, but I'm hardly going to complain if he prefers the more healthy veggie). He still won't eat olives, but we're working on it. He has had half a piece of pumpkin and apple pie. No cherry or pecan yet.

November Birthdays

Last Sunday when we gave Mom her presents Benjamin mentioned that we really needed a cake. I had already planned on making a pudding dessert (John's request). When it was time to eat it we let Benjamin pose with it and blow out the candles. He also really enjoyed eating his piece.

I've posted some pictures on Facebook.

Veggie Tales Live!

A couple weeks ago we went to Woodbridge to see Veggie Tales Live! They sang a lot of their most popular songs as well as songs from their new CD "Bob & Larry Sing the 80's". We bought the CD while we were there and Benjamin hasn't listened to anything else since then. It's really funny to hear him singing songs like "Gourds Just Want to Have Fun" and "Footloose".

I didn't get many pictures of Benjamin during the concert because it was dark in the audience. I posted the few that I did get on Facebook.

Trick or Treating Report

This is the first year that Benjamin has a good understanding about what Halloween is about so we were looking forward to trick or treating with him. We were planning to do only a few houses, but he was having so much fun that we did the whole street. He was really good about saying the appropriate words and then saying "thank you". There were quite a few funny moments too:

• Neighbor wearing normal clothes said to Benjamin, "I like what you're wearing." Benjamin's response, "I like what you're wearing too.
• A car drove by and Benjamin said "Oooh it's a scary car." After it had driven by he amended that "No, it's just a Virginia car."
• At about the 3rd or 4th house, while passing some other people on the driveway, Benjamin tried to Trick or Treat from them.
• While passing a parent wearing a crayola box costume, he said "Hi Crayons. Oooh, you're very Crayon-ey."
• There were 3 houses that went all out and had tents around their porches, lots of decorations, scary lighting, and scary costumes on the people handing out the candy. At one of the houses Benjamin was shaking his Jack-o-Lantern so hard I had to hold it steady for the candy to go in.
• Back at the house Benjamin is now handing out candy. I had to stop him when he tried to prompt a couple of kids to say Trick or Treat.

I won't be surprised at all if Benjamin requests that we go Trick or Treating again tomorrow night. A year is just too long.

Halloween

Last Saturday, Benjamin, Amanda, and I attended the annual Air & Scare at the Dulles Air & Space Museum. It was VERY crowded but we got some good loot and Benjamin had a great time seeing all the other costumes.

Tonight we carved pumpkins with Benjamin for the first time (although he couldn't do much). He had fun scooping them out and drew on one of his own.

I've posted pictures of both on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091043&id=1338565858&l=720bba7e63

Fall Colors pt. 2

After our visit to Shenandoah earlier this week, John and I decided to go back today without Mom to do some hiking. We did 2 trails (one of which was about 1.5 miles of the Appalachian Trail). The other trail was as easier hike (although also about 1.5 miles) and had some great fall colors. It was a little chilly (about 55 degrees), but we were well prepared and had a great time. For the record, Benjamin "marked" a spot along the Appalachian just as he did the corn maze a couple weeks ago. He also had a pressing need as we were leaving and there were no official facilities around so he "marked" one of the overlooks as well. No, I did not get a picture of the full moon that he treated me to, although my camera was around my neck and I could have easily gotten some really good blackmail material.

On the first trail:

These trail markers became a highlight for Benjamin. He counted them going both directions. On the way down he made quite a show out of stopping at each post, holding up the appropriate number of fingers, reviewing which number was next, then telling us it was ok to walk now.

On the 2nd trail there were lots of tree stumps and this one was just too exciting to pass up.

He just had to sit on top of this one. It was high enough that John was just barely able to get him up there.

Again there are more pics on Facebook for those that are interested.

Fall Colors pt. 1

Earlier this week we drove the northern part of Skyline Drive to see the fall colors. It was unfortunately overcast, but we saw some good colors and figured it was almost at its peak.At the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center:
There are more pictures on Facebook if anyone wants to see them. It's just easier to post lots of pictures there.

Children's Festival

Today we went to the annual Children's Festival put on by the county. It was way too warm outside and the sun was unforgiving, but Benjamin and I still had a great time (John had to go to work).

The fire engine. Benjamin asked one of the firefighters if he was from the fire station. When he said yes, Benjamin said, "yes, but I'm from Virginia". He got a good laugh.

The "pony" ride. He was happy to get the horse instead of the pony. I guess the pony was too girly.The mini-hay maze. There was only a slight pause where he said "no, not that way" and then he was off on the right path and out the exit.The moon bounce (the first of two times).Pumpkin painting.Fireman Benjamin and his pumpkin.

Corn Maze

On the 6th, we decided to take advantage of John's day off and visit the corn maze at the Buckland Farmer's Market just outside of Warrenton. We all had a great time and had the place mostly to ourselves. They had "stations" throughout where we could do rubbings or answer questions. Benjamin insisted on leading the way even if he had no idea where we were going. Even though he kept asking if we were almost back to the car, as soon as we were out he asked if we could do it again. All told, it took us a couple hours to get through (it was a lot bigger and more complicated than I had expected).

Benjamin and the cows next to the parking lot.
Striking a pose inside the maze:

Navigating: After the leaving the maze:

Live Long and Prosper

The other night at dinner the subject somehow came around to Star Trek. Benjamin spoke up when someone mentioned Captain Kirk and Spock. Amanda asked him if he even knew who they were. He thought for a minute then held up his hand and tried to do the Vulcan symbol. He struggled for a minute then proudly held it up for the whole table to see. I guess it's more evidence that we're training him right.

New school Orientation part 2

Forgot to mention yesterday--while they were doing a presentation to the adults, the teacher was talking about the standardized tests that they will be giving the students. They are required to take them before entering kindergarten, so the preschool program preps them for the test, then administers the test for you. They take the test in the fall to find out what they need to improve on, then retake it officially in the spring. She used an example that if they know 5 letters of the alphabet in the fall, they hope to see improvement to maybe 20 by the spring. I just about fell out of my chair. John and I could only stare at each other and try to refrain from laughing our heads off. I managed to not blurt out that our smarty pants has known the entire alphabet for more than 2 years. Hopefully they can still manage to find something to teach him.

fyi-there are new pictures on the Mealey pics sharing site in case anyone didn't sign up for updates.

A Child's Prayer

Yesterday while driving back to Virginia, Benjamin and I had stopped at a rest area to use the facilities. When I went to pull out of the parking space, Benjamin told me to stop so that he could say a prayer (obviously inspired by my prayer before we left Mom and Dad's). When I didn't stop right away, he yelled "red light" to me. He said:

"Heavenly Father, we have to go home in Virginia, so we have to do it now, Jesus Christ, Amen"

Then he told me "green light, we can go now".

The next time we stopped he made we wait for another prayer and said something along the longs of needing to get home to Daddy and the dogs in Virginia. I guess we're doing something right.

New School Orientation

We attended the orientation today for Benjamin's new school (Teens & Tots). He was hesitant to leave the house and was pouting the whole way there. When we got there, he refused to leave our sides. While I was filling out paperwork, John managed to drag him over to some toys. In no time he was playing with another little boy and one of the teenagers. John snuck away and Benjamin didn't seem to care. 5 minutes later we were completely forgotten. He got to play with one of the teenage girls assigned to him, Shaniqua. He'll get to meet the other one next week. She seemed very excited to meet him and very attentive. He had no problem following her around the room as she introduced him to the different toys and play areas. When it was time to leave we had to drag him out of the room and he hasn't stopped asking us if we can go back (Monday isn't soon enough and he wants to go now). I've made up a schedule for him so he can see what days he goes to each school.

Benjamin in the kitchen/store play area with Shaniqua. He's playing with a cash register.

Outside in the sandbox with another child, Shaniqua, and some other teens:

In the too-small-for-Benjamin play set. He couldn't stand all the way up, but it didn't seem to bother him. He did appear to be the tallest kid there.

Lizard Show

Pictures from the Reptiles Alive presentation at Amanda's library last week. Benjamin had a good time looking at lizards, turtles, and snakes. When the presentation was over, he got to touch a snake (python I think).

Before the presentation:

One of the lizards. Note Benjamin and Amanda on the left side of the screen. Amanda was taking pictures for the library newsletter.

An alligator (like the ones found in the sewers and metro):
The kids had a good time raising their hands whenever the presenter had a question, even when they didn't know the answer.

The snake:

Benjamin petting the snake:

Amanda petting the snake:

Benjamin-isms

-the other night while we were on our way home from visiting Amanda, Benjamin spotted the moon out his car window. After he pointed it out to us he notified us that it was "moony. It's not sunny, it's moony".

-while out and about today, Benjamin said the following:
"A spaceship goes up in the air. A car goes on the ground. A train goes on the tracks. And pizza goes in my mouth."

-tonight I was grumbling over the Red Lobster Crabfest advertisement on the TV (I really love crab). Benjamin asked me what was wrong and after stumbling over various excuses I finally told him that I didn't like the commercial on the TV. He asked me if it was being mean to me. In order to appease him I told him that yes it was. He walked over the TV, got right up in front of it and gave it a stern talking to by telling it to stop being mean to Mommy.

Benjamin's Graduation pt. 2

more videos... "I'm a Little Lion" and "You are my Sunshine"


2. Getting certificate:


3. Congratulating classmates:

Benjamin's Graduation

We attended Benjamin's preschool graduation last night. The kids graduating from the 4's class into kindergarten were even wearing homemade caps. All of the kids got to "walk" and accept certificates. They also received alphabet, color, and shape books that they've been working on for the last couple months. They put on a little program and Benjamin decided to be the star of the show. He was the loudest and most enthusiastic for most of the program. After he'd had his turn to accept his stuff, he came to stand with us and loudly cheered on his classmates that hadn't gone yet.

Before the show

Benjamin and his teacher Ms. Erin

And the videos:

1. The walk:

2. Pledge of Allegiance and Alphabet:

more to come...