Benji Day

I told Benji the night before that the next day was "Benji Day". I said we could do whatever he wanted and I gave him some ideas as we lay in bed. He was nodding his head, trying to absorb the idea of what I was saying.  The next morning, Benji woke up kinda grouchy, crying a little. I said "do you know what day it is?" And crying he said, "Benji Day?" Well then it was on, we made cookies for breakfast, cut out paper snowflakes, played play doh, went to the toy store with Gabriel (and CaCa), Papa came over, played new laser gun with dad, went for a bike ride, and ate corn dogs. I think he will remember this day.

My First Train Ride

Benjamin Loves Trains. Edmund and I always have to take detours when we are driving because we have to "catch" the train. Edmund and Benjamin even parked and sat by the railroad tracks for over a night waiting for a train to pass by. 

His favorite thing about the train is the loud train whistle and the "things that go down."  He also is pretty sure that he will be a con"ductor" when he grows up.
So we took the amtrak to Tampa (a first for all of us) Benjamin was so excited at the train station, and when the train arrived he got a little upset thinking that it was going to drive right past us. He held his hand out and yelled "Stop, Train, Please Stop!" He enjoyed the entire three hour ride, it was fun to run along the aisles, look out the window, wave at cars, eat in the snack car, and hear the train wistle. Benji kept saying 'I hear another train" and Edmund would say "No, Buddy, that's our train." There was a black joystick on each chair that reclined the seat, but Benjamin was convinced that he could drive the train with it.
We also got to spend the day at the Tampa Aquarium which was pretty cool. It was a mile walk from the station, and even in the middle of January, pretty hot.
And of course, Benji got to talk to the conductor, which made his day.

Matthew's First Christmas

Christmas 2011 was wonderful. Matthew was 2 months old and enjoyed looking at the christmas lights. Benjamin was 2 years (and 4 months) and really got into the entire christmas idea. We made cookies for the reindeer (or santa, depending on who you ask), we went for walks around the neighborhood to look at lights, he understood who santa was and what santa was bringing him. Toys. Benjamin asked for a kitchen, a back hoe and books. He also was so sweet to help baby Matthew open his presents, and still calls the Mr Potato Head, "Baby Matthews Potato"