This is a video of me playing one of my favorite games, "Dragons". The rules are pretty simple: run around and roar.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
The prettiest tree
This is my favorite tree in my yard. I like to play under it because I think it's so pretty.
Water machine
One of my favorite pastimes is "washing the dishes", which means playing with the water in the sink. I use a variety of bowls, cups, straws and empty bottles to amuse myself.
The other day I made a "machine" to get water from one container to another.
Are you impressed?
The other day I made a "machine" to get water from one container to another.
Are you impressed?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Architecting
Today I visited Daddy at his office and helped him out with some "architecting".
(You'll notice Sammy in the background, trying to rearrange the office)
See, this is easy!
(You'll notice Sammy in the background, trying to rearrange the office)
See, this is easy!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Habits of Highly Effective Preschoolers
As a typical 3.5 year old boy, I make my share (and sometimes a lot more than my share) of messes. However, I do think that organization has its place. I am a stickler for things being in their proper places and I have little patience for cutting corners in this regard.
I also enjoy list making and time management tools. Every day when I wake up, I ask Mommy or Daddy what we're going to do for the day. I ask lots of questions to make sure that I understand the agenda for the day. Then I repeat the the order of events for the day and decide if it's a good plan or not. If it's not a good plan, I suggest an alternate order.
I have my own calendar. Mommy and Daddy write down what we do each day so I know what is coming up over the course of a week. (Monday is Library day, Tuesday is school, etc). At the end of the day I cross the day out on the calendar so I can count down how many days until any special events that may be on the horizon.
I make my own grocery list every week and let Mommy know what we need from the store. This week my grocery list is as follows: jello, pudding, broccoli, freeze pops, juice. I will add more to this as I think of things that I would like to eat. I like to dictate this list and Mommy writes it down for me.
Today, we went to Staples and I asked Mommy to buy the post-its with the lines because these are my favorite for list making.
Later, I made a list of things I would like for my birthday (if you ask me, I will tell you that I am going to be 4 in July).
I wanted to write this list myself.
I spent several minutes on this. When Mommy asked me what I would like for my birthday, I said "huh?" She asked me what was on my list and I said "the sea". It's possible I became distracted and drew a picture instead.
I also enjoy list making and time management tools. Every day when I wake up, I ask Mommy or Daddy what we're going to do for the day. I ask lots of questions to make sure that I understand the agenda for the day. Then I repeat the the order of events for the day and decide if it's a good plan or not. If it's not a good plan, I suggest an alternate order.
I have my own calendar. Mommy and Daddy write down what we do each day so I know what is coming up over the course of a week. (Monday is Library day, Tuesday is school, etc). At the end of the day I cross the day out on the calendar so I can count down how many days until any special events that may be on the horizon.
I make my own grocery list every week and let Mommy know what we need from the store. This week my grocery list is as follows: jello, pudding, broccoli, freeze pops, juice. I will add more to this as I think of things that I would like to eat. I like to dictate this list and Mommy writes it down for me.
Today, we went to Staples and I asked Mommy to buy the post-its with the lines because these are my favorite for list making.
Later, I made a list of things I would like for my birthday (if you ask me, I will tell you that I am going to be 4 in July).
I wanted to write this list myself.
I spent several minutes on this. When Mommy asked me what I would like for my birthday, I said "huh?" She asked me what was on my list and I said "the sea". It's possible I became distracted and drew a picture instead.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spring!
Most of the snow in my neighborhood has melted by now and I am so excited about spring! I have big plans to grow vegetables in the garden, make hot dogs on the grill with Daddy and play outside every day. I love to play outside and it has been tough being cooped up in the house for the long, long, loooooong winter. This past weekend it was nice out so we went for a long walk on the river. It was a bit more fresh air than Sammy and I are used to and we couldn't quite stay awake.
Today I finally got to play in my backyard again. I drove my car around the yard and pretended we were driving to the beach and to the dinosaur museum. I also blew some bubbles for Sam and kicked my soccer ball. I missed my trucks and my sandbox so much, I had to make up for lost time. I told Mommy "Don't take my picture, I am too busy."
I did manage a few smiles too. Yeah for Spring!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Interview with Ben
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Don’t be bad. Listen to me. That’s it.
2. What makes mom happy?
When I stay with you.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I’m sad.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You say funny words like “ba-doo-dee”
5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were like “ba-doo-dee”
6. How old is your mom?
3
7. How tall is your mom?
Big!
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Share. My friends at little gym shared their hiding place so they shared it with me and that’s good sharing. See, she (pointing to wonder woman magnet on the fridge) doesn’t share because she’s a skier guy.
9. What does your mom do when you're not here?
Um, (long pause) I don’t know.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Famous? What’s famous? What is that?
11. What is your mom really good at?
Playing hide and seek
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Doing the memory game. You have to pick the matches cause it’s called the memory game, it’s not called the different game. (Wanders off to find memory game).
13. What does your mom do for a job?
I don’t know what you do for a job.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Salad. Carrot salad.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
You play and find me, that makes me feel proud
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
You would be an elephant because you like tigers and lions and dinosaurs and elephants, that’s why you would be an elephant.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We do lots of stuff. We play and then we have dinner and then we have ice. We have ice for dessert.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We’re not the same, we are different
19. How are you and your mom different?
I have a sweatshirt and you have a sweatshirt with no zipper. I’m wearing sweat pants and you’re wearing jeans.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you put the Grinch on the computer for me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He runs fast and then eats dinner.
Don’t be bad. Listen to me. That’s it.
2. What makes mom happy?
When I stay with you.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I’m sad.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You say funny words like “ba-doo-dee”
5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were like “ba-doo-dee”
6. How old is your mom?
3
7. How tall is your mom?
Big!
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Share. My friends at little gym shared their hiding place so they shared it with me and that’s good sharing. See, she (pointing to wonder woman magnet on the fridge) doesn’t share because she’s a skier guy.
9. What does your mom do when you're not here?
Um, (long pause) I don’t know.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Famous? What’s famous? What is that?
11. What is your mom really good at?
Playing hide and seek
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Doing the memory game. You have to pick the matches cause it’s called the memory game, it’s not called the different game. (Wanders off to find memory game).
13. What does your mom do for a job?
I don’t know what you do for a job.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Salad. Carrot salad.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
You play and find me, that makes me feel proud
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
You would be an elephant because you like tigers and lions and dinosaurs and elephants, that’s why you would be an elephant.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
We do lots of stuff. We play and then we have dinner and then we have ice. We have ice for dessert.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We’re not the same, we are different
19. How are you and your mom different?
I have a sweatshirt and you have a sweatshirt with no zipper. I’m wearing sweat pants and you’re wearing jeans.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you put the Grinch on the computer for me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He runs fast and then eats dinner.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Ben's deep thoughts
Today, over lunch, I shared this deep theological insight with Daddy:
"God is green. He has green eyes and a green shirt. Sammy thinks the grinch is God."
More spiritually in tune than the average preschooler? Perhaps.
Of course, in the same conversation I also came out with this gem:
"Brave women live in the pizza. Daddy and Ben are those women."
"God is green. He has green eyes and a green shirt. Sammy thinks the grinch is God."
More spiritually in tune than the average preschooler? Perhaps.
Of course, in the same conversation I also came out with this gem:
"Brave women live in the pizza. Daddy and Ben are those women."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Daddy confusion
Today, when Mommy, Sam and I pulled into Leah's driveway, I noticed a car that I didn't recognize.
"Whose car is that?" I asked Mommy. "That's Leah's daddy's car" she replied. This news could not have been more shocking.
"Leah has a daddy?!" I exclaimed. "Yes, you know him" Mommy said. "What's his name?" I asked. "His name is Bryan". I made sure that I had my backpack with me because my camera was in there. I had told Mommy earlier that I wanted to bring my camera to take pictures of Leah and Leah's mom. "Mommy?" I said, jumping out of the car, "I'm not going to take a picture of Leah's daddy." Mommy told me that was fine.
Leah met us at the door, very excited to see us. "Guess who is here today? Daddy's here!" she said. "I have a daddy too", I told her "but he doesn't have a name. His name is just Daddy."
Glad we got that all cleared up.
"Whose car is that?" I asked Mommy. "That's Leah's daddy's car" she replied. This news could not have been more shocking.
"Leah has a daddy?!" I exclaimed. "Yes, you know him" Mommy said. "What's his name?" I asked. "His name is Bryan". I made sure that I had my backpack with me because my camera was in there. I had told Mommy earlier that I wanted to bring my camera to take pictures of Leah and Leah's mom. "Mommy?" I said, jumping out of the car, "I'm not going to take a picture of Leah's daddy." Mommy told me that was fine.
Leah met us at the door, very excited to see us. "Guess who is here today? Daddy's here!" she said. "I have a daddy too", I told her "but he doesn't have a name. His name is just Daddy."
Glad we got that all cleared up.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
I made some valentines at school. The first one, you'll notice, is a big heart that says "Gymnastics!" Mommy and Daddy were a bit perplexed by this one, especially since the other kids' valentines said things like "I love you" and "Happy Valentine's Day".
When Mommy asked me about it, I told her that mine said "Gymnastics!" because "the falling down game is gymnastics." Mommy can only imagine the conversation that I had with my teacher while making this valentine at school. She imagines that I was told to write something about love and my thoughts went to my love of the falling down game, a game that Daddy and I made up. Since the falling down game is gymnastics, clearly, this I what I thought should be on my valentine.
I made this one for Mommy. It says "Mommy, I love you because you do things that I like to do."
(Check out how well I wrote my name! I had help but it's pretty good regardless, don't you think?)
Mommy loves both of my valentines and is going to keep them forever.
When Mommy asked me about it, I told her that mine said "Gymnastics!" because "the falling down game is gymnastics." Mommy can only imagine the conversation that I had with my teacher while making this valentine at school. She imagines that I was told to write something about love and my thoughts went to my love of the falling down game, a game that Daddy and I made up. Since the falling down game is gymnastics, clearly, this I what I thought should be on my valentine.
I made this one for Mommy. It says "Mommy, I love you because you do things that I like to do."
(Check out how well I wrote my name! I had help but it's pretty good regardless, don't you think?)
Mommy loves both of my valentines and is going to keep them forever.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Ludwig van Giraffe
I enjoy listening classical music, particularly that of Ludwig van Beethoven. I am under the impression, however, that Beethoven is the cartoon giraffe on the cover of my "Baby Beethoven" CD. I often ask to listen to "the giraffe CD" while we're driving in the car. I also think that a giraffe is playing all the instruments. He is a very talented giraffe.
My favorite piece is "Ode to Joy" which I have renamed "The Octopus Song". Nobody is sure why this started, but whenever I hear "The Octopus Song", I sing "octopus and octopus and octopus!" over and over at the top of my lungs.
It is very dramatic and moving. Beethoven, the cartoon giraffe would be proud.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Cabin fever
Last week we had some cold snowy weather so we had to amuse ourselves at home as much as we could.
We made cookies. I wanted to make sprinkle cookies, since those are my favorite, but we didn't have all the ingredients or "gredients" as I call them. We made chocolate chip cookies, since those are Mommy's favorite. Luckily, we had all the "gredients" for those. Coincidence? I think not.
If you ask me, I will tell you that chocolate is my favorite snack. (Not my favorite food, that's chicken.) Once I realized that there were little pieces of chocolate involved in the preparation of chocolate chip cookies, I forgot all about the sprinkles.
We also built a fort and I hid in there from "the Shark Baby" (a.k.a. Sam). He couldn't find me. Best hiding place ever!
As a bit of wishful thinking, we played "beach" in the living room.
That was fun only until we realized there was no ocean in the living room.
Counting the days until Spring...
We made cookies. I wanted to make sprinkle cookies, since those are my favorite, but we didn't have all the ingredients or "gredients" as I call them. We made chocolate chip cookies, since those are Mommy's favorite. Luckily, we had all the "gredients" for those. Coincidence? I think not.
If you ask me, I will tell you that chocolate is my favorite snack. (Not my favorite food, that's chicken.) Once I realized that there were little pieces of chocolate involved in the preparation of chocolate chip cookies, I forgot all about the sprinkles.
We also built a fort and I hid in there from "the Shark Baby" (a.k.a. Sam). He couldn't find me. Best hiding place ever!
As a bit of wishful thinking, we played "beach" in the living room.
That was fun only until we realized there was no ocean in the living room.
Counting the days until Spring...
My real friends
My favorite friends are the ones I have known since my babyhood. I have other friends too from school and other places but when I talk about "my real friends", I mean a very specific group of people (Max, Leah, Zachary and Alexandra). Mommy asked me if I would like to have some of my school friends come over to play and I said no, I was "too busy building train tracks with Daddy" but I would like "my real friends" to come over sometime.
I also have decided that we (my real friends and I) are going to start a band. I got the idea when Mommy asked me if I'd like to learn how to play an instrument. I said yes, I would like to play the drums. Daddy has a drum set in our attic and I think it is super cool. I would love to get one just for me. This gave me a great idea for a band. I explained that I would play the drums, Zachy could play the trumpet, Leah would play the guitar and Max would play the piano. Alex would be the conductor, naturally. So far, the band exists only in my mind but I talk about it often.
As soon as I get the other musicians on board, we're really gonna rock.
I also have decided that we (my real friends and I) are going to start a band. I got the idea when Mommy asked me if I'd like to learn how to play an instrument. I said yes, I would like to play the drums. Daddy has a drum set in our attic and I think it is super cool. I would love to get one just for me. This gave me a great idea for a band. I explained that I would play the drums, Zachy could play the trumpet, Leah would play the guitar and Max would play the piano. Alex would be the conductor, naturally. So far, the band exists only in my mind but I talk about it often.
As soon as I get the other musicians on board, we're really gonna rock.
Knock, knock
We all know that I am a pretty funny guy but did you know that I like telling knock knock jokes? I like to make them up myself.
Some of my favorites are:
Knock, knock
Who's there
Daddy
Daddy who?
Daddy Ben's Daddy
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Spider
Spider who?
Spiderman
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Daddy
Daddy who?
Daddy Spiderman
Some of my favorites are:
Knock, knock
Who's there
Daddy
Daddy who?
Daddy Ben's Daddy
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Spider
Spider who?
Spiderman
Knock, knock
Who's there?
Daddy
Daddy who?
Daddy Spiderman
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Big Show
Today was "the big show" for my sports class at Little Gym. Here I am showing off my karate, soccer, basketball and football skills...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ben, the photographer
Mommy's camera hasn't been working very well lately so, sadly, there are no new pictures of me to post. However, I got my own camera for Christmas from Uncle Andy. I thought this would be a perfect time to share some of the pictures I've taken myself.
Sam and part of Mommy.
My water bottle.
My train table.
Daddy.
Sam. (Babies are difficult subjects - so easily distracted)
I am a big fan of photography but, unfortunately, I am also a big fan of the "delete" button on my camera. It's blue, one of my favorite colors, so it's tempting to press it all the time deleting my work. I will practice.
Stay tuned for more!
Sam and part of Mommy.
My water bottle.
My train table.
Daddy.
Sam. (Babies are difficult subjects - so easily distracted)
I am a big fan of photography but, unfortunately, I am also a big fan of the "delete" button on my camera. It's blue, one of my favorite colors, so it's tempting to press it all the time deleting my work. I will practice.
Stay tuned for more!
Santa butts?
I've been working on teaching Sam how to walk. He is getting pretty good at cruising and may be walking on his own soon. Yesterday, Daddy and I were discussing this and Daddy said that he thought Sam would walk by this weekend.
Daddy said "He's going to walk this weekend, Ben, no ifs, ands or buts."
To which I replied, "Yeah, no Santa Butts".
I think Daddy must be a little confused. Christmas is over so I am not sure how Santa could interfere with Sam's walking.
Daddy said "He's going to walk this weekend, Ben, no ifs, ands or buts."
To which I replied, "Yeah, no Santa Butts".
I think Daddy must be a little confused. Christmas is over so I am not sure how Santa could interfere with Sam's walking.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Flying fish
Mommy and I just had this conversation:
Me: "I wish I had a fish tank."
Mommy: "Well, maybe you can ask Santa for a fish tank next Christmas."
Me: "Yeah, or Grammy" (pretty much the same thing in my mind)
Mommy: "Okay, Santa or Grammy."
Me: "Maybe if we say 'please', she will bring it on the plane."
Mommy: "A fish tank might be a little bit too big to bring on the plane, Ben."
Me: "No, it's not too big. Grammy will put it in her bag."
My understanding of airline baggage guidelines may be a little off.
Me: "I wish I had a fish tank."
Mommy: "Well, maybe you can ask Santa for a fish tank next Christmas."
Me: "Yeah, or Grammy" (pretty much the same thing in my mind)
Mommy: "Okay, Santa or Grammy."
Me: "Maybe if we say 'please', she will bring it on the plane."
Mommy: "A fish tank might be a little bit too big to bring on the plane, Ben."
Me: "No, it's not too big. Grammy will put it in her bag."
My understanding of airline baggage guidelines may be a little off.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Day is here again
This Christmas season has been especially fun for me. I have been counting down the days until Santa comes. I have been hoping and hoping for a train table. I made special cookies last weekend and, before I went to bed on Christmas eve, I picked out some that I thought Santa would like the best. I also left him two cups of milk because he likes milk. He also likes hot chocolate, in case you were wondering. I bounced out of bed on Christmas morning and woke up Mommy and Daddy and Sam. I started to get excited when I saw a big present with my name on it.
My train table is here! My train table is here!!
M&Ms in my stocking. My favorite!
I got a bunch of cool presents.
Uncle Andy got me my own camera. I am getting good at taking pictures. I will post some of those as soon as Mommy uploads them for me.
I realized I can play with all of Sam's toys too. Bonus!
Chilling on the couch with my movie and my Thomas blanket.
Merry Christmas to all!
My train table is here! My train table is here!!
M&Ms in my stocking. My favorite!
I got a bunch of cool presents.
Uncle Andy got me my own camera. I am getting good at taking pictures. I will post some of those as soon as Mommy uploads them for me.
I realized I can play with all of Sam's toys too. Bonus!
Chilling on the couch with my movie and my Thomas blanket.
Merry Christmas to all!
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