SchneeWorld

Its all about the Benjamin

Ben is in the throws of two-dom. He is really asserting himself on the world. "This way", "that way", "no, not this way" (even thought that way was the way he wanted to go) - he just wants a bit of control.

Ben is pretty sad that his big brother is going off to school without him. Ben just watched with sad eyes as his brother and I went off to school this morning. By the time I got back, however, he was happily playing the in the sand box, making mud, so that's good.

The other day, I went shopping for some PJs for Jack - we're trying to get him into the whole boxer-and-t-shirt look for sleep. I saw a Lightning McQueen pack - boxers and a tank top - in Jack's size. I bought it. The tank must have been miss marked because it was way too small for him. We gave it to Ben instead and Ben was pleased as punch. He was running around telling everyone "I got Lightning shirt" (since everyone was Kathleen and me, we heard this over and over). Sticking out his chest, showing off. He was literally preening. It was very cute. He wore the shirt for two solid days.

 

Some more summertime images

Some more photos taking during Graduation Day. I noticed that my scanner is getting dark - the thing is 8 years old. Maybe time to get a new one. Sheesh!

The kids and the dad.

Jack in flight, celebrating being a graduate!

Ben mugging for the camera. 

Some summertime photos

Jack graduated from preschool last month. While I don't have any photos scanned from the actual ceremony, we needed to load a new roll of film during the event. The roll of Fuji NPZ 800 was developed at Costco, which provides relatively inexpensive scans of decent quality. Costco doesn't process slide film, which was used during the ceremony. Scanning that takes time since I have to do it myself. And time is of short supply, unfortunately.

 
Here's Ben screwing around in a tire-based playscape. This is on the grounds of Jack's old preschool. Fortunately for Ben, he'll be going there in the Fall.

More Ben and the Tires. He seems to enjoy them.

Ben has moved onto a swinging tube. This is a really good candid photography. Almost as if I placed Ben in the tube and told him to look at me.

Jack and his good friend from preschool Sam. They are playing with a water faucet. As I type this, it occurs to me that this was the last time they are likely to play together in this location. Sam will not be going to Jack's school in the Fall, but they've played on the same soccer team and have gotten together in the for playdates and birthday parties and the like.

Ben, looking like he is having fun

Jack, showing me that he has learned to swing by himself.

Jack and Ben on the swingset.

The other day, I met a bear

The other day
I met a bear
A great big bear
Oh way out there

I tried to remember those lyrics, wanting to contribute some song to the campfire sing-a-long to which my 15 girl scout hostesses invited the boys and I. They gave us s'mores and banana boats after-all and the only thing I brought was a hastily assembled bouquet of native grasses and a "goofy guests" verse to "He's got the whole world in His hands". Perhaps I should start at the beginning...

The boys and I camped at Inks Lake in Central Texas this past weekend. Kathleen made the arrangements and stayed behind with Anna as  Ben, Jack and I loaded the Subaru and headed out for our Saturday night stay. Inks Lake is a rather nice state park about 90 minutes (or less!) from our house. Camping in Central Texas isn't the best (follow that link to see how I broke that promise), but we gotta do what we gotta do. Ironically, the boys and I got the campsite that the Choir was in (again, follow that link).

The site was about 30 metres from where the car could be parked. I had two boys, neither of which can be completely unsupervised. I had to set up the camp and be a dad at the same time. It was a bit difficult, but I managed. Once the tent was up and snacks served, I took the boys swimming at the lake. We met a very nice family ('hi Jose, Monika, Joseph and Jaden!') and played around for a couple of hours. Then it was time to head back to the camp, for cooking and eating.

That went pretty well. As we were setting up, the Girl Scout leader from the next camp over invited us for s'mores and banana boats later on. A very welcome invitation that was. The scouts totally owned me in the "campfire making" category - they had a roaring fire when all I had (initially) was a feeble matchstick. And, of course, Jack noticed ("Daddy, why is there fire so much bigger"). Eventually, we got our fire popping and all was well. Cooked hotdogs and had dinner, followed by a pre-s'more marshmallow or two. Then it was time to visit the Girl Scouts.

That was fun. We sat around and sang songs, roasted marshmallow and had a good time. Jack immediately joined in the sing-a-longs and Ben eventually caught on. We stayed for an hour and then went on a moonlight hike, which both boys enjoyed immensely (the super power flashlights probably had something to do with).

Sleep that night was a challenge for  a bit - both boys kept screwing around it the tent until I had to put my foot down and separate them. Sleep eventually followed and was too-soon followed by morning.

We went on a long hike into the granite (documented by the craptacular cellphone camera, below) and loaded up into the car for the drive home. It was quite fun!

2.0's 2.0

Early last month, Ben turn two. We held a little party at our place, and it was a bit different than the one last year, but not much. We had a few people over, we ate cake and we opened presents. Ben was much more interactive, and to this day, any time we say "cake" he always says "birthday cake, fun!". Here are some photos.

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