July 31, 2010

This weekend was the Powell Street Festival in Vancouver. It's sort of like Obon.

Here we are sitting on the grass listening to taiko while eating taiyaki, which Ben loooved. The lines were crazy long for all the food, so we could only try so much, but at least it wasn't boiling hot like years before.

Ben is wearing another jinbei Celeste made-- he's so cute in it. But for some reason he doesn't like the top and kept fiddling with the ties. At one point, he managed to undo both of them and then realizing his potential freedom, he whipped it off faster than I could retie it, haha.

July 30, 2010

We have a new laundry basket game Chez Lamb. Ben likes to crawl in and then pull all the sheets inside with him. Then he lays back and pretends to sleep... though usually unable to contain his laughter long enough to fool anyone.

Thank goodness Rick and I never make the bed otherwise this game would never be possible and Ben's creativity would have been stifled. Haha.

July 29, 2010

Ben discovered a new place to hangout this morning. He liked to play with the grass and rock the chair back and forth. I love this new game of his because it means I can finally sit down too while we're outside.

This is the closest I've ever come to getting a photo of Ben and me smiling at the same time. Not bad!

July 28, 2010

Today Ben and I went to the recently renovated Westside Family Place to check out all the new stuff. They redid the kitchen, put in a new play structure outside, redid the sandpit, and now there's astroturf that sparkles in the sun!

Ben was a big fan of this water toy-- he liked to take his slotted spoon and scoop out the crabs one by one and dump them into the middle. And we were both happy it was in the shade since today was one of those burning-hot-in-the-sun-but-cool-in-the-shade days.

July 27, 2010

Really I cannot emphasize enough about how Ben is SO into cars and trains and anything else with wheels. It's like a switch went off and now it's the only thing he plays with.

Here Ben is at the Jericho drop-in playing with the Thomas train. He likes to push trains outside of the tracks, not actually on them... rebel!

July 26, 2010

Rick had the day off and it wasn't too hot out, so we went to the beach!

First we played in the grass... the very very dry, but strangely not poke-y grass. Ben loves it when we lay on the ground. He sees us and then immediately climbs on us. He thinks it's funny and his laugh makes us laugh.

Then Ben decided to show Rick some yoga moves or maybe they were practicing football, I'm not sure.

Then we migrated to the sand... and well this is what happens when you put your head down in the sand, FYI.

LOL.

July 25, 2010

Today at Jump was Family Appreciation Day and here are Rick and Ben during the open gym time.

Ben usually likes to climb up the slide and hang out in the ballpit, but today he was all about walking on the balance beams with Daddy!

(Sorry about the unflattering picture, Rick.)

July 24, 2010

Yay, it's Ben walking with his hands behind his back!

Here's Ben wandering around the children's section at IKEA doing his hilarious new way of walking. He breaks this out every so often and it cracks me up every single time.

I haven't been able to figure out why he does it-- sometimes he just wanders around this way and other times he marches with purpose down our hallway. Either way, it's awesome!

July 23, 2010

Ben can catch a ball! He figured out how to throw overhand the last night at Celeste's, so he must have thought he should know how to catch too. We were at gymnastics and I threw a bunch of balls at him and he started to put his arms out so that I could throw a ball into them. You pretty much have to throw it directly into his arms very gently, but I figure that must count as catching since most of the time that's how I catch things too. :P

July 22, 2010

Hello Smudge.

Ben was so excited to be with Smudge that he tried to hug him! Unfortunately, it ended up more like a tackle.

July 21, 2010

We are back in Vancouver!

Here's Ben calling to let everyone know we've arrived safe and sound. He actually ended up pushing some combination of buttons and I heard a voice on the other end... I'm hoping it was just the automated "please hang up and try again" message and not an actual person... eep.

July 20, 2010

Our last day in San Jose... where else to have breakfast than 4th Street Bowl!

We sat in the U-shaped booth, so Ben had easy access to anyone he wanted to visit and we didn't have to play "pass the Ben" over the table.

Ben enjoyed sampling everyone's meals (my loco moco was soooo good) and drinking the little containers of half and half Grandma offered him!

July 19, 2010

Today we had an all day playdate with some cousins-- it's easy to watch 3 under 2 when you outnumber them!

Here's Ben playing with a truck they brought over.

Almost every picture lately features Ben with a car. He was never interested in them until our plane ride to CA and now he can't get enough of them. Vroooom.

July 18, 2010

Today was bowling in Sacramento. Ben napped on the way there and then actually stayed up the whole drive home and didn't complain about being in the car for so long.

Man, is it HOT in Sacramento.

Auntie Gracie gave Ben some cars, which he looooved. He pushed them around the chairs while we bowled.

And as soon as we were done, he was there to high-five everyone!

July 17, 2010

Today was a busy busy day-- we had a playdate in the morning, then we went to Nordstrom to buy Ben new shoes, and then it was off to Mountain View Obon!

Here's Ben riding in our carrier backpack style at Obon, chatting away. We had a great time- Ben loved the food and the games and seeing all our family and friends.

July 16, 2010

Come on Auntie Celeste, let's go!

Ben likes company when he's exploring and Auntie Celeste makes an excellent companion since she is willing to do what Ben wants, unlike those no-fun parents on his. She also takes him on walks with the dogs in the morning!

Here Ben is wearing a jinbei that Celeste made. It's awesome.

July 15, 2010

Today we left for CA! Our flight was at 8 am, so we left around 5:45... which was no problem since Ben has been getting up at5am lately.... zzzzzzzzz.

Here's Ben playing with his car on the airplane. He was hanging out in the space in front of me, pushing his car around on Rick's leg and the seat in front of us. He didn't sleep at all, but we were able to keep him entertained most of the time without too much complaining. Snacks and a portable dvd player were our saviors!

July 14, 2010

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

This is the picture we put on a bowling towel for Grandpa's present. Ben kept demolishing the letters every time I set them up but luckily he paused once so that I could take a picture!

Ben and I went to the park/school yard that has a babyswing this afternoon. We play this game while he's on the swing where I hold something out and he grabs it. Usually we play with my keys, but today it was a plastic fork, his water bottle... and later his hat, shoes, and socks, lol.

July 13, 2010

Cherry Coke Zero, aka what Ben thought he should have for a snack.

Ben never cared to hold his own bottle, but he will gladly hold a can of soda. :P

And finally, here is Ben after I said he couldn't have any.

Poor Benjamin.

July 12, 2010

USA! USA! USA!

We went to Point Roberts this afternoon to pick some stuff up and to visit the boat. There was a long wait at the border, but Ben did surprisingly well hanging out in his carseat while we waited to cross since usually if we stop, he wants out and protests loudly.

We had some snacks, Ben dismantled Rick's wallet, and then it was time to go home.

See you soon America, we'll be back.

July 11, 2010

Here's Ben and me during our teeth brushing ritual.

First Ben "brushes" his teeth by waving his tooth brush in front of his mouth and saying "ducka ch ducka doo doo," then he "brushes" mine, and then finally, I can take the toothbrush and actually brush his.

Sometimes I think it would be nice if Ben could say words I understand, but then I would really miss all the hilarious words he comes up with himself... "ducka ch ducka doo doo," lololol.

July 10, 2010

Today we attempted finger painting... at like 8am, when it was still relatively tolerable outside.

I love it when Ben squats to watch stuff. I think Rick did most of the actual painting... Ben enjoyed watching, holding the paint roller, stacking the pots of paint, and telling Daddy where to smear paint. Ben is going to be a great bossy older sibling one day.

July 9, 2010

I totally caved and bought Huggies jean diapers. Hilarious.

July 8, 2010

Almost every morning, Rick takes Ben to the beach for their father-son bonding time.

Pre-Ben walking, they would go for a long walk in the stroller, but now Ben only lasts so long in there before he wants to get down and explore, collect rocks, and throw sand around with his shovel.

They have first breakfast out there too and then come home for second breakfast.

Ben loves his morning routine and is always disturbed when it's too rainy out or recently way too hot to go.

July 7, 2010

SO HOT.

While everyone else is flocking to the beach, Ben refuses to play outside because it's too hot out... or maybe he just doesn't like my sunblock skills, which would just be shocking... either way, smart kid. :)

So we went to the Play Palace again today, not that it was that cool in there either, ugh.

One of Ben's favorite parts, if not his very favorite, is having a snack at the picnic tables in the lobby. Ben makes sure I never forget to bring him over there and often will wander off from the actual play area within minutes of arriving to sit at the tables.

July 6, 2010

Awesome sunblock application strikes again.

Last week, when Ben first started walking, he wouldn't walk and hold stuff at the same time. But here he is showing off his excellent walking while carrying things skill. He can even walk and drink at the same time now... I don't think I can even do that.

It's starting to get HOT here.

July 5, 2010

We went to the Kerrisdale Play Palace this morning (Rick had the day off today instead of Canada Day- hooray for 3 day weekends!) and though we've been here many times before, it was an entirely new experience since Ben's walking. He bypassed all his usual haunts in the toddler area and was all about the basketballs and the foosball table... bouncy castle was still very very very much a no-go, lol.

July 4, 2010

Happy 4th of July!

Yay America and yay little cars!

July 3, 2010

A couple of days ago, Celeste asked me if I taught Ben how to high-five yet and my answer was uhhhh no. So that night, I said "Benjamin, high-five" and put up my hand, and lo and behold, he stuck his hand up and we totally high-fived!

I thought that it might be a fluke, but he does it almost every time we ask (the other times he says no, lol)... just in time for Sacramento bowling!

And yes, as Rick pointed out to me, this is a trick people teach their 9 month olds, but it is still fun and awesome anyway. :P

July 2, 2010

Ben found a Smudge!... or "Nah" as Ben calls him.

Hello Smudge. Nice petting Benjamin.

"Wait for me, Smudge!"

"Ha, I found you."

July 1, 2010

Happy Canada Day!

It was raining off and on today and since it's a holiday, all our usual haunts were closed and our outside time was limited. What were Ben and I to do? Make muffins!

There is this website called weelicious that has toddler friendly recipes... Benjamin LOVES his baked goods but Rick and I have started to feel guilty about feeding him so much sugar, so in comes weelicious with healthier recipes of his favorites.

Today we made banana apple muffins. Ben was enthralled with the whole process and I had him help out as much as I could, mostly with the parts I thought would be the least messy... but they turned out to be super messy anyway, haha. It was fun though and definitely something worth adding into our activities.