Clean! Clean! Clean!

Ben is totally obsessed with helping to clean. He loves to vacuum, wash windows and dust with his swiffer duster. He also has his own swiffer mop.

More Swimming

Daddy came to swim class today, so we got more and better pictures.

A Little Food for Monster

Apparently Ben was very observant this morning and saw that Monster's food bowl was getting low. So to be helpful, he decided to fill it up for her. Most of it made it in the bowl...

A Little Fishy!

Ben is back in swim class for the winter. He has really improved at swimming over the summer after spending almost every day in the pool at Sharon's or at home. He can kick his legs, scoop his arms (doggy paddle) and blow bubbles. He has even attempted to swim by himself after letting go of the wall a few times when I wasn't holding him. He is very good at holding his breath and not swallowing water when he goes under the water. Today he really got into jumping off the wall and splashing his feet in the water.

Daddy Surfing

Who needs a jungle gym or trampoline when you have a daddy!

So Silly

Is it a bag or a hat or a headband? I have no idea how he comes up with ideas like this. How does he think to put a bag on his head like a headband???

Fun at Playland

Ben and Cameryn had a little play date at Sylvania Playland this morning before meeting with our friend Meredith for lunch. Ben liked the play house and the foam blocks, and Cameryn liked jumping in the bounce house.

Bathtub Art

This evening when we got home, Ben just kept bugging to go upstairs and take a bath. So I said sure, you can take a bath while we wait for dinner. Well, he didn't really want to take a bath so much as color in the bathtub. I swear, he has the memory of an elephant. He hasn't taken a bath upstairs (where the markers are) for probably 6 weeks or more, but tonight, that's all he wanted. After about 25 minutes of coloring and pruning in water that was getting pretty cold, I finally made him get out, which led to a major meltdown fit that lasted for another 25 minutes, but oh well. He would have stayed in the bathtub all night, if I let him!

Happy Halloween!

Ben had quite a full day this Halloween. Grandma Lee and Grandpa Stan came up for the day, including a trip to the zoo. There was no one at the zoo, but all the animals were very playful. We saw the polar bears and the wolves and tigers and hippos and alligators (a new favorite) and monkeys and elephants. Ben even got a ride on the carousel. We then came home and got ready for trick-or-treating. Ben was pretty tired, so he didn't make it too far, but Cameryn made it down to our house. Ben and Cameryn were discussing their candy and I believe strategizing for next year.

Mom's candy passing set up, complete with fire, couch and blanket

Ben was actually giving his pumpkin to Cameryn

And examining the contents

And Ben had to rearrange the pumpkins just so...

A Cozy New 'Chair/Couch'

Apparently Monster's toy basket makes a very good chair/ couch for Ben. It took him a couple of tries to figure out how to make the most of it - by adding 4 blankets.

Fall Photo Op

Today we did our fall photo op at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. We actually had a short shoot with a professional photographer first and then I took some additional pictures. It turned out to be a perfect day for outside pictures - cloudy, warm and a light breeze. I'm hoping that some of the family pictures the photographer took turn out good. But, I have to wait a few days before I found out!