Viejas...

Today we went to the Viejas outlet and played around the fountain. We met some new friends there and had some fun! The fountain is underground and spurts water out of holes in the surface way up high. The holes in the ground form two circles-one inner and one outer. We walked all the way to the center of it where occasionally mist seeps out of the ground. We had to wait for the water to spray up and then scurry past it. A couple of times Benjamin and Hannah got squirted and got soaked!! They had fun trying to dodge the water and watching it go around and around them. Luckily I thought to bring some extra warm clothes!!

doctor...

Today we went to the doctor for Benjamin. He went with us a few weeks ago when Hannah got some shots and had her check up so he was familiar with where we were headed. I'm sure he was thinking that he would get some shots too but ...we were there to have his asthma re-assessed! When the doctor came in Benjamin looked up at her and asked her "Are you going to look in my throat to make my cough better?" So cute!! She was a little surprised by his comment but said "yes!" Benjamin was such a trooper with her, he even gave her some big breaths when she was listening to his lungs! He got a sticker for the visit. The last thing I want him to be is afraid of the doctors' office...I think it was a positive experience for him.

glue...

As I mentioned before...I think this is a new stage in activities and crafts in our home. We bought some kid size scissors and did some paper cutting today. We thought that was fun so we got a stick of glue out too and made some cards for people that we know. We stuck the shapes that we cut out onto the paper, folded it and voila! a card! Benjamin wanted to make one for every one he knows...so maybe you'll get one!

watermelon...

It is the end of the summer and we have been eating watermelon, yum! Benjamin and Hannah love it cut up and eat the pieces with toothpicks. We have it as a snack at the park or before bedtime. They will get out ot the bath and start saying "watamuhlon" (Benjamin likes to pretend he is a baby) over and over until we get it out! Yummy and nutritious!

music...

Benjamin is so musical! He loves to sing...he sings all day! He always has a song in his head-and it just bursts out at times and he has nothing else on his mind but that song! His favorite thing to do these days is play the guitar in the car. We have a kids music CD that we play in the car and he loves to strum along with his guitar in the back seat. He sings along too. I think Hannah is getting that way (with music) too because we will hear her "singing" a song and "playing" the couch piano. She also likes the music in the car. Occasionally she will have her guitar (just her size-from Marissa) but most of the time I will catch her clapping her hands to the beat. So fun!

falling asleep...

Hannah goes to sleep first at night and as we lay there she has babbles her way into sleepytown. This is her way of winding down from the day and also she is practicing vocalizing so we don't discourage it. Here are some of her words & songs as she is drifting off... "elmo elmo elmo..." "that's Elmo's world" (she sings that one) "wademelam" (that's watermelon) "WinkyWinky Lala Po" (Teletubbies-sung too!) "well well well well" (that's a song from the Wiggles) "Mommy Mommy Mommy Mommy Daddy Daddy Mimi" "Goggy" (doggy-must be Nanny's) Too funny!

hose...

Benjamin found out that he can turn on the hose all by himself today. He said "Look I'm big! I can water all by myself now!" as he puts water into the sand & water table that we have in the back yard. So cute that he wants to be big so badly! And I want him to stay small! ;^)

Sesame Street...

We have several of the Sesame Street characters as stuffed animals in our house. By far the most popular are Elmo, Big Bird and Ernie. We play hide and seek with them. They sit and watch a video with us. They go for walk with us in their own strollers. They go to bed and have snacks with us. Hannah gives them drinks from her cup. Benjamin has read books to them. They have gone to the store with us, and to the library. They haven't gone into the bath yet...I'm sure that is coming though!

Annie...

Nanny got a new dog while we were on vacation. She is so cute and the kids really like her. She is small...so just the right size for the kids! Her name is Annie. Nanny and Annie came over last night for dinner and the three of them (Benjamin, Hannah and Annie) ran around the back yard chasing sounds and exploring the site. Hannah loves the dog and asks for her every time we happen to mention Nanny. Benjamin loves helping out with the leash and walking her around. He wanted to walk her around the back yard but Annie was so happy to be free to run around and sniff! Lots of fun! We aren't ready for another dog...the two kids we have are keeping us quite busy for now.

Uh-Oh...

Benjamin has discovered the power of scissors! We were cutting shapes and playing around with them today when he asked to try the scissors out. He was real careful but then discovered that when he closed them they cut! We must be entering a new phase...crafts! He loves to paint and draw too. We have yet to glue anything... I'll have buy some safer small-sized scissors that he can use!

first cold...

Hannah got her first cold of the season. She is so miserable with all of the coughing and congestion. She can't sleep very well at night ~but naps are fine and normal~and so I am up with her too...sleepless. She will have many more (I hope not too many though) and so will Benjamin. Hannah hasn't been very sick so she gets wiped out easily! It's so hard when all I can do to help her is to hold her~all day and all night... She'll get better soon.

pool...

Hannah is getting more comfortable with getting in the pool. She just climbs over the side and gets in! Today we had the pool nice and warm and she got in with her diaper and shirt on. After a minute of being in she wanted her shirt and diaper off. Before I knew it she was lying down on her belly and kicking her feet! She has grown to love the water and is a little water girl!

underpants...

When Benjamin was almost 2 yo (about 20 mos.) he asked to go on the potty. When we put him on he went, yay! we thought, time to potty train and get past the diaper phase! So got ready for the training part... We bought a little toilet seat that fits on our big toilet. Then we got a little potty that sits on the floor for him to go when he feels the need. We got some pull-ups where the picture disappears if he wets (oooh cool! That's fun!). We bought some underpants so that he can "be like Daddy". He knows exactly what to do when he gets on the potty and he can stay dry for a long time between going, during the day.

Well it has been a year now and still no sign of letting go of the diapers. Oh well, we keep trying! Hannah loves to sit on the potty...maybe she'll be first!

Mexico fun...

We went to Mexico over the weekend. Levi and his family came to visit for the day, Benjamin enjoyed it so much! Benjamin brought some little matchbox cars to share with Levi in case he showed up. They played with those cars for the entire afternoon in the empty Jacuzzi. Together they jumped in, jumped out, played with their cups, ate snacks, giggled and had fun! I’m sure Benjamin will remember and talk about that day when we go down there again.

computer...

Benjamin is learning to use the computer. He gets entranced with the programs that we have on the computer for him to play around with. He will sit in front of the computer and press the mouse and get excited about what he can do with it. He plays the Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald and sings along with the songs. He still is just beginning so he needs some help with it but he'll get it soon enough!