Isaac's Party

With a new school year, come new friends and more birthday parties.  Ben's whole class was invited to Isaac's birthday at the nearby Ritchie center at DU.  It was a tumbling party and for Ben embodied all the fun of Jump Street with lots of waiting in line. :(  Ryan took him and they both reported lots of fun had by all.

It was so nice of Isaac's family to include the whole class, especially so early in the year.

Here is a video of Ben enjoying the fun......

stride, striding, GONE!!

About 3 weeks ago now, Ben popped up in the middle of the Broncos game and proclaimed, "Daddy! I need to go practice my Strider!!"  For the last year, Ben has had a mostly Meh! attitude about the strider and although he did have a couple weeks of regular use here and there, most Strider outings were initiated by Ryan or myself.  Inspired by Ben's excitement, we both popped up and scooted immediately outside.  This time, though, there wasn't much "practice" involved.  It was almost like something had clicked there in that very moment and Ben just finally "got" the Strider.  Looooong rides of 1.5 miles and more have become a regular occurrence in the weeks since.  The way home from what will be Ben's elementary school has a slight down hill nearly all the way home, making it a prime striding destination.  Ben is absolutely loving it and Ryan and I are enjoying his fun and the idea of him choosing a "road bike or mountain bike" in the Spring.  Ben has a word game on the iPad that has both bikes and has pointed out bikes with distinction for years now.  Based on the time we've spent at Performance bike and at Target, it will be a VERY difficult decision one day.  We now have our fingers crossed for a Winter that allows for lots of practice.  Mother Nature hear our plea!!


Here are some pics and videos from out adventures........

on a now regular stride to Wash Park

This was his longest ride a couple days in and now he doubles this regularly

more about 4

A couple days after his birthday, Ben had his 4 year old well child check-up.  He weighed 47.8lbs (97th%tile) and is 42inches tall(75th%tile).  He had his first official vision screen at the doctor rather than at school or at an evaluation and passed with 20/20 or better in both eyes.  It was fun to watch them do the vision screen with letters and pictures of shapes and other objects.  We did get put on a "weight-watch" meaning we should go in and weigh Ben in 6 months rather than a year.  This is based on his percentiles but the Dr. said he wasn't worried when looking at a nearly-nakey Ben and when we discussed our diet and eating habits. 

Speaking of food, Ben's favorites are pizza, burritos, and mac and cheese.  Thankfully he loves almost all veggies with the exception of leafy greens that I sneak into smoothies and muffins and ALL fruit.  He is liking a wider variety of foods though will always beg for one of his 3 favorites.

Ben had a Summer full of adventures and recounts them frequently.  He is blessed to do so much and is absolutely happiest when we are on the go.  Memberships to the Children's Museum and the Zoo keep me sane, as well as frequent and varied playground visits.  For the next few months he'll have private swimming lessons twice a week.

Ben's imaginative play and stories are blossoming right now and his "fibs" and connections keep us laughing and on our toes.  Ben still loves to help in the kitchen and has taken a recent liking to watching PBS cooking shows with his Dad.  It's a good thing we don't have Food Network.  Ben also likes Peg and Cat, 

 
the other PBS kids shows, and Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory.)  Wall-E is his favorite movie right now and LazyTown is his special treat of a show on Netflix.  No one will be sad when he no longer enjoys LazyTown though it does have him talking about energy and calling apples "candy," so it can't be all bad.

Ben's favorite colors are black and blue and he continues to do well with rote academic tasks and learning and loves "doing my date," each day. 

  Ben would almost always prefer to play outside but he loves books, his marble run, and his B-toys keyboard and guitar.  His entourage of toys and friends is dynamic but one thing never changes........

As many moms of boys have told me, Ben likes to cuddle and snuggle more and more as he grows.  If he didn't weigh nearly 50 lbs, I would likely ask for even more "nuggling time."  

Naps have been gone for years it seems but Ben sleeps well and stays in his bed regularly from 730-8pm until 630-8am ish.  He is still having night terrors from time to time but a slight jostle before Ryan and I go to bed at night keeps the terrors at bay.

The approach to 4, and the days since really have shown a growth in independence for Ben.  It's amazing how seemingly overnight he can do things on his own and be more truly helpful around the house.  I think we were very blessed in the potty-training department and now that Ben can dress himself (on the bottom at least) he can go potty totally independently (with some wiping help.)  We haven't taken the no pull-up at night plunge quite yet but I did buy more sheets so when this package is gone we will go cold-turkey-yikes!!!

Ben is very aware of his routine and surroundings and let's me know quickly and emphatically if I ever miss a turn or drive past an expected destination.  I think kiddos are just so much more observant than we often give them credit for.

As other moms and blogger-friends with similarly aged kids have warned me, I need to do a better job of short posts to capture Ben's quips and sayings, and I will! 

Four so far is FUN. OVERWHELMING. UPROARIOUS. & REAL.

bidding adieu to Summer

While we're always hopeful for a long, slow, warm, transition to Fall in CO, Labor Day does mark the un-official end to Summer.
We joined MeeMee and Oenghus for a camping trip to Kelly Dahl campground just outside Nederland and next to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.  MeeMee arrived early and set up her camper solo (whooo-hoooo!) and we arrived just in time to cook dinner.

We spent Saturday exploring the campground and campground playground, driving through and fly-fishing in the nearby state park, and hiking repeatedly to the "top of the mountain."  Steak, sweet potatoes, corn, and roasted carrot and orzo salad for dinner made it hard to believe we were camping.  Ryan had fun tending the fire and insisting we cook pancakes over it on Sunday morning.  Thankfully by brunch time, he gave in and finished on the stove. ;)

We're still learning the in's and out's of the camper so didn't have electricity to spare this trip.  A couple rousing battles of Skip-Bo by head lamp made it feel a little more like tent camping.

contentedly reading fire-side

a soaking-wet, stacker-playing fishing assistant

by now he was wearing my shirt and was VERY unhappy after being pulled into the lake by Luke

Ryan's patented tinder-box

my DD headband is a camping must

last breakfast

We made it home by Sunday afternoon and unpacked with all of Monday ahead of us.  We took breakfast burritos to Nana and Papa's before heading over to their neighborhood pool for the last time this Summer.  I was SO sad as Ben and I enjoyed so much time there but was thrilled we had great weather to soak up one more day of splashing and sun.  We capped the weekend with dinner at the Lineberry's.  Any gathering on their deck with expansive views feels like a getaway.  Ben being as "at home" there as he is at our house is the icing on the cake. 

We headed home very content at a full weekend of fun, sun, family and friends.  Tuesday morning hurt.  I mean H.U.R.T.  Ben's nearly needing to be drug into school was sure testament that none of us wanted the lovely weekend to end.