Where Betty-Ann becomes Olivia, Nature is explored, and Forest is conquered!

Benjamin's Prima Zoe received a baby doll a while ago and named her, "Betty-Ann," after her Grandmother on her father's side. Once Zoe had a Betty-Ann doll, Tana wanted one too - so Granny (my mother) got Tana a Betty-Ann to match Zoe's.

When Benjamin was about 9 or 10 months old, Tana was spending the night and brought her Betty-Ann with her. Benjamin fell in love with Betty-Ann, so Prima Tana graciously left Betty-Ann to play with Benjamin for a while. A few weeks later, Prima Tana missed Betty-Ann, and took her home. Benjamin was sad :(

Aunt Kerry (Zoe's momma) happened to be visiting when Tana's Betty-Ann went home, so she went out and got Benjamin his very own Betty-Ann! Only now, Tana has delcared that there are too many Betty-Anns around, so Benjamin's Betty-Ann is now named Olivia. It is official - the tip top Puffin has spoken

.
Benjamin reads a library book to Olivia!

Benjamin loves to be outside - LOVES, loves, loves it!

Poor Forest never stood a chance!

Autumn comes to Mt. Zion Rd.

A slight chill in the air brings out some long-ish sleeves, layering, and rambunctious fellows!

Benjamin wishes to escape beyond the tetanus fence...

Forest shows him an escape, through ingestion of questionable berries, leaves and grasses
Naughty Puppers!

When too much basil happens to good babies...

He is now aware that he might need basil intervention!

This was not pesto in the making (we have tons of that already) - but rather for a spinach yogurt dip that we have become obsessed with and are eating almost daily... need more aero garden seeds... :)

bwyl *SherryQ*

Weekend after Labor Day

Yup - I got over my big bad self :)

And now, some overdue posts... and photos

Zoe at the park

Tana at the park

Girl cousins at the park

Silly Billy Puffins at the park! Benjamin decided to take a nap instead...

We headed over the mountains and through the woods, to Granny and GDad’s house, for Zoe’s very happy 4th birthday - 4!!!!!!!! These years are moving past so very quickly - or is it my imagination? Tana and her daddy came over too - by airplane. We should have done that too - that drive is something else with our sweet baboo puffin! I end up praying for our lives as we struggled pluggled luggled along…

We stayed in the motor home in the driveway - awesome. Well, actually, other than not having the water/ sewer hooked up (so we had to run inside the house when those things were needed), it is a very nice set-up. We even had wireless Internet access and Direct TV!!!

Tana is reading to Benjamin in the car

"That's my dinosaur, his spines are so soft.
(looks up with complete shock on her face and exclaims)
I said, 'spines!' I said,'spines!" :)

Of course, the trip was too short to do everything that we wanted to do… but I was so glad to be able to go to Zoe’s happy birthday party - and to see her new house (across the street from Granny and GDad!

Happy Birthday, Zoe!

Tana at the Princess birthday party

Benjamin did not even last long enough to see the cake :)

bwyl *SherryQ*

sahm..

I have photos and captions and cute stories to share - just need the energy and time to post...

For now, I am working on what most stay-at-home-mommies of young children experience (especially when they are ill) - feeling isolated and a bit irrelevant (other than my little baboo puffin).

So - la dee dah

bwyl *SherryQ* "she's not so different, after all"

Labor Day Weekend

We rested, and Big Papi grocery shopped...

***

We went to Harper's Ferry. It was hot and humid - but gorgeous! We are making plans to go back asap and do some walking to see where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac. Benjamin was completely enthralled by a group of Asian tourists - and they thought that he was so cute pointing to them and listening to their language, they just kept encouraging the little rascal ;)

{{{{Wishful thinking, Momma}}}}

bwyl *SherryQ* xo

Gyffy co-co-POP! and tomatoes

My former supervisor in my former work-a-day girl life (wherein I posed as a furniture liberating, group advocating, renegade librarian!), is such a lovely lady (and a magical sheep farmer), and I am so lucky that she has stayed a friend in my post-work life :)

We had lunch with Mary the other day, and she presented little Mister Benjamin with the most awesome Gyffy! We call him, Gyffy, Gyffy, co-co-POP...

He is awesome and bouncy and super duper fun!
He = Gyffy ;)
THANK YOU, MARY!!!! xo

Tana brought 2 tomato plants over in June, and we planted them in the third pot outside - the tomatoes are there!

bwyl *SherryQ* xo

What to do when everyone leaves...

#1. Be a binky stealer!

#2. Make your modified sign for pony ride and look helpless so that Momma will assist you
#3. Eat a new puzzle piece out of frustration
#4. Just look sad and cry :'(

bwyl *SherryQ* xo

Visitors from Cincinnati, and a return to the Creamery

Prima Tana's school/ summer camp had a three week hiatus before their fall term began, so she came and spent one week of that with us!!!! YAY :)

My parents (Granny and GDad), came over and brought Prima Zoe with them to play with Tana for the week!!! YAY :)

***

There was lots of fun to be had - sprinklers, toddler pool, API playdate, and a visit to the South Mountain Creamery!

My Dad doesn't join us on a lot of outings because of his bad back (aka World of Warcraft)

Benjamin thought that there were sheep too - he is saying, "baa," and looking towards the cows ;)

Kerry and Jim arrived on Thursday and stayed through the weekend.
Prima Tana and Prima Zoe LOVE being together, and they both adore my sister!

**
Cousins LOVE Cows!!!

By now, Benjamin's mad walking skills have really developed, and he had a grand ol' time showing them off to everyone ;)

bwyl *SherryQ* xo

More Demonstrations and the Kuritars :)

While the Kuritar family returned for a fun day in D.C. (they left the house @ 6:45 a.m.), Benjamin and I stayed home to review his mad skills!

and

call me crazy - here :)

And a still of Sydney Kuritar - Spencer did not want to be photographed :)


bwyl *SherryQ* xo

Benjamin's first trip to a Smithsonian!

(photos are Big Papi, Benjamin, Uncle Corey, Aunt Sydney and Prima Tana)



My friend from down the street while I was growing up, Joan, brought her two children, Spencer, 10, and Sydney, 8, to visit D.C., and stayed with us for a few days.

Since we missed going with the Neziri's, Abuela, Abuelo, Big Papi, and Tio Tony, we used their visit as an excuse to get off of our behinds and take little Mister Benjamin to a Smithsonian, and ended up at the Natural History Smithsonian for the day.

It was H O FREAKIN' T - seriously the hottest day of the summer, but the museum was fun and Benjamin enjoyed himself very much (as long as we were holding him).
:)

New moves!

Check, check, check, check it!

and
Stay Tuned!
'cause

oh yeah
and

then, you'll not be surprised by

or this...

Hee hee :) here are a few still shots:

Benjamin at 13 months...

He is very interested in doing what I do - sweeping, being close to Big Papi, and watching tomatoes grow :)

bwyl *SherryQ* xo