Florida Vacation 2011

Benjamin and Ma-ma headed to Florida for some sun and fun, and to visit our long lost friends from Hawaii -- Macy and Jen Rogerson!

You might recognize Macy and Jen from the next two photos. Macy was the first Baby to visit Benjamin at home: ....And his first hand holding.
And here are those two beach babes, lapping up the Florida sun! Cheese!!!
Ma-ma and her little beach babe... Best seat in the house...

Blah!, blah! blah! blah! Going, going..... Gone!Bath time and Intermission.....

Chase me! Chase me!
High tea anyone! Lovely ladies and their hats, Macy, and Benjamin:May I have this dance?
"Mom, seriously? Please get this lamp-shade off my head. You're embarrassing me."
Ta-da!
Handsome bunch!
Macy showing Benjamin how to "splash! splash!"Benjamin in his watercraft:

Pirate attack! "Give me all of your Mum Mum Crackers and no one gets hurt."
Benjamin and his Ma-ma at the beach!
The story of the Bee and the Flower. Too cute!

Now that's a picture worth a thousand words! Macy swipes a cracker and Benjamin and Mom's reaction are priceless. Benjamin is speechless.

Playtime!!!!

"Excuse me, have you seen the gym around here?'

Farm Hand

It was Benjamin's time to learn how to drive the tractor. Grandpa instructs as Da-da looks on as safety! Keep 'er straight Benjamin!
Da-da and the newly branded farm-hand take a break from tractor driving to smile for this cameo. "Is it lunch time yet?"
Fresh air makes me SMILE!
Benjamin takes Auntie Heather to see the "Moooooooo" Cows!Back to Work! Da-da and Benjamin get pulled in the wagon as Grandpa drives.
We LOVE tires... especially big tractor ones. Drive faster Grandpa!
This farm hand takes a load off in the vibrating 'massage chair'. That tickles my hind parts.
All good farm hands need to learn to read and write. Auntie Heather, Jennifer, Grandma, and Grandpa got him this easel, markers, and crayons.... and art smock (good idea!), as he tests out the blue crayon.
As my good friend Bugs Bunny once said.... "That's all folks!"

EASTER!!!!

We had a majority of the Silva-clan over to house on Saturday for a pre-Easter extravaganza. Lauren and her cousin Benjamin - too precious.

The kids before their Easter Egg hunt.... Ready, set, go!!!!!

Jack teaching Benjamin how to fish.

Lauren with her Easter Egg Booty.

Benjamin turned out to be quite the egg-finder. Of course he helped Da-da hide the eggs, so he knew right where they were... Sneaky little bugger.

HIATUS NO MORE

It's been a while since we've blogged... don't worry, this is not the beginning of the end - life caught up to us for a couple weeks. We're back, and we've got a couple good entries in one. First thing's first - the myth, the man, the legend:

Good shot of his two toothes - and the one tooth on top you can't see!

In case you were unaware, Benjamin's Auntie Alicia is a renowned poet. Through her Learning Unlimited course at Salve Regina, she composed three poems, one of which was about Benjamin. So we went to watch her read her poems aloud. It may look like Alicia is crying.... because she is. She did very well, and we are VERY proud of her. (video of her reading the poem below).

The 3 Musketeers and Alicia's Learning Unlimited Companion, Rowan:

Today we took a trip to Boston to visit the New England Aquarium. Benjamin was mesmerized by the fish... A picture of our two little fishes:

Look out Benjamin, a SHARK!!!

Little Benjamin Fishes:

A GIANT Sea Turtle:

It was Da-da's War College Spring Break - and every other grade school student's in New England... it was packed!

Afterwards we stopped in the North End, where Benjamin actually found a meatball he couldn't finish... The two "meatballs" staring each other down before they face off. "You win this time giant meatball, but I'll be back".

Buddies in the park near the North End.

Alicia Silva's Poems, recited by Alicia Silva:



And because it's been a few weeks since we blogged, Benjamin is now a full-time walker. Even this was a bout a week ago. This morning he was chasing Da-da in the front lawn. So much fun!

Newport Library and Lunch with Ella

Benjamin entertaining his Ma-ma in his mini-house at the Newport Library as we wait for weekly 'Babies and Books' to begin. "Please, come in....." Benjamin reaching out for Ella. Da-da, Benjamin, Ella, and Auntie Shannon enjoying themselves at 'Babies and Books' at the Newport Library. Later in the week, Benjamin was nice enough to let Ella use his high chair to eat lunch.

Benjamin taking Ella on a post-lunch stroll around the kitchen.... It's nice to have a big strong Benjamin to get you from point A to B.... Too Cute!