Catching Up – Gribblog

I owe all you devoted readers a blog post! Let’s do this one backwards. I’ll start with Benjamin’s birthday party the weekend of September 28 and go all the way back to the beginning of August. It’s hard to believe it’s October and Benjamin is a year old.

Hanging out with Daddy before the party.

"Wait, let me into the picture too!" — “Wait, let me into the picture too!”

That's a big carrot! — That’s a big carrot!

Phoebe decorated for Benjamin's party. — Phoebe decorated for Benjamin’s party.

First cupcake. Happy birthday, Benjamin!

The weather was beautiful on Sunday, September 29, for Benjamin’s party. We made all of our favorite snacks (bacon-wrapped jalepeno thingies, peanut butter squares, meatballs, spinach dip, three kinds of hummus, and two kinds of cupcakes). Lots of friends came over, which meant lots of kids in the yard playing ball. Benjamin wiggled up and down, wishing he could join them!

Benjamin’s birthday was on a Thursday, so Dave and I had band. The kids have a terrific new babysitter, so we left them in her capable hands and went to meet our new band director. There wasn’t time to open gifts that night, so we did it on Friday instead.

Auntie Elaina's card had lots of stickers! — Auntie Elaina’s card had lots of stickers!

Benjamin is very good at sitting and rolling these days, but his preference is to stand. He’s pretty good at holding onto the couch or coffee table and staying upright. He can even let go with one hand to twist around and look for people! We just have to be ready to help him fall carefully when he overextends his abilities.

The third weekend of September, we went to Pickle Gulch group campground with some YABS friends and my coworker/friend Andrew’s family. The kids had a great time together, and there were enough of them that they could entertain themselves and let the grownups drink beer and hang out. The weather was nice. Nobody slept particularly well, but that was nothing new. Hard to believe it was our last camping trip of the season!

John, Tilley, Phoebe, and Thomas build a dam.

Pretending to sleep after a long day at work. — Pretending to sleep after a long day at “work.”

Benjamin graduated to his leopard-print snowsuit for our last camping trip of the summer.

The kids put on a few shows for us.

September 17

Handsome tuxedo, especially with the fancy socks!

Benjamin likes to sit upright in his bouncy chair these days.

September 15

What's on your screen, Daddy? — What’s on your screen, Daddy?

September 13

A bounty of garden carrots and beets. (I picked this many a second time later!)

Phoebe made a frog with her Magnadoodles. Front view. — Phoebe made a frog with her Magformers. Front view.

Pajamas at the coffee shop! Must be nice to be a baby.

Phoebe in her very favorite outfit, a ballet dress.

Phoebe insisted that we had to wash the car. September 7

Phoebe begged to wash the car all morning.

On September 1, Dave and I got a babysitter and went out to dinner for our anniversary! Instead of a movie, we went to one of the coffee shops we used to like before the kids were born.

My garden at the height of its beauty, September 1

Volunteer flowers brighten up my garden.

From the squash side, before wet weather did them in.

Benjamin fits into his Metropolitan Opera outfit. Look at him conducting!

Phoebe runs around at church. August 25

Wearing a pretty church dress from Grammie

August 24

Kids posing for photos. August 20

"Mom, can I lie down with him for a picture?" — “Mom, can I lie down with him for a picture?”

August 17 and 18 we were supposed to do a YABS camping trip at Pickle Gulch, but most people couldn’t make it. We had some company on Saturday, but Friday night we camped alone with about 10 empty tent pads. No matter—we always have fun camping!