We just got back from a trip to the country - as in Boise, where our friends the Claytons live. Ben got to spend a lot of time playing with 3 1/2 year old Amaia - much of which was naked, with the hose in the backyard. I'm pretty sure there was one toddler-speak comparison of private parts involved.

The highlight for the whole family was a visit to the ranch, where Ben got to ride a horse AND a tractor AND a three-wheeler. The day before, we went to an afternoon rodeo, where Ben got to watch lots of horses "rodeo horses" we told him, not "farm horses" (they were bucking a lot) and one special event -mutton busting- where little tikes (around 8ish) tried to stay riding a sheep as long as they could hang on. When I went over the next day at bedtime, and prepped Ben for the horse riding at the ranch, he asked "I ride lamb?"

I think we are all in withdrawal from our country time - Ben said today "I go to airport, go on airplane, see Maia, get in big car [the suburban, which held all 8 of us!].

Today Ben and Daddy had a big adventure (starting at 5:30 am per Ben's early rising these days) - they rode the "Cow Cow Train" (CalTrain Train) to Burlingame, where they ran into our friend Shin, had breakfast, and played on the playground. On the way back, Ben had Daddy got to stand at the very front of the train and look out the window over the track. "Where's locomotive?" Ben asked (it was in the back pushing the train).

Tonight Ben had a hard time getting to sleep. "Daddy Awake!" he would cry. When he asked for Daddy to tell him a story about the Cow Cow train, Daddy narrated the events of the day. "Again" Ben asked. Daddy started the narration again, and Ben said "No make up story". We thought it was pretty amazing that he not only knows about pretending, but can ask for it!

A few days ago you got your new backpack on., said "I put on backpack. Put on shoes. Go to airport. Go up up up. Go see Grandma and Grandpa. Take airplane"

You've had lots of visits from Grandma and Grandpa lately and you know you need to take an airplane to see them!