Blogging Benjamin

Ben's school show

2012-02-08T14:29:00.001-08:00

Ben art

2012-01-22T14:33:00.001-08:00

Construction worker

2012-01-12T07:08:00.001-08:00

The Boy Who Learned to Read (en espanol, hombre!)

2012-01-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

Ben has struggled a lot this fall as he has entered into kindergarten. The first couple of months he came home (after being *very* good at school) and became a violent mess of a boy. We (the parents) were just as emotionally tired from the aftershocks.

In San Francisco, homework is required by the district, even in kindergarten. At first, Ben was excited to do it each week. And then he decided that if he didn't know what to do right away, he didn't want to do it. In fact, he couldn't do it, he would say. Attempts to practice sounding out words would result in an emphatic "But I can't read!" repeated despite gentle encouragement that of course he couldn't read, he was only five afterall!

Then, two weeks after Thanksgiving break = breakthrough. Something clicked mentally or socially or both, and life wasn't quite so hard, and homework practice was easier. His teacher suggested trying to get him to focus on syllables instead of just letters, and he was actually able to write some on his own.

Today, after doing quite a bit of writing in his homework, Ben again said he couldn't read. "Yes you can!" I said. "You just sounded out all those syllables for writing, that's the same for reading." Ben ran to some flash cards that had caused so much angst weeks before and dutifully practiced sounded out the number words (en espanol, of course). He got a few right away, struggled with many, and got many more with help.

And Ben decided he *could* read. We sat down on the couch to read books and Ben said instead of a book he wanted me to tell him a "story about the boy who learned how to read". And so today is the day that Ben started reading. :)

Ben's dogsledding picture

2012-01-02T18:55:00.001-08:00

Ellie and the boys

2011-12-30T16:38:00.001-08:00

Ben 's Mohawk

2011-12-23T08:29:00.001-08:00

Ben's first clipper card

2011-12-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Ben was so excited to finally get his own card (instead of running
underneath when I put my ticket in). He's quickly learned how to tap
his card on both the bus and the train - and he's feeling proud to be
such a big guy.

Golden gate bridge

2011-12-08T17:39:00.001-08:00

Babysitter patty made one side and Ben made the other!

Cookie!

2011-12-08T16:04:00.001-08:00

Ben's picture of Mom

2011-12-05T19:50:00.001-08:00

Mom's picture of Ben

2011-12-05T19:49:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T17:05:00.000-08:00

Best friends at bmx bike park

2011-11-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

Ben's blueberry syrup creation

2011-11-08T06:47:00.001-08:00

5 1/2

2011-10-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

Now that I'm 5 1/2

2011-10-24T15:32:00.001-07:00

I can do lots of things. I can do the monkey bars on the playground
all the way across. I'm taller. I can ride my bike to school (all by
myself) and I can run really faster. I can write my name fast.

Ben

Sent from my iPhone

Cow at the pumpkin patch

2011-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

2011-10-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

Ben's first day of kindergarten

2011-08-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ben was super excited to go off to kindergarten this morning. He ran
to get his uniform (and picked his fancy sweater) and couldn't wait to
leave. When he said goodbye to us at morning circle he waved with a
huge smile. After school he was pretty tired, and had a couple of
breakdowns but was in good spirits. Then he asked "do I go again
tomorrow?" "and the next day?" "so only one day I don't go?" "no,
two"- and so his school life begins and his play life is much
shortened (sigh).

He seems unfazed so far that he is spoken to only in Spanish (though
our friends tell us that a breakdown will likely be forthcoming) and
has been humming a tune that we suspect has Spanish lyrics. School
life begins!!!

Five year old boys

2011-08-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Are the best!

Ben and Kenny

2011-08-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Only thing better than frogs

2011-08-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Frog!

2011-08-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Five year old smack down on Elmo

2011-07-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

2011-07-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Monkey and The Cowboy

2011-07-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

Cal train in the rain!

2011-06-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Chasing the geese in Fremont

2011-06-13T13:20:00.001-07:00

Cherries!

2011-06-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

Hey, look at me, I'm weightless!

2011-05-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Chabot space museum

2011-05-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Build your own remote control car

2011-05-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ben and Costin's artistic handiwork

2011-05-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and the remote control car

2011-05-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Build your own!

Robin Hood

2011-05-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

2011-05-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Glenridge 40th anniversary

2011-05-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today you are Five

2011-04-23T23:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Ben,

Today you are Five! Fabulous, marvelous, hold up one hand five! Here's why I love you at five:

1) Your enthusiasm is contagious. I will often say that you "are nothing if not enthusiastic". Sometimes your zeal and persistence overwhelms me. We decided on a knight theme for your birthday party and within 48 hours we had to head to the toy store and get the costume you would wear to greet your guests (either that or you would drive me into the ground convincing me). You decide you want to build a bridge, and an hour later we have built one with popsicle sticks. For Alex's birthday you decided you wanted to wear a Robin Hood costume (since the theme was Jungle, and in Disney's version that you know he is a fox with a bow and arrow) and within the hour you had convinced Grandma Zannah to make you a furry vest and hat to match. "Let's do it!" is your motto.

2) You are a joyful soul. You dance, you run, and you jump your heart out daily. You whip up Alex into a joyful dance and still can laugh at yourself after he pushes a big box down the stairs on top of you.

3) You are a sensitive soul, bridging the divide into a big kid. You crave independence and were so pleased with yourself when I let you cross a street solo. But you still are a little kid, and get worried about getting lost. You like to cuddle in bed, read books, and hug your special "Ba" but you would drop everything to run off for a few hours with the older next door neighbor and hang out with the big guys, with not a look back.

4) You still love your parents (though your friends are getting much more important!). This year you have really come into your own. Last year working out the social stuff at preschool left you a sobbing mess at the end of the day. This year at Glenridge you have gained a quiet confidence that has been building and building. You crave friendships are would rather hang out with your buddies, but you still tolerate and want special time with your parents, for now!

5) You are Ben. We love you for who you are and who you will become. And all the sobbing, dancing, crying, laughing, whining, singing and jumping in between.

Birthday wish list

2011-04-20T11:48:00.001-07:00

On Brothers

2011-04-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight, when Ben was going to sleep (and Alex was staying up a bit later) he said:

"I want Alex to be in here with me, because he's more brave. He has blue eyes and can see everything in the dark, and mine are green and I can't see anything."

Visiting Portland

2011-04-01T16:16:00.001-07:00

Doughnuts!

2011-04-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Bunk beds!

2011-04-01T13:44:00.001-07:00

Ben paints his own face!

2011-03-30T12:56:00.001-07:00

Another Castle

2011-03-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Note the potato head guards...

"The Bad Guy's Castle"

2011-03-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

Academy visit

2011-02-15T09:32:00.001-08:00

Ben sledding

2011-02-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

Ski boys

2011-02-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Emma and the Potty

2011-01-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we had a big potty party for Alex, and Ben was simultaneously part of the action and also jealous he wasn't getting nearly as many potty treats as Alex (though he negotiated getting them again for himself since we are such pushovers...).

Part of the training day was Alex's doll getting trained too. Armed with a squirt bottle in my apron and a few rolled dates, Emma had a few accidents, and a few successful attempts in her small potty during the day. My mock-ups were particularly convincing because Ben just couldn't wrap his head around just how this had happened.

He went to bed asking Jeff, "How did Emma go potty? She doesn't eat real food. Was that someone else's poop?" and then, a couple of days later, gleefully telling the grandparents that "Emma the doll pooped and peed in the potty!"

Alex, meanwhile, had no issues with the whole thing - seems it was just another day with Emma in his book...

Dragons

2011-01-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

Ben got a big Playmobil castle for Chrismas. He loves it and tells us so everyday. He recently got obsessed with having a dragon (or dragons) for the castle. By obsessed I mean constant requests to get a dragon, to go to toystores until we could find the one he wanted, buying it online, finding pictures to print out, etc.

This escalated to such a state that the other night Ben stated:

"I want to have a family meeting to talk about the dragons"

BMX Bike Park Adventure

2011-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Ben riding on the "Expert Track"

The "non-Expert" Side:

Ben, Max and Henry "racing"
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/de3b8f5d5943cc768353364737d4445a/video/46404861

Megan and boys interviewed at Museum

2010-12-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

http://sancarlos.patch.com/articles/after-13-years-the-largest-aviation-museum-in-the-bay-area-thrives

New Marble Game!

2010-12-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

"Ben built marble track. Chistmas present. Ben thinks it is cool present", Grandpa Himan.

Thanksgiving at the Werners

2010-11-30T10:07:00.001-08:00

Giraffe

2010-11-09T18:32:00.001-08:00

Robot

2010-11-07T17:57:00.001-08:00

2010-11-03T16:28:00.001-07:00

Left to Right: "Blue Patch Kid", "The Pirate Cook", "Captain Daddy", "Yellow Hook Beak"

Go giants!

2010-11-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

World Series Ticker Tape Parade down Market Street

Visit to CJ's

2010-10-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

Light the Night 2010

2010-10-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Glenridge Pirate

2010-10-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

2010-10-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Ben was thrilled to visit the BMX Bike Park with his friends Max and Mick last week. He made small happy screaming sounds as he quickly got the hang of cruising down the dirt hills and around the corners. He got a bit frustrated when he realized his buddies on bigger bikes got more power to make it up the hills, and so the quest for a bigger bike began. "Maybe for Christmas" I said.

After a visit to the bike shop, Mike, the bike store manager gave Ben a few catalogues to look at. After having me circle the ones that were "for kids" Ben quickly picked out a blue bike with a hand bike, and cut it out to send to Santa. "Who are the little guys who help Santa?" Ben asked. "The Elves?" "Yes, we need to give them a picture of the bike I want!"

Ben's family portrait

2010-10-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

Sir Benjamin

2010-10-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Daddy whipped up a knights costume in less than an hour for Fiona's Princess Birthday Party - it was complete with armor, shield, sword and helmet and made in less than an hour!

Stanford Reunion

2010-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

2010-10-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Darth Vader fighting Batman. Darth Vader is in the middle, fighting with his light saber, and Batman is on the right fighting with a hook.

2010 Light the Night Walk - aka the "Night Parade"

2010-10-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Mission's kitchen

2010-10-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Patio races

2010-10-04T09:07:00.001-07:00

Sandwich as big as my head

2010-09-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Mountain Climbing

2010-09-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Scooting out to Breakfast!

2010-09-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Their idea....

2010-09-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

It only took a minute for Mommy to find them like this

2010-09-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ben thankfully doesn't wake up too much during the night anymore, but he ocasionally calls for us. Last night I went downstairs and he was lying in the middle of the floor of the boys' room, on top of the train track. "Mommy! Someone put train track in my bed!"

Celebrating summer with Max and Henry!

2010-09-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

2010-09-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a recent dance birthday party at a friend's house, and a couple of dance songs he knows - "I like to Move it, Move it" and "Shake your booty" Ben now sings:

"I like to booty, booty"

on a regular basis!

2010-09-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

In typical San Francisco craziness, Ben got a last-minute call with an opening at our first choice preschool, Glenridge Co-op. We jumped at the chance to go to school in the woods everyday, get to know the other families well in a co-op environment "Mommy gets to be a teacher!" and learn from the directors.

Ben went from going to school 24 hours a week last year, to 16 hours a week over the summer, to 9 hours a week now. Big changes! Navigating the social world of 4-year-old boys is taking some energy and effort, but Ben seems pretty happy so far. And Alex and Mommy are enjoying spending lots of time in Glen Canyon while Ben is at school - we even saw a Red Tail Hawk with a new friend Walle yesterday.

Ben's first day of school in the woods

2010-08-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Summer in the city

2010-08-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

Note the fleece jackets

2010-08-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ben has been up to so many new things lately, starting a new school, visits to cousins and grandparents, and lots of camping.

Today he put his engineering skills to work by building a boat out of duplo legos. When it didn't float, he added new supports to the sides and added another person on top "to balance it out".

Ben has been working on the emotions of growing up. A few weeks ago he said he wanted to go back to his old school, Rainbow, to help be a teacher. When Teacher Kim asked him what he wanted to teach the kids he said

"Dear Teacher Kim,
I want to teach the kids about no fighting allowed. and teach the kids about I can buy them a present and I'm not going to tell the kids about the present, it's a secret. you can't bring it home it's for the school."

Como Town!

2010-07-28T09:24:00.001-07:00

2010-07-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

Alex T over to play

2010-07-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Clay cheetah

2010-07-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

San Diego friends

2010-07-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ben writes his name and alex's

2010-06-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Note the sunshine "x" in alex!

Angel island

2010-06-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Pirate ship

2010-06-22T16:06:00.001-07:00

Has now been outfitted with paint, flags and an anchor thanks to daddy and his first mates.

2010-06-20T21:33:00.001-07:00

What more could you ask for than a huge cardboard box and two energetic helpers!

My favorite part is the ship's "Poop Deck", which is ironically made from a Diapers.com delivery box.

Beach

2010-06-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

Ben's track he built for Alex

2010-06-01T15:58:00.001-07:00

Ben is turning into quite the big brother....he wanted Megan to take the picture "when the train was close by".

Berry picking spoils

2010-05-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

2010-05-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

Our local grandpa CJ brought Ben and Daddy to Ben's first official baseball game last Sunday (Ben had been when he was 2, but really only remarked on all the clapping). Ben was super observant at the game, ate lots of snacks (peanuts, hot dogs, ice cream) and went down the big Coke slide.

The next day, Ben wanted to "play baseball" and recreate the experience. He wore the pretend helmet they gave the kids as a giveaway, and Alex and I wore our biking helmets. We went to the playground and he practiced his batting stance, and we threw our little ball up and over the play structure at Kid Power Park.

His report from the game: "People wore helmets so they didn't break their heads open. I didn't wear mine since it had peanuts in it. Sometimes they hit it so hard that it went in the lake (the Bay). Other people ran and didn't wear helmets."

2010-05-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

2010-05-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Home depot kids project

2010-05-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Bens ride in action at Stanford

2010-04-30T14:48:00.001-07:00

2010-04-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Ben woke up after a long night's sleep and said, "I'm full of sleeping"