Fort Loudon

When we were down in PA we went out to the Milky Way one day for lunch, and on the way back we stopped at historic Fort Loudon to look around (Ben likes taking walks). It was cold and windy, so we didn't stay long, but it's quite a beautiful site, and it gives you a sense of central PA as the frontier in the later 18th century (when the fort was active -- the one there now is a reconstruction).

Dean and Katie

Ben also got to see his cousins Dean and Katie, both when he went to Ohio to see Cookie and in PA for the funeral. He is very fond of both of them, and talks about them every day. (Katie taught him to say "hola." We listen to a Dan Zanes song called "Hello Hello" that has the word "hola" in it, and every time, Ben says "hola Katie.") They both played with him (lots of ring around the rosie) and read him books. Wrestling with Dean was extra fun. It's too bad we don't get to see them more often. Ben loves cousins.

Back in PA

We all went down to Pennsylvania for Betty Lee's (Cookie's) funeral. We flew this time, though. Ben is getting to be quite the expert at flying (and he tells us that we are "up in the air" (uppy air) when we are). We stayed with Ben's Grandpa Roy and Grandma Roberta, and Ben had a great time with them. He took a nap with Grandpa during the funeral (he came to the reception after to meet relatives) and he found a rocking chair his size so he could sit with Grandpa next to the fire ("fire hot"). Now when we read "Busy Busy Town" he tells me "fire hot Grandpa."

Grandma Cookie

Ben's Grandma Cookie passed away February 22. We will all miss her. Luckily, he and Andy had a chance to go see her the week before she died to give her kisses and say goodbye. They didn't bring a camera, though, so here's a photo of one of their earlier encounters.

Daddoo's Birthday

Andy's birthday was Feb 24, and we went out for a walk on the Wellesley campus, which is very pretty and has well-plowed walks. Ben liked pushing his wagon, checking out the snow, and flirting with everyone he saw.

Necklaces

Ben likes wearing his mom's necklaces, but was finding them sometimes frustrating because they tended to be heavy and a little long. So she found some of her old beads and bought a few more to make him his very own necklaces. He likes taking them on and off.

Petit Plombier

Ben really loves his petit plombier (little plumber) bath toy which he bought in Paris with xmas money from his Great Aunt Dotty and Great Uncle Jan. When you pour water in the top, it flows out through a flower-shaped shower and a waterwheel and moves a fish up in its container. You can turn each of these off and on, too. He particularly loves the shower.