We are still recovering from a big birthday weekend for four-year-old Benjamin Henry.  Grandmommy and Granddad and both of his Smith uncles were there the whole weekend to celebrate and we had a friend and family birthday party on Saturday afternoon.  We've had similar backyard birthday parties for Ben the last three years now, and a few people mentioned how fun it was to observe how the kids play differently together in the same environment as they get older.  They play together now and run off by themselves rather than staying close to mom or dad.  Benjamin didn't need instructions this year about blowing out candles or singing happy birthday, and the four-year-olds lined up for cake all by themselves.  

They even sat down at the table together and worked on an art project for at least 15 minutes together. 

One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the way this kid eats a cupcake.  Wow.  What a mess.  

JB had been thinking of camping with B in the backyard for his birthday too, but it ended up being rainy and cold.  Too cold for a little boy, but perfect sleeping weather for a granddad with a cot.  Ben sure was charmed to have a cot to play with on the back porch.  

After the birthday weekend, we had a rather low-key Tuesday birthday.  I don't teach on Tuesdays, so we spent the day just doing things that Ben likes to do.  We had blueberry pancakes and then went to the park to swing and climb trees.  We had macaroni and cheese for lunch and then took a trip to the zoo after nap/rest time.  We picked up fried chicken for dinner and steamed some broccoli (the broccoli his actual request when asked what he wanted for birthday dinner) and then he got to hang out with his favorite babysitter while mommy and daddy went to a Patty Griffin concert right here in little ole Waco : )  It was a good day for all of us!  

I've really enjoyed getting to know Benjamin this year as he's started to take on more and more of his own personality and form the parts of him that will always be Benjamin.  JB and I both noticed on separate trips to the zoo in the last year that Benjamin reads a map very well.  We never explained the map to him, but he just looks at the pictures of the animals and can tell you how to get from, say, the gibbons to the playground.  I attribute this at least in part, for better or for worse, to fairly regular viewing of Dora the Explorer.  But he also just loves to figure things out.  Puzzles, games, and mazes have become some of his favorite things to do.  Much of his conversation consists of announcements about things that he has figured out about the world (whether taught or intuited).  

He's also a boy who loves his own company, hanging out in trees and looking at and talking to books that he can't actually read.  I forgot until this weekend when we had visitors that it might seem strange to find a little boy sitting in his hiding spot with a thesaurus open on his lap, yelling, "Mommy, I can't find G!"  

Well, I had written a bit about this girl too last night, but it seems to have disappeared, so I'll keep it short and sweet.  We had a little dedication liturgy for Eliza Jane at Hope Fellowship on Sunday on top of all the birthday celebrating.  What a joy to formally dedicate our 16 month old to God's care and the care of our family and church community.  

At this age she wasn't going to stay in my arms for long so she ran around on the little stage, but I decided it was a good way for us all to see in action the spirit of confidence, eagerness, and awareness she has been given.  I remember her being very happy during this whole thing, but it seems almost every single picture our friend took ended up with a pouty face!  

Even pouty during daddy's song for her--his setting of Psalm 139.  

How fitting that she is happy sitting next to granddad.