Andrea, he's GORGEOUS! I used to check your blog daily, but fell out of the habit. My, how Mr. Ben has grown over the past year or so since I've been here...

What a little man! Congratulations and your posts make my biological clock start ticking REALLY loudly. :)

Congratulations on all the good stuff going on.

I love the picture of his shoes and knees. Really a good thing to capture. My son is a little older than Ben so I can report back that the Elmo obsession does go away (only to be replaced by Darth Vader, at least in our house).

What is it about Elmo? Before I had Pete, two weeks younger than Ben, I swore there would be no Elmo, or TV ever (ha). But somehow Elmo found us anyway, and Ernie, and the Cookie "Monsta." Oh well, as long it's not the purple dinosaur who will not be named, I am ok with it.

Venice Bienale ! wow ! congratulations to Dada!

i hope you have a wonderful week. i'm sure your class will be fabulous. that's fantastic news about your husband and Venice. congratulations to him! i was lucky enough to be in Venice at Biennale time years ago. it sounds like you'll both have weeks that are good for the soul.

Oh, Ben! He and Thomas could totally cruise the playgrounds together for the ladies. They could pack a snifter of...milk?

Elmo does seem to have this forcefield around him that kids can't resist. He is awfully cute, though, and I love your attitude about it. Maybe he can have a stuffed Elmo?

Have SO MUCH FUN at Squam. I'm hoping that it will be a raging success and that I will be going next year. Let's put it this way: I am going next year, even if I have to eat beans and rice all summer to get there!

too cute!!! Great post!

have a great trip, mama. big boy ben will be so happy to see you when the times of your return comes. and next year i hope to squam it and see what it is like to learn to fly again. enjoy. :)

Elmo is just a retooled Grover and as a 38 year old mama I love them both! Go Ben... show us your Elmo love!

My kids watched Barney once and loved it. I never let them watch it again. They still occasionally put an Elmo DVD in. They were mesmerized by him, so easy:)

Good luck with your class and all of the wonderful things going on with your family right now. It is all well deserved.

Good luck at "girl camp" and have a fabulously outrageous time. What is IT about Elmo? I feel your red, furry monster pain. I decided there are worse things than Sesame Street. If only Electric Company was still around. Right?

'Been dropping by here for awhile, and couldn't resist finally commenting.. Ben is just that cute! But, also, wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for such a quality blog. Always inspiring and great food for thought. There's always a nugget in there for all of us to consider, reflect, learn from. Thanks for sharing.
So wish I could be attending Squam this year. Best of luck with your first teaching experience. It can't be anything but great!

This is so so stinking sweet!

Love this post and have a GREAT time this week. I can't wait to hear how it goes :).

such a sweet letter! sounds like a big week for all three of you!
i can't wait to hear how your first workshop goes! i'm sure it will be brilliant and i so wish i could take it!

incredible pictures too!

Awww... He's SOOOO cute!! I WANT one!

I love the picture of Ben with the guitar. What a stunner!

x

Have a wonderful time teaching your first workshop. I remember trying to keep my kids away from Barney...it did not work. Everyone gets seduced by the purple dinosaur and Elmo...there are no words. I even love Elmo. Although, Oscar is my all time favorite.

What wonderful pictures. I love the messed-up hair. Elmo's not so bad. How about Thomas the Tank Engine? I mean the original books, of course, they are adorable.

Oh, I wish I could go to Squam. I hope you do it again!

He needs some competition, maybe?

out of lurkdom...your boy is delicious. those little sneakers kinda kill me.

my girl became obsessed with the red man about this age and had a soft lovey of elmo that was and still is her favorite stuffed animal.

as long as you can keep barney out of your house, you're golden.

im excited to take your class at SAW - i'll be the shy girl in the back.

out of lurkdom...your boy is deliciuos. those little sneakers kinda kill me.

my girl became obsessed with the red man about this age and had a soft lovey of elmo that was and still is her favorite stuffed animal.

as long as you can keep barney out of your house, you're golden.

im excited to take your class at SAW - i'll be the shy girl in the back.

Ack! Those shoes crossed and the skinned knee? Could Ben be anymore "boy"!?

And so adorable!

Good luck this week, God bless the lot of you.

HelllOO future ladies man! *ONE* *CUTE* *KID*

HelllOO future ladies man! *ONE* *CUTE* *KID*

I thought the same thing: no Elmo, no Dora, etc. It's strange how some of these things have such a strong appeal!! Anyhoo, now I love Elmo. It's practically the only tv my daughter can watch without crying (at "scary" things that happen). I watch them too and laugh at Mr. Noodle. Love Mr. Noodle.

Have fun at camp!!