The Super Fun Three's...

What we're dealing with here...and yes, I did take a picture before getting Ben out of his drawer.

Superhero Ben!

Ben went to a superhero-themed birthday party last weekend and got this fab cape...

Early and Late 2010

Our lives are so boring that even the photographs are the same year to year. Ben With The Hat On is from earlier this year...January or February; Ben Without the Hat is from today. Same park, same winter coat, same snack requirements.

Hide & Seek at the Park

Ben multitasking: hiding and pretending to be the grumpy old troll that lives under the bridge.

Ben's Christmas Show

Ben's nursery school had their holiday show today and Ben was a star, front and center! We tried to visit Santa afterward, and Ben wasn't too interested so Katie represented for both of them.

Playing Together...

We got out Ben's old "farm" for Katie to play with today, and ever-attentive Ben hopped right on too...

Athens Holiday Parade...

Glamour Shot!

Architecture 101 (oh the humanity)

Ben's party standards are super low since today's "Christmas Party" was little more than he and I making what started out as a pretty sweet gingerbread house. But it turns out the house wasn't up to code and structurally sound...so we ate it instead. (:

Ben the Artist

Ben got a big-brother-cam from Grandy and Grandpop, and hit downtown last weekend on a picture mission. Captured here are Uga and according to the photographer, "the biggest building he's ever seen!!!"

GTL

Or at least just the "T"...mild jaundice has Katie on the tanning bed. (:

Dad and his Kiddies...

She's Here!

Katie Graichen arrived yesterday at 12:35pm weighing in at 8 pounds 11 ounces and looking just like her big brother Ben. We're all thrilled, Katie is doing great, and we're very quickly remembering how little sleep newborns allow..wish us luck!

On our way...

The Final Result

Ben's coaxing paid off...

Pumpkins!

We hit the pumpkin patch this evening and Ben picked out three pumpkins ~ one big one for Todd to carve, one "super bumpy" one for Ben, and a tiny one for the baby. Too bad Ben left Todd high and dry when it came to carving Swiper the Fox...he runs over to Todd every minute or so asking, "is it ready yet?"

Taller, Trimmer, and Hipper...

Plaid Ben from last year at the pumpkin patch vs. Grateful Dead Ben today at the same pumpkin patch...

Shades Graichen

Ben found a new accessory on the frisbee golf course today...

Signs We've Lived in Georgia Too Long...

...While reading today's paper, Todd's excitement in learning that, "Wow! Guns are cheaper than I thought! And even bullets are cheap!"

A Very Sleepy Ben in Front of the Hedges...

Touch a Truck Day 2010

Ben was a little more hesitant this year to get in the trucks, but the ambulance, bus and robotic-bomb-sniffer-truck were big hits...

Early Morning Ben

Rainy Day Football Cookies

Chef Ben Takes on Eggplant...

Ben's Ready for Football Season!

Trying again...

Channeling Michael Jackson...

First Day of School!

Baker Ben

Ben and I made a hearty biscuit breakfast for his first day of school, and he did all the work...

Ben's New Haircut

Todd gave Ben his first at-home haircut and it turned out great (thank goodness!)...

Pirate Ben

"Aaarrrrgggghhhhh...where's the treasure chest?"
Asked every 2 minutes while Pirate Ben plays pirate with Pirate Mommy.

The End of Swimming Lessons

Ben went from screaming for a solid half hour to treading water to jumping off the diving board unassisted in just two weeks. On his last day Ben had to jump in with all of his clothes on and he was a champ...his fins and gills are here to stay!

Tourists at Home

Todd and Greg forgot to fist-pump in front of the Jersey Shore house, but the pilgrimage was still worth it (to them anyway...Ali and I kind of didn't care).

Olympic Bound?

We're seeing major, MAJOR improvement with Ben's swimming lessons...he loves it now!!! And finally, Ben isn't the swimming-class-screamer!

Ben's Swimming Lessons

Ben is having a hard time adjusting to forced swimming fun...

Ben in NJ

After watching the US Open yesterday, ben has decided to become an ambidextrous golf pro...watch out!

World Cup Crazies

Sadly, we have no Team USA swag, so the Graichen Nation had to make due with an odd assortment of soccer jerseys. I daresay the game probably wouldn't have ended in a tie if only Ben had worn a USA jersey instead of his much-loved "Go Dubs" jersey. It was fine for St. Pat's, but not so much for World Cup Soccer.

Ben & Company

We visited Hilton Head over the weekend with the Graus and Ben and Taylor had big fun at the beach and the pool...so nice that they're big enough to play together now!

Ben in NoVA

We hit the Air and Space Museum last week and saw plane after plane after helicopter after rocket ship...Ben was in his glory until he found the elevators and then he was really in his glory!

Arrrrrrrrgh!

AM Football

Nothing like a game of Tong Football to start the day!

Earth Day, 2010

We went strawberry picking today to support our local farmer on Earth Day...Ben liked feeding the goats better than collecting a gallon of berries.

The Prodigal Blog

Over the last few months we've gone to the beach, gone to the UGA Spring Game, and gone to the Georgia Aquarium (the world's largest!) but mostly have done a whole lot of nothing, hence the missing blog postings...