Happy Halloween from Benjamin!

A look at Benjamin's Halloween through the years.

2011: Wolverine


2010: Iron Man. Photo taken at his day care's parade


2009: Spider-Man


2008: Soccer player


2007: Elmo


2006: Bumblebee

Benjamin's Class Pictures

Here are Benjamin's class pictures over the years. He sure is growing up!

Fall 2006


Spring 2007


Fall 2007


Fall 2008


Fall 2010


Fall 2011

Kindergarten Revisited

I love to compare pictures of Benjamin to when I was a kid and here is another version. Our kindergarten classes. You can get a larger version just by clicking on the picture.

Benjamin's Kindergarten class. He's in the first row, right.


Daddy's Kindergarten class. I am in the top row, second on the right.

Parish and School Picnic

Beautiful Saturday after a week of steady rain (see prior post) so I took Benjamin to the Parish and School picnic. It was a great chance for him to meet up with his classmates at his new school and for me to meet other parents.

Benjamin and his classmate Dennis


Benjamin waits for his turn on a ride


Benjamin enjoying the inflatable slide


Benjamin and Dennis enjoying themselves




The fellas


Benjamin and Dennis after romping in the moon bounce


Ahhh, nothing beats a sno-cone in warm weather


Prize winner


Benjamin and his cousin Jacob

A Rainy Ride Home

A ton of rain made the Thursday evening commute a mess.

Not as bad as the commute I had back in January

More from the Reston Patch

Took me nearly three hours to go from McLean to Route 7 West where everyone was re-routed due to floods, to the Dulles Toll Road, to Herndon to pick up Benjamin and then home. I know others had it worse than I did so no complaining here. When I got to the house with Benjamin, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Here are some phone camera shots.

Route 7 5:15


Route 7 re-route at 5:30


Dulles Toll Road at 6:00




Brave biker at 6:15


Herndon 6:45

Benjamin's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Benjamin's first day of Kindergarten at his new school. He was anxious and excited, telling me to hurry up and get going. When we arrived, he told me he was a little scared and nervous. Once he saw his classmates, he warmed up and started talking. Business as usual.

Classic first day of school front door photos






At the school parking lot with Mommy


At his meeting spot. A little anxious here...


Meeting his favorite Priest, Father Jim


Ready to go!


Holy Water blessing. Benjamin made us proud by doing the sign of the cross.


To the classroom!

More Toronto Trip Pictures

Canada's Wonderland




























Centre Island trip


















Park visits










Niagara Falls


















First visit to Niagara Falls, November 1964. Holding me is my God Father Bob while Dad is on the left.


47 years later I'm holding Benjamin with the Falls behind us.