Noah's Ark Puzzle

 

 I bought a puzzle at Costco awhile back...I think before Christmas...and forgot about it. It's a puzzle of Noah's Ark, but has some funny parts to it.  For example, one of the bears is the Coca-Cola bear with the sunglasses on drinking out of a cup with a straw.

I didn't even notice these little hidden comical parts until the puzzle was almost put together.

Anyway, when Lindsey and the boys were up, Benjamin found the puzzle and wanted to work it.

  

Just like the game, Sorry, he really hasn't been 'into' working puzzles, at least not with me.  But this trip, that was all different.  

 

 He worked the bulk of it...I helped some, of course.

 This was THE last piece!

 You can see where it went..

 That's all, Mimi! said the puzzle-worker.

 I love to work puzzles...so I love that Benjamin and Emerson enjoy working them too!  It's a fun thing to have out on a rainy, dreary, or cold day!

A bit of a struggle...

 When Lindsey and the boys were up, Benjamin and I played a lot of "Sorry."  He wasn't really into games before, but this trip was different.  I'm not sure how many games we played, but it was quite a few.  He definitely loved to win, but was a gracious loser and told me I did a good job when I won!

 Their 'Grandma' (aka Susan, Donnie's mom) brought the boys shirts from Ireland when she and Don (Grandpa) were there.  We wanted to get a picture of both the boys in them.  This was actually St. Patrick's Day and the boys had worn their shirts to my school.  I decided to have them sit on the hearth.  Benjamin sat down so I could see if I had enough light without using my flash.  William...well, he wasn't quite so ready to sit on the hearth...  His Papa tried to help...unsuccessfully!

 Benjamin patiently waited...

I actually had enough light if they were perfectly still...

but William at 2 years old is rarely perfectly still...

unless he's sleeping

 We moved them to in front of the door...

 Benjamin was encouraging his little brother to move closer...well, he decided he'd just move closer...

then the photo that wouldn't load shows William sprinting away...

 I thought I'd try the flash..

which I don't really like to use...see the shadow behind Benjamin?

 Plan C

We got Mama in the picture..

Actually, according to William, we got "Mom" in the picture.  For whatever reason, he started calling his Mama, Mom.  He would say Mom, she would say Mommy.  He would say Mom..etc.

 Plan C isn't working too well...

Ahh...well, it's not the best, but it's the best we were able to do!  It was nap time for William...probably not the best time to take a picture anyway!

This was for you, Don and Susan!  The shirts are great! 

In 2073?

 This little guys (Brody)  mama sent me some more pictures this morning...or maybe last night.  There's a good chance it was last night since sometimes you're up during the wee hours with these wee little people! 

 Wow, do these pictures bring back memories...memories of little babies...of the sweetness of these innocent little lives just starting out... of the sweet smells kissing the backs of their necks...of the cuddling...

 I look at these little people and wonder...who will they grow up to be?  What will they love?  What will their world be like? 

 I was born in 1954 and my goodness, how the world has changed!  What will it be like in 2073 when Brody and Remy are 59 years old?  or in 2068 when Emerson and Benjamin are 59...or in 2071 when William is 59?  or even in 2059 when Thalia is 59! 

It looks like Brody is pondering this same deep thinking as his Aunt Judy.  So, Brody, what do you think?  You're in for a, hopefully, great ride, little guy!

Benjamin and William visit...and Benjamin teaches Spanish!

 

Benjamin and William (and their mama) came to visit at school today.

 

My students were very excited for them to come.  I figured Benjamin would be real shy and that William would be a live wire.

Wrong!

 

William was very serene...sitting in this chair just watching what all was going on.  Benjamin, on the other hand, just started telling the kids about his preschool and about speaking Spanish,

just visiting with them.

This is a fairly long video...of Benjamin teaching my class how to count!

William just listened to all the counting...

All the kids wanted to read with Benjamin or William.  William...well, he wasn't very interested.  He wanted to explore...

Their mama was working on something...the boys were busy and happy, so she had some time to herself :)

William was checking out David, on his crutches...

This was March 17th... St. Patrick's day...so both the boys wore their shirts from Ireland.  Their Grandma and Grandpa brought these to them from their trip to Ireland.

Ok, enough of this, was William's thought.  It was time to leave...but how much fun it was to have the boys at school!