Analyzed by Engineers (Ben & Andrew's Blog)
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The Fair

July 31st, 2011. (3 years, 1 month old.) by ben

We went to the Sonoma County Fair yesterday, and I got to go on the BIG ferris wheel with Daddy.

You go really high up on the big ferris wheel, and you can see everything from up there.

After the excitement, it was time to rustle up some grub.  Daddy found some yummy french fries.

M&D promised me some ice cream after dinner, and boy did they come through!  I got a big cup of chocolate – with a cone!

While we were there, we saw a parade that had horses, and black and white spotted dog, and dinosaurs!  We also saw some sheep, cows, and a puppet show.

On the way out, we took a tractor-pulled wagon ride in the parking lot.  I think that was the most fun of the whole day!


Visit from Avery, Uncle John, and Aunt Heather

July 26th, 2011. (3 years, 1 month old.) by ben

Last week, Avery and her Mommy and Daddy came to visit.  It started with a pickup at the airport.

It wasn’t long before I was giving rides on my trike to my cuz’.

The next day, we went to see the big trees.

Yep.  They’re still really big.  We had fun collecting sticks.

On Saturday, I took Avery to my favorite park where you can feed the ducks.  We found out they like bread better than lettuce… just like us!

After that I got to try out a REAL power digger.  With this one, you pull the levers to move the scooper from side to side and up and down, and there’s one to open and close it, too!

And after that it was time for a ride on the train, and then one on the merry-go-round.

Wow, was that a fun day!

On Sunday, Uncle John and Aunt Heather took us to a castle!  It had a moat, drawbridge, and what Daddy says is called a “portcullis”, which is a really spiky looking front door.  Boy could you see a long way from the top of the castle.

After the castle, it was time for a ride to the park.  I went in front so that Avery could follow me because I knew the way.

We mostly went on the slides and bars at the park.

I turns out is is really fun to slide right into the wood chips.  The bigger the pile, the better!

After we were done at the park, we got a tow back home up the hill.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Thanks for coming to visit guys!  I had a really fun time!  Come back any time!


Sunriver part 4 – Pools, Ponies, and Logging Machines

July 9th, 2011. (3 years, 1 month old.) by ben

After the big canoe trip, it was time for something a little more relaxing – and where we could actually get in the water without freezing our piggies off!  Guess what?  SunRiver has a pool!

The next day, we took a trip to the stables.  I got to go for a ride on Dottie the pony while Mommy & Uncle John went for a horse ride.

Later on, we finally found some time to clean the car and get it ready for the trip back home.

We had dinner over at Aunt Carol and Uncle John’s SunRiver house.  There was lots of yummy cheese and grapes!

The next day, on the way home, we stopped at place with lots of big equipment that we could look at.  This machine chops down trees all by itself!  Boy is it tall!  I asked, but Daddy said I couldn’t drive it.  That sure would have been fun.

(Tree harvester at Collier State Park Logging Museum.)

And here is a grader just like in my Richard Scarry books!

Daddy says they used the grader to make roads into the forest so they could get the trees out to the lumber mill.


SunRiver part 3 – Canoeing

July 4th, 2011. (3 years, 1 month old.) by ben

Monday was the big canoe trip.  First, we went for a ride in a big van with canoes on the trailers.  I got to see snow out the window!

Before getting in the canoes, Daddy helped me make the necessary preparations.

Then it was time to get my life vest on and pose for a picture.

After that, the guides (Matt and Chase) told everyone what we would be doing.  I thought I could listen best by getting in the boat and visualizing.

Finally, it was time to leave.  Here we go!

Then it was my turn to paddle.  It turns out that this is harder than it looks!  I gave Mommy her paddle back pretty quickly.

Avery was in her own boat  with Uncle John and Aunt Heather.

Once we got to shore, it was time for a snack.  That stuff that looks like snow in the background…?

… it really is snow!

When we all got back and it was time to get in the vans, I got ready to direct everybody to their seats.  Can you find me?


SunRiver part 1 – Lake Shasta Caverns

June 27th, 2011. (3 years old.) by ben

M&D and I took a trip to Oregon this summer.  It was a long, long drive, but I got to see lots of Ex and PS trucks on the road while we were driving.  I also got to see lots of roadwork up close, including front loaders, dump trucks, excavators, asphalt spreaders, steam rollers, and bulldozers.  For some reason, M&D didn’t take any pictures of those machines, so I can’t show them to you here.

The first real stop on our trip was at Lake Shasta Caverns.  We got to start with a boat ride across the lake, which was the best part of the tour if you ask me!

After the boat ride was a bus ride up the hill.  I directed the bus where to back up and park.

Then we went inside and saw some funny rocks all stuck to the ceiling.  Weird.

After that we stayed in a hotel, and I got to make lots of deliveries with the cart they let me borrow.

The next day was more driving to get to SunRiver.  After going to bed late the night before, I was ready to take a snooze in the car for the last leg of the trip.

Next up: SunRiver!


Fixing the Chairs

May 28th, 2011. (2 years, 11 months old.) by ben

Our kitchen chairs get a lot of use what with all the climbing, pushing, storage, hauling, and delivery services they are used for.

So when Daddy said they were getting too wobbly and we needed to fix them, I was more than happy to help.  I got my drill and tape measure all ready to go, and then we started taking the first chair apart.

Next, I added the glue.  I was very careful and a good listener, and did it just the way Daddy said.

Then it was time to put my drill to good use.  So I did some drilling.

Then Daddy had a turn.  His drill is really loud.  But I’m almost 3 and know how to handle that.

After we were all done, no more wobbly chairs!  Go Daddy!


Santa Rosa Rose Parade

May 23rd, 2011. (2 years, 11 months old.) by ben

There was a lot of waiting after we got there before the parade started.

But then, I got to carry a sign!

And I had fun marching with the band…

and after the parade, I got to watch the fire trucks with M&D.

Grandma Harris also came to visit, and walked in the parade with us.

Later, we helped Mommy with the gardening and I got to use my new gloves,

which I really needed after getting a big big big splinter in my finger:

(Editor’s Note: Thanks for Grandma for providing some of this weekend’s pictures!)


Pa’s Surprise Party

May 17th, 2011. (2 years, 11 months old.) by ben

Last weekend, M&D and I went down to LA for a surprise party for Pa.  Something called ‘retirement’ from ‘work’.  That didn’t make much sense to me, but what I do know is that I got to visit my cousin and play baseball!

I hit lots of the balls that Daddy pitched to me, and some even went all the way across the street!  I also had lots of fun throwing the ball up as high as I could in the air.  It was fun to see Aunt Heather, Uncle John, and Uncle Ryan.

After baseball we went to the restaurant where we got to wait for Pa and then yell  “Surprise!”.  Pa looked a little surprised, so I ran right over and gave him a big hug.

Later, Avery and I helped Ma make some cupcakes for my pre-birthday LA celebration.

And here you can see the pre-pre-celebration.   Mmmmmm Mmmmm….

Ah, the mysteries of life…Why don’t people just eat chocolate frosting all the time?

After all of the visiting and celebrating, it was time to go home.  Unfortunately, our airplane flight was canceled due to something called “mechanical difficulties”.  Then M&D said that we would get to go home on a BIG jet plane.  After lots of walking, we went to where the BIG jet planes park, and I met our first officer.  He taught me to count stripes on his shoulders, and that THREE stripes means a first officer, and FOUR stripes means a captain.  I counted FIVE stripes on his shoulder, and he laughed and said he would tell that to his captain.  I think because I’m so smart that’s why they let me fly the plane!

First officer “Jeffy” was really nice and even held me for a picture!

Maybe our flight will get canceled again so I can sit in the front of another jet!  I’m looking forward to it!

(Editor’s Note: A big thanks to Southwest’s First Officer Jeff for all the kind attention!)


Smashing Copper

April 17th, 2011. (2 years, 10 months old.) by ben

Mommy sure has it out for those snails!  She’s got Daddy and I doing hard labor building heavy duty snail barriers for the garden boxes.

But shhhhh!  Don’t tell her!  It’s really fun!


Haircut

February 9th, 2011. (2 years, 8 months old.) by ben

Getting my hair cut is fun.  I get to watch videos on the iPad.

And Daddy does such a great job.  Sometimes I have trouble hearing my video when Daddy keeps saying “Hold still!”.  What does that mean, anyway?


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