Happy #11, Benjamin!

 May, 2019

We came to see you...to celebrate you turning 10 years old.

We also got to watch you play soccer...well, at least a practice!

 You're definitely a reader!

 Your parents had a jump house for your birthday.  You and William were checking it out before your friends came.

 Along with a lot of your friends from your class, Emerson and Walt came with Uncle Gabe.

 After all your friends left, you took your time opening your cards and gifts.

August, 2019 was our next time to see you!

 You had told me about your creations from recycled materials.

Now, I got to see them!

 You definitely enjoy cooking....especially breakfast.

Here, you were making pancakes...banana pancakes...delicious pancakes!

 Going for walks is a common activity!

 Jumping on the trampoline and letting your Mimi take pictures...another common activity!

 Love this picture of you and William!

 Emerson came and spent the night on August 9.  He had a baseball tournament that started early the next morning close to your house.  So, he spent the night so he didn't have to get up so early to drive down.

On the 10th, we had a BBQ to celebrate Sullivan turning 2 years old...and your Mimi turning 65!

September, 2019

 We were back to visit toward the end of September. 

Papa was still working in California...and Walt was turning 4 years old.

 We came to see you first...

and we got to see some more soccer!

 On September 28th, we celebrated Walt's birthday at a pizza place.

You gave the pizza a thumbs up!

We didn't see you in October, but your sweet mama sent me this picture!

November, 2019

Oh, how we were looking forward to November...because you were coming to Colorado!

 This, however, broke my heart.  You woke up the morning you were flying here...not feeling well at all.  You were sick for the bulk of the time.

 A couple of days before you left, you started feeling a bit better.  We had a huge snowstorm and William and your cousins (and Aunt and Uncle!) were all sledding.  You felt like coming outside for a little while, but not well enough to sled.

 We celebrated Thanksgiving on Wednesday since you were leaving Thursday.

Thankfully,  you were feeling well enough to join us.  Do you see who is not in the picture?

Yep, William and Sullivan were now sick.

 Something I love about this picture...it's a picture of your thoughtfulness.

You had thought how we wouldn't be together at Christmas.  So what did you do?  You, on your own, wrapped and  brought some gifts for us.  Here, you were giving your gift to Papa.

 This is the day you were flying home.

You know your Mimi...I wanted a picture of my 5 grandsons together.

February, 2020

 We came to see you in February.  This is William's birthday month.

You were having a performance with your class at school, and your sweet mama and I came to see you perform.  Can you see you on the back row?

 It was a weekend of soccer!

You and William both had tournaments.

 It was so exciting watching you play!

 Look at this!

Both your team and William's won their divisions!

I, of course, would have taken these pictures, but you came up and asked me to take them.

 We weren't sure what the weather was going to be like, so William's birthday celebration was a bit smaller.  It was a family gathering!  Your Grandma and Grandpa were there...and of course, Oma and Opa came.  Uncle Gabe came with Emerson and Walt.

 You and William have scooters, and were having fun riding them.

 The only problem was that there are only 2...and Emerson also wanted to ride.

So here's a picture of you...generous and compassionate.

You got off your scooter and told Emerson he could ride it.

Normally, Papa and I would be there now...ready to celebrate you turning 11 years old.

But as our world has been turned upside down with this Covid-19, we're not there.

You've been staying home...and we don't want to take a chance on giving this to any of  you,

so our time there is on hold.

BUT, I hope you have a very 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

and we  hope to see you soon!

I love you, Benjamin!