"Look Pal...

(This is Nate) ...Which one of us has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and a Masters of Engineering Management degree here? Get the yellow block."

Agreeing that knocking them over is more fun anyway:

Drama

There are so many things to post about I don't even know where to start. I guess I'll start with the events that unfolded a couple of hours ago. Ben woke up at 5:45am this morning (sadly this isn't even the drama) and we spent the morning going to Linvilla Farm and then out to lunch (cute pic is from the Linvilla playground). It was quite lovely, but by the time we got home Ben was way overtired and fighting his nap big-time. I decided to just let him cry which he sometimes does at naptime, but all of the sudden heard a bad/scared/something is really wrong cry. I went in his room and he had somehow gotten his whole leg stuck in between the slats of the crib. I couldn't get it out because his nobby knee just would not fit through. He must've got it in through some kind of one-time weird angle. He was FREAKING out crying and screaming "I stuck, I stuck". Coupled with the fact that he was over-tired, I started freaking out because he kept contorting his body to try and get it out and I was afraid he was going to hurt himself. We tried a couple of different things but nothing worked. Finally, Nate had to take a saw to the crib and get him out. It was actually really scary...When we finally got him out I was rocking him to get him to calm down...finally he did, but then looked over at the crib and started crying again and said "I got stuck in there". Aw. He was scared. All is well now...except for the very expensive crib with masking tape on one of the slats. PS- shout out to Nate who found the saw and got Ben out in about 3 minutes flat. It was a huge saw and about 2 inches from Ben's leg so I couldn't even look, but he did it quickly and with minimal damage. Dad is good under pressure...good to know!

Beast of Burden (or maybe Wild Horses?)

(This is Nate) So we got a membership to the Philadelphia Zoo a little while back, and I quickly found out this is a great weekend activity for Ben and I. Members get in at 8:30, so Ben and I are there waiting for the gates to open. We have the whole zoo to ourselves, and get to watch the elephants and gorillas eating breakfast.

With no one there, Ben can walk around without stopping every five seconds to say "HI!" to someone. We take a little break with a snack ("More fishies Daddy?)...

and hit the big cats, new aviary (small, but well done), the bears, either a camel or horse ride and of course, the Zebras (Ben's favorite) and giraffe's.

By the time we start walking out around 11ish, Ben is wiped, and he's asleep by the time I get him to the car...the best parts are we've avoided the crowds and the heat, and he'll sleep in the car, and for a couple hours once I get him home.

Anyways, we're getting constant requests for "Zoo Daddy!?" so it looks like I may have created a monster. Since the Zoo announced the Elephants are leaving for a reserve out in Western PA, looks like we'll have to make some time to see them one last time...

Oh, I assume you get the title of the post?

A.C. "Aquarium"

(This is Nate) Saw this exhibit about diving when at the Atlantic City Aquarium with Ben and Kristen during a rainout down the shore last week:

Hmm. Wonder when they used these diving suits? Let's look a little closer:

Oh, of course, at the beginning of World War Eleven! For the record, we don't recommend the aquarium in A.C., unless your desperate for a distraction (as we were on rain day #5). Bonus picture of both Ben and Kristen not enjoying something furry:

Apologies

(This is Nate) Wow. Long time since our last post. The vacation preparation, the actual vacation week (plus some) down in Sea Isle City, and then recuperating from the vacation ate up a lot of June. Kristen posted most of the good pictures on Picasa, so I've added the link over to the right ("Cline Family Reunion") as well as the best one of that bunch here.

It was a rainy week, but a great time nonetheless. A large crew, represented by: The Clines, Waxenfelters, Pusateris, Cavnors, Duvals, Rocks, Zarabi's and more Clines and Waxes made the trip; three houses and maybe 40+ people - and a new wrinkle - a LOT of little kids. Ben had a great time playing with all his cousins, especially all the boys: Zane, Luca and Vaughan, Colin and Brennan. Nothing especially witty to say, but we'll try and get back to more frequent posts as we got through the summer...though I will note that Ben may be experiencing The Terrible Two's a little early. Might make for some interesting posts.

Marc-Andre Cline

(This is Nate) One thing I've noticed since Ben was born is how time moves so much quicker and I feel so much older. As my beloved Penguins are back in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I took a minute to look back at the pictures of Ben this same time last year when the Penguins reached the Cup finals for the first time in over 15 years. He's a tiny little guy.  That's goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the background...if he and Sidney Crosby get the Cup this year, our next child could be Sidney or Marc-Andre Cline, per my agreement with Kristen that all children will be named after Pittburgh sports heroes in exchange for not moving back to Western PA. Keep your fingers crossed.

Mommy's Little Helper

No, not percocet...although there are some days I wouldn't be opposed to that! Ben has become quite the little helper. He has been helping me unload the dishwasher, carrying bags out of stores, and traffic-ing things between Nate and I.

He also likes taking care of his baby...the monkey (Curious George). He gives the baby a bottle, burps him, rocks him, and puts him to sleep with a blankie. In this pic Ben is giving George his "bottle".  Aw, cute!