Posing for the cover of his soon-to-be-released emo album, Playground Confessionals

Aeneas: (in his most serious tone) I need to talk to you
Nana: Yes?
Aeneas: I'm worried about something
Nana: What is it?
Aeneas: When will I get the rest of my super-powers? (worried eyes)
Nana: Well most people don't get them until they are 4 or 5
Aeneas: Then I want to be 6!

'Twas the night after Halloween, and no more creatures were stirring, not even the house mouse, when out came Jack Lantern, the monster from Texarkana, who found on the porch, Aeneas & Nana

Aeneas with Julia, Joe & Maya on his birthday. Joe just won his party gift and Aeneas is doing his best not to be jealous of the pocket Airplane.

Happy Birthday Aeneas!

For the last month or so, Aeneas has been talking incessantly about a "light-up sword." He has not seen Star Wars. He came up with the idea of a glowing, phallic, fighting tool all by himself. We saw this as an opportunity to connect something Aeneas cares about with something he doesn't seem to worry about much at all - potty training.

Last week, after several weeks of trying to go 5 days without an accident, Aeneas asked me very seriously, "Mama, are there any swords that don't have to be earned?" I said, "No." Luckily, this last weekend, while Jared and I were away for our 8th Wedding anniversary, he went on a winning streak.

So, I present you with the proud new owner of an Obi-Wan Kenobi "light-up sword." (After we put the batteries in, he said that he wanted a red one.)

Found some photos from when Grandma Susan came out to visit earlier this Summer.

This first one is at a french joint in DC that we are rather fond of.

And this is breakfast in Central Park. Because of course Grandma Susan likes to bounce from DC to NYC whenever she gets the chance :-)

Mama: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Aeneas: I want to pilot an airplane and I want to be a super-hero who can make forcefields and I want fire to come out of my feet. And, no bad guys will be able to hurt me or Maya or Dana. And there will be a button to make a green forcefield, and a button to make a gold forcefield, and a button to make a red forcefield. And, the red forcefield will be able to make bad guys clothes fall off. And...

Mama: Wait a minute, where are the buttons?

Aeneas: While you are flying.

Mama: So, the buttons are on the airplane?

Aeneas: Yes. And, the forcefields will come out of the tanks. And, the golden forcefield will go on to other planes and make the front fall off...

Ok, so we're a little behind...

Grandpa Bill was out to visit us in May and we had a really lovely time taking a trip down to Virginia Beach. Aeneas was very excited to get kite flying lessons from the master himself.

And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no...
I'm a rocket man!

This weekend marks the end of a special era in Aeneas' life. Dana, his first best friend, has left Baltimore to travel and live in South America. Dana hung out with and looked after Aeneas and their friend Maya for over two years. When Dana first started playing with Aeneas, he was a grub that could barely sit up. Now, he can "put magic on you!" with wide open hands.

We are very proud of Dana and so thankful for the time she has spent with our family. We miss her dearly and will be thinking of her often and fondly.

On that note, it should be pointed out that Dana is a much a better historian than Jared or I. She has taken many pictures of the Aeneas and Maya over the years. Some can be viewed at Superpals.

Between April 7-16, we went on a vacation to the Southwest.  Nana Sally flew into Los Angeles, bought Uncle Carl a bike and took his car.  She met us in Las Vegas were we did some early morning bowling at our hotel casino.  We then headed up to Utah to go through Escalante and Moab.  As we headed east into the mountains of southern Colorado we hit a Spring storm outside of Durango.  This provided some new snow for a bit of skiing and soaking in the pools at Pagosa Springs.  From there we headed down to Santa fe to eat and eat and eat.

*Note: we are dummies and didn't bring our camera.  So, the pictures from our phones will have to suffice.

The kissing elepants arch in Devil's Garden outside of Escalante.

Capitol Reef.

Jared and I went for a hike in Arches National Park outside of Moab. 

We were somewhat disgruntled to find that the annual Jeep Safari week was happening in Moab when we arrived.  Luckily, the jeep enthusiasts stay in their jeeps and don't hit the trails.

We visited Gretchen, Matt and Flash in Durango but were having too much fun to take pictures.  

Jared and I were able to get some Spring skiing in at Wolf Creek in southern Colorado while Aeneas and Nana relaxed at Pagosa Springs.

We love Horseman's green chile. 

On a blustery day in Santa Fe, we climbed Monte Sol, one of the mountains behind St. Johns College.

This weekend, Aeneas made a leap toward becoming a full-fledged "big boy."  He slept without a tuffo (pacifier) for 4 nights in a row. (APPLAUSE)  Jared and I were forced into the daunting situation by our brilliant nanny, Dana, who had him taking naps without the tuffo for a week.  I told Aeneas that she had taken the tuffos because he's such big boy that he doesn't need one.  That began several night of withdrawal symptoms including crying, tossing and turning, and clinginess.  He and we seem to have survived the endeavor.  Plus, he got to pick out a playdough toy that makes spaghetti - only big boys get to play with toys that awesome.

Next up: potty training.  

Notices camera.

Likes attention.

Says, "cheese!"

We love being able to visit the National Aquarium regularly.  Sure, there are dolphins, frogs, and sharks.  But, we spend a large portion of our time with the giant plexiglass tubes full of water and bubbles - fish smish.