Dear Family & Friends,

Go Go Gadget Christmas Letter! What, you mean that didn’t work? OK, well I suppose I’ll sit down and write one. Here we go. 2010, in 500 words or less…

Life as a family with two young children can be a blur. In fact I remember my own mother telling me that she doesn’t have many memories between the time that my brother Sean was born and when we all were finally in school. Our days are quite FULL. Sometimes you can’t remember if you’re playing “Hiding Kitty” or “Wrestling Doggy” or whatever other game has just been invented on the spot. My hat goes off to my amazing wife who continues to stay home with a couple of endlessly energetic, imaginative and demanding boys.

Speaking of my wife, sometime around December of last year she decided she was a runner. One thing I’ve learned about my wife in the last eight years is once she decides something then you’d better WATCH OUT! She went from casually jogging around Greenlake to an organized 5k on Valentines Day to a half marathon in Tacoma in May. And as if running wasn’t quite interesting enough she figured biking and open water swimming might be fun too, so she participated in the Danskin Triathlon in August. Finally in October, in The City of Roses (aka Portland), Sarah ran her first marathon. Twenty six point two miles ladies and gentlemen! And let me also point out that it was pouring down rain for at least twenty five of those miles.

I’m still working my day job as DER SERVER MEISTER of The Omni Group. Seriously, it’s a pretty great gig. I get to help some really smart people create awesome products that I honestly believe are exceptional. Also, the fact that it takes less time to bike to work than it does to drive thru traffic doesn’t hurt. When I’m not wrangling servers I can be found cycling, playing pinball, or riling my boys into a cacophonous frenzy exactly five minutes before bedtime.

Joel and Isaac are amazing. Joel talks and plays and talks and runs and talks some more. The kid has no sense of shame or personal space and is quite determined that it’s his duty to inform every single person at Trader Joe’s that he is “Buzz Lightyear and look at my cool LASER!” Isaac is expressive and emotional in every non-verbal way possible. His frantic laugh is pure delight, but his disappointed scowl will break your heart. He has a tender spirit and loves his doll like it’s his own little baby.

We continue to enjoy living in Ballard (or Crown Hill, depending on who you ask) which is the perfect mix of neighborhood-y familiarity and grown-up city attitude. The only thing that could make it better would be having our family closer. Hope you all are surrounded by those you love this Christmas!

Peace on Earth,

The Bendicksons

Posted from Benaar’s posterous

Joel wrote his first letter to Santa and stopped by to show me. I like his style, keeping it simple & to the point.

Posted from Benaar’s posterous

Four years ago we first met Joel, and nothing’s been the same since.

He is talkative, imaginative, playful, sensitive, tenacious, intense, cuddly and finicky all at the same time. His favorite thing these days is playing make believe. He’s a superhero or a transformer or a cartoon character or Lord knows what else. His least favorite thing is probably dinner. He loves cupcakes & cheeseburgers, broccoli & cucumbers, but hates chicken or mac & cheese. He still sleeps with his best friend Pooh.

Happy Birthday Joel.

Posted from Benaar’s posterous

Today was Joel’s first day of preschool, well actually his second first day of preschool. We started him last year, but because his birthday is in late September he ended up in the Pre-3 class and only went once a week. This year he’ll be going twice a week and be in the 3s and 4s class.

We nearly didn’t get him there in time today because we all slept in. Poor Isaac has been teething pretty seriously the last few days and was sporting a fever of 101 which resulted in poor Sarah getting up every hour with him. All of us were drifting in and out of sleep when the little guy finally perked up his head in a “OK, now I’m ready to start the day” fashion at 8:15, and school starts at 9! Of course Joel was sleeping like a champ (as usual) so I went in to wake him. I pulled the sheets back, opened the blinds and told him to get up and get ready for school. Wouldn’t you know it, I checked on him 2 minutes later and he had pulled the sheet back over his head like he’s a 16 year old or something!

In the end everyone got dressed, fed and out the door on time. I’m only hoping that his teachers weren’t too confused/annoyed by his constant identity changes. I’m Luke Skywalker! I’m Buzz Lightyear! I’m Andy (also from Toy Story)! Dude, I think at school you’re just gonna have to settle for being Joel. At least for a few hours.

Posted from Benaar’s posterous

I suppose that’s pretty normal for an oldest child who’s had his or her world split open by the introduction of a sibling, however I have to admit I’ve been finding it a bit unnerving. The little voice in the back of my head starts chattering away, “What if they never get along?” “What if they never develop a positive relationship, and our family is marred by their rivalry forever?” “WHAT HAVE WE DONE?!?”

Happily there have been, in recent weeks, a few fleeting moments where the boys actually have been playing together and, as far as we can tell, enjoying it. I sure get a kick out of listening to them laugh (while remaining poised to intervene when the inevitable CRASH – BANG – WAAAAA starts).

I mean honestly… would you trust these two alone in a room for very long?

Me neither.

Posted from benaar’s posterous

Posted from benaar’s posterous

We did have a few people comment about his little “sister” dressed up as Piglet.

Posted from benaar’s posterous

I love the crisp air and the fact that there’s still an acceptable amount of daylight. You get those brisk sunny days where the shadows are all slanty because the sun is scooting along the horizon instead of straight overhead and there are great picture opportunities. This is precisely why God invented the pumpkin patch! Let’s face it, it’s not really about pumpkins (since those can be had much less expensively at the Fred Meyer on the corner) but it’s about the urban novelty of tramping through a muddy field and snapping vibrant colorful pictures of your kids.

It’s as close to hunting and gathering as we city-folk get.

More pictures here.

Posted from benaar’s posterous

Isaac, Week 27

Joel, Week 32

Posted from benaar’s posterous

Posted from benaar’s posterous