It was nearing the end of another year and so it was time to take stock of the various things that hadn't been done in the year and of other things that would be fun as the year wound down. There was also the challenge of seeing how many pictures would be taken this year. On Monday December 27, the kids and I drove Suzanne to the airport so that she could spend a few days in Pittsburgh visiting Norma. Then we went to lunch and devoured Ben's meal even though the potato salad gave me indigestion for a few days. Maybe that is why Ben is laughing? Jane

to make some progress on the puzzle and Ben ate his sandwich as I finished my salad

Ben and our slowly assembling family -- 3 strong

even as Ben and I played PayDay while the cake

as Ben did electronics and I missed

as Ben had a pre-game game

was serving the postgame food and Ben was doing the PS/2 thing even as food emerged

and Ben and Norma played gin. Scott (another of the books) arrived

wondered what Ben Jane (of bulging eyes)

which made Ben's plate amuse Jane

and she joined Ben at the table

and Ben ate

Ben and me

from Ben and we wondered

and Ben hid then appeared

and Ben helped the others

think about a departure as Ben the girls

while Ben and Lucy

to inspire us as Ben led the way through the Bucks County property

until Ben took a break as the woods were ahead

and Ben found a caterpillar who became his friend

where Ben's caterpillar got a friend and Jane and Lucy posed

and Ben took this picture and then this one that also included my head

Ben and I

and Ben's club sandwich came so that I could look inside my meal

to Ben as Lucy and Jane showed off their shoes and we made our way past the town festival sign

Left to Right: Edgar Choueiri (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Susan Stewart (English), Jonathan Eggenschwiler (Molecular Biology), Gillian Knapp (Astrophysics), Christopher Achen (Politics), David Wood (Chemical Engineering), Cecilia Rouse (Economics and Woodrow Wilson School). Now we were ready for Hallowe'en. So, Ben's costume was made and tried on

and we finally saw Ben as others marched by

as Ben and his friends watched. The parade continued

until Ben and his friends marched by and after a little more parade

and Ben and his team

as Ben and Jane got together their sign

and then Ben did and so as we did in 2003 we were ready for the Race for the Cure. We even had tomatoes

as Ben read and Sara

and Ben displayed his hat and me my shirt

as Ben led us

from economics and the Wilson School. On my way home, I stopped to pick up Ben at his Barclay Class which was very charming though I felt like the world was somehow upside down if I was the one wearing a tie and jacket when I spoke to the man in shorts and there was Ben in a pinstripe suit dancing with a girl with white gloves. My! how the world has changed. On September 15, this gentleman came from the shredding company

coming out of Frist with his Amazon package. Two days later, we had a repeat of previous first days and then proceeded to record this one. Ben posed by the tree and then Ben and Jane posed before we went to Kaylen's grandparents house and Jane and Kaylen posed

as Ben pretended it was still summer. En route, we ran into the Flemmer's

and Ben posed alone and then with the group

made a return visit. Ben posed 2 more times and then the bus

and then returned to where Suzanne and Ben were watching Sarah

where Ben and Jane

in the distance. Ben relaxed as Dansyl

and Ben all wondered if my martini

and Ben and Sarah

and Ben's head hit the table. Some more baby holding

brought Benjamin back to life as Michelle

arrived to Ben's amusement and Sarah

watched football until Ben, Dan and I decided to park the car downtown and go to the Kennedy Museum

in the elevator and then took Ben for a swim as the ducks gathered

for Jane. I said good bye to Ben in the pool and made my way past the real rehearsal people

posed as Ben flew out of the frame and Suzanne and Jane

before Ben led us to a couch

as Ben posed for Jason

and Ben and Jane and then the 5 of us

as Ben had his fruit

and Ben went to visit Sylvia

as Ben and Sean were amused as Dan

and then was able to see Ben's mouth before the birthday girls appeared

and Ben posed with his apple before Jason showed off the shirt

and Ben led the way through security where this gentleman

was about to read The Fountainhead as Suzanne and Ben got the pretzel dog and I got the pizza

as I watched Ben as he watched television

and a picture of Ben being held as at the beach. It being Sarah's last night at home, we realized that we needed to go out for a farewell dinner but the wait was long as we sat

as Benjamin counted 1 2

and Ben posed before we got into sister pictures

as Ben decided which margarita

It was time for the Albemarle concerts again. So, just as we'd done in and we headed off to All Saints Church on Friday night to see Ben and others

settled themselves as we saw Ben and then up close

and then Ben got ready to pose with Nate

and Nate and Ben before taking these pictures of our entire delegation

for posterity. After a few good bye shots of Ben Jane and I went to Olive's and took pictures of the owner

to learn Ben's song which Ben and Jane continued to sing in the elevator even as we headed out to dinner at the Border Cafe

and Ben was amused as Suzanne

Ben watched the dancers

in the dark though occasionally Ben could be seen even as the dark lifted

though he missed Ben the first time. Sunday morning, we paid tribute to Sen Lee and saw the police car at the donut shop

is almost Ben's pseudonym. After recording the potato famine the ride of Paul Revere

as Ben noted the sign of the Inn and we gathered Sarah's bag

Ben and I

accompanied Ben's burger and my pizza

Ben's head and Jane

before capturing Ben and doing a number of self portraits

excited Ben Jane

and bring her and Ben home with food from George's. On Saturday, I saw Stef and his new wife

as Ben and I went on our mammoth walk and then saw the lobsters as Suzanne and I went on our mammoth shop

who fixed the toilets to everyone's happiness. On Saturday, May 29, we woke up and Benjamin decided to stay home and build as Jane

pass us by, we knew it was time to go home to see what Ben was doing and have a healthy lunch

prepared to make their way and Ben waited for Alan

as Ben Kaplan arrived to accompany Sarah. So, we marched by generations starting with the PU students

for the next day. That evening, Ben found this cicada and showed it to Suzanne

though Ben chose to be replaced by the ketchup bottle which was finally lit well

and Ben's grilled cheese and fries and Suzanne's salad

Ben had for dipping at dessert as we cleared the table

then Ben and Suzanne

none of which had enough light. After a few pictures of Ben with light and without

but Ben was more interested in the bread

so I was happy. Ben made it to the (almost) clean plate club as Sarah and Suzanne

of the English department who is staying and then headed off to Ben's school in the evening. This boy greeted us as I took a self portrait

wondered what the sleepover would be like. Ben's class filed in and Suzanne

to tell his tale. Next, Ben emerged and chased Joel

and Ben watched Joel catch some sleep

before Ben put on the Russian hat for his tale of Sam Levin

and Sam (Ben) was still in his hat with Bobby as the class gathered

and Joel and Ben made their way while Brian Blount posed

and then Ben posed for a number of hat pictures before I said hello to Dr. Ginsburg

and Ben showed us his Russia diorama complete with map

home with Ben incognito in the back seat. On Friday, May 14, I ran into Sarah on the campus. While we were talking, her friend Ara passed by and they posed together

before Ben and I escaped to the fountain and then we went to Talbots and waited

with Ben as we headed off to the Kerry rally where this man

and Ben came with the second group. After noting John Shea

as Joel and Ben hung by the tree and Sarah and Amv

that wouldn't take int he light. On Saturday May 22, I began the day with possible passport photos of Ben and Jane

explain why our paperwork was not in order for Ben and why our picture was not good for Jane. So, it will be another journey. It was author's tea. In previous years, we went to authors tea photography. But, before I could go, I looked out of my office window one day and saw some of Ben's classmates (on May 11). On the next day, May 12, I took pictures of Coe Evans

housing department. Finally, on Thursday May 13, it was time for the main event. Ben came into frame

and have Ben lead us on a tour of his work

it was Ben's turn and then he gave up the stage

and Ben's artwork to end a creative day. It was Friday May 7 and everything seemed like normal until we got to the Valley Road Building where Jane was supposed to take her AP exam. Once there, we discovered that there had been a lightning strike at the school and so everything was closed for the day. So, John

and Ben and Jane

on the end while Ben and I took many shots to get an acceptable picture after which the bloody Mary's

Ben and Suzanne

at least partially opened. This was a week in my life -- some lunches, some meetings with faculty, Ben's birthday party at a Trenton Thunder game and the infamous Behrman dinner. It began on Tuesday with lunch in my office with the artists who did the pictures Penelope Tang

for Ben to use in his ancestors project. On Thursday, Yoshiaki Shimizu (Art and Archaeology) came to visit and then I had lunch with

Ben and Sam and then various groupings

and Ben decided not to turn around for a photo op but Nathaniel

and then went back to trying for a picture of Ben without his head folded back

before the game ended with a final score of 10-2 so that Bobby, Ben and Sam could climb into my car for the trip home. Saturday morning, I admired the tulips

and Ben enjoyed the movie. Suzanne

until Ben and Jane were seated and this self portrait

and Ben's burger convinced our waitress

until Ben climbed the stairs to the front door and prepared to dive

where Ben tried to enter and become one of the boxcar children even though he'd seen the posted signs

and Ben were having conversations

and Norma, Jane and Ben sat down and Ben ducked out of my picture

and Ben hid

and Ben pretended to be oblivious to Jane and Milt

and Ben played Game Boy in the corner. The sisters

and Ben paid a lot of attention to the birds that were to come home with us. Bob

Ben and Suzanne and Jane

as Ben hid and was caught

to get Ben and Jane into the same frame even as I shot over everyone's head and then got a few crowd shots

and Jane captured Ben as her feet

and Ben couldn't hide on the porch

and Ben suggested where they wanted to be, as I ate my pizza

Ben checked out the video games and all of us hoped to never eat another meal in Sbarro's. Goodbye Ligonier. On Tuesday (April 20), I went out to coffee with Zuckerman and Chip

which made Ben and me know that it was time to go to the frisbee tournament. The first person we saw there was Noah and then Sarah

introduced Ben to friends from the team

sing their praises. This was the cue for Ben and me to get these groceries at Wawa

and Ben got ready to watch. Amv

and Ben started to get bored though the action

though Ben got excited when Suzanne

as Ben drank and the chain

and Ben dropped the incognito and showed his face

Ben and Jane

as Ben showed his electricity project

of the fruit plate Ben made to compliment the kiwi we had already seen. After a few false starts we were ready to experiment on this 10 dollar bill

that seemed to distress Ben as I looked to the distance

as Ben took a few pictures of the other buildings the grass and a cherry bomb

as Ben watched me chat further

and Ben watched and then went incognito

and Ben could watch as the phone call was finished

accompanied Ben's spaghetti and meatballs and Suzanne's fish

and Ben were more enthusiastic than it seems about the dessert

where Ben Suzanne

so that the game could happen after which we visited the more permanent fans and Ben then Ben and I posed with them as the stadium

and Ben showed off his Chase hand and Yankees basketball

for 50 cents so that we could venture forward to the mall where Ben looked down on this booth

before Ben and Suzanne

decided that we could head home. Sunday morning, Ben put on his new shirt from Old Navy which made him able to move faster than the camera but Suzanne posed

and Ben enjoyed their meal though we wished that Zorba and his wife

had kept one of their restaurants open for us. It was set to be quite a weekend. We remember the last wedding in Baltimore that involved the same people and many previous celebrations of Ben's birthday including and 2001 birthday and and 2000 with the sad observation that in 2002 my camera was broken and there was a shortage of new digital cameras. But, it was clearly time for a celebration or 2, so we got ready to roll. So we packed the trunk Suzanne and Sarah did their ritual handshake