October Birthdays Plus Bon Voyage to Mike & Erin

Jillair and Greg put on a great party tonight. We gathered at the Hemingway Hideaway to sing Happy Birthday to the October babies, then wish Mike and Erin bon voyage as they head off to KL (that's Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) for a stint at ex-pats. They leave tomorrow and will be gone for two years.

It was a great occasion for the cousins to get together, and for cousins' kids to meet and play, and for Great-Grandma Marion and Great-Grandpa Steve to meet their new great-grandkids.

Marion outdid herself with Five Cakes for the five October Babies--Andrew, Erin, Jillair and Stephen L., plus a cupcake for Bennett's first birthday cake--and he's not even a month old.
(Not shown, a SIXTH cake, which was extra and yours truly got to take home to savor this week.)

Marion and Steve holding Bennett Frasier Robinson

Grandpa Greg showing off Grandson Joseph Gordon Featherstone

Mike and Erin at the table with Stephanie and Matt
I couldn't fit everyone in, but Austin and Rachel, Christian and Katie, were also there with us.

The hallway became a play area as Andrew shared his blocks and toys with Dylan, with Grandma Jillair and Mom Katie looking on.

Even the big cousins got together-- Stephen and Nathan.

Cousins' kids meet for the first time:
Bennett, Dylan, Andrew and Joseph.

Art starts early in the finest Henrie tradition.
Dylan and Andrew are trading crayons and coloring tips.

A short video of coloring, while the grown-ups drone in the background.

Trains and Pumpkins with Dylan

On Saturday, October 09, 2010, Robyn and I took Dylan to visit the train station and the pumpkin patch.

The Amtrak to San Diego came through...big, loud and impressive...

Our train, the Metroliner to Santa Ana, was held up.... Broken... due to a faulty signal...
Even Grandma Robyn couldn't fix it. So, we'll come back another day to ride the train.
In the meantime, Robyn said...
let's go to the PUMPKIN PATCH!

Dylan picked out his very own pumpkin.

Fun and games.

Robyn took this picture of Dylan and me.

Robyn did such a good job that the single mother of the boy in the background asked Robyn to take their picture together. Robyn did so, and that boy's mom thanked her, saying that now her son will know that she was there with him when they went to the pumpkin patch.
If you want to feel a lot of positive family energy and love, go to the pumpkin patch on Saturday morning.

Pirates in arms.

Pumpkin Jeff with Dylan

Tuesday Oct. 5, 2010: Grandson Bennett Born

Baby Bennett arrived in our life, safe and sound, on the evening of October 6, 2010 thanks to Katie and Christian!

Robyn held Bennett in her arms for the first time.

Another handsome guy in the family. He's going to fit right in.

All packaged up, with his little fingers showing.

General Conference and The World's Smallest Pencil

My favorite quote from October 2010 General Conference:
We don't discover humility by thinking less OF ourselves.
We discover humility by thinking less ABOUT ourselves.
Dieter Uchtdorf (Sat. Priesthood Session) (paraphrased)

With Christian and Katie, Dylan came over to visit during Sunday General Conference. Robyn got out the box with coloring pens and pencils for him. After coloring for a few minutes, Dylan picked out this pencil and said quizzically, with concern in his 2-year voice, "Broken???" Its the smallest pencil I've ever seen: complete with eraser, wood and sharp point. (The yellow and green is the metal which connects the eraser to the shaft.)