Nearing his birthday, Jack started harping on wanting a Ben 10 Alien making machine. He got very insistent and ended up throwing a number of tantrums when we wouldn’t just go out and buy one for him.

While I had noticed the toy was being heavily advertised during children’s shows on commercial TV, I had not recognised the character in any of the TV show’s Jack normally watches. I asked Jack if he watched Ben 10 on TV, and he told me “No, only in the ads.”

The power of advertisement.

In the end Jack’s main gift from us was his first proper bike, which he is pleased but relatively cautious about. From the pile of gifts he received from friends and family, his favorites are an Imaginext Castle, remote controlled car, the trouble board game, and one of Dad’s favorites, a Marbulous set.

When asked however what he got, the very first thing he says is that he got a Ben 10. (The single figurine we purchased for him.)

Both Al and I told Jack before his birthday party that he had to make sure he played with all of his guests. He replied that he did not have enough arms and mouths to play with them all at the same time.

Grace rolled herself from her back to her stomach for the first time today - and repeated it several times with a pleased look on her face. While she has already rolled herself from her stomach to her back before, it hasn't been with quite the same confidence.