Ben's Photography

Ben's Photography - Semi-professional photography at affordable prices.

Specializing in photographing cats and ultra-close-ups since July 2007!

Why trust your special event to "professionals" who bring along all kinds of extra equipment, take hundreds of pictures, and charge you thousands of dollars? At Ben's photography, we save you money by only taking a few pictures of people (and any cats you might have) at your event at extremely close proximity using Mommy's old digital camera. It's the best value in photography!

Our guarantee: We will take pictures at your wedding, portrait sitting, or corporate event, and we'll let you see them if you promise to let me push the buttons. (I like to hold the camera!)

Contact Houserspawn(tm) today for pricing and appointments!

PLEASE NOTE: Photos are not guaranteed to meet client specifications. Our photographer can not work in any location that requires him to cross the street (unless he is holding Mommy or Daddy's hand). Ben's Photography may or may not comply with local child labor laws.

Missing Tooth

Phoebe shows off her best punk rock sneer as she displays her newly missing front tooth.

Ben: The Houserspawn(tm) Exclusive Interview

Yesterday, I asked Ben the same ten questions (some slightly modified) that James Lipton asks of every guest on Inside the Actors Studio:

Houserspawn (tm): What is your favorite word?
Ben: I like the words 'I love you' and I like the word 'yes'.

HS: What is your least favorite word?
B: I don't like the words 'I don't love you' and the word 'no'.
(ed. note: We almost never tell Ben that we don't love him.)

HS: What makes you excited?
B: When I get to go back to my baseball game.

HS: What makes you sad?
B: When some bad kids scream at me.

HS: What sound or noise do you love?
B: The sound of twinkling stars.
HS: What do twinkling stars sound like?
B: Like this! [makes high pitched sound while shaking hands in front of self]

HS: What sound or noise do you hate?
B: Screaming

HS: What word do you like to say when you are angry?
B: STOP!

HS: What do you want to do when you grow up?
B: Be a knight that has a helmet with a feather on it.

HS: What job would you not like to do when you grow up?
B: A princess and a unicorn and a Fairy Realm creature.
(ed. note: Fairy Realm is the series of children's fantasy stories we've been reading to Phoebe and Ben at bedtime.)

HS: What would you like to hear God say to you?
B: I love you.

About five minutes after the "interview", Ben produced a pencil and a pad of paper, and proceeded to interview me. Take it away, Ben:

Ben: What sound do you like?
Al: Music.

B: What would you like [to hear] if God said something to you?
A: I would like to hear God say "Well done".

B: What do you do when someone is mad at you?
A: I try to talk to them about why they are mad at me.

B: How angry are you when someone breaks your computer? Super angry, or just a little bit angry?
A: This question makes me a little nervous, Ben. Is there something you'd like to tell me?

B: That's good enough, I think.

Summer Highlights 2007 - New Tenants

In the spring, a robin built her nest on the floodlights in front of our house.

During the first few weeks of the summer, we'd frequently pull up in the driveway and see mama bird feeding her babies.

We had to evict them, though, as they were constantly late with the rent.

Summer Highlights 2007 - the Houser All-Stars

It's been three weeks now since I started posting, but I wanted to share some pictures from earlier in the summer.

Here are the kids back in June, wearing their baseball uniforms.

Zach played for the Pirates. Phoebe played for the Diamondbacks.

And much to my dismay, Ben was assigned to play for the Braves. (The Atlanta Braves are the much hated rival of my beloved Philadelphia Phillies.)

I think I handled this Braves situation rather well. I didn't boo the team even once. And I permitted Ben to wear his Braves hat in the van on the way to and from games. Not in the house, though.

An Open Letter to the Houser Children

Dear Houser children,

We are writing to express our displeasure regarding the inequitable distribution of animal feed during your visit to Linvilla Orchards last weekend.

We understand that the rabbits, deer, sheep and even the goats may be considered cuter than us by your incomprehensible human standards, but we chickens, pheasants, and emu get hungry too. We would have very much enjoyed more of the feed that you were offering. Bawk! Bawk!

To be fair, you did offer us some feed. Perhaps our attempts to peck you through our cage did not adequately convey our thanks for what you did give us. And maybe you were put off by our loud clucking and surly attitudes. Bawk! Bawk!

We only ask that on your next visit, you think of us chickens, and offer us at least as much feed as our four-footed bretheren.

Now if you'll excuse us, we have to go scratch in the dirt, peck at visitors through the fence, and squawk loudly at each other.

Please come back soon! Bawk! Bawk!

Sincerely,
The Linvilla Orchards Union of Concerned Chickens and Other Assorted Avian Creatures

Feeding Animals

Zach, Phoebe, and Ben feeding the animals at Linvilla Orchards during their visit last weekend.

I will neither confirm nor deny the rumor that Ben attempted to eat some of the animal feed.