Great Time in Phoenix

Hello All

Well we have had a great time in Phoenix! We have to leave today so I thought I would re-cap on all the fun things we did while I was here.

We have been playing A LOT - Grandma and Grandpa have lots of great toys for Shaun and I to play with. When we got here Thursday night we went to a really yummy BBQ restaurant called Town Talk II, my new friend Mr Chris was really happy to see me. He had a special fund raiser for me at his restaurant earlier in the week, even before he met me! He is really nice and I took my picture with him. Mr Chris also made some of the food for my party that I'll tell you about later. Thanks to Mr Chris and all my friends in Phoenix for making my fund raiser such a success.

Friday night we went to a place called Rawhide, its an old cowboy town. Shaun and I wore our cowboy hats. We got to play in the old cowboy town, there was a jail - we locked Shaun up but he escaped! We also went on a train ride there, we were going to get our picture taken in old west clothes but the picture place was closed. Mom and Dad got us cool harmonicas and I got a marble game to play with Grandpa.

Saturday it rained all day but we went to the park to meet up with all my Phoenix cousins. Its actually my mom's cousins and there kids but we will just call them my cousins because I don't know how that all works...2nd cousin? Anyway we got to play on the fun playground for a little while before it started to rain again, even though it rained we had a great time.

Easter was supper fun! We went to church and then when we got home the Easter bunny had been there. We got lots of games, toys and candy. And we found tons of Easter eggs in the back yard. Some of them had money in then, I love money! After our egg hunt we dyed Easter eggs and played baseball. Then we went to my other cousins house. Jill and Troy's house is really cool they always have giant sand piles in their backyard for us to play in. And we went swimming in their pool. All the grown ups said it was to cold to go swimming but Shaun and I did it anyway. They were right it was pretty cold, but it was fun too. We ate a yummy lunch and then went swimming in the hot tub! That was much better! Easter night my Uncle Mickey arrived from Colorado - I was asleep so I didn't actually see him till Monday, but Shaun did he snuck into bed with Aunt Mego and Uncle Mikey that night - haha!

Monday Uncle Mikey, Grandpa, Daddy, Mommy, Shaun and I went to the Fire Truck museum. Its the biggest fire truck museum in the world. Its really cool, and I didn't fall off the fire truck this time....Shaun did! He's okay, he just cried a little. We got some cool fireman toys and I got a new Phoenix Fire Dept shirt because my old one was getting to small so now Shaun wears it. Monday night we got to ride the "light rail" a new train in Phoenix. It took us down to the Diamondbacks game. They played the Cardinals. My Uncle Mikey loves the Cardinals, I think its because he is from St Louis. I cheered for both teams. I also got to go up to the kids play area in center field, they have a batting cage up there and I hit the ball really good. Shaun and I were up there when they sang "take me out to the ball game" and the camera guys put us up on the Jumbo screen singing - Mego, Mikey, Mom and Dad all said they saw us up there!

Tuesday we had a big party planned up at St Gregory's (were my mommy went to grade school). It was great there were tons of people there, and lots of kids my age. There was a really cool playground, and lots of food. But the best part was all the people who came to to see me! I didn't know that many people in Phoenix knew who I was. Thank you to everyone who came to see me , and I guess my brother Shaun too! I am so happy you are all praying for me, I know its helping, because I am doing super good right now. I was on my Chemo the first 5 nights I was in Phoenix and I did great - I only threw up once!

Wednesday we tried to relax a little - we went and visited my grandma and grandpa's works and went to visit Mr Baron's 5th grade class at Baltz School. They have been writing to me so I went to visit them. That was fun they taught me a new game, Silent Ball. I don't think we will be able to play it at my school because we don't know how to be silent! Then that night we went and hung out with my moms friends Kelly and Mike and there kids. We watched movies and played it was fun.

Today we have to go home. I had so much fun playing with Grandma, Grandpa and Mego, playing on Ms Jeanie's putting green and the two tree houses in the neighborhood. I'm sad to leave all my friends here in Phoenix, and I'm going to miss my Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Mego, but I am excited to see Ms Jessica and all my friends again, and go to Brandy's birthday party!!

I have to go take a bath now so my mom is going to write a little!

Love you
Lil'Ben

Just a quick note from mom and dad! Ben Sr and I want to thank everyone in Phoenix (and everywhere else) one more time for all the love and support. Thank you never seems to be a big enough word. We are blessed to have you all in our lives and in Lil'Ben's corner.

On another note we wanted to let you all know that our dear friend ^Timmy^ earned his wings on Easter Sunday. ^Timmy^ is one of the amazing kids we have met on our cancer journey. Please pray for his family during this very difficult time. We love you ^Timmy^ we will miss you!

Much love
Ben and Erin