Weekend Fun

As usual, we tried to pack our weekend full of fun stuff. Friday night, we went out to dinner at Moe's and then a walk through REI. Eli was so funny in Moe's saying "Welcome to Moe's" when people walked by our table. We should go to Moe's every night as he eats like a champ when we go there!

Saturday morning, the boys and I went to the YMCA; I did an Aerobox class. I hurt today in places I didn't know you could hurt (like the bottom of my bicep / top of my elbow). We hung out at home for a while before lunch and naps. After nap, we went to Stem to Tim's work picnic. Eli had a great time outside acting like one of the big kids. He played Cornhole, blew bubbles, ate some Doritos and cookies, ran all over and learned a little about hockey from Tim's boss and his son. It was nice to see everyone and Tim scored two Best Buy gift cards in a drawing.

Today we had planned to go to Umstead for a hike but the rain kept that from happening. Instead, Eli & I made a quick trip to Target and then we had lots of family play time. This afternoon we met Carol & Ryan and walked to the lake to feed the ducks. We ended up feeding the turtles mostly. I've never seen so many turtles in one place, including a HUGE one. There were so many turtles that they kept the ducks away. Home for dinner and more train / play time then time for bed. Now it's quiet in the house and time to reset for the week ahead.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for another week. Make it a good one!

Eli playing Cornhole

Such a big boy - eating his Doritos

1st hockey lesson from Mr. Mike

Eli, Mr. Mike & Mike's son Keaton

Aren't we cute? =)

Sunday morning fashion show - link belt, the must have accessory this season

Giddy up (I love these dinosaur pjs on him)

Tim took this shot of my two cuties

Look at all the hungry turtles

Here's the huge one - Tim described its' shell as "big as a hub cap"

Feeding turtles and ducks with Daddy

This is how I seem to travel these days. Cole in stroller and Eli on my shoulders. I can make sure that Eli doesn't run away like this!

A sampling of our dinner time concert

Dinner time around our house is quite entertaining. Eli has learned how to say the blessing and sometimes does it quite dramatically. Then throughout dinner, we are treated to a concert of many songs that Eli knows. Thursday night I finally caught a few on camera - Eli usually clams up when the camera is around. Hopefully you'll enjoy these cute short videos as much as we enjoy him entertaining us.

God is great, God is good....

Ba Ba Black Sheep

ABC Song - "LMNOP" always cracks me up

Play Date with Noah

Behold, the play date - every Mother's life line to sanity. Some days it's hard to keep a crazy wild 2 year old occupied without destroying everything and driving you crazy. With Eli in school, we are sure to schedule lots of play dates on the weekend. But today was a special week day treat.

Today we went to Noah's house so he & Eli could play. Baby Cole went along for the ride but it won't be long before he's right there in the mix. Eli & Noah don't get to play together too often so it's great when they do. Eli surprised me on the drive over by asking if Stella Dot was going to be there. He hasn't seen her since his birthday party but associates her with Noah - aren't their little minds amazing? It was a lot of fun watching the boys play together. Robin commented about how it's different watching 2 boys play than watching girls and boys play together. And she was right: boys = more physical, girls = more squealing and screaming. Eli & Noah were all over the place and although we had a few sharing lessons, they played well together. Upstairs in Noah's room, they were a riot. Eli was climbing in Noah's bed hiding under the blankets, then they climbed in the toy basket together (totally unprompted) and then showed Cole how to work the play mat. It was such a fun time - thanks Robin and Noah for having us! With Kylie on the way, we're looking forward to many more play dates.

"Ok, so we put this here and this there.....almost got it"

"See Baby Cole, isn't this fun. Moms LOVE cameras and photo opportunities."

Sweet Baby Cole - oh what a world awaits you

Can I interest you in 2 boys in a basket?

Camera Fun with Cole

Sunday Airport and Airplanes

Today we loaded up in the truck and head out to the Observation Park to let Eli play and watch airplanes take off and land. Cole came along for the ride but wasn't too interested - soon enough!

Look Daddy, airplane!

Our little airplane

Climbing higher to get a better view

Daddy and Son - my cuties

Then and Now

Eli: December 11, 2007

Eli: today

So funny this afternoon - was in the driveway telling Carol & Ryan goodbye after a play date when I turned around and found Eli IN the Baby Einstein exersaucer. I have no idea how he got in there but it made me laugh out loud.

Another cute shot from today (after I did my last post). Eli grabbed his fire hat from Safety Day and put it on. He's not a big hat fan but occasionally we can get one on him.

Little Firefighter

Public Safety Day

This morning we, along with Grandma C who came to visit, walked down to Leesville High School to check out Public Safety Day. We had a great time walking around looking at all the fire trucks and other equipment that the local departments use responding to calls. There were also games and bounce houses / slide for the kids to enjoy and food provided by Cross Culture Church.Tim & I really enjoyed the time and we think Eli did too (next year he'll probably be more into it). As Tim commented to me, it's great to see what our tax dollars pay for and that our fire departments have nice equipment - hopefully we'll never need to see it in action first hand.

Fire Truck line up

Eli won a water bottle knocking over cans

"Look Daddy!" - Eli was all over checking it out

Down the slide - wheee

Chick-Fil-A plinko - Eli won a mini stuffed cow

Eli & Mommy on the Falls Fire Dept ATV - it was HUGE!

Family photo

This is what Cole did the entire time - unbelievable with all the sirens and noise

Headed home with a popcorn snack

Grandma C and Cole - thanks for coming to see us

Bath Boys

Last night we met Carol & Ryan at Chick-Fil-A for dinner and play time. After, both boys needed a bath so we decided to let them take one together - it gave Tim some training for when he'll bathe Eli & Cole together! A little Mr. Bubble and a lot of splashing later, the boys were clean and ready for bed. Who can resist cute bath pictures?

Sick

It's that time of year - ahh, my favorite....cold and flu season. This year it's much more fun with two little ones. Eli battled a little cold last week and quickly won (for now) but Cole is having a harder time. My sweet little boy is wheezing, sneezing, coughing very badly and just having a rough time. Through it all though, he's still super sweet, happy as can be and continues to smile at Momma. Nights, of course, are the roughest but now some of the symptoms are flowing into the daytime so this morning I took Cole to the doctor. (Side note here - Tim has been SUPER amazing at night. I haven't been dealing very well with it all and he has taken control and been Super Dad.) Verdict is a nasty head cold. His lungs and ears are clear (for now) and no fever but he has a lot of nasal congestion that is making it hard for him to breathe and the drainage is causing his horrible little cough. We'll continue trying to make him comfortable and let him try to sleep it off. We have an appt Monday to get the rest of his shots so if he's not doing better, they'll change the nurse appt to a doctor and check him again. It's just so pitiful....

Bathing little brother

Tonight Eli helped give Baby Cole a bath. He got his "ladder" - aka step stool - and was all excited to help. Such a sweet big brother.

He he he - learning how to torture my baby brother, uh I mean give him a bath

Such a great helper