Mac Mommy

I'm officially a "Mac" Mommy now. Earlier this week I took the plunge and ordered myself a nice present - a MacBook. I'm sitting here playing on it now. So much fun!! What makes it even more fun is that Tim + Eli went to Grandma + Grandpa N's house at the beach this weekend, leaving Mommy alone at home to learn how to use it. They left a few hours ago and it already seems very quiet and lonely. I hope to get lots of projects done this weekend - this is the first weekend home alone since Eli was born and I'm certain it will be the only one for a long time! I sent the camera with Tim so hopefully I'll post pictures when they get back. And I'm hoping they have a great weekend at the beach. Miss my boys already. 

Pizza night and bath time fun

As is our normal Thursday night tradition, we had pizza for dinner tonight. And, as is our at least once weekly tradition, dinner included Ryan and Carol. Eli & Ryan are such good buds (as are the moms!) that it's almost like having a second son. It's so much fun to watch two of them run around like crazy little boys. After dinner and some serious play time, the boys enjoyed bath time together. Tim was pretty soaked when it was over and, of course, being the supportive Wife and Mother that I am, I sat there with camera in hand laughing along with the little ones. I'm a sucker for cute bath shots so here you go.....

Probably smiling before he soaked Daddy with water
Ry-Ry with shampoo horns

Easter weekend fun

Lots of family time hanging out at our house this weekend. Little bit of Easter festivities. Highlights include:

Saturday - Eli & I baked sugar cookies. He helped mix them, roll the dough and cut the cookies. After nap we put icing on them although Eli was much more interested in the icing itself (with sprinkles who could resist?!) than putting it on the cookies.

Sunday - of course, the Easter bunny stopped by and left Eli a yellow bucket full of goodies. Eli's favorite color is yellow and the practical Easter bunny must have come to our side of town. The bucket was full of filled plastic eggs and lots of toys and goodies. Favorites included a bunny on a tricycle, sidewalk chalk and chocolate kisses (Mommy's boy!). We didn't really do an egg hunt as Eli wasn't too interested in the first one at school but he did have fun kicking the plastic eggs around the house and trying to shoot them into his basketball hoop.

Sunday afternoon we walked to Carol & Ryan's house so Eli could play with Ry-Ry. He had been asking for Ry-Ry all day Saturday and Sunday and whenever he was upstairs, he wanted to see pictures of Ryan on the computer. They ran around outside and enjoyed the nice weather. Such good buds.

Other than that, pretty calm around here. Eli has been doing well in his big boy bed. He said bye to the crib very easily and hasn't so much as walked back to it. We're looking forward to Easter next year when Eli will be more into the traditions. Hope everyone had a great holiday and spent quality time with family and friends.

Mommy's helper
Rolling the dough - all that play-doh practice wasn't for nothing!

Yummmmmm, icing

Finger lickin' good

Yellow Easter bucket

Finding treats inside the eggs

Coloring on the driveway with Daddy

Munchkins at Monkey Joe's

This morning, Eli & Ryan went to check out Monkey Joe's. They so nicely let Mommy, Daddy & Ms. Carol tag along. Carol had to go to a class at 10:45 so she got to start out in the fun and then trusted us with Ryan. The boys had such a blast - Ryan was completely fearless, Eli not so much at first. I think Tim had more fun than anyone!! They all ran around, trying to walk on the bouncey stuff and climbing up just to slide back down. It was completely crazy but so much fun. Both Eli & Ryan were pooped when it was over.

Carol & Ryan at the top of the slide
Eli & Mommy coming down
Daddy & Eli - wheeeee

New discovery - the water fountain!

Eli, Ryan & Mommy - taking a water break

Our little Picasso

Hug time - Ryan had just hit Eli in the face so after making him sit still for a 10 second count, I asked him to tell Eli he was sorry and give him a hug. How cute is this?!

Eli punching the orange alligator

Eli & Ryan - taking cover in the little swimming pool. Needed a little break.

BTW - Eli is napping like a champ in his big boy bed right now. Monkey Joe's rocks!!

1st night in BIG BOY BED!

Last night was Eli's first night sleeping in his big boy bed. We figured that it was a good time to try since neither of us were officially going to work today and Eli was out of school. If he had a bad night, we could all nap together. It turned out quite the opposite, he had a great night! To bed around 8pm, Tim & I were hanging out watching tv when he wimpered a little bit. It lasted just a few seconds so we didn't go upstairs to check on him. When I did go up to check before we went to bed, this is what I found.......


Eli had fallen out of his bed and was sound asleep on the floor. So I put him back in bed and he didn't make a sound. He slept all night until 6:50am (woo hoo - that's sleeping in in our house!!!) and was waiting for us at the gate when we came upstairs. We decided to gate his room so he couldn't roam around upstairs in the middle of the night. He seemed so happy and proud of himself for sleeping in the bed. I can't believe it went so well. We're going to continue with naps and try again tonight. I think since his new room has been done for a while, it's familiar and he doesn't wake up wondering where he is.

Back in bed after falling out - still sound asleep

Look at that big boy - such a great night in his new room!

Cute picture from breakfast - sharing his cinnamon roll with his bunny. He has surprised me with his pretend play lately. He's getting so good at it.

Spring Party & 1st Easter Egg Hunt

Today was Eli's spring party at school and his first Easter egg hunt. We weren't sure if he would know what to do. He had more fun kicking the eggs than picking them up but once he realized there was something inside them, he started opening them before putting them in his bucket. So funny! We had fun watching all the kids run around putting eggs in their baskets and then it was inside for yummy treats and the Spring party. It was play-a-palooza at school. All the kids had fun and the parents just enjoyed being part of the chaos.

"finding" an egg
More fun to kick them (ALL BOY!)

Hmmmmm, do I want to keep this one?

Eli, Mommy, Daddy - we were glad Daddy could make it from work

Visit from the Easter bunny - Eli didn't like the bunny too much

Pushing limits

I wanted nothing more than to write about how this weekend was all sunshine and roses but being truthful, it wasn't. Eli has been pushing us to see how much he can do and get away with. It seems like we spend a lot of time redirecting him from undesired behaviors and as a result, he gets upset and sometimes throws a fit with us. Then, again being honest, when he gets very fussy, Mommy gets very cranky and Daddy has to put up with both of us (sorry Daddy, you really are the world's best hubby and Daddy!). It is so frustrating sometimes and what worked yesterday sure doesn't work today. Meal times have been adventurous to say the least - sometimes he's hungry and interested, other times he throws his plate and wants nothing to do with it. Then when we remove him from the table, that upsets him too. Any of this sound familiar anyone?!

But even with all the roller coaster action of the weekend, we did manage to have some fun times. Saturday we went hiking at Umstead - took Eli on the Oak Rock Trail. Our goal was just to get him outside and let him walk around / explore. He walked almost the entire .6 mile trail on his own. He loved touching trees, picking up rocks and running down the hills. He's getting very good "trail feet" and does well with his balance. Then all afternoon, we played outside at home and worked on picking up sticks and pinecones to help Daddy clean the yard. Our goal was to spend as much time outside as possible.

Leading the way down the trail
Reading about the trees in front of him

White square trail marker - we've been working on colors and shapes a lot

Crossing the rock bridge with Daddy

Saturday night, I volunteered at the Umstead 100 trail run. Many years ago, I did the 50 mile version but in 2002 started volunteering. Let me tell you, I enjoy the volunteering part MUCH more than the running part. It's great to be a part of helping people achieve their goals. This was my 8th time volunteering and it's like a mini family reunion. Reunion with the Ptomain Tavern staff and a reunion with the runners who look forward to seeing you every year. (I used to pace a guy from Germany - he no longer runs it.) I worked the 6p-midnight shift and had a great time. Hopefully next year, I can take Eli to help a bit during the day. Here are a few pictures:

Runners coming up the hill from the aid station on Turkey Creek trail

Our aid station sign - I think we're also known as Aid Station #2

Sunday: Tim tried so hard to let me sleep this morning but Eli wanted to see Mommy. He was in a semi-fussy mood and unless he was watching 'Bob' he didn't seem to happy. We try to limit his tv watching so when Bob was over, he got upset with us - again. After errands and a nice long nap for cranky Eli and cranky Mommy, we went to the park and lake with Carol & Ryan to play on the equipment and then feed the ducks. Eli & Ryan had a great time laughing at the ducks and feeding them snacks. It's so great having them close to us and able to do things like this on short notice. We had nothing planned but it was so nice that we all wanted to be out of the house. Fortunately Eli & Ryan love to play together and Carol & I help each other keep the Mommy sanity in check! (Thanks friend!!)

Now (8:30p) Eli is sleeping and it's time to go hang out with Tim before heading to bed and starting a new week. Fortunately this is a short, and hopefully good, one. Hope you all had a great weekend and were at least able to get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine. We sure tried to!

Before & After - exterior shots

Finally got some pictures together of our addition / renovation. These are only the exterior shots - got to wait a little while longer for all the interior updates. We're very very pleased with how it turned out. Our neighbors have complimented on how good we did and that it looks like it has always been part of our - just what we tried to do!

Before front(ish) view

After front view

Before side view

After side view

Before rear view

After rear view

REI = FUN

Our family loves REI. We love walking around, checking out new gear and dreaming of adventures to have. We also love being REI members and dividend time each year. This year, we decided to spend some of our dividend upgrading camping gear to get ready for some family camping adventures. We've got our first test camping trip planned for Mother's Day weekend - just one night to see how Eli does. Eli had so much fun roaming around the store - chillin' in the kids camping chair (got to get him one of those!) and checking out a display tent. So here's what we ended up acquiring tonight:

Double sleeping bag for Mommy + Daddy

Keen sandles for Eli to match Mommy & Daddy's - he wore them around and out of the store!

School picture time

Finally got Eli's Spring School pictures. And, as usual, we love them. How do they get the kids to behave so well for pictures? Just makes you want to buy them all. Grandmas, let me know your favorite and what you'd like so we can send to you. =)

Such a handsome big boy
Pure toddler!