Christmas Part I

Our first stop on our holiday tour was Granddad's house. The following pictures are of Eli enjoying "Texas snow" ...and sticks.

It was my first stick bouquet!

It wasn't super cold, but cold enough that I begged for a fire every day! Eli knew it was hot and would walk up waving his hands at it and saying "ot" but he still liked to sit in front of it because mommy and daddy always did. He also liked hunting for pine cones and trying to throw them into the fire. We managed to divert his aim towards the wood bucket which wasn't "ot".

Here he is dragging some newly picked pine cones. His coat is on backwards because I'm all about choices. And that's what he chose.

We always eat well at the lake, it is one of the major attractions. Eli likes it too.

Toddler Talk

I just wonder what sort of communication is happening between them in this shot. Are they just posing because they know they are cute, are the planning their next song on the piano, or did they just discover they were sitting next to each other?

Christmas Practice

What better way to work out your un-wrapping muscles than to un-wrap a zillion rolls of toilet paper?

We also praticed opening gift bags.

I even got him to clean up a little.

I believe he is now an expert. Mission accomplished.

Turkey and Football

He liked the food, the company, and the way Uncle Marc did his hair!

He also liked to sit really close to the tv to watch football!

Future Pirate?

Who knows, but he sure was cute wearing my t-shirt!

Thanksgiving is around the corner, I can't believe. If only it didn't still feel like summer outside I'd be a little more convinced. There is something wrong when the weather man considers temps in the 70's to be a cold front. Geez.

Jason is almost finished at the VA, where long hours and grumpy patients have been wearing him down the past month. Hopefully a hospital switch and an influx of family and friends will give him the boost he needs to finish out this rotation.

I have been thoroughly enjoying JOY program and having conversations with the women. I wrote out some sentences phonetically for them and they really laughed when they saw: Whaddaya wanna do? I had to repeat it several times until they understood what it really meant! We had a Thanksgiving lunch with them afterward and they loved saying squash. It is such a fun group.

Halloween

We didn't go trick or treating last night. I was thinking it would be nice to delay a candy fascination as long as possible. Clara was going to be dressed in a poodle skirt, so we pulled dirty clothes out of the hamper and dressed Eli to match. They were cute together even if they didn't get it.

So begins the holiday season. I was explaining to my Joy Program class (english as a second language) about holidays/festivals here and they told me about some from their home. I was surprised to realize that Americans have a holiday every month, sometimes two. We also have three big ones in the last three months. I was thinking about how we jam big extravagant stressful family get togethers at the end of the year and wonder if that is healthy. Perhaps we should space them out. Give the turkeys a break too.

Haircut!

He got a haircut. I didn't want to get rid of his curls, but daddy was getting a haircut so Eli wanted one. He loved it! Jason had to keep pretending he was cutting his hair so he would be happy! I think he looks really cute with it cut. More like a little boy!

Always working on something.

A short compostition entitled: How I Feel In The Morning

Have you ever wondered what was in the little hole on your dishwasher door? So did Eli.

A Jason Haiku

Work at the VA

Still in school and studying

Ready to be done

(that's all he had time for, back to the books)

The weather has cooled for us here and Eli is loving the extra time outside. We are entering the busy holiday season of turkey, turkey, and more turkey. Seriously, how many Thanksgiving meals can you eat in a two week interval!! We're expecting a house full for Thanksgiving, and I am super excited. If you want to come too, you're invited.

15 months

33 1/4 inches tall...90th percentile!
26.14 pounds....heavy!

He's such a big healthy boy, I'm so excited. We just got back from some friends' wedding. It was just the best weekend, just too short.

I spent some time on the drive home thinking about how well we all got along after 2+ years without seeing most of them. But I also thought how sad it was that it wasn't the same. I mean, I know it can't be the same, and it is fun trying to figure out the new way our relationships will work, but sad that a chapter of my life is officially closed. College is over, but those people are a part of me, just in new ways.

Happy and sad.

Definately good.

Thanks for the picture Caitlyn!

Eli's Rules

Rule #1: Hats are to be worn only outside and purely at the discretion of me, Eli
Rule #2: If your parents are walking one way, walk the other
Rule #3: You are never to young for the terrible twos

He's so adorable in hats, but only keeps them on every so often. I can't believe how big he is getting and how irritating it is when he flops around on the floor whining because I don't let him eat dog food or whatever. He has also started imitating me, but only on certain things. He likes to walk up to the oven and say hot which is a great thing because he doesn't touch it. He also likes it when we have a conversation in high octaves at high decibels. His cousin, Madelyn, was here to play over the weekend and they had a growling conversation that turned into a giggle fest. I can't wait until I can post all the wonderful things he says to me!

??

When did this happen?


Little Man

Fall?

Internal Medicine has begun for Jason. He assisted, by actually holding the tools, in his first colonoscopy. I have the pictures on my fridge to prove it! He started the three month rotation on the lightest month which is good to transition after vacation. Of course it is easier to say that now, after one week. I successfully explained the Electoral College to my two non-english speaking friends, as well as to myself. I consider that quite an accomplishment. If you want a refreasher course, give me a call! With Jason back at work, our life is settling back into its routine rather reluctantly.

In the spirit of fall, I have posted the following photos to remind those not living in Texas that we don't have seasons. It is still hot enough to play outside nearly nudey and enjoy the cool spray of a water park.


Here are the boys playing in the pool on the deck. It's a borrowed pool, but we might have to get our own!

Eli totally impressed me by walking so far away to check out the water guns. He is getting to be so independent.

I zoomed in to feel closer to him.

Once he discovered the drains it was all he wanted to play with. He used his fork to explore them further after he finished his snack. He even dug around in some slimy weeds. Ew.

Finishing projects

is something we are not good at. Jase had the past month off and we planned to complete a whole slew of projects. Well, it is Sunday afternoon the day before he goes back to work and we are halfway finished with our second project. Ah well, we had a relaxing break, no stress, and not as much rest as we hoped.

Here is the only project we completed on vacation, and even this is facing adjustments:

The second project we started was the completion of our floors. We were finishing off the molding and only have some caulking and painting left. We started that project over a year ago.
This is slightly embarrassing.

Eli has started projects of his own, such as feeding himself,

(the longest bite you have ever seen, I couldn't even post the whole thing it was so long!)

making faces

and gardening.

Noah's Ark

Aunt Erin went to Africa this summer and bought Eli's birthday present there. It was a beautifully hand carved Noah's ark, complete with animals. Our dogs think it smells quite exotic, I think it is quite special, and Eli thinks it's a cool toy. Look how serious he is!

Just for fun

If you look closely, he has a milk beard. Sans mustache.

Working hard in the flower beds out front. Thanks to his hard work, we haven't seen a weed at all today!

Pics

Just some pictures until I feel clever enough to write something.


Happy face.

Happy family.

Funny face.

Sloppy kiss.