Sibling Love

I have been so impressed with Eli lately and how he is starting to really play with Analise. We often bathe them together, and the other night, they ran around naked and giggling together, and jumped on his bed. I didn't take any pictures since I didn't want those pictures to come back and haunt them one day, but I loved the innocence and fun of it all. Here are a few pictures of Eli-initiated, lovin' on his sister...

 

Getting ready for the rodeo tonight! By the way, side note on Eli's outfit: this morning was the first time he brought me a pair of pants and shirt from his closet, asking to get dressed, first thing in the morning. Usually he likes hanging out in his pj's and puts on whatever I bring him!

And here, he is showing her how to play with the packing peanuts from a recent delivery!

a Yogurt Mask

I know I just posted some pictures of Analise eating yogurt, and that was oh so exciting. So the other day I gave her a full size greek yogurt and a spoon, in her highchair, and went to work on the computer in the other room.

When I came back into the kitchen to check on her, this is what greeted me:

I have no idea how she managed to smear it to cover half of her face!!! I laughed and grabbed the camera that was sitting right there on the table and snapped a picture before cleaning her off. Wish I could have watched her create this facial!!

Spring a Little Early

Since the weather has been cool and sunny, it's been a great time to be outdoors. I organized our shelves in the garage the other day and found two bags of birdseed. After nap time, I thought the kids would enjoy filling our rusted out old birdfeeder. I was surprised Eli remembered how he had painted a little wooden one about a month or so ago (one of those random "ok I'll buy this for you at hobby lobby because it's only $2 and will keep you quiet/busy" purchases). So he found that one too that we could put birdseed in.

whoops, a little spillage. Hard to pour from those bags.

I love all the pastel colors though.

Wish I had a better shot of A's hair. This is the first time I was able to make as many parts and was quite proud of myself. Guess that topic should be in another post. Whatever, it's my blog.

Ok, I thought I was soooo clever in thinking of how to help Eli pour the birdseed into his little house. I cut a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and taped it over the birdhouse hole, so the cup could act as a funnel. Brilliant, right? I could just see hundreds of pinners pinning this on Pinterest, quoting, "Genius! paper cup as a funnel! great idea!"

So, here he is pouring away...while mommy watches, taking pictures....

...and then this. Oops. Maybe he needed a little more help controling the bag. Never mind, pinterest.

Heeeyy, pretty girl!

Don't you love how the sun is glinting off her little puff of hair that came loose from the ponytail??

Our two birdhouses/feeder. Maybe they are too close to the house, but so far the birds have avoided them. Or maybe they just need to get used to them. Either way, it was a fun way to spend some time outdoors!

A Girl and her Yogurt

My baby girl loves to eat. In particular, loves to eat with a spoon and/or fork. She's been trying to feed herself for the past couple of months now actually, using a spoon. I love watching her skills grow! I just think she is so smart and ahead of the game. I was cracking up at her the other day with her yogurt.

For once she didn't rip off her bib! Hair disclaimer: her hair looked nice earlier, but she did take her bows out, so it's a little wild in these pictures. (I'm very self conscious about her hair and making sure I'm taking care of it properly. If you couldn't tell.)

Mmmmm, crackers dipped in yogurt.

Back to Blogging - all because of Playdough

Well hello there! I can't believe I haven't blogged anything since last April. Well, I can actually. Adding on a second child really did rock out world for quite a bit. I've really missed writing out my thoughts, and capturing moments that I don't want to forget. Yeah, yeah, I scrapbook - but usually months after the picture was taken. What I've always liked about blogging is that I post and write about pictures and memories while they are still fresh.

My friend Beth recently shared her blog, and reading it reminded me of how much I liked (and still like) writing about my family, sharing our activities and my thoughts. And, I do want to print out this blog for the kidlets to read one day. Much easier to write it down NOW then to wait for the next time I scrapbook. I also have missed reading other blogs - I used to faithfully read all of the blogs I follow, but, well, my priorities have shifted in recent months. Since I'll be getting back into the blog and seeing my blogroll up close more frequently, maybe I will start catching up on reading blogs too!

So, yesterday as Eli and I sat playing playdough, I thought, I need to remember this. Even though it feels like he will be a pre-schooler forever, he won't. I am always reminded by friends, "this time goes so quickly!" So while Analise was taking a nap, I sat with him at the table and we played playdough. I am amazed at his imagination, and how his language is exploding now that he is 3. It's like so much is happening in his little body and brain, all at the same time. Learning to ride his new bike with training wheels, writing his name, asking "why" questions - all that good stuff. Which is also, by the way, I think the reason he is more whiny and prone to meltdowns - all these new skills are exhausting and overwhelming, I'm sure. Anyway, on to playdough....

Don't you love our multi-colored track? Complete with a bridge (playdoug can). And a plastic gas pump.

 

Eli is really into the "stop" and "go" concept. So, here is our "stop sign."

Making wheels for his truck. I love that he was able to roll the playdough into little balls.

I hardly ever go to garage sales, mainly because they aren't allowed in my neighborhood. We were able to go to my cousin's garage sale (to raise money for her kid's team to go somewhere) and I was delighted to find two large ziploc bags full of cookie cutters. Perfect for playdough.

Mommy's truck needed a little more decoration.

Adding some buttons - and random holes - to our gingerbread man. Or "Christmas boy" as Eli called him.

Oh no, the giant boy is coming to our track!

 

We played on, and I took pictures - until Eli said, "mommy, I want you to put the camera down."

So I did. :)

 



 

 

 

 

Easter catch up

We'll start the Easter celebration pictures with Eli's Easter party at school. Parents were allowed to come. It's so cute, seeing him sit at the table with his friends!

Finding eggs on the playground at school.....

Eli loves to climb in the pack and play with Analise...this time he brought the blanket to play Peek a Boo.

Sitting on the driveway working on our "projects." Eli ended up with a paint it yourself car and man (I thought he had picked up this package on the clearance rack at Target, by the time we got to the checkout he had carried it all around the store - turns out it was 9.99! Grrrrr. I made sure we painted the heck out of that thing). The pink basket is Analise's basket. We play outside pretty much every day after nap time.

Eli helping paint her basket. I made his basket when he was 6 months old.

The finished product! You can see my basket from when I was a kid in the background. Eli's is on the other side of that one.

Couldn't find the little wooden crosses like I put on Eli's, so I just wrote "He Is Risen" on the back.

Attempting to take Easter pics before church.

Dying eggs at mom's house after church. Aunt Laura was a big help!

Gotta love mom's '60's wallpaper!

Finding eggs in mom's backyard...Collin was sweet to do his egg hunt while I took a nap!

Laura and my awesome niece and nephew!

And finally, Mom with her grandkids! We tried to get a picture of the four of us, but it just wasn't working out! We also missed my brother, who couldn't come in this weekend.