Work and play

First you'll see here Elliot 'doing his letters'. That's what he calls it. Every once in awhile if he catches me on the computer, he'll ask if he can do his letters. This consists of me opening a new word document, making the font bold and around 24, and placing him in my chair. He then types letter by letter, sometimes searching and finding the alphabet in order. He knows where the delete key is, so if he makes a mistake he just gets rid of it. This freaks me out. He's 3.

Next you see Elliot and Michael playing the Wii. Elliot particularly loves the fishing game and asks me to play at least three times per day, usually starting about 6:30 in the morning. This also freaks me out. He's 3.

Caught ya!

I caught Elliot playing in Elsie's little walking apparatus. He's way too big for it, as you can see here. But he liked playing with all of the toys attached. Unfortunately, he is looking distressed because he managed to get himself stuck. I did, of course, laugh at him for a minute AND take his picture before I took him out. 

The last couple of weeks

Here's a shout out to Mrs. Kevin and Leslie Bley, whose wedding we got to be a part of in St. Louis.  It was a great, great weekend. You see Leslie here at the Chocolate Bar in St. Louis, where she wore a very goofy 80s style veil made by a very goofy 80s loving friend.  It was a beautiful wedding. 

And then we move on to the pirate boat that now is docked in Elliot's room.  I honestly forget how creative Michael Gordon is. He made this entire thing (with Elliot's help, of course) out of a box that once held our new kitchen table. Elliot wanted a train on the mast, and so here it is.  I don't know if you can really see it, but the thing even has a steering wheel, whatever those are called on boats.  Many hours have already been spent in the boat. We read books in the boat, search for treasure in the boat, survive waves in the boat.  The thing attached to the back corner is a cannon.  For the enemies of the pirate ship. I am convinced that Michael should be staying home with the children, not me. Anyway, when he is home, they have a good time.

Picture from the iphone

Happy Birthday Bug!

I'm ONE!  Can't believe it.  Our little Bug is ONE today. Here she's showing us her age and enjoying her cake.  The girl downed an entire adult-sized piece of strawberry cake with pink frosting (requested by Elliot for her - PINK cake, mama - for Buggie). Two families from St. Louis happened to be visiting us here yesterday, so Buggie had great friends around her! Elliot and I also enjoyed some cake. I'm working on posting a video for you of Bug dancing while we sang Happy Birthday. It was wonderful to celebrate with people who know and love the Bug. Tonight Michael is away at a church preaching, as he was this morning. I hated putting Bug down for bed, as I knew he wouldn't see her and it was the end of a big birthday that only happens once. I know she doesn't know the meaning of the day, but it makes me sad. I want her to grow up, but these milestones are hard when it's the baby, and probably the last baby! 

Sweet

Sometimes my kids are just sweet. You all know that a lot of the time I'm practicing mantras like, 'Don't beat them. Don't beat them.' But sometimes they're just sweet. Buggie's learning a little bit of sign language and clearly tells me she's finished with her meals, with a huge smile on her face. She also likes to wave at me from across the room after pointing at me first, as if she's saying, 'Hey you, you lady, I'm picking you out. Wave at me.'

I gave Elliot a haircut because he was looking a little raggedy. You can see here that he still hasn't quite overcome the old man hairline.  I think he's taking more and more after his papa - not in the hair but with the affection.  He loves to hug and kiss and cuddle. And he'll often turn around and hug me on the couch while we're watching his favorite show - America's Funniest Home Videos, which he calls 'Animals Fall Down' - and say, 'I love you mama.' I'll tell you, that makes up for many a time out.  He LOVES to hug Buggie and is pretty excited when he first sees her in the morning. 'My Buggie, my Buggie!' 

I think once we get back from a wedding in St. Louis I'm going to have to bite the bullet and potty train the kid. He now asks me to change his diaper when he's wet or poopy. Surely this is a good sign. I bought him a new blue potty at IKEA on the way home from training.  It was a $4.99 investment. I may write his name on the front.  I'm way open to potty training suggestions for you experienced moms out there.  Or, I'm open to bringing Elliot to live with you and paying you any free dollar I have for YOU to train him.