Playing at the park

It's nice to be able to walk to a park; we have gone a few times already to the playground.

Eli loves the swings!

The 4 of us trek across the desert (playground).

Christmas 2.0, Phoenix edition

We had another Christmas when we arrived in Phoenix; Eli was SUPER EXCITED to get a Cars duplo set!

Playing with Ye Ye

Brian got some more "big kid" legos that he worked on (with help from Ye Ye) during naptime.

Pretty cool helicopter!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Grandma and grandpa came this weekend, we had a nice turkey dinner, and while they were here, we had a chance to pick up a bunk bed for Brian and Eli, since they're now sharing a room...

And since it's grandpa's birthday, we celebrated with some cake. Grandpa picked the Sesame Street theme. The boys had pie, ice cream, and cake all in one day!

Eli is 2!

Ah, two.  What an age!  A typical exchange with you goes like this:

I try to turn the lights on. 

You yell “NO!  By SELF!”

I wait, and eventually encourage, “OK, Eli, let’s turn the lights on.”

Your reply: “No!  I NOT!  I NOT turn lights on mommy!”

So right there you can see your two most common utterances: “No, I not!”  and “By self!”  It would be frustrating except that you are so funny, such a ham, and so sweet.  I made waffles for breakfast because I know you like them (and leftover oatmeal for the 4th day in a row is a pretty lousy birthday breakfast), and they came out awful, but still you said “Mmmm, dewicious!”  Although then you mostly left the waffle and ate all the syrup with your hands.  Ew. 

After breakfast, we went to the canal to feed the ducks, but you just ran around like crazy, generally giving me a heart attack.

Brian fed the ducks (and the pigeons tried to get in on the action)while I chased you around and tried to take pictures while keeping myself in between you and the water. 

Then we walked with our friends along the canal over to the cupcake place.  What a beautiful day; we were so lucky!

Mmmm… cupcake!  (I did help with that; sorry but it was too much for a 2 year old!)

This was followed by a not-so-fun trip to the library where you refused to stay in the room where we were doing puzzles and insisted on going out to see the giant stuffed raccoon out in the main room.  The librarian patiently smiled at your antics (escaping from the room, climbing a chair to peek in the window, screaming bloody murder if I tried to pick you up) and asked how old you were.  “Two years old today!”  “Yep, that’s what I figured!” she said.  We did our usual afternoon of taking Brian to school, going home for a nap, and going back to get him.  Oh, how you love the little playground in front of the Y!

When we got home, there was a package full of cars from Grandma and Grandpa, and you got so excited when you saw the package.  “Big, big, big car!”  I told you there might be a book in there and you said, “No? No book?  Big, big car!”  Well, fortunately there were cars (and a scary cat card). 

In case that wasn’t enough fun for one day, when Daddy got home, we had dinner and went out for ice cream!

Then when we got home, you got MORE cars, this time from Ye Ye and Nai Nai!  You got to play with the new cars and talk to them on Skype, and by then it was well past bedtime but of course you did NOT want to go to bed.  Oh, boy.  We love to see your personality emerging along with so many words, even if it’s mostly newfound naughtiness.  It’s hard to believe that you were so small such a short time ago. 

Happy Birthday, baby!  (I promise I will try now to stop calling you baby!)  We can’t wait to see what this year will bring!

Happy Birthday!

Today we had a little party for Eli’s birthday.  We all had a lot of fun, especially Eli who got to eat a chocolate covered pretzel for dinner…

…got a whole bunch of new cars…

…and then got cake!

Not that he ate it.  It had carrots in it.  But he did eat lots of ice cream to make up for it.  Happy Birthday, Eli!  Love, mom…

…and dad!

Fun at school

Brian is having a great time at school this year.  They have spent the last month learning about their senses, doing activities such as cooking, using scented paints, and writing their names in Braille.  For those of you who haven’t seen it, I took some pictures at school after picking him up the other day.  Camp Arrowhead is beautiful, and if the weather is nice we always stay and play!

They love to climb up the stairs and then run down the big hill!

Sometimes they are not back yet when Eli and I get there at pick up time.  Here they come marching back from the playground:

So of course Eli wants to go play!

Usually, though, we go and play in the enormous sandbox.  Brian and his friends are always building houses and making compost.  Don’t ask, I have no idea. 

Winter is pretty much here, so we probably won’t be playing there anymore, but it was fun while it lasted!

Happy Halloween