The Catfish Are Jumping

Traditions Revived

We haven't been to storytime at the library since Eli was sitting in a Bumbo. We still go every week or two to switch out old books for new, but I always strategically plan our morning visits to avoid Toddler time. In the old days, Chloe and I never missed a single session. We were there every week singing songs, listening to stories, taking a walk "outside" and visiting with Mrs. Sue and Miss Kitty. But then it got hard. Really, really hard. Still I've missed it, and I'm sure Chloe has, too. Not to mention, there aren't that many free children's activities around and this little house gets a mite boring from time to time. When I realized it had been nearly a year since we last tried, I knew I had to put my brave face on and give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't so bad after all! Sure, I had to use brute force to wrangle Eli back into my lap a few times, but overall, it was, dare I say, fun. Chloe, a card-carrying member of Future Librarians of America since birth, was still polite and proper and a very good listener. Eli acted more like the kids Chloe and I used to glare at with disdain week after week, but it didn't bother me as much as it used to. I guess somewhere along the way Chloe and I have mellowed. Thanks to Eli, I may never again have what it takes to work in a library.

Ry-Guy Turns Five

Eli had lots of fun at Ryan's big bash. He ran around training for Armageddon for awhile before he moved on to licking bubbles off of the wand. Men. They'll eat anything. "Soap? What's that for? I don't know. Hey, I have an idea, let's eat it!" Soon after, he broke down and spent the rest of the afternoon in Mommy's lap. No worries! He got to enjoy his pizza and cake from there.

(Here he is with his mentor.)
Eli-"Attaaaaack!!"
Aaron-"Ugh, will he never learn? Finger on the trigger, man!"

Father's Day

Rocking in his own personal rocker before church.

Hands and knees and Sunday best. A classic combination.

The man of the hour.

Our new favorite hang out spot. In the left corner you can see the garden stones the kids and I made for Father's Week.

16 months

Eli is becoming more and more boy every day, if that's even possible. Last Thursday night after church, the older boys were running around, chasing and shooting each with imaginary lasers or some other such nonsense. I don't really know what they were doing. It was one of those things I just didn't get, but Eli certainly did! It was amazing how quickly he linked up with the boys playing and started doing everything they did. Ever since then he has been walking around the house with both arms fully extended making some bizarre blaster noise he learned from the Pastor's kid. Patrick finally decided not to worry about his fascination with shoes and make-up and hairbows and all things Mommy.

He has been sick with a really icky cold for a week now, making him pretty much the most unpleasant creature on earth to be around. He is whiny and clingy and pretty much unhappy in all things. I hope it passes soon.

Favorites:

Activities: attempting to master the shapesorter in short spurts, Cedarmont kids videos (will it never end?!?), bugging Chloe, tearing things up, yelling, trying to run and jump
Songs: Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, Head/Shoulders/Knees/Toes
Books: The Noisy Cricket, Goodnight Moon, Good Morning/Good Night

The Pot and the Kettle

How a kitchen goes from clean to disaster in under sixty seconds.

A Carrot Top Who Can Barely Walk

Eat the chicken and spit out the bones.