Rudolph... by Ben

Since he wouldn't perform this for grandpa on his birthday - Here it is on video...

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

Highlights of the last few weeks:

Visit with Santa. The picture speaks a thousand words.

Attending Andy's family's Christmas party. The traditional 'Red Chair Present Opening' tradition continued... Fun times were had by all.

Cutting our Christmas Tree at Happy Day Tree Farm

3 Ben-isms and a story

#1 Scene: While working on the U.S. state puzzle, Ben was having some difficulty recalling the names of some of the states. I began giving him clues.

Me: Remember, it starts with Oak.....
Ben: Oh yeah - Oklahoma
Me: This one starts with Why.....
Ben: Oh - Wyoming
Me: Oh this is a tough one - It starts with I... (trying to get him to say Idaho)
Ben: Hmmmm. Hmmmm. (thinking, thinking - then declares) I-don't-know-na!

#2 Scene: The bathroom - Ben is on the toilet and I am standing with my back to him brushing my teeth...
Ben: Mommy, why do you have such a big bottom?
Me: (not even going to respond)

#3 Scene: my car
Frequently, while driving in the car, Ben requests some of my Burt's Bee's chapstick that I stash in the front console for daily use. He is able to get the cap off, apply the chapstick in some sloppy fashion, get the cap back on and hand it back to me in the front seat. Once, when he was more like 2.5 years old, he had borrowed the chapstick on the way to the grocery store. No big deal. He had used it just fine many times. Once we got inside, I got him loaded in the cart, pushed my cart to the deli, and finally had a chance to stop and look at him - he had pink chapstick ALL OVER HIS WHOLE FACE. He had the most innocent look on his face - it was priceless. I couldn't stop giggling and some grandma walks by and cracks up, too, telling me we made her day. You think I would have learned my lesson. Nope.

Nine months or so later, Ben had been having some chapped lips, and again requests some chapstick. I hand it back, he applies it, puts the cap back on and returns it to me. I look back and see he did a pretty sloppy job of putting it on - and I am reminded of the grocery store and kind of snicker. No big deal, right? Yeah - until an hour later when I go to use the chapstick. I take the cap off and notice the chapstick is gone. Hmmm.
Me: Ben? did the chapstick break off when you used it?
Ben: Oh - yes, it did.
Me: (concerned that I will have an ugly mess to clean up) So - where did it land?
Ben: What do you mean?
Me: When the chunk of chapstick fell off - where did it go?
Ben: I ate it.
Me: (squirming) YOU ATE IT???
Ben: yup.
At least it is made with pretty natural stuff...

#4 Scene: We decided to give a shot at a new Christmas tradition - we found a very nice 3.5 mile drive through a neighborhood Christmas light display in a town about 40 minutes away. The boys really did have a nice time ooohh-ing and aaahhh-ing over the Griswald inspired setups that we saw, but it was getting close to bedtime, so we headed back for home. We had nice Christmas music playing in the car creating one of those 'ahhh, aren't the holidays such a great joy' moments, but things quickly started spiralling downward. Eli started taking off his shoes and socks, and Ben followed suit. Halfway through, I warned them about their feet getting cold, but they proceeded on. Eli started making some Monica Seles inspired grunts proclaiming his disdain for being locked in his carseat for too long. Not too long afterwards, he starts adamantly requesting every item just out of his reach (in grunt fashion). I hand him 2 books, a bunny, a set of keys, a napkin to rip up (which he did - but then Ben of course demanded one for himself), and then I ran out of things to hand him so he begins wailing at the top of his lungs. Ironically, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" begins playing on the radio. So, I crank it up to overpower our screaming kid.

Radio: {It's the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer".}
Eli: Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!
Radio: {It's the most wonderful time of the year. It's the hap-happiest season of all.}
Ben: Mommy, my feet are cold. I want my socks!
Radio: {With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings, when friends come to call. It's the hap- happiest season of all...}
Ben: Mommy! Make Eli stop crying!
Radio: {There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow.}
Eli: Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!
Me: (turing the radio louder...)
Radio: {There'll be scary ghost stories, and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.}
Me: (Looking at Andy and cracking up) At least we'll have a funny story!
Eli: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Radio: {It's the most wonderful time of the year. There'll be much mistltoeing, and hearts will be glowing, when love ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year.}

Fall is in the air

We spent most of our Sunday raking leaves. Funny, it seems to take twice as long with 2 extra helpers...

Could my eyes BE any bluer?

A spontaneous hug. Most likely followed by spontaneous knocking over of the little brother, but the moment was very sweet.

Guess who is in charge of this operation?

Funny how whoopie cushion sounds are funny at such a young age...

Eli has been adding words to his vocabulary so fast, I can't keep track of them. Some new ones are:

dia-puh (diaper)

bur (bird)

bah (ball)

boon (balloon)

Oh, and he REALLY wants to go potty like a big boy. Everytime I mention potty for Ben, Eli heads to the bathroom door, pulls his shirt up under his chin, and gets very mad if we don't come right away to let him in. Not sure what to do with this, so we got out the old potty chair and let him play with it...

Some videos

For those that are too far away...

Eli eating a waffle and banana

Eli saying a few words

Eli walking and saying "Nuh" for the walnuts all over the driveway.

Halloween at our House

This was Eli's first trick or treat experience this Halloween, and he sure caught on quickly. He tried with all his might to keep up with his big brother, refusing to be carried between houses -almost running. He was saying his own version of trick or treat (try saying it with your teeth clenched and with no R's and you'll get the idea). Ben's shyness was not a factor that night - I guess when candy is involved, all bets are off... Poor Eli started acting a bit tired at 7:00 (2 yawns and 1 eye rub), got scared by a dog and then by 7:06 fell asleep on daddy's - then mommy's shoulder. It really was like he just hit a wall - and crashed hard. He sure enjoyed himself, though - as did Ben - especially since Grandma Jeanne and Papa Doug were along for the ride!

Lucky

Eli:

is saying "Dah-DEE" (to both daddy and mommy, too) started about 12 months
also says "Dah-GEE" for anything resembling a dog - started about a month ago
says "Uh-Oh"
says "Ahh-Boo" for apple
says "Peh-Puh" for pepper
says "Nuh" for nut
said "Get-TEE" tonight for spaghetti
says "Chee" for cheese
Loves finding and pointing at clocks and ceiling fans
Points at lights hoping we will turn them on
Makes kissy sounds when he wants a drink
says "Ahhhh" after sips of water
waves Bye-Bye (and has for about a month)
Shakes his head back and forth for "Boi-oi-oing"
walked about 15 laps around the ottoman tonight crawling under our legs as we sat on the couch
reminded me not to forget his pacifier from daycare by making kissy sounds as I was leaving
will let us know when he is ready to go ni-night by walking over the to the door upstairs and banging on it
loves climbing the stairs
has 1 molar all the way in, 1 three-forths of the way in and 2 half in. Brutal.
stands at his high chair when he is hungry
heads towards the bathtub if you even mention bathtime
gets sooo excited to see mommy when I pick him up from daycare everyday. Awwww.

Ben:

peaked his head in a tree stump at a park and yells, "Hey there's a vitamin in here!" It was a snail. Still makes me giggle.
has had many moments of frustration (getting ready in the morning, etc.) balanced by the sweetest moments where he asks for a random hug.
is starting to sound out words to spell them.
is getting better at writing some letters.
loves to watch sports on TV and asks a lot of questions.
makes me laugh. A lot. I wish I could record some of our car conversations. I can rarely remember WHY I was laughing and smiling on my way to work, but I do remember laughing and smiling.

These boys make me so happy everyday. I am so lucky to be their mommy.

Tryon Creek State park

The weather was been phenomenal, especially for October. Not much rain, and even spots of sun here and there. We had an open house today from 12-3, so we headed out to a State Park near Portland to enjoy the fall leaves. The boys and I had a nice time on a short hike, and then had a much needed picnic lunch of Subway subs, juiceboxes and chips. The light was just right, so I took a ton of pictures and couldn't decide which ones to post, so I posted pretty much all of the decent ones. Sometimes it takes less time to post all of them rather than sift thru and debate which ones to post...