Enchanted

We had a splendid time at Enchanted Forest on Sunday with Grandma Jeanne, Papa Doug, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Grant. It's become an annual tradition, which will only get better as the boys get older. I'm not sure who had more fun, Ben, Eli and Grant -OR- Aaron and Andy - look for their faces in the pictures below... Ben's favorite parts (in this order): The train, the shoe slide and the rabbit hole. Eli even made it thru the rabbit hole (with some assistance, of course). The sad thing about going to Enchanted Forest is that it means that summer is almost over. I start back at school this week and the kids arrive the day after Labor Day. What happened to my summer???

Cutie-Pie

Notable Eli accomplishments as of late:

Standing with much more confidence
Had pink eye at the end of a 2 week virus - and give it to Ben, too.
Ate A LOT of chicken curry tonight (after a plain vegetable strike - guess he likes the spice)
Loves getting into cupboards
Loves to eat whatever we are eating
Loves the swing in our backyard
Will scoot anywhere fast (even on concrete - his poor leg...)
Likes to be pushed on his little scooter
Says da-da, ma-ma, ga-ga, dat and something like doc-tor
Will let you know what he likes and doesn't like to eat with grunts and wiggles (more) and adamant head shaking (no more)

One Already?

We held Eli's first birthday party on Saturday a bit early so Grandma Jan could celebrate with us, too, since she surprised us with an impromptu visit from Minnesota! It's hard to believe that he's almost one already! Eli is a sweet, inquisitive baby and we can't wait to see what the upcoming years will reveal about his personality.

Trip to the zoo!

But first, here are 2 of Eli from the backyard this week...

Today, Eli made his first trip to the Oregon Zoo! We met up with Aaron, Rhonda and Grant. Very fun! The boys had a great time and slept like logs on the drive home.

Ben-isms and Eli trying to put on his own sock

A few Ben-isms from recent times:

Scene #1: I am filling the bathtub with water for Eli's bath.

Ben comes running in, saying "I have to go potty really bad." (With a totally scrunched up face showing the intense nature of his statement - coupled with some crotch grabbing).

I tell him: "Well, get your pants down and go"

Ben: (still wiggling and dancing on top of his stool) "I can't handle it!"

(He did make it, btw)


Scene #2: We are playing in the front yard. Mommy is told to be the "un-pire" calling balls and strikes for Ben, who is throwing a basketball at me down the sidewalk. I return the ball to him and it bounces a bit too high and jams one of his fingers.

Me: "Oh, sorry, bud, shake it off"

Ben: "It doesn't shake off. It stays ON"


Scene #3: Bathroom

Ben: (admiring his work in the toilet) "Daddy, did you ever see a poopy that is half black and half brown?"


Scene #4: Upstairs. I am trying to put Eli down for a nap. Ben is quietly coming in the room, holding up objects and reminiscing about the things he did with them when "he was baby".

Ben: (holding up A&D diaper cream) whispers, "Renember when I was a baby and I squeezed this out all over?"
Me: "Yes, Ben, I do"

Ben: (Returns with a baby powder bottle) "Renember when I was a baby and I squirted this all over?"
Me: "Yes, Ben, I do."

Ben then disappears, and then I hear some scuffling, and a mumble about a washcloth. Then I hear the water running in the bathroom and think I make out some pitter pattering of little feet.

After I finally get Eli down for his nap, I investigate. There are many footprints of baby powder leading back and forth from the bathroom to his room. Inside his room, I find a nice sized baby powder spill with Ben on his hands and knees washing the floor with a pair of his dampened underwear, leaving wet, white smears of 'cleaned up' space. Nice. At least he tried to clean it up, huh?


Here is Eli trying to put on his own socks:

Eli is getting better and better at cruising - he's switched from ottoman to couch with no assistance. Andy saw him put a star in the star-hole in the Fisher Price Shapes Cookie Jar. He's getting more and more vocal - more guhs, and other sounds with a lot more inflection. Poor kid is still sick. 101.2 today. Hoping for a better night tonight.

Fun times

A few pics from our hike to Horsetail Falls/ Ponytail Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Ben did a great job of hiking up to the falls, and rode back down in the backpack most of the way. He mostly liked throwing rocks in the pool at the bottom of the falls. Eli did pretty well in the Ergo carrier. He wasn't feeling that great after catching Ben's virus from last week and then progressing to croup, which means sleepless nights for Eli and mommy and daddy. Daytime he's been OK...

Also a couple of pics from Discovery Park last week