18 months!!

Eli helping out with the boxes!

What fun it is to climb through empty cabinets

"In I go"

Eli using daddy's tools

Eli helping daddy

We both have phones!

We went to the park to feed the ducks.

Eli's response to the mean geese

Fishing with Aunt Amy

Swinging on a big boy swing

My first and only motorcycle ride

"I'm COOL"

On my 18 month birthday!

Always on the move

Papa, Eli, and Grammy the night before surgery

I can't believe it has been 18 months since Eli Matthew made his appearance.

I don't have any status right now since our doctors appointment is not until next week, so stay tuned for those.

Eli is on the move all the time, he runs as much as he can. He is loving having Georgia around to run with. He also loves to dance, I have not been able to get him on video since he stops and runs to the camera. He loves throwing things, we are working on only throwing balls. He also loves water. I can't wait until we are in our new house and have his little pool set up, he will love it!

Eli's Words:

down, bye-bye, Papa, Mimi, GuGu (Grammy), dada, mama, more (sign and say), ball, go-go (when he wants to go somewhere), please (he signs this but thinks if he does he can get what ever he wants), all done (sign and say), he still barks at anything he thinks is a dog, yea, no (this one is not as much a favorite but still said too much), and I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any more right now.

First this month:

fishing, swinging on a big kid swing, moving to a new house, feeding the ducks, feeding the fish, riding a motorcycle

Eli is still facing backward in the car, the pediatrician said to keep him that way until 2 years or he starts having fits in the car, it is safer. He does not seem to mind, I have a kick toy for him and a mirror to keep him occupied. I think he forgets that I am up front and so he plays by himself. The only times I get complaints is when I turn down the music!

The Homeless have Fun!

Brandon, Eli, and I have been staying with Amy and Mike (Brandon's Brother) the past week, in our homeless state! We are having a blast! Here are a few pictures to help you see all the fun we are having!

Mimi and Flash (Brandon's parents) came over to play and Mimi brought the water table.

What Fun

Fishing at the park for the 1st time ever!

Georgia, Aunt Amy, and Eli

Riding in Georgia's car together is great fun, especially when daddy pushes!

On Friday I took Georgia and Eli to the zoo (Amy had to work), we meet Amy Curry and Hogan to play.

It was like herding cats! In this pic, Georgia is climbing over the fence and Eli and Hogan are going different directions!

"In the ZOO"?

Just kidding, the kids are looking at the birds

Here is one from the other side!

On the train, a favorite.

Georgia is potty training and as an incentive they bought a play set.

Mike has worked all week long putting it up.

Here are the kids swinging!

The play set in not finished but getting close, the kids can play in it already!

Here they are saying hi through the window.

Next week, Oklahoma!

As you can see we are staying busy but happy!

More pics to come!

Baby Wood

I was able to see Amanda and Brian Woods new baby girl last week! She is so tiny but so cute!

Here is the only good pic I got (the others were a bit blurry).

Miss Eloise Violet

Mother's Day, May 9, 2010

9:21 pm

5 lb. 3 oz

17in

Homeless

We have closed on our house, our 'old' house! We signed the papers yesterday. I had to sign even though I was not on the deed since I have lived there for 5 years, I was told it was common law.

Getting everything out of the house was a crazy adventure. We had two PODS in our driveway. We loaded one with all our boxes (my school stuff takes up about 35%) and a few other things like the grill. Our wonderful small group and Brandon's brother came over to help carry all the boxes! Thank you, Thank you! The other POD was for all our furniture, to be loaded by paided movers! When the movers arrived they walked through the house and let us know that all the furniture would not fit. I asked them to load all the heavy stuff so that I would be able to help Brandon move all the other furniture. They did a wonderful job packing as much as they could. Brandon and I ended up renting a UHaul Truck and moving the rest of the furniture to our friends Chris and Katie's house. Thank you for letting us invade your home!! We got everything out of the house by early afternoon!

As we walked through the house for the last time I teared up a little. It is hard to leave a house we love, that we started our marriage in, and brought our baby boy home to. I know that this is a good move and we will make wonderful memories in our new home, but it is still hard to think about a new home.

We are now homeless! We sign on Monday (May 24/Eli's 18 month birthday), the papers have to be overnighted to one of the sellers in NJ and then overnighted back, then the sell will be final on Thursday (May 27). We can't get into the house until Sunday (May 30) and then the painting starts on Monday (May 31)! We were told that it will take one to two weeks to paint, but they will do the bedrooms and main rooms first so we can get the carpets cleaned and move all our stuff in and start unpacking while the bathrooms and outside are painted. So hopefully we will be moved in by June 4th and stay the first night on June 6th. I have to unpack a little before we move completely in.

That leaves us homeless for about 3 weeks! We are very lucky to have a wonderful place to stay, at Brandon's brother and sister-in-laws home! They put up their daughters crib in a spare room for Eli so he has a "real" bed, cleaned out a closet and dresser for Brandon and I, and have let us take over house with toys and craziness! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for pictures of the new house!

Graduation

Last Saturday my baby cousin GRADUATED!!

He is now a proud alum of East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

After the ceremony our family meet to do what we do best, EAT. We had a wonderful lunch and great fellowship. The great grand kids had a great time running around showing off for the grand kids and their Great Aunts and Uncles!

Stephen, we are so proud of you!!

Stephen and Kelsey

Lake Time

My parents were in town last week to get the lake house ready for summer! I helped my mom and dad do a little cleaning, put things up on the walls (they had some painting done over the winter), and put the boat in the water!

We went to put the boat in with my mom driving (backing) and my dad and I as spotters. It took about four tries to get it backed in (my mom can back but dad and I were not great at helping her know where to go!). After getting the boat unhooked my dad went to get in, we realized we backed in too far and the boat was floating (away)! I told my dad I would help him hold the boat, I just needed to get my shoes and socks off and roll up my jeans. As I started to take my shoes off I see my dad try and get in the floating boat and the boat started moving away from him. Envisioning my dad falling onto the trailer I throw my shoes off and ran into the water in my socks with my jeans not rolled up! Dad did not fall but I was wet to my knees. After helping get my dad in the boat he try to start it up.

No Luck.

We tried again and again but the boat would not start. There were other boats in line for the ramp by this time and we had floated off the boat trailer so my dad had me push the boat to the side of the ramp. I am now wet up to my waist, so fun!

The boat still won't start and we are drifting back over the ramp, dad has me push the boat over toward a dock to tie up. As I give the boat a big push I step off the boat ramp, and almost go under! I am now wet from the neck down with some of my hair wet.

I then run along the shore (of rocks) pushing the boat off and toward the dock. After tieing up on the dock we take off for Wal-Mart with the battery.

Wal-Mart says we did not charge the battery enough and that they will charge it for us, it will take about and hour.

We head back to the lake house, where I put on dry clothes from my mom and throw mine in the dryer.

An hour later we are headed back to Wal-Mart in dry clothes. With the charged battery, the boat takes a few tries but starts! Dad heads back to the cove in the boat while I head back to the house to help him get in the slip.

Dad hits the slip going fast (as slow as he can without putting it in revers but fast)! He gets half way in and is stuck. Blake has gotten the boat in before so why won't we fit. I have to push the boat out, almost falling in again! We then realize that the water is too high and the boat is hitting the overhang of cement that is on the side of the slip. When we had the boat in before the water was lower and last year the water was too low to even get the boat in the cove!

We ended up renting a slip for now.

Eli and Papa walking down to the dock!

Eli, Papa, and Grammy

Baby Wood

We had a baby shower for the Woods last week on Cinco de Mayo! It was a family party with lots of kids and fun.

Here are a few pics...

Miss Amanda, Mama to be

All the pregos at the shower!
due, May 7, May 30 (but already here on May 9), July 24, and September
Tori, Amanda, Amanda, and Blair

The kids had a Pinata full of candy, you can't see it in this picture, sorry!
Brian is in charge of the batting line.
We ate well; tacos, queso, cake, and cookies!

Up, Up, and Down

The new house (oh, did I tell you we bought a new house and we move in sometime in early June?) has stairs! Here is Eli climbing them. He loves to go up and he can go down on his tummy, I am waiting for him to go down head over heels! I guess every kid has to learn, right?

UP

UP

and Down

I guess I will stay busy!!

On the new house front...

As you know (if you have been reading my blog) our house sold very fast! We started looking over the next week and found a new home we love!

We close on our old house next week and will be homeless for about three weeks before we get into our new home! We are very excited!!

Stay posted for pics of the new house!

Fish Food

Last week Amanda Wood and I took the kids to the Botanic Gardens. We went into the Japanese Garden to feed the Imperial Carp (Koi). Eli wanted to eat the fish food at first but soon go the hang of throwing it. Jane did not eat the food but is not a thrower, she would drop it over the side like a lady. Eli and Jane both tried to get in the water a few times but we were diligent mamas and kept everyone dry. Next time we may not be so lucky, they are getting faster!!
We ended up leaving when Eli had a fit because I would not let him in the water! The water is 6 feet deep, the fish are bigger than him, and I did not feel like a swim!

Here are a few pictures:

Baby Eloise (still in mommy's tummy), Jane, and Eli

Eli watching...

The fish, as you can see they do not go hungry!

The kids throwing fish food.

Another look at the fish!

For all you mom's out there looking for something fun to do this summer...

It cost $4 to get into the Japanese Gardens and 25 cents for each large handful of fish food.

There is lots of shade and areas to eat a picnic lunch! Bring a zip lock to put the fish food in!

All day fun for not a lot of $$$!

Mimi's Birthday!

My mother-in-laws birthday was April 18th, but part or all of the family has been out of town, so we celebrated on May 1st! We had a wonderful dinner and played. Tess spoiled herself with lots of toys for the kids! It's like Christmas going to Mimi's house and the kids love it, plus it gives the adults built-in entertainment!

Here are a few fun shots of the kids!

Georgia and Eli playing in the toy bins!

Eli and Georgia at the new water table with Mimi!

Eli found Flashes (Tom) water fall.

Thanks Mimi for all the wonderful memories!

Happy Birthday!!