Elliot is 3!!!!

On the morning of his birthday, he got to open the presents from his grandparents and Auntie.

Grandma Corie and Grandpa Jim gave him a huge box full of kitchen and cleaning utensils. Boring you say? Not for our little practical Montessori student!!

Auntie Megan made some great chocolates shaped like airplanes and sailboats.
Grandma Nancy sent some great clothes (green and robot themed; his favorite!) and books. The shirt you will see in the pictures below.

The next day, we had a huge party with all of his friends (15 kids were here!!). Ben brought a pinata filled with candy and bouncy balls. No one got a bat to the head, but it was close.

Next, Jeremy unveiled the painting he's been working on for 3 months. It's of Elliot outside the apartment we stayed in in Paris last year.

At the end of the party (so as not to have 15 sugar high kids running through the house) we had cake. Elliot's one request was that he wanted a green car cake. So, here it is! I was up till 1am the night before decorating it, but it was worth it! (That's Holiday with the eye patch. Elliot's newest best buddy.)

After everyone left, Elliot opened the gifts from friends. He got some great stuff. Overall it was a GREAT third birthday (for everyone)!!

Pizza Night! Oh What a Night!

Our family decided to start pizza night. Every Monday, I make dough and then we get to put whatever we want on it. Jeremy tosses it in the air "Italian-pizza-kitchen" style and tries to make the roundest, thinnest crust he can. Elliot ALWAYS has olives and cheese on his. (it happens to look like a dinosaur foot this time, which was a hit.)

Here's one of Jeremy and Julian just being their cute selves.

Here's one of the brothers who look identical! Except for Julian's firey red hair!

Julian is the smiley-est baby we know. This is one cute instance.

Sleepy time with cake.

Sleepy time with thumb.

Random Cutie Photos

Julian's little chub legs are the center of much attention around here.

Always lots of calisthenics.



And of course the newborn smiles....

Baby Julian Arrives!

Announcing Julian John Logan!!!

7lbs 9oz December 19

Elliot loves to be the big brother and snuggles with his baby brother any chance he gets.
Grandma Corie came and spent a month with us at first. Here's Julian in one of his first smiles!

Grandpa Jim came, too and made Elliot feel special by taking him to the beach even though it was raining.

Grandma Nancy came, too but for some reason we have no photos of this event, so here's one of Julian sleeping.

The brothers feeling differently about the Daddy induced photo shoot.

Oh, that's better.

And finally, our first born, the jokester, who decided his underwear would make eating dinner much more fun.

Hiking and Other Things

Last warm sunny day, we all went on a hike. This was back a few weeks ago when I could still do that kind of thing. Now I can't walk down the block.



We went to Seattle for Thanksgiving. It was a little uncomfortable to be in a hotel room at 8 months pregnant, but worth it to see the family. Above, my dad and aunts and uncles playing a game before dinner.

Then we went to see the Troll under the Fremont bridge.

Today, Elliot and I decorated gingerbread cookies. We both OD-ed on M&Ms and marshmallow stars, but it sure was fun.

Halloween Fun

Elliot's first Halloween experience this year! We carved some scary Jack O' Lanterns.

We went to a pumpkin party at the local Botanical Gardens. There was chocolate as you can see from Elliot's chin.

There were also a few remaining dahlias in the spectacular dahlia garden.

Then we got dressed up! Elliot was a robot, made especially for him by Jeremy.

At school they had a party where all the kids dressed up. As soon as Elliot came out with his costume on, he was mobbed by admiring kids! He felt like a celebrity.

Then they all paraded down to the end of the street and posed for a picture.


Then we went Trick or Treating! He was extremely safe with all his reflective gear on.

From Hovel to Heaven

Recently, we had our kitchen renovated. It was a seriously long, dusty, noisy and completely wonderful experience. We lived out of our living room for two months with drywall dust filling our lungs and hammer knocks haunting our dreams. Above and below is the old kitchen. For future reference, the facing wall backs onto the dining room.

Note, if you will, the incongruity of the cabinets, countertops and room make-up. The kitchen had been "updated" a few times over its 90+ year lifetime. The tile and light cabinets above were added in the '70s by my parents; the fridge is in what used to be the mud room (before fridges were invented they used the long cooler cabinet on the right of the above pic).

And the demo begins! Pic taken while standing in the dining room. Notice there's no wall now.

The back door moved over about 4 feet; drywall and much needed insulation put up.

Woohoo! Paint and cabinets! A skylight!

And we're all moved in! Elliot is thrilled to be able to have breakfast every morning at the bar.

I'm thrilled to have miles of counter space and more storage than I can fill. Even though we're still hacking up sawdust, it was so worth it!!