Elliot

The brothers reading together.

A little lunch outside at the "table".

Serious face.

Elliot with his best friend, Holiday. In his favorite place, the sandbox. Can life be better?

With Josephine and Meredith at Josephine's 4th birthday party.

Covering himself in sand, of course.

Julian

At the beach.

Those bottom two teeth are only half way in. Still hurt like crazy, I think!

I'm trying to get a picture of the teeth, but that hand is always in his mouth. I'll keep trying.

Julian starts to eat real food! He's had blueberries, cucumber, frozen grapes, bananas and pumpkin (see below).

Oh, and I believe this is applesauce.

Julian finds his toes!

Julian gnaws on some asparagus (pre-teeth!).

Julian's first experience in 'feeding himself'. Pumpkin was on the menu.

Big River Canoe Trip

A few weeks ago, Elliot and Jeremy went on a canoe trip. They paddled up Big River in a canoe that can't tip--perfect for leaning over the edge and feeling the water, picking river grass and communing with seals. Apparently, they saw a few beached seals, a bunch of sea gulls and a turtle or two. How peaceful!


A few pics of Elliot with his paddle.

Camp Out!

Jeremy and Elliot had a camp out in the backyard! They pitched the tent, grabbed their flashlights and comic books and set out.



I heard them giggling over Asterix comics till 11pm.

Kinetic Sculptures!

This weekend, we went to the coolest, most amazing race ever! It's called the Kinetic Sculpture race. Basically, it's a 3 day race where people create sculptures that move only through human power. So, most people modified bicycles. They had to travel over pavement, sand dunes, into water, down the highway and over the finish line. Most don't make it. Some disintegrate, some fall apart, some break apart but still hobble through. All are creative and amazing.Elliot's favorite.

Jeremy's favorite.

My favorite. It actually blew fire!

Looks like a random band of hippies, you say? Well, they were a most awesome troop of drummers with an amazing sense of rhythm.

Another favorite! This one didn't actually work, but it sure looked cool.

The water drop! They all floated this year (sometimes they sink or fall apart).

E-L-L-I-O-T

Monday, Elliot came home from school as normal. He sat down at the counter to eat his peanut butter and honey sandwich as he normally does.

"What did you do at school today?" I ask, hoping for an answer that never comes.

"Anything." Elliot says blandly. (This really means "nothing", but who's keeping track?)

"Ok." I say, and go back to washing the dishes.

"E-L-L-I-O-T." I hear a small voice spell out.

"What?!" I gasp. Did I just hear him spell his name, not to mention his first word?

"E-L-L-I-O-T." He spells again, now with more confidence.

"Yay! Elliot, you spelled your name!" I screech and we make an enormous deal out of this very momentous day.

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.