Everyday Life

When I was working full-time, Elliott was really little, Jesse was away, and we were in the dead of winter, I dreaded Monday nights. After work and getting Elliott to bed, I would pack up the trash and drive Jesse's truck down to the end of the driveway for Tuesday morning pickup. A 700 foot driveway warrants driving the trash out. It was a chore in every sense of the word. My, how times have changed. Taking the trash out is now one of the highlights of the week. Elliott loves it. He helps collect the small trash cans from the bathrooms and brings them to the kitchen. He always puts the right trash can back in the correct bathroom and in the correct location. And then the real fun begins . . . we all pile in Jesse's truck. Elliott sits on the center console and Dutch sits on the front seat. We back down the driveway as Elliott smiles with delight. I take the cans out at the end of our driveway. Then I ask Elliott, "do you want to go fast or slow?" You can guess what the answer always is: "FAST!" We all have a wonderful time and look forward to the next week. Who would have thought thought that taking out the trash could be such fun?!



Elliott and Dutch love playing together. We still have some issues when Dutch mouths on Elliott but it gets better everyday. I had both boys outside one day last week to play with bubbles. It turns out bubbles are great fun for a puppy! Be sure to watch the end when Dutch makes a great vertical leap.

On Thursday of last week, Elliott, Dutch, and I made my parents' house in Elma our home base to stay away from the exterminator's annual outdoor treatment and so that Ann could watch Elliott while I took Dutch for a checkup at the vet. Dutch is growing well and has gone from 16 to 24 pounds in the time we have had him. And . . . he's skinnier than they would like and suggested we feel him more (hmmm, no doctor has ever said that to me).
These pictures are from post-nap in Coco and Poppy's bed. Elliott looks like such a big boy enjoying his snack in the special snack cubby.

This bookcase has been rearranged over the years to keep fragile goods out of reach of the kids. Elliott knew exactly how to get the things he could not reach.

Climb on up! We're in trouble . . . 

 

A Calm Sunday

I'm a week behind again! How does this keep happening? After fun days with friends last Friday and Saturday, we had a quieter day with family on Sunday.

Elliott likes to look at the water out of Coco and Poppy's bedroom window. He runs to the window when he hears a boat go by.


Sunday was a very calm day, especially compared to the huge waves we had on Saturday. When Elliott first looked out the window, he said, "jump waves." No waves to jump on Sunday!

This little boy was very excited to talk to his Daddy on FaceTime.

Big smiles . . . 

And funny faces for Daddy.

 

More from Beach Day with Rachel and Elisa

Rachel posted some great pictures of our beach day on her blog. I'm always scared to take my camera to the beach so it's a special treat to have pictures of us down there! Thanks, Rachel!

Beach Day with the Mayers

Our weekend of fun visits continued on Saturday when the Mayers came up to the beach. Elliott and I enjoyed some mid-morning snuggles when he asked to read stories and get in bed around 9:30 am. I'm never one to turn down snuggles!



There is an awesome collection of dump trucks, fire trucks, and the like at Abino. These are originals from the 70s and 80s.

I think we need a haircut again.

We went down to the beach after nap. Our beach was quite different from the day before because of a huge storm we had on Friday night. The sand was much higher on the rocks and full of heavy iron (hence the dark color here). Elliott usually insists on wearing his swim trunks over his swim diaper but went for just the diaper on this day. I love seeing those legs!

Humphrey dug a hole in the sand and Elliott settled right into it. There are Tucker and Dutch in the top of the shot.

Tucker took his turn in the sand.

The kids enjoyed fun in the tub to wash the sand off. Remember these pictures of the three of them in the tub a few months ago?

All smiles.

Poppy, Coco, Taz, and Sue came home around dinner time. Poppy put this hat on Elliott and he actually wore it. He usually takes them right off. I love this picture!

Elliott and his best friends.

I'd like to think he is going to get the other hat for Tucker.

Elliott cozied right up to Taz, Coco's brother. They developed a nice bond over the course of the weekend. 

 

Beach Day with Rachel and Elisa

Rachel and Elisa came up to Abino on Friday to enjoy the beach and the breeze. Usually, we escape the heat up there but last week's heat wave was so hot that my parents succumbed and turned on the AC (something that only happens once a summer, if at all).

A self portrait of my boy and me that we sent to Jesse.



Rachel and Elisa got right in the action with Dutch (in Rachel's lap), Elliott, and Humphrey.

I did not take my camera to the beach but Rachel did. I'll post any good pictures I get from her. After fun on the beach, we came up for lunch. Elliott and Elisa had a blast together.

 

One smiling. 

The other smiling.

Both smiling and laughing!

A shot of the breezy day. We had fun and hope they come up again soon!

 

Cooookie

As our heat wave continued on Wednesday, I thought it would be a great idea to get out of the house and go to town for a walk, ice cream, and playtime for Elliott at the caboose ice cream stand. Dutch needed a walk too so he came with us. We are fortunate to live out of town and back in the woods where it is a few degrees cooler. So I, with exactly two months to my due date, took a toddler and a puppy to a hotter place to wrangle them. Great idea, not so great in execution.

Elliott has not expressed interested in ice cream so I got him a chocolate chip cookie. Yummy cookie.



Happy boy with his messy chocolate face.

 

Sprinkler Fun

Last week was HOT here. It was around 90 with very high humidity - not fun for everyone but especially uncomfortable for a toddler and very pregnant Mama living without AC. On Tuesday, we went over to play with the Mayers and enjoy the AC in their playroom. After a while inside, we ventured out and enjoyed an idyllic half hour or so. This is the stuff stay at home moms dream of. The three "big" kids played in the sprinkler while the new baby slept peacefully. Leah and I enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch in the shade on the deck while watching the cute kids. It was lovely. Then reality resumed with normal chaos and actual parenting.

Nude boy bums.



Sprinklers are fun!

Elliott all covered in grass. I think he was throwing a ball over the fence.

 

Jeep Driving with Poppy

Poppy picked up Elliott from school on Monday since I had a late meeting. They went back to Elma and Elliott got to drive the Jeep for a while. He is still a little short and young to master the pedals but he loves to drive!! Here is a short video of the fun.

Elliott and Penny Cuteness

Elliott and Penny had some rare time with just the two of them on Sunday while Ned was napping. With all three kids and Dutch, it gets a bit (understatement) crazy. Any combination of two is much calmer and more manageable. This gives me hope for life with two kids!

Holly took most of these pictures while I was rested. Thanks, Sister!

Yelling? Singing? I have no idea but it sure is cute.



Hold on, Penny . . . 

Here is your butterfly toy.

And this is why Penny is learning to crawl early and quickly! She has to outrun these boys.

She's a girl! We have a little girl in the family!

Hi, Mama!

It's a big reach for Elliott to open the screen door and get out to the front lawn.

He persisted and went out to look at ships with Coco.

A boy and his Coco.

Oh, Elliott, your cheeks are so soft. Do you use cocoa butter?

Look at the size difference. Penny is a little peanut and Elliott is a big boy. He likes to crawl with her.

Elliott is a big fan of the bath animals. He knows all their names and was lining them up to play with them.

Look, Auntie Em, I fit perfectly under this table. And my hair matches the wood!

My boy is getting so grown up.

Penny is doing a lot of assisted standing these days.

Woah! Big muscles! She needs those to fend off the bigger boys :)