Things to Remember: Eli at 3.5

Age: 3.5

Favorite Song: Trashin' the Camp (Tarzan)

Favorite Show: Little Einsteins

Favorite Food: cantaloupe, popsicles, and bagels (read: doughnuts)

Favorite Superhero: The Flash

Oh this kid.  Motherhood is often described as a lonely business, but with Eli around that's impossible.  He follows me around all day, filling the hours with chatter and tricks.  He is squarely in the questioning phase, and there are times when I feel he will "Cuz why?" me to death.  When he's not straining my scientific chops I am a captive audience, demanded to "Watch this!" several times a minute.  Those jumps and "super fast running" never get old, am I right?

We will be starting a little neighborhood preschool this week and I can't believe it. When did my kid become old enough to go to school?  I've started planning my share of the lessons and it is so fun to think of the things his mind will be learning.  Like all mothers I know my child is curious and brilliant and I can't wait to see his progression.

Eli loves to help, and nothing pleases him more than you telling him that he's been very useful (a la Thomas the Train).  Every house project, cooking pursuit, even cleaning duties- he must be right in the middle of it, doing whatever we're doing.  He digs when we dig, stirs every stir-able thing, and under no circumstances should I sweep the pile into the dustbin because that is HIS job. 

Zach and Eli are the best of friends.  Eli thrives on his daily ritual of hugs and kisses before Zach goes anywhere, and has a meltdown if he doesn't see Dad do a cool trick out the window before he leaves to work.  Those two are thick as thieves, giggling over shows, jumping on the trampoline, or eating "secret snacks".  I go all gooey on the inside watching them together.

The latest obsession and craze these days: Tarzan.  Taking precedence over legos, sometimes even over superheroes, is talk of gorillas and elephants and swinging in trees.  Once he gets started on the "Zabada zoobeedoo" camp song it doesn't end for quite some time, and the begging to watch the Disney movies never does. End, that is.

Sometimes I come to and look around and realize again that Eli is our son.  I am so taken with his little personality, his confidence, and his enthusiasm.  How did we get so lucky?

Porter Turns One

Weight: 25 lbs
Height: 31.5"
Head: Planetary.  We would say "Orange on a toothpick", but that ain't no toothpick.
Favorite food: Watermelon, followed closely by "anything edible"
Favorite person: Dad
Words: Mama, Da, and baouul (ball/balloon)

Compared to the extravaganza that was Eli's first birthday party, Porter's celebration was pretty low-key.  We had some friends over for lunch, sang, ate cake (demolished cake, in Porter's case), and Porter "opened" his present. 

There were many attempts during the day to get the birthday boy to smile at the camera, but below is about as good as it got.

 Porter is a force to be reckoned with in our household.  He currently holds the title of Alpha Male, due to his ferocious and merciless attack skills and his willingness to make more noise for longer than anyone else.  Although Eli outweighs him by a good 15 lbs, when the play starts getting rough it's usually Eli crawling away, closely pursued by an enthusiastic Porter.

Porter LOVES his Dad to the point that if Zach is holding him and I try and take him from him Porter will bat my hands away.  They share a love of constant eating, balls, and wrestling.

This little tank now walks almost as much as he crawls, and it is so fun to see him precariously toddling around.  Every time he completes what he thinks is an especially impressive journey he beams around proudly, waiting for applause.

We love this kid and I am especially grateful for the balance he brings to our home.  Happy birthday Porter!

In which the Judkins love their families

When we told our neighbors that we were leaving for a week in August for a family reunion the conversation went something like this:

"Wait, didn't you just barely have a family reunion?  Like in June? And then some other shindig in July?"
"Yes, but that was Zach's mother's side of the family and then Clarissa's mom's side.  This one is just Zach's immediate family, and then we're going straight to Clarissa's dad's family, and we're also trying to squeeze in a visit with Clarissa's second cousin."
[theatrical shaking of head] "Mormons."

Dang straight!  We absolutely love our family reunions because we absolutely love our families, crazies and all.

We started the trip with Anthon and Melissa, our cousins and Eli's godparents.  They're been living the hardcore life in Jeddah the last two years working for the State Department, so the visit was long overdue.

Porter and William- they'll be buddies someday.

Goodbye breakfast at Guru's.  We'll miss you guys!

Next we journeyed down to St. George to be with the Judkins.  Every time we get together I feel like our family has exploded and children are raining down all over the place.  It's chaotic and fun and full of good times.

Ollie, James & Eli: the Three Muskateers

Porter and Louisa giving "baby loves" (scratches)

Digging in the sand dunes

By the end of our trip Eli became brave enough to float in his wings by himself.

For us, it was a huge step forward.  Now if only we could persuade him to get
his head wet...

Porter loved the pool!

The proud matriarch and patriarch

So much cousin love!

Due to spectacular luck and coincidence, the Magleby reunion was also in St. George, and only overlapped by one evening, which was extraordinarily convenient for us.  If you've ever driven the road up north through Nevada, you know it's an experience to avoid as much as possible.

We took Eli to his first live play: Tarzan at the Tuacahn.  It was wildly popular!

Porter and Big Maimai

 We had even more pool time and delicious food with the Maglebys while we chatted and watched the Olympics.  It was a wonderful time.  Thanks family!

Julying 2016

I have to face it- July was a while ago.  But I'd still like to record at least some parts of it, so we'll resort to cranking out a highlights reel:

Zach Worked A Month Straight
Some highlight, huh?  But apparently it was a weird kind of goal of his (along with working 24 hours straight, achieved in DC in 2010).  Now that it's been checked off, I hope we never, EVER revisit it.

Happily though, the end of July brought the end of working for Kmart.  Zach is now gainfully and much less stressfully employed at the Smith's Pharmacy two blocks down.

Sympathy Gathering from Family
While Zach was accomplishing his goal, I took the boys to Utah for a week where we hiked with the Judkins and celebrated the 4th of July and my grandmother's birthday with the Maglebys

Finally Started Exploring Our Own Backyard
My brave friend let me throw my kids into her minivan with her own three and we headed up Lamoille Canyon.  I feel spoiled having grown up around places like Sundance, but this place was none too shabby.  Dear family, we finally have places to take you when you come to visit (besides the casinos and brothels, that is).

Art in Park
During which the train was ridden repeatedly and much ice cream was consumed

A Visit from Eli's Girlfriend
We all just love Gwen.  So much so that I'm willing to brave all the spiders, seen and unseen, that live in our window well to rescue her My Little Ponies and mail them back to her.

Eli Took Swimming Lessons
As a (once upon a time) swimmer, I was so very excited for this day.  Eli had more... mixed feelings.  He liked splashing around and holding the toys, but putting his face in the water was a no-go.  Next year I guess.

Eli Also Took Tumbling Lessons

I'm pretty sure that no gymnastic instruction was retained, but he loved jumping and rolling around with his new buddies. 

And Cuteness Abounded

The End.