Dinner...

Turned around one day and found this sight!
I'm still looking for the lock...

While preparing dinner tonight, Zach and I had the following conversation:

Me:  It's almost time for dinner, I thought you and Eli could have ravioli tonight!

Zach:  No, I be hate ravioli. (No idea where this child learned to talk-but I should add that he always says this phrase very politely.)  I want a snack instead!

Me:  Sorry, no snack.  We need to have dinner.  If you'd like you could have the leftover burger or macaroni and cheese instead.

Zach: Um, no. I be hate macaroni.  I be hate burgers.  How about a sandwich or a banana??  That would be a good idea!

Me: No, you can have either ravioli, macaroni or a burger.  (He doesn't usually have this many options but it was clean-out-the-fridge night.)

Zach:  No, I be hate those.

Me:  (defeated) Zach, you 'be hate' everything tonight.

Zach: I don't be hate bananas!

New Years in the mountains!

4 Years Old

(Thank you Krista for the "4" cake idea!!)

(4 years old and still won't smile or cooperate for pictures, ugh.)

Christmas Pictures

Cutting down our first tree!

Eating Monkey Bread, YUM!!

Playing a new board game

Halloween

All of my boys dressed up for Halloween this year...some were cuter than others!  Eli was a monkey that Zach had been only yesterday, I swear.  Zach was a very terrifying monster (which ended up being much cuter on the rack...he will kill me some year for not only the costume but also taking pictures of him in it--turns out by 4 yrs kids need to move away from the cute cuddly costumes...who knew?!?).  And Steve, who was running a Halloween tournament all weekend and had to dress up, was 'the doctor' (For those of you like me who have no idea who that is he was a basketball player for the 76ers in the '80s). When he decided that he had to dress up his only comment was that he had to be someone with hair!!  (Jesse, I'm sure you will be able to come up with a way to use this picture in the future!)

Soccer

Zach played soccer this year for the county and Steve was his coach!  This is not a sport that we have played much of at our house and Zach was definitely not a dominant player....  The first day he ran around behind the group looking over at me and smiling a largest smile I have ever seen.  As the weeks progressed he started to understand the concepts more and by the last two weeks he even scored 2 goals!!!!  We went into this sport just wanting Zach to have fun and run around with other kids but I was a little disappointed in myself with how inordinately pleased I was to see him score!

Scoring a goal during practice.

This was the little mob that followed Steve around!

Waiting his turn for 'coach' to call him back in the game!

This was one of Zach's breakaway goals!

One Year Later

I'm finding it very hard to believe that Eli is already 1 year old!!  We celebrated his birthday last weekend with family and he fully enjoyed being the center of attention.  Zach was very excited about Eli's birthday and helped wrap the gifts and then later helped unwrap them! 

My 'baby' is trying to run, loves to eat anything!! (finally an eater!), and already loves to wrestle and play baseball with his daddy and big brother.  He seems to be very determined also because a locked cabinet or a barred entryway does not necessarily stop him from accomplishing what he wants.  And if he can't out smart the obstacle than he frequently sits down and screams in anger at the offending object before he moves on (I'm guessing there must be fierce temper in there as well).  I am really enjoying having Eli be a little more independent and I love to watch he and Zach begin to play together!

Summer Sayings

Here are some of my favorite 'Zach sayings' from this past summer:

• While walking through our small zoo one day an announcement was made over the PA system.  Upon hearing the voice Zach said, "Mommy!  It's God!!" 

• Sunscreen was called 'sunscream'.  (Which was appropriate because he really doesn't like having it put on!)

•  When we're with another family and he wants me he calls out, "My Mommy!"  For example he will say, "My mommy, I want a drink." or "My mommy, watch me go down the slide."

• One day after church Steve dropped me off at Walmart while he and boys circled the parking lot.  Steve said that he never verbalized that they were waiting for me but after one turn around the lot Zach said,  "Where is that craaazy mommy?" 

• Zach's prayers have progressed from a simple "Thank you for this food!" to this one a few weeks ago; "Thank you Lord for wrestling, heffalumps, catching heffalumps and mowing the grass--Amen!"

Summer pictures

Nelson visit

Motoring

This little guy has started walking!! He took a couple of single steps about 3-4 weeks ago but hasn't really made any other attempts since then. Instead he has been able to stand independently waving his arms and lower down into a crouch and then stand again. I've been amazed that he has shown this much strength and stability without actually walking as well.

Yesterday, he walked 5 steps across the room to get a balloon, bent down to pick up and then stood again. No fuss. No fanfare. No attention. Just walked across the room to get what he wanted. I suppose this means he's a toddler now and no longer my baby...even when I'm watching they still grow up too fast!

We start them young at our house! 
(Actually I think the bat is wedge into his belly and is
helping him to stay standing!)

Vacation pictures

Zach and Great-Grammy enjoying the deck

Eli discovered this spot and loved to climb into the space every chance he got!!

Not sure what was said but it looks serious.

Eli and Grrrrrreat Aunt M

Wii Mario Kart.  I'm so ashamed.