Waterslide Fun

Today we went to a craw fish boil and birthday celebration at a friend's house. We had a good time and Elijah had a blast on the water slide. Our friend, Mr. Kennedy, was so thoughtful and made sure the older kids were not on the slide at the the same he was. The big smiles below were not prompted by us asking him to smile, he was just having that much fun! :) 

Time to sit down, warm up, and get ready to eat some crawl fish

Our Helper in the Kitchen

Elijah truly enjoys helping Byron and I cook. So Friday night when Byron started dinner, he was right there wanting to help. 

 Helping Daddy chop the onions. He had a blast using this chopper.

 The cute chef hat that Elijah is wearing was a gift from his Uncle Blake.

All done Daddy! Now let's start cooking 

It's a Beautiful Day

It was such a beautiful day Monday so Elijah and I sent a lot of time outdoors. These are a few pictures I snapped of him while he was having some fun. 



Enjoying laying under the tree & watching the leaves move from the wind. I like this picture a lot but no natter what I tried, I couldn't get it to turn the right way. Oh well :)



Such a serious look

A Trip to the Bank

Yesterday we went to the bank so Elijah could make his second deposit into his savings account. We opened the account for him but since then he saves the money to put into it. This is "his" savings account, not his college account :)

A while back I had read about a piggy bank in one of the parenting magazines that they recommend to help teach your child about money and different categories you can save the money for. We decided to order it for Elijah and that it what he uses. It has 4 different compartments in the pig and you can choose what you want each area to be. His are savings, donate (church orTexas Children's), spend, and invest (college). 

So whenever he find coins laying around or lost in washer/dryer, or is given money by others, or earns a "small" allowance for doing some chores, he then decides which areas he wants to put the money in. Surprising enough, he tries to spread it out equally. Not sure how long that will last, but we will take it for now. :)

 The ladies at our bank are always SO nice to all of us!

Showing off his deposit slip

Need Any Yard Work Done?

Elijah had saved some money he had got his birthday and just never wanted to spend it. If we were out shopping, I would ask him, "Are you ready to spend your birthday money now?". And he would always reply no. 

Earlier in the day, Byron had seen these on the Toys R Us website. So after church, we headed to Toys R Us but didn't tell Elijah why we were going or about the lawn equiment. When he saw them in the store, the look on his face was priceless!

So, finally after six months, Elijah decided to use his money on his first blower and a another lawn mower. His new obsession is taking care of our yard... cutting the grass, weed eating, and blowing. He will do it for long periods of time and really seems to be so into it. What he doesn't know is that Byron and I have ordered him his very own weed eater. Can't wait to see his face when he gets it.  

Cutting first and of course he had to wear his safety goggles

 Now onto the blowing

We are so pleased that he enjoys something so simple and inexpensive but more importantly brings him so much fun. The added bonus? He gets time outside, which he loves!

Bubbles and Gardens (Updated)

Elijah enjoys taking a bath in our tub. The main reasons are because the tub has jets and it's bigger than his. So on occassions, he gets to take a bath in it and he has the best time! His new thing lately is that he wants bubbles too.

 Think he is a little happy here?

 Looks like he has elephant ears :)

 Elijah's second Kiwi Crate arrived and he super excited!

 Elijah's window garden - He and I completed this project together but I forgot to take pictures. 

Elijah and Bryon starting the to make their plant pots

(2nd project from the crate )

The finished pots. We let the clay dry over-night and then today they are making the flowers for them. Elijah tried to make his look just like his Daddy's. So sweet! I will update this post very soon with their finished plant pots.  

 

UPDATE: Here are the finished pots

One flower pot and one vegetable pot

 

My Birthday Weekend

Last weekend my parents came to visit us and help celebrate my birthday. My birthday weekend consisted of a yummy Mexican birthday dinner that my parents cooked for me, a lot of fun (especially for Elijah- he was in heaven), wonderful birthday gifts, and a much needed date night with Byron. My Dad even made homemade plum jelly from our tree for Byron. And last, but definitely not least, Byron and my Dad built something very special for Elijah. Elijah stayed outside with them the whole time and copied what they were doing with his tool and workbench. So cute! (Post and pictures coming soon about this)

 Wheel barrel fun with Pawpaw

 Elijah with his Nana and Pawpaw

 Pawpaw letting Elijah drive a little :)

 Elijah LOVES cutting the grass

 Wearing his Pawpaw's hat

 My birthday cake - Thank goodness they didn't put 45 candles on it. Yes, that is right, I am half way to 50 now.

 Byron's amazing gift to me was the camera lens that I have been wanting for a long time. I was SO surprised!! No more having to change lens, it's all in one. The beautiful roses are from my Mom and Dad.

This pciture was taken with my new lens as well as the ones below. I am really enjoying using it.  

 Heading out to get the grapefruit

 Mission accomplished

Elijah and Nana



It Isn't Fancy

Elijah has learned the days of the week through a song we sing (Thanks Liz for sharing it with me) but I wanted to take it a step further. I wanted him to know what he had going on each day for one week at a time. So, I came up with this calendar (see below). It allows him to identify what his day will consist of. It also allows me an opportunity to help teach him numbers and the months but in a fun way.

This is the third week for him to use "his" calendar and it seems to be working and he enjoys it [for now anyways :)]  Each Monday I go over the whole week with him, especially if there is a new picture for the week. Then before he goes to bed at night, he crosses out the pictures for that day. I have it hanging below my calendar & I think he likes that too.

It isn't fancy, but here it is :)

For example: Tuesday is school, he has to take snacks (the pretzel picture) and he has swim lessons.

Easter Afternoon 2012 - Egg Hunt

Elijah decided he didn't need to go to sleep till ridiculously late Saturday night and he still woke up at his normal time Easter morning. So thank goodness, after a much needed nap, it was time for the Easter egg hunt at our house. 

 Ready, set, go!

 Look Mommy and Daddy

 Elijah thought it was so funny that there was an egg in our garden

 He had a very hard time finding this one. He looked past it so many times.

 Need a hug?

Easter is a time to celebrate a miracle and there isn't a day that Byron and I don't celebrate the miracle God gave us!!!