Parks & Pizza

Johnny spent the morning helping put a new coat of wood finish on one of the city parks with the Rotary Club. The kids and I hung out at home. After lunch and naps, we went to the park to play. I have taken Eli to several parks around town so he doesn't get bored with the same ones. One of our favorites that we have found is at an elementary school not too far from our house. It has several things that he can climb on and get around on pretty easily. We got Zoe out and let her climb around a little too. She also loves to swing, she wasn't too sure the first time, but now she just smiles and coos. This particular park has a special needs swing that she can sit in with a latch that comes down between her legs to hold her in. I didn't get a picture before I had to change her dirty diaper =)After the park, we were headed to Big Daddy's BBQ, when Eli said he'd rather have pizza. So, pizza it would be! During dinner, Zoe kept grabbing Eli's shirt and pulling him to her. She has started to close her eyes when the red light comes on my camera. It stays red while the lens focuses. She is such a ham, just like her big brother. She ate crackers and some small pieces of sausage.

Resurrection Eggs

Last Easter, we bought this story/activity thing called Resurrection Eggs. It is 12 plastic eggs in a hard plastic egg carton. There is a booklet that comes with it and it tells the story of Easter in 12 pages. Each page has a corresponding egg that has an item that goes with the story. It is a way to tell the story to children and keeps them engaged with the hands on items. I read it to Eli last night at bedtime. As I was reading, I would stop and explain with a little more detail and ask him questions to see if he was understanding. He really did seem to get it. He has asked me several times before if I knew that Jesus died so we would be saved. We talked about praying and talking to God, which he has started to do a little on his own at random times. I explained about putting his hands together, closing his eyes and bowing his head as a sign of respect. So, tonight he prayed and thanked God for all the people in Rockwall. Then we did bedtime prayers and he asked God to make Zoe's fever go away and never let her be sick again. (She has had a fever all day and started antibiotics tonight.) It makes me so proud to see him praying and understanding the importance of it. I love my sweet boy :)

Easter Weekend

Johnny was out of town Thursday and Friday night visiting friends in the valley. The kids and I went to see the Easter Bunny at Walgreens on Saturday morning . Eli was so excited. I wasn't sure if there would be a line or not, so we went a few minutes early and did a little shopping while we waited. He was walking around the store calling out for him. When he finally came out, he started jumping up and down and immediately held his hand and walked with him over to the area they had set up for pictures. Then he turned to me and said, "Mommy, I know that's not the real Easter Bunny, it's a man in a costume. I can see his hair." The face part had a zipper in the back of his head and was way too small for the guy. It did not damper his enthusiasm though.

On Sunday morning, the kids found what the Easter Bunny had left them. They were both happy with their loot :)


Johnny made "special" waffles for Eli. This consists of waffles with white chocolate chips and syrup. Then while Johnny went back to bed for a little nap, the kids and I hung out and got ready for church. They both looked so precious in their new outfits. We got to church really early, expecting a huge crowd. Turns out most people just came on time. So, Eli got to play on the indoor slide system before Sunday School. The service was beautiful. The stage was full of flowers and the message was very moving. After church, we had a nice lunch at Saltgrass then went home. The kids took a nap and Johnny and I relaxed on the couch watching a little TV. It's been a wonderful weekend.

Misc pictures

Johnny and Eli as karate pirates.

Zoe sleeping with her Ducky Duck from Nan and Pop Pop

Eli sleeping with an assortment of animals, but cuddled up with his favorite, Owen. The two little blankets on top of the animals have to be placed just right :)

Butter Fingers

I want to start by saying that I love both of my children more than anything in this world. Zoe has completed our family and brings us joy every single day. With that said, I sometimes forget how things were when it was just the three of us. Pretty much everything, one way or another, the last nine months has revolved around Zoe. I sometimes feel like Eli gets the short end of the stick for now. He is an amazing brother and loves Zoe so much.

Right before Zoe was born, we would play Hide-and-Go-Seek after it got dark, right before Eli went to bed. Eli has been talking about it and keeps saying, "Mommy, remember when we would play Hide-and-Go-Seek before we had Zoe?" I told him we couldn't do that now because it would wake Zoe up. So, the last three nights after putting Zoe down for the night, we have played Keep Away with a balloon in the living room. Johnny and I play on our knees so we are closer to Eli's height (not so much fun moving around on your knees). It is so incredible to watch Eli come up with strategies to keep the balloon away from the person in the middle. We all three laugh and have had so much fun playing. It's that contagious belly laughing that has us in tears. The first night, he kept letting the balloon slip out of his hands, so I told him he had butter fingers. After I explained what that means, he kept saying it, and using the term correctly. He's so smart. The time we have alone with him is so precious. At the same time, I can't wait for Zoe to be big enough to join in the fun too.

Aliens

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

This is the Bible verse that Eli learned about in his Bible Study class this morning. They colored a picture and made a Styrofoam Earth on a stick. We were driving home and this was part of our conversation:

Eli: Mommy, all the people live on Earth. Except aliens, they live on other planets.

Me: Well, I don't believe that aliens are real.

Eli: Why not?

Me: Well, some people think they are real, and some people don't. I don't think they are real.

Eli: I do, and they are because I know they are.

Me: Which planets do you think they live on?

Eli: Not Earth, maybe Saturn or Mars. But, I'm sure they're real because I know they are.

Pre-K

To my precious Eli,

The last four and a half years (including being pregnant) have been so incredible. You have blessed my life beyond words. You are an amazing little man. You are smart, sweet and so much fun to be around. I love to listen to you tell me things you have learned. You have such a good memory and usually retell things pretty accurately. It is so great that you have such a desire to learn. You amaze me every day with something witty that you say and with questions you ask.

I enrolled you in Pre-K today. I cannot believe it is almost time for you to start school. You are so excited. I love to listen to you tell me things that you are going to do in school; "Reading, Math, Science, lunch and everything." I know you are going to do great, it's me I'm not so sure about. As excited for you as I am, I'm sad that you are growing up so fast. I have tried to convince you to let me home-school you, but you insist that you need to go to "real school".

I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. I know you are going to do AMAZING things!! I love you so much, and can't wait to be able to blog about all your accomplishments.

XOXOXO
Mommy