Eli Turned 3!

I begged him not to, but he did anyway.



My precious boy is no long a toddler, but a preschooler heading for big-boyhood right before my eyes. I do find comfort in the fact that no matter how big he gets or who else comes into this house, he will always be my baby. There is just something special about how he loves me.

He is compassionate and kind. He desires deeply for others to be happy.

He is incredibility physical. He gives hugs and kisses freely and shoves and hits sometimes as well. He is daring and takes playground risk that surprise me.

He is smart as can be, but lets his brother do all the talking.

I cannot wait to see his tender yet tough spirit develop and grow.

We celebrated with friends and family on Saturday. It was the perfect sunny day with lots of family, lots of well behaved children and lots of food.

He chose a Buzz Lightyear theme, which made his daddy proud.



For his birthday breakfast he wanted pancakes. That is what he chose the night before his birthday, but we had donuts for his birthday breakfast. Why? Big brother really wanted donuts, and by the time Eli made it to our bedroom on his birthday morning he had changed his vote to donuts. His brother had convinced him and Eli was happy making his brother happy.

We went and played at the McWane Center after breakfast. It was like we had the place to ourselves. The boys loved playing with things they had never been able to before.



After nap the sun was shining and Eli as able to go outside and play with his brand new sand toys. He spent his birthday money on a nice variety of sand toys. He had money left over, but I could not convince him to buy something else. To the piggy bank it goes for another day.

I am so thankful for the joy he is in my life.

He has done this to me before: Turning 2, and 1.

"...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..." Phillipians 2:13-15 - The life verses we plead over Eli's life.

5 Isn't Much More Trouble Than 3

...When they are are only here for 1/2 a day.

We got to have our cousins over to play on Friday morning.

All these kids have the unique situation of never really being only kids (twins and 14 months apart), so they just join as a group and go on with the day's play. I love it.

Can you guess what we did first?






(I'll bet she doesn't have a bulldozer to play with her Rice Krispies at home)

The girls are a bit obsessed with marshmallows. And what kind of aunt would I be if I didn't indulge them a bit.

There was one point where they all sat down for a minute to watch our favorite train show. This moment didn't last long.



It was a beautiful day. The flooding rains from earlier in the week kept us out of the grass, but we still enjoyed some of the sunshine.





Walker is always drawing an airplane route to Africa. Daddy's trip last fall has left an impression.


How awesome is the picture of Leah.


Loved spending time with these little ladies. Can't wait until we do it again!

And Then the Adorableness Came Out

And how, you ask, was I able to capture all this adorableness in the midst of my busy day?





Alternately titled: Baby toys are a racket. Whatever is lying around is just fine. Even if what is lying around is a big brother's abandoned spoon, and look how happy I am with it.

You Capture: Hopeful

I am hopeful that this time is better. Hopeful that I am better. Hopeful that this child is really ready to be better. Hopeful that it takes less than a year.








*And it is going really well. Love the calmness of this go around. Don' t love the laundry, but hopefully it will go quickly.

Part of You Capture: Hopeful at I Should Be Folding Laundry

Hide and Seek

I hope my boys grow up knowing how exceptional it is to be able to play hide and seek with your great grandparents. I certainly do.







And this would be the box my young-at-heart grandma climbed in to hide. Wow. She is really good at this game. We walked past it for ten minutes before even thinking to check inside. See, she is good.

30

I'm 30. No longer in my 20's. Moving further and further away from college, just married, hand-me-down furniture and thinking I knew it all.

I had my 30th birthday this past weekend. There was love and celebration and family and friends and it was wonderful.

I am so excited to move into this decade. With an amazing husband, three remarkable boys, the most supportive family ever, and friends who make me better each day. But mostly with my Savior who is refining me and drawing me to him in more fantastic ways each day.

So loved.


Grandma took me shopping. Apparently I am ready for spring. Color, please.


The "mommy" necklace have been wanting for a while, only it is better than I had hoped. Thanks Jason (with a small bit of help from a great friend).

Comfort

Walker. The thumb.


Eli. The paci.

(bonus picture of this beautiful being and his chubby toes)


Colin. The blankie and two fingers.


And mommy for everybody, and I am more than okay with that.

Fantastic Giveaways

I have never posted a giveaway on my blog, but this is too awesome not to share. And I don't get any extra entries or stuff for posting this, I just know there are lots of mommas who might be interested.

Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing is hosting an online baby shower for Beth at I Should be Folding Laundry. The best part is each thing that Beth is getting will also be given away to one reader.

Everything is pretty awesome and you should enter. Unless you don't like awesome things, or you want me to have a better chance, whichever. You have until Saturday to enter.