I Love to see the Temple !! ( Rock Version )

The things he says- Stall tactics

Elliott can work the system like no other. He especially can work all of his grandparents.
Last night Dave and Ede watched Elliott so that Craig and I could go on a date. When it was time for bed he was pulling out his best- putting the tent up, sleeping with all of his stuffed animals (especially those he never even notices are in the room- those high up on the shelves), and of course- our new favorite-

"I'm dirty, look at me... I need a bath"

For those of you who know E- he doesn't particularly like to get clean. It is a chore to get him in the shower or the bath- there is usually some sort of bribery involved- so this one is a classic.

Then he will proceed with-

"I need......" (moments go by waiting while he decided what exactly it is that he "needs")

I know those with kids all know what I a talking about- the bedtime stall system.

Lights, Lights, Lights

There is a neighborhood not too far from ours that goes CRAZY around the holidays. In the past the streets have been shut down to incoming traffic just so people can walk around and see all the craziness of this neighborhood. It was good this year- but not as crazy as in the past. El was totally into the airplane with Santa in the drivers seat. He wanted to go touch it and get close. It was pretty cute. Seriously- the holidays are sooooo much more fun with little ones. He makes everything so exciting. I am starting to wonder what in the world we are going to do until Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around again. I better get creative. I guess it is good to have all the craziness for once a year- then it is fun and new again and appreciated and looked forward too.

Boat Parade

Last week we went out on the boat to watch the boat parade in the harbor. It is much more fun with kids. Elliott and Luke were cracking us up just chillin as captain and co-captain of the little boat. We need a name for the boat? None of us can think of anything worth using- any ideas?

Handyman Elliott

I grew up with a dad that could fix things. I had no idea how few and far between a handy husband is to come by. Thank heavens I happened to be so lucky to get one of those! Craig is awesome- he can fix pretty much anything that breaks (as long as he has the time) once in awhile we have to have some help with pool problems because there just isn't enough time- if there were, he'd be able to fix whatever is broken.

Elliott likes to use his little tool box (that was Craig's when he was little) and hammer nails (or the garage door, or my car tires, you name it- he has "fixed" it). I know that my little guy will be a great little fixer when he is older.

Dryer

The other day was laundry day- E decided he wanted to get into the dryer. He has never even thought this one up until now- he totally cracked me up- climbed on it and then asked me to turn it on! I tried to explain the pain that might follow from heat and from thrashing about, however, he insisted I turn it on. No, I didn't. Hello?

31

I turned 31 last weekend- humm- haven't decided how I feel about being "in my 30's" quite yet- seems old when I think about it but I feel like I haven't changed at all- a little wiser- same body, a few (okay a ton) more scars, but nothing else much. I have decided that we don't really change much- time goes by so fast but we remain the same. Then, before we know it our bodies just look old. Poetic ehh?

The things he says-

We have been trying to teach Elliott about praying- every prayer we are thankful for the food, please bless us, amen. It is getting strange to bless the food when we are kneeling in his room ready for bed- so lately we talk about what we are thankful for while we are kneeling and tell him to talk with Heavenly Father and thank him for those things- this is what we got tonight.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day
thank you for blow up Frankenstein, pumpkins and spiders we could see.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Santa, Santa, Santa

This one cracks me up- sometimes when E is talking (especially when he really wants to get his thought across) he puts his hands on his hips like that and goes into his schpeal- it was like he was bartering with Santa for the goods. He has ALWAYS asked so far for a snowman and a train for Christmas this year. Interesting huh?


So it is like the 10th of December and E has seen Santa like 5 times. He loves the man. The first few pics are from a church party. E was in the car with Craig when Santa arrived and was walking into the church- E was FREAKING out that he was strapped in his car seat "Dad, Dad- it's Santa- I have to see him, let me out, let me out....." Craig couldn't get him out fast enough- then I was meeting them in the parking lot (I had just walked by Santa) and E goes blasting by me "Mom it's Santa...."- it was so cute and so totally innocent and one reason Christmas is so much fun with little ones. He was so stoked to see Santa- he was up the stairs in a flash and so were Craig and I- camera in hand. I love the spirit of Christmas in Elliott- EVERYTHING is soooo exciting and so wonderfully new. It makes us see the whole season differently. It is so worth every little thing we do- we are keeping our schedules pretty full of holiday stuff- so fun!

Snow in Orange County

E woke up on Wednesday morning of last week with this statement for me- "Momma- I want to go to the snow today."

Well- I find lately that I am a little bit ashamed at some of the so called "winter" things we do here in Southern California. Every year at a few parks here they truck in snow for the kids to play with- they build a sled hill (concrete hill) and make a few piles of snow for the kids to just play in- a bit shameful. Although Craig is from Southern California he has spent probably more time on snow covered mountain tops than I have growing up in Idaho. So- we were laughing on this crazy day- knowing full well how strange this scene was that we were introducing Elliott too. He thought it was cool and fun to play in- so now when we get to see the actual REAL thing it will be even better.

Santa's Sleigh and Raisin Beard

The other morning E was being so funny. Out of the blue he was like "Oh.." then he disappears- opens the front door and is gone for a second. Comes back with my produce box off of the porch and the next thing I know he says- "Mom, I am Santa and I am in my sleigh"- so random and so silly- as usual.

Then that afternoon we were eating raisins and he decided he needed a mustache and beard- he had more on there but they kept falling off.

Rain, Heavenly Rain, Heavenly Cold Weather- FINALLY

I love living here- do not get me wrong- but it is TOTALLY WRONG to have 80 degree weather in December. Wrong I tell you. On Friday we woke up to a cold wet rainy day-I think I died and went to heaven- so did Elliott- we LOVE the rain. We got all bundled and set out on our way to jump in some puddles. We were soaked and water logged (literally- Elliott's shoes made a suction cup sound coming off of his feet) and it was so wonderful. Elliott had me jumping in puddles (I haven't done that in YEARS), letting the rain drop into my mouth and laughing so hard. He was so cute and totally into this rainy day weather. We needed it and we have been loving getting bundled up ever since. I hope this stays for a good few months.

Smile

Making faces in front of the mirror- good times. This one was just learned. He, he, he.

Fishing

We love being outside. We are constantly finding new things to introduce Elliott to (one of the best parts about being a parent)- this time- FISHING.
We had the BEST time- didn't catch a thing- not even a bite- but had a good time. My favorite moment was when Elliott saw this little fishing pole and realized it was just his size. (My thoughts being- "awesome now he can turn with pole in hand and I don't have to worry about ducking or yelling to someone to duck".) It was cute to see in his little mind- this little click moment when he realized it was a perfect size for him. Dad gets it all ready and baited and El reels it in and we start over- so fun. I highly recommend to you all with little ones- and if you fish off of a public pier or dock you don't have to buy a fishing license. Practically free fun.

TARGET

Shelly and I totally (against much of what I believe and stand for) bribed our children with Target popcorn to keep them in the cart while we did a little shopping. I have shamed myself. How funny do they look in there? They were hilarious- popcorn EVERYWHERE- just dropping out as we moved the card- leaving our little trail everywhere we went. Oh well- they had fun and we got something done without having to say one time "Come here....". Popcorn induced bliss.

Blow up Father Christmas

What the heck? I thought I would never be "that family" that had the blow up items in the yard- well- here is our Santa. We got him last year at a White Elephant party and he was pretty cool to El last year- but HOLY STINKING MOLY is he COOL this year! Elliott was asking us weeks ago to get Santa out- we held him off for a few days and now he has been up for almost 2 weeks. It is a daily adventure to see when Santa will "wake up"- 5:00 pm when the sun has set
he inflates and all the Christmas lights turn on- we are out there like clockwork. It is so fun and so worth being "that family"- Christmas with the Eldogs is soooooo much fun! Magical really. I think I am starting to believe in Father Christmas again.

Christmas Tree Time

Dave and Ede and Mandy, Jason and Luke will be out of town for the holidays so we all decided to get our trees early and made it a night. It was a little crazy with the kids- I thought it would be more fun for Elliott than it actually was- he was WAY more into the carts at Home Depot than the tree shopping. Having my birthday close to the holidays has been so fun- I have always enjoyed all the little details. Especially shopping for the tree- to me that makes the house feel like the holidays are here- I am LOVING having the tree up- I think we will get our tree early every year.

Happy Birthday to Mandy!!!

Happy Birthday Mandy!

One more year and you rank with us "in their 30's"- not so bad. You'd never know- he, he, he. As we all seem to be saying- "You look good for your age". You are a great person, friend, sister and mother. I admire you and think the world of you. Happy Birthday!

Been a bit

Sorry- I seem to be a total blogger- then die off for a week or so. I am back on and have a ton to post- so please bear with me. First things first- a birthday.

I am thankful for...

(same picture- Working on some new family photos)

I LOVE the holidays.

Thanksgiving helps me to ponder my blessings and have an opportunity to share them with my loved ones and friends. Beware- I ramble, I am not a writer and I am a run-on sentence queen. Craig says I write as though I am talking with someone- or like I speak. Who knows.

My top 10-

1- Craig- he is my everything. No matter what- we remain intact. Every single day of my life with him I have been grateful for him. He is a blessing that was placed in my life at the exact time when I needed it- then he turned into the best decision I have ever made. I think about spending an eternity with him and I am completely at peace with the thought- in fact I look forward to it!

2- Elliott- he is my miracle. I am completely aware of how much he resembles me. I do not question this at all. I know who he came from and that he is suppose to be mine and Craig's baby. He makes my life complete and whole. He is such a love. There is never a moment when I am not in awe of this little being in my life. Words can not explain.

3- Family- Mine and Craig's. The disfunctionality of my family makes me wonder sometimes what is up!- but they are MY family and they are perfect for me. Each one of them impacts my life differently for the good. I am grateful- especially for a really fun childhood with all of them in Idaho. I wish El could grow up with a little more open land and freedom like I did- ocean will do.
Craig's family has been so accepting of me and my strangeness. It is nice to be accepted and loved without judgment. They have not only taken me and added me to their family- they kind of took a package deal and added my sister, her husband and now 3 kids. Very telling of good people when they open their homes to everyone. I am so grateful that I get to live close to family. I also am so thankful to call them my friends too.

4- Shelly- having Shelly, Scott and the kids so close is one of my greatest blessings. She is someone in my life I can tell anything to and know that I will not be judged. She takes care of me as if my mom were here and I hope that I do the same for her. I can not imagine my life here in California without her and her family.

5- A Home- I am so blessed to live in Southern California- to have the beauty that surrounds me and the perfect weather all year around. I am lucky to have a home to call my own and to do with as I wish to make it a place where the Spirit can dwell and where my family and friends can come, feel the Spirit and know they are ALWAYS welcome. When Craig and I bought our home we talked at length about making it a place where all would be welcome and accepted- especially Elliott's friends. I look forward to the day when Elliott's friends hang out around the island in the kitchen and are jumping off the roof (graduated from the falls) into the pool.

6- A free country- Growing up I always loved saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I never really put much thought into it until the last 6 years. I am able to live in a free country where I can live my life the way I wish. Practice whatever religion I choose, have as many children as I choose, eat when I want- what I want, buy a home, have choices of locations to live, the list goes on and on and on. What a blessing our country is to me.

7- My body- Many of you may think I am not thankful for my body. It doesn't always cooperate with me- but it is mine and I have to do the best with what I am given. I realize to many of you I seem a little extreme in my thoughts on food, herbs, vitamins, etc. but for me- the things I do keep me going, keep me hoping, keep me happy and keep me grounded. My body is my struggle- yet I will never stop trying to work toward making it better and healthier. I am very grateful for a body that can change and heal and keep on going.

8- Stay-at-home-mom- I am so lucky to be able to be home with Elliott during the day. This is a gift that Craig has given me. I do not take this for granted. I know many women would give anything to have this with their little ones. Whenever I take Elliott to his little preschool I get a little sad leaving. I have a hard time leaving him- no matter when or where. He is my little pal.

9- Email and the Intranet- I know totally different from all of the others- but still important to me. I have a little brother on a mission for our church. I have the ability to email him as much as I want in a week and then get an email from him every Monday after he has read my weekly banter. The last few times he has emailed I have been there at the computer when they come through so we have been able to email back and forth for a little while- just like we were on the phone. For me- priceless.

I love the ability to look up anything anytime I want- directions, answers to questions, something for El and I to go do or a craft to do at home- right then right there- no waiting. We are such spoiled people. It is crazy.

10- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- this time of year I always look at as an opportunity to share a little bit of the church with everyone I know. I love the gospel. I would not be who I am or where I am without it in my life. I try to live my life cleanly and as close to right as I can. I am so far from perfect- but that is the beauty of it- everyone is- we just have the knowledge to get back on tract and become even better than before. This church binds me to my boys and my family forever. What better blessing is there than eternity with Craig and the Eldogs?