"Let it Snow" Late October/November update

Well, usually I don't post until the very end of the month, but here it is November 24, 2013 and we are snowed in! Eli is sleeping and Edward is playing with Daddy, so I thought I had better take this very brief moment of nothingness to record what has been going on.

Here are some amazing moments that have happened recently with Edward:

• Towards the end of October Edward became Mr. Independent and would take his bucket from his room (that was full of toys), dump it out and carry it with him. He uses so he can wash his own hands at the kitchen sink, or open the garage door by pushing the button.
• I will often tell Edward "I love you" and now he will say "love you" and will often add on "Eli love you too"
• I just finished up-modeling our kitchen by removing our apple/pear/grape wallpaper and painting with a pretty green, and during the reno Edward would say "apples?"
• We have forever been waving to our neighborhood bus when it goes by dropping kids off from school. It is often the highlight of our afternoon, the bus driver has gotten to 'know' us and waves back and usually expects to see us. It has been this month that Eli has started waving to the bus as well, and the nice lady bus driver gave us 2 free frosty coupons from Wendy's, so nice.
• Edward has started to read with me, when we have a read a book and few times and it might have fun words like "splash" or "no" repeatedly he will chime in when we get to that part! I love it that he is enjoying reading!
• Our Canyon library rocks! They are currently setting up an amazing train set, and we got to see it in action before it really is in action. The train went around it's big oval train track and "ringing" and "tooting" . Edward stood there smiling, studying and sucking his thumb and Eli waved each time the train headed our direction.

Here are some amazing things Eli has been up to:

• Eli loves "indian calling" (end of October)
• Eli is getting picky, he was picking out the colored cheerios (11/11/13)
• He tries to climb up on everything and has discovered how to climb up onto Edward's bear chair, so now we have to be on watch when he's back there.
• Eli stands on his own for several seconds but on the 12th he took his first official step forward!
• He knows how to help me blow on his food when it is too hot to eat (17th)
• One of Eli's favorite things is to ride in Edward's jeep with him (of course I'm holding onto him the entire time and feel like my back is going to break) but the joy on both boys' faces!!
• Eli loves reading/looking at books on his own, but his favorite two for me to read right now are "Where's baby's belly button?" and "Hand, hand, fingers, thumb" his face just lights up!

It's the Holiday season....Late November/December 2013

Well, it IS the Holiday season!! I love this time of year! This year is turning out to be particularly special for many reasons: It's our first year in our new home in Canyon (we were here last Christmas but were living with my parents') and I love the fact the Edward is old enough to understand much of Christmas! Let's start with Thanksgiving. We went down to Granbury to spend Thanksgiving with the Emerine's. We had beautiful weather, lot's of yummy food and lot's of play time with cousin Chandler!

Here are a few things that have been going on:

• Edward saw his first Santa for the year, at Home Depot in Granbury and would not sit on his lap, but did manage to ask for Santa for what was on his list "train" and was very happy to accept the candy cane.
• On December 2nd we went to Lowe's to pick out our tree, Edward loved pushing the big cart around and Eli was really good at crawling all over the floor and getting real dirty :)
• Around December 3rd Eli began taking sliding steps on the floor and now on December 19th he is taking 4-6 steps at a time! He also began climbing up on his sitting toys/cars and climbing up on Edward's 'bear chair' which he also managed to fall off of!
• Eli is so silly and funny and smart and slobbery! He is completely wonderful! He loves books and prefers them almost over anything! He will "uuhhh, uuhhh" with a book in hand until I come and read it to him! He will clap if the book says clap, wave, and cough when the limo in "Little Blue Truck Leads the Way" breaks down.
• On November 27th we took Edward to "Sesame Street Live" it was our first time to go to a concert, movie etc and we had a blast!
• Breakfast with Santa at the Discovery Center on December 7th was filled with crafts, food, fun and a long Santa line. We did however manage to get a decent family photo with Santa, we all had to be in the picture because Eli refused to sit on Santa's lap, but Edward was much more open to him this time round.
• We also went to the Panhandle Plains Museum on the 7th and got to do more Christmas Crafts and decorate a cookie!
• Jingle Jam and lights at the botanical Garden was a great way to spend a special evening as a family.
• On December 14th, we left Eli with my mom and took Edward to a "Safari" night at the Amarillo Zoo! The zoo was decked out in lights and décor and the lions were "roaring" and putting on a show! It was a great time! Right before this Edward got to go pick out his own toy for filling up his marble jar :)

I just feel completely blessed for having TWO amazing little boys and don't want to ever forget all the memories that we are making together!