If you have never read this book- you are seriously missing out. It is one of my favorite books of Elliott's. Completely hilarious and well worth the time. Pneumatic drills, explosives, and of course a game of shuttlecock.

They play badminton in it but they call it shuttlecock in the book- that is another term for birdie. Anyway- Elliott will only call it shuttlecock and he can't ask to play without Craig and I laughing for awhile.

Every week I send my little brother an email- he is on a mission in Florida-Tallahassee. This blog emails him the posts every time I make one so it is an awesome way to get multiple emails to him throughout the week or whenever. I seriously don't know what we would all do without the internet.


We had a little class this week at the bay. It was about worms and things. Elliott was quite thrilled to be there- pretty obvious here huh?


Elliott has also just this last little while taken a liking to holding bugs- it seems only if mom holds them first- so I do. Harlequin Beetle- I wish I could have got a shot of this guy- it was big and they are such cool bugs. If you know El this is a big deal to hold a bug and actually enjoy himself.


Elliott and his cousins- Nate, Kenyon and Collin. I am so glad and grateful that we get to have them so close and that they love each other so much. I joke that Nate and E treat each other just like brothers- love/hate relationship.


On Saturday we took a family hike. Every Saturday we have decided to do something that gets E out and about to see and do some new things. Broaden the horizons of our 3 year old.


Just a picture of my cute guy. Isn't this field incredible?



Elliott cracks us up. He has this thing for weird games- no love of soccer (yet) or basketball- he is fine with both but when asked what he would like to do he answers- "Shuttlecock" (see next post), croquet and bocce ball. I love the tongue out concentration.





For those of you who don't believe me- we are 1 1/2 hours from snow. We can grow bananas and go to see snow all in one day. I adore California. Franz and Serena- El asks "Who are those people that live up there again?" we tell him and he goes- "Yeah, them- they live in the mountains with the snow." So funny.


Lastly- We have introduced Elliott to Star Wars. The heavens have opened with this one- I surely wouldn't have thought it would be so cool. This is his reaction to Jabba the Hut. We edit a bit- don't freak out. I gotta tell you that some of the stuff on the tele for kids these days (E doesn't watch 99% of it) is WAY worse than a little Star Wars. I love these movies. It is a little fun time for just the 3 of us- special movie nights.

Sorry about the red eye- I wasn't in the mood for photoshop.

Tonight for Family Home Evening we were learning the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego - Elliott loved the story. He loved it so much we had to recreate it multiple times each taking turns with the different parts- soldiers, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Interestingly enough he never asked us to play Jesus- he would just get all sweet when we would ask him who came to rescue them- he would say- Jesus.

The topper was a few moments later on our next adventure with Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego- right after the soldiers throw them into their fiery death he goes:

"Look mom and dad- It's Batman....."


Always to the rescue, good old Batman. Thank you Batman.

Yesterday was a somewhat windy day so we took out the kite. I forget how much fun kites are until we go kite flying again. Every time I am reminded. E had a great time and he was hilarious trying to get the bird up in the air. One of his tosses was the longest the bird stayed in the air. It ended up not being windy enough. Oh well, good times.

We got a new vacuum- the best vacuum in the world. I never thought I would love anything as much as I love my VitaMix- who knew. I adore my vacuum- so does Elliott. You can take this back piece off and the air blows out (it is also an air purifier). Elliott sits in the breeze and goes to town laughing and being silly. I love things that make us all happy.

These are the faces of Elliott lately- minus the really ticked off/angry faces of late. Phases- I am tired of the "fit" phase- does it EVER END??? Seriously- not fun. Thank the beautiful heavens for those perfect moments of love between E and I that make the fits somehow disappear. Seriously- what the heck- fits. And- what a dumb word for it- fit- I admit at moments it is like E is having some sort of physical fit- rage out of nowhere. We need a better word for this problem.

Tonight while having his bath, both Craig and I kept asking him to stand up so we could wash him- he was totally ignoring us- so we asked again- for like the 5th time- reluctantly and with a bit of exhaustion in his voice he says:

Yes, your majesty.