Snow Day

Remember I told you we were supposed to get snow?  Well we did!  And as promised I have some snow pictures.  We only got maybe 2 inches.  Nothing big.  But it was enough to play in and build a snowman!  I decided to let Eli go out early this morning to get it over with.  That sounded bad, I know.  I just wasn't looking forward to the freezing cold, wet clothes and fight when it was time to come inside.  Plus we were forcasted to have the snow turn to rain in the afternoon so I knew it would mostly be gone by then.

Eli finally got some use out of the snow bibs, snow boots and gloves I bought him this year.  It's been so warm this winter he's hardly even worn a hat! 

He was SUPER excited to go outside and play in the snow!

He loved trying to throw the snow on me with the shovel.

He loves that lawnmower.

Eli would hardly look at me while we were outside because he knew I had the camera trying to take pictures.  This is the only picture I was able to get with him looking.  Maybe next time.

 

The only way I could get Eli inside was to promise hot chocolate.  It was tasty if I don't say so myself!  And he insisted on using the "cup with the owl".  Smart boy!

Trying to eat the whipped cream

 What a cute face!

 

Next we made Valentine's cookies to take to his friends tomorrow.



This was the first time we've made cookies using cookie cutters.

He was so proud of them!

And it was the first time we've made cookies he was able to decorate.  Can we say double excited?!

I think he ate more sprinkles than went on the cookies.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with toys and watching cartoons.

What a great snow day!

I hope we get another one soon!

Big Boy Stuff

Guess what!

We have a big boy in our house now!  Eli is 100% potty trained!  Wooooooo hooooooo!!!

Chad and I just set our minds to it and worked hard at it.  Actually it wasn't hard at all.  I really think Eli was ready.  And a little bribery never hurt anyone ;)

We used the reward system to encourage him to go to the potty.  Worked like a charm!  Each time he pee peed in the potty he got to pick one treat.  I was really worried about the other.  The last (and only) time he pooped in the potty he immediately threw up after seeing it!  Poor baby has a weak gag reflex!  I promised him two treats and a trip to somewhere fun if he pooped in the potty.  One week later he was completely potty trained!  Big boy pants only in this house (except for night time when he wears pull ups)!  I don't even think he needs the pull ups, he is waking us up in the middle of the night needing to go pee pee!  I'm using the pull ups for a little while longer just to make sure we are in the clear.

He picked glow sticks AND a sucker after pooping!

He's so proud of his new underoos!

We went to Fun City (Springdale's version of Chuck E Cheese for you out-of-towners) for his reward for being completely potty trained!

This was a cute little roller coaster ride he had the best time riding!

This weekend we laid low and tried to stay warm.

Where did it go?

I think they were looking for a ball Eli threw under the couch.

Eli finally smiled for the camera!  Yay!

This is rare these days.

On Saturday we went to the Razorback basketball game.  Eli loves going.  I think he may like the food the most but I'm sure one day he will enjoy watching the game just as much as his daddy.

These are a few pictures from tonight.  Eli was in a great mood, playing with the dogs (nicely I might add, a daily struggle in our house) and his toys.  Josey (our dachshund) doesn't normally care for Eli.  He's afraid of him and who can blame him!  Eli's loud and rambunctious!  Tonight Josey was actually letting Eli pet him and give him hugs.  Eli says to him, "Josey, I'm so proud of you" and "Josey, I love you".  It made me smile :)

Eli was being a little modest.

I love this little sweet face more than anything!

Showing off Diego!  I love that little booty of his!

 Maybe tomorrow I will have snow pictures to share?!!!?  Eli and I are so excited about the snow that is coming tonight! I hope it snows a foot! He wanted to watch Frosty the Snowman tonight before bed ;) And he kept talking about building a snowman. We can't wait for the morning! There better be snow on the ground!

Until then...

Is It Spring Already?

I only wish!  I can't really complain too much though.  The weather has been unseasonably warm this winter.  Today my car said it was 66 degrees outside!  I'll take that temperature at the end of January!  Chad and I both happened to be off work today so we took full advantage of the nice weather and took Eli to the park.  He was in heaven!  I can't wait for spring so we can play outside more and make trips to the park. 

Chad even enjoyed the slides ;)  He's gonna kill me for posting this picture, by the way... 

Eli thought this picture was funny since he was so high in the air.



A little rock wall action.  With help from Dad of course :)

Although this picture is a little blurry I love it.  It really shows Eli's fun personality!

And then this is the other Eli...

He comes out when Eli is tired, hungry, etc. 

Here he is telling me "nooooo, stooooopppp mommy".  He didn't want his picture taken.

Big surprise!



Pajama Day

Sometimes you just need those days when you stay in your pajamas, or jammies as Eli calls them.  We had one of those days last week.  It was nice!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... a monster.  So said Eli.

I found Eli's cars parked around the kitchen table.

Enjoying a rice crispy treat on "Pajama Day".

Hooray for pajama day!

Birthday Weekend

This weekend was my birthday weekend.  I say "weekend" because I feel like we celebrated ALL weekend long!  It was fabulous!  My family came up to celebrate and we had a great time being together, as always.  We actually have 3 birthdays within 10 days in January...  me, my sister and my brother.  Saturday, my mom, sister and I spent the day shopping.  That evening the entire family went out to eat at one of our favorite places, Carrabba's.  That place is delicious!  These first pictures are some of the pictures I took Saturday evening.

We rarely get "family" pictures any more.  I'm usually the one taking the picture.

It was pretty dark in the restaurant so I had to use my flash.  Eli loves to cover his face when I use the flash.

A group shot of the entire family

Chad got me this adorable cake from our favorite cake place, Shelby Lynn's Cake Shoppe.  It was the same, chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, that we've been getting recently.  That cake is just the bomb.  It's the icing.  Best icing I've ever had.  Period.



Sunday was my actual birthday!  I wanted to go to Branson shopping at the outlet malls to use some Christmas money we received.  It turned out to be perfect shopping weather and the mall was empty!  Eli was on his best behavior and Chad pushed the stroller all day so I could shop!  We had the best time!  After shopping we ate dinner and headed home for more cake and ice cream.



Here are a few pictures of Eli in the bath tub from last night.

He was being extra silly and really smiley!

I had one of the best weekends in a long time.  I love spending time with my family!  And it was the best birthday I could have ever asked for!  Eli ended my birthday by singing me "Happy Birthday" before he went to bed.  Sweetest thing EVER!  And many thanks to Chad for making it so special!  I'm definitely a lucky girl to have these two very special boys in my life!  Don't know what I would do without them!