February 1

Eli got a few Target gift cards for his birthday, and he decided he wanted to spend them on a skateboard. I was shocked that Target happened to have a $20 skateboard, and now I have the happiest five-year-old ever.

We talked about the fact that learning to skate involves learning to fall, and we are trying to help him take safe risks.

Chris started Eli out by helping him sit on the board and roll down the hill.
(See Caleb? He was seriously bummed that Eli was the first to get a skateboard and desperately  wants his own now. I told him we would see how we feel about Eli's penny board and maybe get him one that's a bit nicer for his birthday.)

These next two pictures are deceptive. They make it look like Eli immedately mastered standing up. This is not the case at all. He stepped onto the board, couldn't stand, and crouched to keep his balance. He fell soon after. But man, he looks awesome in the pictures!

I love Caleb in the tree in the background, and Daisy's interested observation. Those two really love their baby brother!

Skater in training? It remains to be seen. I'm kind of hoping he sticks with it!

January 28

And he's five!

It was a pretty normal day around here. Chris went to work, the kids went to school, Eli went to preschool. Since it was his birthday, Eli got to choose a favorite book to share with his class. He chose Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Edna, the Very First Chicken. If you haven't read it, you should. It's adorable.

He also chose five favorite pictures to share on the smart board with his friends. I rather like his choices, as they pretty clearly convey his personality, so I'll share them here. (finding these photos is also what prompted me to bring this blog out of hibernation. It's such a treasure trove!)

From his newborn photos. Eli loved how small he was.

From his first birthday cake smash. Eli loves the story of how he crawled right over the cake and it didn't even smoosh slightly. (I refrigerated the cake overnight and didn't give the buttercream time to thaw.)

When he was two, he loved this giraffe costume so very much!

Three-year-old Eli's first day of preschool! He was so excited and proud and ready to go to school!

Summer swim league, 2019. Who would have thought our four-year-old could teach himself how to swim and earn those ribbons? 

After preschool I brought Eli home for lunch and a nap. That evening, our family came over for pizza and cake to celebrate.

The chalkboard is a birthday tradition.

Eli's cake was pretty epic! He requested a t rex, a chicken, and chocolate rocks, and he was not disappointed.

That's one happy kid! I love his cousins cheering him on.

Happy kids eating cake.

Then they ran around like maniacs and played with his new toys.

Before everyone left, I snapped a quick picture of the kids together. Lily is wearing a dalmatian shirt because it was the 101st day of school. As in 101 Dalmations. My nephew Ryan recently got engaged, and he and his fiancee and her two boys were there. Max is holding the younger one, and Daisy and Caleb sandwich the older one. 

 And then everyone left and we all went to bed exhausted.

January 27

Eli's last picture as a four year old.

I love this tradition, and I love that the kids reminded me to take the picture. 

Eli is wearing his "ninja jammies" that are really base layer long underwear he got from Grandma for Christmas. 

He's sitting in his favorite perch on the couch that is past its prime and due to be replaced.

He is sweet, charming, and delightful.

Four was a good age. I can't wait to see what five brings for him!

January 25

Do people even blog anymore?

It has been two and a half years since I last posted here. I didn't miss it for a long time, but lately I've been feeling the urge to dust this space out and fill it up with new news and new stories. I can't promise I'll stick with it - good intentions and all that - but I think I might try for now. Not daily, for sure. But maybe every once in a while? 

The Fete de Glace is an ice festival that seems to happen right around Eli's birthday each year. I first remember attending it on Eli's 2nd birthday. Bigger kids = more hectic weekends, but Chris and I chose to skip Eli's nap (yes, he still naps!) so that we could visit the festival as a family. I'm glad we did.

The kids really liked this dragon ice sculpture.

But this Pikachu ski ball ice sculpture was the clear winner in their minds, and such a clever concept!

#momlife
They always want me to hold their trash!

Lily's outfit cracks me up. She loves bright things and colorful things and hearts and rainbows and looks completely like a bag lady.

He's a gargoyle. Obviously.

My four babies. They are now 10, 8, 6, and nearly 5. I'm not sure how that happened.

They each found a star that was their height, but didn't want to cooperate for the picture. Kids, man.

And then we went home and Chris got to work finishing a project that has been gathering dust for nearly as long as this blog!  

The girls finally have a window seat in their bedroom, and I am thrilled. Lily sat on top of the seat to provide counterpressure while Chris screwed it in place. She's clearly delighted about the window seat, too!