Brothers

Sure hope they still like each other next year.

Adult Parties

We went to multiple parties this summer, mostly for friends from work. Out friends Noah and Carissa had a beer brewing party. The highlight was Carlos taking Elias high up in the tree. Maybe he'll like climbing trees as much as I did as a kid. I loved picking apples.

A co-worker of mine from my old job moved to England, so at her going away party I got the chance to catch up with people I used to work with from my last project. I was talking to Rich about how my new job was OK, but it just wasn't the same. He said that a work group like that only comes once in a lifetime. Sniff, sniff. I miss you guys!

Surprisingly, this was not at the beer brewing party, but at a party thrown by one of Matt's co-workers. They had a bouncy house and awesome food. Who could ask for more?

Field Trips

During the summer, the school takes the kids on field trips. Elias went to the library, zoo, art museum, and botanic gardens. Matt went with to the zoo and the library and said he was surprised all the kids made it out alive...not to mention the parents. 20+ kids is a lot of kids to keep track of outside of school grounds. Luckily, Elias loves his new red field trip t-shirt. It has the school's number printed right on the back. Hmmm...guess we can't shake him that way.

Being a Baby

For a while there, every time we were up at the condo Elias would play, "Being a Baby." He would climb into the Exersaucer to play. Whenever I mentioned it was time for the baby to take a nap, he was instantly done with that game. Strange.

Flash Back

Still trying to catch up with the blog:

Back in August, we stayed an extra long weekend up in Fraser for relaxation and so we could listen to the free bluegrass band Spring Creek on Tuesday night. They played outside at the Schoolhouse Park in Fraser. It was the perfect setting. Elias played on the playground, and while I pushed him on the swings, I could hear live bluegrass music. Ezra clapped along, Elias had a free Popsicle, and I got to hear a little bit of pickin' and singing. Just think how happier everyone would be if every playground had this going for it.

Is It Really That Unusual?

I admit I must be a bit naive about how conservative people are in regards to their children and the gender roles we have created. It doesn't bother me that Elias' favorite colors are pink, purple and gold. I'm not concerned that I knew he would love a dollhouse for Christmas (and I was right). He loves to put clips in his hair, and his best friends at school are girls. He is only 3 and a half. What does it hurt? And if it's the same as he gets older, so what? Are parents really worried about these kinds of things? How do they have the energy when there is so much else to worry about?

Elias has a great dentist. There is a castle inside with toys where he plays while we wait. They give out prizes for a good checkup and for opening your mouth wide. Luckily, Elias has always done a great job, never crying or fussing. We have also done great with his brushing, or he has good teeth (or a little of both). This last time, he got the chance to pick out a t-shirt because his teeth were brushed well for two checkups in a row (shouldn't I get the prize?). When the dental hygienist opened the cabinet where the shirts were, she said, "There are blue, yellow, green and orange t-shirts. Which one would you like?" Elias paused for a moment, looked in the cabinet, and said, "Pink." That's my boy.

Inside joke

Grandma Ruth, 92

My Grandma, Ruth, turned 92 in January. We wanted to send her a little something special, so when Elias and I were in Michaels, we found just the thing. Elias wanted to do some sewing. I looked around for a sewing kit for kids, but came up empty handed. I asked a woman who worked there, and the only thing she could think of were the plastic needles and plastic mesh that you can use to put yarn through. Elias and I scoped it out, got 2 needles, chose a packet of plastic circles and some multi-colored purple-ish yarn and headed home. Elias had fun looping that thread in and out of that plastic mesh until it was ready to send (I helped quite a bit too). Now only a handful of you will truly understand why it was the perfect gift to send to my Grandma. Let's just say, Elias must have at least a few of my Grandma's genes. I'm just hoping he got even more of Aunt Serena's.

Elias' 1st sewing craft