Saturday, January 11, 2014

My little Elliot

Elliot is such a delightful little kid. He is energetic, very loving, and always happy.  More mischievous than Isabel was.  And growing up so fast!!


Like any younger sibling, he LOVES Isabel and wants to do anything she does.  In fact, one of his earliest and most consistent words is "Izzie" (and he still doesn't say Mama or Dada)

Most words are "ba" "ma" or  "pa" to represent a repertoire of things that I don't understand.  And still says "tuka tuka" all the time.  Some words that I think he uses are: "Ba" (bottle),  "Buh" (book), "Na-na" (banana), "poo-poos"(using correctly), and "boon" for spoon.  Also loves saying "hi" and "bye-bye".


The lovie obsession continues beyond Isabel.  Elliot needs his to sleep and loves taking it around with him and smelling it for comfort.


He is still a good snuggler - will often just hug you even when he isn't tired or sick.


This kid knows how to eat.  I mean, he LOVES eating.  It is actually so enjoyable to see him try new things and just love them and always clear his plate.  Of course he needs to have his own utensil, and needs to try everything (hot sauce anyone?) that we are having at the dinner table.


The book obsession started about a month ago.  I mean, he LOVES books.  Will bring you one after another after another.  Or just read the same one over and over.  Favorites:  Wheels on the Bus, Noisy Trucks, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Little Blue Truck.


Izzie these days

Isabel is a sweet, silly, stylish 4 year old.  



Favorite pastimes: She still loves reading, but her latest passion is coloring, coloring, coloring.  She often asks to "decorate something."  She is a pro at cracking an egg when we are cooking.  And she loves to dress up multiple times a day, and loves doing make up, hair and nails.  Isabel is also a performer -she is often dancing and singing for us at the dinner table. 


Favorite foods:  When I asked her this recently she said "broccoli and carrots", but the real answer is hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and grapes


 Isabel is very loving  -  she gives us hugs and kisses at random, always talks about how much she "loves her brother", and is always trying to be kind to others.  She is my favorite little girl!!



We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Here are our holiday pictures! 

Isabel made a (Trader Joe's) gingerbread house.



Very proud of her work


At the Santa Shack in Sugarhouse!

We saw Great Grandma in her bell choir on
Christmas Eve.

We celebrated Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's house.  I never take enough pictures.  We had an awesome nativity re-enactment with Isabel as Mary and Elliot as Joseph (and the other cousins and some grown uncles as fill ins) for the other parts.  Unfortunately no pictures of that since i was directing!
So tired at the start of the Christmas Eve party



Christmas Day!  The kids gave us the gift of sleeping in until 9!

















Christmas face paint



For New Year's we went to EVE at the Salt Palace.  It was very family friendly, and the kids enjoyed it.  We DID NOT stay until midnight though, and they didn't seem to mind.






I tried to do a cute family selfie - don't know if that is possible.
At least all our faces are partially in the frame.

Baby its cold outside!

Some pics of our winter adventures the past month:




Elliot is definitely getting cabin fever - he is always reaching to stay outside when we are walking in the back door after returning for errands.  So he loves it when he gets to spend some time in the snow!






Isabel is a bit of a scaredy-cat, and did not like sledding last year after a tumble (my bad!).  But she just dove right in this year!  We are lucky to be close to sugarhouse park - she would just speed down on her sled disc, carry it back up the hill by herself, and do it over and over.  Now we need to try skiing...



On New Year's day we went snowshoeing at Solitude - Isabel even got to wear cute kid snowshoes!  She had to be held for a few stretches, but overall enjoyed the adventure around Silver Lake.