ah-ha!

Yesterday, Elliott received a birthday package in the mail from Auntie Ria and family. We've been talking up his birthday for some time now, practicing making '2' with his fingers, discussing what kind of cake he would like (Diego Dinosaur cake!), etc. He was excited to have a present and wanted to open it 'white now!' So we did - and inside was a framed picture of him in his '2 shirt', a monkey towel (he loves his monkey stuffed buddy named Joe) and a Safari Rescue Diego! Well, Diego was never far from Elliott yesterday - taking a nap with him, resting beside him at meals, snuggled up watching Diego on the sofa, and of course playing Diego and Dora with his sisters.

On to today, when I woke Elliott up with my off-key Happy Birthday song to a very grumpy 'no mommy, no sing.' (Thanks buddy, love you too.) He scooped up Diego along with his 'B' and I scooped him up for a warm cuddle. After breakfast and getting ready for the day, we settled in to play on the floor with none other than new Diego. All of the sudden Elliott says "mommy, Diego go potty!" Um, okay, I'll play along - "Diego has to go potty?" At which point, Elliott gets up and heads for the stairs.

Flash back to yesterday afternoon -- Jillian yelled down from upstairs "mom, Elliott's new Diego is all wet!" to which I replied, "get a towel and dry him off honey!" thinking that Elliott gave him a bath in the sink. AH-HA!!! Not the sink - the potty!

Diego just got his bath with those handy Clorox disinfecting wipes.

snow fun

It might have been freezing outside, but that didn't stop us from enjoying a little fun in the snow. Daddy helped the girls build a fantastic snowfort, complete with a door, a window and chairs inside! I spent more time getting them dressed to go out and undressed after coming in than the few minutes outside taking photos.

After watching the girls from the window, Elliott may have thought that this was going to be much more fun than it was. Wet and cold, he did spend a few minutes in the snow. He yelled "too fast" the entire way down the hill.

But our Delaney could go up and down that hill all day!

flashback

I'm going through ALL my pictures, to see what I have and see what I've lost from the Great Computer Crash of '08. I have to admit that I'm enjoying looking back on the milestones of the kids, as well as the everyday moments I managed to capture with my lens. My wish is that I were a better photographer, as well as more motivated to complete the scrapbooks I have started for the girls. Yes, the girls - meaning that poor Elliott doesn't have one yet. It has been purchased and is waiting for me to find the time to begin documenting his life. But that is not the purpose of this reminiscing.

This is Jillian on her 2nd birthday -- a milestone which is coming up quickly for our little guy. Look past all that blonde hair and see how much Elliott resembles his big sister Jillian! He's also inherited some of her spunky personality.

Delaney and Jillian have always loved school. Maybe it started at ECFE - see them at a class they took together. Again, I'm struck but how much Elliott looks like Jillian. And Delaney's blonde hair -- where did that go???

Delaney used to enjoy posing for mom - now, she'll do her best to not look at the camera (not even for her autie Ria). In this picture, she's just over 3 - I think she and Elliott have the same eyes.

We had lots of fun at the Helmke Girls' and Kids Weekend - thanks for the memories Grandma, Cyndi, Michele, Jess & Cain, Amanda & Chloe, and Chey, Brendan and Leia! Swimming 3 times in a 24 hour period, the kids had a blast. Elliott was an expert swimmer (with water wings) and wouldn't let anyone help him!

sick day

Big E isn't feeling quite so well today. I knew something was up when he didn't even lift his head off my shoulder this morning. Poor little guy wants nothing to do with food or drink, and fell asleep watching Diego -- his favorite, which means he really isn't feeling well at all! He was able to sleep peacefully snuggled up on the couch, until Miss Jillian bounced in the door announcing "da-da-da-DA! SOMETHING IN MY BACK PACK . . . SOMETHING IN MY BACKPACK!" She's making up for waking him by snuggling up with him and watching Diego together.

Halloween 2008

the witch

the princess kitty

. . . and tigger

bad mommy

Breakfast on Halloween morning . . .

I never would have allowed Delaney or Jillian to have a tootsie pop for breakfast, not even on Halloween! He appeared, sucker in hand asking "mommy open please?" with that sweet face -- how could I resist?

Daddy Time

While I was away for a girls' weekend in Chicago, Ryan spent some quality time with the kids. I was impressed when I saw these photos of their golf outing. He's a wonderful father who puts his kids first. Thanks honey for building this family with me and making me proud to be your wife!