Happy Easter!

Elijah has eagerly been counting down the days to Easter. We've enjoyed doing the Road to Calvary in preparation, where we looked at OT foreshadowings of Christ as well as the events of Holy Week. Elijah's sense of time is unfortunately weak, so we did end up some heretical statements about when Jesus was and was not alive ("Jesus will be alive on Easter!"). The boys both particularly enjoyed Fiona French's retelling and illustrations of the Easter story.

Elijah was captivated by our church's Good Friday service, carefully watching and listening. (And then he was very upset to find that he could not go to class after service.)

The boys dressed for church:

Josiah is currently obsessed with putting things in and out:

Elijah hunted for his eggs for his basket:

Look! There's candy inside!

After church (where Dustin played trumpet for three services), we headed down to my parents' for a delicious Easter lunch.

After lunch, the kids worked hard at digging while the adults lounged and chatted, and another Easter egg hunt was had.

Cousins at Play

For the past week, we've had a fun and full week with visiting family! The boys played really well together. Caeli (12 months) walks, so she definitely viewed herself in an older category than Josiah, leaving him to try to keep up as best he could or contently sit and watch.

Both boys had gotten Hi-Ho Cherry-O for their birthdays, so they enjoyed playing it together.

The easel was just right for two painters (poor Caeli was disappointed to not get to paint).

One of Teddy's particular desires this trip was to play in the sandbox with the spinning toy--easy to oblige!

The boys liked running in circles around the house, chasing each other.

There was also play dough, puzzles, trains, and shared storytimes.

More pictures to come!

Busy Hands

Trying to launch himself into the air by bouncing on his bottom

Something clicked for Josiah last week, and in the course of a couple of days, he learned how to clap his hands (occupied by a "hurray!"), play peek-a-boo, sign "all done," and wave hi and bye. It's fun to watch him make connections.

Roommates

We finally got all the parts for the crib, and Josiah moved into Elijah's room this weekend. Elijah likes having his little brother sleep with him; Josiah likes having more room in his bed (he pretty well fills the pack-n-play, although we're still using that for naptimes).


Even though Josiah gets up an hour or so before Elijah, Elijah wants to train him in the ways of reading in bed in the morning, so Josiah gets to come back for reading time.

Please note the "rabbit burrow" on the floor next to Elijah's bed (i.e. the blue blanket that covers some stuffed rabbits and toy carrots)

10 Months: On the Move!

This is the month Josiah decided to learn how to move!

This month: he learned to go from laying down to sitting, and then on to crawling!

He's also practicing pulling himself to stand, but he's pretty inconsistent about that (Dustin still has yet to see it).

The railroad tracks and other fascinating toys are now in danger, much to Elijah's dismay.

He now likes to amuse himself by crawling around and seeing what he can find. Finding books is a current favorite activity.

In honor of Josiah's efforts, Elijah has declared them both little alligators since alligators crawl.

Josiah's added the "more" sign to his vocabulary and is working on "all done." He's started "singing" along more when Elijah and I sing to him for bedtime.

He's a happy eater. Rice cakes are a favorite snack. He continues to hand-feed himself.

He weighs in at 26 lbs, but I didn't measure him this month.

He continues to be attached to his beloved blankets.

As someone who adores the snuggly baby stage, I'm a bit sad to see my baby moving on, but it is such fun to see him in action!

The Birthday Party

Elijah was so excited this year to have a party to celebrate his birthday!

Since he's only three, he was perfectly happy with dinner, presents, play, and cake as the agenda items.

A lightsaber from Uncle John--he loves having his own one to play with at recess now

Playing Hi-Ho Cherry-O from Grandpa & Grandma G.--he likes to move the spinner so that his fruit gets eaten (makes the game a lot longer!)

Aunt Margie read him one of the books she gave him

And then the cake! The kid might be hopeless in terms of dinners, but he likes his desserts! He wanted a train cake again, and he helped me decorate it.
[Thomas engine, freight car, flatbed car, passenger car (appropriately with gummy bears since he uses his counting bears as his passengers), circus car]

He enthusiastically sang "Happy Birthday" with the rest of us, and it was a very happy birthday celebration!

Birthday Boy!

Elijah turned turned three on Monday!

My three year old alligator in front of his door (Growing up doors always got decorated for birthdays).

Cinnamon rolls and yogurt for breakfast--yum!

All ready to open presents!

I didn't teach on his birthday since my families decided to take President's day off, so we headed to the zoo (along with everyone else enjoying school holiday....). Dustin was able to join us for a bit as well.

Then home again for a birthday dinner (mac & cheese, apples, and corn). When asked what he wanted for his birthday dinner, he told me: cheese, apples, and cucumbers. That's my boy!

We added a new engine to Saturday's cake (pics to follow)--this time Henry, who is conveniently three. Elijah was happy to sing along to his birthday song!

Three is a fun age to celebrate!