Kite Flying

I've never had a great kite.  Maybe it was 'user error' or the wind wasn't right or lots of other things.  And, maybe I just don't remember.

A couple of weeks ago, Mom's neighborhood held a kite show with a dog parade.  We decided to go check it out since it was such a nice day.

When we got there, everyone was still setting up so we headed to the playground.  Eli was having fun playing while some of the kits got into the air.  We saw lots of different kites:  a space shuttle, a gecko, a ladybug, a crayon box and lots of other ones that were very colorful.

We were content to just watch the kits and then Mom came over with a special kite for Eli.  It was an Elmo kite!  We all know how happy he was with that!

After it was assembled (correctly), it took right off!  Eli was crying at first because he wanted his kite on the ground with him.  But he eventually understood that Husband/Daddy wasn't going to let it fly away.  He even got to fly the kite with Daddy and then on his own.  Eli kept saying, "Fly, Elmo, Fly!"  It was very cute and very wonderful.

I found myself thinking/reflecting on our fun later and hoping (my) Daddy was able to see his 'little man' and how much fun he had with that kite! 

Several New Posts

As a little 'catch up,' I finally finished several posts today and then published them all...There are six new posts as of now (seven if you count this one!)  So be sure to catch them all.

Here are their titles and a little 'teaser' for you!  The 'teaser' is that Eli is now making up his own Knock-Knock Jokes!  They aren't ones you've ever heard before but he might repeat them to you!  He knows the sequence and everything.  I just love his personality!

Dancing Fool!

Uncle Terry

Snow Day!!!

Celery Conductor

The boy is loose!

Christmas

Dancing Fool!!!!

Eli, Mom and I went to a dance last week.  It was a school dance and was so much fun!  The DJ's were awesome and really worked up the Olympics angle.  Awesome!

I had bought tickets earlier in the week without knowing if Husband or Mom would go with me...(Husband was ‘resting’ since his back has been hurting again! ARGHHHH!)


Eli had much fun dancing with us but also dancing with one of his preschool friends and some other friends. He was so cute! A real dancing fool, he wasn’t shy about dancing close to the stage and even getting on it to dance with the DJ and by himself! Our boy is not shy at all!

Uncle Terry

My brother came to see us recently in his new car.  He's such a great uncle that he let Eli climb all around in his car and push all the buttons.  He even let Eli climb into the rear section - since there's no backseat!  And, because there isn't a backseat, Eli won't be riding in this little car for a few years.  (Not safe for a carseat, after all...)  Eli was perfectly happy to play in the car and make noises, though!

We had a nice visit and enjoyed the smell of the new vehicle, the sound of it's BIG engine, and the BIG smile on my brother's face!

Snow day!!!!

We had record-breaking snowfall this month! We had over 12 inches of snow fall in the Dallas area – it’s the most that has fallen in over 40 years. We missed school on one day but we had SO MUCH FUN!!

Mom and one of her friends made this LOVE-ly snowlady at her house and we had to come over and see her!  Then, Eli decided to make some repairs and shovel the walk!  This is the most snow that shovel has see since my parents and brother lived in Wisconsin 40 years ago!

When we got home, some neighbor-friends came over to help us with our snowman.  They had been out of school all day and were able to play in it ALL DAY - but we just got to watch it through the windows!  So, here's Eli with the snowman in process and then after it was done.  I know he's missing some parts - but Eli's only two...

Celery Conductor

Eli was "helping" me trim celery. Of course, I didn't give him a knife, so he just started singing and conducting.  Too bad we weren't taking video because he got close enough to slap me in the face with the celery!  Ooops!!

The boy is loose!

At some point, all kids decide they don’t need a nap, right? Well, we parents know better! The time came for Eli to tell me he didn’t need a nap. He would say, “No nap today. I don’t!”


I would always tell him that he needed to have a rest and he would fall asleep. No more issues, right? Wrong! But he hadn’t had an ESCAPEE until recently.

After I tucked him in for his ‘rest,’ I closed his door, closed the gate and went downstairs. Within a minute, he came down the stairs.

“How did you get downstairs?” I asked?

“Under the gate!” came his answer, so proud!

When I asked him for more information, he laid down on the floor to demonstrate how he got under the gate! He did a little ‘shimmy’ feet first to go under! Who knew he could do that?!?!?!

Christmas

Excuse the tardiness of this entry. Really, Christmas was over 2 months ago…hardly seems like it, though!

We had a nice holiday but it was quieter than in the past. It was hard to ‘get into the spirit’ but for our boy, we pulled it off. (I think?!?!)

Grandma Marie came to visit the week before Christmas. We went shopping, ate too much, opened/shared gifts and had a nice visit. Thanks for coming!

We also had a nice visit from my brother, Uncle Terry. His wife wasn’t able to come with him but she did send some yummy desserts! Thanks, Aunt Kit!

On Christmas Eve, Husband went to McKinney to pick up Mom. The weather was really cold and we were expecting some ice/freezing rain. So, she stayed with us that night. Eli didn’t know what to do! He isn’t used to Grandma being at our house when it’s time for ‘night ‘night!

We woke in the morning to find snow – but not very much! It was gone before lunch but we were glad to already have Mom at our house for the festivities.

I had made her a new stocking this year. She was surprised to see it and even took it back to her house! My intention was for it to stay at our house so Santa could fill it if she’s at our house…

Husband did all the cooking for us this year. On the menu included lots of yummy NEW recipes from The Food Network kitchens! Definitely some good one and at least one BUMMER!

We took Mom home on Christmas evening. We missed Gram and Daddy but we did the best we could. Even without them, we are blessed beyond measure!

Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds | Video on TED.com

Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds Video on TED.com

What an awesome example of how someone with a disability understands her own disability and can explain/teach the rest of us 'regular people' to understand it!