Trav has begun talking. His words might be suspect to the untrained ear, but our family understands him perfectly. Today in the car he was goading Elliot by saying “red means go. Green means stop.” I had to explain to Elliot that Trav was making a joke! So then Trav busted out with this gem:
T: knock knock
Me: who’s there?
T: choo choo train.
Me: choo choo train who?
T: a joke train!

What could be more hilarious than a 23-month old cracking jokes?

Elliot, however, was not joking when we picked him up from school and I asked what he wanted for his birthday. He listed his desires in the order that he desires them:
1) a choo choo train
2) an ordinary rock
3) a play Earth

How sweet is that little list! These two boys are so funny and sincere.

Here are some sand art pics:

Train table and wrestling:

Have you seen Elliot’s new trundle bed? He likes to sleep on the “bottom bunk”.

These guys love to bounce! This past Monday was cold here so we went to an all-trampoline bounce house. These guys sure had fun! Trav even got in the foam pit! Elliot had fun running across all the trampolines, but Trav stayed on the path between trampolines because they didn’t wiggle quite as much.

While I was brushing his teeth, Elliot told me he wants to be called Elliot Rock Star. I am not one to judge others who want to change their names. Here’s our rock star now in his pirate pajamas.

Today we celebrated Fletch’s 35th birthday. We got ready for the party all day.
We stacked his presents.

Trav lined up all the cars.

Elliot studied the interior of this dump truck

And decorated his sweater with stickers.

Finally the birthday boy came home from work and the party began!

He got the typical sorts of presents… a nice shirt and sweater.

An accordion…

And a rockin’ guitar/piano/drum. (from the kids!)

Then, faster than you can start a family band, he blew out his candle.

Mmm cake!

No photos were taken at the after party. We watched Mary Poppins on the big tv. The kids enjoyed all the songs and music. I finally learned what “barley water” is. Fletch even watched the boring bank scenes. Everyone stayed up past their bedtimes, hearts full of song and tummies full of cake. Happy birthday, Fletch!

What fun we have around here when we receive packages! The kids got an early valentine’s package yesterday.

How do we open this?

Ah!

Rip!

Team work!

Rewarded! (slash don’t bump your head on the counter!)

Snow globes! (reverence)

Beary nice valentine! (it’s a stuffed bear with a plastic fan that plays music when you press its paw and the fan spells out sweet valentine messages. Elliot took his in the dark pantry so he could see the glowing words.)

For me?

Does my tongue go in the fan?

Does my mouth go on its face?

Love!

Here they are today. Not watching tv. Playing both bears at the same time. Bears in stereo!

A beautiful, sunny, warm day in Seattle! We went to the zoo and rode the carousel.

Then to the beach park.

Now we are watching Veggie Tales and eating popcorn. These guys know how to have fun!

Here’s Elliot earlier making funny words out of his letter blocks.

You know those snow globes you shake up and the tiny snow falls on the tiny evergreen trees inside? It doesn’t do justice to the majesty that is a giant mountain. The mountains are hard to take in when you’re in the heart of them. Awesome, breathtaking, spectacular are a few adjectives that come to mind.

But when I’m not standing around with my mouth agape at the mountains, I have this view of Fletch learning to ski. We went out today for our first lesson. We never made it to an actual slope though. We stayed on the training slope until we got tired enough to leave. Can’t wait for the kids to be old enough to go! They will have so much fun. What a great family activity.

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Today Elliot broke a necklace of mine, Trav used my makeup to draw on the wall, Elliot cut a hole in his sweater to make a pocket, Trav removed the Enter key from my keyboard, and you already know about Trav using a sharpie to draw on the couch. They sure know how to experiment!

Here’s Elliot with his new pocket. I mean, I was sitting four inches from the boy when he did this! We were using scissors to cut material at the children’s museum. While I was making a snake for Trav to cut, Elliot was playing Tailor.

I couldn’t find a photo of Trav being naughty so here he is reading Agatha Christie.

Last year we lived in Chicago during the third worst blizzard in Chicago history. This year we’re in Seattle for the most snow they’ve had since 1985. Next year perhaps an avalanche will drop directly on our heads.

No matter how much snow, this guy found a way to get dirty. Poor thing! He has on so many layers that he can’t put his arms all the way down!

Here’s Elliot getting ready to… Ride his bike?

He’s a true northwesterner! These people ride in any weather. And apparently so does Elliot.