We love oatmeal

Growing up, oatmeal was a staple at our house. Not only is it healthy and cheap, but my parents TRULY loved it. I must admit that now it warms my heart to see my kids chowing down a whole bowl of Quaker Oats. This on the other hand, doesn't warm my heart so much!

Shenanigans

I feel like I am constantly thinking to myself "I leave you alone for two seconds, and this is what happens".
For example:


Cade is always taking out our toothpaste and putting it places, but the other day I went to brush my teeth and couldn't get anything out. Hmmm...mysterious. On closer observation, I see the tip of something white and fluffy (a Q-tip). After removing that, I see that there are actually two in there.
Side note: This is my favorite toothpaste ever. It has actual breath strips in it which provide a refreshing minty burst!

Molecules

So yesterday Eli comes up to me and breathes right in my face and smiles. Our conversation goes something like this:
Eli - Mom smell my breath, I was eating croutons.
Me - Wow Eli, you really have garlic breath (as my eyes start watering)
Eli - Mom, the smell is just molecules coming into your nose.
Me - Where did you learn that?
Eli - Oh, I learned it from "Sid the Science Kid" (a new favorite cartoon).
Me - (Thinking to myself...next time keep your molecules to yourself!!)

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but I'm not yet comfortable with all words and no pictures, so this is just for viewing pleasure.

Halloween 2008

For Eli and Cade, Halloween is the best of two worlds...dressing up and CANDY!! The anticipation started early! The costume idea was decided and an excited Eli and Jimmy headed to the store for the necessary supplies. Eli and Cade thought making the costume was a blast. Eli came up with a few schematics on paper of what he wanted the robot to look like, cardboard was drawn on, cut, and taped in preparation. Everything was perfect. The actual putting on of the costume proved to be more difficult. It took about 15 minutes to get the pieces in place, and it was a tad confining for Eli who refuses to even wear clothes if we are home. The video shows both robots in all their glory, but alas, a frustrated Eli tore off half the costume before we could even get out the door to the actual trick or treating part or take pictures. By the end of the night, the candy had made up for any earlier misgivings.

My HERO

A brief and incomplete synopsis of my Superhero Eli and his sidekick Cade. This phase has been very creative and extensive. Here is a little glimpse into my little super heroes.

The first superhero Eli tried out was Superman. He wore this shirt for two months straight...EVERY DAY...LITERALLY. At church when he was forced to wear a different shirt, he would wear Superman under his church shirt and only answer to Clark Kent. If someone dared call him Eli, he would scoff and promptly correct them as to his true identity.

If Superman was in the wash (which it often was because he was wearing it so much), he would branch out to Spiderman.

Then, thanks to his acute observance, he realized Superman wears underwear over his tights, a look Eli felt he needed to create with a few added touches of his own.

Then the underwear idea kind of went awry:


Batman makes guest appearances every now and then.


The Power Ranger costume was on a whim. He received some birthday money from his Great Grandma and just HAD to have this costume. After about two days, he refused to put it on because it was "too itchy".

Luckily he has a stalwart sidekick, Cade, who is always ready to cast webs, or distract a "villain" at a minutes notice.

This has even started to enter the spiritual realm. I've heard Eli mention several times how excited he is to be able to fly in heaven. He also is known to give Jesus credit for being the best superhero because He has every super power. And just the other night, Eli prayed that he be blessed with a superhero costume that had EVERY super power...and that please could it be on his bed in the morning.

Butterfingers

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cade sitting on the kitchen floor playing with something, but didn't pay close attention as there is usually a plethora of things to play with there - ie cars, magnets, a bat, crumbs (at least this is currently what is on the floor). I walked in and saw this:

I thought "OH NO! Four empty butter wrappers on the floor means four cubes of butter somewhere else in the house." But luckily Cade is such a genius. After a quick look around, I discovered he had just put the butter right back where it went...minus the wrappers. As my mother would say, Murphy's Law was foiled.

Pumpkin Patch

If summer HAS to end, at least that means pumpkin patches in the fall!