I love my kids...

In an out of earth experience yesterday, I overheard Emrey actually playing with Eli and making him laugh! I say this, because these days, often I feel like all I do is mediate between the two of them and remind, remind, remind Emrey to "be gentle, not to take things, be sweet with your words, give Eli space"....the list goes on.

Well, I've been feverishly trying to get our guest room painted as we have grandma coming to visit and then Sarah and Uncle Keith in a few weeks. Trying to paint a room with two toddlers is pretty comical. I try to do it when Eli's sleeping, and Em is having "quiet time"...but I've resorted to doing it while their awake, so that I can just get it done!! Well, it was when I was finishing up the last finishing touches on the wall...that I hadn't heard from them in a while...and that always makes me nervous! Then, I heard it....Eli laughing (not the crying that I usually hear when they end up alone together). Yes, he was laughing! I slowly poked my head around the corner, not wanting to interrupt them...or have them see me and come running in...and there they were. It sounds trivial, but it was HUGE! Emrey was building a tower with blocks, and letting Eli knock it over (something he just LOVES to do these days). Every time he knocked it over he did his little gut laugh and she laughed as well, it was the cutest thing ever...to me at least. It made me so happy and encouraged to see them playing together. It gave me hope for the future, that some day, they will be buddies!

I am so blessed and so thankful for that little moment!
Today, I am especially grateful for my two sweet children.
What a gift they are!

We've moved!!!

It's crazy to think this all started only a month ago! We were in NH after celebrating my sister Sarah's wedding, which happened to also be the best New Years Eve party EVER! After the wedding, Ellis and I left the kids with my parents and sister and headed back to Houston to pack up our house! The King's very sweetly offered to come help and what a huge help they were! We couldn't have done it without them! When we got most everything packed up, I flew back up to New Hampshire and got to hang out a while more while Ellis and his dad drove our belongings and cars out to Denver! Early the morning of January 18th....we left New Hampshire on a new adventure....

Luckily...I was not alone! My mom was so sweet and was willing to help us (aka, get slobbered on, change diapers and share in our very long flight out here, to Denver). She was able to stay for a few days...long enough to see me very stressed with boxes to unpack and two little kids making it difficult to unpack.....and I'm sure was glad to leave when she did! She was a huge help, both physically and emotionally for me those first few days we were here and I'm so grateful for her!

It's hard to believe that it has almost been a month since we've been here! It's been a LONG month! It started with both kids being sick the first week we were here. As difficult as that was...one good that came out of it was that we did find a good doctor right away! For our first two weeks here it was quite warm, in the 50's/60's each day. We spent a lot of time walking to the park down the street and playing outside on our own swing set in the back.

About two weeks in, we got a HUGE snowstorm and it snowed straight for three days! We got about two feet! It was actually really fun. Emrey got to go sledding and I got to use those shoveling muscles (the one's you don't realize you have until after you've shoveled :)

We've been exploring on the weekends, when Ellis has time off. Our first weekend, we made it up to Evergreen ( a small town in the foothills) where we went ice skating on a beautiful lake and got some great pizza! We've also been able to visit with Aunt Alice and see her horses! Emrey is very excited to get to do some riding when it warms up a bit!

Emrey started a preschool right down the street two days a week and in typical Emrey fashion, she's jumped right in. She seems to have a good time when I pick her up?? She definitely misses her Houston friends though, and tells me almost daily that she misses her old house and wants to go visit her friends :( Overall though, she is doing really well and this transition has really bonded her and Eli. They love running around together and Eli is just about running these days! He started walking right before Christmas and is doing amazingly well!
Emrey with Aunt Alice and Copenhagen


Eli also just began showing an interest in reading! Up until this past week, he had little interest in reading, other than maybe to chew on the books! Just this past week, he's started bringing books to us and nudging us until we open the book and read to him! He has also started talking a bit more! Some of his new words are: "uh oh, light, daddy, car, and ball". When he's not using his new words, he's usually babbling in his little Eli language, which he expects we all understand, it's very cute. He has some new signs as well...please, thank you, all done...He's so very sweet is usually easy going...unless it's time for me to make dinner :)

He's still into climbing....15 months

And LOVES cars, or really, anything with wheels on it



Here are some photos of Emrey helping to make some cupcakes for her valentines day party at school! Emrey LOVES to help in the kitchen these days!







Lastly...Ellis and I are doing well...we had our first date night this past weekend (which was MUCH needed) Ellis did some research and signed us up for a cooking class, which was a lot like the one we did on our honeymoon. We made an amazing meal and enjoyed a relaxing dinner, sans children! We've already made some friends that are such a gift! They've been showing us around and giving us all the insider tips on the area! We definitely miss our Houston friends, but sense that God is really providing for us here! We are excited to get up into the mountains and try to do some skiing this weekend!

More Birthdays.....

We asked Emrey where she wanted to celebrate her 3rd birthday and she emphatically requested the "space center", also known as Johnson Space Center. It has become a favorite date for her and her dad as Ellis is able to get in free with his badge. There is a rotating exhibit with kid friendly activities, but Emrey's favorite is a three story twisty slide that is always there! So we invited a few of her closest friends to join us there to play and then go to our favorite pizza place.... how much better can it get!

She and her good friend Rowan fearlessly went down the slide!

Again..and again...and again....

Sarah and Emma have become some of our closest friends here in Houston...
we are REALLY going to miss them!

Friends....Rowan, Emma, Ava and Halley

Eli's ONE!!!

It's hard to believe, but this guy is one year old! We celebrated by having a few of our closest friends over to celebrate his little life and to thank them for all their support and care for us as a family over this past year! Below are a few shots from his party as well as the past couple weeks. He is definitely on the move these days! He loves to cruise all around and is especially into climbing, as the pictures will show.

At one year, Eli loves his monkey (that he and Emrey received when he was born) they each got one. When he is crawling around the room and finds it, he hugs it and rocks back and forth! He usually has it, along with his blanket when he goes to sleep! He loves the water table, out back and would probably go out and get soaking wet at every chance he could get! He loves his sister and just lights up when she comes into the room, or kicks and jumps up and down if I'm holding him and she comes running by. He gets really excited when she laughs or screams.

As for things Eli does not like...any type of change, clothing or diaper...he'd much rather be on the move. Getting into his car seat is another dreaded event for Eli, as he has to be strapped down and immobile for long lengths of time...He hates napping, as he knows for sure, that he is missing out on something. He usually starts crying and trying to fight my attempts at rocking the minute we cross over the threshold to his room and I give him his blanket. Eli is not a rocker...at least not with me...He prefers to babble himself to sleep in his crib and fights any attempts to rock or sing to him, unless he's exhausted! There's just too much he's got to do, he has no time for sleep!

As of one year, Eli is still napping twice a day, usually in the morning around 10 and then again in the afternoon around 2:30/3. Since we often have activities we are going to, he's not always on schedule and often just takes one long nap...but still really needs two! He has four teeth, two on the bottom and 1.5 on the top, right in the middle! For some reason weaning Eli was a bit more emotional for me...as I think he would have gone forever, whereas Emrey was finished and never looked back. But, I know it's good and the transition must take place! Eli is huge and ranked 80% in his weight (25 lbs.) and 75% in his height at his one year appointment. He was also really brave when he had to get four separate shots at once this visit :(

Picture session

So, for Christmas last year, we received a gift of pictures from the Kings! After almost a year, we finally got around to using it! We ended up having a friend of mine (Megan Thurman) take our photos and these are just a few of the first one's she posted on her blog for a sneak peak! I'm really excited to see the rest of them...when they are finished!

Emrey, almost three!

Eli, almost one! Hard to believe!

Surprise Shower!

Just got back from Sarah's surprise wedding shower in New Hampshire! Eli came with and he was such a great little traveler! I missed Emrey terribly, but I will say, it was very nice to have only one little one on the flights! The foliage was even more gorgeous than I ever remember! And getting to spend time with Sarah, Bets and Kath was so great! Seeing mom and dad was great too!

While there, we got to go apple picking and enjoy some cool weather for a change!

Chilling, listening to some bluegrass, eating cider doughnuts for lunch!

Aunt Kath, our roomate!

Eli, 11 months!

The Mezey's....

Samuel Mezey, ADORABLE!

And the trip wouldn't be complete without a few trips with Pappo down to the corner store!

Calling All Princesses!

So, here is a preview of Emrey's "princess dress", the dress she will be wearing to Aunt Sarah's wedding this New Years! It arrived this past week, and she was so thrilled when she opened the box, and wanted to put it on immediately! She says that she and mom will be princesses and dad will be the prince! All week, she has requested to put it on to show anyone who comes over.

One of Emrey's favorite activites these days is painting. She is always asking to paint...and it's not always the best time, but when we can, we try to get them out! Here she is pretty focused on whatever it was she was painting at the time.

And Eli....continues to get into trouble, every time I turn around, it seems! He is a love though and so cuddly and happy! He is definitely on the move and pulling up on everything! He is trying to walk, with anything he can hold onto and make move...sometimes with great success and other times not so much! But he is tough!

And of course, everything still goes in the mouth!

Emrey scored this penguin at a yard sale we went to one saturday. The man insisted she take it home for free! So...we gave it a good bath in the washer and she has been pretty attached to it since, wanting to take it everywhere she goes...

Here he is pulling up...

And, "helping" with the dishes....

And trying really hard to get into this cabinet!

It is getting cooler here...but still hot in the middle of the day...so we stripped him down..., obviously Eli is doing fine, weight wise!

Here he is on a secret mission at the playground!

Above and below are Emrey's first attempts at taking a picture with the camera...with a little help from mom holding it while she attempted to push the button!