Eli says, "Happy December everyone!!"

But perhaps the best part of the trip was visiting with little cousin Hunter. Hunter's not so little anymore. He's almost four months old and a beautiful little butterball. So sweet! It was agreed upon by all that in no time, Eli and Hunter will be great friends.

Eli also got to spend time with his (almost) cousin Chloe. She's a rock star of a two-year-old, very smart and sassy. She's getting really good at sharing and helped Eli figure out how to play with the toys at G-Daddy's. Chloe is going to keep these boys in line, for sure.

We can't wait to see the cousins again!

Eli also had the opportunity to try out his daddy's old kiddie rocking chair.

It did not go well. He really wanted to ride it backwards or side saddle or something, but the chair wouldn't cooperate. Even when Eli got out the egg beater to subdue it, the chair refused to be tamed. In the end, the rocking chair went back to its home in the other room.

Can you believe it is December tomorrow?

The York-Simmons Family had a great Thanksgiving. Grumpy cooked a fabulous meal (as usual!). We ate until we were stuffed then got in the car for the long drive to see Grandaddy (a.k.a. G-Daddy) and everyone in Pilot. Eli was very good in the car.

The trip had a few highlights. One was discovering Great-Grandma's toy box, stocked with fun things that have been used by generations of kids visinting her house. Eli had a blast with the wooden spools, toy cars, blocks and other sundry things. The toy box will definitely get another visit at Christmastime!

Wow! It has been a rough week. Eli was sick all of last week with some sort of infection. Eye? Sinus? Bronchitis? We never did quite figure it out,but a round of antibiotics finally knocked it flat. But not before several nights of missed sleep, some serious crankyness and one sad-sack of a little boy. Now that he's better, though, he is sleeping like a champ and he slept in until 7:15 this morning!! It was AWESOME!!

Since Eli was feeling better yesterday morning, I decided to take him with me to church/work and let Kevin have a couple of hours of time to do his own work since he had lost several work days to sick baby care.

When we dressed him up on Sunday morning, he looked like such a big boy, sporting a little sweater vest and saddle shoes. so you wanna know what life looks like at our house in the mornings? Here it is (minus Kevin in his pjs).

While we were at the park for the neighborhood party, Eli figured out that it is very fun to tumble aorund on the ground while covered with a layer of thick polyester fur. He found it hilarious. I, on the other hand, started to understand the plight of bear mamas who are constantly having to pick sticks and leaves and acorns out of their baby bear's fur.

Eli was a bear for Halloween. We went to his preschool Fall Festival and to our neighborhood party. Eli was very full of himself.

When we visted Grandaddy in North Carolina a few weeks ago, he gave Eli a great gift: a rocking horse!





Ride 'em cowboy!

Eli is composing a symphony.

We've been going to the park almost every day. Fall in Atlanta is about as perfect as it gets. It has been a very hot dry summer and, while it is still frighteningly dry, it is cooling off just a little so that afternoons at the playground are a delight. Now that Stinky is walking, there's a lot more he can do at the playground. He seems to make a new friend every day. And, as an added bonus, it tired him out so he sleeps beautifully at night.

Looks like I've falled off the posting wagon. Again. Evenings are so busy around here. It seem slike I get home from work play with the little stinker, eat, clean up and crash. 'Course, recently there have been a few episodes of Heroes sprinkled in, courtesy Netflix. It is our newest obsession. Somehow, we keep getting hooked intot he really complicated TV shows. Besides, something has to tide us over until Lost returns in December!

Anyway...

Here's what we've been up to. When we last visited our hero, he was freshly ONE YEAR OLD. Shortly thereafter, the little squirt took his parents on the parish retreat at Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC.


He ate some rocks.





Took a lot of walks.




Played with cabin mates Paul and Katherine.


And was very jealous of how big 23-month-old Paul is-- almost big enough to ride a scooter!

Then Eli gave it a try.

And then there was cake. Paul showed Eli how it is done.

Baikal (21 months) wins the most dedicated (and perhaps most fearless) swimmer award.

Everyone went swimming, including our friends Baikal and her dad Matt, Paul and his mom Beth, and Tara, Kahlan and little Beth and their parents Richard and Sarah. Uncle Arthur and Anna came by and Mama's Aunt Zan and Uncle Steve. And of Course, Grumpy and Grandmere were the gracious hosts.

Everyone in the pool!