Eli, Knox and Briggs

A Masterpiece

2012-01-13T15:38:00.000-05:00

My brother and sister and I had these blocks when we were children. I can remember Ryan playing with them for hours. He was also very into Lego's. I have been encouraging blocks with the boys and Eli works really hard if I sit by and offer a little help.

Gigi's house

2012-01-13T15:32:00.000-05:00

Three little cousins working hard on paintings for Gigi's house.

My Heart Feels Like Christmas...

2012-01-13T14:52:00.001-05:00

Eli and I were riding in the car last night and he asked me to play his music. "Hosanna" by Hillsong is his favorite song right now. We started singing and he asked me to hold his hand. When the song was over he said, "Mommy, my heart feels like it's Christmas." I can still remember how full Christmas made my heart feel as a child. I was struck by how sweet and sincere his words were in that moment. He is developing a love for God that I pray will increase as he is able to truly understand that relationship.
He is such a treasure!

Briggs

2012-01-12T08:21:00.002-05:00

1 month old

Dear Briggs,

In two short months you have brought a lot of change to our family! We all completely adore you and love to make you smile. Your brother Knox continues to treat you as if you just arrived. The newness has not worn off a bit for him. He talks to you all the time and brings you toys. He is so sweet to take such good care of you. Eli loves you very much too. He worries over you, more than trying to play with you. He really wants you to talk, and sometimes when you make a noise he will insist it was your first word. Both of your brothers are still very proud of you and insist on showing you off every chance they get. The pictures above really depict your sweet personality. You began smiling at me when you were just 5 weeks old! You grin at us a lot, but are not yet really cooing and trying to "talk".

This is your very serious look. You are so much like Eli when he was a baby. One of my dear friends began calling you the professor this week. I think it fits. You study us, your toys, and your surroundings. I cannot believe how much you behave like Eli did. I still think you look a lot like Knox. Some of your baby pictures are going to be really hard to tell apart!

You have been fascinated with your hands since birth. In the hospital we noticed that you could interlock your fingers. You still do this a lot! You rub your hands together and will even bring them up to your eyes and study them too.

Your two month visit was last week. You weighed in at 13 pounds, 13 ounces (97th percentile). You are 24 inches long (85th percentile). Your pediatrician was very surprised to see your two bottom teeth. I noticed them when you were just 6 weeks old. You began sleeping 12 hours at night when you were 6 weeks old, and after a long bout with RSV you are sleeping about 10 hours a night. You are such a big boy! Even yesterday you broke my heart when you began rolling over. We love you so much and would give anything to slow down the hands of time as you are so quickly changing and growing!

Love, Mommy

Fireside Fun

2012-01-04T15:18:00.000-05:00

Roasting marshmallows by the fire! What a fun memory!

Christmas 2011

2012-01-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

These little boys did the greatest job decorating our little Christmas tree! They were so excited to help while we listened to Christmas music. Only one little ornament was lost to the floor in the process...

This little dumpling enjoyed his first Christmas! Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with RSV the week after Christmas and we are still in recovery mode.

All our efforts for the perfect gifts were nearly trumped by Uncle Evan and Aunt Ashley's funny glasses!

Christmas morning was so much fun with these little boys! They rushed downstairs and were sort of speechless for a minute. Eli is so funny-he checked out the two sets of gift arrangments and said, "that one is yours Know, and this one is mine!" He got it right, but it was just so funny to watch him process the decision!

Briggs is becoming more and more active each day. He loves his playmat with all the sights and sounds! Of course the older two have to check it out a lot too!

The Bears helmets and jerseys for Eli & Knox were definitely a favorite! Eli wore his everyday for a week, even asking to sleep in his jersey.

We make shrimp and grits on Christmas morning...this year's were very yummy!

Eli loves eggnog!

This little boy made our Christmas even more special! We sure do love him!

Ava Elizabeth Simmons

2011-12-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

We are so blessed to have a new niece! Ava Elizabeth was born on Monday morning. She and Briggs are just 24 days apart in age. How fun to have a little cousin so close to your own age!

Clayton & Lindsey have a beautiful little girl! We cannot believe all her hair...

3 little boys in the mountains

2011-12-01T14:33:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we took all three boys to Boone to get a Christmas tree. This was something we had hoped to do for a few years, but I am not sure we should have kicked off this tradition with a 3 week old, 3.5 year old, and 2.5 year old. Eli & Knox had a great time, but J and I were exhausted by the time we got back to Greensboro. I was humbly reminded that we need to slow down for a little while, adjust to being a family of 5, and get a handle on zone defense rather than man-to-man. I think Jerrold had his doubts about us surviving the day, but he didn't discourage my plans...he has way to much confidence in me! All in all, it was a nice day.....

Briggs-2 weeks old

2011-12-01T14:23:00.000-05:00

Their Adventures...

2011-12-01T14:20:00.000-05:00

Eli & Knox are two of the most imaginative, creative little boys. The games and adventures they create in their minds always amaze me. They are at home full-time this year and I have been able to witness everyday how much they are ever-changing. These pictures are from a morning that I was so surprised at how well and how long they played together in the yard. Their friendship is so sweet. They really are best buddies.

Briggs Mitchell Simmons

2011-11-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Our sweet little boy is finally here. Briggs Mitchell Simmons joined our family at 4:36 on Friday afternoon, November 4th. Considering the difficulties of my pregnancy we expected a big baby. I am not sure any of us expected him to weigh 10 lbs, 11 oz! We are already completely in love with this little boy. As we drove home on Saturday evening we marveled at how much love God gives us for our children even when we have only known them a few hours. It is unimaginable to me that this love pales in comparison to God's love for us.

Eli & Knox will be coming home this afternoon, but have already spent some good time with their little brother. Knox appropriately calls him, "Biggs", and Eli begs us to whisper around him. The next few days and weeks will be full of much joy and some difficulties, but we choose to focus on this tremendous blessing God has bestowed on our family.

Made for the Country

2011-10-22T16:52:00.003-04:00

These little boys had a really big weekend with Papa and Gigi. Papa took them riding all over the farm, climbing deer stands, and spreading deer corn. They also picked their MaMa a lot of greens from Papa's garden and were so proud to give them to her on Sunday night. We are so thankful they get a taste of the country life in Ruffin...

Getting Ready...

2011-10-09T14:00:00.002-04:00

These little boys are helping their Daddy get ready for hunting season, but we are obviously doing our best to get ready for baby brother too! There is a lot of excitement around here as we wait to see if he will come on his own in the next few days or weeks...Either way we should have a new baby by the end of the month!

Me too, little boy...

2011-09-07T15:21:00.003-04:00

Eli has a headache...I can totally understand. Today is one of the busiest days of the year in our children's ministry. Tonight is our first night of Awana! We are all so excited to get started and delve into a year of studying God's Word. This is how our day went:

9:45-We leave for church and head by the dry cleaners on the way. I ran over something leaving the dry cleaners and we limped all the way to the church.

10:00-We arrive at the church and the entire car leans forward. You could hear the air pouring out of my front left tire.

11:00-Jerrold comes to change the tire...

12:00-we drop the car off at the tire shop and they promise a 45 minute wait...Jerrold leaves me at the shopping center to wait for the car...

12:15-We head to Barnes and Noble to eat lunch with our new lunch boxes (thanks Papa and GG)...This didn't last long because Papa and GG have introduced our children to the treats of Starbucks and Knox proceeds to yell at me over and over, "Mommy, you going to buy us a Stabucks! A Stabucks, Mommy, Yi-Yi and me want a Stabucks!"

12:20-Barnes and Noble field trip comes to an end...

12:45-We waddle our way to return to tire shop for our car.

1:00-Everyone waiting with us decides that it is a beautiful day and they would rather wait outside...

1:30-Still waiting...Knox has used the restroom in every store we visit. I think the tire shop broke him though, he walked in and said, "Oh my goodness, dis is messy."

2:00-Arrive home to find that the washer has flooded and the water has reached more than 10 feet from said washer. Another, "oh my goodness" from both my little helpers.

Eli decided he needed a head and back massage to recover...I'm not sure what I need.

Page Pirates

2011-09-06T09:40:00.002-04:00

We took the boys to a Page Pirates football game this past Friday night. They loved it! Knox asks to go to some sort of sporting event everyday. Eli's first question when we walked in the gates was, "Why are there girls on the field?" His Daddy told him that one day it wouldn't bother him at all if there were girls at a football game....

Still here...

2011-09-06T09:27:00.004-04:00

These little boys are keeping us very busy these days! We are constantly intriqued by their ever-changing personalities. Knox is a constant chatter-box, talking ALL. THE. TIME. He never stops and still asks, "why", after every word we say to him. He is also fiercely independent, telling me all the time, "I not need any helps." Eli is still his biggest hero, and the feeling has become more mutual in recent weeks. They rely on each other for a lot and are a bit thrown off if not together. We are making a greater effort to spend individual time with them, especially before the baby comes in a few weeks.

Eli loves to learn, practice writing, and even reading. He has learned a few sight words and is very proud of the little books he can "read". We are working through the alphabet and he amazes me at how well he retains all we do together.

They keep us laughing!

2011-07-24T20:39:00.002-04:00

Eli is known to say some of the most hilarious statements. Today at church I combined his and Knox's class and sat down to sing with them. I told them we were going to sing, "My God is so Big". Eli raises his hand and says, "Mom, how bout some Chris Tomlin?"

Recently I put a new pair of sandals on Eli. He had never worn strappy sandals before and he stood up, looked down at his feet, and proclaimed, "Well my goodness Mommy, I wook just like Jesus Christ the Lord." Jerrold and I were dying laughing.

Eli also says very interesting comments that are way out of his age range. We joke that he is an old man stuck in a little body. We co-hosted an event for our Karen refugee teenagers at church. As we stood on the field watching them all run around and play games Eli looked at me and said, "Mommy, isn't it beautiful to see all dese peoples enjoying demselves." Whew, not a 3 year old comment.

Knox on the other hand is not nearly as insightful or deep. He does say funny things, but more often asks questions that relate directly to himself. Typical 2 year old behavior. He strongly prefers for me to put him to bed at night, more often than not, he will pitch a fit if his Daddy does the routine. We have been practicing having Daddy put him to bed, and the last several nights he has begun to ask me at 5:00, "Mommy, you put me to bed tonight?" My Mom reports that I started asking every afternoon about the same time if she was going to rock me at night....Tonight as I tiptoed by his room, assuming he was asleep, I sneezed. I immediately heard the sweetest little high-pitched voice, "Bess you, Mommy", "Mommy, you hear me, I say bess you". He. is. a. mess.

Sleeping on the job...

2011-07-24T20:34:00.003-04:00

Eli and I have been working through some awesome Answers in Genesis curriculum each day while Knox naps. He loves the worksheets and special attention. This past week I told him he could go to his room for a few minutes of quiet time and he chose his animal flash cards to study. I think he might have "studied" for about 3 minutes. This little boy cannot get near his room and hold his eyelids open...

Aunt Na's Wedding Day!

2011-07-19T08:51:00.004-04:00

We had so much fun at Aunt Na's wedding! Anna looked beautiful and so did MaMa & Paas! The wedding was outside and the weather was perfect!

Our little boys were completely full of themselves. They danced the night away, entertained the guests, and flirted with bridesmaids. We were a little surprised at how excited they were and how long they lasted into the night. They had looked forward to the wedding cake all day and as you can see, it did not disappoint! What a fun night with our family!

His idea of fun...

2011-07-12T15:03:00.003-04:00

This little boy is so unpredictable. This was the scene last week when I walked in to get him up for breakfast. He had completely stripped his clothes and diaper. I'm not sure Eli could get his shirt off if it was on fire, but Knox can do anything that he pleases.

He is talking to us all the time, literally non-stop. He has begun to call Eli, E-Wi, rather than the Yi-Yi we have been used to for the last 9-10 months. He is definitely more interested in the baby than Eli. He asks about him daily, usually several times, and even cradles his toys like babies. He really can be a sweet little boy. We love him dearly and are amazed at his ever-emerging personality!

Cousins Snapshot

2011-07-12T15:00:00.001-04:00

Gold Rush-VBS 2011

2011-07-12T14:50:00.002-04:00

This little boy is so sweet in crafts. He works so hard and is SO proud of his work! I have to sneak in and out to catch glimpses of him...he still has a complete meltdown if he sees me. I am sure that will all cease before little brother is born.....

We just wrapped up day 2 of our Vacation Bible School. This year our theme is "Gold Rush: Discovering the Rock of Ages". A parent suggested we have a mining company come to the church and let the kids "mine" for gold. This was so much fun to watch! Eli so much fun digging for treasures. Everyone left with a bag full of beautiful stones!

My Three Sons...

2011-06-14T13:54:00.002-04:00

We are excited to now know for sure that we will have a third son in October. I have had so many people comment to me, "My Three Sons", and I never understand this reference. It is a sitcom that aired in the 60's so no wonder it is not familiar to me.
We are so thankful for this sweet little boy and what he will mean to our family. I can't imagine the dynamic changing between Eli & Knox, they love each other so much, but I know this little one will fit right in and we will never remember life without him. I feel so blessed to be called by God to raise three sons, it seems a mighty commission. The boys ask almost everyday if the baby will come out now, and we keep reminding them that the baby will be here very close to when Santa comes. They are both so interested in this pregnancy and have been with us to every ultrasound. Eli proudly announces to everyone new he meets that he will have a new baby this year. The boys have nicknamed him, "Orange"...not sure if that will stick or not...

Day Out with Thomas the Train

2011-06-14T13:31:00.004-04:00

Our family had the most wonderful time at Tweetsie Railroad this past weekend. We had long planned to visit Tweetsie on this particular weekend and were so excited to find out that Thomas would be there too! The boys LOVED riding the train and looking at all the sites. They both spend a lot of time playing with our train table and loved seeing Thomas in person. It was so much fun! My Dad and I even took them on the ferris wheel and I can solemnly promise that I will never get on another one. I have now ridden with both the boys and this next little boy will have to find another partner. He won't have any luck talking his Daddy into it either.....

SprayGround

2011-06-07T14:44:00.003-04:00

These little boys love the water! We had so much fun with friends this morning at the Sprayground. There were lots and lots of children!

Rest Time

2011-06-07T14:40:00.002-04:00

Our three year old cannot fall asleep at night if he takes a nap. This means if he takes any sort of nap, 15 minutes or 2 hours. Today, I took him to his room for "rest time" at 1:15. I told him to do anything he wanted, except get into his bed. Well, this was the scene I found at 1:30. I think he played for 5 minutes...

The Old Ball Game...

2011-06-02T13:48:00.003-04:00

These little boys love baseball games. They have learned the baseball song and we often hear Knox singing it to himself in bed. We weren't sure how they would do this year, but they sat through 9 innings and sampled pretty much every goodie you can get at a baseball game!

Golf

2011-06-02T13:34:00.005-04:00

Eli has put a lot of time into his new golf clubs! His Daddy takes him to the range a lot, and often it is just the two of them. Eli doesn't hesitate to remind Knox that he can't play golf yet since he's too little. The real reason Knox can't play is because he can't swing right-handed clubs. Apparently, he is going to at least play sports left-handed, just like his Daddy.

Eli calls the driving range, the "golf performance". We aren't sure where he learned this name...His Paas takes him to the range too. It is so funny to see him imitate both of his teachers! The funniest part is he has already picked up on how funny it is to aim for the tractor picking up balls on the range...

Knox-still a mess...

2011-04-28T14:50:00.004-04:00

His Daddy will not be impressed with me putting these pictures on our blog...We were wrapping up dinner with friends a few weeks ago and Knox disappeared with some of the older girls. This is how he returned. It was too funny not to document. He loves attention like this, he is such a mess. Recently, in an appointment for Eli's speech I asked about Knox's tendency to talk extremely loud, bordering on yelling. The therapist asked me a few questions about his other behaviors, like, "Is he wild by nature?", "Does he like to jump on furniture?", "Is he often rambunctious?". Of course the answer to these questions was a meek, yes. Of course in this same visit Knox was whispering to Eli about a potato head. Figures. She then told me that his tendency to speak loudy was totally behavioral and I better get it in check. If not, he can potentially do long-term damange to his vocal cords. Wow, exactly what I wanted to hear....

Little boys...

2011-04-28T14:38:00.003-04:00

have to be the best! Eli has grown up so much these past few months and I waver between being excited for him and sad for myself. He is now completely potty trained! This has been about a 7 month endeavor and he wrapped it all up at one time. I had a good friend encourage me to night-train him and I was so hesitant to try. He has this conquered too! The entire potty training season has nearly worn me down so I am so thankful it has passed.

Eli has such a sweet, tender spirit. He is very conscientious of all our feelings. He and Knox definitely disagree on some matters, but for the most part he is genuinely a wonderful big brother. He loves to engage our attention and share new finds with us. He is an avid sports fan and will swing a golf club or bat for an entire afternoon. His imagination has really taken off as demonstrated with these pictures of the dinosaurs. He told me that each of them represented members of our family and we were all going on an adventure. His Uncle Evan showed up multiple times. I don't think he could figure out which dinosaur suited him best. He absolutely adores Eban......

5 year Anniversary!

2011-04-28T14:17:00.004-04:00

Jerrold & I just celebrated our five year anniversary! We were planning to go out of town to celebrate but Eli had a nasty bout with a sinus infection. We changed plans and decided to stay home in case the boys needed us. It was the best weekend! The boys spent 2 nights with my parents and we leisurely planted flowers, had dinner with our dear friends that introduced us on a blind date (thanks Sara & Charlie!), and even went to the movies. It was wonderful! Our yard has had a total makeover thanks to the vision of my sweet husband. I wanted a nice yard so badly for our family and he delivered. Love it! Of course the grass didn't all grow last weekend...but he did work super hard on all those flowers!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-28T14:03:00.003-04:00

We had such a wonderful Easter with our families this year. Everyone joined us at our house on Sunday afternoon for lots of food, sweets, and egg hunting. Eli, Knox, and Blakely had a great time looking for eggs. We were even blessed to have one of our Karen children from church join us too. Tah has come to mean so much to our family! He definitely enjoyed learning about egg hunts, macaroni & cheese, and lemon cake. His family is Buddhist but he is planting many of God's scriptures in his heart. How sweet to share this precious holiday with him!

If they only knew....

2011-04-07T21:49:00.004-04:00

These sweet boys are going to have a new brother or sister in October! They are both so excited, even Knox, but I don't think they have any idea what is coming our way. Eli is the sweetest thing in the world talking about this baby. He is 100% sure it is a baby sister because in his own words, "I already got a brother, and I don't think I can have another one." We are really considering not finding out the sex of the baby, but I think sweet Eli may need some time to process if in fact it is another little boy. He and Knox couldn't possibly be any closer so it will be interesting to see the change in dynamics around here. We feel incredibly blessed by our growing family! "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies at the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

Happy Birthday Knox!

2011-04-02T20:12:00.001-04:00

Our little boy is 2 years old! We still cannot believe that 2 years have passed so quickly and he isn't really a baby anymore. He now boasts a full vocabulary of words, and the new favorite is "why?". He continues to be a full-spirited child, often rivaling Eli's even temperament. His favorite person is still his slightly bigger brother and he copies EVERYTHING Eli does. They are absolutely the best of friends and at this stage do not argue a lot.

Knox, you are the sweetest boy with all the "I love you's" and bear hugs. We love you to pieces and can't wait to see all God has in store for your sweet life!

Bihar, India

2011-03-16T13:41:00.004-04:00

Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water."

John 7:37-38

These are two of our dearest friends, Jayson & Marianne West. They are also leaders of our Awana Cubbies. Jayson & Marianne travelled to Bihar, India on Sunday and will be back this upcoming Sunday. Bihar is recognized as the "graveyard of missions" by Operation World. Our Awana ministry decided to focus our tithes and offerings on the villages of Bihar after learning of the lack of fresh water. Our precious Awana clubbers have raised enough money, $800 each, to support the digging of two wells in this impoverished village.

More importantly, these wells are dedicated in the name of the Lord. These villages, where less than 0.02% are Christian, are hearing the name and good news of Christ. Please pray for these precious people and their hunger to know Him more.

3 years old!

2011-02-24T14:41:00.005-05:00

Our sweet Eli is 3 years old! Wow-this one was hard for me! Three seems much older than two, and it is so apparent how much he has grown up in the last few months. We certainly feel proud to call him our son. He has blessed our lives in so many ways.

MawMaw and Paas got him a brand new set of "real" golf clubs. He has an uncanny ability to hit a golf ball so his Daddy already has him practicing...Papa & Gigi got him a "real" basketball goal, and like little boys do, our two have already discovered dunking off the stairs. He also got his own fishing rod with weights so he can practice casting in the backyard. Knowing our two little boys, most of these gifts will require direct supervision....

Happy Birthday Eli! We love you so much!

1st Dentist Visit

2011-02-16T13:48:00.006-05:00

These pictures crack me up-you would think we were doing investigative reporting on Tammy's hygientist skills. Thanks Dad for the great pictures! Thanks Dad for coming! As soon as Eli learned of his impending Dentist appointment he asked everyday if his Papa would be there, and of course his Papa didn't disappoint.

Eli was an angel. Perfect the entire time. He didn't so much as whimper about having his teeth cleaned. I was so impressed. I thought he would do well, but not really this well. No worries, little brother will more than make up for our peaceful adventure this morning when he takes his first trip to the Dentist-I promise. Back to Eli, it was surprising to learn that he doesn't have any of his 2-year molars yet, 3 are cutting and 1 is still under the skin.

Eli and I are rarely alone and today was one of those exceptions. As he went over to pick out a sticker, he quickly selected a Spiderman for himself, but then studied them all to see which one would be perfect for Knox. He did the same thing when picking out his new toothbrush. I was so touched today by how little time he takes to consider a "treat" for himself, but is meticulous when thinking of his brother. He never asked if it was okay to take goodies to Knox, it is just automatic for him. Knox sure does have a great big brother!

Knox

2011-02-07T14:26:00.002-05:00

This little boy is growing up faster than I'd like to admit. He weighs 32 pounds, five pounds lighter than Eli, and is never more than a few feet from his brother. Their bond continues to amaze me. I can't believe at this young age Knox can already love Eli so much. He also loves anything Eli loves. He rarely thinks for himself, always feeding off of anything Eli says or does. Eli's best friends are Knox's best friends, and Eli doesn't seem to mind. Knox, you are rotten to the core...

Dear Eli...

2011-01-12T13:33:00.004-05:00

Dear Eli,

You are almost three years old and this nearly breaks your Mommy's heart. I cannot believe that time has gone by this fast. You are such a great brother to Knox. You always include him in all that you do. You confidently interpret all his babble. You also ask me not to pop his hand when he disobeys, stating "that hurts him Mommy." It breaks your heart for Knox to be corrected.

You have an extremely strong will that is just beginning to really reveal itself. You love your Daddy above all others and ask about him often during our days together. I often overhear you telling Knox, "Daddy is in Stanford today." You mean Sanford and you think he goes there everyday. God and Jesus are a part of your normal vocabulary. You ask us to pray for God and Jesus, rather than pray to them. One day you will know the difference and we will celebrate with you!

You also feel that everyday should be spent hitting golf balls and playing basketball. Another love we hope you keep! You are very special to us!

Love,

Your Mommy

Praying for the World

2011-01-04T13:45:00.002-05:00

We have begun to pray for the world as a family each night before the boys go to bed. Knox loves to pray. We bless every meal, snack, cup of water, you name it, before he will indulge. He takes his prayer life very seriously! We are using the website Operation World and we are just tackling the countries alphabetically. Eli has used the word "Afghanistan" a lot this week. He has reminded me that he doesn't know those little children's names, but he did pray for them. We hope to never take for granted how much their little minds and hearts can learn at this early age.

Here is the site-check it out-you can learn a lot! www.operationworld.org

Christmas and more...

2011-01-04T13:08:00.006-05:00

Our family had a wonderful Christmas. We spent a lot of time with extended family, but we also made some great memories at home with our boys. We talked a lot about Baby Jesus this season and we tried to help Eli really understand why he was born. We want him to know and love the Jesus of Easter. We consider it a privilege to teach our boys about Christ and his gift of Salvation.

Knox is already attempting tricks on the new trike.

Loves the tool belt

The #1 gift of Christmas-a marble set for Eli. This is Knox stressing to him that this gift will be shared.

All Knox wanted for Christmas was a turtle. He was scared of this one most of Christmas Day, but now they sleep together at night.

Christmas Eve with Uncle Ev.

Tanglewood

2011-01-04T12:57:00.003-05:00

We took the boys to see the Festival of Lights at Tanglewood this year. Wow-what a funny evening. The Atkinson family were also in tow, so we were not short of comic relief.

These pictures do a pretty good job of depicting this evening of fun. The four adults agreed that we would laugh about it through the ages.

One of the funniest things said by Eli was when we arrived and were driving under the falling "snowflakes." J pointed these out to Eli and said, "Eli, look at those snowflakes!" Eli responded very matter of fact, "Those are not snowflakes, those are Christmas lights."

1st Haircut...

2010-12-03T12:09:00.003-05:00

Knox had his first haircut this morning at 21 months old. This was definitely his Daddy's decision...I didn't understand the big rush...many tears from me.

He did so well! Hopefully his days of being a beautiful little girl (sometimes dressed in camo) are behind him.

Rubber Duckies

2010-11-21T15:30:00.002-05:00

What a trio!

We took these little boys to the Bog Garden for a rubber duckie race last week.

We had such a good time!

NC State Fair

2010-11-06T14:10:00.004-04:00

He's got skills-popped 4 balloons with only 3 arrows! You can barely see the sign that says, "Kids Always Win." Eli won for real...

We had a great trip to the State fair a few weeks ago. Eli & Knox had so much fun riding the rides and playing games. Their favorite part of the day was the garden area. They loved running around the trails and looking at all the outdoor designs.

We asked Eli on the way to Raleigh what was the main thing he wanted to see. He immediately responded, "a chicken and a parrot." We assured him there would be plenty of chickens, but probably not any parrots. As soon as he wandered into the gardens he found a parrot stand-he was as thrilled as we were surprised. Another funny thing Eli said was on the drive home. He was really quiet from being so tired, but then blurted out, "well, the State fair sure didn't have any tigers." You never know what they might be thinking about...We had so much fun!

There are no words...

2010-10-20T10:28:00.001-04:00

Beach!

2010-10-12T07:45:00.005-04:00

We had an amazing week at the beach! These little boys were so, so good. I am continually reminded of how easy kids adjust to a change in their schedules and environment. Our little ones even shared a room for the week, getting us closer to them possibly sharing a room in the future.

They are just a little bit crazy about each other, especially Knox's affection for Eli. We definitely saw Knox's personality continue to emerge last week as we spent so much one on one time with him. He copies EVERYTHING Eli does, all the time. I have begun to refer to his communication as squawking. He just kinda yells all the time. Wow, he is such a wild child. My Dad affectionately noted last week that Knox really can be a bad little boy. Of course, we are all completely in love with him, but he is an independent, stubborn, extremely opinionated child. One word he does know well is "no". Amazingly he uses this word a lot...He did use the potty several times at the beach. He repeatedly takes his diaper off now since Eli doesn't wear a diaper. Now he is beginning to tell us when he needs to go potty. Again, if he is determined to do something I have learned to share his vision and not fight the small battles...He does still love to be held and cuddled, something his Daddy and I still cherish. We both have a huge soft spot for this little boy...

Eli looked forward to our beach trip for several weeks. He relished building sand castles, sharks, and a sea turtle on the beach. He collected lots of shells too. He was terrified of the ocean when we arrived, but by the end of the week was riding a boogie board. My Dad taught him how to talk to fellow fishermen on the pier. He went up to every person fishing and asked, "You having any luck today?" He has such an outgoing personality and quickly makes friends with anyone he meets. He continues to look out for Knox most of the time. He is an excellent big brother! He reminds me to give Knox a snack, give Knox milk, or whatever else he might think Knox needs. We sure do hate to see him growing up so fast... Every day we are reminded of how precious this season is of having two little boys in our house. They certainly have filled our lives with joy!

Ripley's Aquarium

2010-10-12T07:36:00.003-04:00

The boys loved the aquarium in Myrtle Beach! We spent about two hours examining all kinds of fish, coral, sharks, and sting rays. I thought they were extra cute in their matching Carhartt sweatshirts...

Where have we been???

2010-09-13T13:18:00.003-04:00

Things have been so busy at the Simmons household. Jerrold is in the middle of a new drug launch that is taking up a lot of his time, and I have been over my head with launching the Awana ministry at church. We are looking forward to a beach trip in October!

These little monkeys are still keeping us as busy as ever! We both agree that they are at a very tough stage right now, the 13 months between them is very evident. We have a very inquisitive, independent 2 1/2 year old, along with a very stubborn, wild, 1 1/2 year old that is also a true blue Mama's boy. We are daily overwhelmed, but still insist that we are very blessed!

Eli is talking a lot and asking many questions. He asks his Daddy every morning where he will be driving that day. He is so, so good with Knox. If Knox is upset, Eli takes extra care to sweet-talk him and try to soothe him. Knox is very lucky to have such a great big brother! Eli began potty training at the end of July and is doing great with this milestone! We are so proud of his big boy skills!

Knox is really coming into his own personality. He nods his head emphatically for yes or no. He has a definite opinion about all things. He, too, is talking a lot. He is much "wilder" than Eli ever dreamed of being at Knox's age. Wow-they are very different children!

16 months old...

2010-08-11T13:47:00.005-04:00

Hre is my sweet, sweet boy at a little over 16 months old. He is chattering all the time, calling us all by name, and growing like a weed. He has blonde, curly locks and is still called a "pretty little girl". He nearly has all his teeth, adores his Daddy, and joins us in prayer at each meal. He even says "Amen." He is still such a reminder to me of how much God blesses us, even in unexpected circumstances!

A look back at 12 months old-now that friends, will make you want another baby!

Papa's Garden

2010-08-11T13:31:00.002-04:00

Eli is so proud of his Papa's garden. My Dad literally has the largest tomato vines I have ever seen, and Eli has mastered tomato-picking. His Papa doesn't even have to point out the appropriate tomatoes to pick, he knows! He has paid careful attention, and is very, very gentle with the tomatoes, so not to bruise them. Check out this future gardener!

Snow in July?

2010-08-02T19:19:00.005-04:00

The Before Shot

We had so much fun with another activity. Sara and I covered the dining room table with Barbasol shaving cream (has to be the thickest on the market) and let the boys pretend they were driving their monster trucks through the snow. Eli, Mac, and Knox all enjoyed this messy fun! They played for quite some time, again not minding too much the terrible mess they were creating. I loved watching their little imaginations at work!

Finger Painting

2010-08-02T19:07:00.004-04:00

These boys love to finger paint. They don't mind their hands being dirty at all! I was very proud of how well Knox did with the painting, I didn't try this with Eli quite as young. They both worked very hard on their masterpieces!

Sensory Tub

2010-08-02T18:59:00.005-04:00

I have been trying really hard to do something out of the ordinary with the boys each week. The first week we tried out a sensory tub, filled with dry pinto beans. I highly recommend this activity-They loved it! Knox has a very short attention span, but played with this simple activity for long periods of time. I buried several small toys in the beans, and they both enjoyed hunting for treasures. Even today, Eli collected some of the pinto beans and called them baby eggs. He took special care of them all afternoon, even taking them on a ride in his tricycle basket.

Vacation Bible School

2010-07-07T13:30:00.005-04:00

Knox was definitely not sure about the pony rides at the kick-off!

Poor Mommy had to get a pie in her face on Friday evening at the closing ceremony! Our kids raised about $800 for Operation Christmas child, but unfortunately, most of this money was raised by the boys. In keeping with tradition, the girls of the ministry had to get a pie in the face! It was in good fun and the kids loved it!!

Wow-where to begin with this week! We had an amazing experience last week with VBS! Our average for attendance was 220 kids, what a blessing! God did amazing things last week in our church and in our family! We had a blast, and loved every minute of it!

Eli & Knox were lucky enough to have their own Great-Aunt Pat teach their class. Eli had one of the best weeks he's ever had! He learned about Joseph, Zacchaeus, and Adam & Eve. I was so proud of how much he learned last week. He can tell you exactly what Jesus said to Zacchaeus, and even asked me to show him Joseph in his toddler Bible. I am so thankful he is developing an early love for Jesus and his church!

Pool & Sun!

2010-07-07T13:15:00.003-04:00

We have two water babies on our hands! These little boys love, love the water. Eli is so enthusiastic about swimming, jumping in, and blowing bubbles! Knox has also enjoyed the water a lot this summer. He enjoys leisurely floating around the pool in his Nemo raft. Last year was such a success, we decided to keep our membership at the Atkinson pool! Thanks Sara, Charlie, and Mac!!

Another new favorite activity for these two is playing with their wagon. This wagon was a gift for Eli before he was even born, and they are finally able to enjoy it! Eli loves to pull Knox around the court outside our house, and Knox is plenty willing to enjoy the ride!

Happy Father's Day & Happy Birthday!

2010-06-23T15:30:00.005-04:00

We had a great weekend celebrating Father's Day and Jerrrold's 30th birthday! My boys are so fortunate to have Jerrold as a father. He spends so, so much time with them. We are so blessed that he has flexibility with his work schedule and is able to get home early each afternoon.

Eli tells everyone every day that he will play basketball with his Daddy that afternoon. He normally follows this up with, "Knox will have to take a nap." Just like everything else, they are learning to share his attention too. I am so proud of him and the relationship he has with our children! We are a very blessed family.

Second Child Syndrome...

2010-06-23T15:14:00.003-04:00

Our second child is so loving, but in his own way. He offers many, many kisses and is now bear-hugging us all. He comes up behind me and grabs me around the legs, it is absolutely precious. His big brother is not as amused by his bear hug/tackles. This picture is right before one of the major hugs. The photo above that is Eli trying to pacify Knox with an appropriate hug, not one that knocks you down if you are also a toddler.

I often feel sorry for Knox because so much of what we do as a family is geared around Eli's interests and abilities. I have started to become more intentional about making sure that Knox is able to participate in anything we are doing. As I have begun to pay more attention I have noticed that Knox rarely is "left behind." He sticks close to his big brother and mimics most everything he does. Knox pitches an absolute fit every Sunday morning at church! He hates nursery and can't bear it at all if my sweet friend Becky leaves the room. Jerrold is always the one to drop them off and bear the agony of leaving a screaming child. Jerrold has started putting Knox in Eli's room and he has been tear-free for two Sundays in a row! This is a big victory for the Simmons clan and the gracious crew at church!

Touch a Truck!

2010-06-23T15:02:00.003-04:00

Eli's sweet, sweet Daddy took him to "Touch a Truck" in Summerfield this past weekend! They had such a great time! Little Knoxy had to stay behind and take a morning nap, so this was a fun adventure for Eli and his Daddy! Eli is so attached to J these days. We'll give him choices for certain things and he always picks his Daddy, and he normally wants to exclude Knox. He is just really beginnning to show signs of real jealousy, but Knox is also starting to become much more engaged in all we do. They are both so sweet, and such busy, busy boys...

Park Fun!

2010-06-11T13:33:00.004-04:00

We discovered a new park that is lots of fun! It is the perfect "size" for little ones. This week was the first week that both the boys were able to run about and have fun without a lot of assistance from me. I was thankful for their age difference as I watched them playing together, along with their buddy Mac. Knox surprised us all with his confidence and ability to navigate the playground. Eli and Mac are very serious about their devotion to the garbage trucks of Greensboro! No park can override the joy of watching a big truck roll by!

Eli & Knox

2010-06-11T13:17:00.004-04:00

These are my efforts to capture one decent picture of both the boys. They are really growing up...makes me so sad. Our summer is off to a great start! We have discovered that both Simmons boys love the pool! Eli was a huge fan last year too, and Knox seems to share his enthusiasm for the water. I think Knox will be totally bleached blonde in just a few more days. His hair is much lighter than Eli's.

They are keeping us very busy and on our toes! One of Eli's favorite things these days is a nightly basketball game with Daddy after dinner. He will make reference to it several times during the day. He is a very affectionate, loving child. He maintains a passion for books.

Knox is into everything and not very obedient. I had to punish him this week for standing on top of their art table, and Eli asked me to please not fuss at Knox. Knox wants to do anything and everything that Eli does. They are playing together very happily these days, a big improvement!

This Little Boy...

2010-05-19T20:42:00.003-04:00

Baby Knox isn't so much the baby anymore. Everyday, people remind me of how big he is getting. I hate, hate hearing this. He is still my sweet, sweet baby. At 14 months, Knox is almost running, starting to practice words, refusing to do any sign language, and absolutely adoring his big brother.

He also has a little bit of an attitude. I am almost certain that he rolled his eyes at me last week, after very sarcastically signing, "more". Remind me to show you in person, absolutely hilarious...

Grasshoppers Game...

2010-05-19T20:29:00.004-04:00

Sweet Eli went to his second Grasshoppers game this past Sunday. The first time he went was at 6 weeks old, in the Baby Bjorn, with mommy and Paas. Paas is Jerrold's Dad, and Paas loves Baseball...So, Jerrold loves Baseball, and now it's expected that Eli will also love Baseball.

Paas, Uncle Evan, and Daddy treated Eli to this great afternoon. Jerrold was so proud of Eli. He sat through almost the entire game, not even wanting to visit the playground. He ate lots of fun snacks, which were never fully revealed to me! Everyone was pretty vague, like, "yeah, he may have a stomach ache"....

What a blessing for this little boy to have so many people love him!!!

Dirt...

2010-05-10T21:30:00.003-04:00

My Dad and Mom are creating a major garden in their backyard. This past week they had a huge load of dirt delivered. The boys had so much fun playing in the early stages of the garden. They were a total mess.

SWAGGER WAGON

2010-05-10T21:20:00.001-04:00

We took the plunge (off the cliff of coolness) and bought a mini-van. Jerrold and I promised we would never do such a thing...but, two boys one year apart has broken our spirits and our will to be "cool". Anyway, I know we will love it. Someone sent me this video today and I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Enjoy!

Fun, Fun, Fun

2010-05-10T21:13:00.002-04:00

We are having so much fun in our new house! I have really noticed a change in the boy's approach to one another since we moved. They enjoy each other's company so much more! They are really playing well together and starting to form a more obvious bond. Seeing their relationship form and strengthen has been such a blessing. Eli is very deliberate about including Knox and making sure he notices "cool" things. My Dad shared a picture of a trout with Eli this past weekend and Eli said, "Papa, show Knox. Knox, come here and look at this fish." It was such a sweet exchange...

Tomatoes...

2010-05-03T13:59:00.003-04:00

We are big fans of tomatoes in the Simmons household. Jerrold could eat them everyday, all day. Evidently, Eli loves them as much as his Daddy. I left him at the dinner table on Saturday evening and returned to several partially-eaten tomatoes. He was almost finished eating a whole tomato when I returned...

NC Zoo

2010-05-02T15:30:00.006-04:00

We took Eli on a special trip, just for him, this past Saturday. He was a tropper through last week's move. He was hit with a major stomach bug on Friday afternoon, right after closings. Both boys spent the weekend with Jerrold's parents as we prepared the new house. Eli was so, so sick. He handled it all very well though. We wanted to spend some special, intentional, time with him this weekend since things had slowed down a bit for us. We set out for the zoo on Saturday morning and spent about 4 hours taking in all the sites. We had such a great time!

It's been a while...

2010-05-02T15:21:00.002-04:00

We have been away for quite a while from the blogging world. Things have been pretty busy with our crowd.

In the past month we have:

* Celebrated Knox's first birthday! (I have to get pics from others, mine are gone)
* Celebrated Easter! (lost these pics too)
* Had an EEG done to be sure Knox is completely normal, not having seizures...more on that later.
* Sold our old home and purchased a new one!

Unfortunately our camera died in the middle of all these major events. We purchased a new on on Friday and I am looking forward to catching all these sweet memories. We love, love the new house! We have been in for a week tomorrow night and things are going well. Eli and Knox adjusted so quickly, I was a little surprised. We are all a little more relaxed and at ease with our extra space. We feel so blessed to have been able to purchase a new home and spread out a bit...

Leaving on a jet plane...

2010-03-23T22:32:00.005-04:00

Could eat him up too
Enjoying from the sidelines. His day is coming!

Headed for the runway

Braving the cockpit...

He only holds hands with his mommy this way. I plan to be his best girl for a long, long time.

He was more nervous than I expected. The plane was very loud and he was really trying to take it all in...

We saw three planes take off as we were literally a field back from the runway.

Holding Mimi's hand. She sure is special to Eli.

Eli got the surprise of his life this past Saturday when we took him out to the airport to see Pop-Pop's plane. Pop-Pop belongs to Mac, but he was so gracious to share him with us! Eli is obsessed with airplanes. Uncle Evan noted this past weekend that he can spot one no matter how tiny they are in the sky...Eli didn't actually leave the ground but he did take several trips around the tarmac. Here are a few pics from our special field trip!!

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-03-20T14:17:00.004-04:00

We had a great time at our church's Easter Egg hunt this morning. Eli and Mac were busy, busy collecting eggs, while Knox observed the action. Eli was so sweet to collect eggs for Knox's basket too!

We are loving this spring weather!

One Lucky Boy...

2010-03-10T21:05:00.002-05:00

Eli got to take his Daddy to school today! He is already very lucky (and me too) that his Daddy takes him to school most Mondays and Wednesdays. Today was "Doughnuts with Daddy". They colored pictures together and shared doughnuts and goldfish.

Eli and Knox are so blessed to have a wonderful Dad that works hard to provide for our family, while also spending as much time with them as possible. I am so proud of the father Jerrold is to our children. We are all extra thankful for him!

Sweet, Sweet Boys...

2010-03-09T19:38:00.002-05:00

These two little boys amaze me more everyday. Just last week they truly played together for the first time, and they played for 40 minutes! It sounds so simple, but it was such a touching moment for me as a Mom. They are developing quite the bond. They have begun to babble with each other, it's almost like an understood language reserved for just the two of them. They follow each other from room to room, respond to the other's voice, and constantly look for each other. Eli makes such an effort to take care of Knox. He has really grown into his older brother shoes...We are having the time of our lives! I feel so rewarded everyday to be their Mom. They are such a blessing to us!

Spaghetti

2010-03-09T19:27:00.002-05:00

We had spaghetti last night and tonight for dinner. This is one of Eli's favorite meals. We discovered that Knox is a big fan too. Knox "fed" himself. Wow, what a mess! Knox squints everytime you point the camera his way these days...

Happy Birthday-Part 2

2010-02-28T21:23:00.007-05:00

Eli celebrated his 2nd birthday with a Chick-Fil-A party. He really doesn't love the food as much as he does the playground. We had a lot of fun watching all the little ones enjoy nuggets, fries, and ice cream. Eli's mommy certainly let him over-indulge on the ice cream. He didn't fall asleep until almost midnight...after completely undressing himself twice. I guess there is a penalty for consistently limiting your son's sugar intake.

On a side note, poor Knox was diagnosed with a burst eardrum on Friday afternoon. Fortunately, he is feeling much better! He was so pitiful at the end of last week. And as far as things go with the house, we will be pleasantly surprised if things sort themselves out. We are obviously very discouraged, but trying to stay positive. We hope to be certain of the outcome by Wednesday. Until then, we continue to live out of two houses...has not been pleasant.

About the house...

2010-02-25T20:12:00.002-05:00

Our whole moving situation has been a total mess. As we were finishing up our move on Tuesday morning we got a call from our realtor that our buyer's appraisal had been botched. We were so taken aback by this new wrinkle in our plans. Well, it's been three days and we are still at a standstill with closing on the house. Thankfully we aren't trying to close on another house during this time too. The appraisal should be easily fixed but we are learning that these things take time. 75% of our home is on another street, leaving us with only 25% here. We have been so discouraged by all of this. Jerrold and I both recognize that God is in complete control of our entire future. We have prayed all week that His will might be done. We may not have an answer for several more days on how things will work out. This entire ordeal has been even more complicated by having two very small children that rely on us to provide stability and consistency. This has been a true test of faith for us as individuals and as a family. I must say that the entire "mess" has given us both a plateau for witnessing and sharing our faith with others, believers and non-believers. Regardless of the outcome, we give God all the glory for the things he has done and will continue to do on our behalf. Our God is an awesome God.

You placed Christ in heaven after raising Him from the dead, at Your right hand, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion. You put all things in subjection under His feet. Help me to realize that when the stress of life seems over my head that it is under Your feet. Ephesians 1:21-22

Help me to take delight in You and You will give me my heart's desires. Help me to commit everything that I do to You. Help me to be still in Your presence and wait patiently for You to act. Help me not to worry or fret. Psalm 37:4, 7-8

Such a mess.

2010-02-25T20:10:00.001-05:00

This little boy is going to be a handful. Enough said.

2 years old!

2010-02-25T19:57:00.004-05:00

Sweet Eli is two years old! It is hard to believe how quickly the past two years have passed us by...Eli is such a joy to us!

His favorite things right now are:

* his grandparents-Wow, what a bond with all four of them!

* giving high five's-after spending time with my parent's last week

* drawing attention to anything Knox is doing that could possibly get him in trouble

* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

* Nemo

* Natural Science Center

* Reading books

* Stickers

* Anything involving throwing, kicking, hitting, putting a ball

He and Knox are developing a recognizable relationship. They have "conversations" in the back seat. But, if he thinks Knox is doing something questionable he will yell, "No, Knox" over and over. He also repeats a lot of what we say, and we often hear him saying, "No, Daddy, Mommy" in his bed at night. He definitely has a strong, assertive personality-we are at a loss as to where that may have come from...We are having so much fun being Eli's Mommy and Daddy!

Let the madness begin...

2010-02-14T22:07:00.002-05:00

We have been quite overwhelmed at the Simmons household...The good news is that we have officially sold our house! As most of you know this has been a major prayer request for us for some time now and God has certainly answered. The tough part of this all is that we close next Thursday and have to be out that same day! The short notice has been very tough...And Jerrold and I will be in Miami for most of this week for a vacation...we have no business going, but another break is nowhere near in the future...

The boys are doing great...Eli is becoming quite the chatterbox. He names about everything we see and pass around town. I am so proud of how well his speech is improving! He will be two next Monday, so hard to believe!

Knox is trying so hard to walk. He would be more successful if he didn't laugh so hard everytime he realizes he is standing on his own. He is a lot more active than Eli was as a baby. He literally gets into everything...The two of them are really becoming a duo.

Hopefully we will get it together soon enough and I can post some recent pictures...

Snow Storm

2010-01-30T20:11:00.004-05:00

Watching the sledders in Latham Park. What a thrill for Eli!

Eli loves the snow! He had such a good time wandering around in it this afternoon. J thought they would go out for an adventure walk, but Eli just wanted to stay in our yard and watch his boots slip out of sight in the snow. His MawMaw brought him some mittens and boots for the snow storm and he proudly wore them as the snow began to fall. He wanted to wear them through dinner and bathtime too. He loved looking at them today in the snow. Oh, if we could all be so innocent and simple-minded....

Knox

2010-01-30T19:57:00.004-05:00

Loving the chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes this morning-how obvious is it that he is our 2nd child and not our 1st?

So close to walking, but he would probably walk sooner if I didn't follow him around and sit him on his bottom, telling him he is way too little to walk.

These two are definitely beginning to bond...if Eli knocking him to the floor while they wrestle counts.

Such a sweetheart!

Little Knoxers is 10 months old! We hate to think about him getting so big. I have cherished these past months with him. He is such a sweet, sweet boy. Knox and I have such a special bond. He is so tender-hearted...much more sensitive at an early age than Eli. He definitely reserves a special belly laugh for anything his big brother does to him, be it kind or unkind. Knox finds no wrong in anything Eli does. He stares at him adoringly, lunges for him when he buzzes past, and allows Eli to "wrestle" him. Eli better beware though; Knox can literally out-eat all the rest of us. He eats more than Eli at every meal. We keep telling Eli he better watch out! He is chattering quite a bit, some of it is actually understandable. I do think he makes the connection with Da-Da. He even says E-I. We certainly do adore this little boy...

Just Because

2010-01-07T22:46:00.004-05:00

I am completely in love with this little boy. I ask both my boys all the time, "If you had to guess, how long will you be my little baby?" Eli usually looks at me and asks for milk or a snack, but sweet Knox always grins really big and buries his head into my shoulder. He keeps his eyes on me all the time and wants me to hold him as often as possible. Oh, what a sweetness!

J and I missed him for a minute on Sunday evening and he had helped himself through my diaper bag, discovered a baggie of cookies, and proceeded to help himself to several. He is my ultimate weakness, I don't think I've introduced him to the word, "No". J went to take the bag away from him, but I insisted that he let the baby enjoy a cookie or two...

Special Playdates

2010-01-07T22:32:00.005-05:00

Knox, 9 months; Eli 22 months; Catherine 2 1/2; Van 10 months

Knox and Van at 9 and 10 months

My sweet friend Cambre surprised us with a visit this week! How nice to have friends that you can spontaneously get together with and catch up over lunch and kids playing in the background? Sweet Catherine gave Knox lots of kisses. She is so sweet to her baby brother too. I hope Eli was watching...He still doesn't have the idea that he should be affectionate with Knox. I'm sure he loves him a lot in his own non-expressive little way...Right?

We had two fun playdates this week with friends. On Monday, Mac and Eli came over with their mommies for a morning of fun. My Eli and Becca's Eli were a bit perplexed by their being two Eli's. Four little boys can have a lot of fun together...I can't imagine if Knox was running around too! Mac, Eli, and Eli enjoyed watching the garbage truck. Why do all boys love big trucks?

Family...

2010-01-03T14:02:00.002-05:00

Beep Beep

2010-01-03T13:51:00.004-05:00

One of the highlights of my Christmas

New pj's from Uncle J. She loved the ballerina's!

Opening presents with Uncle J

Eli is still calling Blakely, "Beep Beep". We still marvel at how much Beep Beep and Knox look alike. I think they look more alike as time goes on. So funny, since we don't think Eli and Knox favor at all.

We couldn't figure out where to put all the babies for naptime on Christmas Day. Eli has never slept in a pack and play so he always gets the one and only crib at my parent's house. Well, Blakely ended up in the bathroom because it was far enough away from the other two that she wouldn't wake them up if she fussed a while before falling asleep. You can see that she didn't much appreciate her location. She destroyed a roll of toilet paper. We left her in there fussing for quite a while before checking on her. Needless to say, we were surprised at all her damage...

Christmas 2009

2010-01-03T13:34:00.004-05:00

This pretty much sums up Christmas for Knox. My mom taught him a new smile and snort and this is how he looked at everyone for the past two weeks...

We had such a wonderful Christmas. The boys were given so many great presents by all the family. Eli and Knox have four aunts and four uncles, not to count all the grandparents, so they were pretty much spoiled rotten by December 26. We know each year will be a little bit different, but this year was really special with the two of them. We got up as a family on Christmas Day and celebrated all the magic of Santa Claus! We're already looking forward to next year! I don't want time to go too fast though...It's hard to believe they will be one and two in just a short while.

Santa Claus

2009-12-23T15:43:00.004-05:00

This morning we took the boys to see Santa at Friendly Center. Eli was so excited to watch all the other children sitting on Santa's lap. He kept saying, "ho, ho, ho". But, when it was his turn to join Santa he had a total meltdown...Knox on the other hand smiled and smiled. It will be interesting to see what next year's picture looks like. We only have evidence of the before and after, along with the picture they snapped...they politely asked that you not take pictures of the man in red with your own camera. We are such law-abiding citizens...

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-23T15:34:00.003-05:00

We had a lot of fun in the snow this past week! Jerrold took Eli out on several walks and we went sledding at my Mom and Dad's. Funny...it was completely my Dad's idea to take Eli out sledding. He did all the preparation, wrapped his feet up in plastic baggies so he wouldn't get wet. As soon as he started sledding, Eli wanted to sled with "Gigi". My Dad noted that in the 40 years he has known my Mom (he met her when she was only 8 years old) he has never seen her sledding. Eli loved every minute of it!

Happy Birthday Jesus party

2009-12-23T15:25:00.003-05:00

Eli was lucky enough to attend the school-age Happy Birthday Jesus party. He was such an entertainer for all the kids. I was shocked at how he jumped up in a seat and waited patiently for a cupcake along with all the others. Preschool has really taught him a lot of manners, but he was much messier than the 5-12 year olds!

Busy, Busy, Boys

2009-12-12T15:55:00.007-05:00

We are having so much fun with the boys during this Christmas season. Eli is really curious about all the business that surrounds this holiday. He loves our tree, and has even picked out some favorite ornaments. His new favorite thing is to talk on the phone, especially to my Mom. He calls her Gigi, and now whenever anyone is on the phone it is, "hey, Gigi", "bye, Gigi". He is so funny, he even takes his own phone calls to his room and closes the door.

Busy has a new meaning in our house with Knox crawling and getting into everything. He is pulling up and cruising around the furniture too. Wow-what a change in pace for us! I am so surprised at how much damage two mobile boys can do, compared to one. So far, the Christmas tree has survived. I think we are all surprised...

Christmas Pictures

2009-12-01T16:08:00.002-05:00

I completely agree with my good friend Becky that Christmas pictures are torture. We randomly decided to try to catch a good one of our crew on Sunday evening before church. As Jerrold and I looked them over we noticed that the common theme in every picture was Knox sticking his tongue out...Just some heads up before you get your card!

Double Trouble

2009-11-22T21:03:00.004-05:00

Eli's buddy turned two this week! These little boys had a blast jumping in Eli's crib, especially since it was both their bedtimes...Somehow we ended up with matching pajamas, so we shared one with Mac!

My Sweet Boys

2009-11-22T20:57:00.002-05:00

Not too much going on around here, just getting ready for the holidays. Eli is starting to talk a lot, most of which we can understand very well. He is so loving, blowing kisses goodbye to nearly everyone. His Daddy is certainly his hero! Knox shocked us all tonight and pulled up on a toy chest! Wow-can't believe my baby is big enough to stand up! He still has my entire heart!

Superman to the 2nd power

2009-11-03T19:37:00.002-05:00

Sweet little Blakely was Tinkerbell. Such a cutie!

This is Knox's new smile. Most of the time he grins so wide that his eyes completely close.
He is a mess!

Checking out the dum dum's in the basket. Evidently Papa let him try one...

Eli kept consistent inventory of his loot

We had such a fun Halloween this year! Eli was very into asking people for "treats". We tried to make a few traditional "trick or treat" stops and then headed over to our church for Trunk or Treat. I found both of these Superman costumes at a consignment sale in March. I only paid
$1 each! They were quite the combo.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-29T21:34:00.003-04:00

Cousin Blakely will be one year old in just a few weeks! She is such a sweet little girl...We had a good time at the pumpkin patch. It is so hard to get three children under two to smile at you at the same time. We had fun trying!

Eli-20 Months

2009-10-29T21:19:00.004-04:00

It is hard to believe that our baby is now 20 months old! He still seems like a baby in some regards, but for the most part he is definitely a little boy. Eli now weighs 30 pounds and is really getting tall and lean. He is talking quite a bit more than a few months ago, but still not using any word combinations. I have learned that he can say what he wants to say very well so I don't fret over his speech too much. He is so independent and determined. He will play very well on his own and is really a very content child. He has really enjoyed going to preschool this year too. I do think it has helped his speech a lot. His new favorite game is to hide from us. The picture above is him hiding under Knox's crib. Poor boy will be so disappointed when we lower it in a few weeks.

These boys couldn't be any different in their personalities. I am amazed at how they can even have the same genes. They are both very laid back and easy going, but there is a distinct difference in them too. Knox literally smiles all the time, and has since he was very young. Eli has always been more of the observing, cautious type. He is definitely friendly, but with parameters.

Many of you know how much it used to drive me crazy when people would say to me, "you've got your hands full." Well, they were right, and I didn't know what was coming. Wow-these little boys are wearing us out. I feel like we keep things running pretty smoothly around here but it is a fine science that we have worked hard to perfect. Now when those people look at me sympathetically in public I just nod and say, "yes, you're right, we do have our hands full-i'm not sure what we were thinking." Sometimes I even go so far as to add, "you know, maybe we weren't thinking." Then I ask them to hold both doors open for me so I can fit my double stroller through...

Knox-7 Months Old

2009-10-29T21:08:00.004-04:00

We can't believe that Knox is 7 months old! He is growing up way too fast! (not fast enough for us to be ready for another one) He weighs 20 pounds and is very tall! He has three teeth and one on the way! We are having so much fun raising two little boys. Knox is crawling everywhere and working hard on sitting up by himself. He reaches up for you now too, which is so sweet. He still sleeps really well, but not quite like Eli. I have found Knox to be much more dramatic, if he sees an opportunity for attention he grabs it! I guess he's getting tired of being overshadowed by Eli. What a sweet, sweet boy! We all love him so much!

Wedding Bells

2009-10-11T14:58:00.002-04:00

We had such a great weekend at my brother's wedding. Eli and Knox officially have two Aunt Lindsey's now! The wedding was beautiful! Eli was full of himself! He had such a good time before and after the wedding...Knox was a little cutie too! We think he and Blakely favor a lot!

The Wooly Worm Adventure

2009-10-08T21:51:00.001-04:00

Eli and I had a great Wooly Worm Adventure today. We found a wooly worm out in our yard that absolutely amazed Eli. He was so proud of our wooly worm that he showed it to alll the men tearing up the street in front of our house. Needless to say the wooly worm was likely traumatized...I tried explaining that a wooly worm was not a snake but Eli continually hissed at the worm...

Daddy's Shadow

2009-10-08T21:27:00.006-04:00

Eli is definitely a Daddy's boy these days. He follows him around like a little shadow all around the house and yard. This past weekend we were doing a lot of yard work and I noticed Eli going right behind J respreading all the pine needles. It was such a reminder that they are mirror images of us and we have to constantly strive to be the best examples we can be...