What a Great Big Brother

Eli is starting to take ownership of his things. This is both good and bad, but we'll focus on the good. On Thursday Morning, he was in his bed on and wanted both Riley and me to join him. I got Riley and put her in with him and he was so proud of her. She didn't mind, and they were just so cute cuddling together.
Then, on Saturday Morning he wanted her to join him while he was reading to her from a story book. It was an interesting story, considering that he doesn't read. After that he pulled toys out from his toy box and helped her play with his toys. She had a great time and you can tell why she loves her brother.

Some Things Kids Just Have to Learn

Eli has seen me take so many pictures of how cute Riley is and I think he has been getting jealous and so he has been asking me to take pictures of him a lot. I decided to teach him how to make funny faces. I truly believe that there are some things kids just have to learn.

Back-Blog Round 1

I kind of feel bad that Riley has so many posts of her baby-hood and while raising Eli, I was working and didn't have time or knowledge to post all that I wanted too. Therefore, I am back posting. Below, if you click, you will find all the links that have been added for 2007.
Look at All That Hair
Merry Christmas from the Koyles!
So Little!
Look How Precious!

My Children

Eli loves having Riley around and I often hug my children and say things like "I love my children." or "My little one."  Eli will replicate my actions by hugging Riley and saying those same phrases.

Cutest conversations.

Dad came home and sat with Eli on the couch. Eli said to him, "Dad, Your my friend." Dad responded with "Eli, your my friend too." Eli then said "Dad, I love you." A few weeks earlier, I was having a particularly difficult time with Eli and after a while, he started rubbing against me. I asked him " You got my back?" He responded, "No, I'm just loving you."


Our family sat down for dinner and we were discussing eye color and I told him that he was special because he was Grandma Danna's only Grandchild with brown eyes. He looked at me with his teasing expression and said "No, I'm not special, I'm Eli.". Daddy told him he was special because he was Eli. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Box.

Eli and Grandpa Don had a fun time playing in the box. It was a long and narrow box and I thought for sure he couldn't fit inside. He started looking down the box and got nervous because of the dark and so we opened the top so the light could show through. Once in, he couldn't fit move to crawl, so Grandpa Don had to tilt it so he could slide through. Eli had a great time.

Grandpa Memories.

My grandpa died on February 6th, 2011 at 89 years. I thought I would take the time and share some of my memories of him. I think that my funniest memory occurred when we had the honor of driving him up to Mink Creek with our family. Grandpa had just suffered a stroke and we were kind of nervous for his condition. I think he knew that we were nervous and he kind of played it up. We were reviewing the alphabet with him and he was sort of playing dumb. We got to the letter "O" and he then asked us what letter came next. Jeron blurted out "P." He then replied "I did not!" We had a good laugh. I think my most tender memory happened on my wedding day. Grandpa couldn't be there because he had just suffered from a fall a few weeks before. He was so worried that he couldn't make it to the wedding. Grandpa always took a liking to the in-laws and my husband, Jared, was included. Since he liked my grandpa as well, we agreed to take a quick trip to see him in between the lunch and the reception. We were met with so much gratitude and emotion that had never been expressed to me before. He was in tears that he couldn't make it and I was in tears that he would show that kind of love and concern for me. I always new grandpa loved me, he just showed it in different ways. He was at every important event that I can think of, from my baby blessing, recitals, my baptism, and graduation. I would have loved to have him at my wedding, but I think that I will cherish the memory of that visit far more. (Funny side note, I attended my cousin Jesse's wedding a few months later and Grandma came and whispered in my ear that Grandpa wanted to be fair and therefore, he didn't want to go to Jesse's wedding either. I was kind of mad, but then saw Grandma giggling. He had fallen shortly before that and was in the hospital.)

Bare Bottom!

This picture doesn't have anything to do with the following story, except it is of Eli and shows his personality. Eli and I were having a power struggle this evening. He wanted to take a shower and I wanted him to wait until after dinner. He didn't want to wait and so he decided to take his clothes off right then and there. Grandma told him "I can see your bare bottom." He replied, "It is not a Bear Bottom, it is an Eli bottom."

Bless the Rebels!

I was in Eli's room and saw him praying. I wanted to help coach him and so I told him that Grandma is sad because she misses Grandpa Jansen and so we should pray for her. I then replied "Grandma misses me." I smiled at his remark and then continued to explain that we should pray for Grandma because she is sad. I don't know what he was thinking, because then he continued his prayer by saying "Heavenly Father, bless the rebels (from starwars.) ... Amen." At least he understands that we need to ask Heavenly father for help.

Peek-A-Boo!

This is Riley's first laugh. I am happy that I got it on camera to share for all of my followers.

Riley Learns her B's

Riley has been spitting with her lips all week and It upset Eli. In order for him to stop yelling at her for it, I told him she was just practicing her letter B sound. For some reason, he found that acceptable.