Stop and Smell the Roses

This is just a simple reminder to stop and smell the roses. 
Eli did this at about the same age at the following link:
Roses!

Nae Nae Came to Town!

Nae Nae came to visit for a common relative's wedding.  She enjoyed her time with them as the visit was long over due.  She brought gifts with her as seen in the picture below.  Riley got a tea set that was pink and had the Princess Aurora and Eli got, you guessed it, Legos.  They had a great time with her and she was really patient with Eli as they sat down together and built the Legos.  I feel like this is a treat, since she wouldn't even do that with her own kids.

Riley's Wardrobe

Riley has been growing more and more persistent when it comes to getting dressed. She wants to choose her own clothes and sometimes she will get dressed over clothes already on. Yesterday, she was wearing a purple skirt and she wanted to change into a butterfly skirt. Daddy helped her change and she was upset. Daddy told her she could have one or the other. While Daddy left, she put both on, only she couldn't get the purple one over her diaper. She showed Daddy that she could wear both. She did wear both skirts all day' even though it was in the triple digits. As a parent, you have to pick your battles.

Primary with Eli

This picture is an old one, but it depicts the following events so well.  Today, I got to help with Eli's primary class. I geared him up for it by telling him the day before. At first he didn't like the idea and told me that primary is his time. It was only rough at first and then after a few consequences, he was really good, other than pestering the secretary for another talk. We told him he has to wait for his birthday. He was a bit it restless at the rejection, but one he realized his friend Kyle was giving a talk, he sat and listened very intently. Kyle told of a story about a little pioneer boy who donated his wagon to use for the building of the temple. Eli started crying and would not calm down. I had to take him outside and explain to him the importance of temples. He still wouldn't calm down until I told him that the wagon was used to carry stuff for the temple and when they were done, the little boy could get it back. He was okay at this notion and went back to class.

Somebody Tooted.

John and his family was in town and we were all seated at the dinner table and we heard a loud toot. We all looked around awkwardly, waiting for someone to excuse themselves because we thought it was an adult, and all of the sudden, we heard this tiny voice say, " 'cues me." It was Riley. We laughed for awhile and now, after she toots or burps, she says " 'cues me" followed by laughter.

Eli's Talk

Yesterday, Eli asked if he could go to his friend's house because they were working on a trailer. He told me he wanted to go and help because he said " I am a bit of an Expert."

Today Riley was fussing outside of the bathroom. I went to take a look and see what she was upset about and saw her holding a pair of pants trying to get them on over her dress as a shirt and a small pair of shorts half-way up her legs.
Today at church, Eli gave a talk. Last week, I told him he was giving a talk and he responded "I can say funny stuff." ironically, the talk was on reverence. After persuading him to behave, he did a great job. He really tried to do well and be reverent but he kept arguing about the order of the slides and he wanted to see the pictures instead of the crowd.  Oh well, he was so pleased with himself and when it was all done, we wanted to do it again.

Swimming

Eli and Riley and a few ward friends were invited to a swimming pool in the neighborhood.  They had a great time.  Eli had a hard time getting used to the water and it wasn't until he borrowed the arm floaties that he felt comfortable to swim on his own.  He even had enough courage to jump off the diving board.  Riley was cute and wouldn't let Mommy go, that is why there are more pictures of Eli.  I had to lend her to a willing helper to get a picture of her.  All in all, they had a great time.