S*M*O*R*E*S

For a couple of months now we have been talking about making smores. One night we finally got around to making them. Eli enjoyed every part of the experience. The only thing that would have made it better was Daddy being with us.

Eli and PaPa getting the fire just right.



Eli and Grandma Billie putting the marshmallows on the fork.



The fire looks perfect, time to start toasting. It took a few tries to get the perfect one, although Eli did enjoy blowing out the marshmallows that caught on fire. I actually prefer mine a little burnt and black (crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside). After years of bonfires on the farm I have perfected the art. Will he follow in my footsteps......




After taking all that time getting the marshmallows perfect, Eli decided he liked to eat the marshmallows untoasted. Knowing Eli's personality, that sounds about right. I will keep working on him preferring the burnt ones.




Even though Tatum was too young to help out she was there and even got to "taste" one of the finished smores.

Here Little Fella

When Eli was younger his favorite book was the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since that time he has been fascinated by caterpillars and butterflies. There are several plants in the yard that attract butterflies and Eli loves to catch him. At first I never thought he would be able to catch one, but to my surprise he is very gentle with them and has caught several. I think he might be a miniature Dr. Doolittle. He talks to them and they seem to respond.

In this picture he is searching for the perfect one to catch.



This is a picture of him putting out his finger for the butterfly (there is a butterfly on the plant, it's hard to see). During this time he is talking to the butterfly. "Here little fella. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to hold you. You are very beautiful. Mommy don't you think the butterfly is beautiful?"



This last picture is of him posing in the flower garden after his butterfly hunt.

Can You Hear Me Now?

The following is a conversation that took place between Eli and Grandma Cindy (who really wasn't on either phone). Yes, Eli was using two phones at once. I don't know what was funnier, him using two phones or what he was "talking" about with his Grandma.

"Hello Grandma Cindy, are you there? After my nap I am going to come and see you and Skittles and Holly and Sunny and PaPa Bear. But not, Sammy I don't like him he is really really loud. Okay, huh, okay I will see you later. Bye Grandma Cindy."

He was so serious during his conversation and just mater of fact about it. It was great.

It's amazing how he picks up on the little things we do, for example his Daddy. During the day if I haven't seen him for a few minutes I usually know where to find him. He will be in Brian's office back in the storage section typing on an old keyboard with a phone up to his ear. If I ask him what he is doing he says, "Just, just, just a minute I'm working. I'm almost finished. Okay? Come back in a minute." The ways he says it and his facial expressions are priceless!