Relay for Life 2011

The Relay for Life this year was on June 10-11, a very emotional weekend for us, as it was the same weekend two years ago that we lost Mimi.



Eli did his part walking for Mimi earlier in the day. Unfortunately, the Relay started a little later this year at 6:00, so he could only stay for a few hours.



Mama brought the youngest member of the team home and put him to bed while MJ spent the night. He behaved very well - thank you for treating the guests kindly, buddy! He missed the Luminaria laps because they didn't start until 9:00, but the bags he decorated burned bright for hours.

Meanwhile, back at the Teal Team campsite throughout the night, Mama, Daddy, Grampy, Auntie Heather, Jen, and Erica stayed overnight, taking turns walking the track.

Most of us got to lay down for a bit, but with the lights and noise, no one got much sleep. Here are Daddy, Auntie Heather and Jen taking a snooze...zzz...zzz...



Things to remember for next year: If Mama and Daddy don't go to bed, then come home to a toddler who has slept all night, it leads to a miserable Mama and Daddy! I don't think we can both do it next year and if we do, we need to plan it better. MJ even offered to stay. I think I was on a getting home high and told her we were fine and she could totally head out. About 20 minutes later...total crash!

Overall, the Teal Team raised almost $4400 for the American Cancer Society. We miss you, Mimi!

That's my...boy?

Someday, he is going to kill me for posting these...

I left the room for a few minutes and heard Eli stomping around. When I came back, this is what I found...



He put them on all by himself...and he picked the only pair of heels that were out. He was so proud of himself, too.

A few days later, he got my sunglasses. He even struck a pose for Mama!



The fact that he is not wearing pants is my fault. He hates to put them on, so at the end of the day, I don't make him.

Eli - all boy by day, ambiguously dressed by night!

Ironstone Farm

Darcy brought us to Volunteer Appreciation Day at Ironstone Farm in Andover.

I am not sure if Eli appreciated it, but Mama sure did! In an attempt to get Eli to ride the horses, Mama got on...because you really need to work hard to get Mama on a horse...



Eli seemed upset when Mama rode away on the horse, so Darcy walked him next to me, and he was placated...until he saw a digger, that is. Then he was disappointed that he was offered a ride on a horse, but not the digger. Is he really my child?

He seemed to have the most fun with the "fake bull" that was used for roping lessons and in the indoor arena.





After all is said and done, Mama is firm in her resolve...he will get on a horse eventually...and like it!

Elmo at the Library

Mama and Auntie Heather took Eli and Jillian to see Elmo at the Woburn Public Library. Eli and Jillian had a blast running around, waiting for story time to begin! Jillian even let Eli hold the Elmo doll she brought with her - she is such a good cousin! Eli loves his Jilly!



Then it was story time. Auntie Heather mentioned she didn't like the book they were reading, but she thought maybe they did something different with it. They didn't. The book, "Old Black Fly," was a about a fly that got into everything, so I thought it was just kind of gross. I don't want to ruin the end for you, but it gets worse. The pesky guy gets crushed to death! In a children's book! Eli and Jillian's faces just about summed up my reaction:



There go my lessons about being nice to all living things with Eli! We'll have to work extra hard this week on that one! I even "save" ants with him by scooping them up and taking them outside. Of course, he has no idea what I do to silverfish and mosquitoes, but I am not as generous to those living things when I find them sharing my home. Ask the silverfish in the shop vac I am afraid to empty - I'll suck them right up (and of course, apologize to the poor spider who got caught in the cross-fire)!

After story time, we waited about a half an hour to take a picture with Elmo. Unfortunately, that is where this story ends. After 30 minutes, Eli was scared of Elmo and did not want to sit with him. Maybe next year...

Touch-A-Truck 2011

Mama was very sad that Woburn's Touch-A-Truck event was held on the same day as Suffolk's Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony! Of course, I comforted myself in the knowledge that Eli seemed fairly overwhelmed and a little scared when we went in September, so I probably wasn't missing much.

I am trying not to be hurt this year because Eli and Daddy had a blast! The only thing Eli was not thrilled about (or so I heard) was meeting Bob the Builder.

Eli got to drive a tractor trailer...



...drive and crawl around on the back of a flatbed...





...AND play on a digger!



He even got to see the firemen use the Jaws of Life to cut the roof off of a car! I heard all about it when I got home. Here's hoping he has this much fun the next time when I get to go!

First Train Ride

I hadn't wanted to let Eli have his first train ride if Daddy wasn't there to see it. Every time he asked when we were at the zoo, I gave him a different reason why we couldn't do it that day.

Today, the stars aligned. It was fate: the train was running, Mama and Daddy were both at the zoo with Eli, we had cash (grrrr...cash only train ride...grrrr), it was nice out, it was time.

Eli was so excited! We put him on the train. We paid and stepped back. Eli got buckled in by the conductor. He looked a little scared and started to whine, so I made a big deal about taking a picture. He stopped and smiled, ever the professional toddler model in front of a camera.



I stepped back again and the train started...so did the screaming. Eli was fighting the seatbelt, trying to get out and screaming like he was being run over by the train instead of a comfortably seated passenger on it. It was the type of screaming and crying that makes your heart ache. All I wanted to do was run over and save my baby.

Of course, we had to wait for the train to come full circle and the conductor had to stop the ride so we could rescue the runny-nosed, tear-streaked, terrified little mess that was our Eli. Luckily, the promise of fried dough and cinnamon cheerios calmed him right down and all was well...except my vision of a perfect train ride for my little guy!

Easter 2011

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny brought Eli so many gifts to so many houses: ours, Grandma's, Gino's, and Auntie Heather and Uncle Joe's.

We started the morning with some Fruit Loops, Cars toys, and plenty of books, stickers, and crayons.



Next, we visited Grandma. Then, while we were eating lunch, Eva came over with a basket that the Easter Bunny left at Gino's house. Gino and Eva are so good to our little guy!

Before we left for Auntie Heather's for dinner, Eli and Reggie had a little Easter fun.



We said goodnight after all the little bunnies got together. Cutest. Cousins. Ever.