Eli Allstars 2018

At the end of the 2018 spring Little League season, Eli's was on the Allstar team. They won districts and went to sectionals. It was a really awesome experience and he was one of the best players on the team. It was fun to watch.

Eli's Fifth Grade Disney Trip

At the end of fifth grade, both Luke and Eli's classes went to Disney. I have nothing captured from Luke's trip, but I did get some video of the silliness of this group of boys from Eli's class. We spent the day at Animal Kingdom. It was a totally fun day. 

Eli's Nashville Trip

Eli got to have a trip the to Nashville to visit Aunt Raeanna and Uncle Josh the year after Luke. We went in March of 2018. 

We visited the Science Center and Eli enjoyed playing with all the different things there. 

 Eli got to "walk on the moon". 

Aunt Raeanna was about 7 months pregnant with Rae Clair. She was a trouper.

Eli, of course, loved all the eating and drinking.

He got to go to the Predator's game and they sat right next to the penalty box. He even was on TV!

We got to be there for a baby shower for Raeanna at her work. 

We did the escape room twice and solved the second one! Eli found the final clue that got us out. 

Eli got a little silly while we were clothes shopping for him. 

It was chilly while we were there. Just left over snow.

I love traveling with my Eli!

Eli at the County Track and Feild

Eli is such a natural athlete. He and Luke have been invited to the county track and field event to represent their school for the past several years. 

Eli ran the mile event for his school in 5th grade in March 2018. He placed 5th out of about 30 kids. I might have been so proud I cried a little. :)

This is Eli doing the long jump in 6th grade at the middle school county event in March of 2019.

Eli Chasing Susanna

Eli and Susanna have this funny relationship. They're two peas in a pod, really. They have a great sense of humor, they see between the lines of most situations and they always find something to poke fun at. They're like their daddy in that way. But from early on, Eli has adored Susanna, many times showing it by picking on her. She quickly learned how to handle him and hold her own. 

Chicken Laying an Egg

We have so loved having chickens. This was a cool moment when Eli caught video footage with his GoPro of a chicken laying an egg behind the AC handler. 

Eli Free Throw Competition

Eli was chosen to represent Woodward Elementary in a free throw competition in May of 2017. He got 2nd place! (Absolute silence was required from the audience or they would be asked to leave!)

Eli's Baptism

On April 27th, the day before Eli's 7th birthday, we were sitting on the back porch with the boys, talking about Jesus. Kris was talking to them about how Jesus took all our punishment, all our guilt, all our shame, and that we had to experience none of those things.

I was watching Eli's face while Kris was talking, and I could see it. I could see he was dialed in. I could see the heavens warring for him. After Kris finished and he and Luke went inside, I pulled Eli into my lap and started asking him questions. Did he understand what daddy was talking about? Sort of. Did he have questions? A few.

Kris came back out and joined our conversation. He explained, "Eli, it's like Jesus is holding a gift in his hand. It's free, and all we have to do is reach out and grab it." Eli's hand shot up in the air, and he said, "I want that gift!"

Writing this, I'm weeping. It was as precious and uncomplicated as it sounds. As is the gospel.

We prayed with him, feeling confident he understood the gravity of what he was saying yes to. Eli is our silliest child. I've never seen him more serious in his life.

He wanted to be baptized at the beach like Luke, and he chose Memorial Day for the day. Truly it was a Memorial Day for us!

 A new man.

Eli is Seven!

Eli's birthday got celebrated several times. We had a party when we were in Georgia for Easter, cupcakes as a family on his actual birthday and then cake and presents again this past Sunday with Kris' family. He's still saying it's his birthday. And why not? He's pretty awesome and totally worth celebrating over and over again.

I got a gift on his birthday too. I got to have him all to myself. My neighbor watched Susanna while Judah and Luke were in school. After his check up we went to Walmart to pick out his gift.

Then Susanna joined us for lunch at Chili's. Which is why the picture is blurry.

It's so rare that I get one on one time with Eli. The child is just fun. He's funny, he's polite, he's easy. In the chaos that abounds in our household, sometimes those qualities get lost a bit. It's amazing how much more settled he has been since that day. Almost like he knows himself again. I love it.

Eli, you sweet, fuzzy-headed, second baby bear of mine, you light up my life! I enjoy you! I'm so proud of who you are, you're very own self. There isn't a thing about you I would change. Not one thing. I can't wait to see what fun things this next year brings for you. I know that you will be brave and take the challenge. You have what it takes! Thank you for loving me and wanting to spend your day with me. I treasure that time, and I treasure you!

So Cute I Can't Stand It

I'm pretty sure this has been on my blog at some point before, but we keep going back to this video over and over and over again.  Every single one of us watches this and giggles out loud at how cute it is.

Snaggletooth

Let me first start by saying that the kid in these pictures looks nothing like Eli.  I can't seem to get one that really represents him.  He's much cuter than he appears, and it seems as if he's caught his mother's non-photogenic genes.  Sorry, bud.

We've reached the all important milestone of loosing teeth, and it has been so fun to celebrate with Eli. The first lost tooth took a little while.  It was literally pointing out of his mouth, and he was just too nervous to let me pull it for him.  Understandable.  

Therefore, this is the last of about ten videos, because I was determined to document this moment.

The after photo

This is what happened about two weeks later.  A result of having a big brother who plays too rough.  He said it only hurt a little, and he was really pretty excited to start school this way.  It was slightly loose, but I don't foresee him having a big tooth in its place anytime soon.

 And this is what happens when he plays ball with the big brother. Sigh.

Eli's Birthday Bash

We celebrated Eli's birthday with family the Sunday before his actual birthday.  While I know a day will come where the boys want to invite every friend they've ever had, I am enjoying how much easier a family party is.  They are fully satisfied, and I am grateful!

Again this year, Eli didn't want a theme.  I kept making suggestions, and all he would say is that he wanted strawberry cake. So, Publix gave him the biggest strawberries I've ever seen for his cake, and he loved them.

In heaven!

Batman and his cousin stopped by to eat some cake.

'Cause really, as long as there are presents, that's all that matters to a six year old, right?

A Razor scooter with sparks was at the top of his wish list.  The wheels and the side of the scooter light up and the back break makes sparks.  So fun.

Eli is Six!

I didn't forget Eli's birthday, and it was much celebrated.  We've just been busy.  I catch up with all the details eventually, but I wanted to celebrate my sweet six year old and give him his moment in the spotlight.

(Eli showing off the Lego set he put together, purchased with his birthday money from Grandmama and Grandaddy)

I haven't figured out lots of things about my boys yet, but one thing I know for certain is that Eli's love language is physical touch.  Eli loves to have his back scratched, his belly rubbed, his face caressed, his feet massaged, his hiney patted...he loves to be touched.  And he will audibly sigh when you snuggle on the couch or bed with him and you wrap your bodies around each other.  There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't say, "Mama, come snuggle me!"  My love language is probably as far from physical touch as it can get, but I can't resist his soft skin, sweet smile and desire just to be affectionate with his Mama.  And it doesn't have to be Mama.  Yesterday, he and Judah rolled around on the floor for hours throughout the rainy afternoon.  Judah just wanted to be rough, and Eli just enjoyed the physical contact.

Eli knows how to entertain himself.  He can be found playing in his room, pulling out all the toys to play with them one by one or to build with Legos or Trios.  He doesn't need a playmate, even though he is totally a people lover and prefers a friend.  He is happiest when there are friends over to run around with or to come up with fun ideas of things to do.  He loves to be outside, but he's not a fan of going outside by himself.  That feels like punishment (and if I'm being completely honest, with three boys, it often is).

Eli still doesn't love school, even though he excels in every subject and gets along well with all his classmates.  His teacher feels like he is a gift to her classroom with his cooperative nature and desire to work hard and do well.  I think he just is a little (a lot!) like his Daddy and prefers home and family.  Okay, so he's a lot like his Mama that way too.

My Eli, you delight my heart.  Just thinking about all the ways I love you brings happy tears to my eyes.  You light up my every day with your sunny disposition and laid back personality.  Know that you are exactly who your daddy and I love for you to be.  Don't ever be afraid to try something new or challenging because just watching you step out and be brave pleases us so much, no matter if you do it perfectly the first time or not.  Thank you for telling me jokes, wrestling with your brothers, loving our home and for being my sweet snuggle buddy.  I love you!

A Christmas Adventure

I feel I must give a warning for those of you who have a weak stomach that a couple of the following photos are a bit graphic.  Consider yourself warned.

So, Christmas day started out normal and ended with this new addition (The cast, not the baby.  That is our new niece, Aubrey.  She was added to Kris' sister's family in October, and she is beautiful!)

Eli was not even being that crazy, just jumped and grabbed a branch. The momentum swung him forward, made him lose his grip and tossed him to the ground.  When he landed he caught himself with his hand.  I knew the second I heard him screaming that we were in for a long night. After one look at his wrist that was shaped like an "S", my fears were confirmed, and we were off to the ER.  

We spent several hours at the ER getting x-rays, morphine and lots of local "culture". (I just have to interject here that people are crazy.) 

After about six hours, there was finally an ambulance available to transport us to the larger hospital in Orlando that had a pediatric orthopedic surgeon to do the surgery that we were positive he would need to properly set his arm. While I didn't see many smiles like this during the ordeal, since about three days post-surgery, he has been all smiles.  

This is the normal size of his arm.

This is what his arm looks like three weeks after the accident. Pitiful.

This kid is a trooper.  He's always making jokes, even while they're working on him.

This is where is gets a little gross.  Surgery we totally expected, pins were a surprise.  Not only did he break both bones in his wrist, he also broke his elbow.  The doctor drew us a picture after surgery, and the two pieces of bone in his elbow were nowhere near each other.  To keep everything in place they had to put one pin in his wrist...

...and three in his elbow.

This past Tuesday I had to take him to get the pins out and get a hard cast.  Unfortunately, the wrist wasn't quite ready, so we'll have to go back next week.  Also unfortunate was the fact that we had been led to believe by the doctor that it would be "no big deal" to get the pins out.  Somehow I forgot that doctors have absolutely no perspective about such things and I didn't medicate Eli beforehand.  It was probably one of the most heart-wrenching experiences of my life to see him laying there on the table screaming while they pulled the pins out.  I was wrecked the rest of the day.

Let me tell you about my Eli, though.  He never moved.  Never pulled away.  Never squirmed.  Never fought.  He laid there, screamed through the pain, and let them do what they needed to do.  Ugghhh...even writing the story makes me feel weepy.  He is amazing.  He has never once complained about his cast or about the fact that he can't do the things that his brother and his friends can do. He has been such a tough kid, and I am so proud of him.  The only time he gave me any trouble through the whole ordeal was when they made him take his pants off for the surgery and put on the nightgown.  I thought they were going to have to sedate him to get that done.  Such a boy.

I'm sure I've learned things through this, but I'm not far enough removed from it yet to not still feel a bit raw.  So far, all I can say I have learned is: 

1. Always take your purse with you wherever you go.

2. Always medicate your children, even if no one says you need to.

3. Always be nice to every nurse and every orderly you see in the hallways of the ER. You never know when you'll be at their mercy.

4. When the first three people you talk to at the insurance company make you want to lose your religion, call, call again.

5. Make sure you have good friends.  The kind that are willing to take your three year old for the day so you don't have to lock them in a closet to protect your five year old recovering from surgery.

I'll keep you posted if I learn anything else.