Super Model Carli

Yesterday after I was done trimming Carli's bangs, she turned around and said, "Now cut the back!" I tried to tell her that she only needed a trim in the front, but she was insistent that she wanted to cut the back as well. She sat still on the counter for a good 25 minutes while I put some layers in her hair! She loves getting her hair cut. I think it turned out pretty well for a complete amateur. It actually looks a lot like the haircut that I have right now (except I don't have bangs).

After I took a picture of the back, she decided it was super model time and put on a show for me. She kept saying, "Oooh! Get this one! Take a picture of this move!" It was hilarious... as you can see from these photos!

Spontaneous Photo Shoot: Eli

What a cute boy! This morning after I did Eli's hair he agreed to take some photos for Dad and I think they turned out well. I sure love my Eli.

And since I got to take so many of him, he got to take a few of me. He's quite the little camera man!

Happenings

Last week the kids came home with an assignment from primary. They each got a deconstructed caterpillar and each time they were obedient, they got to write it on a piece of the caterpillar and build it on a strip of paper. I asked them to help me out by feeding Sammy a yogurt. This was both Carli and Eli's first time feeding Sammy. Notice Carli's tongue... she feeds Sammy just like Ben does! heehee!

Sammy was living it up. He eventually started spitting it out, but instead of telling me (I had my back to them doing the dishes) Eli tried to handle it on his own. I can't believe I didn't take an after picture. Yogurt everywhere... Sammy was painting with it on the tray.

Eli has been a great helper and friend to me since Ben left, so as a reward he got to pick a toy at the store. He picked a transformer toy that came with two jets. If you've ever tried to put one of these transformer toys together you'll understand what I mean when I say that they are COMPLICATED! Each of these toys is a jet on it's own, but they also turn into regular robots and then they fit together to form some kind of super special jet. After trying for some time to figure it out by looking at the diagram, Eli brought it to me (THIS IS DAD'S JOB!). Needless to say, I couldn't figure it out, diagram or not. He puzzled over it a while more, eventually just dumped the stupid diagram and figured it out all on his own. He was so excited! He ran to show me the end product. Yay Eli!

Bug adventures with Play-Doh.

Park Day

We decided to take full advantage of the nice weather last week and go to the "Tire Park". We named it that because instead of sand or wood chips, there are bits of rubber tire surrounding the playground equipment. Rather ingenious, I would say... and a lot less messy than sand! Here's Carli scaling the rock wall.

She's been doing the playground rock wall since she could barely walk. She loves it!

The best part is getting to the top.

Eli on the twisty slide.

Eli is pretty photogenic... as long as he's not thinking about posing. When he thinks about it too much he tends to get all bug-eyed.

Cutie Carli. She's a good poser too!

To: Daddy, From: Sammy

Dear Daddy, I sure do miss you! We went to the park yesterday and I really wished that you were there to hold me. I'm kind of sick right now... I have a cough that hurts, but I still wanted to play.

We went to the tire playground. Daddy, you should see that place! There's lots of little pieces of rubber to put in my mouth. I tasted one, but it wasn't very good so I spit it out.

Mom likes to spend time at the computer desk, so I hang out right here and make sure she doesn't forget about me. If you were here, we could play.

I thought Mom might like this pose.

This picture was before I got sick, back when I enjoyed eating. Right now I'm only drinking milk because nothing tastes good when I'm stuffed up. I hope you're not sick over there in Japan. It's no fun!

I love you, Daddy. This is how I smile when I hear your voice on the phone. I can't wait until you get home. Until then, I'll just play with my toys and eat good food and try to be good for Mommy.

Love you!

Sammy

This is how Sammy likes to play with the toy bin: he gets inside! I guess that way his toys are never out of reach!

And this is how Carli likes to play with Sammy playing with the toys: On top of him! This is no surprise... Carli tends to sit and jump on people all the time. She doesn't really have any concept of personal space. =)

The 3 of them

This is a progression of the last attempt to take a picture with all three kids in it. It started off bad, then got worse, and then ended all together. I guess it's good that no one ended up crying. =)

I posted earlier about Carli's birthday celebration at Coco Key, but I neglected to post any pictures of the little party we had at the house. We didn't get a cake this year, but Carli chose cotton candy ice cream instead (it's pink!). We just stuck the four candles in the ice cream and she made a wish. It was a really fun party! I can't believe our little girl is four years old!

Finally A Second Car!

When we lived in California, living with only one car and a motorcycle was no problem. Ben could ride the motorcycle year round... but in Nebraska, it's been a different story! After 2 1/2 years here and three winters, we finally decided it was time for a second car. Ben has ridden the motorcycle in sub-zero temperatures... I think he's earned a car! It's a Chevy Malibu. We got a great deal and the car is really nice inside and out. Too bad Ben left for a deployment two weeks after we bought it!

We decided the car is a boy and named him "Al" in honor of Ben's late Grandpa Moore. Looking at the car reminds us of Grandpa because it seems like the kind of car he would have liked to drive. Here's to a long and break-down free relationship with "Al"!