Dinner

The other night we got Mexican food and we had chicken "chuchuchimekananugas".  And I only think I have it spelled phonetically.

Boat Playing Video

Someone's ready for summer

Eleanor pulled out hers and Marshall's sunhat this afternoon and then hopped in her "boat" and paddled.  She even let Marshall in the "boat" and gave him a kiss.  Once he started pulling her hair though he was sent overboard.  (Side note: Marshall thought eating his sunhat was better than wearing it.)

Eleanor obviously decided that one paddle was not enough and retrieved another one from the kitchen drawer by herself.  Note to Mommy - check the toy box when you are missing your kitchen utensils.

Monkey Mashall

Marshall has a little blankie with a monkey and his name on it and sometimes I call him "Marshall Monkey".  Today Marshall proved he was really a monkey.  Love it!

2.5 Glue Sticks Later

The "playhouse" has turned "clubhouse and I got to play with hot glue gun!

Snow Days

Here are some pictures of our week with snow. 

Sticking her tongue out and trying on Mommy's old gloves and hat

Painting inside

After 3 days at home Eleanor decided to go tribal.

Watching the snow from the window

Standing

Marshall was nice and warm in the snow suit Gran made him

Sitting in the sled

Daddy pulling Eleanor up the hill

Riding together

Love the falling snowflakes coming down the camera caught

Daddy and crew

Mommy and crew

Eleanor pulling the sled; Marshall eating snow

He found out it was a little deep for crawling

Instead of a snowman we built a snow mound and put icicles on top

Eating an icicle and looking cold!  We went in soon after.

Warming up with hold chocolate.  Obviously, this was a popular idea

Looking lovely with rosy cheeks.  (Marshall came right in and took a nap!)

The New "Old"

While Eleanor was eating her "bekfest" this morning we had the following conversation:

Eleanor: Mommy, you're old!

Me: I am?

Eleanor:  I'm old too.  I'm two and half! (proudly displaying two fingers)

Its so interesting to see how they define words.  Also, I wouldn't call myself "old", but apparently I have been that way for about 28 years. :)

Building Castles

Eleanor got some blocks for Christmas and she has really gotten good at building towers.  (This was one of Mommy, Uncle Zach, and Uncle Sam favorite things to do!)  She likes to build them in her playhouse and is fantastic at picking them up when she's finished.

 

Baby Doll Sliding

A wise (and biased) dad just told me, "Eleanor is being really cute these days."  As a biased mother, I agree!  It is so much fun to watch her play and listen to her self-talk.  Her conversations with Baby Doll and Elmo often resemble conversations she has with us and other people.  She takes everything in and has a fantastic memory. 
Anyway, here she is playing with Baby Doll in playhouse.

Awesomness!

Here are some pictures of the playhouse that Andrew built with the materials from Santa.  Eleanor helped too!

Climbing the stairs

At the top

Let's relax!

View going up; Baby Doll sleeps under the stairs

 

The stairs.  Andrew made them from wood he milled out of our yard after the Ice Storm

Baby Doll and back wall

View from the front

8 Months

Eleanor and Marshall at 8 months.  Not identical, but definitely related.

Together

Success!  I got a good picture of both Eleanor and Marshall together today.  Does anybody have any tips for getting them to take a good picture together?

Marshall thought he was big stuff getting to sit in a real chair!