The Weekly Photo

Last week, while on a walk in the alleyway behind our house, we played next to this old rock wall. In between Elanor climbing, talking, and pretending this was Rapunzel's castle, I was able to catch this one still shot of her. I rather like it.

Crisp Air, Apples, Pumpkins, Leaves...

It has begun. Autumn is here! Earlier in the week it was 85 degrees but it dropped to 50 yesterday. There is some snow in the mountains and rain down in the valley. Leaves are just starting to change colors on some of the trees and there is the distinct smell of Fall in the air. I can wear sweaters again and make soup! I love this time of the year and I could not ever truly be happy living somewhere where Fall did not happen. 

Last weekend, we went apple and peach picking with our good friends, the Giffords. I felt so Fall-ish in doing so, which of course made me happy. It could have been 25 degrees cooler, but hey, that happened this week so I really cannot complain!

Hooray for Fall!

The Weekly Photo

Elanor and Eli at Wheeler Farm. 

See our Wheeler Farm trip pictures from last year here.

Peter Pan? Can You Fly?

I get asked this question several times a day. This post is not really about Peter Pan however. It is about a little girl who pretends to be Wendy most days, which means I am Peter Pan. I meant to do a post all about Elanor when she turned 2 1/2 back in June but somehow never got around to it. Now, it is September and we are nearer to her third birthday then her 2 1/2 year mark.

This is another dress I have made. I love this fabric! However, I think it is a bit short so I might add a ruffle or something at the bottom.

Elanor has grown up so much. She seems more like a kid and less like a toddler everyday. She is very fluent in the English language and has been for a long awhile. She is constantly amazing me with the things she says and knows. I attribute this to how much she loves to "read" and be read to. I doubt she would be as good at talking if we had not read to her from birth. She is also really into asking questions---SO many questions! Questions about every page  of a book we read, questions about things we see on a walk, the food we eat, where it came from, where she came from, why people die, does everyone die?, why are people bad?, can I do this?, play with this?, why, why why. Of course this is good. It means she is learning and taking an interest in the world around her.

More than anything Elanor has become really into pretending. I am hardly ever "mommy" these days unless she is tired, needs something important or momentarily forgets. I am usually Peter Pan, but often Mother Gothel from "Tangled, Queen Elinor from "Brave", Princess Aurora or  Malificent from "Sleeping Beauty", Christopher Robin, etc. Tyler is often Flynn Rider from "Tangled", Captain Hook, Prince Phillip, the Prince from "Cinderella", etc. Elanor is usually Wendy, but also Tinker Bell, Cinderella, Snow White, Princess Aurora, Winnie-the-Pooh, Prince Phillip fighting the dragon, Merida from "Brave", and Rapunzel among others. She is also into doing little plot lines over and over. For example, we do the part where Sleeping Beauty pricks her finger, falls asleep and then is awoken with a kiss, Cinderella receiving her dress and slippers and then going to the ball until midnight, Merida giving her mother the cake and turning into a bear, Wendy and Peter Pan talking with the mermaids, etc. We will do these little scenes several times a day. It can be a bit exhausting and we would love it  if she had a sibling, but I do enjoy playing with her and watching her imagination take off.

She also has an imaginary friend. Her name is Boo. In fact, it is Boo from "Monster's Inc." They do a lot together.

Elanor's Favorites (age 2 years 9 months):

I asked and this is what she told me...

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Foods: Artichokes, green onions, macaroni and cheese (noodle dishes in general). Elanor is the sort of kid who will pick out her vegetables in her soup and eat them first and then we have to keep reminding her to eat the chicken and rice. We are so very glad that she is not picky at all.

Favorite Books: "Curious George" books, "Madeline" books, "Peter Rabbit", "Angelina Ballerina" books, all fairy tales (she is really into these from Cinderella to Goldilocks to the Three Billy Goats Gruff) and recently "The Berenstain Bears" books.

Favorite Movies: "The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh", "Toy Story", "Mary Poppins", and "Peter Pan" as well as all of the princess movies.

Favorite Stuffed Animal: her Teddy

Favorite Toy: Rapunzel and Merida dolls

Favorite Ballet move: Pas de chat 

Favorite Songs: "Hey Jude" and "Yellow Submarine" both by The Beatles.

Elanor singing "Hey Jude" in a rather silly way.

Friends: Grey and Micah, Eli, Hazel, Noelle, Elsie

She also loves: singing, dancing, reading books, watching movies, playing outside, going on walks, imitating people, playing hide and seek, eating cookies, helping me cook/bake, going on hikes and playing with friends.

All in all she is a pretty stellar kid. She has her weak points of course and teaching her to be disciplined it one of the hardest things I have done/am doing as a parent. She is overall fairly polite and kind and I hope she will increase in these areas as she grows. She is a joy to have around and it probably one of the most affectionate kids you will ever meet. She hugs and kisses everyone and is an awesome snuggler. We simply love her.

Summertime

It is starting to feel like fall and summer is coming to a close. Our summer was hot, quick, adventurous, fun, and was filled with family, hikes, swimming and friends.

My sister, Jessica, made these videos of her time visiting us in Utah, going back to Oregon and our family beach trip. She filmed all of these on her iPhone, but I love them and the feeling behind the videos. There is so much joy, laughter and summery-ness to these videos.

So enjoy and get a feel for what our summer was like (well, at least June and part of July that is--just while we were with Jess). I suppose I need to be better videographer... Oh and Becky, your boys are featured in the first video. 

Utah 2013

Oregon 2013

The beach video is for some reason not public, but you can watch it here if you so desire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnm-otWC1e0&feature=youtu.be

We had a wonderful summer, but I am excited for fall, leaves, pumpkins, hot chocolate, caramel apples and frost.

The Weekly Photo

 The 1st part of the week Elanor and I were still in Oregon. Thus, this is a picture from Oregon at Tyler's mom's house. Elanor loves swimming and is not scared of the water at all...

The second half of the week we were back here in Utah and so thrilled to be reunited with Tyler!

Goodness! I love this guy.

Mini Trip

Elanor and I went back to Oregon last week. It was a short trip, less than a week, but very fun. We went back so that I could do the choreography for a dance in my mom's play she is directing, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". If you happen to be in the Portland, OR area near the end of October you should plan on seeing this show. My mom is a wizard with kids/teenagers and puts on good quality entertaining shows. For more info go here.

It was a lovely few days of rehearsals, rain, sun, swimming and sailing.

Jumping with excitement because we are at Nan and Grandpa's house!

Multnomah Falls

Being silly.

Multnomah Falls from the bridge.

  

The weather changed on us so we went sailing!

Helping Grandpa steer.

At the Oregon Zoo:

Sea Lions

Looking at the giraffes

Swimming with Mema and Papa:

Cousins, Casen and Colbi also came by to visit and swim and the three of them love playing together!

 Columbia Gorge hike:

Elanor and my mom/Nan collecting sticks and leaves.

Elanor found some Queen Anne's Lace. 

Wild flowers. 

Blackberries grow everywhere in Oregon. Really. Everywhere. 

This is where I am from folks.

A sunset plane ride back to Utah:

We had a grand time and I am so glad Elanor remembers everyone now. She loves her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We will hopefully come back soon Oregon!

The Weekly Photo

Enjoying the rainy fall weather in Oregon at Multnomah Falls.

The Weekly Photo

Enjoying the last day of August with a campfire/foil dinners/s'mores/throwing rocks in the creek/getting dirty in Millcreek Canyon.