Paging Dr. Eli...

Here is Dr. Eli on Christmas morning at nana and grandpa's house! Santa delivered a doctor kit! As he enters this amazing stage in childhood of creative play the doctor kit continues to bring pure joy in our home!

FuN iN tHe SuN...

Here are a few favorite recent pictures of our little guy and a few funny stories! Hope you enjoy!! My Uncle Ox's Car is soooooo great!

That was an amazing popsicle!

My auntie LyLy and I hanging out...

Cute pout face...

Mom and I hanging out in the sun!

Sandy feet...

cute...

very cute...

My nana and I walking on the dock...

Peeking out...

May 10th

While getting ready for bed, Elias was almost asleep when he decided it was time to get up and look at the clock and say, "It's 47 mom, time to get up!"

May 11th
Elias goes into his bedroom and stands next to his growth chart and then stands back and looks at it and says, "I'm 24 mom"

May 11th

Car conversation:

Eli: "Where's daddy?"

Mom: "Daddy's at work."

Eli: "Daddy golfing at work?" (He thinks this is what daddy does at work after seeing a small putting green at Chris' office)

Mom: "Well, no daddy is working on the computer at his office."

Eli: "I want to go see daddy at work."

Mom: "Well, tomorrow we get to drive by daddy's work on our way to Brainerd."

Eli: "Lucky dog."

May 24th

After waking up from a nap Eli walks over to the door and says, "I'm going to Target mom, see you later."

New favorite Eli phrases:

"Holy Moly"

"Oh Bummer"

"I'm okay"

"All better"

"Oh darnit"

I love you Ox's Car

Eli's 2nd Birthday - Grandpa & Nana Vogt's

Conversations with Eli...

Elias and Addie last fall....now they both look so different and grown up!Kiss from Brinnon...one of my many girlfriends!Easter egg hunt at nana and grandpa's!Painting together!My little artist!Minnows...oh, the deep love of minnows!!Matching hats with Avery!First ice-fishing experience!Although I've enjoyed not having internet at home for many reasons, I have missed being able to share the life of our little guy...our 2 year old who has grown....oh so much...oh so fast! I've been writing things down to share and let me tell you my friends, there is so much to share! Here are just a few of the many new milestones of our little boy! (but he will tell you he is a "big boy" now)

One of the huge changes has been that we can now have full on conversations with Eli...conversations that make sense! It is so sweet how he expresses himself...asks questions...and makes comments!

While driving in the car:

Eli: "I see horses mama!"

Mom: "Do you see the horses?"

Eli: "I saw a whole bunch of horses mama!"

While playing with Addie(also 2 years old) in our little play kitchen:

Eli: "What are you doing Addie?"

Addie: "I'm doing the dishes Eli."

Eli: "You doing the dishes?"

Addie: "Yes, I'm doing the dishes."

While having a movement (which is a big event):

Eli: "pooping mama....pooping mama...POOPING MAMA!"

Mom: "Mama will hold you."

Eli: "Oh my gosh!" "Oh my gosh!"

Questions, comments, and concerns from Eli:

"You want to play basketball mama?"

"Let's go to Fairbault and get minnows dada!"

"Eli needs a snack."

"Can I have some please?"

A few months ago, Elias started singing....and continues to sing a ton! He sings many songs, like "twinkle, twinkle", "jingle bells", "old mcdonald", many songs from music class...and the list goes on. But I will never forget the day (about 2 months ago) that he sang the ABC's from beginning to end. I cried!

This spring we've continued our ECFE class "toddling toddlers" and we've joined an art class in St. Paul called "Art with Ellen"...he loves it! He absolutely loves going to Addies house three mornings a week...which has been such a blessing! But most of all we've enjoyed being home playing outside, going to the park and having play dates with friends!

I have to end this blog now because I'm running out of time...but I'm looking forward to sharing more as Elias continues to grow. It is my goal to share more often! And, we LOVE reading updates from you all!

HAPPY MAY DAY!!!!!!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a very happy new year...a year filled with love and laughter! Our little guy sure is filling our lives with love and laughter as he continues to blossom at this toddler stage. It is hard to believe that he will be 2 in just three months. The best way to describe him right now is that he is still a little peanut with big boy attributes. The words that come out of him surprise us daily...he is starting to say things like:
"wait a minute" (and using this in context)
"dada doing?, mama doing?" (wondering where we are and what we are doing)
"Eli do it" (independence...independence)
"mama hold you" (mama hold me please)...although I sure do wish he could hold me too!
"monsters be still", (from the book "where the wild things are"...he is very curious about monsters)
"I'm gonna get you" (he loves being chased and hiding)
Just a few minutes ago he said "more water in there" because his water cup was empty...
And my latest favorite is his snuggling...or "nuggling". He snuggles with his hockey blanket and tries to bunch it up under his chin...it is too cute!

We just joined a gymnastics class called "tiny tumblers", which he loves. Learning to do a somersault has been a highlight "somersault mama", and we can't forget the "jumpa jumpa" on the trampoline!
Here are a few pictures from November and December of our little "big" boy!

The four red-heads...Raine, Eli, Brian and Ian

The fishermen...Eli loved touching the Walleye's eyes!

Cousins...

Grace and Eli

Sister Ski on the beautiful trails near our parents home....

New rocking horse...

Music concert on Christmas morning....can you find Eli?

Happy New Year!! Love and Hugs....

Kathy Ekern

Mom,
It has been exactly 19 years since you left this world… I wanted to let you know that your family misses you, and we hope you are doing well in your next journey. I’m sure you have been watching over your two grandsons, Elias and Liam, and know that they are happy and healthy toddlers. Although they will not have the fortune to meet you face to face, be sure they will know about you; what type of person you were, and what you meant to this family. We talk about you often, and think about you even more. I know that you would absolutely love the boys, and would enjoy every moment of being a “Nana”.

I miss you. I love you.

Chris