2.5 Years

These cute little guys are 2 and 1/2 years old now and are learning new things everyday. They are the best of friends and are constantly giggling about something together. Their language has blossomed and they now have cute conversations with each other. The conversations usually revolve around something they are playing with and giving each other instructions while playing. This usually leads to laughter. It is hilarious to sit and listen to them play with each other.

Landon has become a little comedian lately. He says something he thinks is funny and busts out laughing. He also does crazy faces and noises and is always making us all laugh. Landon is sensitive to other people and how they are feeling. He often gives up a toy to make someone else happy.

Elliot is inquisitive as can be and wants to know about everything around him. He recently discovered the word "why" and uses it often. We attempted potty training a few weeks ago and he caught right on. He rarely has accidents anymore and has the whole thing down. Now I just have to convince him he doesn't need a Tootsie Roll after each success.

I don't really know what else to say about them, but here are a few of the funny things they have done lately.

* They are definitely in the two year old phase of doing everything by themselves including getting in and out of bed, buckling their car seats, getting up and down from the table, washing their hands, flushing the toilet, etc. When I get in their way, they say, "I can do it mineself!"

* Landon is a comedian. One of the best parts of this is how he likes to convince others how funny he is. After he says something funny, he will say, "Uh, Yah!?" In his world this just means, "That was funny, right?"

* Elliot and Landon both have trouble with the "J" sound. Every night we put on our "PG's" and I am dreading the day when they are called "PJ's" again.

*If Landon gets hurt but it isn't anything too serious he says, "I okay." Elliot on the other hand needs me to "kiss it better" almost every time.

*If Landon does something nice for someone, he gives himself recognition afterwards by saying, "Thank you Landon." If no one else is going to say it, he will say it to himself.

*Elliot came up the stairs complaining that Landon had hit him in the head with something. Landon followed quickly behind. Elliot got mad when Landon tried to apologize and Landon was upset Elliot wouldn't let him apologize. As we were trying to sort things out, Landon let one rip. They both started giggling. Problem solved.

*Me: What was your lesson in nursery about today?

Landon: Dogs

Elliot: Goats

Me: (looking at their paper from nursery) You mean, the Holy Ghost?

Elliot: Yeah

A few minutes later...

Brooks: What was your lesson about in nursery?

Landon: Goats

Elliot: No, the Holy Ghost.

Family Pictures

We went with some friends to the Finch Arboretum to take family pictures. They took ours and we took theirs. One of our children, who shall remain nameless, was a bit grumpy for the photos and we had trouble getting any cooperation on his part. Nevertheless, we still managed to get a few good ones with some great fall colors.

Woody and Buzz

We had a great Halloween with the boys. It was the first year they started to understand the concept and were obviously thrilled with the idea of getting candy in their buckets.

Things I Don't Want to Forget

Landon and Elliot are changing more everyday and they say some pretty funny stuff. I don't want to forget any of it, but I already have. Here are a few of the latest that I can actually remember.

* Elliot is a very inquisitive kid. He loves to ask questions. He is constantly asking, "What's that?" Anytime I say a word he does not recognize, he says, "Where's that (fill in the blank with the new word)?" I love it especially because he asks about nouns and verbs alike. He wants to know about the world around him.

Elliot: What's that? (watching me put detergent in the dishwasher)

Me: Detergent

Elliot: Detergent? Where's that detergent?

* When we say prayer with the boys, it is always a struggle to get them to sit still with their arms folded. It doesn't happen often. To add to the problem, they both want to say it. Here is how prayer usually goes.

Me: Dear Heavenly Father...

Landon: Dear Heavenly Father...

Elliot: No, I say it!

Landon: No, I say it!

Me: We thank thee for the food.

L & E: ...for the food.

L & E: (loudly with emphasis) I say it!

This is how the whole prayer goes. It makes for an interesting prayer.

* At nap time we all lay in my bed together. I love it because I get to snuggle with my two cute little boys. Both boys ask to snuggle, but Landon says "a 'nuggle with you." It is music to my ears.

* Brooks at the park: How do we get to the waterfall?

Landon: Uh, fast.

* We gave the boys hot chocolate for the first time. As they were drinking it, Landon turned to Elliot and said, "You like it, Elliot?"

* HelenAnn was here one morning and was crying to get down from the table after lunch.

Me: HelenAnn is mad. She wants to get down.

Elliot: HelenAnn is ticked off?

* Elliot did something well and was proud of himself. He said, "I did a nice gob!" Neither of them quite have the "J" sound figured out yet.

* Landon always requests the same songs. He wants People on the Bus, Babies on the Bus, and the Mailman song (Once There Was a Snowman).

* If I am busy and Elliot wants my attention he takes both his hands, places them on my cheeks and says, "Look at me." I don't know where he has heard that before. Ha!

* When the kids get worked up about something I typically say, "Listen, listen," and try to tell them something that will calm them down. I guess I do it a lot because they say it to me now too. One night I walked into their room and found them in the same crib. Landon was sitting by Elliot with his hands on Elliot's face saying, "Listen, listen." I guess they could copy worse things, right?

* The boys discovered the joys of story telling. Or at least their version of it.They will ask for story, after story, after story. They also make up their own occasionally. Landon came up with this one and now it is their go-to story. The story has a variety of endings, but this is usually the beginning.

Me: What do you want to tell a story about?

L & E: A bear at the store

Me: Really, what did he do at the store?

L & E: Buy cookies....and milk.