Camera Phone Summer

The parts of our summer when my camera wasn't readily available. Luckily, for me and you they make crazy phones that do everything these days, so I can still share all of these fantastic shots with you! I know, your thanking your lucky stars for smart phones!

Fingerpainting Fun

Turtle Park

Loves outside and Loves strawberries

Exhausted on the boat at the Lake.

He didn't jump.. I swear.

I think Coke should buy this picture from me, Classic Summer.

Feather Fun

Sorting animals in an egg carton, one of Eli's favorite activities.

Silly Uncle Darren

Music Time!

Ocean Play: Eli loves take the fish "on" and "off"

(Waves made out of painter's tape, fish out of construction paper with painter's tape on the back)

Water Boy

At the beginning of the summer I was nervous about taking Eli to the pool. I was worried that he would be afraid of the water. Well, I was wrong. He loved it and that first day stuck his face in fountains and came up spluttering and laughing. And then he did it again. And again. He has turned into quite a little waterbug, which is great because water play is about the only way to beat the Saint Louis summer heat!

In the pool with Daddy on our lake trip!

Fountains at our local pool - Eli will play in these for hours (lots of water consumed :( )

Water play at the Magic House!

A local park with a sprinkler, it was flooded due to a recent storm, but Eli didn't mind!

Washing a bunny statue at grandma's house.

Bathtime sillies. Tub crayons and water dye!

Playin in a summer storm!

5 years!

Then...

and Now...

Our Playroom!

This winter we converted Dan's home office into a playroom. We spend a lot of our family time at home in the playroom. It is a great combination of comfortable, but with room to play. This summer, Eli and I have spent lots of time in the playroom and have taken over the playroom closet to hold "special" toys and activities. Basically, just stuff that he needs adult supervision for or stuff that I want to stay "novel".

Futon for lounging or a quick transition into a guest room.

Big floor pillows for lazy parenting.

(We call the pillows "magic pillows" because Dan falls asleep everytime he lays on them. Even if Eli is climbing all over them.)

Book shelf with Momma stuff on the top shelf, Eli books on the middle

and bins of toys on the bottom.

CD player for baby tunes and baby dancing

Eli loves having the CD player down where he can turn it on and off.

Toy drawers. These work okay for now,

but I may be looking into a new organization system soon-ish.

Eli knows what is in each drawer and likes to put things back where they go.

He does however need help to open the drawers.

Below are some of Eli's favorite "special" activities!

Velcro farm board

Pill container and puff balls! This keeps my kiddo busy for like 20 minutes at least.

Magnets and cookie sheets!

Road made out of painter's tape in the hallway.

This is temporary, but I have recently seen an idea for making a

playmat/road on a shower curtain so it can be

folded up and put away when not in use.

4th in Farmington

We spent our 4th of July in Farmington with Dan's family this year! We had a good time visiting an awesome park (no pictures, darn it), eating yummy food and playing outside. Eli got to spend a lot of time playing with his Aunt Abby and Uncle Craig.

I love that Hat!

Playing with his aunt and uncle

New Elmo shirt was a big hit with the little guy

Such a boy

Playing Bubbles

It is summertime!

A few summer essentials!

Softball games to watch..

A good friend to play with...

Playgrounds to explore...

A farm to visit...

A pool to splash in...

A "stream: to wade in..

Wildlife to watch...

Eli is loving all that summer has to offer!