Monday, August 31, 2026

Bunny Day

Happy Bunny Day! 
Elijah was most excited for the candy and the chips.

The Seek costume was also very exciting:

Elise and all the baby dolls were pleased with their Easter haul:

Aaron the worm woke up for Easter treats:

Catherine finally arises and is super excited for...

...her Darth Catherine hoodie/robe thing!
One of my seminary students has one I knew Catherine needed one.

Elise's Easter outfit:

Ever since he was a baby, Elijah has loved to be wrapped up in a blanket. We called him a baby burrito, or a Baby Bito. So when I saw this tortilla blanket, I just had to...
A very, very large Baby Bito

This costume is terrifying.
Why does my kid love horror games.

The giant one finally rolled out of bed and was thrilled by his Easter haul:

Later that afternoon it was time for the neighborhood egg hunt!
Catherine was there to assist Elijah

I guess he really appreciated her help?
That is a decent haul of eggs!

Aaron must have missed the "only take 20 eggs" memo that I tell my kids before the hunt:

Happy Bunny Day Elise with her haul:

Happy Bunny Day to one and all!

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Assorted April

 Seth and Chris at a track meet.
I have no idea who Chris is.

Three matching children:

Nerdy boys playing with Snap Circuits:

Alivia was in a play, so Catherine and friends went to watch:

Seth had his first b'grl prty at our house.
He has a great group of friends this year and I'm glad he took the initiative.


And yes, little siblings of course joined the fun:

Astrid came to play with Elijah.
Much nonsense happened during lunch:

Elijah at Six

Ah, my Elijah Puppy,

I'm not ready for you to be six. My baby. I should probably stop calling you that, but I don't want to. I love that you still snuggle me. That you still want huggles when you get home. I want you to stay little for a little longer.

Kindergarten is...okay. You don't love it. You don't hate it. You ask not to go to school, and then you come home happy. I think half day would be a perfect fit for you. Sadly not an option.

The friend you talk about most often is Ahmad. Ahmad will play Doors with you at recess. But also sometimes doesn't want to play and you get mad. You wrote him this note on a happy friendship day: 

Then there's our neighbor, Juliana. Sometimes you are friends. Sometimes you are enemies. It changes day to day:

For a second you were into Snap Circuits:

Fun while it lasted.

Other favorite entertainment includes iPad time (most favorite of all time), playing with Aaron in the basement, playing babies with Elise, or playing cubes and shapes. 

Height 3 ft. 9 inches (37%), weight 42 lbs (28%). Just a little guy, I guess. 

You also really like playing with Luke Knox. But you have to share him with Aaron so sometimes it's frustrating. 

You still get angry pretty easily. It's hard to be the little one! But you also love to give me nuggles and huggles. I'm so glad that you're still my little one, even if you keep growing up too quickly. 

I love you, Puppy Darling.

Elijah's Six Year Old Interview

Mom: Hi Elijah, how old are you?

Elijah: Six.

Mom: What's your favorite color?

Elijah: Um, blue. Because... it isn't the same color, but I also like red.

Mom: Okay, blue and red?

Elijah: Yes. And also, what does it mix together?

Mom: What does it mix together? Purple.

Elijah: That's right.

Mom: All right. What's your favorite food?

Elijah: Shells. White shells.

Mom: Who's your best friend?

Elijah: Ahmad.

Mom: Ahmad? What do you like to do with Ahmad?

Elijah: I play with him. And he sometimes doesn't really play with me. And we sometimes play Doors... play dying from Doors.  We haven't goed outdoor recess for a long time. Next outdoor recess I'm going to play Scary Sushi with him.

Mom: What's your favorite show or movie to watch?

Elijah: My favorite show is Gravity Falls.

Mom: What is your favorite thing to play with that's not a screen?

Elijah: Aaron

Mom: What is your favorite game to play on a screen?

Elijah: I have two. Scary Sushi and...Something 1. Something 1 is like... something 1. It's like a big red 1.

Mom: What's your favorite game to play that's not on a screen?

Elijah: The balloon game with Aaron.

Mom: What's your favorite animal?

Elijah: My favorite animal... um, I'd say... I'd say like a... a bluejay.

Mom: What's your favorite snack?

Elijah: My favorite snack is pretzels.

Mom: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Elijah: A maker. Yeah, so I can make like a thing called... uh... I can make a game and then something... I'm going to make a thing called... a Rainbow Gusher.

Mom: Rainbow Gusher. Okay, so you want to be a person who makes things, and when you are a person who makes things, you're going to make a Rainbow Gusher?

Elijah: Yeah, and the Rainbow Gusher is... the Gusher is going to be rainbow. It's going to taste like all the things mixed together. It's going to be pretty good.

Mom: What is your favorite song?

Elijah: I'd say Unhinged 2. From Doors.

Mom: What's your favorite Primary song?

Elijah: Yeah, I don't have one. Wait, Sunbeam! I like that one.

Mom: What's your favorite book?

Elijah: Where's My Hat?

Mom: What's your favorite thing to learn in school?

Elijah: About shapes. 3D shapes.

Mom: All right, anything else you want to tell us?

Elijah: You should play this game. It's really fun. It's called Scary Sushi.

Mom: So you're advertising for Scary Sushi?

Elijah: And also, I want you play my world on Minecraft. 

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Elijah turns Six

 Starting off his birthday with Krave cereal!
Featuring Elise

Bigger smile without Elise:
Yes, it's Saturday. 
Yes, he's still up at the crack of morning.

Elijah invited friends from school and church to his birthday party that afternoon.
They were a spirited group, so of course it was raining and we had to move the fun inside.

And yes, Doors birthday again:

Birthday guests with the monster masks they made:

We played lots of Doors related games in the basement.
It was loud.
Someone brought an older brother who had ADHD and autism.
He was extra loud and cried a lot.

But Elijah had a blast, so that's what matters!

Time for cake!

Out go the candles!

The Browns brought him over some birthday cookies:

He was a very happy, very sugary boy:

Can't believe this boy is six already. Not ready to let my baby grow up...

April Elise

Elise's Class photo! Ms. Mueller, 3rd grade

...and her individual photos.
She chose her outfit very intentionally:

Notes from watching general conference.
I also liked this talk:

Making cookies at Freya's birthday party:

Elise loves her friends and would fill her social schedule every day if given the option!