Oh how I love this little face. This is how our little Eli greets the day. He is so happy and smily when he first wakes up. He is now 6 weeks old and we love his smiles and he even laughed last week at Brad. I am so happy we have this little guy in our home! We are indeed a lucky family!!
School is out and the kids are all feeling like change! I took Brad and Ethan to get haircuts and Ava wanted hers cut as well. Ethan wanted a mullet, Brad wanted a rat tail, and Ava went short. The boys are still happy with theirs but Ava is having regrets. She doesn't think she looks cute but i think she's adorable. I think Brad and Ethan both look older with their hair cut like this. So fun to be young and daring;)
I decided to take the kids up Provo Canyon on the bike trail yesterday. It was a beautiful day, so we wrapped Eli in a blanket and off we went. Brad's friend, Mitchell, came with us. The goal was to reach the spot in the river where there are a few cars half buried in the riverbank. It took us quite a while and Eli cried the whole way up and back down but the rest of the group had a great time. We then went to J.C. W's for lunch and then to a park. We had a wonderful day!
Dennis decided it was time to teach his two young boys how to swim properly. They know how to stay afloat and can swim a bit but don't know the strokes or have much endurance. So, now that school is out, they are getting up at 5:50 am and going to the Legacy Center to swim with their new coach;) Dennis is the best Dad!! He is giving up his own work out time in the morning to help his boys. It's only been two days and Dennis says he has seen improvement already and that they just need to practice.
This portrait was taken at Thanksgiving Point with all the Ralph Family. Jill's aunt is a professional photographer and took all the photos. The kids did really well and Ava did pretty good too, even though she was only 20 months old. The kids all look so different now!
Oh my goodness! I think my little infant is gone. Eli has definitely taken to the bottle and loves to eat (every two hours). He has put on quite a bit of weight since birth. He is rolly and pudgy and we love him that way! I can't believe he is a month old already-time just really does fly by faster the older we get!! I am so lucky to have this little guy. Oh, I almost forgot, Eli smiled at me yesterday morning-a real smile!! Happy Mother's Day to me;)
Today Mister Eli took his first real bath in the tub! He seemed to enjoy it and we even got a picture of him peeing at the end of it but I decided he would be soooooo embarrassed by it later on so I didn't include it.
Ava, Jake, and Brad came into my room this morning all excited and told me to go downstairs with them and see what surprise was waiting for me. I could smell bacon so I knew their cute Dad was up making breakfast for us. When I got downstairs, sure enough, there was Dennis in the kitchen making a breakfast of bacon, eggs, french toast, and oranges. There were beautiful pink roses in a vase and a couple of presents as well. They decided to get me some earphones for my ipod (that go around my ears for when I exercise) and the movie, "Captain America". Dennis said he tried to talk them into getting a different movie but they were sure I'd like this one;). Ava had picked some of Grandpa Ralph's lilacs for me and colored a picture of a flower for me as well. Jake also had a few things for me from school. My favorite was his little note that said, "Dear Mom, You're hair is black like the Universe and you're brown eyes are like choclette. I love you so so much. Jake" Dennis also gave me a card which absolutely made my day. He is so sweet and thoughtful!
Uncle David Ralph came to Utah for work this past week so we got together at Grandma and Grandpa Ralph's for a dinner on Friday night. Unfortunately, Don and Jill couldn't come because they had Jill's dad's birthday party and Dale and Anita couldn't make it either. But Darin and Sunny came with cute little Summer and Savanna. Grandma was gone as well. She was in Washington visiting Deanna. We decided to have pizza for dinner and had so much fun just sitting around and visiting. The kids played a bit and watched tv together.
Here's my cute hubby running, or coming in from running his first marathon. He ran all 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 25 minutes. He was very happy with his time and now that he has had time to recover thinks he will do more of these marathons. The little kids (except Eli who we left with Grandma and Grandpa Merrill) and I made it over to Provo about 5 minutes before Dennis came down the road. I got a little emotional as he ran past (I blame it on the hormones-post delivery;) I was very proud of him for doing something I know I will never attempt!!
My babies always give the best scowls! Ava used to give us her "angry eyes" on command-I wonder if Eli will too! Here is our little bug at 3 weeks old. He is such a sweet little boy until 5pm and then he has a very fussy period until he goes to bed at 8pm. He's a very good eater too and has gained quite a bit of weight I'm sure.
While Ellie was here, she took a photo of our family with baby Eli. As you can see we took the photo at mom and dad's house. I think this family is a good family. Eli looks like he is squished. 
Ava lookes like she does'nt look like she has him too well. Are baby started out as 7 pounds and 13 ounces. And now he weighs 8 pounds and 7 ounces. And he grew 2 inces long. 
I just had to get Dennis and Eli sleeping together in a chair. I know I have one similar of Dennis and Jake and I think the rest of the kids too. I love baby bums when they're all curled up into a ball!
Dennis earned the nickname "Pig" when he was just a toddler and ate not only his birthday cake but Don's too. We came across these photos of Dennis and Don when they were babies and think Eli should be called "Little Pig". Dennis is baby "A" in the first photo (baby on the left) and he's the baby with the yellow vest in the lower picture (on the right). Little Eli looks a lot like his Daddy for sure!
Meeka the Maine Coon Look at this girl! She is the funniest little cat. She follows us around and even begs for treats like the dogs. Sh...
