Arthur Elliotson

Dad builds bad puns, Elliot builds cool buildings, towers and cities. I think he's almost ready to move on to real lego. Maybe we should wait until he stops trying to eat the building blocks while building with them.


 

Fun outside

Boy oh boy, have we ever been spending a lot of time outside with all this nice weather. Lots to do. We went to a new park today, and went for a nice walk, and brought back our cans and bottles for eleven dollars and fifteen cents. Elliot washed his car again. He's going to be one of those people who obsesses about his wheels (no offense Joe).


 

First time

Andrea wears maternity shorts, her first piece of maternity clothing for the new baby (who was poking out quite a bit today). Still loose on her, but I'm sure the baby will grow into them. 

Off-season Training

Check out some of these hockey moves Elliot has been working on in preparation for the coming season. He created some of his own unique training exercises such as eating potato chips with your hockey stick and playing hockey with a soccer ball. Cutting-edge stuff. You'll be seing Naslund and Crosby trying this methods out this summer, mark my words.


 

Family picnic in our backyard

Mmmm... salmon burgers, tofu dogs, BBQed carrots and potato chips.  

Elliot in the pool

At the end of a fun and warm day, Elliot refreshed himself in his tiny little pool.


 

Where is my third armpit?

Me: I was so tired this morning.
You: How tired were you?
Me: I was so tired this morning that I got out of the shower, placed underarm deodorant under my left arm, then my right arm and then tried to figure out where my third arm was. Boy was I frustrated that I couldn't find my third arm. Then I realized I only have two arms. Then I brushed my teeth.

There's an avacado in your belly!

I think we are in week sixteen of our pregnancy. A second ultrasound will be coming up next week probably. We're starting to dream of what we would like the new nursery to look like. Andrea has lots of great ideas.
Apparently our youngest child is about the size of an avacado right now. I like avacado.
Would that work as a name? Avacado Ashton. Is that a boy's name?

Elliot has been talking to the baby. He knocks on mom's tummy and says "Hi Baby" and sometimes he shares some other things too which we don't always understand. He's bound to be a great big brother.

perchance to dream...

Every morning when I head into Elliot's room, I poke my head in first.
"Hi Daddy!" Elliot proclaims.
"Hi Elliot. Are you all done sleeping?" I ask.
"All done sleeping." Elliot answers.
"Did you have a good sleep, Elliot?" I continue.
"Good sleep." He answers again.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"

And here is the part that I'm not sure about. He tells me about things, but I can't really believe that he understands the question. I have talked to him about dreams quite a few times and he always amazes me with his knowledge and understanding but is this for real? He's not even two yet.

"Mona, Nana, Russell, bed, woof woof." Was one answer to my dream question.
"Annika, Chloe, goldfish... all done." Was another answer he gave once.
"Mommy, Daddy, Kitty, ouch." Was another one I remember.

Oh well, true or not, seeing Elliot in the morning is still a highlight in the day for me.

Bloggo Da Month - July 2006

Want to see some amazing photography involving one of the coolest families we've ever known? These people know how to have fun! And the creativity that pours from Davey's mom is extraordinary. Definitely one of my favourite blogs and one of our favourite blog families is Project David. And that is why it was so easy to choose this month's BOTM.
Although Elsa's visit to Taco Del Mar did make me remember how wonderful their shrimp burritos are.

Classic Elliot TV - Featuring Andrew on Vimeo

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\April 28 2005\to vimeo 2 on Vimeo

As promised...

An average morning for Andrea on Vimeo

Elliot speaks

Our son talks a lot. A lot a lot. Quite a bit a lot a lot. We are very thankful for this as we can now communicate with him and reason with him and explain things to him and have him respond etc...
I think a big reason for his communicative skills is his mother's patience with him. She so often responds to his crying or screaming with a patience and kindness than I have also appreciated.

He said some pretty cool things today, as reported by his mom:

- As I was leaving for work this morning, Elliot said after me "See you later David. See you lunch time".

- When Tate was whining about naptime, Elliot patiently and kindly offered "No sad Tate" to try to calm him down.

- When Mommy wanted to share some corn at lunch, Elliot disagreed "No corn Mommy, Elliot corn eat".

Stay tuned - You will not be dissapointed

Andrea captured some video the other day, and it is pretty cool stuff. I'm just waiting for Vimeo to translate it for me and then sometime tomorrow I should be able to bring this exclusive video to you via this bloggeroni.

The Morning Crew

Feast your eyes upon this merry band: You may need help. From right to left: Elliot, Andrea, Tate.
Three good looking people. 

A little fatherly advice during a delicious dinner. The subject: How to make binoculaurs with your hands. For those of you unawares, you put your index fingers to your thumb to make a circle and then match your index finger's resulting curvature with the other fingers of both hands. Then bring your finger tips from both hands together and bring the new creation to your eyeballs. Elliot did okay for his first time...


 

Ace Reporter Elliot Ashton On the Scene

 

8 out of 10 isn't bad

This morning, as Elliot and I were picking out his clothes for the day, he started to count. 1..3..4..5..6..7..8..9 he said. Almost counting to 10.
Pretty great, eh?

Watch your step...

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\July 5 2006\DSCF0017 on Vimeo

Wait for it...

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\June 22 2006\DSCF0015 on Vimeo

Elliot makes an... elephant perhaps?

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\July 5 2006\DSCF0022 on Vimeo

Elliot masters the fork

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\July 5 2006\DSCF0016 on Vimeo

Classic Elliot TV - Easter Morning

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\May 5 2006\DSCF0021 on Vimeo

Share and share alike

Elliot and Tate share some Fruit Loops.
 

Wiener art

Here are some pictures of Elliot finding cool places to keep his tofu wieners. He also ate some.

 

Million dollar smile

This is what Elliot does when we ask him to smile for us. He shows his teeth and squints his eyes. 

Pool Party...everybody into the pool!

It might be time to invest in a larger swimming pool for Elliot. He definitely can't do much more than stand in the water, especially when Uncle Clayton jumps in there with him. But Elliot wouldn't go in the pool unless his Uncle Clayton was in there too. And once in there, they played such games as, the little rubber shark attacking Uncle Clayton, the little toy "guy" making sensational dives from the side of the pool and the little rubber shark swimming around the pool while both Elliot and his Uncle hummed the Jaws theme song.

 

Finished Product

A few weeks ago, Elliot helped his mom plant some pea seeds in some small plastic cups on the dining room window sill. They sprouted, grew beyond the cup's capacity and they planted them into their garden in the back yard. Watering, sunshine and friendly conversation nurtured them until they produced some mighty fine pea pods. Elliot had the honour of eating the peas inside and then laughed when his dad ate the pods.