Cookies

We made cookies for Family Home Evening last night. Josh was very interested in the baking process.

Checking out the oven.

Posing for Mom.

Mmm, cookies!

Trying to get a taste.

Boys

Eli and Josh watching Clifford

Eli isn't interested in sharing with Josh.

Eli's sad face

Sad Eli

Train Wreck

The train wreck occurred near Morgan's parents house several weeks ago and while we were there visiting for Father's Day we decided to go have a look at it.

We think the wreck caused a spillway to collapse, so the road is blocked with water.

Morgan and Eli in an overturned train car.

Morgan and Eli

Melissa and Eli

The wreck.

Father's Day

For Father's Day we went down to Chillicothe to spend the day with Morgan's family. Sam and Amber were also there on their way to Virginia so it was nice to spend time with them.

Watching a movie - Amber fell asleep.

Eli wanted to be with Sam and Amber

Josh isn't so sure about this

Eli loves to play the piano!

My Helper

Eli LOVES to help. He loves to help feed Josh. He will often ask for a turn to give the spoon of baby food to Josh, and if I am not watching he'll grab it himself and feed Josh. Josh doesn't seem to mind.

My Singer

Eli loves to sing. Especially Primary songs. My favorite thing is when he goes to the piano, opens the Children's Songbook and 'plays' the piano while singing a song. His favorite song to sing and play to is I Am a Child of God.

Garage Sales

Last Saturday our neighborhood area was having a garage sale. We had some time in the morning so we decided to walk around and see what everyone had. We made out really well. We bought me a baseball hat (so I don't have to keep 'borrowing' Morgans.) We bought Eli an umbrella, and a sweet tractor. We got a couple of DVDs for $2 each. And finally we found a cedar chest.
I had told Morgan months, if not years ago, that someday I would like to have a large cedar chest for our bedroom. We were almost finished with the garage sale and noticed there was one more at the end of a cul-de-sac. I didn't want to go up there because we only had a quarter left. We went up and saw the cedar chest (also the tractor which we talked the lady into giving us for the quarter.) Anyway we talked about it and decided to buy the Cedar Chest as our anniversary present to ourselves. The chest itself is structurally sound although it does have some aesthetic problems, but I like it! :)

p.s. the chest does have a locking system so I'm pretty sure it will be impossible for Eli to open it himself (and climb inside) until he is at least 12.

Eli checking out the Cedar Chest

He wanted to lie down in it, so we agreed.

Eli and his umbrella

Eli driving his tractor

More tractor

Sprinklers

Last Saturday we were busy getting family pictures taken by wonderful Michael at JCPenny and were late for the Ward Primary activity. We made it in time for lunch and for Eli to play in the sprinklers for a little bit. This was his first sprinkler activity, he didn't ever run through, just stuck his hands in. Maybe next time he'll be more aggressive with it.

The Park

We went to a nearby park so Morgan could have me take a video from above of him throwing his disc. So I climbed on some monkey bars, he stood below and I filmed him. Sorry I don't have the video, but here are some pictures of us playing afterwards.

Eli going down the slide.

Morgan and Josh

Eli trying to climb up to me.

Sweet Joshua.

Eli climbing on the slide.

Eli's Dreams

I'm not sure if Eli understands the concept of dreams. When we get Eli up in the morning we will ask him how he slept, and if he had any dreams. His answer is usually,

I dream about dump truckers, diggers, scoot loaders, garbage trucks and dump trucks.

Or he will say something that we had previously been talking about.

I dream about a river and a man go across the river and then milk goes all over his head.

My favorite was when we learned of a REAL dream that he had.

Eli had woken up early so we let him climb into bed with us. Later I got up and started getting ready. Morgan climbed out of bed and Eli woke up, started looking around the bed. Eli turns to Morgan and says, Where are my fruit snacks? Morgan tells Eli that he doesn't have any fruit snacks. Eli keeps looking around and says, "I was eating fruit snacks."

So Eli dreams about eating fruit snacks. Who would have thought!

Seven Years

Morgan and I have been married for seven years! As Morgan was saying it seems like it has flown by but at the same time it is hard to remember a time when we weren't married.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

9 Months

Joshua Marlin Lasley
17.2 pounds
29.5 inches

Ode to 1-800-CONTACTS

Dear 1-800-CONTACTS,

I love you. Thank you so much for not making me feel stupid when I called and told you that I had ordered my contacts but never checked the shipping information and the said contacts were 90 miles away. Thank you for just sending me a new box with no guilt trips, no extra fees/costs, no hassles.
Again. I love you.

Melissa Lasley
Waterloo IA, not Coralville IA

Playing in the Rain

Eli LOVES umbrellas. He and Morgan went outside to clean the car. Eli wouldn't go outside until he had the umbrellas. Then he and Morgan had a great time playing in the rain!

Birthday Party Fun!

We love to Dance!

Eli wanted to dance, and asked for his gloves. I don't know how where he got it.

Eli's Moments

Today coming home from church Eli was eating some candy from "the candy lady."

Me: Eli, can I have some?
Eli: No.
Me: Okay
Eli: Because we don't give it to people because it will make them sick if we give it to people. Its only for kids, not for Mama's. You can have some later, you can ask Tina for some later.

Today after lunch Morgan found Eli's unfinished candy on the floor.

Morgan: Here you go Eli.
Eli: I don't want it.
Morgan: Can I have it?
Eli: Yes.
Me: Can I have one?
Eli: No.
Morgan: You gave it to me so I'm going to share with Mom.
Eli: I want some!

Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy

Tonight's prayer by Eli:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the day, thank you for the cows, I mean the kangaroos, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(Apparently Eli either thinks he can only say thank you for one thing, or he really didn't care for the cows we saw at the dairy farm.)

Today we were invited to go to a dairy near Waterloo. The tour started off by seeing the Wallaby's and then we were led through different parts of the dairy. Warning** This may be a picture overload.

The group at the dairy.
Close up of Eli.

Feeding the wallabies dandylions.
Eli with the big cows.


Eli got to pet a calf. He thought it was pretty cool.


Check out that long tongue licking Eli.
Family photo with the calf. Only Josh wasn't interested in the camera.
Learning about the milking machines.

Milking the cow.
Eli thought this part was pretty cool.
And the best part...ICE CREAM!
Eli picked snickers and after he had eaten a good bit
of that he decided that he should "share" my strawberry
with me and proceeded to eat that instead!