History of the J Man

We had a fun Saturday as a family staying at home this weekend.  The kids literally stayed in their pj’s the entire day.  Including when we went outside to play in the snow.

Jonah made snow angels, Elliott threw snow at us and Bianca had a great time running in the snow.  We also created a snow “mountain,” pulled up a deck chair and helped Jonah sled down it.  Check out the photos and video below.

This is the point we’re at with E lately:  Wakes up at 5am and cries for Mama.  I get him around 5:30 and bring him to bed with me where he is content for about 10 minutes.  I wrestle for him for another 10 while he asks for Daddy then let him go find him since he’s now done showering.  The minute he finds Daddy he starts crying and heading back for my door, saying, “I want Mama.”  But of course isn’t happy with me at that point either.  And thus the day with a clingy 20 month old begins.

Elliott is talking a lot now.  It’s not always what we want to here but it’s nice that he can communicate.  Here are some of his favorite phrases:

“I want Mama!”

“Not me!” or similar “And me!”

“Let’s go!”

“I want more.”

“Naked paaarty!”

I need to get it recorded but it’s cute to note that Jonah comes out sounding more like “JsaJsa.”

Just as Elliott learned to kiss overnight it seems Jonah has gone from pure scribbles to drawing actual recognizable forms over night.  We’ve always encouraged art and creative projects but until now he’s dabbled in it a bit but has been more into developing his physical skills vs his artistic ones.  By that I mean that he’d prefer to run and jump or hit a ball with a bat rather than sit at the table coloring.  Maybe things are changing due to age or his interests are changing or it’s the influence of school…I have no idea.  Regardless, it’s fun to watch this change and see the new skills develop.

Check out the post it note drawings he did for me from the back of the car today.  I think they are pretty good.  Way better than the scribbles I was expecting.  And lest you misinterpret, those first few are of “mama’s drill.”  Can you tell we’ve been doing a lot of work around the new house?

The one with the 2 people shows one running, but only one…can you guess which?

And lastly, a word he wrote out after eating lunch at Johnny Rockets.

Hanukkah and Christmas shared a weekend this year so needless to say we’re still digging out from all the new toys.  Below are some photos of Hanukkah at Nana & Papa’s house on Christmas Eve.  Highlights were the ride-on Thomas train for Elliott and the pirate ship for Jonah.  Julie was also excited about her new Kindle Fire and Chris put his Leatherman too right to work.

I think Uncle Tim’s shirt in the photo below says it all.  

I woke up yesterday morning to the best holiday gift of all.  A real kiss from Elliott!  I ask him for a kiss every morning but usually that means he leans in to MY mouth with his cheek or forehead.  Yesterday at 6am on the walk from his room to mine he actually GAVE me a real kiss.  Complete with lip contact to my cheek and the SWAK noise.  So cute!  It’s amazing what they figure out literally overnight.  I love it and of course am making him give me kisses repeatedly now more than ever.  LOL.

Some new photos of Jonah’s current obsession with everything involving swords, light sabers or those who them.

Hello Family and Friends!

Our biggest news for 2011 is that we moved to a new home.  Not only a home, but a house this time!  It’s big enough to give each boy their own room and also leave space for an office for Chris and me.  Plus there’s a family room separate from the living room and a small family area in the basement.  So far there’s a lot of unpacking yet to do on the house and an endless number of projects, but we love all the new space.  An added bonus is that it’s located almost equidistant between both sets of grandparents, so that’s been a new convenience for everyone.

Come visit! Our new address is 8050 Lowell Av, Skokie, IL 60076.

The family is also doing well.  Jonah is in his second year of preschool.  He started at a new neighborhood school once we moved.  He did well with the transition but we’re happy that this school also houses the kindergarden that he will attend next year.  He’s making new friends, working on learning to read and write and his vocabulary continues to grow.  Outside of school, he enjoys taking swimming classes and loves to play knights, dragon trainers, pirates or anything else he can think of involving a sword.

Elliott is growing like a weed.  He wants to do everything and play with everything that his big brother does.  They get along really well, though, and seem to enjoy each other’s company.  Like Jonah, Elliott is also very active.  He seems fearless when it comes to climbing but he is also turning into our musical kid.  Elliott likes to get the whole family moving with his demanding cry of, “Let’s dance!”  He’s also our go, go kid.  Any time anyone makes moves to head out the door, Elliott is there passing out shoes and standing at the door shouting, “Let’s go!”

Chris continues to like his job working for Experian Automotive and received a promotion mid-year.  Julie started a new job in May for a company called Neutral Tandem.  Though she didn’t love having to go to the office every day again after working from home for 2 years, it is nice to be a full-time employee again after contracting since 2009.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012,

Julie, Chris, Jonah, Elliott (and Bianca) Diehl

As of October sometime we’re officially home owners, not only owners of a condo, but a true house now.

For those who don’t already have it, our new address is:

8050 Lowell Av, Skokie, IL 60076.  The landscaping has been updated but here’s a photo of the new house. 

Not sure what it is about kids and taking their clothes off but last night, as we were trying to get them dressed for bed, both kids took off!  They were literally running around upstairs, bouncing off the walls and the beds yelling, “Naked Party!”

It was adorable!

We wanted to immediately reach for our cameras but stopped ourselves (they can thank us in about 10 years).  We were all laughing and running…it was one of those organic moments that reminds you how fun it can be to be a parent.  It was only slightly stressed by our concern about Elliott since he’s not potty trained.  :-)