This expression of Eli totally reminds me of Cameron at this age.

Once in awhile I remind myself to get the camera out so that I have as many pictures of Eli as I do of Cameron.
Cameron is Master Cheese in front of the camera. Eli is easily distracted. But while I was trying to get Eli to look at the camera, Cameron kept saying “Eli, wook at Mommy” so I had to remind Cameron to look at the camera too.

Doesn’t the newly engaged couple just look so happy!? We were determined to go 4-wheeling despite lousy weather so we got creative with our gear. (Richard’s brother James and his fiance Suzanne Stott.)
Jess and I had a great time driving through mud and puddles and managed to stay mostly dry. (Richard’s sister Jessica & I.)
What a good lookin’ bunch of fellas. (Richard, his dad, his grandpa, and his two brothers Ben & James.)
So apparently “Pepsi & Peanuts” is a great treat. You put a few peanuts in a glass of Pepsi and it’s supposed to be delish’, but Laura and I weren’t that impressed. Yuck. (Suzanne, Ben’s wife Laura, Jess & I.)

Well, I would post pictures of our trip to Las Vegas last week to visit my sister but I spent nearly the whole week in the hospital with colitis. So, no pictures. But Cameron did have lots of fun with his cousin Charlie and Adri (my sister) and my Mom had their hands full with the three little guys. So these are just some pictures I took the other day.
Sometimes Cameron asks for things so often at a “bad time” that I get into the habit of saying no without really even bothering to think about why. This happened yesterday when he wanted to blow bubbles. At first I said “No” out of habit but then I thought, why not? It was actually a good time, it was that time of day when Richard is usually getting home. When he is out of town that time of day is always the hardest for me. So we took the bubbles and the ball and bat to the backyard and played outside for over an hour. It was a perfect September evening and Cameron was as happy as I have ever seen him. I am just ashamed that I don’t take advantage of these moments more often.
This is Cameron trying to get Harley (the neighbor’s cat) to blow bubbles. He likes cats and dogs as long as they don’t get TOO close.
Eli is just starting to sit up on his own. He loves it outside too, just like Cameron.
It is so hard to get Cameron to smile for the camera with his real smile. This was lucky timing.

I am ashamed to say that when I was pregnant with #2 I was hoping for a girl. I would have been thrilled with a girl, but I love my little boys.
Eli was a little bit grumpy the first few weeks of his life, but these past couple months he has really mellowed out. He still has a fiery temper, when he gets mad boy does he get mad. But most of the time he’s not mad and he is full of smiles and giggles.

Cameron just loves him. He has to be on his good side because it won’t be long before Eli is as big as he is. Cameron can make him smile as well as the rest of us.

This is Cameron as the farmer at the fair. He loved putting his facing in these for pictures. He’s such a ham.
This is Eli. He’s such a smiley little guy. We love it.
Cameron as a tired sheep I guess. He had a great time at the fair seeing all the animals, eating lots of french fries, and watching the acrobats and divers.
Cameron and Charlie are great buds and he misses him already since he went home to Las Vegas.

Cameron loved the “beach water” as he called it.
This is the whole Hall gang in Newport. We had so much fun on our trip. Cameron loved having his cousin Charlie for company.
The only bad thing about Cameron at the beach was that he got sand in everything!

Cameron loves the summer. He loves riding in the boat, running through the sprinkler, and swimming in Aunt Lori & Uncle Sean’s pool.
Eli is just happy to be alive.

Well poor Eli, second child, I only got one picture on his blessing day. That was partly because as soon as I took the picture he started spitting up, and picture-taking lost priority to outfit-saving.
However, I did manage to also get a picture of Cameron on Eli’s blessing day. He likes to play dress up.

He may not have much hair anymore, but he is a great little smiler.