lots of random pictures

Here is Levi's new little buddy, Valentino. His parents are friends of ours from church. They've been stationed here for a while, but we just started hanging out with them when we got back on Island from Missouri/Arizona because the husband (Freddy) just returned from a 15 month deployment in Iraq. And while he was gone, she was with her family. Anyway, Valentino is their only child and he's 5 days older than Levi. So, it's only right for them to become best friends. His mom, Nancy, and I have become instant friends, so we make play dates for our benefit and the boys'. And Levi will probably become bilingual out of the deal too, because Nancy grew up in Mexico, thus speaks both Spanish and English to Valentino. And as a result Valentino also speaks in Spanish and English to Levi. It's fun.
They are definitly toddler friends though, because most of the time they're fighting. And since they're both boys, they really go at it sometimes. Especailly when the dads are around too...encouraging them. Silly boys. But, they're just learning to share at the same time. It'll work out.

Last Friday Levi and I decided to throw an impromptu surprise party for Nathan when he got home from work. See, Nathan just got promoted at work a couple weeks ago. He is now a supervisor to about 40 people. He's not getting to actually do the hands-on job he's always done, and always loved. Now he's being the boss who tells everyone else what to do and who also has to deal with all the paperwork and discipline and evaluations and blah blah blah. Stuff he hates. So, he's not been having a very pleasant time. It's kinda sad really because it's a promotion...it's a good thing. It means his bosses trust him and he's doing a great job. But, he used to love his job. And now...well I just hope he can learn to enjoy it after he adjusts. Anyway, that's why I decided to throw him a "party." Because everytime I talked to him at work that week he sounded so sad. And every evening he came home with complaints. So on Friday afternoon Levi and I went to buy some baloons and streamers. Some little party toys...we made a sign that said, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." And I use the term "party" loosly. Really it was just the decorations and whatever meal he wanted while watching movies. But, we just wanted to make him feel appreciated for working even though he hates it right now. Anyway, all that to say...this picture is from that night. ;) Levi and Pippin ran up and down the hallway all night long chasing baloons. This picture captivates their constant game of Levi running for his life from Pippin. It was constant giggles and popping of baloons.

Oh, Levi took this picture. I held the camera in front of us, and swivled the LED screen around so we could see it. So, Levi looked at the LED screen, positioned it...kinda...and pushed the button to take the picture. I had to post it.
Levi got his first Beatles Shirt, and wore it to church on Sunday. He got compliments on it, because no matter where you are, someone is gonna like the Beatles. So here he is, showing it off, and being a geek with his new belt like Pastor Tom. (only a select few will understand that comment. But, it's worth it.) Anyway, he may not know who the Beatles are specifically, but he's definitly a music lover. And that's all that matters.
He's been pretty into his guitar lately. And he actually wants to wear it over his neck and dance around with it. I took about a billion pictures of him with it, so be thankful I'm only posting one.
And here he is riding his "bike." Sometimes he pushes the shopping cart, but for the most part he pushes it over so he can ride it. And, of course, with the helmet.
This is the first time I saw him make his toys talk to each other. I've seen him pretend to talk on the phone, or say hi to his toys or little pretend stuff like that. But, this was the first time of orchestrating his toys in a pretend encounter. He made them say "hi" to each other and then a lot of other gibberish talk. Of course it ended with him chucking them across the room, but....The rest of the pictures are a display of our daily outside time when Papa gets home. It's been raining ALOT lately, so that's why the umbrella and stormy skies.

Basketball. Levi definitly gets the concept. Of course he can't execute the shot, but he lines himself up with the basket and jumps.
I really love this picture for some reason. The grey sky, the flowers, the dirty basket ball hoop. I don't know.
Levi LOVES riding on the bike with Papa. They just ride in circles around the driveway. But, I'm pretty sure it's the highlight of his day. Levi is super obsessed with motorcycles.
I'm really glad our driveway is so big cause it's awesome for them to be able to do this together. And it's really cute to watch. Everytime they pass me Levi opens his mouth really big and yells, "Papa bike." And that's a bunch of random pictures that I just couldn't skip in our life on the Blog.