Eliot & Benjamin

Eliot becomes attached to oh so many random things. When I say attached, I mean tears and drama when he has to part with them. Take today. Eliot has been collecting rocks and sticks for awhile. Daddy suggested that it was time to clean out that corner by our front door before things start growing in there. Eliot was allowed to keep 5 rocks and 5 sticks. He then needed to say goodbye to the others. It was deeply painful for him. He kissed each individual rock and stick goodbye and the tears and body trembling came. The next photos are of Eliot cleaning out his cat cage. This is where he keeps all of his random papers and drawings. Jared had him put things in categories of 1. Can be recycled. 2. Must be photographed before recycling. 3. I can't possibly part with. I spent a long time that day photographing pictures. I don't remember, but I honestly don't think anything ended up in pile 1. I am not sure where he gets this. Maybe it starts with Grandma Raynor. Because Eliot does feel like someday each item will have a purpose and thus it is worth holding onto it. The randomness in usage is shown with the keeping of a previous month's calendar. Or this classic - I still have no idea where Eliot's exposure to guns has come from - but this is Eliot's safety manual on how to use a gun properly. Sadly though Eliot did not inherit any of Grandma Raynor's amazing organizational skills. And where you might ask does the drama come from? Well, I will just leave that to mystery.