the sun came out, and it was warm!

Typical of Elliot on our walks, he stops and tries to pick up EVERYTHING and he goes every way but the way we are going! I forget that it is all brand new to him!
For the second day in a row the sun has come out. This is something we have been wanting and waiting for. Too much time has been spent cooped up inside, trying to stay warm or sick. Yesterday we got a chance and took it! To the park I went with both kids while Clayton slept, preparing for a week of working night shift. After a morning nap from Elliot, and a picnic lunch in the fireplace room for Gabby and I (she laid out a blanket and tea cups for us, and pretend food. I brought left over enchiladas and avocado) the three of us got ready for the day (yes we hang out in our jammies way too late some days, my excuse today is that I was not wanting to wake Clay up so I didn't go in the room at all). I made sure the kids both had on long sleeves, then their wind breakers. Once we got outside it was GORGEOUS! We ended up chasing away the teenagers at the park (good, we don't need my parrot learning swear words). Elliot just walks all over the park, me one step behind to try and keep him from whacking his head on any more things and to intercept the bark or leaves he tries to shove in his mouth!

We had just started our walk around the lake/pond, Gabby on her tricycle when Clayton found us. He had woke up and decided to join us. We made it to the other end of the pond where the other playground is. Gabby right away found friends to play with. The dorky boy twice her age with the wolf shirt was eager to play. Clayton joined them for some tag even. All of a sudden it was 2 hours later! What a beautiful and fun afternoon. Both kids are now napping, surprisingly Gabby has taken naps 4 times this week- WHAT? She hasn't napped in at least 6 months! I LOVE living in a neighborhood, even if it isn't perfect it feels good to have families all around us! The pond is pretty ugly, clayton wants to get a row boat and clean up the litter (just an excuse to get a boat I think!) but there are tons of birds there, mallards, cormorants, seagulls, a heron and a BIG white goose that Gabby has named Bessie.

A picture of me b/c I never have pictures of me. Gabby took the picture!

Here is a corner of G's room, her Piggy corner. She was born in year of the boar. Love how it is all coming together. Pig bank she got when she was born from our neighbor. The pigs hanging on the wall are from my friend Krista who got it in Hong Kong for Gabby. The lamp is a new present from Auntie Mary, love how the red ties in with the Japanese red stand they are on.

It's cold outside

Another trip to the Dr today. Still Elliot has a double ear infection. Starting a new round of different antibiotics. Let's pray these work! I want my happy boy back. Screaming during the night is making us all tired. Notice his curly, fresh from the bath hair? LOVE it, when dry it is mostly straight.
Notice the carrot stain around G's face. She is a carrot eating machine.This little boy loves to get close to the camera.
Playing house? The bassinet has had the legs taken off and found its way into the "toy room." Looking at this picture I remember how tiny Gabby was when she first came home. Elliot was small too, but not as little and tiny as I remember Gabby feeling- bringing home my first baby she seemed so tiny!
Elliot has become interested in the shopping cart. He also loves wheels, spinning them around and around.
Morning snack was homemade soft pretzels. YUM.
We took a trip to the craft store. Gabby picked out more bird houses so she could have a "bird city." These are mini houses to go with her fancy bird castle. She loves painting them, picked out the colors for each and did it all by herself.
Gabby wanted to hold Elliot, on her lap. She only weighs like 7 more pounds then him.
We are trying to keep busy and active in the house with the outside weather being so awful. It snowed for the 3rd time today in less than two weeks. We are having major wind too. Elliot's cheeks are dry and red from the cold. Gabby and I have cracked lips and hands. Anybody else ready for Spring?

Winter fun

After Library time, we all headed to base where Clayton was going to warm up with his basketball team (no playing since tearing the ACL/MCL). We were early so the court was almost all ours. Just passing the time, Elliot looks so small in the big gym. I have started letting him walk around in stores and he is just the cutest thing tottering around.

Don't mind my talking. Here is Gabby making a snow angel on her birthday. She LOVES to eat the snow.

At the old house, wanting me to take a video of her- Gabby sings her favorite song. Enjoy!

Rough week, but a few BRIGHT spots!

This past week has been testing and hard at times, but also a few bright spots. Moving continued, what a pain! Elliot got sick with a high temperature which turned out to be a DOUBLE ear infection. The antibiotics from it give him a horrendous diaper rash (ie: went through 2 tubes of diaper cream). Gabby came down with the stomach flu the day before her birthday, causing the throw ups. Add to this that Clay was working night shift. She awoke on her 3rd Birthday to snow! She had told me over a month ago in the middle of the night that it would snow for her birthday, the girl wasn't lying. Virginia Beach got the most snow it has seen in 20 years. EVERYTHING shuts down. We got about 6 inches on Saturday. They cancelled school up until Wednesday! Gabby was very excited about the snow and wanted to eat it for her birthday breakfast. Snow and mini donuts were the perfect start to her special day. We baked chocolate cupcakes and made frosting. She decorated them and was so happy to use pink and green frosting and special sprinkles. We looked out our window during the day to see Think 1 and Thing 2 wandering around in the snow (seriously, what a fun new neighborhood. Two teenage boys in full dress up playing around in the snow).

A few days later I came down with the stomach bug, hard. I had it for a full 24 hrs and felt worse than bad. While I was up in the middle of the night unable to sleep due to a body ache, Clayton woke up at 2am sick. Elliot followed with throwing up on me at 3:30am. Elliot I were sick most of the next day. Clayton was busy running around getting things done and checking out of our apartment. We are all doing better, although Elliot is still going through diapers and clothes at a fast rate (two things to blame, the medicine and teething). All in all we are looking forward to us all being healthy and back to normal! Now for what you really want, the pictures!

G's new tool set, so she can be just like Dad.
Our new house, covered in snow.
We Love Dr. Seuss, what a fun surprise to see Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Elliot having a tea party, notice the pinky is even up (although he is trying to drink from the sugar bowl).
Cheesy smile, G with her supplies to decorate cupcakes.
We should go into business they are so beautiful!
My 3 year old cowgirl. She wore the "disguise" out to the post office and Target yesterday (although it was over clothes not ballerina pjs).
Playing with her "buddy" the snow, who she misses now that it has melted.
Happy Birthday Gabrielle Jean! We did re-light the candles for her 3 times so she could do it again, and again!
The One Sock Wonder, he always pulls of a sock and then often tries to eat it.
Moving is SO fun, when you are a kid. Notice the ugly kitchen.
Big Boy!

Goals

I have not made any resolutions for the year, but after ready about what other people have said it got me thinking. What would I like to get out of twenty ten, and what could I do to improve my life and the lives of those around me? Well my goals aren't really all that deep, but it has been interesting to see what I came up with.

*get some exercise at least 3 days a week, even it is just a family walk.

*try to do a better job grocery shopping, buy only what I need (and remember to bring my reusable bags with me). to do this I will also need to do some *meal planning and write it all down. this will help with *not letting things go bad in the fridge.

*figure out my style. Easy? No, I don't know what exactly fits my personality these days or works for my life. *buy quality clothes, not quantity.

*read more books, for ME (I read plenty of kid books). I read two books this week and it was fun (thanks Mol).

*develop a cleaning regime. I hate that all of a sudden the entire house feels dirty, and that can be overwhelming. Clean the bathrooms each week on a set day, dust on a set day, vacuum- well that is an almost everyday thing here.

*get caught up with my photos. Make scrapbooks and put all old pics into an album. For this I will need to get LOTS of pictures printed.

*be patient

*not interrupt or jump to conclussions

*get more involved with other kids, Gabby and Elliot need more friends to play with.

*have both kids sleeping through the night in their own beds!!! Gabby is good at this, but lately she has been wanting to come to our bed. Elliot, well this will be a major task!

Hope that writing this down helps inspire me to make it all happen- or at least work toward it! Yes, there are plenty of other things out there that I plan to do too but these were more of the selfish things.

click, take a pic.

Not too much going on here these days. Cold outside. Getting ready to move. Being lazy. Elliot walks all over and now has 6 teeth. Gabrielle is really into taking pictures, mostly of Elliot.

STEPS!

Here is Mr E doing some steps tonight! He took his first steps without anyone even trying to get him to, on December 22 and has been taking a few at a time daily. He is officially 8 months and 5 days old in this video of tonight! I figured I would keep up the image of my kids never wearing clothes.... we have been so bundled up the past few days this was his few nekid minutes before getting in pajamas for the night. The temperature is something like 23 in the morning and with windchill it is 6, BRRRRRR! We had ice on the INSIDE of our window yesterday, thank goodness we are moving in a few weeks to a house with better windows (I hope!) This wobbly stage is exciting, but so nerve wracking too. He bonked his head today, giving himself an ouchie on the eyebrow.