baskets, buckets, cupboards and more!

Gabby loves to paint. We got new paints and a table cloth that we can put on the floor, sometimes it is just easier than up at the table. Pants are not required for painting, less clothing to get dirty.

Our new bucket, it has been used to hid under, to drum on, pull the kids down the hallway, toy basket, and to roll Gabby around in! Notice E's new hat, I am trying to get him to wear one to protect his head from the sun and he actually keeps it on- backwards only tho!

What have we been up to the past week? Well last week we tried to think of things to do when it gets 94* outside, you can't spend all day inside because it is too nice outside- and your a/c isn't working! We have been thinking up new ways to have fun, and truthfully we have been having a blast. I bought fans when I realized our air conditioning was causing the house to go up a degree when you turned it on- one night we slept at a sticky 85* ugggg. Called the property managers, they sent out a guy and he fixed it pronto!

The biggest news of the week is that we signed up for a Community Supported Agriculture. We picked up our very first basket of produce on Friday and were a little iffy on the contents but am still optimistic on what the next 21 weeks will have in their baskets. We should get things like melons, beans, apples, pumpkins, apple cider, okra, beets. This week we got: carrots (old, the core is very large and hard), strawberries (used for pancakes and then today's experimental orange strawberry bars- a take on lemon squares), asparagus (roasted for dinner tonight) and a bag of what I first thought was maybe spinach but after talking with my mother think it may be swiss chard (still need to use it).

This is the kids watching Clayton mow the lawn! Exciting day, the garbage truck came too!

Elliot has become a climber, he climbs everything! The couch he mastered and now hops up on it and back off of it like it is no big deal. The ottoman is another thing, we use it to block the tv cabinet that he has figured out how to open- so now he climbs both (there is a TINY ledge on the cabinet door, or he uses a box of diaper wipes for a boost), I found him in the computer chair today with a smug grin, and the stool Gabby uses to help bake is a new obstacle for him to conquer!

The only cupboard without a child lock in the kitchen is the one we throw tupperware and sippy cups in. It's a double edged sword to me, Elliot pulls out everything in it a minimum of 6 times a day- however if he is happy playing with it I can cook or clean up the kitchen. He does drag cups all over the house, and I have found a few lids to the tupperware in the play room lately. Clayton wants to put a lock on it b/c we are both tired of picking up the contents of it so many times a day, I am hanging on to the fact that it keeps him occupied!

This was our dance party tonight, we were dancing to Tracy Chapman!

Easter!

all the cousins, pretty impossible to get everyone to look- especially when eggs are falling!
Someone, a child we think, yelled "GO!" to start the egg hunt!
walking back from the beach.
Gabrielle and Aunt Kayali!
Gabby found her Easter basket, we saw the Easter Bunny as we were leaving for church.

Easter this year was the best in recent memory! Not only were we home in WA, we were with ALL of the Lenssen siblings and their families- minus Uncle 'Mas who was off trying to help the World. It took lots of planning, and quite a few issues to get there- but we all made it and it was WONDERFUL! It was soo good to see everyone and the cousins love each other, even though they rarely all get together. It made my heart full of love to see us all together and having a good time. We had lots of good food, great walks to the beach and playground and a really exciting egg hunt! Hope that one year soon we are all able to meet up in the same place again!

Big Bird

While we were home we tried to do as many things as possible, although that always ends up being not everything you want. We did have a wonderful trip home, and it was filled mostly with family- lots of wonderful and fun family time! One day we drove down to meet up with the Ross family at the Woodland Park Zoo. Somehow we managed to get out of the house EARLY, and had extra time. It was the perfect time to stop and visit with Great Grandpa Clayton, better than on our way home when we would all be tired. His memory may not be sharp, but he was still so kind and happy to have us there. He got out his guitar and stummed along while Gabby sang some of her made up songs and even allowed the kids to play on it too!

Happy 1st Birthday Elliot!

Laying on his new fish bean bag chair. notice XYZ
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, made by Marella, Gabrielle and I.
Sitting on the table, singing to him.... couldn't find my candles- a crayon stood in its place!
This one year old boy LOVED eating his cake.
The sun was out, and 85* so we had our first (many more to come) day of playing in the sprinkler.
Ladybug boy, he had two ladybugs on him while splashing in the water. Yesterday he had one on his back too!
Not afraid of geting wet!
I think it is a boy thing, they all seem to like sitting on sprinklers!

I am amazed that it has been one year since this little boy came into the world and captured our heart. It is hard to think what life was like before he got here. He is the sweetest thing, the hugs he gives melt my heart as do the kisses. There are the kisses where he sucks on my lips, real kisses complete with the sound, kisses where he just presses his lips on your cheek. There are so many wonderful things about this handsome guy, he has a laugh that fills the air, and perfect timing with it too. He climbs everything, opens all cupboards and drawers, gets out all the tuperware and baking dishes below the stove. He adores his big sister, and the love is mutual. He has a slight obsession with phones, holds it by his shoulder (and knows the difference between real and fake ones, although a remote control can substitute).

Words he "says" Dad, Mom, GAAAABBbby, dog, duck, "kitty", quack, woof, MOOOOOORE, Milk, iloveyou, hello.

He was so excited about his birthday that he only took one nap. After the amount of time he spent outside in the sprinkler, then a walk around the pond he was exhausted and 6:30pm was bedtime... lets hope he doesn't think it is just a nap! Thank you family and friends for being part of Elliot's life!

Spring Vacation!

Weekend Sun

Gabby has a new dress up outfit. Our friend Marella brought it back from her visit home to the Uk. Little Red Riding hood went to the park and I got to be Granny!
Within an hour of Clay getting home on Friday afternoon the playhouse was put together! We have a very happy little girl!
Kisses! Elliot loves the playhouse too, I taught him to ring the door bell and it has a play phone that makes noise- he loves phones (he calls Grandpa ALOT!)
Sunday morning we went to the oceanfront to watch 2 of Clay's British friends finish the marathon. Marv finished in 3hr 3min and Arnie (above) finished in 3:15. Very inspiring to watch!
BANANAS for all the runners!
Sand sculpture, complete with King Neptune (we call him Triton).
My cute boys in plaid shorts.
Elliot conquered his fear of the sand, and played with Gabby all over the beach. Toes of all were tickled by the Atlantic too. We had a wonderful weekend of 76* weather and lots of good family fun!

Geen + Blue!

Today has been full of green and blue. St. Patrick's Day so everyone is dressed in green, and blue from the beautiful sky! It was a perfect day to be outside, we packed a picnic and headed to Trashmore. I walked/ran the loop while Elliot napped for a few minutes (since then he has wanted nothing to do with sleep!) and Gabby ran alongside me or rested in the stroller. We played at the castle park, and ran up the big mountain. Once home we played in the back yard, I attempted to put together the new playhouse we bought- but realized that with both children outside and the assembly requiring a drill, I decided it would be better to stick with our original plan of Clay doing it when he is home from Manasas this weekend. So, here is our afternoon outside!