Monday, January 31, 2011

the boy

More on the boy, I feel like I have been meaning to tell these stories so lets just do it now while both kids just had a dose of medicine and are watching Cat in the Hat, well now they are eating "opemeal" like Gabby wants every day (oatmeal). Okay no breakfast, neither wants to eat. Bad tummies may be starting.
Toes. The boy has this crazy new trick he does, he walks ON his toe knuckles.
Really, the tops of his toes are on the carpet. Just call him Mr Ballerina.
he can run around the house like that, it doesn't seem to bother his s toes at all.
confusing picture? this is the backside of him.
he insists on picking out his own clothes, and then practically dressing himself. I do have to help a little- but he doesn't like me to. Oh and if he has a hat, it is always backwards.
he loves to dress up and accessorize. crowns always are on the back of the head- looking a bit like a Greek God? the glasses- his Harry potter-ness. Backpack- one of his fav things, and a word he loves to say.

Such a good helper in the kitchen. We made brownies for a friend, he enjoyed it. There may have been some licking of the arm even.

Oh and I lost my FLIP video camera after letting the kids play with it so I could try to grocery shop with them not climbing out of the cart and running around the commissary. Went back the same night to find it, nope. Called in the am- they had it! SO after having it back I realize how much I should be taking little videos, so I will start. Some of the gems that were on the flip- a lot of 3second ones shot by Elliot and then a minute and a half one of the 3 of us on the airplane in the lavatory! Gabby doing a puppet show will be uploaded soon. the lavatory one- not so much.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

sweet boy

I sure hit the jackpot with kids. There are a million things I could list about all the ways they are wonderful, but right now as a little tear rolls down my cheek I am overcome with love for my sweet boy. Elliot just woke up copying his big sister's move of last night and today- a fever! Just checked and he is at 101.9 nothing to worry about if you are my doctor but for me it is a million worries. I hate when they don't feel good. He was just snuggling me after taking some medicine when he said "love you" then gave me three kisses- one right on the lips, another one butterfly style and the last a perfect Eskimo. What a love he is.
tip of the night: keep a dry erase pen in the bathroom so you can write on the mirror what time you give each child medicine and what kind. Sad to say our pen has been getting quite the workout the past few weeks. Gabby has her column and now Elliot has his. A great way to be sure about when the last dose was, and both parents have the info!
Off to bed, for hopefully a few hours of good sleep for all of us.

Party Like You're 4

What a lot can happen in 36 hours! I am not only talking about yesterday and today, but 4 years ago too, which is how long it took for Miss Gabrielle Jean to finally decide to make her entrance into the world. Yesterday we had a great party, it was filled with friends old and new. In total we had 28 people over to help celebrate Gabby's birthday. It was a lot of people, but it worked out pretty great. The kids all played, mostly without issues or fighting and the parents got to chat. Gabrielle was totally spoiled and showered with love and gifts too! here she is today, on her real birthday. Look at the loot, she truly loves it all! Littlest Pet shop and My little Pony were big this year, but it was the Strawberry Shortcake toy that got to go to bed with her! The puppet show/easel has already been broken in. my kitchen has been "cleaned" the books are being read, clothes are already spilled on crafts will be done for weeks to come too! Oh and the pink case at the bottom, filled with dress up shoes and accessories, she was so excited when she opened it up to have "a new fishing box!" her dad was proud!
My sweetie. She chose her yellow dress instead of her fancy red one to go with the yellow head band I made. Yes I made a red one (cut up one of my red t-shirts morning of the party to make it) but it wasn't as cute. Night before I stayed up till midnight crafting two clips to give to little girls at the party (the under ones). Clay informed me all the other girls would be jealous so instead of getting everything ready on party day I was sitting in my pjs crafting 5 felt hair pretties for all the other girls!
The first time we haven't made our own cake. She wanted this one, picked it over all the other designs at Costco and chose the colors.
We painted piggy banks (saving pigs, get it- in Snow White she was saved by a pig. The hunter gave the Wicked Queen a pig's heart instead of Snow Whites! Gross I know, but I thought it was a clever take on it! oh and I didn't tell anyone that- just the whole world wide web now!)
Geo and his parents made the long drive down just for the party! We loved having them and wished they could have stayed, they even braved the snow at their house to come. They were at her 1st birthday party too!
a picture from our photo shoot last week.
On Wednesday she told me she wanted to practice saying she was four. The conversation went something like this: G "let's practice." Me "ok. How old are you?" G "I'm FOUR!" pretty cute.
I loved the banner I made, it was just scrap book paper and ribbon (with staples to hold the paper on since my spray adhesive and super glue wouldn't work!) it has been up for almost 2 weeks now, and after I take down "Gabby" I can leave it up for 2 more weeks for Clayton! I could even re-arrange the letters to spell Baby- as in Clayton!

So last night after partying like 4 year olds both kids were asleep by 7pm . Gabby woke up not feeling well and with a fever, and told me she had an ear infection at 2am. Medicine and rest today, lots and lots of sleep on her part and hopefully this fever business goes away and STAYS away for some time! After 6 days of fevers last week between the two, and not leaving the house I am ready for cold and flu season to be done with. Thank you everyone for all of the love and friendship you give Gabrielle, it means so much to her and us too!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

labor of love

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to a party we go! this is the pic I used for her invites.

Four years ago I was in Japan, at the hospital laying in the bed, pitocin hooked up and waiting to have my very first baby. Clay was there, and my Mom- who got in the day before after a last minute change of flights. Little did I know how long it really would take to meet the sweetest baby girl in my life. All day long, between shot glass sized cups of ice chips (all they allowed me per hour) I told myself "she will be here within the next 12 hours!" This story will be continued tomorrow night!!!! I am remembering today as if it were the same time zone as Japan, even though I know 8am Eastern time does not equal 8am Japan!

Today my labor of love involves a birthday party, where something ridiculous like 14 kids (including 3 under the age of one, and my two kids counted too) will be at our home. I guess after moving each year around her birthday and being sick last year we haven't had a real party with friends. This year she gets it! Off to get everything together for what started out as a Snow White themed party that has turned into Hearts and Roses, or just lots of RED!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

sickies

It's a case of the sickies at our casa today. Elliot has actually had a fever the past 4 nights, but really only at night and a few times around nap. Gabby got it today, fever and body aches. She even fell asleep on me for a little nap. I have a yucky feeling tummy ache and Clay is battling yet another cough and congestion thing. We must get better, next week we party like 4 year olds!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

holiday in pictures

sun porch talks
laundry basket shenanigans
Grandpa afternoons
beautiful black eye
cousins
Deception Pass
Joe!
Dress up
preparing for Christmas Eve, matching drinks and yellow towels.
Uncle D's new hat, and E's new jammies.
Poppy the unicorn pillow pet!
acting 15, on the phone planning dates (ice cream with Grandma)
felt food at the new museum
cowpoke cousins
matching pajamas at the cabin
disguise glasses
fierce chicks
felt fish fishing, at the museum
exploring the beach, cold temps and all
throwing rocks, Whidbey Island
the good life.

Monday, January 10, 2011

home

after some of this:oh how these kids love to run on moving sidewalks (this one in Chicago, O'hare). It took us probably 45 minutes to get across the entire airport to our next gate (we had 3 hrs).


And even more of this:
one of the calmer moments of the flight (although both asleep on me was the best). We made it home last night! Our plane landed just after 8pm, both kids ran (and Elliot did his trip and fall 3 times) to Clayton who was awaiting us. We got our luggage and made it home after 9 where it was straight to the showers to get the funk and germs that come with flying off of us. A quick dinner, followed by opening a present that Santa left by the fireplace and the kids were sent to bed. I woke up at 8am, got up had a glass of water and heard E a half hour later, we both fell back asleep for over an hour. Gabby finally made it up a few minutes after 10am. Whew, now we are unpacking and playing and half way getting ready for the day. More pics and posts to follow.