Monday, March 21, 2011
sing sweet
This is too funny not to share. If you notice the camera shaking, it was due to my laughter. Gabby and I went and saw The Little Mermaid play yesterday, and she wants to be in plays even more now after watching it. Her dream role is Cinderella, and she specifically asked if she could learn "Sing Sweet Nightengale" but those are the only words she knows as of now- and this song takes place in the movie when Cinderella is sitting on the floor cleaning it..... My carpets could use a little Cinderella, she's working on it! Love this girl, and her outift she designed!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
and it starts!
We are un-officially started in beach mode. For the second time in a week we had nice enough weather to make the beach an afternoon hangout. Friday was pretty wonderful, I watched a friends little girl while she did some "just bought a house" stuff. The kids played great, dress up, bubbles, babies, park, running and lots of eating. The timing was off just a bit so Elliot didn't get a nap- but he didn't seem to mind. Just after the little girl was picked up, Clay got home from work and we made a dash out of the house in our sandals and summer clothes. Elliot quickly remembered about that nap he needed, and was sound asleep when we got to the Oceanfront. The playground on the beach was pretty packed, everyone else decided it was the perfect place to be when it is 83* on a Friday afternoon in March. The kids didn't play on the toys- instead we spent our time walking in the sand, and Gabby splashed and frolicked in the chilly water! this picture is out of order, but I can't seem to move it.
This was Elliot the other night, as Clay said "he has a little bit of Grandpa Baba in him, jumping without hesitation...." Back in my dad's army days he was a member of the 101st Airborne, jumping out of planes! The camo pants and hat also are reminiscent of pictures I have seen from that time.
At first she needed a hand to hold while playing in the surf. These two are quite a pair.
This boy wasn't too sure about the water, he stuck pretty close to my spot in the warm sand.
Can you see the look on his face? Last year he was all about the water, but he is not quite as fearless with this being only our 2nd beach visit of the season. I have not doubts he will soon be all about the water again.
Is there anything sweeter? When you are 4 years old it is okay to hang at the beach in undies and a tank top because your pants got all wet- so your dad carries them around.
1st ladybug we have found this year. right next to one of Gabby's freckles- or "cutie marks".... aka a beauty mark. She has a cutie mark right almost on her lip too, similar to Auntie T, Auntie Randi and her best cowgirl cousin Audrie (partner in crime). If you know the blood relationships between these people it is pretty amazing they all have it in common.
Elliot was not the best walker on the walk... he kept stopping to roll around in the sand- and then would do this hilarious laugh to himself.
It was a gorgeous afternoon, followed by sub sandwiches for dinner and the whole family to bed early! So glad we got sunkissed yesterday, today it is cool and dark clouds are threatening to open up! Happy Weekend To All
This was Elliot the other night, as Clay said "he has a little bit of Grandpa Baba in him, jumping without hesitation...." Back in my dad's army days he was a member of the 101st Airborne, jumping out of planes! The camo pants and hat also are reminiscent of pictures I have seen from that time. 
At first she needed a hand to hold while playing in the surf. These two are quite a pair.
This boy wasn't too sure about the water, he stuck pretty close to my spot in the warm sand.
Can you see the look on his face? Last year he was all about the water, but he is not quite as fearless with this being only our 2nd beach visit of the season. I have not doubts he will soon be all about the water again.
Is there anything sweeter? When you are 4 years old it is okay to hang at the beach in undies and a tank top because your pants got all wet- so your dad carries them around.
1st ladybug we have found this year. right next to one of Gabby's freckles- or "cutie marks".... aka a beauty mark. She has a cutie mark right almost on her lip too, similar to Auntie T, Auntie Randi and her best cowgirl cousin Audrie (partner in crime). If you know the blood relationships between these people it is pretty amazing they all have it in common. 
Elliot was not the best walker on the walk... he kept stopping to roll around in the sand- and then would do this hilarious laugh to himself.
It was a gorgeous afternoon, followed by sub sandwiches for dinner and the whole family to bed early! So glad we got sunkissed yesterday, today it is cool and dark clouds are threatening to open up! Happy Weekend To All
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
SUNday
One of the newest outfits Gabby "designed." New ladybug boots I ordered and got an awesome deal on. Elliot's took 4 days longer to get here and he NEEDED them because he had none. Our original frog boots from Japan, that got worn out by both kids finally had to be retired. Elliot now has monkey boots, and goofy frog ones to grow into. At $6 a pair I couldn't pass them up, boots are a stable in our wardrobe- even when it isn't raining!
Sunday was one of those days that ended up being exactly what we all needed, it was good for our souls. We are all semi battling a bout with a bug. Achey body, NO energy, and a flip flopping tummy. I took an impromptu nap on the couch Saturday, and Clay got a good nap in on Sunday (after the first mowing of the lawn on, and other yard chores). We lazed around the house, inside and out when finally we decided to just get out and do something. We packed Red Barron the kite and off to Sandbridge Beach we drove. It was 72* leaving our house, 20 minutes later at the beach it had dropped 20* but it was still beautiful and sunny out.
Both kids got a turn at flying the kite.
Can we say beach bum? barefoot in the sand and it is March. Oh and he is checking his toes for "toe jam" his newest obsession!
Sunday was one of those days that ended up being exactly what we all needed, it was good for our souls. We are all semi battling a bout with a bug. Achey body, NO energy, and a flip flopping tummy. I took an impromptu nap on the couch Saturday, and Clay got a good nap in on Sunday (after the first mowing of the lawn on, and other yard chores). We lazed around the house, inside and out when finally we decided to just get out and do something. We packed Red Barron the kite and off to Sandbridge Beach we drove. It was 72* leaving our house, 20 minutes later at the beach it had dropped 20* but it was still beautiful and sunny out.
Both kids got a turn at flying the kite.
Look at the smiles both boys have, I love it!
Can we say beach bum? barefoot in the sand and it is March. Oh and he is checking his toes for "toe jam" his newest obsession! 
peek a boo!
The handsome hubby.
Not really any pictures of Gabby, she was far too busy digging in the sand to look up. We had a great afternoon and it did us all good. Looking forward to many more beach days to come as Spring gets closer!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Today my heart is heavy with sadness for Japan, a place I called home for 4 years and that holds a very special place in my heart. I woke up to see the news reports of the massive 8.9 earthquake that hit, and the tsunami that followed. The epicenter in Sendai was not near my home, but Clayton visited it on his ship- playing volleyball against the locals and even winning me a beautiful jewelry box that sits on my dresser. I still have a few friends in Japan and am very glad to hear that besides lots of earth shaking and a few things falling down, power outages that they are all okay.
I can't help but think of "my Japan" and imagine the destruction to the beautiful country and more so the people.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Green
I seem to have a slight obsession with GREEN. I can find green in, well most rooms of the house. Both kids rooms (originally due to them sharing a room so I got them bedding that coordinated) The fireplace/computer room and the toy room/guest room (I couldn't pass up the bargain airplane bed set that just happens to be blue and green). Well I love green. I think in Japan I had more than a few rooms with RED, none in this house. 
Even our crafting table/drop cloth is green. The kids painted on big canvases the other day, we plan to do another layer of color once we can do it outside so paint doesn't get everywhere.
This girl loves purple, but is pretty green when it comes to fruits and veggies. She loves green grapes, avocado, beans, cucumber, celery, lettuce and more. here she set up all her play food for a party!
Buying used is GREEN, right! Clay came home from an early morning Saturday study session at work and had stopped by a garage sale where he found this brand new tent for $20. The studying paid off- he is now IUSS (Integrated Undersea Surveillance System) qualified, quite a big accomplishment. Oh and that 30 and over basketball team, Clay's team won the championship!
Coming home from Washington after Christmas, I noticed again how NOT green Virginia is. All brown, for most of the year it feels like. Also I notice they are so not "green" in their environmental ways. We do have recycling at this house- but it only gets picked up every other week. Our Garbage is half full and our recycle is over flowing!
My new green lamp. Gabby and I snuck out at nap this weekend to get my book for book club and just peeked in Ross where I came out with this $20 lamp and a much needed new purse. I tried to make the bulletin board cuter and less cluttered. I used scrap book paper for the background and put up some the fun family pictures- others are on G's board.
This boy will end up with bruises that turn green, mostly because he is so rambunctious and one of his favorite things to do is throw all his blankets and pillows off his bed and JUMP! We let the kids stay up late the other night, they were getting along so great and having fun. Clay and I just sat and listened to their conversations, Gabby was somehow trying to talk Elliot into climbing over the high side of his bed, onto the pile of pillows and blankets she had made. They giggled and laughed and chatted. Gabby also told Grandma who says no to jumping on the bed at her house, "Different house rules in different houses!"
Maybe this love, er obsession with all things ball and sports will turn into GREEN in the future- like in the form of professional sports? Elliot keeps telling me he wants a hoop for his birthday. Well we got one on a great sale, and snuck it in the car without him seeing it. However it sat in the back of the van in the box for over a week, and my little Mr likes to climb around the car instead of getting in his carseat whenever it is time to go anywhere. he found the picture on the box, "hoop, hoop!" So Clay opened it up and they played it for an hour and a half while I took Gabby to her first week of Creative Movement class. He wakes up and it is the first thing he wants to do- even tho it is not even 6:30am. In the picture, E is standing on Clay's back (who just got home from work and was sore) and Gabby is testing out the boogie board a coworker of Clay's gave to the kids.
Even our crafting table/drop cloth is green. The kids painted on big canvases the other day, we plan to do another layer of color once we can do it outside so paint doesn't get everywhere.
This girl loves purple, but is pretty green when it comes to fruits and veggies. She loves green grapes, avocado, beans, cucumber, celery, lettuce and more. here she set up all her play food for a party!
Buying used is GREEN, right! Clay came home from an early morning Saturday study session at work and had stopped by a garage sale where he found this brand new tent for $20. The studying paid off- he is now IUSS (Integrated Undersea Surveillance System) qualified, quite a big accomplishment. Oh and that 30 and over basketball team, Clay's team won the championship! 
Coming home from Washington after Christmas, I noticed again how NOT green Virginia is. All brown, for most of the year it feels like. Also I notice they are so not "green" in their environmental ways. We do have recycling at this house- but it only gets picked up every other week. Our Garbage is half full and our recycle is over flowing!
My new green lamp. Gabby and I snuck out at nap this weekend to get my book for book club and just peeked in Ross where I came out with this $20 lamp and a much needed new purse. I tried to make the bulletin board cuter and less cluttered. I used scrap book paper for the background and put up some the fun family pictures- others are on G's board.
This boy will end up with bruises that turn green, mostly because he is so rambunctious and one of his favorite things to do is throw all his blankets and pillows off his bed and JUMP! We let the kids stay up late the other night, they were getting along so great and having fun. Clay and I just sat and listened to their conversations, Gabby was somehow trying to talk Elliot into climbing over the high side of his bed, onto the pile of pillows and blankets she had made. They giggled and laughed and chatted. Gabby also told Grandma who says no to jumping on the bed at her house, "Different house rules in different houses!" 
Maybe this love, er obsession with all things ball and sports will turn into GREEN in the future- like in the form of professional sports? Elliot keeps telling me he wants a hoop for his birthday. Well we got one on a great sale, and snuck it in the car without him seeing it. However it sat in the back of the van in the box for over a week, and my little Mr likes to climb around the car instead of getting in his carseat whenever it is time to go anywhere. he found the picture on the box, "hoop, hoop!" So Clay opened it up and they played it for an hour and a half while I took Gabby to her first week of Creative Movement class. He wakes up and it is the first thing he wants to do- even tho it is not even 6:30am. In the picture, E is standing on Clay's back (who just got home from work and was sore) and Gabby is testing out the boogie board a coworker of Clay's gave to the kids.
Monday, February 28, 2011
weekend fun
I must say, this weekend was a good. We didn't do much it seemed like, but we did do quite a bit of fun little things, enjoying the peeks of spring we were given. Our fun started Thursday with a trip to our favorite frozen yogurt place- Skinny Dip. It had been a few months, so we were long over due for a visit. 
This sweater just game in the mail, my grandmother made it for me me... circa early 80's. Gabby thought it was the PERFECT addition to her already "designed outfit" as she has been calling it (meaning she designed it herself, picked everything out with no help!) The leggings, a skirt (with short attached), red shoes, and a lovely sweater.
Elliot experienced his first (surely not his last) ice cream headache. He stole most of Clay's sour patch kids right out of the bowl, all I put on his sugar free yogurt was a shake of sprinkles!
We got Gabby a new BIG bike, hers was too little and we needed to get her started riding! She did AWESOME! fast as lightening that I could barely keep up with her, although I was carrying E's bike and trying to keep him from chasing the ducks and falling into the water. She had one tumble off the bike, but after a short walk got right back on!
There were many ducks out for Elliot to chase, and even a few other things too.
This THING was around, I am pretty sure it is a muskrat. Usually they dart out of sight before you can be sure you saw them. This one was not too shy. Elliot saw it and said "MOUSE"
Sunday we went to see if any of the charter fishing boats had come in with anything (obsessed much Clayton? He really wants to go out again, but goodness it is expensive for a trip) We saw one striper, it weighed more than either kid... 42 lbs. We took our picture in the shark, Elliot was scared. Gabby and my dad did this when he came to help us when Elliot was born.
it was a gorgeous day, warm early and then cooled off.
Gabby planned a dance party, we are talking all day planning and discussing it. She picked out everyones attire. She wore her fancy purple dress, I was supposed to wear a blue nightgown. I got upgraded to my yellow dress. Elliot just grabbed what he wanted to wear, and danced away!
Sophia the newest "little sister" to Gabby joined the party. She is a Baby Alive, which Gabby picked out when we went shopping with her birthday money. After only a few hours I heard this "Daddy, you don't understand. A baby is such hard work. Is there an off button, I want to make sure she lets me sleep at night!"
Gabby got upset because Elliot didn't want to dance with her right away, so her and her daddy danced. Then she stared at him while he belted out a Journey song.
I won't tell you how long it took us to tie a tie, including watching more than one youtube video. I know how, but it wasn't the half windsor knot Clay was after. Elliot is rocking a spaghetti face to go with the tie.
This sweater just game in the mail, my grandmother made it for me me... circa early 80's. Gabby thought it was the PERFECT addition to her already "designed outfit" as she has been calling it (meaning she designed it herself, picked everything out with no help!) The leggings, a skirt (with short attached), red shoes, and a lovely sweater. 
Elliot experienced his first (surely not his last) ice cream headache. He stole most of Clay's sour patch kids right out of the bowl, all I put on his sugar free yogurt was a shake of sprinkles!
We got Gabby a new BIG bike, hers was too little and we needed to get her started riding! She did AWESOME! fast as lightening that I could barely keep up with her, although I was carrying E's bike and trying to keep him from chasing the ducks and falling into the water. She had one tumble off the bike, but after a short walk got right back on!
There were many ducks out for Elliot to chase, and even a few other things too.
This THING was around, I am pretty sure it is a muskrat. Usually they dart out of sight before you can be sure you saw them. This one was not too shy. Elliot saw it and said "MOUSE"
Sunday we went to see if any of the charter fishing boats had come in with anything (obsessed much Clayton? He really wants to go out again, but goodness it is expensive for a trip) We saw one striper, it weighed more than either kid... 42 lbs. We took our picture in the shark, Elliot was scared. Gabby and my dad did this when he came to help us when Elliot was born.
it was a gorgeous day, warm early and then cooled off.
Gabby planned a dance party, we are talking all day planning and discussing it. She picked out everyones attire. She wore her fancy purple dress, I was supposed to wear a blue nightgown. I got upgraded to my yellow dress. Elliot just grabbed what he wanted to wear, and danced away!
Sophia the newest "little sister" to Gabby joined the party. She is a Baby Alive, which Gabby picked out when we went shopping with her birthday money. After only a few hours I heard this "Daddy, you don't understand. A baby is such hard work. Is there an off button, I want to make sure she lets me sleep at night!" 
Gabby got upset because Elliot didn't want to dance with her right away, so her and her daddy danced. Then she stared at him while he belted out a Journey song.
I won't tell you how long it took us to tie a tie, including watching more than one youtube video. I know how, but it wasn't the half windsor knot Clay was after. Elliot is rocking a spaghetti face to go with the tie. After a great weekend, we had a bit of a rough Monday. G's 4 year check up was a disaster! We waited for an hour and a half!!!!! why is only 1 doctor working on a Monday when everyone who was sick on the weekend comes in, and why do they stick you back in an exam room to wait with nothing to do when the waiting room has a Disney movie playing? And why does the Dr mention SHOTS??? and then tell your 4 year old that he was talking about a "shot of Jack, do you know what that is? It's a drink." Did I mention that Elliot kept escaping the exam room, and trying to run down the hall. Clay had a big test scheduled so he couldn't meet us- which they then proceeded to cancel after he went into work at 4:30am to study for it. Oh and all of this was right around lunch time. Glad I packed an apple, cucumber and goldfish crackers. 3 shots, a finger prick, a whole lot of crying and 2 hours later and we got home. Finished the day off with a trip to the park to enjoy 76* wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts before the massive rain came!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
fashion and news
This is the new dress up area: a new tension rod placed low in G's closet. I got the $2 tension rod on my shopping trip this weekend, after the one I had got squashed by destructo-boy before I got anything hung on it. 
G helped hang all her dresses up, and is very excited to have them all easy to see and use.
Here is what the pile of dress up clothes normally looked like, everything all tangled and a mess. Accessories are in her "pink tackle box" and hats and tails are in a basket.
The Mr. went to an 80's party with his co-workers. Magnum PI made an appearance. He didn't like my felt mustache, it wouldn't stay on so he got a different one on the way there.
The Mr and his boy went to rent a movie, came home home after purchasing 3 movies, 2 kid size baseball gloves and a bit of candy. The gloves are a hit, even if they are still working on how to use them... hats, for throwing the ball those are some of their current uses.
Playdough. We got a fun Cookie Monster set, you make letters, lots of vegetables, noodles and feed it to Cookie. What a hit. G got some playdough accessories that she uses to make little critters like antennae on her ladybug.
G is quite the fashion guru. Always having a say on what she will wear. Notice the red headband, red belt and the red on her princess socks.
She changes it up, and poses, even does a runway sashay.
E's fish beanbag pillow was in need of cleaning. I had nothing to do with this. The bean were put into a bag so the cover could be washed. Upon trying to put the beans back in the cover after it was clean there was a bit of a disaster! It was right about the time E was going to bed, so he insisted on helping. Static. beans. lets just say after 2 weeks and a million vacuums I still am finding them!
* E has a new wake up of 6am. I am not a fan, especially when I stay up till at least 11pm.
G helped hang all her dresses up, and is very excited to have them all easy to see and use.
Here is what the pile of dress up clothes normally looked like, everything all tangled and a mess. Accessories are in her "pink tackle box" and hats and tails are in a basket.
The Mr. went to an 80's party with his co-workers. Magnum PI made an appearance. He didn't like my felt mustache, it wouldn't stay on so he got a different one on the way there.
The Mr and his boy went to rent a movie, came home home after purchasing 3 movies, 2 kid size baseball gloves and a bit of candy. The gloves are a hit, even if they are still working on how to use them... hats, for throwing the ball those are some of their current uses.
Playdough. We got a fun Cookie Monster set, you make letters, lots of vegetables, noodles and feed it to Cookie. What a hit. G got some playdough accessories that she uses to make little critters like antennae on her ladybug.
G is quite the fashion guru. Always having a say on what she will wear. Notice the red headband, red belt and the red on her princess socks. 
She changes it up, and poses, even does a runway sashay.
E's fish beanbag pillow was in need of cleaning. I had nothing to do with this. The bean were put into a bag so the cover could be washed. Upon trying to put the beans back in the cover after it was clean there was a bit of a disaster! It was right about the time E was going to bed, so he insisted on helping. Static. beans. lets just say after 2 weeks and a million vacuums I still am finding them!
* E has a new wake up of 6am. I am not a fan, especially when I stay up till at least 11pm.*hard boiled eggs are the new it food around here. The kids ate 3 together today, except for the yolk.
*it was 71 yesterday, today it has yet to reach 40.
* I made a meal plan
tuesday: asian lettuce wraps (this was the original recipe I used, now I just wing it and substitute shredded carrot for mushrooms, leave out the salt and don't measure anything! and I only use ground turkey.) with quinoa
wed: homemade bbq chicken pizza and crudite (carrots, celery, broccoli, tomatoes, ranch dip).
thurs:chuck wagons (like a french dip except instead of roast beef on a bun we will have turkey burgers) and mixed veggies
fri: crockpot chicken adobo- out of my new Real Simple magazine, with brown rice and broccoli
Sat: spaghetti with green beans.
Sun: salmon, baked potato, spinach salad
Mon: meatballs and....?
*I only use ground turkey, never beef. Your options for dinner are pretty much made with ground turkey or skinless boneless chicken breasts. I do buy pork sausage brats for spaghetti tho.
Off to get ready for a playdate, hoping E wakes up HAPPY from his much needed nap.
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