We're Townhome Owners!

Well, we had a few bumps along the way--I lost my wallet earlier in the week (you can imagine how well Drew responded to this), I forgot to set up home owners insurance until the last minute, and the closing that was supposed to take place at 10 a.m. yesterday didn't actually happen till a little after 5 p.m. (thanks in part to computer problems at the bank). We spent most of that delayed time hanging out in the settlement company's waiting area (because the delays were unanticipated). Liz was at school and Alaina was at a sitter nearly all day, but by the time we signed our papers we had all the girlies in tow. We're super excited, but also a little overwhelmed with the task of moving. We thought we could move out of our apartment (mostly or entirely) yesterday, but most of the day was lost to the waiting game. Drew did manage to take two loads over. We have movers scheduled take care of the storage unit in a few hours and then we'll see about the apartment. It's our first time hiring help for a move--Drew's relieved, I'm worried the workers will scratch the wood floor or ding the walls.

In other news: Ellie's 10 months old today!

Oodles of Noodles

Last night we attended a Spaghetti dinner fund raiser at Lizzie's school. As a family we also made a noodle sculpture for the Oodles of Noodles contest. Sculpting with noodles was harder than I thought it would be--especially when you have a 2-year old helping out--but we had fun. In case you can't tell, it's a bird. I couldn't get the head to stay on top so I just propped it up in front and said it was sleeping (looks more like a dead bird though doesn't it?). Lizzie was upset. She said it looked weird. I said she should be proud of what we accomplished, this being our first noodle sculpture attempt and a crazy, busy week to boot.

Really, with all of Lizzie's after school activities, the local consignment sale to prep for, a girl's night out, Lizzie's school function, two birthday parties, and an out of town friend to visit with today it would feel like a busy week to me. Add to that closing on our townhome, moving out of our apartment and storage unit, moving into said townhome and all the additional things that requires like starting and stopping utilities and packing like crazy, and we're stretched pretty thin.

One more note about the Oodles of Noodles contest: I let Lizzie decide what we created. She started with concept drawings and then narrowed it town to the Washington Monument or a bird. We kept the drawing of the Washington Monument because it is hilarious. Instead of making a point, Lizzie rounded the top and put a dot on it to represent the light. It pretty much looks like an erect penis. Even now I'm laughing when I remember how she proudly showed me her picture and hung it up on the fridge having know idea what it really resembled.

Ahhh, love it.

Okay, so it's crazy late, but I'm too stressed to sleep. I thought we had till Wednesday to be out of our apartment. Tonight Drew corrected me. It's Monday. Argh! I am too stressed to sleep and too tired to be productive. At least the girls can rest peacefully.

An Outing on the Mall

Last Friday the weather was fabulous and everyone was finally healthy (well, more or less) so we spent the morning at the Washington and WWII monuments. It was a nice break from the chaos of buying a home/moving/life in general with three kids. This girl loves, loves, loves to put on "lipstick" (chapstick). She loves it so much she puts in on her nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin as well as her lips.

She knows it's a letter and she's pretty excited about that.

She just threw her penny into the fountain and . . .

now she wants another coin.

Sad girl causes: Alaina wants "nother money" and Ellie wants to be held.

At times like this Drew always says something like, "Stop taking pictures and help them!"

Below Alaina is playing with her friend, Peter. By the time we left she was nearly soaked from the waist down and her shoes had duck poop on them. Yuck. Needless to say she rode hom in just her diaper.

St. Pat's

As always I intended to do way more than we actually did, but the girls didn't seem to notice. Well, Liz noticed that the leprechauns did not turn our milk green (couldn't find green food coloring at the store the night before--go figure) and she was pretty sad. The little men did, however, leave each girl a little green gift bag full of chocolates in gold wrappers and some green socks (lucky thing too since green is surprisingly sparse in their wardrobes).See wanted to pose this way. She got in position and said, "Mom, look at me. Take my picture."

These two are wearing literally the only green things I could find in their closets. Liz wore even less.

Yeah, she just knocked over her sister's block tower and pulled out half a box of kleenex.

Earlier in the week we celebrated "Pi Day" on 3.14. It was our first year doing this and I envisioned eating pie for every meal (quiche, pizza, meat pies) while we discussed math. We ended up making individual-sized pudding pies. Liz didn't quite understand what we were celebrating and I was a little surprised that I had such a hard time explaining everything. When it came down to it I couldn't quite remember what pi was and what we used it for. It was a little embarrassing. Later on Drew explained it to Lizzie and to me.

Sunday Evening Walk

Gabrielle at 9 months

Alright, Elle's closer to 10 months now than she is to 9 months, I'm a little late posting her stats, but here they are: height 27" (28%), weight 18 lbs 9.2 oz (44%), head 17 1/4" (45%). She's crawling and cruising and chowing the Cheerios. She's had enough wheezing this cold season that she's now on daily preventative nebulizers.

She sticks her tongue out. A lot. Seriously, she reminds me of a little lizard or puppy dog. She also likes to blow zurberts (often on my face).

Ellie likes to play with keys, cords/wires, and her stuffed alligator. She excitedly follows the vacuum when it's on. She likes to clap and play peek-a-boo with her sisters.

She still refuses a bottle, but has warmed up to pacifiers (a bit at least). Gabrielle has also started to get kind of clingy with me. The happy side of this is that she is also getting cuddly.

She loves to be kissed and giggles when we "eat" her tummy. She still gives us trouble at bedtime but she's improving. She also usually sleeps through most the night now.

Last Cookie Booth

Girl Scout Day at the Udvar

Last weekend we enjoyed Girl Scout Day at the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. I was a little surprised that the girls spent their first hour and a half at just one station making storybooks. The focus was on women--it being women's history month and all--but Lizzie absolutely insisted on writing about Andrew's father.

After they finished their books the girls were able to go into another room and be interviewed for the website. Liz and her friend, Karly, were super excited about it, but when they got back to the production room they pretty much froze. I don't blame them. I too would be intimidated by the bright lights, overhead mic, and nearly a dozen people watching me from around the room.Lainey's gotten a bit sassy lately. Here she is sticking her tongue out at some random little boy.

Liz with some of her fellow Brownies. Check out that height difference!

The girls wanted to do a "silly face" picture.

And Lainey tried to copy Lizzie's silly face.

Ski Patrol Break

Ski patrol is over till next season (save for a few training exercises and refreshers). Andrew and I are both relieved. I know Drew loved it, but I also know by the last week he was ready for a break.Still, I think we're both looking forward to hitting the slopes next year. I finally feel brave enough to practice on the bunny hill and Lainey will be old enough for Drew to start teaching her. And hopefully Lizzie, having mastered the bunny hill, will increase her comfort level on the bigger hills.

Also, we can't wait to go skiing with my brother Scott's family again. Check out how cute Lizzie and her cousin, Iris, are skiing together (picture from Codi).

Bedtime Stories

Tonight Alaina wanted to read Gabrielle a bedtime story. There were some bumps (notice Ellie's forehead) and Lainey got a little frustrated when Ellie's attention wandered, but in all it was really cute.

Sisters

These two get along fairly well. Just look how excited Alaina is to have Gabrielle holding onto to her beloved laundry basket.

National Zoological Park

The girls and I went to the local zoo last Saturday. Andrew was scheduled to come from his annual ski trip that night, but had ski patrol the next day (his tuboggon test--he passed!). I knew I needed an outing to maintain my sanity. Since Alaina was sick I opted for an outdoor location (instead of the National Theater or Lakeshore Learning Center), reasoning that she would be less likely to infect others. Also, if she had an especially nasty coughing fit we could just stroll onto the next exhibit.

Alaina likes to "fly" about a lot now. In the picture below she is headed toward the pizza play area that's part of the barn animals exhibit. It's slated to close sometime this spring (lack of funding) so we visited it first.

Cheese wedge slide:

Olive tunnel:

After the barn area we looked at the baby lions, the turtles, and the prarie dogs before heading over to the other play area: a system of "prarie dog tunnels" that the girls just love.

Alaina's well into the I-do-it-myself stage. She didn't want any help balancing. She also didn't want much help picking out her clothing that morning. She's wearing red house slippers (Lizzie had a similar love of her red house slippers when she was Lainey's age).

Ellie in the tunnels:

Alaina avoiding pictures: