Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
More Ellie Updates
First words (in order of aquisition): mamma, dadda, (bye-bye and no-no-no if you count gestures), thank you, and hi.
Within days of her first birthday she started to cut her first tooth. Now, a month later she's cutting her second. Also, within days of her birthday she finally started walking while we held her hands and lately she's been walking behind her push toy. So, while she was our youngest crawler, she'll be our oldest walker since her sisters walked by 12 and 13 months.
Favorite foods: yogurt, cheese, milk, bread, grapes. Of course, she's still willing to put all sorts of random stuff in her mouth (I am regularly fishing our pebbles and mulch, yuck).
She can go up the stairs, almost always with no incident. In face the last time she fell down them (just a few of them) was because Alaina pushed her. She loves to climb up on Lainey's bed, the coffee table and even onto a shelf of one of our side tables. Of course she got stuck in that last one and was pretty upset about it so maybe she'll keep off it now.
She goes to bed fairly easily and usually sleeps through the night (finally!), though sometimes she get a little hysterical and we have to force the binki into her mouth before she'll calm down.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Things I love about our new place
Our BLINDS. We had them installed nearly a month ago and I love 'em. I'm so glad I don't have to worry about fussy curtains and whatnot. Now all I have to worry about is the kids destroying the blinds. Lainey has already tried to decorate them (with stickers of course).
The BASEMENT. I love that I can send the kids (and their messes and noise) a level or two away from me. Naptime is so much easier. Post-bedtime tube-time is so much easier. Sidenote: Ellie's way into baby dolls lately. So cute.
Andrew's IN-WALL SPEAKERS. I didn't quite understand Drew's vision until it was completed, but now that he's done I like it (and I'm super impressed that he did such a fabulous job). It was a lot work (for Drew and his friend, Dan), but it was worth it. 
New FURNITURE! For years we've been saying that we wouldn't buy a bedroom set until we lived somewhere that we intend to stay longer. Finally we are there and we love our new bedroom set. It was delivered on our 12th anniversary and since we didn't have time to do anything else to celebrate we considered the bedroom set celebration enough.
My OWN ENTRANCE & PARKING SLAB. After living so long in apartment buildings, I love having my own personal entrance, my own front steps to sit on, and my own parking spots so close to my front door. No more carrying the kids across the parking lot and into the building (unlocking and locking two sets of doors on the way), setting them up in front of the t.v., and making them promise not to leave the apartment while I ferry in the groceries (again, unlocking and locking the two doors with every trip). Also, now the kids can actually look out the window and watch for Daddy to come home.
After-meal DANCE TIME. At our old place it seemed like we could hear every step from the people upstairs and I'm pretty sure the people downstairs felt the same way about us (judging from how often they banged on the ceiling). We always tried to keep the kids quite and less mobile. Now that we don't have to worry about all that we've been able to make use of my Ipod Touch and Pandora (which I love!). In the picture below the girls are selecting costumes before dancing (but usually we are costumeless). I have enjoyed exposing the girls to various types of music, lately we've been listing to Adele radio. We've also done Jackson 5, No Doubt, Letters to Cleo, Beatles, Blu Cantrell, Neil Diamond, Prince, Black-Eyed Peas, Disney, Sesame Street, and of course, on Sundays, MoTab.
Friendly NEIGHBOORS. There are a few families with kids on the street that we have naturally gravitated to, but we have also been able to get to know some of the other couples thanks to monthly Friday night get-togethers. We all bring our camp chairs out and sit at the end of the street visiting, while the kids play around us.
Lainey's finally big enough for her trike. Drew bought it for her as a big-sister gift when Ellie was born, but she couldn't reach the pedals until a year later. Now we just need to get a bike for Liz.
There are lots of other things I like about our new place (mostly because we finally have them): our washer and dryer, third and fourth bedrooms, masterbath, and deck.
The BASEMENT. I love that I can send the kids (and their messes and noise) a level or two away from me. Naptime is so much easier. Post-bedtime tube-time is so much easier. Sidenote: Ellie's way into baby dolls lately. So cute.
Andrew's IN-WALL SPEAKERS. I didn't quite understand Drew's vision until it was completed, but now that he's done I like it (and I'm super impressed that he did such a fabulous job). It was a lot work (for Drew and his friend, Dan), but it was worth it. 
New FURNITURE! For years we've been saying that we wouldn't buy a bedroom set until we lived somewhere that we intend to stay longer. Finally we are there and we love our new bedroom set. It was delivered on our 12th anniversary and since we didn't have time to do anything else to celebrate we considered the bedroom set celebration enough.
My OWN ENTRANCE & PARKING SLAB. After living so long in apartment buildings, I love having my own personal entrance, my own front steps to sit on, and my own parking spots so close to my front door. No more carrying the kids across the parking lot and into the building (unlocking and locking two sets of doors on the way), setting them up in front of the t.v., and making them promise not to leave the apartment while I ferry in the groceries (again, unlocking and locking the two doors with every trip). Also, now the kids can actually look out the window and watch for Daddy to come home.
After-meal DANCE TIME. At our old place it seemed like we could hear every step from the people upstairs and I'm pretty sure the people downstairs felt the same way about us (judging from how often they banged on the ceiling). We always tried to keep the kids quite and less mobile. Now that we don't have to worry about all that we've been able to make use of my Ipod Touch and Pandora (which I love!). In the picture below the girls are selecting costumes before dancing (but usually we are costumeless). I have enjoyed exposing the girls to various types of music, lately we've been listing to Adele radio. We've also done Jackson 5, No Doubt, Letters to Cleo, Beatles, Blu Cantrell, Neil Diamond, Prince, Black-Eyed Peas, Disney, Sesame Street, and of course, on Sundays, MoTab.
Friendly NEIGHBOORS. There are a few families with kids on the street that we have naturally gravitated to, but we have also been able to get to know some of the other couples thanks to monthly Friday night get-togethers. We all bring our camp chairs out and sit at the end of the street visiting, while the kids play around us.
Lainey's finally big enough for her trike. Drew bought it for her as a big-sister gift when Ellie was born, but she couldn't reach the pedals until a year later. Now we just need to get a bike for Liz.
There are lots of other things I like about our new place (mostly because we finally have them): our washer and dryer, third and fourth bedrooms, masterbath, and deck.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hip Hop Dance Recital
Liz had her hiphop dance recital over the weekend. Drew and I were super impressed with her. It was so cute and she did so well. I hope she wants to continue next year because we really enjoyed it. 
I like her current studio (Dancesensations) much better than her last one (Chris Collins).
Pros: it's closer to our new home, more laid back, only has recitals on Saturdays, is located in a strip mall so I can get the girls Subway sandwiches and go grocery shopping during class, there was no pressure to sale ads for the recital program, dance pictures were on a Saturday (easily skipped) instead of during a regularly scheduled (and paid for) dance class, and I didn't have to committ to the recital until about March (as opposed to October).
Cons: the studio didn't let us know the recital schedule until about two weeks out and I didn't hear about class pictures until about four days prior, both of which caused scheduling conflicts. Also, at the recital I noticed that one of the older hip hop classes danced to a song with profanity. Not cool.
I like her current studio (Dancesensations) much better than her last one (Chris Collins).Pros: it's closer to our new home, more laid back, only has recitals on Saturdays, is located in a strip mall so I can get the girls Subway sandwiches and go grocery shopping during class, there was no pressure to sale ads for the recital program, dance pictures were on a Saturday (easily skipped) instead of during a regularly scheduled (and paid for) dance class, and I didn't have to committ to the recital until about March (as opposed to October).
Cons: the studio didn't let us know the recital schedule until about two weeks out and I didn't hear about class pictures until about four days prior, both of which caused scheduling conflicts. Also, at the recital I noticed that one of the older hip hop classes danced to a song with profanity. Not cool.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Last Saturday
Last weekend was busy. Saturday was especially packed and, unfortunately Drew was gone all that day and the next for training (for work, not ski patrol).
After dropping my kids off at two different babysitters went to a local tea house for my friend, Rachael's, baby shower. So fun. Loved the scones and sweet cream, loved cucumber sandwiches, can't wait to take Lizzie back.
I had to leave the shower early so I could pick up Liz at her last soccer game of the season. I was a little late which was especially embarrassing because I had the snack. Special thanks to Megan who not only babysat Lizzie before the game and carted her to said game, but also delivered my half-time snack for me.
Liz really enjoyed soccer and is looking forward to continuing with it in the fall. This is a huge improvement over last time. We pretty much forced her to sign up before to comply with our "one sport, one art rule."
After I got Liz, I raced to my friend Celia's place to pick up the little girls. Not only did Celia graciously agree to watch Alaina and Gabrielle, but she volunteered to take them to the pool. That's quite a feat and I was super impressed. When we were about to leave, Celia handed me the girl's bag and told me not to think that they didn't go swimming because the clothing was clean and dry. Turns out she went ahead and washed the girls things for me. So nice.
After dropping my kids off at two different babysitters went to a local tea house for my friend, Rachael's, baby shower. So fun. Loved the scones and sweet cream, loved cucumber sandwiches, can't wait to take Lizzie back.
I had to leave the shower early so I could pick up Liz at her last soccer game of the season. I was a little late which was especially embarrassing because I had the snack. Special thanks to Megan who not only babysat Lizzie before the game and carted her to said game, but also delivered my half-time snack for me.
Liz really enjoyed soccer and is looking forward to continuing with it in the fall. This is a huge improvement over last time. We pretty much forced her to sign up before to comply with our "one sport, one art rule."
After I got Liz, I raced to my friend Celia's place to pick up the little girls. Not only did Celia graciously agree to watch Alaina and Gabrielle, but she volunteered to take them to the pool. That's quite a feat and I was super impressed. When we were about to leave, Celia handed me the girl's bag and told me not to think that they didn't go swimming because the clothing was clean and dry. Turns out she went ahead and washed the girls things for me. So nice.We went home and lingered for almost an hour (I made the girls have "nap/quiet" time), then it was off to Lizzie's school for the "Blast Off" for summer fun fair. Ellie and I worked a bake sale booth for an hour while Liz watched Alaina. Then we all roamed around together for a couple hours. 
Skills to work on the summer: hula hoop and limbo. My kids really struggled with the limbo concept. 
The school got really hot by the end of the fair (it actually felt better outside than it did inside). Alaina spent the last half hour standing in front of fan while Liz happily used up her sister's game tickets. Andrew was able to come for maybe the last 15 minutes. Pretty much he was there in time to assess Lainey when she fell into a table (got a goose egg and small cut on the back of her head). 
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
My favorite moment today:
This evening, since the weather was so fabulous we barbecued hotdogs and ate on our deck. The kids sat at their kiddie picnic table while Drew and I sat on a camp and folding chair (still dreaming of a deck set).
Lizzie started to complain about how she had to sit on a hard seat while Mommy & Daddy got soft seats. Andrew told her that was because he and I have older bums than she does.
Almost immediately Alaina jumped up, pointed her bum towards Drew and excitedly said, "Look, my bum's two years old!"
A few minutes later she stepped on Drew's bag of chips.
Lizzie started to complain about how she had to sit on a hard seat while Mommy & Daddy got soft seats. Andrew told her that was because he and I have older bums than she does.
Almost immediately Alaina jumped up, pointed her bum towards Drew and excitedly said, "Look, my bum's two years old!"
A few minutes later she stepped on Drew's bag of chips.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Celebrating Gabrielle's First Birthday!
We finally celebrated Gabrielle's first birthday this evening. We used a cake we had purchased the evening before at Lizzie's elementary school's fun fair. The cute, hand-made party hats were made by my friend, Sharon Pomeroy, for her daughter's birthday. 
Naturally the older girls helped Gabs blow out her candle. We joked about how poor Ellie was definitely a third child because her celebration was over two weeks late. Of course, she got a candle and a birthday present (big scary bear) which is more than her big sisters got.
It didn't take her long to dig in. Looks like the cake is bleeding, doesn't it? Lizzie had used red icing to write a big E on Ellie's slice.
Naturally the older girls helped Gabs blow out her candle. We joked about how poor Ellie was definitely a third child because her celebration was over two weeks late. Of course, she got a candle and a birthday present (big scary bear) which is more than her big sisters got.
It didn't take her long to dig in. Looks like the cake is bleeding, doesn't it? Lizzie had used red icing to write a big E on Ellie's slice.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
2nd Grade Field Day!
Thanks to the heat index, the event was held inside (hooray for heat!). It was my first field day and I loved it. The kids were super cute, I enjoyed a free sno cone, and I didn't have to worry about sunscreen for my super-white babies.
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