Where have we been in the last two months?

Here in Idaho, winter still has a death grip on the weather... meaning I've become pretty creative with indoor activities. Thank you to you moms close by who have inspired me and kept me sane by coming over :) Kids + seven months of winter = just a little frustration (and makeup all over the upstairs carpet, but that's another story).

We've planted seeds! And they actually are growing - who would have thought?! We'll see how long tomatoes and onions can really be maintained in a small pot... These one's are the marigolds.

Elise has decided she likes ballet. Not the dancing - just the tutus and the music :) I have to put on Tchaikovsky, her ballerina clothes (Michael, thankfully, is spared from this), and allow her to jump, twirl, and run in circles around the living room. She loves wearing costume jewelery along with it all, too. Three year-old's are pretty fun :)

Her new camera smile

Michael is speaking in sentences. Okay, so two word one's, but I'm impressed (mostly "get down," "sit down," and "down please"). He repeats everything you ask him to say (he asked for cream cheese and strawberries the other day), identifies a few animals and their corresponding sounds, says "please" and "thank you," has started to sing (very funny), and can identify the colors purple and yellow - Genius! Alright, alright, I'll stop gushing, they're just so cute :)

And, for Mother's Day, Rand had my violin fixed - those lucky neighbors of mine :)

Birthday Girl Turns 3!

I am such a slacker with blogging! I've missed so much, but be sure to check out all the new posts :)

My little girl turned three this month!!

A few of her favorite things:

• Tea parties (complete with teddy bears in hats and legos as teacups)
• Dinosaurs
  
• Playing with Michael (that is, when he cooperates and leaves her alone)
• Playing with every little boy in the neighborhood
  
• Imaginary friends (a dinosaur named Carl, a whale named Alice, and Nemo & Dorie)
• Cars
• Books (she loves Fancy Nancy!)
• Bows
• Dresses (especially the Sunday type)
  
• Bouldering (it's her favorite thing to do)
• Holding hands
• Giving kisses
• Being sweet to everyone she meets
• Bugs, worms, and spiders (yep, she loves those, too -- not inherited from me)
• Dolls
• Swings at the park
• Animals of all kinds
• Coloring (in the lines)
• Drawing
  
• Singing (she has an incredible voice and has near perfect pitch!)
  
• Dancing in the living room to Sesame Street songs
  

All these aspects put together make up the most wonderful little girl ever :) I am so grateful to have one amazing daughter!

Fuzzball or Haircuts Gone Wild

We finally did it. We cut his hair. ... Just a little too short.

Before:



After:

It's a little short, and I'm not afraid to admit that I almost cried when Rand was done. It's growing on me, but he looks so much older! And, his hair is growing back in dark! (you can't tell though from these pictures)

In other news, I've dyed my hair. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but it's fading and not so dramatic as when I came back from the salon (beauty college, who am I kidding? And really, who can complain when haircuts are $4?!).

Belly Dancing

And other forms of entertainment here in the Greenburg home :)


~Elise's video has decided not to work, I will try later to post, so for now just imagine her singing along to Barney's I love you song :)

(his new-found passion)


World-class cutie!

Some kids color on walls...

Mine just happens to color all over her brother.
Someday I am sure I will appreciate this. As for now... sigh.

My Little Boy Turns One This Week!

That zipped by!! Elise's first year went by so much slower... Well, the blue-eyed blonde (how?) turns one this Friday. Now that he's walking, he gets into everything, climbs up couches and beds, eats strange things found in weird places, but he has the cutest grin in the whole world while he's doing it :) I really can't complain - he's one AMAZING little boy (how did I get so lucky to have two of the sweetest, cutest kids?)

Sick, Sick, Sick

And we do not like it, not one little bit...

Since a little before Christmas, the kids have been sick. It's never been this bad for Michael (granted he's only 11mos old) and for Elise, it's been about a couple of years. First, Elise and the rest of us came down with a cold. Then Michael came down with an awful ear infection. Following, he had a viral rash, medicine, an allergic reaction to medicine (scary!!), and then somehow, eczema? (Not a lot of snow and a whole lot of frigid weather = dry skin, apparently) Then, Elise came down with the virus, which caused us to pull out the nebulizer - she was having sporadic, long-lasting coughing fits. Thankfully, with the antibiotics, the cough has completely gone away and she's almost fully recovered. It was scary, though, for a little bit (we had no idea what was going on with her, since her symptoms were so different than Michael's).

Michael is cutting a ton of teeth, right now, so he's in a lot of pain, but other than this (as hectic as it was), it's not terrible for never, ever being sick :)

And yes, I think we are the MVP's (most valuable patients) for Upper Valley Pediatrics :)

These Little Feet...

are taking their first steps already.

He's learning how to walk right in time for my parents' visit - such good timing :)

Tiny Tots With Their Eyes All Aglow

Though I've found a few pine needles in some mmm... interesting places, it's so much fun having all the Christmas decorations up! This is definitely the best time of year :)

Thanksgiving Extravaganza

So, from what you can tell of the pictures (I had to keep reminding Rand to take pictures), the majority of our Thanksgiving was spent in the tub or on Papa's lap (the kids, that is). But, in reality, we did tons of things that are entirely unrecorded in film, but were so much fun. I tackled my husband so that my sister-in-law could score a touchdown (yes he was on my team, and no, it wasn't intentional) and we all had a lovely time walking the hike to the Waste Facilities Bldg adjacent to the Carson Prison (and yes, it involved going under the freeway). In all sincerity, we enjoyed some bonding time with the fam and it was so nice (and needed!) to see everyone - especially since we're so far away :)

*Elise does like us, despite the funny faces we get when we take pictures of her - we think she has something against the camera.
**Thank you, Alaina & Braelyn, for teaching Elise Spanish; she now asks for agua, but it comes out "wawa." :)

Baby It's Cold Outside

After my usual walk at the Hart Building early this morning, I returned to my car to discover it WASN'T WORKING!! And, it just happened to be -5 outside. Yes, that's right, there's a negative sign in front of that five. The key would not turn in the ignition (I love when it decides not to cooperate at such convenient times). After seeking some help (they couldn't get it to work either), I decided to walk home. I guess I'm a true Idahoan now :)