Adventures of Elizabeth and Emily

Now that the girls are getting older and have a bit more stamina, we can walk more places (instead of always getting out the stroller or wagon).  Last Sunday, we walked to the playground at our local elementary school; once we were there, the girls played ball, went on the swings and played on some of the playground equipment.  Then we walked back.  It was a great way to spend a gorgeous afternoon!

Heading up the street (everyone had a lot more energy on the way there than the way back).

Playing ball with Daddy.

Just swinging.

Bye-bye playground - see you soon.

A Mirror Fit for a Princess

One of the great gifts from Miss Melissa and Mr. Mark was a make-it-yourself princess mirror that Elizabeth wanted to create immediately.  Aware of Emily's propensity for getting involved (ahem, ruining) in Elizabeth's activities, we held off on this activity until Emily was napping on Sunday afternoon.  Then, Elizabeth went to work.  I restrained myself completely from butting in (a tremendous feat!) and thus, the princess mirror is completely of Elizabeth's own making.  She's quite proud of it.

Ready to begin.

Gluing the jewels around the mirror.

The glitter glue - in purple, pink and gold - was a hit.

Proudly displaying the finished product!

March for Babies

In May 2008, our friends Jen & Sal welcomed their son Tavio into the world. Tavio, who was several weeks premature, weighed less than 2 pounds at birth.

Today, Tavio is a handsome, happy, thriving little boy. On April 26th, just a few days before Tavio's first birthday, our family will join Jen, Sal and Tavio and the rest of Tavio's Team in the March for Babies, a four mile walk in support of the March of Dimes. The money that Tavio's Team - and thousands of other teams across the country - raises will support research offering preventions and solutions for babies born too soon, educate women on things that they can do to increase their chances of having a health baby, and provide comfort and information to families with a newborn in intensive care. Click here (or on the March for Babies icon on the sidebar) to support Tavio's Team!!

Saturday Night is Pizza Night

Ever since we made pizza with Mike, Kelly and Felix during our trip to New Mexico, we have become a pizza-making-family.  The girls love pizza (as do Lee and I) and making our own is fun,  healthier, tastier and less expensive than ordering out.  Saturday night seems to be our standard pizza making night.  Here are some shots from this past Saturday night.

Everyone wants a turn rolling out the dough, although it's really Lee that does the hard work.

Helping Daddy slice the pizza.

Foolin' Around

The girls love it when Lee "rough houses" with them.  Here they are, fooling around on Saturday morning.  They couldn't get enough!

Miss Melissa

Miss Melissa and Mr. Mark (her prince) paid us a visit on Saturday afternoon.  The girls were very excited to see them, and to open Christmas presents.  They picked out cool books for the girls - Rapunzel and Puff the Magic Dragon - some beautiful change purses (Emily hit Mr. Mark up for some money), a ballerina, and a princess mirror.  Elizabeth was not (unfortunately) on her best behavior, but she and Emily both enjoyed their visitors.  We miss them and can't wait to see them again soon!

Poor Melissa, she had to wear (and keep) the Belle crown that Elizabeth gave her.

Reading Puff the Magic Dragon (we sang it too).

March at the Lake

Last Saturday, we traveled to New Hampshire to visit Grammy, Grampy and Aunt Denise. While Lee and Grampy got some stuff done around the house, the girls and I had a great time playing in the snow with Grammy and Aunt Denise. Emily and Grammy even built one of the creepiest snowmen ever (it had a tail...). We all had dinner together (and the girls made short work of some cupcakes from Aunt Denise) and then our family headed back home. It was long day but had a lot of fun (as evidenced by the pictures and slideshow below). When they aren't looking for birds, the girls have a good time playing with Grammy's scope.

Making a creepy snowman with Grammy.
Aunt Denise wipes the snow off of Emily's face.

Throwing snow in the little part of the lake that is melted.

Aunt Denise and Elizabeth.

Be sure to click on the four arrows on the lower right and turn up your volume.

Trouble

We are in some serious trouble with these two.  No doubt about it.

Popcorn

Last weekend, we made popcorn with the girls. The first time we made popcorn with Elizabeth, she had an incredibly excited reaction with every pop of every kernel. Emily had a much more serious reaction...

Winter at the Playground

Last Saturday, with a winter storm brewing, we took the girls to a nearby park and playground to enjoy the (relatively) mild weather. They had a good time running around, playing, swinging, jumping - just generally burning off energy. Elizabeth was basically fearless, sliding and climbing all by herself. It was a great way to spend a few hours and to tire out the kids. More pictures here .

No fear. Seriously.

Emily on the swing.

The slide was a much better idea to Emily on the climb up - she took one look at the long ride to the bottom and headed back down the exact same way she went up.

Preschool Songs

In addition to being Student of the Week, Elizabeth is learning all kinds of new stuff at preschool.  And, lucky for us, much of it requires her to sing...

Photo of the Week

Not everything at our house is sugar and spice and everything nice...especially when Emily doesn't get her way.

Student of the Week

This week, Elizabeth is Student of the Week at her preschool (grandparents, don't get too excited - every kid in the class gets the chance).  She has been looking forward to this week since the Student of the Week program started, planning her poster and the items that she will bring in to show the class.  Now that the time has finally arrived, she is just about bursting with excitement.  Over the weekend, we helped her make her poster, filling in information about her likes, dislikes, wishes and family.  She did a lot of the writing herself (we helped her with the spelling), which is new for us.  Each day, she gets to bring in one of her toys or favorite things to show to or share with the class.  It's a very exciting week in our house (despite the fact that school was cancelled today, the very first day of her reign)!!

Still working on the Z, but it's pretty good.

Here we are.  That circle between Daddy and Elizabeth?  Ollie.

More of Elizabeth's Work

Some of these are quite old, but we just got around to taking them off of Elizabeth's camera this morning.  Here is the latest installment of "Through Elizabeth's Eyes."

Making cupcakes, of course!

I'm not sure if anyone but our wedding photographer has ever captured us kissing!

Love this one.

Rudy

Self-portrait