Hiatus

It has been a while since I posted, well, anything at all. And here is why!

 

Look at the picture. Then go back and count again. I’ll wait.

Yes, it’s true! Another little gremlin on the way.

Needless to say, I have been consistently zapped of energy and struggling just to get the necessities done. Now that we are heading into the second trimester, things should get better. I’ll try to update more often - there have been some fun and hilarious shenanigans around here, which would probably seem more fun and more hilarious if I wasn’t so tired.

We are looking forward to welcoming our newest little Greene around April 19th!

Prisoner

His crime is unknown, but this is his punishment.

Beach Retreat

A few weeks ago we escaped the Phoenix heat for a bit of camping on the beach with family and friends.

 

There’s nothing like a little granola and monster trucks in the morning.

 

The cousins were all excited to spend some time together.

 

Dog pile!

 

Veronica was ready to put all the toys to good use.

 

Introducing Ariadne to the ocean.

 

But the ocean is cold, so she decided she’d rather just eat Dad’s shirt instead.

 

The girls wasted no time in getting sand everywhere. In fact, if there was one word that could describe this trip, it would be…sand.

 

Looking for shells and other ocean treasures.

 

Chillin’.

 

We got to meet our newest nephew, Brian Jr. What a cutie-pie!

 

Babies everywhere!

 

I wonder what she’s thinking?

 

Paul hacked a cover for the playpen out of some shade screen that we had lying around – it worked great to keep this little girl out of the sun during nap time.

 

Trying to repair the wall that just got washed away. The risk of building with sand.

 

Structures are safer away from the tide line. He got first place in the sand sculpture contest!

 

A team of architects and their Snowy Mountain Fortress Ruins.

 

What would a trip to the beach be without tumbling in the waves?

 

If you get tired, there’s always someone nearby who’s willing to carry you.

 

And at the end of the day, you could pass out and rest up for the next day of fun.

Olympic Fever

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had the TV on more often to watch the Olympics, and Veronica has been really into it. The following conversation may have just taken place between her and Paul during a friendly game of Olympic “ball.”

Veronica: I am the USA.

Paul: Okay, who am I?

Veronica: You can be the English one.

Paul: Ok, I am England. *Turning on British accent* Blimey, pass me the ball!

Veronica: I am not called Blimey.

Paul: No no, that’s just something that English people say.

Veronica: Actually, you are from Russia.

Paul: Ok, I am Russia. *Turning on Russian accent* Comrade, pass me the ball!

Veronica: No no, play in Arizona.

Paul: I should be from Arizona?

Veronica: No, just play in Arizona.

Paul: But that’s the way that Russian people talk. Even in Arizona.

Veronica: No, Russians don’t talk when they play ball.

Then the USA scored a goal, and shared the point with Russia. Everyone wins!

The 4th is With Her

Today my little sunshine turns four years old. While she hasn’t been a baby for quite some time, I feel like the transition from three to four somehow launches her firmly into the realm of girl. A girl with likes and preferences and opinions. A girl who knows what she wants. And what she wants is Star Wars.

 

So when I saw this pool noodle lightsaber pin from the queen of geeky girlyness (girly geekyness?), Jen of Epbot and Cake Wrecks, I knew we had to make them happen for Sunday’s party. A quick Google search turned up a variety of tutorials, and Paul locked himself in the office for a couple of hours to give each lightsaber its own unique flair.

Veronica picked a green one, of course.

 

Needless to say, they were a hit. Ba-dum ching.

 

Other fun included daring aerial acrobatics…

 

Drinking pool water out of a pair of goggles (because that’s what two-year-olds do)…

 

And trying to keep the wrong end (right end?) of the bottle in Ari’s mouth.

 

Here’s a more appropriate object for her to chew on. Opa, show her how it’s done!

 

That’s better.

 

This watermelon was originally going to be a shark, but in keeping with the Star Wars vibe a few small changes turned it into the giant asteroid worm (apparently also known as an Exogorth, thanks Google).

 

And of course, there was the infamous (to my Facebook friends) Darth Vader cake. Since Veronica specifically requested a Darth Vader cake - also thanks to Jen of Cake Wrecks and her nifty book - I gave it my best shot. I still think that Vader got the better of this epic battle, but my valiant husband did step in and keep it from becoming a total disaster. 

 

So this tired mama’s heart melted when Veronica saw the finished product and said, “It’s perfect for me, Mom.”

 

She gets a little shy when she’s the center of attention.

 

Though she was more than happy to pose for a picture with one of her new toys.

 

While Jacinta quietly helped herself to the rest of the frosting.

 

The next morning, Veronica was up early to play with her new collection. Excited, much?

 

Jacinta was ready for fun, too. Complete with heavy breathing.

 

Today – Veronica’s actual birthday - we treated her to breakfast in bed, a favorite tradition from my husband’s childhood. Which he totally made happen while I groggily tried to remember how the camera worked.

Happy Birthday, Veronica! I can’t believe it’s been four years, but we love you more today than ever!

Midnight Movie?

Last time, on Jacinta’s Midnight Exploits: the ability of a certain two-year-old to open the refrigerator paired with her propensity to occasionally wander around the house in the middle of the night prompts Mom and Dad to slide a vacuum attachment through the refrigerator door handles. A surprisingly effective child deterrent.

And now, for today’s episode.

One night last week, I woke in the wee hours of the morning to a light shining into our semi-open bedroom doorway. Since we hadn’t left any lights on, I knew it could only mean one thing: someone was up and about when they should have been sleeping. And I had a pretty good guess as to who it was.

 

Exhibit A: There is only one person in our house who has both the dexterity and the skinny arms necessary to remove DVDs from the drawer despite the presence of a child latch.

 

Exhibit B: A trail of movies leading to the perpetrator’s hideout.

 

And finally, Exhibit C: A child who, having obtained some of her favorite movies to accompany her to bed, tucked herself in and fell back to sleep.

Good thing we locked that refrigerator, eh?

Celebrating Independence

Veronica and Jacinta wanted to show off the firecrackers they made yesterday. Paper towel tube, scrapbook paper, stickers, and pipe cleaners – super easy.

Veronica is camping with her grandparents now, but the rest of us will be celebrating by grilling, eating, swimming and reading the Declaration of Independence. Not necessarily in that order (urp).

Happy 4th everyone!