g is for greta

My backs hurts. Not just hurts…aches. It has snowed again here in Columbus. We live on a corner lot which means that we have LOTS of sidewalk to shovel. Today there was another snow delay so when Ethan went down for his nap, the kids and I went out to shovel. Ugh. It killed me. Tony took the kids outside last time it snowed and pulled them around on a sled.

You might be thinking, don’t they have hills there for you to sled down? I’m sure there are but would there be a potty closeby? Would one kid decide they are finished and ruin it for the other one? Etc, etc. Anyway, the backyard was just fine. Tony is such a sport.

I should go soak in a tub. Isn’t that what old ladies do?

-g.

Not only is the weather chillin’ but so are my boys. Check it out:

Mason is cool while he sleeps.

Ethan rolls onto his side, crosses his feet, and just hangs out like that. I’ve been trying to get a picture for awhile and finally got it.

Awesome! All of my kids have crossed their feet like that since they were newborns. I love these kids and their personalities.

-g.

Remember how I posted about us being UBER-bored last week when school was cancelled? I came up with a few semi-fun things for the kids to do that day. They had fun. Of course they also occasionally ask to play with wooden spoons, but who am I to judge?

We played Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

Their favorite part was falling off and bumping their heads.

I built a fort by putting a blanket over the kitchen table. They played with their toys underneath there for hours. Mason stood up and clocked his head a few times pretty hard, but they had a blast.

(Corinne is such a poser. Is there a weirdo gene? If so, I think Tony must have passed it on. Also, check out my circa 1987 rust brown linoleum floor. Man, would I love to replace that! Maybe the Smithsonian would like me to donate a portion for historical purposes.)

We also baked a HoHo cake. It was delicious! We inhaled it all before I could get a picture of that slice of heaven.

Here’s to hoping there isn’t another snow day this winter. Not sure what we would do next time around.

-g.

I have hit the big time. That’s right folks. Here I am in my cozy home in Dublin, Ohio and someone…no THREE someones are reading my site across the ocean. Not to make any of you feel uncomfortable or think I’m creepy, but I have a way to track who checks my site(more like where–i just get a location). It’s kinda fun. Anywho, I was checking it and saw that someone in Berlin, Germany checked my site (through one of my friend’s sites) and then I got a hit from one person in Milan, Italy and another in Cremona, Italy doing a google search! They both were looking for “greta blog.” If you are reading this, cool international people, tell me who you are! I’m all giddy with excitement. I had another random hit once. It wasn’t as fun. The person was searching google with the key words “nurse shoes, greta.” Not sure about that combination. Hopefully they enjoyed reading the site and eventually found their nurse shoes…

-g.

Corinne is obsessed with the word “rockstar” lately. Let me give you a few examples of her usage of the word:

Upon licking the remnants of banana bread batter from her spatula, she replied, “I’m licking this spatula like a rockstar!”

Corinne found her belts in the closet and was excited to become reacquainted with her forgotten accessories. She picked one to wear to school and said, “This belt is for rockstars!”

“Listen to me sing like Hannah Samantha (aka Hannah Montana). She’s a rockstar!”

“It’s hard for me to be a rockstar everyday.”

Overheard while Corinne was role playing that she is a teacher: “I will teach you how to be a rockstar at this school.”

Dancing around the toyroom=”I’m rockin’ it like a rockstar!”

I’m assuming it’s a phase. She’s fairly full of her rockstar abilities at the moment. We took her 5 year pictures last night. She was definitely posing like a rockstar/diva. She is acting way too mature already.

-g.

So I forgot to post anything about Valentine’s Day until I read my sister-in-law’s blog. Thanks for the reminder, Steph! Tony knows I’m not one for roses. They are too mainstream. I really love tulips. Daisies, too, if you really want to know. Just not roses. They are okay when they are unexpected but not on romantic holidays. So Tony and I decided to not really do anything this year since we’re still getting used to having only one income. Much to my embarrassment, he brings me a bouquet of tulips with a sweet and sappy card. I loved it! He’s a sweetie. My parents were actually here for a great visit that will be posted about at another time. They watched the kids Friday while Tony and I grabbed a quick bite at the Red Door Tavern. It had inexpensive sandwiches and comfort food. Tony had a reuben (which I have always hated but never tried. It was actually pretty tasty!) I got chicken salad which was yummy. The thing that makes the day special for us is that February 14 is the exact 6 month anniversary of our wedding. What a way to celebrate the half!

On Wednesday night, my friend Stephanie had a girls’ night Valentine’s Day party. Everyone was to bring a Valentine to exchange. Corinne was extremely put out that she wasn’t going to get to come so she said she got to make the gift. She picked heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink, strawberry icing and red sprinkles. Some of the valentines were amazing! People have talents that I will never get a grip on. Oh well. Here’s a picture of the samplings:

Corinne is the one who was into Valentine’s Day. Surprise, surprise. She has three Valentine’s Day shirts that she spaced throughout the week to wear to school. The party at school was on Thursday. She made Love Bug valentines out of smarties, foam, and pipe cleaners. Then we wrote “Bee Mine” on the back of the wings. It was cute. Again my parents saved the day by watching the boys so I could go to the party. It’s fun to be able to watch Corinne in other environments.

Love is in the air!

-g.

Remember how when you were a kid and you were between picture books and books with no words? I always liked the books with pictures. I’m all for developing your imagination and whatnot but somehow the pictures pulled me along through the story. Anywho, I am apologizing for the lack of pictures lately. I know it quickens your pulse when you check the site, and I have a new post. My life is super exciting! Who doesn’t hang on every word I type and check multiple times daily to see what mysteries of the universe I’ve solved that day or see if there are PICTURES of my adorable offspring? Then you get bummed out when there aren’t any pictures. I don’t blame you. I like pictures, too. The problem is that I have to download them off the camera, then upload them onto flickr, then write details and tags for each one before finally being able to use them on my site. (When and where did I learn such computer lingo? Makes me sound like I know what I’m doing, huh?) Anyway, I do have lots of pictures taken and will do posts soon that have pictures. I promise. The kids are hogs when it comes to the computer. Our laptop is out of commission so I don’t have another computer to distract them. I just have to wait for a break in the action long enough to do it. Stay tuned.

-g.

My sister-in-law, Stephanie, posted this tag on her site and opened it up to anyone. I’m bored so I figured…why not? Here goes:

Two names you go by:
1. Greta
2. Mommy

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Fuzzy leopard slippers
2. Blue jeans

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Read
2. Nap

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. Breakfast
2. Company/visitors to help entertain the kids

Two favorite pets you have or have had:
1. Dog–a mutt named Misty
2. Fish

Two people who will respond
1. Someone who is bored like me
2. ?

Two things you ate today:
1. haven’t had breakfast yet
2.

Two people you last talked to:
1. Mason
2. Ethan

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. Taking Corinne to school
2. Laundry

Two longest car rides:
1. Ohio to California and back
2. Ohio to Utah and back

This tag is open to anyone. I love reading reading them!

-g.

So I’m having one of those blah days. There’s no school today, but Tony still has work. I had planned on taking the kids to the playplace at the mall around 9 o’clock to get in a good hour of playing before the stores opened and all the people show up. However, the kiddos have decided to be sick for the entire winter. I think they first got a bug around Thanksgiving. It has been sickness ever since. Mason and Ethan have the never-ending runny nose. I didn’t think there was that much snot in the world! We kept both of them home from church yesterday (again) so I was feeling guilty if we went to the playplace and contaminated the area just so my kids could have an outing. I have confined us to home. Sigh. Now I need something fun to do. They are taking the world’s longest bath with bubbles AND bath crayons. Once that ends, we’ll have some free play. Maybe bake cookies after lunch. A (long) movie… But then what? What do you all do on a blah day to keep kids entertained and out of trouble? Help!

-g.

Corinne’s birthday stretched out over two weeks. She picked to have one friend, Ella, sleep over instead of having a party with lots of friends. They put on their pjs, watched a movie, and had a treat. Time for bed, right? WRONG! Corinne had us put her princess castle tent in her room for them to sleep in since she wanted castle birthday theme. They played, screamed, and fought until after I went to bed around 11:30. Kids! I thought they would be exhausted and sleep in. WRONG AGAIN! They were up a smidge after 6 screaming and giggling again. Ugh. Corinne picked chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. The girls got their nails painted while they watched some cartoons then played until it was time for Ella to go home. It was tiring but fun.

Here’s the invitation Corinne made:

The girls thought they were too cool:

Mason wouldn’t let them have ALL the fun:

This past weekend was the actual birthday. Corinne had missed school all week with the flu and was itching for some company. Papa Tom and Abuelita spent the day with us. She decided to have a castle cake this year.

Corinne got these bath stick-ups from my brother’s family. She BEGGED to take a bath all day. I told her after dinner. She asked for dinner at 3 o’clock! Silly girl!

Ethan was tuckered out and ready for bed. Papa Tom and Abuelita gave him kisses goodbye.