Clozzard the Lizard

Eli wanted a lizard for Christmas.  He got a little terrarium.  We caught two little lizards in our garage who were hibernating.  We'd read that you can't keep two males together because they fight.  One lizard we caught was tiny.  One was big.  They are green when they are happy.  We tried feeding them dried food but they wouldn't eat it.  We had to go to Petsmart to get live crickets.  The big one was like a ninja eating the live crickets.  We were worried the little one would die.  We had to put her in a separate container to eat the crickets.  She wouldn't eat them in the terrarium--the big one ate them all.  We knew the big one was a boy because he puffed out this thing under his head.  We assumed the little one was a girl because they never fought.  

After three weeks of them in the terrarium... we put 4 crickets in there and finally, Lizzie, the girl, tried to eat a cricket in the main terrarium.  Clozzard,  the big one, attacked Lizzie.  That's when we realized Lizzie was Lyle.  He'd been brown for weeks and we couldn't figure out why.  It was a BOY lizard.  They never fought because (I assume) Lizzie was so small he just hid all the time and never challenged Clozzard.  We moved him to the cricket house and he's been bright green ever since.  It explained SO MUCH!  I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it before.  Until I had that information, I didn't understand the situation.  

Anyhow, we did finally release Clozzard and pick up a girl we found outside--we named her Chloe and she and Clozzard are such good friends that I wouldn't be surprised if we saw baby lizards soon... 

I was kind of dreading having lizards, but I am surprised.. .I think I like Clozzard more than Eli does.  Here's a few shots of him eating a cricket! It's so cool!! 

VALENTINE'S DAY 2013!!

Whitney is fond of saying that Valentine's day is more important at our house than Christmas.  While that is certainly NOT the case (small glare in his direction)... it's not THAT far from the truth.  I LOVED Valentine's day.  Officially I like Christmas best and then Easter (I do love Easter!), and then Valentine's day, but how can you not love a holiday devoted to devotion!? 

Here are my tiny valentines.  Not to be confused with my most beloved valentine (photos of him later.) The kids know I love valentine's and they get all excited too.  They knew there would be goodies and they got up at like 5:45 to rifle through their loot.  Luckily I was up (pumping!!) and came in to capture the magic.  (Notice it's still dark outside!) 

 We really try to give them mostly non-candy things.  After all--poor Eli had a LOT of dental work the other day. It has renewed our determination to cut down on all sugary things.

 Emmy liked her dog and Eli loved his bear.  It goes without saying Dora loved her dog.  That kid and animals.  Sheesh.

 Dora looks unimpressed with my heart pink pancakes (with mini-m&ms) and pink eggs.  So they were no work of art.  I was tired!!

 Love these two little sisters!! We snapped some shots after Eli went to school.  You can see the light is coming in through the windows now.

 HAPPY!!!!

 HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!

 HAPPIEST!!

 Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Dora's Mani/Pedi

Dora and I go get pedicures a lot.  For less than I pay for my pedicure I can get her a pedicure and manicure.  So she was happy when I suggested we get a pedicure to get her ready for her birthday party.  She was SO GOOD, even though I forgot to bring the ipod.  She kept saying how happy she was to be getting a pedicure with me and how nice a job the ladies were doing.  They loved her. 

Also, when they painted the flower on, she said, with glee, "mom, this flower on my finger looks like fat grass."  I thought the ladies were going to pass out from laughing at the lady doing the flower.  They made fun of her mercilessly for doing a bad flower.  Ha!  It actually looked fine! And Dora liked it.  She's just a funny little thing with her descriptions.  

I love that little imp.  This is one of the last photos taken of her as a three year old!! EGADS!

Build a Bear for Dora's Birthday Week

Dora turned four on Saturday.  We have never had a kid's birthday fall on the same day of their "party", so we always have a family and friends party and then a little family celebration.  Since Dora's party was set for her actual birthday, I felt like we should do something just as a family to celebrate Dora being Four.  

We went to Build a Bear! 

Alright.  She's spoiled.  

But isn't she CUTE!? She and Eli were SO HAPPY! 

Grandma came and helped with Emmy.  It was Emmy's first time to go as a participant.

 Kids dancing with joy...

 What a beautiful little four year old.

 Kids were excited to find furniture made of the same stuff as our new patio furniture at home.  Ha!

Dora "hid" under the umbrella.  Thought it was kinda funny.  Kinda like an ostrich with its head in the sand.

We did finally make it!! She picked a kitty cat.  Eli chose a leopard.  

 Happy girl!

 Incidentally, Build a bear needs to redo their lighting.  Every single time we go the photos are always all yellow.  I'm sure a saavy photographer would know how to fix that but for us point and clickers--we blame build a bear!!

 Papa joined us too!

LOVE my little angel.  Look at that squishy belly!! 

 Happy boy!

Putting in the heart.. 

 Learning the ropes...

 Three happy kids...

 Two cute sisters... (Dad was home with Tessa who had gone to sleep.)

 Pick me up now, mom!!

 Since we were at the mall, we had to walk over to Auntie Anne's.  I can't miss a chance for a fresh almond pretzel and BOY were they good!!! Love those cute kiddos of mine.

 Love my mom and dad too.  They are just about as good as it gets!

Fun with Friends

We have been spending a lot of time with the Shepards lately.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends!  Dora and Bailey and Morgan are BFFs.  Eli has been feeling a little left out intermittently but usually he runs around with them too.  He's in Kindergarten with Bailey.  Obviously Dora was having fun on the trampoline here... We went over to eat with them and then Erin and I watched the kids and talked while Whitney and Brock worked on rebuilding Brock's muscle car carbuerator.  (Sp??) 

 Here is Emmy being a sailor.  Kinda cute!

 Good friends!

 Those are two good looking fellas!

 Love that man!

 Erin makes the BEST cookies you've ever had. Seriously.  Emmy had to eat some.  And then wear Eli's sweatshirt, even though we had hers there too.  Goofball... Good times!

Tessa Baby

My tiny little baby girl!! I can't believe she's 2.5 months here.  She is getting so big so fast! I feel kinda bad.  I always had a bow on Dora's head.  I usually put one on Emmy for photos so for the most part,she had one too.  Tessa? That girl never gets a bow.  Part of that is Emmy's fault.  She plays in the hair bow drawer so everything is scattered.  Also, Emmy and Dora have stretched the bows out so none of them fit a tiny head.  That's a real problem too.  But mostly I am just too scattered to get one on her head with any regularity.  Sorry!! I also have been horrible about taking her photo.  NO cute outfits.  No photo shoots.  Just the occasional snapshot.  Here, she's in a sleeper and a bib.  OH WELL! She's so cute she looks adorable anyway! Ha! 

We DO love you Tessa!!!