the greenhouse: August 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Fourth of July

One of the best things about being in California, is being close to good friends again. The Millers, who we spent a lot of time with in Philly, are now less than an hour away and ready to party for the fourth. We started right, by eating tons of food before fireworks and watching the kids put on puppet shows. Then we made it to a beautiful field on a college campus and watched fireworks. Glenn and I actually had never been to a firework show together before, so it was a first for us. We had a lot of fun!

AMAZING cheesecake cupcake Alissa made. Get in my belly!

This was so cute. They took turns carting each other around.

Got our glow on!

Love this girl!

This is as far as Jayda made it that night!

Road Tripping through Kansas City, Texas and Arizona

Our next stop on our trip was in Kansas City to see Kendall and Deanna and their boys. We spent the afternoon chatting and playing at the park, and then left the kids with sitters so we could get some KILLER barbeque at Oklahoma Joe's. Seriously incredible.

We took up early the next day and had a long day in the car to Texas. We got to spend an entire day at Glenn's parent's relaxing, eating, and catching up with the family. They had baby kittens that the kids fell in love with (I may have fallen a bit in love with them myself.) They also got four goats while we were there. It was a nice day.

We left REALLY early the next morning so we could get to Arizona that night without it being too late. We were able to spend the evening with Aubrey, Casey and Jack, which was SO nice. She was such a great friend in Philly.

The next morning we drove to Cali where we got to see our home for the first time. We instantly fell in love with it, as well as the area we live in. It was nice to finally get there, but we had a lot of fun on our road trip.

Road Tripping through Wisconsin and Chicago

Glenn and I really wanted our road trip to California to be more like a fun vacation rather than a brutal week of travel. So we mapped it out to visit as many people as we could and to do as much as we could along the way. Our first stop was in Kenosha Wisconsin to stay with the Bostons for a few days. When you roll with Kelley, there is no shortage of things to do! Our first thing was a dairy breakfast, then we did a bit of relaxing, and then ended the day with dinner at Culver's and a fun night watching a water ski show. I'm pretty sure Kel and I stayed up WAY too late that night chatting :)

The second day we went to sacrament meeting with them, and then went to Chicago for a few hours to see Ben and Jordan. Jor had just had a baby a few months previous and it was really fun to get to see him, as well as the rest of their family. It was so fun to see them again!

We went back to the Bostons that night and had a small Father's Day moment, and went to bed at a decent time so we could hit the road early the next morning.

We let the kids do a bit of swimming in their clothes after the show. Sky was having NONE of it.

Love you Johnsons!

If You Give a Dad a Cookie booklets with cookies of course!

Love you Bostons!

Last Day of School

I'm going to be completely honest and say that our school year in NJ was a bit tough. While there was nothing particularly WRONG with my kid's experience, I was just a bit disappointed at the teaching curriculum and the school itself. But, my kids still learned what they needed and haven't seemed behind this year, so I guess it could have been a lot worse. I had to take them out early since we needed to be in CA by July, so each of their classes made the day a bit special for them. It was sweet!

Jayda and Ms Masino

Skyler and Mrs. Aptaker

Skyler got to lead the class as a band down the hall. It was...noisy.

Going Away Party

The sweet people in our ward threw us a going away party at the Kramer's house. Glenn unfortunately wasn't able to be there, but it was still so nice to get to say goodbye to everyone in such a fun way. The youth in the ward swooped my kids up, so I was able to really enjoy myself. I can't say enough about how much I loved and miss our NJ ward!

Homemade sushi from Miho, delicious!

Cella, Biana, Sabrina, Aza, Sarah, me and Sarah. I LOVE my YW!

MinYun, Marialena, and Miho

Paul, me, and Claire

My Sarah! One of the coolest chicks I've ever met.

Juanita and I

Brother Ortiz so very patiently playing ping pong with Skyler.

Rachel and her mom

making s'mores!

Jayda-isms!

i was bored last night so i put my underwear on the outside of my pants
people does what they does.
to skyler: what the heck are you doing ya nerd!
all i want for christmas is you mommy (the song just played)
skyler's going to get so many presents from santa because he's nice, but i'm not getting any because i'm naughty!
Mom, here is my list for the store. it says barbies, milk, more barbies and lots and lots of milk.
You have a pumpkin bum!
Skyler be quiet, I need my beauty sleep!
After Father's Day, is it Sister's Day?
If you cut my hair, I won't be a girl anymore!
I don't want to eat like a family!
You're making me nervous!
Jayda:Mommy, your bum is so...Me: Don't say it Jayda. Jayda: It's okay Mommy, my bum is big too.
Daddy, why does Mommy's hair look so silly?
I've been sick for so long this winter that everytime I roll out of bed (and looking haggard), Jayda always asks when I'm going to feel better (it's usually after I shower and get makeup on!)
I want a tiny brudder, and a tiny sister. If it's a girl, her name is Audrey, if it's a boy, his name is Oz!
Fuscia is my favorite color, is it your favorite color daddy?
(All in the same breath) Mommy I'm so hungry, I'm so starving, my tummy's grumbling.
I don't want Skyler to fall on me, it might break my bones!
(while dancing) Do you love it?
Dag-nabit!
I'm never going to get married.
I like you Mommy, and sometimes I love you.
You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. (She got that from me)
Mommy, we're going to be friends forever!
Dora has mean witches in it mommy, like you!
No, I don't love to do that.
Trees should be red with five yellow-green stars!
I'm regular Jayda now, not SuperJayda.
Obviously I'm thirsty because I really want some juice.
Jayda:Can I wear my purple tights with this? Me: No, it will look silly. Jayda: Can I look silly today?
"I'm so sweater-y!"
After trying to put on her new footy jammies, "I don't want to wear this, I'm not a baby!"
Putting her to bed, "mommy, will you lay with me, I'm so scary."
Finding fruit chunks in her sorbet, "I can't eat this, it has yucky poops in it!"
On our way to the gym, where she gets to play with her friends "I'm so excited mommy!"
After she left a thank you message on grandma's machine: "that was a good story mommy!"
After giving her a frozen fruit cup she exclaimed, "oh, this will make me so strong, so healthy and so princess!"
Jayda is asking what letter every word starts with and I hear her constantly trying to spell things, especially her name.
Skyler did it, it's not my fault!
After Christmas I can have lots of cookies and angels!
After being told that we weren't going to see her friends until after dinner, which wasn't for another three hours: "Oh, well, I'm very hungry mommy, I'm ready for dinner!"
After asking her if she was a sad panda: "No, I'm just a sad little princess."
While getting in the car, we had a dispute about which car we were going to ride in. She desperately did not want to ride in the blue car, she wanted to ride in the red car because it matched her dress better!
She has a dress that her Grandma gave her with an owl on it that she loves. That dress could be dragged through the mud and she would still want to wear it. It's all we can do to keep her from wearing it to bed every night. She's such a girl!
When I was sick "Don't worry mommy, you'll be just fine."
Jayda has an amazing ability to recognize and appreciate when people do things nice things for her or give her nice gifts. After getting a dress from her Grandma Johnson she said "I want to go to Idaho so I can tell Grandma thank you for my pretty dress!"
Heating things up on her own in the microwave! YIKES! Usually sets the time at about twelve minutes or so!
Jayda has become very concerned about what will happen when she wakes up. She usually does her best to tell ME what she will do at that time. "Mommy, when I wake up, I will play with my friends at the park and then watch a movie!"
Jayda has been projecting whatever she wants to do on other kids lately, mostly Skyler..."Mommy, Skyler really wants to go play with Ryley." or "Skyler wants to watch Cinderella."
(Whenever asked what she did in preschool, she usually just recites the letter that I read to her everyday for weeks before going to preschool) "I'm going to dance, paint, sing, color and meet new friends!"
Jayda's big thing lately has been getting in a pillow case and telling people she's a mermaid.
My finger really hurts, like bad!
Mommy, I'm a human. (This one could be debatable!)
Superman likes me!
(Talking to me) Do you like this song Girlie?
Can I step on Skyler gently?
Are we going to the dinner store?
I want to cry!
I want to play my friends (I'm posting this, not because it's funny, but because it's what we hear a thousand times a day, sometimes when she IS playing with her friends!)
Shake your body just like a crab!
Mommy, you make me sad!
You going to Delphia?
I love our new house with our pretty bathroom and walls.
It's a beautiful sunny day!!
I am Jayda Nicole Green, and Skyler is Skyler Nicole Green!
Mommy, are you a big muscle like me?
I want a park with lots of shapes and triangles.
I want my swim soup!
(Glenn and Jayda were being silly and Glenn asked her "are you peanut butter?") Nope! I'm Jelly!
(Alone in her room) Oh, good job Jayda!
I want to read the scriptchams
(Loudly, in a crowded public restroom) Mommy, you're going potty like a big girl? Oh, good job mommy!
SSS, shhhh, SSSS, shhhh (she's been doing this hissing noise lately, I don't even thing she realizes she does it!)
I'm shaking my booty!
Mommy, I want Daddy hugs, and I want Daddy kisses!
The bugs bite my toes and my bum!
(Saying her prayers) Thank you for my yucky dress.
I want to go to the "life-berry!"
(Waking up from her nap) I'm scared of the monkeys!
Chicken nuggets would make me super happy!
Daddy, you're crazy!
(Singing the "Chocolate Song" from Dora) Baftay baftay chocolat-ey, mix that chocolate, chocolatey...
I fixed the ding dong!
I really really really really really really want my Dora noodles!
Daddy, I want to go to the Gooey Geyser!
Mommy, do you want a cookie and some sticky tape?
I want my special princess milk.
Skyler, no swiping!

Skyler-bytes

these are called flip flops. they flip and they flop.
my bum just coughed
jayda: skyler, you're cheating! skyler: YEAH! I'm cheating!!
i'm sorry mom, i didn't mean to, i was an accident!
i can't pee in that toilet, it's too dangerous
i have an owie (looking at his hands) well, there must be an owie here somewhere.
nooooooow can we go home...noooooow?
i did it!
all by myself, i can do it all by myself...all by myself.
skyler tends to use the back of his head as a napkin, hilarious to watch, not so hilarious to constantly have to bathe him.
i peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed
me: skyler, are you poopy? skyler: no, you're poopy!
i smack your bum!
he will drag me to the gym, he loves it there so much. he's very good for my health!
he knows all of his animal sounds, so cute!
choo choo!
i need help!!
(in his sleep) mom, can i watch dora and boot, please!!
i can't reach it!
He's been crawling in bed with us in the middle of the night a lot lately, it's cute until we're kicked in the face!
No Jeeda! (we here this a lot!)
wink-wink (drink please)
Throwing tantrums flat on his back in the middle of the Cracker Barrell, awesome.
He loves to name parts of your face now (nose, ears, eyes, cheeks etc)
Hee-ha (pizza)
Ha-hoo (waffles)
Iwan vi-mu-mum (I want my vitamin)
Na-nee, na-nee, NA-NEEE! (candy)
He picks up a few blocks, and then claps and laughs!
I poopy (love this one)
Iwan Jee-da (he starts to miss Jayda after she's been in preschool a while).
Iwan Do-wa! Dowa, boots!
He will shake his head yes or no now, saving his words for when he really needs to use them!
"hold you" (I'm kind of happy about this one, Jayda said this too and it always melted my heart)
"ihung-ee"
"puppy!"
"Beep beep!" He says that when we're in his way.
"no no no no no no" (I wonder where he got that!)
He loves to throw a blanket over his head and walk around blind, running into the wall equals twenty points of hilarity!
He refuses to be hand fed, and so is learning to use a fork and spoon himself. It's freaking cute, but forces me to change him a few times a day!
"sooo" (shoe)
He's so independent! He doesn't want help ever, including walking down concrete stairs, and walking in the street, aaagh!
He imitates everything Jayda does, including going to time out and putting his hands on his hips!
He is really dealing with seperation anxiety right now and cries quite a bit when I leave him, which kills me. But I thought it was even sweeter when he sobbed after Jayda left for preschool, he loves his sister!
He gets very excited about buttons, the kind you push. He love pushing elevator buttons, microwave buttons, etc. And I love to see him point out his fat little finger!
If asked where someone is, he can smile and point at them.
Anytime a camera is held in front of him..."teee" (cheese)
He climbs EVERYTHING. And he can move the chairs in the kitchen to the counter, which means that not even my counters are safe!
Whenever he sees a bottle of water or a sippy cup he says "I tur-tee" or I'm thirsty! It's cute, I think he got that from Jayda.
He walks around the house now saying MOM, MOM, MOM, he kind of sounds like a seagull and it makes me laugh.
Such a picky eater. He only eats meat, and sugar. And he won't be fooled either. He will inspect all foods before putting it in his mouth, ensuring that it is either a piece of steak, or a cookie!
Goes down the slide head first, face plants, laughs and goes again. That's my boy!
His huge catch phrase right now is "I GOWWWW" meaning, I want to get down, or out. He says this while in his crib, chair, carseat, stroller, grocery store cart etc.
"Iwandaddy" that's what I think he said anyway!
"Hi Jaja!"
I think I may have another big talker on my hands, because not only is Skyler constantly jibberjabbering, he loves the phone! And anything that slightly resembles a phone. I'll catch him deep in conversation with his spoon at the table!
Skyler has discovered a love for books. His new thing is to grab the first book he finds (usually the largest and least appropriate for his age), throws it at me, then climbs in my lap. He doesn't really want to be read to, he just needs a comfy place to sit while he flips through the pages.
Skyler can walk relatively long distances now, like down and entire hallway, and he smiles and laughs the whole time!
Responding to prompts like "fold your arms," "clap your hands" and "touch your nose."
"Tee-too" (Thank you)
Mon-key
Hiiiii!
Laying his head on your shoulder and patting your back, he's a big time cuddler!
Looking at the pictures in his cardboard books.
Playing with animals, he loves puppies!
Figuring out how to go down the stairs as well as up!
Enjoying lots of solid foods like chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and even broccoli!
mamamama
Da-da-da-da-da
Pulling out all the pots and pans in the cupboards
Giving a cheesy camera smile
Teasing his sister
Clicking his tongue
Walking along the couches, standing by himself for short periods of time.

the greenhouse

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Fourth of July

Road Tripping through Kansas City, Texas and Arizona

Road Tripping through Wisconsin and Chicago

Last Day of School

Going Away Party

A Blog about FOOD!

My Blog List

Intelligent Musings of Glenn T. Green

Jayda-isms!

Skyler-bytes

TV shows that I like to waste my life in front of!

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