little puffy clouds

Xmas and some recent pics!

2011-12-30T18:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't believe another xmas has come and gone! It was a very special one with the addition of our sweet little Rubykins! She slept through most of christmas, but it is just so nice to have her around. Lucy had a great time and got soooooo many presents. We should have asked Santa for a toy storage shed! She is having so much fun with her new toys and the new guitar she got from Santa. It is baby blue with a mermaid on it. For some reason we have no pictures of it yet! But Mike tuned it to the key of G (Uncle Brian suggested that...) and it sounds great and Lu has been playing it a lot.

Mike, Lucy, Ruby and Sally reading bedtime stories tonight...

Going to the Ballet Austin Nutcracker!

The night before christmas!

Lu and Rubes...

Mike and Ruby

Ruby getting a smooch

Lucy helping Ruby exercise!

Lucy getting ready for a tea party with her friend Olivia

Our xmas tree!

The house decorated!

at the Invincible Czars Nutcracker show...it's like a heavy metal/polka version of the Nutcracker Suite! Kids just dance around and go bonkers!

Welcome Ruby Jane!

2011-12-30T17:44:00.000-08:00

Miss Ruby Jane was born November 17th... She is a sweet sweet sweet little lady. She looks a lot like Lucy did as a newborn, but she has dark hair and she has my feet! Lucy has Mike's feet. Her personality already seems very different though. She doesn't cry very much and she sleeps a lot too! We are even managing to get some sleep at night...phew!

sally in the window...

2011-08-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

I just had an urge to document Sally's daily routine of sitting in the sunny window in the living room. If the drapes are closed she huffs at me to open them and move her pillow closer. We call it her 'stinky pillow'. At around 2pm she moves to the back window to go in the sunny window there... Oh, and it was my birthday today. Mike and Lu made me cupcakes! And breakfast! It was such a nice day...I definitely felt special, between calls and texts and packages from friends and family.

made the flags with a blank notecard and toothpicks...

100 degrees at Mayview Park

2011-07-31T19:23:00.001-07:00

Despite being 100 degrees outside and being pregnant I needed to go on a hike yesterday... In the class I am taking over the next year I have to take a nature walk in the same place once a month. This way I can observe the seasons and get to know one place well enough to see the changes. I really like this idea. I chose Mayview park and nature preserve, because it has a pretty low key 30 minute hike that I think I will even be able to handle when I'm about to have a baby! And it is really pretty and shady. I think it is my favorite place here in Austin and it's just 10 minutes away. And it has peacocks! And the coolest koi ponds with lily pads I've ever seen!

the gate that leads to the hiking path.

little puffy clouds

showing off!

huge lily pads!

navigating the rocky path...

so pretty, i love the stone walls...

heart cactus : )

my little garden!

2011-07-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

We had a planter that I wanted to change the plants in... there were these lovely horsetail reeds, but they needed lots and lots of water. So I wanted to plant things that weren't so thirsty. My new plants need water every few days, but I only need a watering can rather than hosing the planter for 5 minutes! I am so happy they are doing well...I usually have a black thumb! These plants are pretty hardy! Here are some before and after shots. And a few of Lucy...because she's cute!

Before

After...2 months later

Miss Lu... I was forcing her to pose, so I could practice using the digital SLR that we inherited from my dad! I finally got a new battery that holds a charge, so I think I'll use it a lot more now.

my blue toes with a chalk drawing Lucy and I drew of the ocean with sand and sunset. Lucy even thought to draw the reflection of the sun on the water.

Potato Printing

2011-07-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

We worked on this project today for a few upcoming birthday presents for Grandparents! It was so fun! Lucy and I really had a good time working on it together...

I got a kit from Lotta Jansdotter (for 50% off!!) that included these carving tools. They can be used for lino block printing too.

You just put fabric paint on the potato stamp and stamp it on...

Stamping...

This was one of the stamp ideas in the kit!

Lucy designed this stamp and I helped her carve it out.

Hanging out to dry in the 100 degree heat.

I'm planning on making more for our house and also some burp cloths for the baby!

Recent Craftiness...

2011-07-15T20:05:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd post some pictures of some of projects Lucy and I have been working on. Lucy has been hand sewing. Her teacher has burlap square with stitching projects at school, so I made her some for at home too. I have also had a sewing bug lately...and I also have been crocheting a bunch!

A little dress I made for Lu with an American Apparel tank top.

I bought a pattern on Etsy for this cute little dress and used some fabric that I have had sitting around forever!

Here is the full dress! I think it turned out pretty cute and better yet, Lucy actually wants to wear it all the time since it's comfy!

Crocheting! A baby hat and wash cloths. I really like crocheting...I just started crocheting again this year and I think it is so much easier than knitting and I love the way it looks.

Lucy's sewing projects!

I made a few of these sewing kits as bday presents for Lucy's friend's.

Late Post for Easter Grass...

2011-07-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post these pictures at Easter... but I just saw them and thought I'd still do it.

So, we bought wheat berries in the bulk section at the market and planted them in an easter basket. The story behind it is that the wheat grass is a special treat for the Easter Bunny, so on Easter the bunny nibbles up the grass and leaves eggs and treats in the basket! I was so happy the grass grew!

First you have to soak them (overnight if I remember). Here they are starting to sprout already before we even planted them!

planting!

It grew about 3x taller before Easter!

4th of July

2011-07-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend in Georgetown at my mom and Grady's. I think it was Lucy's dream weekend... We went swimming, went on a "deer hunt" (we drive around at dusk looking for deer) and we saw 2 sets of little spotted fawns and a mama, we made peach cobbler, Lucy got to help make lemonade and have a lemonade stand at the kitchen table... but on the actual day of the 4th there was a fair at the georgetown park and there was the most awesome petting zoo! So many baby animals that we were all giddy. Lucy and I got to hold the sweeeeetest little baby goat! There was also a pony ride where Lu got to ride a running horse for the first time and I realy don't think I have ever seen her smile bigger! Then to top the day off we took Lucy to her first fireworks display! Phew, it was an action packed weekend!

Without further adieu... here are the pictures of the cute animals (and us).

Biggest smile ever seen on Lucy, right after running on a horse for the first time!

Sweet girl with cutest baby goat ever ever!!

Amy with flapping chicken!

i mean really!? so cute!!!

A girl in her element...

i loved these two little buddies... they sat on my lap for a while and we became pretty friendly.

Mike made a friend...

I feel like this in the morning sometimes...

Fireworks!

A Camping Party!

2011-03-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't been updating the blog at all...I mostly have just been posting pictures on Facebook. But Lately I have been feeling like I need to get back to my blog updates... So, I'll start off with today's main event (drum roll)... A Camping Party! This was Lucy's request for her 4th birthday. We have never actually been camping with Lucy, but she has heard about it in books. And I suppose we should try it sometime... So, it was just a very small party with 2 of her favorite neighbor buddies: Greta and Olivia, and their families. Also in attendance were my mom and stepdad, Jane and Grady(who brought a huge fruit plate) and my Auntie Deanna, who was a major help with getting ready for the the party. She is a cleaning machine and you can't take no for an answer...we may not have pulled it off without her! I think Lucy had lots of fun and loved being the birthday girl. The girls played in the sand and I read to them (in the tent!) a few of the new books that Grandma Katie and Grandpa Jim sent for Lu's birthday. Oh, and we had a pinata...a homemade kitty pinata.

Here are some pictures:

Mike and Lucy made a fake fire, since it has been dry here and we aren't supposed to have real fires right now.

S'mores cupcakes!!!

Grady with Sally... the sand box is now stocked with amazing sand toys that she got from the Hatalskis and from Julie and Brian too...it's gonna be a fun summer! The girls were making yummy sand food.

Lucy and her buddy Olivia at the "campsite"

Lucy also requested a "kitty" pinata. So we all worked on that, glueing paper over a balloon then figuring out how to make a balloon look like a kitty. I just made it the same way I did last year with strings attached to a trap door, so we didn't have to whack the kitty in the head... everyone just pulls on the count of three.

It started out like this:

Lucy, Greta and Olivia finding pinata treasures.

The Lazy Blogger!

2010-06-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Hi there! I have not been blogging at all lately. Maybe I've got nothing to say! ...It's summer time. Lucy and I have been having lazy days with lots of playing and kiddie pool parties outside with her BFF Greta. I started a jewelry making class last week and learned how to saw metal! It was awesome! Mike has been taking yoga once a week and learned how to play the Beatles song "blackbird" on the guitar recently. I have been going to ballet once or so a week... and Lucy starts her Creative Movement class at the Ballet Austin academy this saturday! I'll have to post pictures soon...

recent craftiness:

A LITTLE VISITOR...

2010-04-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

This sweet little pooch was found by my neighbor running along the highway far outside Austin... He is staying with us for a few days, but Sally has already gotten pretty friendly with him!

3 YEARS OLD!

2010-04-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well, This post should have been before the Easter post... what can I say... I'm behind on my blogging. I actually don't have many pictures from Lucy's b-day party, which was a pinata picnic in the back yard. Lucy really had fun... Here is a picture of the pinata I made. It was actually a group effort. Some of the neighbor kids helped me paste when they saw Lucy and I working on it out front. And Mike put on the pink tissue shingles! He is crafty!! Mike made Lucy a sandbox for her b-day and she also, among other fun stuff, got a bouncy horse from my parents! She named it Greta!

interpretive dance!!

new sand box! now part of the daily routine...

the first time Lucy ever asked to have something in her hair...other than a crown!

puzzles at school, post party!

Lu also had a school party...they have this nice ritual where the child holds a globe and they light a candle that represents the sun. And I got to tell a little story about each year of Lucy's life and then each year, after I spoke, she walks in a circle around the candle while the class sings a sweet song about how the earth goes around the sun in a year. It was really special...

then they sang the Happy Birthday song for her and she blew out the candles!

Easter Eggs Hunts...

2010-04-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

Lucy had a fun easter and got to have 2 egg hunts! One at school and one at our neighbor's house. The Easter Bunny did visit our house to hide a basket for Lucy... Here are some pictures!

With Austen on the trampoline, post egg hunt!

The Dress

2010-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

Lucy's Auntie Carolyn and cousin Lexi sent her the dress that Lexi wore in our wedding in 2003. Lucy loves it and has worn it everyday since she got it...over her clothes! She says the ruffled sleeves are wings! She even wore it to school on Thursday... ...ps. notice the snow in the pictures! This was not a normal day in Austin, Texas!

Yep, a post about shelf paper!

2010-02-20T23:11:00.001-08:00

It's late...I'm just up browsing the Apartment Therapy blog...and saw this place! It makes me want to paper my shelves!

http://www.chicshelfpaper.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=21

Sweet Lily Anne!!

2010-02-18T20:32:00.000-08:00

The Gennrich Family has a new member!! Mike's brother Dave and our sister in law Lindsey welcomed little baby Lily Anne on February 7th... We can't wait to meet her!

Lucy is in a Book!!

2010-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

She has 3 or 4 pictures in the book...and Mike and I are in there too. Our RIE class facilitator Ruth Anne Hammond wrote this great book and a lot of the pictures in the book are other children in our parent/infant class that we went to weekly from when Lucy was 3months old until we moved, when she was around 21months.

"Respecting Babies is a guidebook that will help parents and caregivers learn to provide support to babies and toddlers in a way that allows them to become confident explorers. Focusing on the importance of building secure relationships, this guide is an easy-to-read and engaging summary of the history and methods of care originally conceived by Magda Gerber, founder of the Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) program. This book highlights key elements of the RIE program and examines how to effectively put them to use. Readers will learn about the importance of following routines, using language, and creating safe environments in order to promote a child’s ability to experiment, explore, and learn."

Ice cream sculpture!

2010-02-01T13:07:00.001-08:00

Lucy made the block "sculpture" (below) yesterday...and it just looked so fun and yummy that I had to take a picture! But it reminded me of when we were at the Waldorf school's Winter Fair and Lucy stopped to look at this sculpture for a while and pretended to eat it...she said it was ice cream with chocolate on top... She has definitely inherited my sweet tooth!

First Day of Pre-School

2010-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I brought Lucy to her first day of pre-school 1.5 hours ago and so far I have not gotten a call that I need to come back. I wonder how she is doing!! Well, here are some pictures from this morning.

California!!

2010-01-26T07:58:00.000-08:00

Candle making with Julie and Fawn was so much fun!

Myra noticed that Lucy was really watching her son Nick's every move...and we realized she kinda had a crush on him! Lucy's first crush! Nick was so nice to her and didn't seem to mind all the attention.

Coloring with cousins!

Carolyn made crepes!

at J+B's piano

Reunion with Lucy's RIE class...me serving snack!

We just got back from a trip to LA... I went for 2 weeks, because I was taking a class and then Mike and Lucy came out for 1 week and a half... I was really busy with my class, but it was so great to be staying with Julie and Brian... and to get to see some of my best friends. I was so busy with my class that I didn't get to see all my friends, so that was a major bummer. But I was happy that Lucy got to spend more time with J+B and her Uncle Mike and Auntie Carolyn and cousins Nick and Lexi...although she was later saying Lexi was her sister! Here are some pictures from our trip.

Pre-XMAS!

2009-12-30T21:45:00.000-08:00

We had a busy month... Jim and Katie came to visit mid-december, we had a cookie decorating party while they were here, and then we went to Mercer, WI to visit my family and go see Grandma Lucy who I hadn't seen since she moved into the Villa Maria in Hurley.

Making play-dough with Grandma Katie!

The final product...Glittery playdough snow man! He did not last for very long because shortly after this photo was taken Lucy's buddy Greta came over and they made other things, like glittery cookies and such.

one of the pom-pom ornaments that i made!

Lucy likes to help with laundry...she'll even put clothes in and then help change them to the dryer! I think her favorite part is pouring in soap and pushing the buttons!

putting soap and softener in...

cookie party madness! Lucy and Greta were pouring sprinkles in cups and then drinking them!! Things got crazy!!

Greta, Olivia, and Lucy at the "toddler table"... Olivia decorated her cookies like a civilized lady while Lucy and Greta were getting totally ca-razy with the sprinkles!

decorating the tree!

hanging with Grandma Lucy!

playing piano with Grandpa Dean!

Grandpa Dean demonstrates proper snow angel technique!

my dad's drive way after a snowy night... get the plow!

We got to participate in the short walk out into the woods to find this big ole christmas tree! Martha's son Dave sawed it down and dragged it home!

visiting Grandma Lucy for bingo at the Villa!

XMAS!

2009-12-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I unfortunately don't have many of pictures of the guests we had, so I'll just have to fill you in. Julie and Brian decided to take a road trip and drive from LA to Austin and were here for 5 days! We had an awesome time! Mostly just sitting around and eating and relaxing and playing with Lucy. We did all (my mom and Grady came to babysit!) get to go out to the Alamo Drafthouse one night to see Sherlock Holmes. It is the best movie theater ever! You can order beer and food and they bring it right to your movie seat! It doesn't get much better than that! And for xmas my mom and Grady also spent the night... We had a full house and a fun christmas morning. Lucy's gifts were left in a bag by the door from Santa, as per her request. She was not cool with the idea of Santa coming in the house... She kept saying "No, Santa is not going to come in the house"...and so we came to a compromise of him leaving gifts at the door! I'll have to post more pictures soon of the pre-xmas festivities and our trip to Wisconsin!

really cool winter scene made of paper in a classroom at the Waldorf school...

cookies for Santa!

at the Waldorf Winter Festival...

Lucy drawing on her letter to Santa...

xmas is awesome!

Photo by Lucy... of Julie

skyping with the Mercer folks on xmas!

Lucy self portrait with new camera from Uncle Dave and Aunt Lindsey.

Lucy pic...

cardboard blocks from Grandma Katie and Grandpa Jim!

tricycle from Nana and papa!

cherry wood blocks from the Hatalskis!!

Waiting for sea monkeys!! Lucy's gift from Auntie MC and Uncle Steve!

leaves...

2009-11-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

Our yard has lots of leaves falling off a big oak tree...so there is only one thing to do, well two. First rake into a big pile...then jump!

Halloween...

2009-11-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

Just posting some pictures to say Halloween has come and gone. Lucy actually really liked trick or treating...we were surprised, because she can be so shy with strangers. But the lure of candy broke down all mental barriers! Greta was a ballerina and when Lucy found out about this, she decided she wanted to take off her unicorn costume (which meant she was in PJs) and be a "ballerina" too. She kept saying "Sometimes, other people need to be ballerinas...sometimes". The first pictures, taken in the day, were at our neighborhood halloween block party.

GONG-GONG!

2009-10-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

I am posting some more Lucy videos...her favorite joke is adding the word Gong-Gong as a surprise! Get ready for Lucy-video-overload!

Baa Baa Black Sheep...

Goosey Goosey Gander, whither dost thou wander, Upstairs and downstairs and in my lady's...chamber?

Ups and Downs!

2009-10-28T16:57:00.001-07:00

Some days are so easy and wonderful to be a parent...and then there are days like...TODAY!!! I'm grumpy and I feel like Lucy was refusing to cooperate with any little thing! I just want to go sit in a corner and rock back and forth!! : ) Ha, I'm just kidding, but it can be so frustrating! Thats why I am starting to think my below post about the Unconditional Parenting book is not possible. I love the idea of having Lucy not feel like my affection is conditional, BUT you can't help how you feel. And you can try and be cool, and try and say things like "I know you want to throw pinto beans all over the floor, but I need you to come get in your jammies" until you just snap and finally pick them up and carry them to their room crying! ...Anyways, I'm to veg-out and watch Glee and So You Think You Can Dance! And once again NOT stick to my weight watcher points!! ...oh, but wait, I hear someone calling from her bedroom...

Painted Headboards...or decals.

2009-10-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

I might need to try this when Lucy moves into a bed!

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/beds-mattresses/headboard-decals-for-kids-who-sleep-on-the-floor-099262

FiSHieS!!

2009-10-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Another project from my Waldorf craft book... You stitch some felt fishes with a metal loop sewed to the mouth. Then you make a fishing pole with a magnet at the end of the string and your little one can fish for them!! Lucy has been having fun with it!

Unconditional Parenting...

2009-10-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

After reading a few articles by Alfie Kohn http://www.alfiekohn.org/articles.htm ( I have read "Parenting With Strings Attached" and "Five Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job") I wanted to read his book Unconditional Parenting. I have a feeling I'll need to write a few blogs about it, but so far I am only through three chapters...

So, to start off, I started feeling very confused by his idea of "love withdrawl". I understand the negative implications of praise, and also punishment, and the importance of respecting our children's emotions and even the importance of their defiance. But he confuses me when he talks about "love withdrawl". It sounds to me like it doesn't matter how the parent sees it, what matter's is if the child feels unloved or not unconditionally loved or accepted when they do something their parent doesn't like. So, it so far sounds to me like the parent isn't supposed to show that they get mad at the child at all, for fear that the child will feel conditionally loved and then therefore have a self-esteem that is contingent on other people's approval...which can make for a miserable existence! However, I just think it is not humanly possible to not get mad at your kids sometimes! They can be so trying!! With all the testing of boundaries, one is bound to get pushed to the edge, and react impatiently. For Lucy's sake, I hope my occassional impatience with her need to hide in the closet when I want to change her diaper, doesn't scar her for life and turn her intrinsic motivation to extrinsic... I mean really, this is a lot of responsibility! And part of me is just not buying it!

The part of me that is not buying the severity of this idea wants to believe that it is ok to show healthy emotions (including occasional anger) and that possibly it is even good! That maybe having these disputes and then being able to come back together, and reassuring my love for her in the way I do on a daily basis, will actually teach her her that in relationships you can have disputes, but it doesn't change the way we love eachother. And that anger is an acceptable feeling. I think that kids are smart and will see through feigned patience. And know that the parent is not acting authentically and then maybe conclude some other (way worse) reason for why the parent is mad. Maybe...just maybe... If you don't tell your child you are feeling frustrated that they won't come out of the closet to change their diaper, they will still feel unloved!

But I always forget this important tid-bit! To quote Magda Gerber, (when a child is testing limits and not cooperating) " There are 2 attitudes that are helpful in dealing with these games: 1.) you enjoy and acknowledge this playfulness; but when it is time to go on, 2.) you are firm. You allow a little time to play the game, and let the child know you are playing, but then you become firm and say it is time. 'Can you do it yourself, or shall I do it?'..." That part is my normal mode of operation, but here is the part I forget: " Try not to get angry. Be matter of fact and not aggressive. Anger only excites the child to want to play more." and you can say something like " I would have liked to have done it together, but now I have to do it for you. Maybe you can still help. Here, pull this is up." Sooo, I do notice this is true. When I start getting getting frustrated and Lucy knows it, she not only wants to hide in the closet, she decides it's time to go to the living room and color with crayons... Aaah!!

So, I guess I just really went on and on there...but these things have been on my mind. I am off to bed now to read more of the book and see what he suggests as alternatives to manipulative praise and Time-Outs...

The A-LIST?

2009-10-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.austin360.com/alist/content/alist/index.html

That's what they call it and somehow I ended up on it. I figure I better make a post about it, because it'll probably be the first and last time!!

: ) ...I went to a robot making crafty party for my friend Beth's new company called The WonderCraft. They bought a big airstream trailer and turned it into a mobile crafting unit for parties and classes for all types of craftiness... It's pretty cool. This happy hour was at a sushi bar called Imperia downtown. It was fun... My robot did not win the contest though...

http://www.austin360.com/alist/mediahub/media/slideshow/index.jsp?tId=194193

This bottom link is to the actual page I am on...The above one is to the A-list page...

1st Halloween Party!

2009-10-18T18:25:00.001-07:00

Well, a bow tie and rain boots is all we could coax Lucy into wearing, but it was fun going to a halloween party! It was at our neighbors house...

us, with our neighbor Joss who is dressed as Edward Scissor Hands! He looked awesome!

with Lucy after Juice Box #2

Lucy beached on the couch watching TV after 3 juice boxes, a cookie, and 1/2 of a donut!

Mother Goose...

2009-10-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Lucy loves Mother Goose rhymes...and has heard them so many times she knows lots of them by heart. Here is Hark, Hark The dogs do bark, the beggars are coming to town. Some in tags and some in rags and some in velvet gown...

This Morning

2009-10-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

These are silk wings I made for Lucy yesterday (with oraganza insets for real butterfly likeness!) Today she tells me "I don't like those mommy...Maybe Greta will want to try them". I'm telling you...she says this every time I make something for her! Maybe I should give up! However...she still likes the playdough...

mmm, playdough balls for lunch! and whats that cooking in the microwave?? i think she said it was cookies!

masterpieces! : )

Well, I have a bad new habit of letting Lucy watch cartoons (Dora or Olivia) on the computer next to me in bed in the morning if I am super tired, which is approx. 2-3x per week! This way I can get some extra sleep... But we made up for it this morning with lots of creative stuff! Lucy painted for a half hour or so, then decided to start pouring the paint water cup out into another cup. So I got her some more cups to work with and a funnel and she sat there for another 30+ min pouring back and forth. She also presented me with a cup of muddy paint water and said it was tea with brown sugar and brown and white and blueberries and rasberries... She gave some to Sally too and was concerned that Sally didn't like it. I love to watch her play and see what she thinks of to do.

Lately...

2009-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

We have just been hanging out lately... here are some recent pictures!

I made homemade playdough, colored with blueberry juice! it was fun and easy!

i made a bear pancake with a face that scared Lucy...oops! i thought it was cute... ( i took the picture before Lucy was scared of it...fyi)

glue is a new favorite!!

i have been making felt boards!!

lucy has been getting in our bed and pretending to sleep...it's pretty adorable!

The RANCH!

2009-08-28T10:45:00.001-07:00

horsies!

i swear my nose is just getting bigger and bigger!

Miguel no le gusta el sol!

with Marty the super nice wrangler!

Lucy in sunglasses from the 80s that Katie brought!

Grimace loves the ranch!

We went to Ring Lake Ranch with almost every Gennrich there is! It was a great time. The ranch is beautiful, just outside a small town in Wyoming called Dubois. We spent a week visiting with the horses and hiking around, and swatting as many mosquitos as we could manage! here are some pics...

Lately...

2009-08-28T10:32:00.001-07:00

Lucy has really been liking to get dressed up...in sunglasses, goggles, headbands, wings, my shoes....

Her Auntie D sent her a teddy bear, which she loves and takes to bed every night.

I have been making things for my Etsy page bugbugstudio.etsy.com ...I also have a blog bugbugstudio.blogspot.com

Well, we have just been hanging out....getting a little tired of the hot hot hot summer. Yesterday we tried to go to the children's museum, but it was closed. However, right next to the museum (which happens to be in a charming area of downtown, seriously we felt like we were on the "downtown" set of a Meg Ryan movie) there was a cupcake shop called Delish! So we got a few cupcakes! Mexican Vanilla, Chocolate Banana, and Lemon Meringue... they were crazy awesome!

Living off the Land!

2009-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Lucy and I planted Basil seeds in January and now they are big plants. Last night I picked a bunch of leaves and made pesto with gnocci! My Italian grandma would be proud!

plants wondering where all their leaves went!

Dinner!

Lucy got a balloon that day from Central Market...

ah, the look of appreciation! priceless!

SUMMER

2009-07-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying our first Texas summer. It is super HOT just like everyone warned, but we are liking it a lot. Life is just so much easier with a driveway, carport (for shaded not so hot car), backyard, close parks and public kiddie pools. I'll post some recent pictures.

Lucy is bonkers for popcycles! Asks for one numerous times a day...

Lucy painting Greta blue! (sorry Virginia!)

Lucy/Daddy painting collaboration. Lucy likes to tell us what to paint and then we try our best to make her vision come to life!

Lucy wanted to try out her umbrella and raincoat in the sprinkler!

We finally got the screen porch cleaned and uncluttered!! I even shampooed the carpet!!

Auntie Jugee visits!

2009-06-24T21:34:00.000-07:00

Well, Lucy's pronounciation of Julie, has gone from Jugee to now, Jewey, but I still love Jugee! Jules came for a long weekend and we had a nice time. We took her for a train ride and ice cream at Barton Springs. So I thought I would post a few pics. Other highlights included going out Saturday night ( my mom came down to babysit) and we saw a modern dance performance and then went to a sports bar and watched skateboarding and ultimate fighting, whilst eating bar food. it was good to be out... : )

i keep forgetting to post this...

2009-06-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

i did a triathlon! i was inspired by my friend Beth (who I used to work with at BCBG in LA) who lives here in Austin. So, I started thinking about it, then slowly training, and then really training...and then i did it! it was fun! ...i was very slow! here are the stats! ...It took me 2hrs 19min

Overall Rank

Class Rank

Swim

Swim Rank

Trans1

Bike

Bike Rank

MPH

Trans2

Run

Run Rank

Pace

Final

1509 of 1977

235 of 288

00:24:57

953

00:06:53

01:03:38

1707

11.3

00:04:30

00:39:41

1289

00:12:48

02:19:41

wallpaper + file cabinet = fun file cabinet

2009-05-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

well, i got a file cabinet from a resale shop down the street, because we really wanted a BIG file cabinet. we have lots of little box ones, so when i saw one for $20 bucks, i got it! i was going to spray paint it, but then i saw this fun looking project on a blog...so i tried it out. you can use any paper, but it used vintage wallpaper i found on ebay. i really like the way it looks! and it only took a few hours, with help from some small assistants! http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/how-to/how-to-wallpaper-a-filing-cabinet-melbourne-063250

i LOVE having a yard!!

2009-05-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

We have set up a fun little playzone in the backyard and it is so much fun. What a difference from having been in a 1bedroom apartment! I can't imagine what we would be doing if we still lived there. Probably the same thing, but just on our balcony...or at the park. But phew, it is so nice to have some space. Greta from next door comes over and Virginia (her mom) and I can just hang out and talk while they play. I'm calling it Baby Woodstock(because there is a lot of naked frolicking), but Mike says it's more like Burning Man...either way we are just dorky trying to come up with a name for it. But it's fun!

Whats your name mommy?

2009-04-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

I am just blown away by how much Lucy can say now! I thought I would make a post so I can remember all this later. So, just a few weeks ago, right after she turned 2 she seemed to start getting the concept of "I". She started saying things like "I want Gam Kacker" (translation: graham cracker) instead of "Lucy want Gam Kacker". And now she even adds an A saying " I want A Gam Kacker mommy" ...But one fun new conversations we have now is "what is your name?". Lucy says "Whats your name mommy?" and I say "My name is Amy" and she says "Mommy's name is Amy" . Then I say "what is your name?" and she says "My name is Lucy". She goes through everyone's name. "What is sally's name?" Sometimes she answers herself saying "Sally's name is Weenie!". She is so fun to talk to! So far, I like the 2s and they are not terrible at all, but she is pushing her buddy Greta a lot and saying lots of NOs, and that is stressful sometimes.

Auntie Jujee and Uncle Brian visit!

2009-03-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

This post should have been earlier, but I had to go steal photos off facebook first! Julie and Brian came to town for SXSW. It was so good to see them. We probably should have locked the doors on the house and not let them leave. But we had fun! We got to have a double date to celebrate their first anniversary at Roy's, which was the best dinner I have had almost ever! And Mike and I got to lay on a hammock at the 4 seasons (their hotel) and enjoy the river breeze.

Ballet Austin Rules!

2009-03-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIgQ0VknNI4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eballetaustin%2Eorg%2Fatb%2FAVST%2520Project%2Ephp&feature=player_embedded

On Friday Mike's mom Katie and I went to see Ballet Austin perform some new contemporary ballet works. It was awesome!! click the link if you want to see a video on the ballets we saw.

A Sunday Outing!

2009-03-29T22:12:00.001-07:00

turtle pile-up!

Jim and Katie are in town and today we went to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Preserve, just south of Austin and then a bit more south to The Salt-Lick. Jim talked to our neighbor about where to go for barbeque and he said we had to go there, because in Texas the Salt-Lick is the church of barbeque! It was pretty awesome... And the wildflower preserve is definitely a place we will go back to many times, with many paths to explore. There were some signs with quotes from Ladybird...she had a way with words! Here are a few I really loved:

"My heart found it's home long ago in the beauty, mystery, order and disorder of the flowering earth."

"My special cause, the one that alerts my interest and quickens the pace of my life, is to preserve the wildflowers and native plants that define the regions of our land- to encourage and promote their use in appropriate areas and thus help pass on to the generation in waiting the quiet joys and satisfactions I have known since my childhood."

T-W-O!!!!!!

2009-03-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

birthday train set!

opening her prezzie from Vonny-vonny!

(playing with Greta, Beth and Virginia)

It's hard to believe...well, no it's not, but Lucy turned 2 years old this weekend. My mom and Grady made a batch of super yummy cupcakes and thats all it took to make a party. We just went out in the front yard and visited with neighbors and my friend Beth came over, and Mike's parents were in town for the festivities too! ...Oh, and there was a water table! Thats key to a good 2yr old party, I think.

Neighbors!

2009-03-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Our new home is on a street with 15 kids! They are always out on the street running around and riding bikes. Here are some pictures of our next-door neighbors Austen (at 9yrs old told me its "spelled like Jane Austen") and Ian(6, who makes Lucy laugh hysterically when he makes zombie faces/sound effects). They are so nice to her and she really seems to enjoy hanging out with them and observing their general madness! Lu also has a new buddy next door who is is just 2 months younger than her, a little girl named Greta. We have been seeing them almost everyday. I'm sure there will be pictures of her in the near future! She also loves the girls across the street who are showing Lucy how to do somersaults and handstands! So far she just throws herself on the ground (picture face-plant on grass) in her attempts.

a penny for her thoughts?

OUR HOUSE!!

2009-03-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I tried to add a video I took on moving day, but it was just not working!! But here it is, the house, officially our little corner of the world.

Nana and Papa's house!

2009-03-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our stay at My mom and Grady's house. We had lots of fun. Lucy actually was not very happy about leaving and for a week after we moved into the new house she would say each day (a few times) "go back Nana n Papas". But now she has settled in and likes her new home and all her new neighbors.

pulling around their cooler was fun!

Making pizzas! (patting the dough into circles)

putting on the new plates!

leaf soup...

The Georgetown Playscape!!

2009-03-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

We didn't realize when we went to stay with my my mom and Grady that they lived in a town with one of Texas's official top 10 playscapes! This place is insane! It's a huge wooden fort with all sorts of little tunnels and ramps and bridges. Someone gave us the lowdown on i's design and the city hired Playscape designers who then had a meeting with all the kids in town to brainstorm what the design should be. I think they created a structure that captures the imagination and can be imagined into a fort, and pirate ship, a Giant's tree house... anything i suppose. It is wonderful! One thing I think is really key, is that they made it safe for even young toddlers. All the walls are enclosed with bars so they can't fall off when climbing! It's nice so we dont need to hover!!

Grandma Katie's Blanket!!

2009-02-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

Mike's mom Katie knit Lucy a blanket and it has always been in her crib. If it was cold we would try to put it on her...but she would always take it right off. But all of sudden Lucy started asking to have it put on her and she keeps it on all night. When she is going to bed she says "blanket on! blanket on!" and rolls to a specific corner of the crib to get ready for blanket application. Then she wants a book to look at... and then she's ready for bedtime! It is so nice how she loves her blanket now! Thank you Grandma Katie for all your hard work! It is such a nice blanket. ...The picture on the couch is from a day when Lucy was sick and she was watching some TV...DORA the Explorer!!

A NEW HOME...HOPEFULLY!!

2009-01-25T00:04:00.000-08:00

We have been house hunting since we got here and after falling in love with many houses...we REALLY fell in love with this one and it seemed perfect because we could move in and not have too much work to do (i say with fingers crossed). It's a 1950s mid-century modern house with a big yard for Lucy and Sally to run! And it seems to be a great neighborhood with a public elementary school with a 10/10 GreatSchools.com rating. We are so excited about it!

ROAD TRIP TO TEXAS!

2009-01-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we had been nervous about the road trip, not sure if was going to be too torturous for Lucy... But it turned out to be fun and I think only messed up Lu's sleep schedule for a few days. She kept asking about going back to 'Jujee and Byan's house?" and still did for about a week or so after we got to Texas. It was sad... But she was into the map and listening to the Dora CD her Grandma Katie and Grampa Jim gave her (she is actually still lovin it). And her cat piano was in the car too, she would serenade us. Another fun part was the microwaves and phones in the hotel rooms. There was lots of button pushing. Here are a few pics...

Llama Drama!

2009-01-24T22:58:00.001-08:00

Well, I have been really wanting to update the blog with xmas photos and road trip photos, but alas my internet connection has not been cooperative. But it seems to be flying now, so I'll give it a shot!

SO...here are pics from late December when all the Gennrich's got together down at Casa Hatalski. All of the pics here are from this awesome petting zoo called Zoomars. Lucy loves the goats and especially...the Llamas! However, the llamas are weird. There was a pushy white one with creepy blue eyes... but they are fun to feed carrots to!

fa la la la la la

2008-12-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of xmas tree shopping and decorating...and Lucy with her friend Buddha the cat.

love conquers all

2008-12-11T01:31:00.000-08:00

Sally has been trying to gain the affections of Buddha the cat (aka. cheeseburger) since we moved in. Up until now Buddha has always run away... but Sally has been persistent and now her efforts have paid off. I think soon we'll find them spooning. Sally won't quit until she is as snuggled up as in the pic with my sister (cheek to cheek)!

an itsy bitsy spider

2008-12-11T01:21:00.001-08:00

Lexi has been taking aerial silks classes since June and I got to see her class. It was so cool! She is like a spider dangling from a web...and doing tricks! The class is in someone's backyard!

The OC

2008-12-11T01:02:00.000-08:00

We went down to visit Mike's sister's family The Hatalski's this weekend. Lucy really loves hanging out with her big cousins. Mike went to see Nick's band play, but Lucy isn't ready for rockin, so we stayed home. However I got to go see Lexi's aerial silks class the next day. I got lots of good pictures so I think a separate post is in order. We had such a fun weekend!

Naya's Garden

2008-12-11T00:56:00.000-08:00

Julie and Brian's house is a short walk from an indoor playground called Naya's Garden. We have been going a few times a week. It's really fun!

Turkey Day

2008-12-11T00:38:00.000-08:00

Bobby's famous black cherry jello! my favorite!

Well, I was busy cooking and mike was taking all the pictures, so sorry they are all of me! ....Thanksgiving was fun this year. We made an awesome feast at Julie and Brian's and my good friend Yvonne came over with her mom Gloria. And Jeff, a friend from next door came over too on the spur of the moment. I cooked the turkey breast down which was awesome! I'll never cook it breast up again. Lucy helped me make an apple pie. Her main duty was taste testing!

2 babies in a crib!

2008-12-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what happens when you put two babies in a crib? lots of jumping running, falling, and general mayhem! i highly recommend it.

Summer and Liam visit!

2008-12-11T00:16:00.000-08:00

Lucy's buddy Liam and my buddy Summer came over for a visit a few weeks ago and I'm just finally getting the pictures up. We had lots of fun... Summer and I are friends from highschool and we've hung out often since the babies were just a few months old. I'm sad that we wont get to see each other much once we move... Lucy and Liam have a special bond.

The Good Old Days

2008-11-07T21:56:00.000-08:00

Our friend Will just sent me these pictures he took from when we went to the Getty museum in July. It was before Lucy was walking. We were there pretty early before it was crowded and we let her knee-walk arund on the vast exspanses of marble floor they have there.

Dog Food...

2008-11-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Lucy walked over to me chewing something the other day... I asked her what she was eating. She said with a completely straight face: "dog food". There was nothing I could do at that point and I figured she would come to the conclusion that dog food was yucky, so I decided to take a picture, because I thought it was funny. However, she went back to Sally's bowl for more. So I have to be on the look out now!

Aaargh!

2008-11-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Lucy dressed as a pirate for Halloween and we met her friend Ava (and her parents, who are our friends) at Descanso Gardens. It was beautiful and such a great place to go with toddlers, because they can really run free. Lucy has been very into pumpkins, so she was beside herself. She likes them so much that she says hi to them and gives them kisses. We told her that pirates say "aaaargh!", but her version sounded more like a very emphatic "UUuuugh!!!".

New Shoes and New President

2008-11-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

Lucy had worn a hole in her shoes, so on our way to vote we stopped at 'Wee-Soles' on Sunset and bought her some new shoes! She wore them to the Scientology Center which is where we have voted for the past 4 years!

YES WE DID!!

2008-11-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

I am just so happy I am beside myself that we have elected a president that truly gives me a sense of hope for our country and for our future. I am so proud to have been a part of this movement. We did it!!!! Yippeee!!! Here are some pics from last night after we listened to President Elect Obama's winning speech. (Mike was at work, booo).

FYI...

2008-10-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

The highchair sold for $60 today! Yippee! So to fill the empty space(in our hearts)...We bought a water table! I'm sure more pictures will follow soon.

Jammies...

2008-10-21T00:04:00.001-07:00

The cat jammies really show off the figure!

The Beach

2008-10-20T23:48:00.001-07:00

Lucy and I went to the beach today with my dad and Martha, and Jack and Marlene(family friends that we have known forever and LOVE so much). We went to Topanga Beach and it was lots if fun... Highlights were feeding a piece of bread to a bird (not a crazy seagul), making dribble castles, and just sitting there.

Pumpkins, Bubbles, and Buddhas

2008-10-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

My dad and Martha are in town and we went over to Julie and Brian's to hang out. One thing led to another... the cat piano came out, we carved some pumpkins (Lu was disgusted by the pumpkin goop, but still wanted to help take it out), we blew bubbles, and Lucy was patting the "baby"(she called it that) which was actually a statue of Buddha. It was really a great day! So much fun! All the cheesy stuff they say about how amazing it is to see the world through the eyes of a child is SO true! (...ps. I think my pumpkin looks like Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.)

HEAVY!!

2008-10-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Our RIE teacher suggested filling up big bottles with varying amounts of water to use as toys. Lucy LOVES them. Unprompted, she lifts them up and carries them purposefully around the apartment from room to room. Then she tells us she is going to "run heavy bottle" and then takes off in a staggering drunken type run.

Diaper Hat!

2008-10-14T19:23:00.001-07:00

It's the new rage... Every baby wants one!

Pictures from last week

2008-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Mike took these pictures last week in the morning and the light was so pretty. They are taken on the landing on our tile stairway that Lucy loves to crawl up and down.

Farewell Highchair!

2008-10-14T14:04:00.001-07:00

Lucy started to refuse to sit in the highchair about a month ago. We bought her a little table from Ikea and Mike sawed the legs down, so it was the perfect height for her. She now walks over to her table at meals and sits down like a little lady to eat! She doesn't quite eat like a lady yet...

The highchair's portrait for Craigslist...no takers yet!

Lucy requested a bowl for her elephant friend!

A snack with Ava (our friend from RIE) during a recent visit...

a satisfied customer...

Pirates Booty!

RUNNING!

2008-10-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

Since walking is no longer a major challenge for Lu she has moved on to running. She will tell you before she is about to take off by saying "running?" and then she is off! She seems to like going back and forth across the living room with the bathroom as the destination or sometimes she makes a sharp turn while running and goes to the bedroom.

Puffy Clouds

2008-10-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

Just a week after I started the blog we got some awesome puffy clouds! We don't get them that often here in sunny blue-skies los angeles, so I thought I take some pictures...and also to document our apartment, where Lucy spent most of her first year and a half of life(i'm sure she'll want to see pictures someday)... we are moving in 2 weeks, to spend a few months with Julie and Brian in Echo Park before we are off to Austin. We are going to miss this wonderful little home! (ps. Lucy asked to put that white shirt on over her jacket! I like her style!)

Post-Pool Snack at Nana's...

2008-10-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

My mom just sent me this picture... taken during our trip to Austin, TX in July... So cute!

I'm sure Mike won't mind...

2008-10-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

But I have a crush on Joe Biden! Not only was he totally knowledgeable and cordial to Sarah Palin tonight in the VP debates, but he kept flashing that cute smile of his whenever she would say something outlandish. It wasn't the usual annoying, condescending, politician 'you're an idiot' smile... I can't explain my feelings any better than that, but I think he's CUTE!

Hanging at Barnsdall Art Park

2008-09-28T01:37:00.000-07:00

You have to walk up a loooong kinda-steep driveway and at the top there are a couple Frank Lloyd Wright houses and an AWESOME field of really soft, really green grass! Lucy likes to lay down and roll in the grass and Sally loves to run!

WALKING!!

2008-09-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

Lu decided 2 weeks ago that she is a walker. She had taken a few steps here and there, but 2 sundays ago she just got up and decided "Today is the day!". We have been taking many a trip to parks around here (Griffith playground is a new favorite) for long walks and take a few daily strolls up and down the street. Climbing up and down the stairs is still a favorite activity too!

We love RIE!

2008-09-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

RIE is this parent/infant group (and caregiving philosophy we try to follow) we have been going to since Lu was 3 months old. The babies started out laying on the ground looking at the sky and trees ( it was outdoors when we first began) and moved on to rolling, crawling, walking, running, and talking... The main idea is time for uninterrupted play in a safe environment to build problem solving skills, inner-direction, and self-knowledge/confidence... And for parents to observe and appreciate what their child can do. We love it! www.rie.org (Lucy is the one doing yoga in the middle picture)

A blog...

2008-09-27T19:13:00.001-07:00

The feeling I have about our little family is similar to the feeling I get when I see lots of weightless white clouds drifting high in the sky... my heart sinks and i think of how blessed i am to be alive just to see these little puffy clouds float across the sky.