January

We came back from Floria with Nana and Pops tanned and relaxed. The weather (hard to believe now) was 86 degrees most days. In MN we have been trapped indoors with temps 30 below zero, quite a swing. Florida was great! Elizabeth hated the pool, loved the beach (after 2-3 days) got to feed many seagulls (tomatoes which apparently they love) and saw her first pelican. We looked for hermit crabs and starfish and saved a few from the local poachers by throwing them in a little further in then they were willing to wade. She would pick them up and proudly yell "throw." The first few days Elizabeth would not go near the water by the third day she was running in and out and sitting in the surf! She loved to climb the stairs and press the button on the elevator. We ate more seafood than George in the Shrimp episode of Seinfeld. Elizabeth really enjoyed her time with Nana and Pops and got to spend another week with them in Buffalo right after. N&P did not know we were coming so this was a great surprise! Buffalo was great as usual. We got to visit with Babula and Alynn, Sveta and Alex, Leona,Inga, Misha and Rossik. We spent Christmas with all of my side of the family at Sean and Maryanne beautiful new home. All in all it was a perfect time to spend with family.

When we came home it was back to business as usual. We went up to the twin cities and spent New Year's day at the MN Children's Museum, where we promptly became members. Elizabeth spent her time painting, "shopping, cooking and cutting an album." We spend a lot of our free time there and enjoy it completely. MN makes up for the lack of family around with plenty to do with kids. It is crazy how many family/children things there are to do.

We spent some quality time with Dedosh and Alla and enjoyed a visit with our dear friend Alicia. It was great to have some East Coast over in the Midwest! Alicia we miss you so we were glad the flight was delayed again.....and again!

say sheeeze

Elizabeth loves to grab whatever looks or does not look like a camera (cell phone and pager for example) and pretend its a camera. Sure, that's funny, but not as funny as when she tells you to say "Cheese!" and she will not give up until you do. Then of course, there is the famous Elizabeth "A wapi" or "I love you", which just melts our hearts.

Blush'u

Babushka Inna gave Elizabeth a stuffed baby bear that sneezes and has a heart beat. She really got a kick out of saying "blush'u" to the bear first, and now you can't sneeze within a few miles of our little girl without her saying "blush'u."

Gym time, Ethan and bloody lip oh my

It happened while Art was at work! Of course.. Elizabeth and I just got back from a really fun day at the gym. We played for two solid hours and we were both hungry and pooped. She was sitting in her rocker with a cup of milk, I was at the stove a mere six feet away. Next thing you know (drum roll please) a scream to wake the dead followed by the bloodiest mouth you ever saw. What happened remains a mystery but I think it has something to do with tripping over her new really cute pink boots (or butz as some call them). We went to visit papa at prison for a preliminary check of the old kisser and we were sent directly to the ER for stitches. Four hours later we were on our way home to finish dinner and go to bed! She was a champ, but she did keep licking off the LAT and was not thrilled by being help down to get 1 stitch :(

I can not help it! I love gooey messes and it is left over from teaching young children. I have been waiting for a long time to introduce shaving cream, play dough, goop and more. Elizabeth is not as excited because she now does not like to get her hands messy. The battle wages on....

Elizabeth began her first ever gymnastics class. We started a Saturday morning class so we could go as a family and man is it fun! They have a huge pit we w trampoline covered with big foam squares! Fun right? nope not for our girl.... All of the kids run and jump right into it, they cant wait. Elizabeth will run and jump to it and then stop with a screeching halt right before she falls in. We are actually surprised how well she does and not falling in! She much prefers the balance beam and running and rolling onto the mats and wedges. Anyway it is so much fun to take her. I cant wait to get her little self into a leotard!

Well November is still in gear and so far we have had Carisa and Ethan visit! That was great!!! We had some great girl time together to catch up and loads of fun with the kids. We took them to the aquarium in the great Mall of America. Ethan loved it and was completely into the fish, while Elizabeth found the speaks where they pump the new age music out and was to be found jamming near them. She has one dance for every song be it Neil Diamond or Enya- she is at a rave all the time!

I wub you, apples and more

Elizabeth is still obsessed with dogs, cats and purses. Every bag including Arthur's lunch box is a purse or Papa's purse :)

Aunt Jill and Uncle Dima came to visit. We went apple picking, to the Children's Museum, relaxed and just enjoyed being together. We were so happy to see you guys and hope you come back soon!

Just for fun!

Arthur and I have been waiting for the time that Elizabeth finally says I love you back to us. Well the wait is over. She will now say (with some prompting) "I wubie you." Since I have taken some time to update I can speak in the present tense and say... Elizabeth woke me up just the other day and said "Mommy I wub you. Get up?" I was overjoyed! And yes I got up.

Elizabeth took her first bath in a the real bathtub! Sorry no pics for the web :(

Elizabeth went down a slide at the gym all by herself- big deal!!!!

She is talking at an incredible rate so much so that she dropped her first (only I hope) F-Bomb the other day. I can not blame her father!!!

Lisa will tell you that I say this all the time but really this IS my favorite age.

September

September was a busy month for Elizabeth. She graduated, yep that is right! Elizabeth no longer needs a high chair, she officially in a booster chair, without the tray...at the table! I think we are a bit more excited than she is but that is our right as parents. We get to have some of the fun :)

Eli has long since mastered the fork and spoon so we thought it was time to bring her closer to us. If dinner was closer to noon it would probably be an enjoyable experience as she ALWAYS turns into a pumpkin when Art gets home. Maybe in time...

Well this was the month (one of many) when I got my mother of the year award. It goes a little something like this.... Eli and I were looking at the beautiful flowers in my parents back yard. I turned to show her the neighbors garden and she was dutifully following behind. All of a sudden I hear a word that I know well "Mommy." I turn and see my little monkey holding a big, white mushroom. My first instinct was to panic, I resisted and continued our garden tour. A few minutes later I panicked again and called the gestapo AKA Poison Control and told them my dilemma. Super long story short we ended up in the ER at Children's hospital with the threat of the police and CPS if we did not show. Blah, blah, blah 4 hours later we were right back where we started at my parents house but this time very tired. All was well as I suspected all along!

We had another fun wedding. We spent the day with Baba Inna, Nana and Papa in Niagara-On-The-Lake. Friends Gareth and Penny tied the knot in Canada. She danced a few hours of the night away until we sent her packing with Nana and Papa for a fun night of crying and trying to escape from the room. needless to say my parents were not happy with us . Nana was convinced

that Eli was holding a grudge the rest of the trip :(

We got to visit with Aunt Nancy and the Gallagher's for a little football action and some very

missed pizza!

Finaly we got to visit with Aunt Alynn and Uncle Johnny:

August weddings and all things fancy!

I have often said that I was going to have children so I could dress them in funny hats and clothes. Well my time has paid off big time. Elizabeth has figured out how to put pants on her head and say "cheese" for the camera! My work is done.....

We went to uncle Dima and Aunt Jill's wedding and had a blast!

We visited family, played in the sand and then played in the sand!

During Arthur's toast Elizabeth realized she was missing a shoe, ran over to Art and said into the

mic "shoe!" She was a riot! We could not get her off the dance floor all night.