Virginia’s Blog

Yesterday, I was taking a shower, and Ginna said, “Mommy you’re smart. I’m smart, too.” I don’t know where she came up with that, because I don’t think I’ve ever used that word!!

Stan went grocery shopping last Sunday for his lunch food for the week, and brought stuff to make deli sandwiches….and fun size snickers bars. This reminded me of something he said to me when we were newly married. The memory goes something like this:

I had been packing Stan’s lunch to take to work and often sent leftovers and other meal-type foods. One day, he came home and said he’d love to take a “normal” lunch every once in a while. I asked what he meant. He said, you know, a sandwich, a bag of chips, and fun size snickers bar!

And that’s what he’s had this week.

Here are some photos of the family walking/riding in our neighborhood.

Here is an update of the garden. We are soon to have tomatoes coming out of our ears!

And last, a Ginna story:

Last night, Stan was putting Ginna to bed. He thought it would be a good time to talk to her about his occupation, since Ginna likes “hotel houses” so much, and he is working on a hotel in Russia. The conversation went like this:

Stan: Ginna, do you know what Daddy does at work?

Ginna: He eats lunch.

Stan: And what else does Daddy do?

Ginna: He drives Daddy’s car.

Stan: Yes, that’s right. But at work, Daddy builds hotel houses. And he plays with blocks.

Ginna: Whoa! Daddy makes hotel houses!

Today, Ginna asked to make a “hotel house” with the blocks Stan brought her from his office.

Ginna loves to sing. Her favorite songs are “I love you, Lord,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and “Good Shepherd” (Veggie Tales). It is really hard to capture her on film. I’ve been trying for weeks to get her to sing for the camera, but she doesn’t like to do it. Here is our best capture.

(well, i guess this is to come later, as there seems to be a problem with posting videos at this time…)

Last night we were driving on the freeway when Ginna exclaimed, “That’s a hotel house!!” She was pointing to a Courtyard Marriot. I then commented that Ginna’s recognition of a hotel says a lot about modern architecture in the US. When a two year old can see a building and know it is a hotel, forms may be a bit too streamlined. Stan said that he felt like there was hope for the future of architecture when people make observations like that. I told him not to be too encouraged; he was talking to an architect’s wife.

Background: Ginna has developed a “screaming habit.” That is, she will suddenly make a high pitched shriek for no apparent reason. The hardest place to deal with this lovely toddler device is while driving, particularly on the freeway. Here is today’s attempt.

Ginna: eeeeeeek (unprecipitated high pitched scream)

Virginia: Ginna, is it nice to scream?

Ginna: No.

Virginia: Nice girls don’t scream. Nice girls sing and talk nicely and play and dance and run outside and things like that. That’s what nice girls do, of which you are one.

Ginna: (emphatically): I NOT ONE!!!! (pause)  I TWO!!

Epilogue: Thankfully, this dialogue brought an end to this episode and brought humor to me!

It’s been a really busy week in our house. Mom and Dad have been in town…you can see from the photos below that Mom and Ginna are “bonding” via Fancy Nancy. They had a Fancy Nancy tea party today…hence the pink boas. They even had silver demitasse spoons with G’s on them! And there are Fancy Nancy colorforms all over the house!

Ginna has spent the past two nights at the “hotel house” (as she calls hotels) with Wing and Granddady. She has hopped gleefully into their car both nights without a qualm. It is so different to have just Jamey at home.

Tonight Ginna went to the mall dressed as a cow….she put a “MOO” over the “WOOF” when she got there. Chick Fil A offered free meals to anyone who showed up today dressed as a cow! They found her attire so funny that they gave her two accompanying grandparents a free meal, too!

The other piece of news is that the Gray family has decided to embark on a bike riding adventure. Stan is the most serious about this new hobby, as you can see below. With rising gas prices and in a desire to get in great shape, Stan has decided to take on riding 13 miles to work each day! We are about 3 miles from the coast, so his plan is to ride to the coast and then take the bike path along the ocean to work. We also bought 2 matching beach cruisers (the family part of the deal), as his road bike might be damaged by pulling a cart for the kids. Jamey can’t ride yet, since he can’t support a helmet, but pretty soon I imagine we will be riding as a family at the beach on weekends. Ginna is entranced with the new bikes (well, actually, she doesn’t care much about mine but talks a LOT about daddy’s two bikes!).

On a side note, if anyone has any suggestions for solving a toddler sleep crisis, feel free to pass it on. Apparently, our older child has decided to revolt again all forms of sleep. Ugh. We are caught in the balance between firmness in demanding obedience and showing grace.

Jamey started food this week. He’s not so sure what to think yet, but he is a bit more interested than Ginna was at this age.

Here are some photos of Ginna in her ballet clothes.

 Ginna loves olives…and has found a new use for them!

Ginna loves “helping” on the counter.