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Eleri and Amanda's handiwork

 Here's the holiday highlights. We had a great time spending 2 weeks in WI over Christmas and New Year's.  Luna and Sam celebrated their birthdays together, although I'm afraid it wasn't a very fantastic day for Luna. Poor thing was sick and a little overwhelmed with all the new people around. She didn't even try her birthday pie, not even one little taste.  We decided to have a party for her at home in January, hopefully she can cut loose then. Eleri got some good skiing practice in WI, and really enjoyed herself outside in the snow. Luna's got 11 teeth poked through and working on the 12th I think, hopefully after this one the poor kid will get a well deserved rest for a while. 

Eleri offering samples, just like Costco

crazy Luna drinking from her cup in Eleri's boot.

birthday buddies out for breakfast in Milwaukee

happy wandering around the restaurant

christmas morning. both toys Eleri is clutching are Luna's birthday presents.

princess "cinderella", Eleri's favorite christmas present

the  big bean in Millenium Park in Chicago

Luna watching ski practice

having fun at the Milwaukee Public Museum

also at the museum, in the igloo. Eleri brought her Lego polar bear and penguins to play with in here

all the girls in their homemade stockings

at Discovery World in Milwaukee

craft project from last weekend

Made a snowman today with Damjan at the volcanoes. Not much snow left compared to yesterday, but it was lots of fun.

Luna has taught herself to whistle, has said ma-ma a few times, and is doing more signs-- more, eat, milk, light, sleepy.  Eleri hates washing or brushing her hair, popcorn, and sticky fingers.

so far the only creature to live in the bug bungalow-- friendly and cute Sia

redi-whip on ham, eleri original creation

sam and eleri made thanksgiving decorations

more photos later, when blogger starts behaving itself...

weekend trip to Carlsbad Caverns NP. We had a great trip to southern NM this weekend, short and sweet. We went to Carlsbad Caverns, our first time there. If you go, definitely walk down through the natural entrance -- it is extra spectacular that way.  The kids did pretty good on the cave tour. It was a little dicey towards the end, but all was redeemed when we found the restaurant (!) at the bottom of the cave, and got a yogurt parfait.Phew!
We had nice stops on the road, on the way down and back at sunset for leg stretching in "the middle of nowhere" (as Eleri likes to say).
And also pics of the presents Eleri, Sam and James made for me the other day, and Eleri's new gymnastics outfit.

my presents and cards

does this girl know how to pose, or what?

stripe-alicious

Eleri taking pictures with Sam's phone

Eleri the park ranger at Carlsbad

walking in the natural entrance to the cave

the lion's tail

some new videos of fully mobile Luna. she's awfully short. and awfully cute.

Luna's first sign: "more"
So far only applied to eating :-)

Our baby Luna is officially fully mobile: walking, standing up by herself, stooping to pick things up, and keeps right on going. Two more erupted teeth on the top left, three on the bottom, and the two top right trying to poke through. Can we call her a baby anymore?  I suppose so, at least for a few more months...

BIRTHDAY!! and HAIRCUT!! here are some pictures of a 4 yr old, her family, her birthday party, and her first ever haircut.  Oh, and Luna's pretty much walking on her own, 3 days shy of her 10 month birthday.

birthday breakfast at the Grove--a red velvet cupcake and Orangina

birthday girl sister at the Grove

birthday afternoon at the park

this is what a 4yr old looks like

walking on the rocks by the Rio Grande

birthday party picnic

and tonight's momentous occasion- Eleri's first haircut. she really wanted to do it all herself. of course.

Miss Luna is now refusing to walk holding onto two hands, only one. And has been experimenting with taking a few steps by herself here and there. She is really trying hard to stand up from sitting by herself, but hasn't gotten that one yet. Other tricks--she can give five, give kisses, and is learning to dance.

self portrait

eleri's photo of Luna in the car

Luna's first job. Teaching grad students all the tricks of a 9month old.