Brrrr. -15 is not my favorite way to start a day

It's very very cold.

I tried to upload a video of Ella giving a lecture on how the human body works. It's quite hilarious, but too many MB's. I may have to upgrade my youtube accounts to a "directors" account. It's still free, but you get to post bigger movies.

Due to the weather, the Hardys have decided to spend the weekend "home bound". Yesterday Ella did all of the cooking!

And she helped clean the windows.

Note the fancy tie-dye dress Grandma Andy sent from Florida. The very cold mailman delivered it yesterday and Ella fell in love.

Well, even though it is cold enough to freeze off parts of my body, I think I may go outside for a few minutes to get some sunshine. It's very sunny. I need a little fresh air. And we are almost out of toilet paper, the one thing I forgot to buy on Thursdays pre-freeze stock up shopping trip. Foolish.

Back to School

It's funny to think that my life revolves around semesters again, but it is true. Spring semester has started and I have been swamped with work! It should clear up a bit in the coming weeks until I get swamped again with March Women's History Month and all the programming it includes.
We are preparing for a cold snap this weekend by shopping today for everything we (and Grandma Peg) might need. We plan to spend the entire weekend at home in a nest of pillows and heated blankets. Ella said "Wouldn't it be cool if we lived in a magic world and our house was magic and we could just pick it up and move it south? Not for ever... just for a few days. Like a vacation!" I think it's brilliant. Our high temps are supposed to be around 1 degree.
I am really looking forward to our knitting group this semester. I am going to try my hand at some socks. I have no idea how to "turn a heel", but it sounds mysterious and strangely exciting. I found a pattern for toddler socks and if they end up too small for Ella I am going to give them to sweet little Esther Amelia. I hope they end up matching!
Hey, the snow just stopped!
Send us some warm thoughts... We'll need them.

Empty Promises

OK, I said I would post pictures of Ella's birthday, but I am a damn liar. Things have just been busy and I have been tuckered-out!

Ron left Thursday for D.C. and we have guests from Winona, MN. this weekend, so although I am still quite busy, I do have a minute to post some January 11 moments.

Ella giving Joseph a hug

Ella and Clio sharing dessert at the Mexican restaurant. Yum!

Clio took this one of us. She did a pretty good job! We may not all be the cutest, but we certainly are happy.

And lastly, the sled full of gifts. We have finally had a chance to use that sled, too. It's fun and fast! Yeah for sledding! I can even fit on there with two kids.

Okay, back to playing doll house with Ella and Lily. We sure miss Ron and are looking forward to his return on Monday. Hope you all have a super weekend.

The Party (Fake Birthday)

Ella had her birthday party on Saturday Jan 6th. She called it her "Fake Birthday" because her real birthday is not until the 11th. Here are some pictures... She wanted a chocolate cheesecake so I baked her one. It was super yummy and she liked it so very much that she wants me to make another one for Thursday. I said I would.
Here she is all dressed up for the party and eating strawberries. She looked super pretty, but this picture didn't turn out so well.
Here is a shot of the kids making crowns.
It was fun. Ella and her guests had a great time. I still can't believe that she's going to be FIVE! I just look at her and am amazed by how grown up she seems and is still my little baby. I'll take about a thousand more pictures on the 11th, and probably a movie or two, so check back in for more of Ella's birthday!

January

Ella will be five on the 11th. It's so hard to believe!
My report to the general is I'm holding steady. Pretty good for all the festivities and what-not. I hope everyone had a great end to 2006 and that 2007 is just darn great. Time to get ready to go back to work!

Christmas Tap

Ella got some fancy new dancing shoes for Christmas!

She had a great time opening gifts and visiting Grandma Peg.

We hope you all had a great Holiday, too!!!!

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve! In the process of clearing off my fancy new camera I found some pictures to post. Here goes:

At ourt Solstice party Dec 21...

Playing with Kirin and Peter, talking with the big kidz, and looking at me like I am a Mom with too much Ella on my mind.With the ginger bread house and a picture of Lily with HER ginger bread house!And playing in the snow...

Now the camera is all empty and ready for tomorrow mornings photo opportunities. I hope you all have a great holiday!

Decorations

We like to make these super easy ornaments out of applesauce and cinnamon. When dry we decorate them with glitter glue. It's fun and easy.

They make the whole house smell like cinnamon. I hang one in the car (or a closet) as an air freshener, use as present labels, and hang them on the tree. They are fun to make as gifts for other holidays, too. Like Valentines day.

Bakin' Cookies with Clio

Ella and I headed over to Clio's afterwork to make Yummy Gingerbread men & women, flakey sugar/butter cookies, and cinnamon ornaments cut out like, uh, cookies! Michelle did a great job of keeping the ranks of cookies flowing throught the making stations while the girls played and played. Then the girls decorated some friends before dinner. It was a grand old time.
Oh, and the girls sang songs. They are such good pals. I'll say it again, we are very lucky to have the Clio's as friends.

The Nietzsche Family Circus

"The irrationality of a thing is no argument against its existence, rather a condition of it."

Okay, not one of the best pairings, but I am out of time and they come up random...
http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/perm.php?c=42&q=121

Report to the General

General Ma'am: After an exceptionally disciplined week I am down 4. Not quite to my July low, but working my way back to it.

Ella's Holiday Party

Last night there was a holiday party at Ella's school. The kids sang some songs, then the adults got to join in on a sing-a-long, and we finished up with lots of yummy treats. Ella was not exactly a star performer, but she did seem to have a grand old time. Here is a clip:



Note: I went out and spent a bunch of money that we don't have on a new digital camera. I like it. It makes movies with sound! If anyone wants to help me pay off the credit card just send us a check made out to MBNA. Thanks.

That nutty girl

Ella really loves bubble baths...

Painting Ella's Room

Rolling out the "Mystic Unicorn". Ella picked out her own paint color!
Happy Little Painters
Touching up the white trim.

Ella has been very helpful with getting her new room all ready. She does not know that we asked Santa for some very special new furniture and his elves are going to assemble it and set up her room as a Christmas Morning SURPRISE!!!!!

Finished Crafts: A Re-Cap

Ella made this lovely star coat hook (one on the left) during the Women's Center Family Craft on Dec 1.I made this black with polka-dots plate. And here is Ella's bug plate again.

I hope we do these craft things again. It really was a good time. I want to finish work on our front stairs so that I can hang pictures and Ella's plate from the walls. Or maybe I'll get one of those plate stands and put it on the fireplace mantle. Somewhere that people can see it but I don't have to worry about it breaking. I think I am going to get one of those "make a plate" kits from EduCare for her birthday. Then she'll have a plastic non-breakable think to use every day.

The Jinx

I did it. I jinxed myself. While corresponding with a friend I made the mistake of mentioning how everyone in our family is feeling fine, no colds, blah, blah, blah. Then I woke up this morning and got in the shower... then started sneezing. At first I thought it was because of Ron's soap (Irish Spring makes me sneezy when the bar of soap gets wet and odoriferous) but the sneezing hasn't stopped. In fact, it is getting worse every minute! While lifting weights with Liz I had to take tissue breaks. Now I am sitting at my desk with a runny nose, watery eyes, and a foggy head. Damn.
I hope we don't have to borrow LA's quarantine sign!

The real party invite!

http://artpad.art.com/?ja4kna1exo6w

Bug Plate

I'll post my plate and Ella's coat hook when we get them back, but here is the finished "Bug Plate" with green caterpillar, butterfly, black spider, black fly, red moth, yellow sun, blue sky and some green grass. What a happy caterpillar!

Blabbering

It's five degrees outside. Damn, that's cold. And I know it's just going to get colder.
Ella has a dentist appointment today and then she's coming to work with me. I hope she does not get all cranky and demanding while we are there because I have a bunch of stuff to do. I am going to pack all of her movies, tons of snax, coloring books, scissors and glue, and just a few toys.
I hope we get her mosaic coat hook back soon. I really want to see it. I am going to hang it in her room if I learn of the best way to do such a thing on the lathe and plaster wall. I also want to get a mirror and hang it at her height, plus a well built little table/vanity and chair. She is at the age where she will really enjoy having a room set up just for her, and we've never done that for her, or us, before. She could also use a solid book shelf or two. And a rug. I found a rug, table, shelf etc. But they are about $100 each and we don't have that kind of money... I guess that's why we've never bought her furniture!
I hear her upstairs singing... I should go get her dressed and get those cute little teeth all polished for the trip to the dentist.

Oh Joy!

http://artpad.art.com/?j9lwbi4mzhw
Click on the above link to see what I bought today! Slide the speed control all the way to the left to save a little boredom, or you can just skip to the end. I should stop playing with that darn program!
Tonight I am taking Ella and Clio to another Craft Night at the Women's Center. I am bringing my own camera to get some better pictures this time. I wonder what project they are going to pick? Maybe E will do a mosaic this time... Or make a bowl. If she paints I fully intend to but on a base coat of color this time!
It has been snowing since 7:00 am. Brrr. I'm so darn happy about having a winter coat. Why did it take me 5 years to get one?