SuperGirl Flies again!

She has decided... SuperGirl!
Last night she looked at her "old" costumes and really liked SuperGirl's cape and big S.
I am looking forward to making this costume and I think Eleanor is going to enjoy wearing it.


Time to head to the fabric store! I hope I can find some metallic red fabric for the cape and skirt, and an easier gold fabric to work with. Last year the stuff I bought for Wonder Woman frayed easily so I used fabric glue around all the edges. It was a little messy and rather time consuming.
I am going to attempt boot covers this time.

Fireworks

We had a lovely pre-dawn thunderstorm with lots of lightening to light up the skies... It was pretty. It mixed in nicely with my dreams.
Ella and Ron rode the city bus into campus the last two days. It's so cute to watch them walk down the block to the bus stop holding hands - Ella's frog umbrella bobbing along... I can even watch them board the bus through the window. It just makes me smile.

five million things to do

Yeah, that's about right. I am so busy. And I have another five millions things to do at home.

Back to work so soon?

My parents are off for Florida. They wont be back until Spring... It's going to be a long winter with no trips to IC. We may travel back on Oct 14 for Eli's long anticipated wedding reception, but as those plans are only 70% solid, who knows?!
The General looked great. I think her Turbo Jam workouts have really been effective. I should try exercising some day...
Nelson Eisman, candidate for WI Governor, will be staying at our house on Wednesday so I guess I had better get the bathroom cleaned and the guest room sheets washed. Rae Vogeler was staying with us last Thursday and I have not cleaned up yet. I will not meet my goal of getting the "new" guest room finished this month unless I really go for it on Friday *insert faint glimmer of hope here*. I still keep trying to win that jackpot so I can just hire someone to do the job and be done with the whole thing.
Maybe I should go home early today (I am over on hours from last week) and mow the lawn or something... I bet I could. Hmmmm...

Report to the General

General Ma'am: I'll be seeing you in a few hours, but thought I'd report here too. Up 1/2. In my defense I would like to add that I am experiencing the first pangs of my womanly woes.
I am looking forward to seeing you for Dad's birthday!

Because she's so darn beautiful...

I am totally in love with my daughter. It's true. Every day I am more amazed by her. She's just the greatest thing in the world. This picture is from last month some time. See? Beautiful. Look at the love in those eyes!Baubau loves her, too. Every morning he sneaks into bed to snuggle with her while she sleeps.
And this is the smile she woke up wearing. Oh, so snuggly and warm with her kitty.

Preparing for October

Yeah, I make Ella's costumes and I think it's fun and fulfilling and all that. (Besides, when she gets a little older and starts with the attitude "you never do anything for me!" and all that business I can have concrete proof to defend my case.) But what am I going to make this year? She wants bat girl again. Or Sailor Moon. I want another Wonder Woman costume. I can't make a Sailor Moon costume! Too many pleats and bows and that whole Moon Princess scepter, forget about it. Perhaps we should revisit Super Girl? Do any of you have a favorite female super hero that would be ideal for a four and 1/2 year old to dress up as? And that I can make?
Here is the list of previous costumes:
9 months - Super Girl
1 1/2 - Batgirl
2 1/2 - Pretty Witch (this took a long time to make and cost a lot of $ for all the black velvet and then she changed her mind and wore her old Super Girl costume)
3 1/2 - Wonder Woman
Oh, and since we live in Wisconsin, she needs to be able to wear some warm things under. Last year it was two pairs of tights and two turtle necks under Wonder Woman's skimpy attire.
And I think she's into capes.

Report to the General

General Ma'am: -2 this week. So let's see.... If I can lose 3.5 more I'll be back at my low from early July. Not quite the slimming summer I had hoped for, but It feels good to be back on track now.

Almost Better

Well, I have almost recovered from the horrible crud that attacked me on Sunday. I can hear out of both ears and am at 75% nasal cavity function. I think if I had a new hot water heater and could stand in the shower for about a half hour or so I could get totally cleared out and be functioning at 90%. Any one want to buy me a new water heater? I didn't think so.
I still want that Thai green beans and ginger #20 from Bangkok. Jenny, I know you couldn't bring it to me, but it was super nice to get your e-mail.
This picture is almost what it looks like... but I eat it over rice, not cabbage, and the curry is nice and thick. Mmmmm.... I just can't stop thinking about it.

Bleh

I am so friggin sick I can't stand it. Last night my whole head was threatening to explode and I couldn't breath out of my nose so every 20 or 30 minutes I woke up very thirsty and very unhappy. I am spending the day on the couch with the exception of the 30 minutes it took me to go down to City Hall and cast my absentee ballot for tomorrows primaries. It's horrible out there today. Rain rain rain, windy and 50 degrees. I got so darn chilled I came home and turned on the heat. I'll mark it on the calendar as our first use this season. I must head back to the couch. I wish the Thai food fairy would come and bring me green beans and ginger in red curry. It's #20 on the Bangkok menu.

Cold, Windy, Wet

Happy Saturday! I did not do the sanding in the Neptune suite because just after I got done posting yesterday the Day Care called me to say "Ella is sick and you need to come get her". Oh, well. I DID practice for the Dragon Boat races and it was fun. We have three races on the 23rd and I don't think my team will win, but we might just have some fun!
Practice was cold and windy and wet. Thank goodness it did not rain! Well, I must make some lunch. Ella is feeling better and needs some nourishment. Ciao.

Report to the General

General Ma'am: -3.5 and damn proud. I think two weeks of discipline and the ending of the "Womanlies" made it a bigger loss.
Today I am going to sand baseboards and tomorrow I shall be paddling a Dragon Boat for a few hours, so I am sure my exercise will add up fast. Tomorrow is just practice, but I am looking forward to the real event September 23. I'll post pictures, I promise.
And hey, it's super nice that you are stopping by again. I've missed you!

Remembering When...

Ella and Ron in Pella March 2003

First Day of School

The University starts today and that means that Ella is back at the Day Care Center. I had been really looking forward to this, but now, of course, I really miss having her here. Every night I have terrible dreams of her getting injured or worse. Man, I thought these dreams would decrease in frequency as she got older! Will they ever stop? Did my mom have these nightmares? I lay there for hours trying to get over them... Maybe it's just a mother thing.
The positive thing about having a little time to myself at home is I will return to my exercise plan. I am promising myself that I will work out at least a half hour daily. And I have Friday to sand those pesky little baseboards in the Neptune Suite. Goal: Finish that room this month.

Report to the General

General Ma'am: I am finally reporting again and all I have to say is +/- 0. Have a great weekend.

The Clan of the Fish

I hope these work for you!

Home

Ella and Lily sitting on the stoop in Winona MN
A scenic overlookHaving lunch at the beach
At the park with LA and Esther

We had a good trip. Ella really enjoyed seeing her pals and says she misses Lily and Izzy very much. Izzy is the Stwalley's cat. It was a long drive, and I must say that Ella did a fantastic job dealing with the time in the car. Thanks to the pals who put us up for the overnights and fed us super good food. Steve, I still think you should let me pay for the Thai food!

The start of another work week

Time to pack up the car with toys and games! We are heading into work... Ella managed to handle last week, but I fear this week will not go as smoothly. She is really beginning to miss all the friends and play time at school. Only four days till we are on vacation. The Levelwinds will be here Thursday for a sleep over and Ella is really excited about playing with Henry. I wish they could stay longer than just one night... Our travel plans have been settled and we are looking forward to visiting friends in Minnesota. We head to Winona on Saturday morning to stay with Lily then head to Minneapolis on Monday to see the Stwalley's. We'll be home Wednesday for a little travel break and to pack up for our camping trip Saturday the 26th. Busy. Fun. I am looking forward to it!

Dinner Out

By now you might have noticed that there are two fairly consistent things around the Hardy House: 1) Ella loves to cook and 2) I love to post pictures of Ella cooking.

The weather has been so great that we decided to have a picnic in the back yard, It was a really fun time.

We set up the card table and Ella set the dishes out then sat down to enjoy the sunshine and soft breeze. What a nice way to relax and enjoy our yard!

Ella really enjoys making rice salad. She used to not eat it - she preferred all the ingredients separate - but when she makes it she sees that all her favorite stuff is mixed in, so now she thinks it's delicious!

See? What a happy little girl!

Baubau enjoyed it, too, because he could run around under the table and get snacks.

Ouch

My sides hurt. My tummy is sore. My legs ache. Why do people exercise? It is much more pleasant to pretend the muscles are not there.
Ella and I are going to do more exercises today. I hope I can do the sit-ups... Or get off the floor when we are finished.