Aaahhhhhh!

Check out Ziggity's favorite place to chill...nestled next to the heat vent in the kitchen.

Progress Report

Things are really movin' over at the project house. The kitchen has brand new (and newly painted) walls & ceiling; the scary old breaker box was moved to the basement and rewired to modern day standards; and the bathroom has been gutted (except for the tub and hex-tile flooring) and rewired. Fun fun!!!

Cookie's Visit

Say hello to Cookie, the pet guinea pig at Mason's preschool. He goes home with a family every weekend, and it was our turn to host the little guy this past weekend. He is a voracious vegetarian, happily chowing down the mass of baby carrots, spinach, and romaine lettuce leaves that were presented to him. He wasn't very fond of Ziggity, though, probably because he knew, if given the opportunity, Ziggity would try to eat him for breakfast. We enjoyed his visit, but I am glad to be back to three pets.

yum, dinner!

More Birthday Tidings

I'm feeling guilty that I blogged a happy birthday to my nieces, but not to my wonderful husband, who turned 38 on January 5. His birthday usually passes very quietly every year since it's so close to the holidays and most people have had enough of celebrations. So the kids and I gave him flowers, cooked a special dinner, made him a birthday cake, and lavished him with lots of attention. It's exactly the kind of birthday he likes.

Happy birthday, Erik! We love you!!!

Happy Birthday, Stella & Riley!

My sweet little nieces turned 4 on January 8, and today we get to celebrate with them! Diane is throwing them a big bash, with entertainment from our favorite balloon guy, Joe Mishkin. It should be a fun afternoon.

Happy birthday, girls!!! We think you are both wonderful and love you dearly!!!

And So It Begins

It's official...Mason is following in my footsteps and starting tap dance lessons this January. Thanks to Grandma Audrey's enthusiasm around her starting dance lessons, we now have her outfitted in the requisite leotard, tights, and shiny new tap shoes (thanks, Grandma!). She looks adorable as she taps around the house. And it brings back my memories of tap lessons...the shoes, the leotards, the costumes, the big revue at the end of the year. I hope she enjoys it; I know I'll enjoy watching her!

My Sister, the Gymnast

My sister Diane forwarded these pictures to me the other day. Every once in awhile, she likes to revel in her younger days of being quite a fantastic gymnast. She took the opportunity at the beach this summer to show Stella and Riley one of her moves (specifically, the round-off flip-flop, a classic). I am impressed, and slightly jealous, that she is both limber and spry enough to pull this off in her mid-30's.

Go Diane!!!

(action shots courtesy of her hubby, Steve Schneider)