flavor of love

Today Ally and I went to the mall in the morning to play in the play area and run some errands. I picked up a throw pillow and valances for the guest bedroom, Ally had a grand time in the play area, and then we went to Pottery Barn to see if I could find a new clock for our fireplace mantel. I accidentally broke our old clock while removing Christmas decorations-- amazing how things shatter on slate-- so I've been looking for a new one. At the store I wasn't sure about which size to buy. The clock I liked came in a small, medium, and large size (not sure why only two sizes are on the web site). Thinking that the room is pretty large and hence it should have a big clock, I picked up the largest model and put it on the mantel to see if Rob would like it. When he came home he cracked up laughing and asked if maybe he could use it for Halloween next year.

So we're planning on getting the medium sized one now, but first we had to have some fun.

malade

I've been sick with a cold since Sunday, which seems to have interested Ally, particularly when I blow my nose. After observing the ritual on Sunday, by Monday she requested a tissue and said to her stuffed animals, "sick. blow nose." and held a tissue to their faces.

meow

As challenging as it may be to visit as adults when you are parents of toddlers, I have to say it is also so much more fun when you get together. After a fantastic visit by Mark, Emily, and Efram this weekend I have concluded that there really is something to the communal living idea. Ally and Efram seemed to really enjoy each other's company (as long as they were both not trying to play with Elmo at the same time). The similarities and differences between them are extraordinary to see. Efram is a master at the shape sorter and puzzles-- two things Ally is just starting to understand. And as is typical of little girls, Ally talks more and has a bit more drama! We anticipate very, very interesting years ahead.

As far as sources of amusement, the two winners were Matilda, who was chased into her cat hole many times, and the wagon.

sur la table

Ally seems to relish saying "no" these days to pretty much every question we ask, though the response is said in a sweet playful voice and is on occasion followed by a thoughtful "yes." As in, "Ally, would you like a cookie?" "no.... yes." She even said "no" to her snack this past weekend, so in a moment of exasperation I asked if she would like to have her snack at the big table. Her eyes lit up. "Yea!" She arranged some of her friends around her plate to join in on the fun and seemed so pleased to be at the table like a big girl.

To get a sense of scale, on a different day...

mr. toolman II, with a vengeance

Rob has been a home improvement tornado this week. Last weekend he hung all of the wood blinds in the back of the house, with only minimal complaint that they were harder to hang than cellular shades. Then on Wednesday he began the ambitious project of installing our garage door opener. Because our garage has very high ceilings and a very tall door, none of the standard installation hardware would work, so he had to do some creative exchanging to find an opener with an in-stock extension kit. Then he worked for three nights and Saturday afternoon in the very cold garage. When the opener worked successfully on Saturday (on the first try!!) we watched in awe as the door easily opened and closed. Miraculous! Life-changing! So Rob gets the gold star of the week.

cousin

As a child, I was quite suspicious of adults who told me that the holidays were about family. I mean, did they forget about PRESENTS? But just as the passing of time has taught me the immense value of dark chocolate and good coffee, I am content to say that the highlight of the holidays this year was time spent with family. In particular Ally learned the word cousin and now regularly asks for her cousins by name! On Christmas day she was able to play with her teenage cousins and in particular loved playing in her kitchen with her cousin Michelle. Then on New Year's Eve her younger cousins taught her the great joy of running in circles in the basement. They can relate to each other in such interesting ways I could never have predicted-- which is I suppose why kids like to play with each other rather than their boring parents once they become a bit older and wiser.

Here is Ally with her younger cousins, Ryan, Katy, and Olivia, from whom she has inherited her sense of style.

beginning

We are so thankful to have reached today-- the first day of 2008. 2007 was by far the most challenging, stressful year of our life together. Far too often we were forced to compromise the things most important to us for the things that were due or had to be done. The whirlwind has begun to settle already and the new house is beginning to feel like home; the school-free evenings stretch forward into what seems like an endless vacation! Thank you to the family and friends who hung in there with us this past year. We'll do better from now on. Well... as long as we get a few more perfect scores in Guitar Hero.