early Chanukah celebration

Abuela and Abuelo decamped in early December for warmer climes, just before the first big snowstorm hit. They're such smartie pants. Before they left, we celebrated an early Chanukah on the Cape, with latkes, homemade applesauce, veggie chili, brownies... all good!

sharing a laugh with cousin Sam

mmmm, Roro's mint brownies

opening presents...

a firetruck - my favorite!!!

wanna see my ladder, baby?

The Abuelos are giving me a bike (woohoo!) - details to be announced later. Back home, the Chanukah elves brought my first computer!

For me? No way...

Way!

...way cool!

Aunt Gillian, we missed you. Let's get together soon.
xoxoxoxela

Happy Chanukah, then and now...

I love Chanukah. Last year, I was mesmerized by the candles. But this year, I'm bigger. I walk, I talk, and - most important of all - I have teeth.

Which means, this year I can bite and chew and TASTE the holiday. Yumm, potato latkes (thanks, Abuela!) Mmmm, chocolate Chanukah gelt (gracias, Mama!) Chanukah is delicious. The candles are still pretty amazing, too.


One year ago, home barely a month:




and today:

watch out, menorah. this smile can light up a room for 8 days and then some...

Happy holidays!
xoxox xela

everything's coming up ROSEOLA

Yep, I've got a case of sixth disease aka exanthum subitum aka
roseola infantum

Not especially fun, but it could be a whole lot worse.

We'll spare you the gory details.

Instead, enjoy a flashback to rosier days:

More soon,
xoxox
xela roseola
(an extremely cute viral variant of roseola infantum)

whatever happened to FALL?

I was just getting used to sweaters, fleece and cool autumn afternoons:







So when did the wonders of fall turn into THIS:

I.Can't.Move

and THIS:

that's Alison Bechdel behind me with the crewcut,
for you DTWOF fans...

and THIS:

tasty Guatemalan sausage

BRRRRRRRRR!!! I hate coats. I hate mittens. I don't like hats much, either.
when do we go to the beach?

xoxox
xela

southern (Nepali) comfort

After almost a year with my nanny, Nirmala, I've developed a taste for all things Nepalese. One of my favorites is khichadi, which is spelled many different ways (khichdi, khichree, khichuri) and sounds like "Kittery" spoken aloud. Made from lentils and rice, it is known as a comfort food throughout the Indian subcontinent, and often given to babies as their first food. Nirmala adds sautéed onion, turmeric, ginger and salt... yum!

All gone!

It's easy to make, too: check this out.

A week in Xela-land

Here's some of the stuff I'm into this week:


Mangos!




my new Highlights High5 subscription (¡gracias, Abuela & Abuelo!)






new-to-me high tops (Mama stole these off ebay)

rockin kicks...

and they work, too

btw, whoever handed me down this outfit... we love it!

running through fall leaves



Swimming at the Y


Music Together class

that's me, shakin' my maracas in the center of the action

my teacher Kelly has a purple guitar... wicked cool

Hide-n-seek...

you found me!

maximum MESSY

I have a gift

Naps

why in the world would I be tired?

O Mama, let's hear it for...

O-B-A-M-A !


Yep, we did our part. It was a thrill to be part of this historic moment. Let's all take a deep breath... Ahhh. No hanging chads, no dirty tricks. Ahhhhh. No more lipstick pitbulls and Joe the Plumbers. Yesssss! Now we don't have to move to Canada. January 20th cannot come soon enough.

But first, it's time to party! Woohoo!!!










with heartfelt joy and hope for the future,
xoxoxela