snow (but not THAT much...)

Since when do New Englanders freak over a foot of snow? I understand that in DC and Virginia, this storm broke records, but we've got six or eight inches, max. Plenty for a toddler, but c'mon, folks! Do we really need to close schools the day after a minor storm?

Okay, off the soapbox and into my snowboots. Weekend snowstorms are the best! We had a blast today. Check it out.

knee deep and still smiling

Catching snowflakes on my tongue: got one!

got another!

this is much more efficient!

Shhh, I get paid under the table

Mom as sled-dog: Mush!

Better than sledding? après-sled chai

Warm winter wishes to all!
xoxox xela

(belated) Happy Hannukah

Hanukkah - over already? Seems like just yesterday, I was being told not to grab the matches, not to bump the menorah, not to make the flames dance by waving a napkin over them... the holiday is certainly a miracle of survival.

It was sad, putting the menorah away till next year. But we have our memories. And our presents. Not to mention all our pictures!

1st night: if I'm extra cute, do I get extra presents?

more candles, with color scheme by yours truly

Warning: this photo violates Chanukah tradition:
we're also celebrating Advent


(our religion is chocolate)


As long as we're fessing up, we're into Santa Claus, too.
Actually, it's Mrs. Claus; Xela is terrified of Santa (no joke)

Look, eight candles (and we haven't burnt the house down!)

are we done?

xoxox xela


ps: oh yeah, presents! here's some of my loot

new books

matchbox cars and a crashing rig

uh-oh!

magnet blocks
do not disturb: (future) architect at work

yoga mat - just my size!

doggie, get down!

this is less painful than it looks

new jammies and cherry 'lipstick'

don't mess with my lipstick!

Ruby

We lost a friend today. Sweet, soulful Ruby... she was never exactly sturdy. You wouldn't pick her in a dogfight. As a watchdog, she wasn't the quickest to warn when a visitor climbed the back stairs. Her delicate stomach barely tolerated food; she subsisted on a rarefied diet of wild game and fruit. She lived through a lot - with the scars to show it. She survived bites and bloat and trauma, with far too frequent trips to the vet. It's astonishing that she lived to twelve - a testament to Tina and Kitty's years of tender, devoted care. But Ruby did much more than survive. She was a lover, a nuzzler, a sharer of kisses and watermelon. She was beautiful, with an elegance that transcended nibbled ear or shopworn coat. More feline than doggish, she'd cuddle and purr on the couch, curled up like a silky comma. She was goofy and playful and stubborn. She also revealed impressive restraint: however uneasy she felt around kids, she never snapped or raised a paw towards the newest, youngest addition to her tribe. Somehow she found room in her old dog's heart for this baby. At her frailest, she always carried herself with grace. Gentle Ruby, you will be missed fiercely.

Ready for the holiday!

-- I'm so excited! Tomorrow we light candles and get presents
and eat special delicious food with family and friends!!

-- umm, Xela, Chanukah is next month. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

-- we light candles?

-- Nope, not yet.

-- but we get presents.

-- Sorry, no presents either. It's a day to say Thanks for what we have.

-- what about delicious food with family?

-- YES!

-- well, that's the best one, anyway. I'm thankful that I have so
many people to love: Abby & Sam, Abuela & Abuelo, and Maggie!
and there's Aunt Gillian, Uncle Jon and Auntie Robin, and...

-- Now you've got the hang of it...

-- But I get to blow out the candles on the cake - right?

--Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone!

Then and Now

Remember Cyrus, my first best friend, who shared Nirmala with me back in the day? We've been friends for sooo long. When we met, we didn't walk or talk. We didn't eat real food - we barely had teeth! We shared first steps, first birthdays, first bites... Confession time: Cyrus is the also the first - and only! - person I ever bit. Sorry, dude, I didn't know any better. Hey, I was a baby. We were both such babies!


Fast-forward two years: look at us now - big kids!



Today, after too many months, we met up at a park. Cyrus is more gorgeous than ever, with his brown doe eyes and sweet grin. He's a bit shy with no shortage of energy, running in happy little bursts, kicking a soccer ball around the park with impressive power and accuracy. He's also a gentle, sensitive kid who stops to admire a fallen leaf, and quickly comes running to help a crying friend. Despite demanding jobs and a new baby coming, Cyrus's cool parents somehow make it look easy. Must be a west coast thing. They plan to return to California sometime next spring. We'll miss them!

botanist at work

On the roundabout with Cyrus, with Madhulika behind us,
carrying something large and round. She's also holding a soccer ball.

Ben pushing the roundabout: Faster, Ben!


Ben taking much-deserved break on the roundabout

Time-out: mango break!

We love hanging out with these guys - and soon, there will be more of them to love! Hope we reconnect again before too long.
xoxox xela

tired

Nuf said.
xoxo
xela (dreaming and snoring)

old skool rules!

We are digging the vinyl with a "new" vintage-1983 Big Bird record player. After 26 years, it still cranks the tunes; they just don't make plastic the way they used to. And it's so simple, even a toddler can operate it. Our library is a bit meager, only three records so far. What Mama would give for the collection she bought at Woolworth's and Grant's with babysitting money! But we're on the prowl for more. Once you've experienced the scratchy, skippy goodness of genuine 45's, CD's seem so... sterile.

Uh oh. Not yet three and already a vinyl snob.

Ready

Set

ROCK!

Groovin'

Shake it

movin'

even Tita's doin' it

xoxoxela

Extreme Make-Over, Bumble-Style

At last - after 3 weeks in the shop and thousands of dollars - the stupid of crashing through a curb disguised as a snowbank has been repaired. Just in time for more snowbanks.

We're going to be very, very careful this winter.

She sure looks purty though, doesn't she, in her glistening new bumper?

BEFORE

AFTER!

Welcome back, Bumble!

Now please excuse me, I'd love to chat,
but I've got places to go...

xoxox
xela (just a tiny bit nostalgic for roughing it via feet, bike, trains and buses)