happy val-day!

Hey there... remember me?

I'm so busy, I keep forgetting to blog. D'oh! Maybe if they paid me better, I'd be more motivated. Mama says I'm lucky to have a job at all, in this economy. But what does she know? Which kinda says a lot about where I'm at these days, on the cusp of three. Mother Knows Best? No way, José! That's one of my favorite things to say lately, along with Sticky Butt. The era of toilet humor has begun.

Anyhoo, on with the show. Here are some answers to the perennial question, What's Xela up to?

I'm not thrilled with winter. Gloves? don't get me started. I have an obsessive fascination/dread about mittens and gloves. But I'm an out'n'about kind of girl. Cold weather can't stop me. Especially when there are coffee shops along the way.

Stylin'? Always.

rare "mittens-on" momenthow to eat a cupcake... no messy hands!

warming up with ice cream... trust me, it works.

Did I mention that I have a killer sweet tooth?

At home, I love playing "teacher":

reading ABCs to Monkey

reading Danny and the Dinosaur to Mama

By the way, see the bell tower in the window? One evening, I glanced up and spied a scary person way up high on the tippy-top. Mama said, it's just the spire lit up against the night sky, blah blah blah. But... it was a ghost. Mama explained (many times) that it's just part of the architecture, a design, it's not alive, it can't hurt us, blah blah blah. But... what does she know? I'm TERRIFIED of the bell tower. I HATE the bell tower. So whenever we see it - which is often, since this 158-foot tall landmark sits two blocks from our home - we scream at it: Aaaiiiiii, Bell Tower! Go away, Bell Tower! I'm gonna flush you down the toilet, Bell Tower! The era of screaming and shrieking has begun.

reading bedtime stories to my babies

I'm a good "Mommy" to my babies. But they can be naughty.
Discipline is required.

Turtle gets a time-out

Reina gets her nose pinched off

KIDDING!

(hey, what's Monkey reading back there?)

I love making art:

Monkey needs help with his valentines

Tia Lisa will be pleased to learn I've become a jigsaw puzzle fiend:

hmmm, where does this piece go?
NO HELPING! I can do it myself.

My #1 favorite thing to do? hanging with friends. I'm a party-girl. You should see my social calendar! Good thing I have a full-time secretary and chauffeur...

piano with ClaireBear

preschool pals

Klezmer dancing with Skyler

trampoline party

party at the gym...

Speaking of parties - we're having one here, in two weeks. Because someone is turning 3! If you'd like to join us, please do. The more, the merrier - but don't even think about blowing out my candles. And I get the biggest piece of cake. Capiche? Meanwhile, I'll try to keep up with the blog a little more diligently.

That's all for now. xoxoxo xela

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.