hey

just peekin in, between runs to the park...

where have all the xelas gone???

Here!

... and here!

...and HERE!

Hmmmm...
what's our little monkey up to?

One for you!

Awwww...
Happy Spring! xoxo xela

d'OH!

We keep forgetting to blog!

I'm blaming it on the scary, scary bell tower...

scared but brave

hasta la bell tower, baby

dancin fool

my new BoomBox is a hit at the park... thanks, Auntie Robin!
(video coming!)

'FREE' at last

Growing up is all about transformation. Here I am on Saturday night, a mere two year old:


Sunday morning, I woke up and turned... into a cake!


so... I'm three! aka "free" aka "a big preschool girl." I just wish Mama remembered to take more party pictures. It's fine to enjoy the moment. But I'd love a few photos of my preschool friends Skyler and Manuela (and their families)...and what about Theresa and Mary Lee, who brought Clair-Bear & "the silly boy," Owen? Stella came, too, and Tias Lynn, Kitty, and Tata, plus we finally met Breanne's boyfriend from Nebraska, Isaac. Sodenland was hopping! But you'll have to take my word for it; these are the only photos we could scrounge up:

make a wish...

and BLOW!

did it all by myself!

OUCH!

Abby, Sam, the birthday girl, & Tata (thrilled, hypoxic or both)

cousins - gotta love 'em!

btw, that's Manuela & Macarena in the background

more soon, if I find any more pix...

xo xelacakes

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