Our Very Own Olympics

It's been a long, cold winter for us. I am so glad March is right around the corner. Everyone is filled with the anticipation of a long-awaited spring. Though we may still have some waiting to do. Yesterday, I realized even in this snowy winter, my kids have not gone sledding once.

It was the perfect day because it was in the 30's (we consider that balmy) and sunny, so the wimpy Momma didn't have to watch from the car. We went to our favorite little hill in the neighborhood and what ensued was gold medal fun!
Gettin' air...
If you go get off your sled in time, you end up in the "picturesque" drainage ditch...
Someone may have gotten a little nudge by a brother to end up there. Guess who that was...
Behold the wonder of snow...

Don't worry, it wasn't yellow.

Who needs Vancouver? I've got my own Olympians...
And now that we've had our winter fun, bring on Spring!

While You Were Sleeping...

Dear Internet Service,

It has been a long week without you. I have missed your presence in my life. While you lay dormant, powerless to feed my desire to blog or shop online, I thought you might want to know what we did without you. Other than pout and complain, that is.

Bill and I went on our first date without Lulu since she came into our lives...
I did not like the above picture that our waitress took because a) it looks like Bill has a little doinky hair on top on his head and b) I am in that unfortunate "neck brace" pose. So we took one on our own...
Much better.

Tate and Addi, were the babysitters for Lulu...
Addi's Dad was also there for my reassurance.

Jack and Bill went to a Hockey game...
Emmie was invited to a Girl Scout event that featured different countries around the world. She and Kate wore their Ethiopian dresses...
My friend Betty made Dabo Kolo, an Ethiopian treat for the Ethiopia table. Think itty bitty shortbread bites. YUM! Not surprisingly, Emmie came home wanting to be a Girl Scout. Once upon a time I was a Girl Scout. Until the camping trip. Even having Carmel Delites and Thin Mints to their credit could not make up for having to use a latrine. I was out. I think Em will fair better than I did. She actually likes to camp. Whatever.

Tate had Hawaiian Day at school...
Slightly ironic given the weather outside...
Lulu has been perfecting the art of making messes around the house...
As we spend our days together waiting for "the others" to return home...
We all have been enjoying the Olympics and we just got back into American Idol last night. I had been doing so well at avoiding American Idol this season. We skipped all the auditions, but last night, I caved. I am sure we will be watching tonight. And tomorrow night. And two to three nights a week for the next 3 months. I am a weak person.

Speaking of American Idol, I heard Adam Lambert's new single on the radio the other day. It's catchy, but the lyrics confuse me: is he happy or mad? No clue. But as I listened I kept thinking, "Who does he remind me of? I know this voice!". And I realized it was none other than Richard Marx. Holy Eyeliner, I feel like Adam Lambert has given me 1987 back.

All that to say, welcome back beloved internet service. I just wanted you to know what we did to keep our selves busy while you were sleeping.

It was a good week, despite your absence, but please don't go away again. Ever.

One is Fun!

As promised, Lulu's one year photo shoot...

Make a Smilebox slideshow I feel the need to provide a bit of commentary. Don't I always? 1) About wardrobe: obviously she despises angel wings. But Jack clearly does not... She is wearing a traditional Ethiopian dress in the last three pictures. I love it, although had a chip clip on it in the back to make it fit her right. Glad they didn't get any pix of that. Her birthday outfit came together after much searching on Etsy (do you know how many birthday outfits exist in the world???) and many phone and email consultations with my dear friend Kristin, who gave it to Lulu (and me) as a gift. Thanks Kristin, I love it! 2) I expected her to dive into her cake like a little fiend. But what I failed to take into consideration is that this baby has had everything fed to her. With the small exception of the contraband oreo, she has been heavily guarded in the eating department. Poor baby had no idea what to do. Lest the "try to lean over and lick it" move. 3)This picture is precious to me because she is doing Gunga's all time favorite baby trick which is "Praise the Lord!"... My thoughts exactly, baby girl.

We love Luci!

We celebrated Lulu's First birthday with a family party. Sadly, with sickness in our home all week, it wasn't best for Gunga to come since the chemo makes her immunosuppressed. I hate that she had to miss out on the fun. And it's never the same without her joyful presence. But Grandma and two of my sister's families were able to be there along with one representative from my sister Carrie's family. So we forged ahead.

It was an "I Love Luci" party. It had everything to do with the phrase and nothing to do with the TV show. Although, it would have been very clever had I thought to serve a drink and call it "Vitameatavegamin". Too late.

It was an easy theme to work with since, the party being on February 13th, there were plenty of things with hearts on them to choose from. Invitations were easy..
Decorations were easy...
The cake was easy...
Because I didn't make it.

But getting my house ready was definitely not easy.

Even the games were easy. I basically just re-did the things I had done the day before at the kids Valentine's parties. With a February 9th birthday, that could happen every year. Here's our version of "Pin the Heart on Lulu"...
I had other games planned. I didn't do them because I was too tired from getting my house ready.

Everyone wore these "I love Luci" stickers...
My original plan was to make buttons for everyone. That was before a) I had two sick kids all week and b) I found out that they were $1.49 each. I may love Luci, but I also love not going into debt for a birthday party.

Lulu's outfit had to go with the theme too, of course...
Her shirt says "I love you too". That made me smile.

At first she was really sad and tired. I was beginning to think she hated her birthday party. But, then it was cake and ice cream time and she started to dig the whole birthday deal...

Aunt Georgie made her birthday hat. She didn't even try to take it off once. But gravity tried a few times...

With a full tummy, we moved on to opening presents...
The shoes above illicited a spontaneous "yay!" from her...
That's my girl! She made it through all the presents, but then it was "happy nappy" time for Little Miss Birthday...On your first birthday, and everyday, we want you to know that...

WE

LOVE

YOU

LUCI!