[R] Friendly Skies

This is the actual plane that we rode on the way home from San Diego last week. I am not a fan of flying, but it is certainly better on a plane with Minnie Mouse at the helm. I did expect the inside to be a Disney party barge, but, alas, it was not. Still, the snack mix and Coke products were plentiful and the flight attendants definitely had a Disney-appropriate demeanor.

[R] Party in Eburg!

Momma Horse's Birthday (and, apparently, it is horse Mother's Day, too).

[R + W] Let's Do It! Let the Freaking Out Begin!

We here in A+land would like to take a moment to shout our joy to the top of every mountain in the world, for our sweet Ellie has tackled her final surgery and emerged kicking and screaming and mad as hell and we are so proud of and overjoyed for A+ Canada. WaHoo, A+, WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!

[R] We LOVE Trucks

Connie and Ellie's collage inspired me to post this collection of photos by Adele. We love trucks (vehicles of any kind, really).

[R] Ellensburg, WA

Oh, how I do love Ellensburg. I know those towns we see on TV in Northern Exposure and Gilmore Girls do not exist in the real world, however, I get snatches of those perfect small-town moments living in Ellensburg.

Last night we walked downtown to the "Moments to Remember" holiday lighting festivities. We stopped at the coffee shop to get hot chocolates for the girls, ran into a couple friends, made our way to the Safeway parking lot for free cookies and cider, and the tree lighting ceremony. The girls were delighted to find two, yes TWO lighted, BIG John Deere tractors in the parking lot. So, we watched the lighting ceremony (note to Safeway -- thanks for the food, but you REALLY need some new lights for the tree), and then marched a couple blocks over to the main downtown lighting ceremony. Downtown was packed and we saw many familiar faces. Then, in one of the storefronts, there was a dance recital -- we couldn't see much, with the crowd -- but what a fun idea! The highlight of the evening was, perhaps, the live nativity scene in one of the alleyways. We were told this was something NOT to miss, despite fidgety kids and a very long wait in line. We were greeted at the ally by two roman soldiers (which we decided make very appropriate bouncers) who introduced the story. As we made our way through the alley, we were told the nativity story, complete with beggars of Bethlehem, real donkeys, goats, cows and really really good singers. It is so nice to see so many people putting so much love into their town. I hear Santa is in town this morning, so we're off to find him!!

R

[R] Thanksgiving 2008

Wow -- I love that I get to be part of this blog, and yet you guys do all of the work making it pretty! Thank you. And what a nice segue into my Thanksgiving blog post.

As schmaltzy as it sounds, every day (usually after the kids go to bed and the house is peaceful), I ponder how amazingly lucky I am to have this life and how thankful I am for it. I will just list a few things that come to mind that I am thankful for, but realize that I'm thankful for so much more.

Adele, Elsa, Greg, A+ friends and families, hot chocolate, comfy pants, being able to read a book on the elliptical trainer, A NEW PRESIDENT

OK, I had to stop because I was just going to start listing a lot of food items and that is a bit shallow, I think. I will blame it on the fact that it is my brain's nap time.


As an aside -- here is a haiku I composed in honor of flannel sheets (it is 5-7-5, right?):

flannel sheets enrobe
I love snuggling in the bed
cozy warm cozy

R

I just checked and enrobe is not a proper word on spellcheck, but I figure it is poetic license.

[R] Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day -- Thank you, Veterans!
Yesterday we attended the local Veteran's Day Parade in Ellensburg. It was really nice to see people come out to support the veterans and current military people. I kept going back to the Obama election and thinking how I have never ever ever ever felt so proud of the country as I have this past week. It was a great feeling to look at the miriad of flags and smile and think, "Yeah, America!!"

And, on a side note, I love Ellensburg. I love that I live in a town where you can stop traffic for 45 minutes or so to have a Veteran's Day Parade, and I love that a whole bunch of people show up for it on a Tuesday morning and I love that you can watch the parade on one street and then walk one block and watch it again on another street! However, I get the feeling that Adele was thinking the whole time, "Ok, so I like the free flag, but where's the CANDY?"

R

[R] A couple months ago -- what a smart kiddo!

A couple months ago -- what a smart kiddo!

[R] I am so proud of our country!

I am so proud of our country! It is an amazing thing to have elected Obama. What a beautiful family he has. I keep getting teary-eyed thinking about it! I am also thinking of my girls and how, I hope, when they can vote, it won't be such a big deal to have a woman/african america/asian american/hispanic/etc. for president or vice president.
Soooooo happy!!!!!

P.S. Hopefully the rest of the world doesn't think we're such big dorks anymore.

[R] Wow! And I don't even have a cell phone...

And yet, I am BLOGGING! I would add a picture to the blog, but, alas, our family digital camera is in Beijing at the moment. It is a sad state of affairs when one envies the family camera.

I'm feeling a bit of pressure that I don't feel in emails -- you know, to be witty and make sure my grammar is correct. I guess if we're going to become famous with the blog, I should just get over it.

One thing I think is blog worthy is my super idea for the TODDLER OLYMPICS. I got the idea the other day while at Adele's gymnastics class when a fellow audience member-toddler threw a fit. I was thinking (as the ever competetive parent), "Oh, that is NOTHING, my dearest Elsa could throw a much louder and longer tantrum than THAT." Thus, the idea for Toddler Olympics was born. So, some events:

Food throwing (obviously)
Marathon tantrum

Hmm, well, the categories would all have to involve either food or endurance tantrums, I guess.

Ok, I'm off to frost the cut-out cookies I made with the girls this morning. I'm not sure I have it in me to frost them while they are awake -- it would just turn into them stuffing frosting into their mouths every time I turned around.