Playdate with Luca

What a great day for a playdate! We met up with Luca and Melanie at one of our favorite places - The Eagle's Nest. . . and guess what?? Luca was fearless - and showed Alice how to go down all the slides! (It only took once for her to take the lead and get off one slide only to run right back up for more!)







The slides, ball crawl, and rock wall were awesome (even tho they got stuck twice - and needed Carrie/Mel rescuing. . ) but also a good time. . . sharing snacks! :)


We love The Eagle's Nest!

Rock On, L3!

If my brother ever posts a video of L3 rockin' out in his Jumparoo. . . I'll link it - but for now - you'll just have to IMAGINE how much fun he. . I mean they. . I mean WE were having!!

Alice's Winter Gala

For WEEKS - Alice has been talking about her Winter Gala. She has been singing her songs - and talking about all the practice they've been doing at school! Everyone in the Big Blue House was totally excited for this fun fun week! (Sesame AND Gala in ONE WEEK?!?!?) We all got in the Family Car (THE FAMILY CAR!!) to head to the Gala. WOW - was it packed! I think just about every family had to be there! The kids went with their teachers to practice - and the audience traveled around the school. (school=tiny one room - broken up into 5 smaller rooms with no adult sized chairs) We (the audience) started in the toddler room. Wow - do these teachers rock! Of course there was a mixed level of participation-ness by these little folks - but those teachers kept engaging them! Then we all moved out to the pre-pre school?? room - well - we couldn't see a thing - so we headed to Alice's room - to get a good square of floor - and plopped down.


With so many people there - it's totally understandable that these 3 year olds weren't too interested in performing - except for this curly haired little girl next to Miss Katie. She was a rock star for one night!! :)


After the performances - there were cookies and juice (natch) - which of course, was Alice's favorite part! :) . . . guess I'll have to break out the not-plugged-in PS2 microphone at home to hear Alice's Gala songs. . AND just about any other song she loves to belt out with that mic in her hand! :). . . yes, this can be arranged

Sesame Street Live . . .2010

So, we're getting to be pretty good at these "Kid Shows." We met up with Zach and his parents (and Grandma) again. Zach and Alice loved the show - and even L3 was totally engrossed with what was happening down on the stage! Another great show by the people at Sesame Street Live. . .

Marin Gloria

Welcome to the world Marin!! Marin was born Jan. 8th - but I was sick, Becky was busy being a new mom and stuff - so I finally got to meet her today! Mom and baby are doing WELL!!

The View From Our WIndow

I love to watch them - as they love to watch the world go by outside our front window. . . and they will love it even more when that pesky in-the-way Christmas tree comes down!

Happy New Year!

Another great NYE party at my place! Traditional folks (Jerome/Olesens, Benicks, The Nordin) . .and traditional fare (wayyyy to much food .. . including yummy homemade Chinese!) Added this year . . .Little Alice stayed up 'til the ball dropped in NY! (11:00 our time!! Holy Kamoley!!) She helped me shop for food for our party - and for decorations. She had a blast blowing up balloons with Julie - and then serving cookies to "our guests" as she called them :) :) Too too cute!! Another new thing this year - Wii's Just Dance. W.O.W! This is a workout AND it looks COOL! Like the people playing are REALLY dancing!! I did a bunch of these pics in my camera's athlete mode - and am dying for my brother to make a bunch into a gif file (little movie!) Whew! A great night - and a great way to ring in the New Year . .with my best buddies!

Alice agreed to let me buy these decorations. . . as long as she got to get the big-ol'-bag o noisemakers!


The Spread


Alice loved the "noise makers"


Cutest Family Ever likes to party!


Heidi and Alice loved playing with the balloons. (I think Heidi enjoyed it a little more)




True Dance Fever! (note Alice Chair-dancin' in the back!)


Can you see that we ROCK!!?!? (note the door open behind us . . we got SWEATY!)


Go, Jaime, Go!


Heidi and Alice take a turn.


Here's what the game looks like for the player.


Happy New Year Alice Mae!


The Morning After