Family Portrait

One of my favorite toys as a child was an old dollhouse that resided in the pink bedroom at Grandma Karela's house in Brookfield. I remember lovingly playing with the figurines, making up stories and no doubt working through a myriad of domestic issues facing a seven year old coping with her parent's divorce ; ) I loved that dollhouse. What made it even more special is that it was handmade by my great grandfather (right Aunt Judy?). This fall, the house made it's way safely from Seattle to Oak Park, thanks to one hundred pounds of Styrofoam peanuts and Aunt Judy's careful packing. It is now in Ella's room, ready to provide a stage for a whole new generation of familial angst. And how can one do that without the proper family of figurines? Mimi made sure that Ella received both a Caucasian and Asian family under the tree this year. Too bad toy makers haven't caught on to the whole inter-racial thing yet. Anyhoo, here are Jerry and I in our beautiful home. Aren't we lovely? Jerry needs a bit of hair gel though...reminiscent of his "Flock of Seagulls" stage in high school.

Wheeeeeee!

When was the last time your hiney was skidding down a hill of freshly fallen snow? It's been too long, eh? Jerry and I took Ella down-hill sledding for the first time on Sunday. This season has already seen it's fair share of heavy snow-fall and Saturday night we drove to the local sporting goods store to pick up a saucer...one that was guaranteed to produce some speed and conjure up a few "whees!". The three of us stepped into our snow pants and joined several other Oak Parkers at the hill off of Ridgeland Avenue. The only word I heard coming out of Ella's mouth was "more, more". Her pink cheeks were frozen in smile. Once we arrived home, a trail of scarves, gloves and hats led the way to the kitchen where she tried her first hot chocolate. She was a smitten kitten to say the least.
p.s. Check out the last pic...Jerry is surveying the course, Ella is looking to her Dad for indication of take off.

Twas the Day After Christmas

and all through the house,
boxes and wrappings and a Zu Zu Pet mouse.
The stockings were opened by the tree with care,
some puppets, a slinky and kid chopsticks...one pair.

To say Ella hit the kid jackpot this Christmas is a vast understatement. Gift opening took over an hour and that was with gentle coaxing from Mom and Dad to push on. She relished each and every unwrapping. Once she discerned what was inside immediate requests to "OPEN" were made. A beautiful easel and art supplies from Aunt Judy have already found a place in our living room. A book club membership from Uncle Jim has been initiated. A homemade blanket from Mimi, a penguin backpack and the Muppet Movie from Josh. Trucks and pretend food from Tita and Tito, an Elmo phone and frog rain boots from Lolo and Lola. So many thoughtful gifts. Ella's head is spinning with joy. Requests for "Wah Wah" (aka Sesame Street) were made much later in the day today as she was so busy with her new found fun.

Merry and Happy to all!

Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

Check it. Old school style courtesy of poladroid.net

A Christmas Conundrum

Thousands of children survive each and every winter...I know I managed to wade through the trauma some time after my 8th year. I don't recall exactly how the conversation went down but I do remember confronting my mother in the hallway one December night about the existence of Santa Claus. I'm not sure how she responded, but whatever she said must have sufficed. I know it's such a trivial topic, what with famine, war and the Senate working on Christmas Eve towards health care relief...but I want to find a way to introduce St. Nick, his sleigh and flying reindeer to Ella without crushing her spirit years later. Imagine the therapy bills! Really though, how do you foster imagination while maintaining some credibility as a parent. Must brainstorm a bit more on this. Thank goodness we have some time before the tooth fairy comes into play! I can at least talk about Santa embodying the spirit of generosity and love. What the hell is the tooth fairy's role again? Taking your old teeth? Um, gross.

Interesting note: 1963 was the last time Congress was in session on the 24th, but the local 7-11 is open 24 hours a day seven days a week - crazy, no? Thank heaven for 7-11...but issues such as the health and success of our nation can take a hiatus every third day. What the what? Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays 2009

Deck the Halls with Greenhouse Gases

According to some in my social circle, holiday cards may warm the heart but they also contribute to global warming. Therefore there has been an influx in holiday emails. I say bah-humbug. Mother Earth and her side kick Al Gore may turn me into compost for saying this but...I'm sending out cards anyway. No guilty conscience here. The United States Postal Service thanks me. I'm not ashamed to say that I love being on the receiving end as well. How often do I get to open an envelope with no "amount due" listed?

Dear Genevieve,

It's always been a dream of mine to be cast in a reality television show. No, not the kind where you air your dirty laundry with seven strangers in a remote igloo...no, even more embarrassing. The type of show where you air your "dirty" decorating habits and have an expert on interior design judge and correct your misguided ways. I've always known that Jerry and I are a fuchsia couple living in a beige world (self-created, we admit). Now, as Ella prepares to graduate into a "big girl" bed, Jerry and I are left looking at repainted, hand-me-down furniture and blank walls in a beautifully renovated home and wondering where to go next. We need something that fits our vivacious daughter in our new house.
It's 1:21 a.m. and I feel so strongly about this that I've crept downstairs and have already looked on Home and Garden Television's website on rules for applying. Unfortunately, they are only looking for families from New Jersey or the Connecticut tri-state area, who want to take on a huge remodel, are buying a house with friends or who need to be bailed out after a fix-it project went awry (hmmm, not yet, but I may have found our in).
Until we get our big break, you'll find us at Ikea, confused and wandering.

Book Worm

As a child, Shel Silverstein, Richard Scarry and Ludwig Bemelmans would fill my imagination with stories and poems about silliness, animals and a little girl named Madeline.
Today, my little one now loves to bury herself behind a book on the lap of any willing reader. Some of her favorite current reads include:
1. Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas
2. Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
and
3. M is for Mischief by Linda Ashman

What's great is that I love these books too. Going to the library, I'm like a kid in a candy store. I'm always looking for new great titles. Have any? Open for suggestions.

All I Want For Christmas Is...

to get off this man's lap.
In all fairness, this Santa was the real deal. He made me a re-believer. Best news was, no long lines, no pissed off elves working the cameras and no $20 photo of my daughter completely freaking out...although those can be quite funny...right little Aliza Joy?

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes...

and other random thoughts.
I haven't read my horoscope lately, but my lucky days must have read December 8th and 9th. Yesterday I got an offer for a free Starbucks beverage (my choice)...granted I had to take a short cyber survey, but who cares? Thoughts of that gingerbread latte dance in my head...make it a large (I refuse to say venti). My luck continued with a Target cashier. A price adjustment was made based on my word alone. No running to the back of the store with a line of angry customers behind me. Just a quick override on the register and the issue was over. Today, I was invited to a dinner party with a bunch of international friends. People with interesting personal histories, a love of food and music. Jerry has already volunteered to take over parenting duties for the night. The icing on the cake was a New Year's Eve plan that does not involve take out, tired pajamas and Jerry nudging me at 11:50 to wake up. Our old college friend is throwing the type of New Year's Eve bash that would will bring out the early twenty-something in all of us, sans Kurt Cobain flannels. But wait, haven't they made a come-back? The invite encourages cocktail attire. Will need to dust off the old threads. Maybe a new pair of shoes?

Little One

Your fingers and toes are starting to develop this week. Those precious hands that will wrap around our fingers when you are born. Sigh.

The Soloist

I can thank my "Cookie Grandma" for my insatiable sweet tooth. Her name says it all. So when I was invited to Tina Dungca's annual cookie party this year, I knew I had to look no further than our family archives for the winning recipe. Rolling pin and flour at the ready I contacted cousin Wendy. A simple straight forward kolacky could certainly take first prize. In the complex world of Kahlua balls, white chocolate bars infused with lavender and chocolate chip bacon cookies, a no-nonsense kolacky would be a welcomed site. I also felt pretty good about channeling Cookie Grandma in the kitchen. This recipe was certainly one that was perfected with care over the years. I imagined Grandma hurriedly making revisions to her recipe card as flour adorned her work space. An email from Aunt Judy set the record straight. This recipe, the one that connected me to my Bohemian roots, the one I was sure had the Cookie Grandma fingerprint...was from the side of a Solo can. I had a good laugh. Grandma knew where to find the best recipes.

Ingredients
12oz Solo filling
1.5 c flour
1 c salted butter
1 tbl milk
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbl sugar
1 egg yolk

Methods/steps
Cream the butter and cream cheese. Add the milk, sugar & beat. Add the egg yolk.
Sift the dry ingredients & fold into the butter/cream cheese mixture.
Knead to a smooth dough. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick & cut into circles. Transfer to a cooking sheet. Drop a teaspoon full of the Solo filling onto each.
Cook 400 F for 10 minutes.

*Refrigerate dough before rolling it out!

Santa Claus Has Come to Town

Santa arrived in Oak Park this evening. His sleigh touched down on Oak Park Avenue at 7 p.m. ...just before Ella's official bedtime. After a brief introduction and a few Christmas carols we quickly ran back home and tucked her into bed. Santa is watching after all.