Happy 4th!

Dear Ella,
I told you yesterday that you would wake up today and be four and you let out an enthusiastic howl. You told me you wanted to read this year and I don't doubt it. You've already started pointing out some words which makes me straight up giddy with pride. You love to pretend you are a cat and will often greet me after a long day with a "meow". I'm told that this is also how you communicate to your teachers at times. The kids in class will pet you. You also told me that you like the company of a little boy named Jackson because he has "bright eyes". Your mom thinks that's a pretty good reason to like someone kid. You are tough, yet sensitive. And despite the fact that you will say you want a new sister on occasion, you love her deeply. She is so lucky to have you. You wake up in the mornings and it's as if a thousand light bulbs go off. You will bound into our bed wanting to know what adventures the day will hold. You say "oh boy" when things are going to get really great. To you, most things are really great. You are deeply moved by music, particularly "slow music" (aka classical). Your eyes close and with great solemness you transform yourself into a falling leaf or snowflake. You bow deeply to punctuate your performances. We decided to capture some of what it means to be four at Picture People this weekend. You were given complete reign over your wardrobe choice. You also brought along all of your "friends". So here you are kid. Happy Birthday in all of your purple princess glory. I love you.
p.s. I've discovered that if you put a birthday hat on or tie a bunch of balloons on your wrist you get kiddo VIP treatment. I was gunning for some free baked goods at our favorite bakery, Red Hen.

From the Girl Who Brought You Princess Ghost...

Ella had plans for her fourth birthday. Plans that involved crime-fighting super heroes and bowling...cuz doesn't that go together like peanut butter and jelly? We rented out a local alley for a few hours and invited some of our closest buds. Unfortunately the alley was dark with decades of bowling alley grime, paneled walls and asbestos tiles. I worried that we should have supplied our party goers with a hospital mask and gloves in their goodie bags...heck, we could have worked that into the super-hero theme. The kids made bowling with a cape look like second nature. Ella had a blast. At the end of the party, as I was getting the kids into their coats, I noticed this beautiful potpourri of perfumes and colognes still lingering on Ella and Viv's hair and clothes. Throughout the party they had been passed from "aunties" and "uncles" from their Lola, Mimi and Lolo. My daughter celebrated her birthday with people she adores and people that adore her. People that I know would be there in a heartbeat if we needed them (as we would for them). People that believe in her and believe in us. These are people that Jerry and I love...people that have been hand selected as family. What a gift. So when Ella said, "Mommy, ask me why I'm so happy today"...and she answered because she had a "super" party. I know why. It's her super friends and family.
Ugh, someone get some kryptonite for Super Sappy.
Above is Ella incognito and Kato. I went as Lois Lane (aka lazy mom that didn't feel like wearing tights and a leotard).

A Winter Picnic

I love some of these action shots. Viv, a look of stoicism. Ella a look of shear terror. Jer, trying his hardest to avert an utter sledding disaster. It was nothing that a thermos of hot cocoa and homemade cookies couldn't fix.

Winter Has Arrived

Fast-forward five years, heck two days, I won't remember the whimpering and frustrated cries that took place just prior to this photo being taken. I had to sprint down the driveway to scare them into the smiles you see in this picture. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE FUN IN THE SNOW DAMMIT! I'm sure if you look close enough you can see a reflection of their deranged mother in their eyes. I am weary from a day long of sniveling, my shoulders stiff with mucous. Today I had clearly scheduled "fun" on the calendar but it decided to no-show. Earlier in the day we went to "open studio" at a local dance school that was met with tears. Even making chocolate chip cookies was a source of kiddo grief. Why? I'm not sure...just one of those days. But this photo makes me believe otherwise. This photo is how I want to remember the day.

Year of the Dragon

In anticipation of Chinese New Year, we got all south side this weekend and trekked to China Town. Our efforts were rewarded. Perfect pork buns at Feida Bakery (for Mom, Dad and Viv) and several dragon sitings (for Ella). Dragons are a latest interest.
....and pork buns will forever be my interest.

Who knew the treasures that awaited just north of the Illinois border. What started off as a mission to find the Jelly Belly factory evolved into a full Wisconsin adventure complete with hotel stay. We lunched at the Milwaukee Public Market, stopping at Thief Wine for a tasting, toured the Milwaukee Museum of Art and stocked up on cured meats at European Homemade Sausage.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve was spent with friends at a remote Mexican restaurant in the middle of a strip of warehouses in Cicero. It could have been a scene from CSI. Nothing says NYE with the kids like bars on the windows. The place was friendly enough though and the music provided some ample competition for our rowdy kids. A bottle of decent tequila gave us some street cred with the staff. Proud Mama moment of the night: Ella pretending to slam a bottle of hot sauce like it was spring break Daytona. All and all, a successful end to 2011. And we stayed up til 10 p.m.!

It's was a good year.