Hot Chocolate...definitely good for what ails you!!

Update: We got the test results back today(1/13/09)...sooner than I expected...and both the blood and urine were all clear! Hooray!

During Lia's 4 year old check up in December, I discussed the possibility of melamine exposure with her pediatrician. While we don't suspect any problems, I agreed with the doctor that it was most prudent to run the lab work just to make sure. I have really been dragging my feet on this one, but I finally took her to the lab today. Lia was such a trooper, charming the pants off of everyone from the receptionist to the phlebotomist along the way. We were able to complete the blood draw with a minimum of tears...and when I told Lia she could choose any treat she wanted, she requested hot chocolate. I secretly believe that her favorite part is stirring the whipped cream in rather than the actual drinking...but if she's happy than so am I! I was extremely glad to check this "obligation" off my to do list...and will breathe one last sigh of relief when we get the all clear from the doctor...hopefully in a few days.

Mild Mannered Gas Meter Salesman by Day...Superhero by...well...Day!

We had the slightest bit of winter weather this weekend. A little nothing really...melted by noon even. But as our day was just getting started yesterday morning, I looked out the window and saw a little problem across the street. A teen aged girl tried to take a turn too quickly...and ended up, as Lia would say, in a pickle.

After determining that the girls were not hurt, Jim didn't miss a beat in getting his boots on and rushing to their assistance. It took a little digging and quite a bit of pushing...but he got the car free. He was just finishing up changing the tire when the driver's Dad showed up.

Lia and I took it all in from the warmth of the living room...my new lens worked great in getting some close up shots of the action! Lia was actually really concerned for Jim which was so sweet...and when he came back in, she couldn't wait to surprise him with the hot chocolate we had ready!

Snow Ball 2009...or...Where does time go??

My niece, my first niece, the girl I love more than life turned 14 a few weeks ago. I remember every detail of the day she was born. My sister and brother in law lived in Minneapolis at the time and we spent a very long day half a country away waiting for the phone to ring. We were thrilled when we learned that Renee had been born and all was well.

And then...seemingly in the blink of an eye...she turned 14.

Last night Renee attended her first formal dance. With, ahem...a boy. The 8th grade Snow Ball has been the topic of discussion for quite some time and every detail from the dress to the...ahem...date, to the shoes (oh my...the shoes!) was discussed in great detail.

I have to say...when I saw the pictures last night, my heart skipped a beat or two. I work with 8th graders everyday, but it startled me somehow to see my Renee so grown up...and beautiful. She took my breath away. I am beyond proud of her. She excels academically. She dances like an angel. She is kind and patient with her younger cousins. And although I haven't witnessed it firsthand, I hear she can ski like a champ. As I start to seem glimpses of the adult she will become, I can hardly wait to see what direction she will choose in life (although officially, Renee, I am in no hurry for you to grow up!).

...and Renee...one last thing...from your somewhat vertically challenged aunt...I know the shoe issue (or perhaps, more specifically, your mom's opinion of the shoes!) was a big hurdle for you...but I say if you can pull off heels like that for an entire dance...more power to you! :-)

Such a "Big Girl" in so Many Ways...

...and yet at times so little. She snuggled in on our bed after her bath tonight and when I came back from cleaning up the tub...this was the sight that greeted me. She's obviously put in a hard week at the salt mines...and that Thursday afternoon Ballet class just did her in!! :-)

I really feel like the Mamarazzi now!

I have been having a lot of fun practicing with my new camera lens that Jim gave me for Christmas. Officially it is a 75-300 mm lens...but what really matters to me is that I can take close-ups of Lia without being right in her face. Of course the weather in our neck of the woods has not been very cooperative...so my practice has mostly been inside...not the best for this lens. Undeterred, I have flipped the switch back into automatic and have become a shooting fool. These are a few pictures I took over the past few days. Lia was in the living room. And I was in the dining room. Yeah...you read that right...a whole room away. Almost unobtrusive. Ahhh....the possibilities are endless. I can't wait for some sunny weather and wide open spaces!

Our Family Room...a Work in Progress!

In our rush to pack and leave for our Christmas vacation, I forgot to take "before" pictures of the family room...can you believe that??? So I took pictures of what we returned to last night. I am totally obsessing over the paint color. I used a warm shortbread color in our condo that I loved...but since I am going fairly dark with our hardwood floors, I thought a lighter color would be better on the walls here. I chose a color from a Williamsburg decorating guide and it was custom blended. I hoped it would be cream with just a hint of yellow...but it sure looks VERY yellow all over the walls, doesn't it?? I am trying not to make a hasty decision and I am hoping when the rest of the trim is painted and put up and the floors and window treatments added that it will look a little less...vivid. If anyone has a nice warm cream color that you love...please feel free to share.

The fireplace wall...wired for the huge flat screen tv. I am pretty sure that is all Jim dreams about these days! I found a beautiful mantle antique shopping with my sister that I think will look great!



Between the kitchen and family room...there were some very dated spindles that have been removed...not a moment too soon!



A view from the family room into the entry.



A view of the windows. There had been a window seat kind of thing there that made arranging furniture very difficult. It's gone...and I am just sorry I was not the one to take a sledge hammer to it!! :-) Also these window had wooden shutters on them that just made the room very dark. I am still deciding how to dress the windows...and in fact am considering replacing them with a different style all together.



Finally, the back door and the laundry room. The hardwood will extend to cover this whole area.



As we expected we came home to a big mess...but it's so much fun to see the changes being made. We had a successful meeting with our Social Worker this moring to update our homestudy and expanded our approval to include Special Needs and older children...so we will see where that leads us. So far, 2009 is turning out to be an exciting year!

Cousin-ly Love...Lia and Willow