the horror, the horror

Check out my nephew's blog, linked on the side.

East coast family tour

We are going away for a week and a half or so, but expect some holiday photos and some bathroom updates when we get back. And in the meantime, Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas! The kids are most excited about our promise of Dunkin Donuts for breakfast on our way out of town this morning. OK, I guess I'm sort-of excited about that too.

how to stay warm

on a cold, snowy afternoon.

h.i.3 a preview, cont.

And here's our new one (currently residing in the living room, soon to be relocated to the actual bathroom).

home improvement 3 (a preview)

Here's our old bathroom.

home improvement 2

And now, drumroll please. Today, there was this,


and then this,



and then this.


Gorgeous solid oak floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Wow.

home improvement 1 cont.

Also, there was this and then there was this (same project--ceiling and walls).

home improvement 1

OK, we are having work done on our house. First, let me refresh your memory. There was this and then there was this.

my (snow) angel

sometimes

block party

Today is our first real snow day. And the children of the block celebrated by climbing on top of our car and "cleaning" it.

frosting class drop-out

Embarrassing admission #1: I signed up for cake decorating class. #2: I dropped out of cake decorating class. Well, it was only four sessions, and I found myself (in equal parts) too busy to whip up shortening frosting in eight different colors for no good reason other than cake class and also disgusted by aforementioned chore. So I decided to postpone my last session...indefinitely. I know how to make these cakes now, though. And I own bags and tips, etc. I don't regret the time I spent in the Michael's Crafts classroom (well, I kind of do), but I'm not sure I want to spend anymore.

By way of explanation, "Mr. P." is short for what the kids call their baby brother in utero (Mr. Pabampo). And Rebecca is our babysitter. Doesn't every 22-year old want a rainbow cake for her birthday?

early winter

I must admit that these photos are a few weeks old, but I wanted to post something, and I haven't taken any photos lately. Can you believe we had enough snow in November to sled? It wasn't that thick, but it did the trick. I think we're supposed to get some more soon, so we can put those sleds to use again.

lego heaven in Western Mass

added bonus

And I was even able to sneak away to New Haven to hang out with two of my BFFs.

chop chop

Rebecca and I had our hair chopped off to donate for cancer wigs (and because we were sick of our hair--ok, I was).

turkey weekend

We had a great time in Amherst over Thanksgiving weekend. I'm terrible at remembering to get out the camera while amidst large groups of people (and large plates of food), but I do have some photos.



Gabe turned two the day after T-giving, though he will try to convince you he's five.


And young and older alike enjoyed Wii-ing together.

I give in.

It's remarkable that I stayed with the Microsoft blog as long as I did, given my computer of choice (Mac all the way, baby). But it finally became too much for even lazy old me. So here's my new home. Bookmark it.