doing headstands before the Mardi Gras party that would land her...

...in bed for the next week. 5 families went down with that virus!

but there are sure signs spring isn't far - snow drops are coming up!

Since last week we have had a series of minor troubles, including stomach flu and loss of heating in the house. Thankfully, so thankfully, we have several good friends who have contributed space heaters (thank you Aneta!), showers (thanks AmandaBob!), and shoulders to pout on (everybody else!). Monday night, Isabella had a relapse with vomiting and mere minutes later we discovered our oil tank was empty (right after I said, "Brrr! Pedro can you turn the heater on it's freezing in here!).

I really, really miss American-style central heating. The mammoth radiators from my 100-year-old high school were charming, but in a modern home they just take up good wall space and are fed by energy I'm not accustomed to buying à la carte. We have three different energy bills - electric, heating oil, and burning oil for the stove top. British boilers are notorious for being temperamental and all of my expat friends with kids have had boiler problems this very winter. So boiler complaints + freezing temps + apathetic British customer service = cold, cold house for days and days.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Isabella!

The "2" totally looks like a "Z". Oops.

The big reveal, and my 2-year-old really likes it!

opening the loot

butterfly cupcakes with pretzels for wings

magnetic earrings that made her seem so much older

Isabella's birthday party was a hit last Saturday. We had the party a bit late so that the kids could come after nap time and the adults wouldn't have to rush off with testy toddlers by midday. But even though we scheduled the party for later on, literally everyone was almost an hour late. We were all in our birthday best, all the food was hot and set on the table, drinks were mixed, music was playing, myriad toys were ready to be played with....and yet, no one arrived for so long that I began to feel like this was going to be one of those stories I could chuckle at in 10 years, but for the moment tears seemed most likely. In the end, almost everyone came and the living room was packed to bursting (6.5 kids and 8 adults) .

We decided to get Isabella a slide for her big gift and every day since we gave it to her has been full of sliding. She even asks just to check and "see slide," just in case it mysteriously disappears while she's in the next room. A dream come true, obviously.

Cooking with Isabella

23 Months and the Countdown is On to 2!

the duvet of fun - excellent indoor game!

potty training is off and on at this stage

she likes to have a book propped up for her to "read" as she's falling asleep

sneak peak at her birthday present

the owl bookends I bought at the Cambridge Sunday market

the prism garland I bought for her even before she was a twinkle in my eye

Isabella and I just spent the most wonderful afternoon outside, now that the sun has come out and the air has warmed ever so slightly. We went for an hour long walk (sans stroller) picking up seeds, jumping in muddy puddles like Peppa Pig, and waving to every passing car (I think peoples' days automatically brighten to see a little girl waving hello at them). It's the kind of day that gets you making plans for spring.

I decided to take some photos of Isabella's room a few days ago after I cleaned and rearranged it. I would like to remember what it looked like before we eventually convert the crib into a toddler bed and make any other changes to it as she gets bigger. Can you believe it's been almost two years?

At this age, she is making lots of sentences, singing several verses in songs, doing her version of yoga with "'Maste" (Namaste) guy (I can't even believe she came up with that on her own) , puts herself in a time out if she's really freaking out...and the list goes on.

My Sweet Valentine

My hand is recovering, little by little, thanks to acupuncture and a serious increase in exercise (yay for Bollywood dance on cable) . Still hard to type so I'm doing as little as I can. The winter is starting to drag and it's getting hard to be creative with our time indoors. At the moment we're living for meeting up with friends as much as possible. Also, having fun trying new vintage recipes from my cocktail book, an ill-used birthday gift from Pedro last year (Sidecar anyone?). A bit tough to cook anything involving chopping, so this satisfies my kitchen ambition at the moment.

Isabella turns two in two weeks. I have so many ideas for her party but I'm not sure what I'll be able to pull off single-handedly (hardy-har-har!). Stay tuned!

The Year in Review

I intended to put this up around New Year's but didn't have the time until hurting my hand slowed me down last week. The video starts from Christmas 08 until about last fall.

First Sushi

We gave Isabella her first taste/meal of sushi (no raw) and she ate it with relish! And when we thought she would eat no more, she would start up again. She was all about the "dip it!" in the various sauces on the table. The nori (seaweed wrapper) didn't even bother her. She ate everything. We are so proud.

Playdough!

This is what Isabella did with her friend Kathryn when we went to London for our anniversary.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Snow!

Today has been the most wonderful, Christmas-y day! We decorated sugar cookies with cool frosting and xmas sprinkles and had a blast with the snow. In all seriousness, today with Isasbella was magic.

More Holiday Stuff

first gingerbread house

homemade jammies

We have been so busy for this past week. I committed myself to making most of my Christmas gifts this year, and I have to say I don't think I can do this again. All of last week I had a neckache that almost drove me to the doctor - I could hardly hold Isabella. I've been painting, sewing, knitting, Christmas-carding, party-prepping, you name it! But I'm so excited for the holidays this year that I almost don't want them to get here just so this holiday stuff can keep going - it has been so fun to show Isabella the traditions of Christmas now that she can understand a lot of what's going on.

Isabella update: The day of our anniversary, she started saying "I LOVE YOU." She has a passion for chatting on the phone, and is a kid who will actually talk to you! Her legs are growing so fast I'm not sure what to do about her pants situation - skinny waist and long legs make sizing hard. She can kind-of sing the first verse of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." I have some great videos to post one day in the not-so-distant future, I hope.

Before and After

Inspired by this great blog designsponge, I bought this beat up chest from a thrift store for $5. With a little sanding, new paint, and some gorgeous fabric it's like new again! Of the million and one projects I'm working on, I am most proud of this because I actually used a handsaw to recreate the broken lid. I also cut up a ratty old comforter to re-cushion the lid - so this project ended up costing me very little indeed.

And here is the full effect - please disregard the debris on the floor, my little helper is sometimes too helpful.

Christmas Tree Hunting

Happy Anniversary! Nine Years!

the decor was...interesting

Typical European dining at its best (close tables) - our neighbors kept watching us eat!

lucky the restaurant rides on Jamie Oliver's celebrity, otherwise no one would know about it - it's in the middle of nowhere (if that's possible in London)

Isabella spent the day with my friend Karalee and her daughter Kathryn. She had a blast - no tears all day. Parks, play dough, and awesome toys - she wasn't ready for us to take her home!

Fresh From the Oven!

Being home with Isabella affords me the opportunity to making beautiful pies like this! I can't wait to cut into it. It's got cranberries, apples, pears, and figs and way too much butter to be healthy.


My constant kitchen companion. A little finger paint in the pot makes everything taste better too.

21 Months

We went from summer to winter within the span of a month. We left England for the US and came home to cold. We had a pretty wet weekend and our being caught in the house for most of it left both Pedro and I with cabin fever. We're spoiled rotten- we really are. We went out with friends on Friday night and spent Sunday afternoon keeping warm in a local pub - all with Isabella in tow. In between, I spent hours sewing up Christmas gifts and finishing my latest quilty creation to keep us warm on the couch for many wintry weekends to come. But I think what makes us feel gloomy is dealing with a little one who has spent the last year teething. She has been cutting at least four molars in the last six weeks and those buggers are taking their time to fully emerge, leaving us with a very temperamental toddler.

In other news, Isabella has been forming real sentences now. Most of the time we hear, "I like it," or "I dropped it," or "hold that." I have also been taking her to a new play group in the village, but she doesn't seem to be enjoying it very much at this point. Although it's an amazingly well organized group with lots of art and play, she just isn't used to the high decibel level and the concept of delaying rewards at snack time. Is it really possible to ask a not-yet two-year-old to resist chomping down on that cracker before the snack song ends, all while keeping her fingers under the table for good manners???

Next weekend is our ninth anniversary. Pedro and I are going to escape to London for lunch at Fifteen (Jamie Oliver's restaurant!!!) and an exhibit on Montezuma, while Isabella enjoys an extended play date with her friend Kathryn. We can't wait!

Halloween

This year was Isabella's second halloween and was more enjoyable than last year, when I was rushing around trying to get things done after work. We went to a Halloween party for kids and then did trick-or-treating afterwards. We finished the night with a few pints of Hobgoblin brew at a pink pub with friends and came home to watch the Halloween classic The Lost Boys (after the little one's bedtime, of course) . Having a kid grants you free license to live the best parts of childhood all over again.

Autumn Bliss

at the village park

changing every day

hiking with friends this past weekend - hoping to make it a weekly event

We are settling into the Fall over here. This year it is absolutely stunning. The leaves are all falling at once and the weather has been mild and dare I say it? Pleasant. Today I hung my clothes out on the line outside, which says a lot. There are sloe berries and elderberries to be had along the trails and I have several batches of each liquor brewing in preparation for a Christmas bash this year. I've decided to put up a photo with me in it since I have been getting complaints that it's like I'm a ghost. Hope you are all having a wonderful autumn week!

The Long Lost Minnesota Pics

being with family is the best!

exploring Great-Grandma Lu's garden

she would have a nasty fever only hours later

learning colors from my brother, Uncle Adam

first lipstick with Auntie Lisa

cuddling with Cousin Kaitlyn on my handmade quilt

"lips" for all the girls

warm welcome from Cousin Sacha

with Grandma Sue after a long journey from NY

with Uncle Adam and her new souped up trike

patty cake with Great-Grandma