New Additions to the Family

Helen would like to introduce you to the newest members of our family: Chester (ginger tabby) and Henry (brown/black tabby). They arrived on Friday night after a quick "let's look at the rescues at Petsmart" turned into an evening of pet adoption.

We were only in the market for one cat, maybe 2 years down the road, but ended up with two. We'd seen the big ginger tabby a few weeks ago and remembered him. But this time he had a new bunk-mate and best pal. Apparently they befriended each other once Henry got to Petsmart and have been best friends ever since. They way they licked each other and played so cutely melted my heart – it was because of that that we ended up with any at all. More about them as you move down the pictures!
They sometimes sleep sweetly together, waking up here and there to lick each other's faces.
Day 2: Fully integrated into the family (D reading a book on the bed + 2 kitties + an H visit)Helen snuggling with Chester - she seems to prefer him for now - he is extremely mellow, even more mellow than Walter was. Helen can lean on him, pet him and kiss him and he doesn't bat an eye (although when he grows tired of her, he goes under the bed). Chester is approximately 3.5 years old and is pretty hefty at 16 lbs.
Henry licking Chester. So sweet.
They rough house too, but in a nice way.
Henry is only one year old, 13 lbs, and is very very playful. He also lets Helen pet him, and he also plays with her well too even though she ends up batting him with the wand more than swing the string around. They are both very tolerant cats! I can't believe how quickly they integrated into our house and are totally fine with everything - I think it's because they stayed together.




Last weekend we went to our town's firehouse open house. H got a cool hat.

We're still here!

But we're not still there - move over and settling in nicely. More later!

T minus 11

Spent a fun weekend trying to see as many people as we could before we head north in 11 days. On Saturday night, we met up with some G 2nd cousins (or 1st cousins, once removed??) in the area, reinforcing to Helen that she loves having cousins and loves talking about cousins. We had a great time catching up and I'm really bummed we can't spend more time with them in the near future.
On Friday night, we had a friend from school and his parents over for dinner and here is a parting shot. I love to see the hugs! Forgot the camera on Sunday night's outing with Daniela, but hopefully we'll see her again next weekend.
The previous weekend, it was all about Toy Story 3, which I think we still watch snipets of, if not the whole darned thing, at least once a day. Here, H has found items to create a cozy space on the coffee table in front of the boob tube. We may have to throw out the TV once we get settled in STL, I swear.

Silly pics

Took some pics of H the other day while eating dinner at the kitchen table. She is on a big cereal kick and looooovvees to eat cereal day and night (especially Kashi Cinnamon cereal, which she rejected a couple months ago). Sadly, I think it was the same box she rejected that she fell in love with. Oops! (we've since moved on to a new box). By the way, this is her "please smile for the camera" smile. We have been messing with her hair too lately - found some tiny clips she really digs (from Aunt Judy, many moons ago), which brought out a hair grooming thing in her lately (I can fix her hair without hysterics, generally, sortof). If your sister who has 4 kids buys you something, pay attention. It will always come in handy later.
Silly
Silly silly
Silly silly silly
I think we will look at this picture in 15 years and go, oooohhh, there she REALLY is. I can see where this is going! (see - the G side is in there, not just the F!!)

Icy

We are still officially iced in. Since Sunday night. That's 3 days - Mon, Tue, and Wed. And likely tomorrow and Friday morning. This is so crazy!! The city had 10 (*TEN*) snow plows. 10. Four to 7 inches of snow across the area, plus freezing rain = I hope you bought milk for 5 days! (we did - yeah!).
Mushy snow on Monday afternoon...
Living room, Wednesday afternoon (after cleaning it twice a day since Saturday - no way to keep up with the Helenado).

Merry Christmas!

We had a nice, long Christmas weekend together, complete with snow on Christmas day - very nice! We got a little crafty too since we were "snowbound" for a couple days.
Feathers are fun.
Finally got a shot of Helen's new bedspread and sheets that Grandma made and sent a few weeks ago - totally adorable!
H applying the sequin appliques to G&G's gift box they sent for x-mas.
She was quite pleased with the packet of gummi bears inside.
Showing off her new Abby slippers that Santa brought.
Opening up her cool octopus present that goes along with her yellow submarine on Christmas morning. We were a little disappointed that all the people in both presents are brawny dudes that look like they work out 3 hours a day at the gym and drink raw eggs in the morning. D looked it up on the net and apparently there are other people out there that are miffed there are no females in this fisher price series. My few feminist embers from college are getting fanned lately with these kids toys, I swear! She seems to take it all in stride though and likes to take her "guys" in her coat pocket when we go out to keep them warm.

Peas in a Pod, Take 2

Aunt Naomi and cousin Sebastian came for a Christmas visit this weekend and we had sooooooo much fun hanging out with them. Helen just adored Aunt N'omi and cousin S'bastian - she had a delayed reaction to them leaving - she cried and cried and cried as soon as we got home from the airport. She was really bummed they would not be around for another round of night-time baths and singing on the bed.Sebastian is so cute and happy.
H and S with the keyboard under the christmas tree. The two cousins got along as best pals the entire weekend!
They always kept an eye out for each other.
And played together so cutely.
Did I mention cute?
Nighttime was tough - Helen couldn't bear to be away from Sebastian, so we all stayed up late.
We went to our favorite "rope park", but it was really chilly.
We still had fun though!!
Merry Christmas - XOXO to everyone!

Christmas Cookie Palooza, 2010

Aunt Judy and Aunt Jane came for a christmas-themed visit this weekend to bake cookies, listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas shows. Aunt Jane's visit was a TOTAL surprise to me - I did not catch on in the least that she was coming too. Helen had great fun with her aunties!
Here we are frosting and sprinkling the famous Grandma Coleman buttermilk sugar cookies that melt in your mouth. Judy knows the recipe by heart and whipped a quadruple batch, I swear, because we have cookies coming out of our ears!
Here we are making the frosting. Helen helped me pour the 1/2 and 1/2 (so much better than milk!!).
Frost frost
Sprinkle sprinkle
Shake, shake off tons of extra sprinkles
Here is Helen's first official frosted and sprinkled Christmas cookie, all on her own. She was very serious while she did both. Very.
After some encouragement, Helen decided to try the frosting and kinda liked it.
Mmm mmm. (Don't worry dad, she's not a licker yet - this licking occurred post cookie decorating!)
We also made chocolate covered pretzels. We all felt really sick after that task.
Snuggling.
Here is H today, after everybody went home. She found my old glasses and wore them around for a bit.
Here she is a couple weeks ago, in the same outfit, hamming it up.

Thanks to Judy and Jane for making the trip and enduring your awful ways homes today (Jane delayed 3 hours and Judy probably 2 thanks to some snow showers, wind and freeeezing temps here today), then Judy home through a snow storm once she landed... uggg! And thanks to Jane for some pics off her facebook! ;-)

Oh binkie tree