Snow Day!

There is nothing sweeter than an unexpected day off from work!

Except maybe a neighbor who comes over with his snowplow.

One Step Closer

With a week off from work, and a very helpful mother, I was able to complete a major house project, bringing me one step closer to my dream kitchen. Given that a complete kitchen redo isn't really in my budget right now, I have to work with what I've got. Last summer I painted the walls and backsplash in the kitchen. And this past week, I painted the cabinets and replaced the hardware. But, silly me forgot to take a 'Before' picture... so all you get is the lovely 'After'

Aside from painting, I spent some of my time off watching movies, amongst other things. I was anxious to finally see The Time Traveler's Wife. The novel, by Audrey Niffenegger, is my most favorite book out of the hundreds of books I've read. So my expectations of the film version were really high, and I was afraid that the characters in the movie wouldn't quite measure up to the characters in my head. In fact, this is the reason I never went to the theatre while the movie was showing. It felt like an extremely personal experience: getting to actually see Henry and Clare in person for the first time. I know, this all sounds so silly. But Henry and Clare are so special to me... second only to Rhett and Scarlett. (I guess this is what happens when you make a living reading books). Turns out, the movie was pretty good. I had to separate the book from the movie, and once I did, I enjoyed the movie from a purely entertaining standpoint. I still love the book a whole lot more, and if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. I also recommend taking a week off from work, to catch up on those pesky house projects, movies, books, and anything else that you're into. Such a treat!

My Sweet Birthday Girl

Here's how Frances spent her special day:

1) Woke up in my bed -- a treat she doesn't often get!

2) Went for a walk.

3) Was surprised by a special visitor, a.k.a. "grandma."

4) Opened and played with lots of new toys.

5) Took a couple of naps.

6) Ate rabbit for dinner. Yes, rabbit.

7) Got a birthday bath.

8) Snuggled on the couch between two of her favorite people.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Frances Valentina!

A Week in the Life

Yes, I'm still here. I've been busy...

... meeting for coffee,

... baking Banana Bran muffins,

... and trying to get Frances to pose for a birthday picture to send to her brothers. Still working on that one.