Visits from Nana & Pappi are always FUN.

Honestly the world is a cruel place when you don't live near any of your three sets of parents, meaning Alla has no grandparents even remotely close to us. Well I suppose that just makes visits from them all the more special. I have never seen this girl leap out of bed for anyone or anything, but when Pappi came up the stairs Saturday morning you'd have thought I was chopped liver, cause she just could not scoot past me fast enough! That made me very happy - every time they come to visit she 'gets it' more and more and the true nature of grandparenting comes out for them, all the spoiling, all the attention. She loves it. Can't you see it here?

I mean that is most definitely a what-all-can-I-get-away-with face, isn't it?

She gets away with plenty. But most of all she gets all the love and squeezes and attention she deserves all weekend long. Lots of play toys and play trains and read books and play blocks and draw happy face right there, draw big one happy face right here!

Here's my favorite thing she said all weekend: Careful, Nana, don't hurt yourself on the grapefruit. Oh. My. I could have made a whole Ten on Tuesday with all the new little sayings she came up with this weekend (and repeated once she discovered how cute we thought they all were).

A new one today when I was cutting grapes for her lunch: Too sharp knife, only for grown-ups. How is it that she's almost two, when two years ago seems so short, two years ago I was still months away from holding her? The reality of two is setting in, and I am indeed starting to get sentimental about it.

Why?

Because of those curls. A wonderfully perfect curlies day always warrants a quick photo shoot.

Happy Friday!

Cockadoodledoo.

Twelve on Tuesday: The Tagged Edition.

I'm using Erin's game of tag to squeeze in two more blurbs today.

6 Things That Make Me Weird:

1. I don't like Oreos.

2. When I make Alla pasta (mac n cheese), I like to go through the pot and eat all the shells that have gathered all that cheesey goodness in their holes.

3. Thanks to Ron (who is also weird), I now tuck my socks into my pajama pants at night to keep warm. (Thanks to Ron in two ways - it is he who keeps the heat so low, and he who taught me about this valuable but weird little method.)

4. Have I mentioned my marshmallow obsession?

5. I've resorted to working out twice a day, mostly for the warmth factor.

6. Ron caught me under the table in the last sun patch of the day on Saturday afternoon. Who am I, the cat?

6 Things That Make Me Happy:

1. All things morning: her in bed with me, exercise, coffee, long breakfast, my red bowl full of yogurt a la granola, sunshine.

2. The sound of Ron opening the door in the evening.

3. Grey's. Is there anyone left not watching this show?

4. Elizabeth Mitchell, John Mayer, & Jack Johnson.

5. A new issue of Real Simple.

6. Looking forward to date night this weekend.

**I tag Megan and Aaron!

Just Monday.

We didn't go to school today cause Alla is still battling a cold. I like to think of myself as a relatively respectful parent who doesn't want other parents worrying like I was yesterday about their sick, completely out-of-it child. So we stayed in. Alla has gotten a ton of sleep lately, so I think she's on the mend. Good thing, cause I miss her spunk.

Don't you love when you turn the camera around and you get what you felt right there in that lovely warm afternoon sun shining in your window while Alla shielded her eyes and repeated too bright over and over?

Here's the thing about Baby: we got her at Target over the summer, in response to how much she loved Ashby's baby. Baby has been her favorite ever since, with or without clothing. We have now and again asked her what Baby's name is, and she'll just say, Alla, to which we respond, No, that's your name. But recently the conversation changed.

What is Baby's name?

[Alla puts on her most pensive face.]

Rolla

Rolla. That's Baby's name. Rolla and Baby are interchangeable, but still. We have a name. And the name sticks. For a few days now. So there you have it, Baby Rolla.

And Valentine's began today when Nana & Pappi's valentine arrived. Yay stickers! They later ended up on her belly...

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Just caught up last night on Grey's from last week. Holy jeez I'm so happy that Kristina has become a human and decided to marry Burke.

2. I am completely obsessed with dark chocolate chips (thanks Tara) and marshmallows. This is a divine combination. We got a new bag on Saturday, and I'm finishing it tonight. With very little help from Alla.

3. My super husband has me hooked up with a wireless workstation now.

4. Alla's art project today: shaving cream all over the bathroom mirror. 5. IT warmed up to 4 degrees today. Above zero.

6. Have you visited 3191? Serious beauty happening over there. I check in once daily. Ok, I check in a few times, just to get my fill. I hope those ladies are considering a book of these beautiful photographic musings at year's end. I'm in for a copy.

7. Another cool website: kiddley, for all things kids + crafts.

8. Monday nights are big TV nights here with 24 and Heroes. Ron catches Prison Break, too. Well, we record them all and watch them at our leisure:)

9. The good thing about it being 4 degrees is that the milk in our outside fridge get so nice and slushy, just the way I like it.

10. Every now and then, Ron gets extra credit for capturing things like this.

Just so you know.

It's 5 below. And that's a warm up from the 19 below it was when we woke up this morning. Yes, we Californians are freezing our you-know-whats off, but we're out and about like normal. No hibernating for us! The sun is shining and we are trying to absorb as much vitamin D as we can! We do have loads of fun indoor things to do, though. Take, for example, Alla's first experience with fingerpainting. I have to thank Amanda for posting her pics of Grace's mess - they encouraged me to get Alla into her own mess!

Ten on Tuesday: continued.

More.

Ten on Tuesday: Revisiting California.

I'm the absolute worst at editing my own photos in a quick-like manner and then posting or getting them printed. So, more than two weeks later, here are the highlights from the last 3 days in California, or "Ca-fornia' as Alla calls it.

OK I guess the rest of the ten or whatever number I end up with will have to be in the next post. Stupid blogger.

A Girl and Her Cat.

Really this says it all, how much she loves him. Doesn't matter that he's only friendly when he's half-asleep. Maybe it's the thrill of the chase. All I know is she's devoted.

Here Come the ABCs.

Flashback Friday: Last Friday.

Does last Friday count as a true flashback? Hmmm. Not sure, but it's as good an excuse as any to get some photos of our awesome trip up on the ol' blog.

What better way to start the day than by having a bath with a friend? (After we got that scary frog out of there, that is.)

Then we were off to Mommy Party, where Alla got to catch up with all of her old pals. Oh, yes, and so did I, which was wonderful. Thanks, girls. Now before you say, well why did you post the photo where Wyatt is crying? Well that's because that's all I got.
As you can see, things haven't changed too much. (Can you tell who's who?) Susie, we missed you.
Alla and Mattie Sue had an impromptu tea party that lasted all of like 30 seconds. But they were into it for a bit there.
The day ended with a birthday dinner for me at Buca's, and this was one of those times where you feel so full of friendship and love and it just kind of all wells up in you. So much happiness. Unfortunately I don't have great pictures from there, such a dark place, but I know others were taking some, so Cathy, Megan...please send me some. I do have this great one of Mazie and Alla, though, Mazie making Alla giggle out of her seat practically with those crazy silly faces.

Not the same as sand.

But I love this shot of our piggies together right in front of a window full of snow.
Honestly Alla's socks are normally off, she must think we live in the tropics or something, but I've been dying to get mine out cause they look so darn pretty courtesy of Katie:)

We're back.

Could not have had a better time. Felt like we never left, like a space remains for us, and that is oh so nice to know. The number of photos taken is astronomical, so slowly and surely I will weed through and share. For now, just these two Ron took of his girls, at the ocean, Alla saying, "This way remember" while she steered me all over that walk. Surely she must remember. After so much time, so many walks, so much ocean air breathed in. Surely she remembers.

The Feel of Morning.

I spend a lot of time lamenting the lack of light here, and here in the house. That we don't have wall to wall glass and sunshine. But lately, inspired by 3191, I've been embracing the light here. Because it's very moody, and that's a nice thing to see in your shots. To know, that one was taken in morning light. So here are a few happy morning shots, and with that, I'm out. Two days til I'm thirty, and only a few hours til the plane takes us away to Redondo and friends and family and big kisses.

That's one happy whistlin' RED teapot I got there, thanks to Ronald:)

Ten on Tuesday: The Going Back to Cali Edition.

Otherwise known as things I'm super excited for.

1. Blueberry Pomegranate Tea Latte (and I hear it's supposed to be cool enough for a hot one).

2. The King Harbor sign. The things you Redondoans take for granted.

3. Strand walks.

4. Veteran's Park.

5. A manicure and pedicure (yeah KT!)

6. My thirtieth.

7. Alla's face when she sees her friends and family.

8. My face when I see my friends and family!

9. Rubbing some pregnant bellies.

10. Feeling very full of all of you very-missed-ones.

One more week.

Of 29. Then it's all thirty. Really, I'm aware that nothing exactly changes. Maybe a slight shift. Maybe just an awareness. Maybe nothing. Either way, next Saturday at precisely this time, I predict we'll still be at The Stahr's, celebrating Miss Mazie's fifth. Goodness, I remember holding that babe, one day old. How have we all aged five years?

And either way, next Saturday I'm thirty, we're in California, surrounded by friends, rain or shine, it will be warmer than it is here (not that it's been very cold here), and all of that makes me very happy today. Lots to look forward to. I love that Alla has no idea. But I do. I know just how much of a good time that one will have. Marvelous.

So what have we been doing lately?

Having breakfast with Leigha and her mommy, Michelle. Alla adores Leigha. Squeals with delight on Fridays when we see her for music class, and every other time we meet up with them. So thankful to have them in our lives.

It's January the 6th and I have finished, yes finished, an album. My second annual Christmas card album, where I take all the lovely photos you people have sent in your scrumptious holiday cards, and put them all in a fun little album so I can look back at them all year long, and especially next year, when the next batch starts rolling in, and I see how all the little ones have grown. Here are some images of it:

And lastly, today is January the 6th, and that means Ashby's birthday. We had a little photo shoot to celebrate this week. Happy ONE, little girl! We love you! (And if blogger stops giving me trouble, I will post it. Argh.)

Happy New Year!

I can't remember a better New Year's Day. Lazy, silly, bright, fun, low-key, and plenty of snow! That blanket of white is like a giant reflector out there just waiting for the sun to come out and light up our faces. Oh, yeah, and Alla likes to play in it, too. Or just eat it. Yeah, I think just eating it is her favorite.

Happy Birthday, Dad!