happy birthday Jayme! we are all healthy here though Vann has a cold. Looks like low 20s for a high today and windy! but i am thrilled to see a 50 degree day coming on Sunday -- we've never had a winter like this - almost constant snow since November and so cold! Our lake down the street has had ice skaters practically the entire month of January. Ava really wants to try out ice skating - we don't have skates so we may head to a local indoor rink where she can rent a pair. Right now she's not interested in taking any after-school classes or sports, so no need in buying skates this year! She's doing great in school, reading everything that is put in front of her -- she has a school read-a-thon starting Friday that lasts for 3 weeks - the kids set goals in minutes of reading time and if they meet their goals, they win a prize. I am sponsoring her at 10cents a minute! its amazing with our property taxes so high here, we still have lots of fundraising activities throughout the year to help support the school. the parents have to buy cups, napkins, snacks, etc. for the classroom! and with budget problems this year, it will be even more up to volunteers and parents to pitch in.

This weekend will be Vann's 2nd birthday party. We're just having a few friends over for dinner and cake and ice cream afterwards -- he picked out Elmo for his theme (Melmo as he calls him). And i'll be making one of his favorite dinners - meatloaf, peas and applesauce ... a true culinary delight :) Ava will help me make his cake/cupcakes.

time to get kids ready to go out in the cold to get Ava to school! hope everyone is healthy and happy!

10 minutes later....
vann was supposedly watching Sesame Street as i was typing this this morning... that is a whole box of cereal all over the kitchen floor.... does he look bothered in the least?? of course not! i have just put up childproof gates around the kitchen!