We’re having a big snow storm tonight. Don’t tell the kids, but I’m hoping for a snow day, even more than they are. It seems like we haven’t had real snow in years. See you tomorrow!
For now, I leave you with a scene from my window:
We’re having a big snow storm tonight. Don’t tell the kids, but I’m hoping for a snow day, even more than they are. It seems like we haven’t had real snow in years. See you tomorrow!
For now, I leave you with a scene from my window:
Today Diana went on her school’s annual ski trip at Whitetail Ski Resort. Here are a few scenes from the day:
For some reason that I can’t explain, Diana didn’t want to go on the ski trip this year. But, we convinced her to go anyway, and it turns out she had a great time, just like I thought she would. John went along, and he remarked that for once it was cold enough that the snow was perfect for skiing.
Looks like it was a great day!
It kinda looks like a heart, sorta, maybe??
I got the idea from looking at a short video on Vickie Howell’s blog, but mine doesn’t look as “heart-y” as hers. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts, right? I have a good friend who has been trying to reconnect by writing letters, and while I’m thrilled to receive them, I don’t really write letters anymore. Not since the advent of e-mail! So you know it’s a special friend. I hope she likes it!
We’re hoping for snow tomorrow. We haven’t had a good snow around here for a couple of years now. I like snow when it’s enough to cancel school around here, because then I get to stay home with the kids and knit and sip hot chocolate all day. Oh, that sounds divine! The kids went to bed with their jammies on inside out, for luck. Let’s hope it works!
Ciao for now.
We arrived at the National Press Club somewhat fashionably late, after being forewarned that Metro would be overcrowded and parking would be impossible. Neither was true. We found a parking space right away, and the inbound train was not crowded at all. I think it helped that the Inaugural concert had been earlier that afternoon, and most everyone was coming back out of the city, instead of in. So we lucked out.
The Press club is a fantastic and historic place. I was awed by the heavy wood walls and doors everywhere that gave the place a stately air, and the photos! Everywhere were photos of Presidents, and world leaders, and well, just saying I was there was awesome.
When we arrived, Congressman Hoyer was speaking:
Followed by Senator Harkin:
Both men were sponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act and worked tirelessly to ensure its passage in 1990, and continue to be strong legislative allies.
While there we were fortunate to meet up with many friends from the past and present. Our good friend Diana (for whom our daughter is named) was there, along with Dawn from work and a bunch of other work friends. I also ran into tons of people that I hadn’t seen in many years, but alas, I wasn’t too quick with my camera. I even shook hands with Geri Jewell, who I used to look forward to watching on The Facts of Life during my teen years. Back then, there weren’t really any disabled people that I could see as role models on television. I think I was probably 13 or 14 the first time I saw her on television and I thought, wow, I really can do anything. Hokey? Maybe. But until you’ve lived in a world where absolutely no one represents someone that looks like yourself in popular culture, you have no idea what I mean.
We also got to visit with my good friend Carrie and her daughter, Asiza!
Carrie came in from Colorado because her nephews are marching with their high school in the Inaugural parade tomorrow. That must be such an exciting time for her and her sister!
Toward the end of the evening, a rumor spread fast that Bill and Hillary were on their way to the ball, so everyone gathered in the ballroom and the dance floor was cleared in anticipation. We waited. And waited. Finally the suggestion was made that we should just keep dancing. I don’t know if the Clintons ever showed up, though, because we had to leave before turning into pumpkins on account of the subway system closing at midnight. But, before we left for the evening, we were entertained by an amazing dancer and his flying crutches. You gotta see this guy:
And finally, here’s a closeup of my dress, because a couple of people were asking me about it.
It was a simple navy blue chiffon sheath sleeveless, with beads and sequins on the bodice and matching long sleeve jacket. Luckily I had it on hand already for my niece’s wedding that I didn’t get to attend in November. So, at least I got to wear it once. And my husband? He was so dashing in his tux — the first time he’s worn one since the day we got married. For that alone? It was so worth it to be there.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow is a New Day. I simply. Cannot. Wait.
Venus!
Tonight as we were picking up the kids from school, we noticed bright lights in the sky, near the moon. On the car radio, we quickly learned that for at least a couple hours this evening, Jupiter and Venus would be visible next to the moon. None of us in this house had ever seen anything like it, so we all agreed this must be something special. My camera doesn’t know how to focus on objects that twinkle in the sky, but the video function did much better. My DH was able to capture this quick little clip so we’ll always remember what we saw.
Not much knitting today. I got a couple more rows done on Diana’s hat. Hopefully tomorrow morning before I start telecommuting I can knock out the rest of the body and start the ribbing. I can’t wait!
It’s a typical Monday after a holiday around here. Which means the little one is a homework refusnik and the older one called in the afternoon, complaining of a “headache” and wondering if we could pick her up early. Nope, kid, go back to class. Ugh. Better sign off for now and reel the little one back in. Wish me luck, and hopefully there will be a knitting update tomorrow.
Ciao!
It came! It came! I finally received the Andean Chullo Hat Kit from Knit Picks today:
I can’t wait to make this, but I do have a couple of other things to work on first. But I wanted to go ahead and get the kit now, because it seems that Knit Picks doesn’t keep it available all the time so I had to wait a while to get it. The kit includes 9 balls of Palette and a pattern, which I can’t recall whether it’s similar to a pattern that I bought several years ago but I’ll have to try to find that one and see. This one does appear to be more detailed, if I remember right.
Also in the box today were two hanks of WoTA Bulky in Blackberry:
I thought I might use this in my afghan of domino squares, which is an ongoing, long term project. There were also some size 0 needles in the box, in about every cable length size available, because I recently learned how easily one of those toothpick-thin things can snap. There was also a book, but more on that at another time.
We had a glorious weekend with my DH’s family. They were here for Thanksgiving Dinner, which was a rare treat indeed. The last time all of my DH’s siblings were together for a Holiday, my now 12-year-old daughter was in preschool. (We were all together for a weekend in January of 2006, but there was another addition to the family shortly thereafter that some others in the family hadn’t even met!) So, it was a good time. Mostly the cousins all had fun playing together. The youngest, now two and a half, really enjoyed playing on my son’s train table. It was better than just about anything to him, except he did say last night that he wanted to sleep in his own bed.
Tonight he did get to do just that, because everybody parted ways this afternoon. Who knows when we’ll all be together again? I do hope it’s sooner than three years from now!
Before they left, though, the cousins all got together for a “grandchildren portrait” that my mother-in-law wanted. All of the kids did great! My DH and I decided that since we were taking our kids to the studio that we would dress up and have our own portrait updated:
It seems strange to me that my little girl had to bend over so far to be near my head. Where does the time go, that she should be so grown up?
And me? I see a diet in my future.