It was the sort of day that called for galoshes, leopard skin pants

and a fancy pink dress. You know the kind.

We built bridges, dug for worms, played in the clay soil,

threw rocks, leaves and sticks into the creek

and got wet and dirty. Happy Spring! 

 

 

 

 Have we mentioned Lucy's home? 

She's on a tight leash these days, so she's in camera shot a lot more often. 

And she's so pretty, I can't help myself. 

 Turn down your speakers... My voice is really close to the microphone. Whoops!

Today. 

 A wonderful Valentine's Weekend surprise came in the mail from Gramma and KooKoo, complete with beads and necklaces that kept us project-focused for a very long time. Long enough to create this wonder:

 Then, the skies cleared and we headed out to the garden. In Round One of Mom vs. The Blackberries, the Blackberries won, hands down. But she had a clear advantage over the weeds within her reach from where she sat and drank her coffee. Apparently, one must ease into the gardening season. 

This is our Secret Spot. Shhhhh. Don't tell.

As we all know, Monday is a very special day which requires me to show up at school with 24 valentines ready to lovingly drop into 24 friends' Valentine Bags. So, today, we got busy. 

I have made an extra special one for Connor. I am going to marry Connor. I've told him and I remind my parents daily that we have wedding plans to make. As far as I can tell,

 the only thing that changes once you announce your engagement is 

that Mom gets more strict about Disney Princess Movies.

I'm not into boys, yet. But I am into Playdough.

I'd be able to make something cool if only mom would 

provide me with a few more colors. 

This weekend gave us some sunshine to play in, so we headed outside

to have a tea party!

We also met some friends for a show and some pizza....

 Hopscotch!

 Lucy's home. :) 

Hello again, after a long, exhausting month. 

We go to bed happy... so grateful for all the wonderful

things that fill this life. 

So grateful that Lucy is home home home. 

Bodhi's pretty happy about it, too. 

I meant to post this in the previous post, but uploaded a still shot, instead. 

Here's Honeybee, as performed by Winnie Lou.

It's been awhile, so I'll be brief on words and big on pictures

 (which, it's been said, each equal a thousand words). 

Here's what we've been up to:

Lemme just get this outta the way. I have 'tude now.

Attitude, that is. I can give it. Mom and Dad reign it

in pretty fast, and I don't actually use it very often,

but the point is, I'm not wee babe, anymore. I have

strong desires and real disappointments and 

sometimes, it's hard to find the best way 

to let people know about them.  

 I am learning new words

and keeping up with my sister in new and 

fun ways. We play together more every day

and make each other laugh. Sometimes, I make her cry,

but she usually has it coming. 

This is a letter that I, Winona, composed to my wee sis this 

very evening:

 "Dear Jezebel. Please stop screaming.

 If you don't, I'll have to walk away. 

Love, Winona"

We love to make music together. 

But, let's be frank: I'm the one taking lessons and sometimes,

an artist needs her space. 

That's cool, Winnie. Whatever. I'm up here messing up your stuff.

 

Or, setting us a Tea Party. Wanna come?

Oh, let's just play another duet!

Or, decide that although that was a nice story about Martin Luther King, Jr. and all, Mom, we're really excited about Valentine's Day and here are your valentines that we made you while you were at work, 

and here is the present we wrapped (all their hair clips and bands wrapped in some cloth from my sewing stash)...and...and... and...it's a SURPRISE VALENTINE'S PARTY!! 

So, what's a mom to do? The Poetry Slam in honor of MLK at the theater was not enough to distract her. Valentine Party it was... cake and all. I think Dr. King would have approved.

As you can see, it's been a lot of at home time. Mostly, we're waiting by the phone, hoping to hear that someone has seen or has our dog, Lucy, who went missing on January 6th. We keep the hope that she'll come home...and in the meantime, the desperate hope that she is warm, healthy, fed and loved.

And, life goes on, surprise Valentine's Parties and all. Counting our blessings and 

praying for Lu!!!! 

A story: The other night, I was singing a lullaby that goes, "God bless the moon and god bless me..." in one part and Winona stopped me to ask, "What is God?" Of course, she had to get me at the end of the day, not right after my morning coffee... so I took a deep breath and blubbered through a few different descriptions and definitions involving phrases like, "invisible" and "touches different people differently" and "a force we can't see, but can feel" type stuff... After a long pause during which I sort of hoped she'd fallen asleep she said, "So, God's like a germ?"


Um, no, not exactly, can we talk about this in the morning? Nope, she needed more info. So the conversation continued and I think I managed to distinguish God from a germ, but in the course of the conversation we'd touched on how one could see germs under a microscope. The topic was changed, without segue, and we moved on.

Then, "Okay, Goodnight, Winnie."
"I want to see it under the microscope." 
"What do you want to see? Germs?"
"No. God."


Well, alrighty-then. Me, too. 

 Happy New Year! We think the coming year will be full of parks, princesses, silly stories and songs, dance parties and dress up... 

lots of giggling, some fun adventures, and lots of time together. 

 In case you don't recognize me, I'm Jezebel The Badger Fan. G'ma and KooKoo see to it that we keep the Badger Spirit alive. Bummer Rose Bowl, guys, but I'm still a fan... I've got the pants to prove it. 

 First Course: Cheese Fondue. Second Course: Chocolate Fondue. 

So far, 2011 is a very good year. 

 We watched the ball drop in Times Square, kissed everyone, drank some fizzy apple cider then spent the night in our tent (in the living room).

 It's been a nice, long run of lazy play days, lots of sunshine (cold! but sunny) and fun days together. Tomorow, mama heads back to work... and I'm taking another day off. Don't want to rush back into things.

As a final holiday treat, we took some of our strawberry jam out of the freezer for our bedtime snack and glopped into onto some buttery bread we made today. mmmm. Wishing you all the sweetest year, yet!!! 

Reminds me of The Onion article:
 "Girl announces she wants to be a
 horseback-riding-doctor-teacher-
princess-magical-fairy-busdriver."
Or, in this case,
a cheerleading doctor. 

I got me some new galoshes,
a baby doll
 and a Bucky Badger hoodie.
I'm ready for anything.

In honor of his rockstar focus on his health and well being lately,
Mike got a raw food Christmas Dinner... which we all enjoyed
(mostly) and, if nothing else, had a very fun
time experimenting with this style of
food preparation. I made a Gingerbread Cake
which was not raw, but vegan and gluten-free...
and it saved the day as far as Winnie
was concerned.

And this? Well, this just goes to show you that
the we know how to celebrate in supremely
classy style. 

The Christmas Eve "one present tonight" Gifts
were a hit. 

Treats for Team Santa. One plate for Santa ("because he's big")
and one plate for all the elves to share
("because they are small and there are lots of them")
an apple for the reindeer
and 48 straws
("because I have no idea how many elves he'll bring with him").
More careful consideration, arrangement,
rearrangement and planning
and arranging once more
has not happened in the history of food service. 

I really want to climb trees.
I really want to be less scared once I do. 

Don't lose me! I'm really tiny compared
to these trees!

Yup, mom. Time for boots.

Explorin'.

So, by "decorate the cookies,"
you mean what exactly...?

She means THIS!
Stripes, Polka-Dots and other
fabulous designs!

Call it Solstice, Hanukkah or Christmas, it's the season of
fun creations and giving. So, we have gifts at the ready--
to take with us on spontaneous play dates or
to give to people who come a calling.
I've parted with three butterflies (one of
lesser known but important symbols of the season).

Hey! It's for you! Something about
wanting her hair accessories back.
I have no idea what she's
talking about.

Tonight, Winona and I, Julie, went to see the symphony's Yuletide Celebration-- a variety show featuring Tap Dancing Santas (hilarious and fabulous!), a 12ish person chorus, a phenomenol 20-25 minute or so rendition of The Christmas Carol in which ONE MAN did the entire thing as a monologue while a cast of 20 or so acted it out... simply incredible theater!, amazing soloist who sang a gospel called Rise Up, Shepards and O Holy Night--cried during both, ballerinas, battling xylophonists, Mrs. Clause, cute little elves and a finale appearance by Santa... all with a full symphonic backdrop. Whew. Amazing. Fun. Inspiring.

Winnie wants to get back into ballet classes and "see if Megan is doing anything new these days" (Megan was her ballet teacher last year). She really, really, really wants to be "on a stage like that!" I would really, really, really love that. The "Stage Bug" bit her at her dance recital last June (click here) and tonight's dazzling performance--all those young kids on stage!--brought back the itch.

No cameras were allowed in the theater, so you'll just have to take my word for it: Winona was pretty darn cute laughing and clapping and singing along!