Happy new year!

After bath playtime

The kids have these adorable towels that they love to wear even when it's not bathtime. Liam's is a frog and Thea's is a monkey. They pretend that the towels are long hair or capes, and sometimes they become the animal itself. Monkey and Frog can get a bit rambunctious at bedtime, but it's hard to be irritated when they're so cute.

At Thea's birthday dinner

For Thea's birthday, we took her out for Mexican food. She's wearing the party dress Todd got her for her birthday. Doesn't she look lovely?

She was a little embarrassed when the waiters put the sombrero on her and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, but I think she secretly enjoyed it.

Liam might be getting a little tired here. We stayed out later than we thought we were going to, but it was worth it.

Happy birthday, sweetheart. I'm so very happy to be your mom!

Thea is six years old today!

Thea is wearing the party dress and clutching the purse Todd got her for her birthday. Isn't she adorable?

So much has happened this year. The biggest news: Thea started kindergarten! And it's been quite a time of change for her. It seemed like Thea started school a little girl and came out a week later a big kid. It's exhausting sometimes for her, I think. Kindergarten is a lot different from daycare; the kids have to sit at their desks quietly, there's no naptime, and they don't always get snacks.

The hardest adjustment has been having her in after care across the street from the school. I think she likes it, but I'm not sure she's getting the same kind of attention that she got at daycare. They definitely aren't as dedicated to making sure she eats a good snack after school. And it's difficult for those of us who have to pick the kids up at two separate places after work. But I'm sure we'll work it out.

Thea is funny, charming, VERY bright, and lovely. She has a lot of friends. Her best friend is Wendy. She loves her school and teachers -- Ms. Lemburg, Ms. Cassi, Ms. Husbands -- and has even become a more adventurous eater since she's been eating cafeteria food, something I'm very grateful for.

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

See also:

• Thea is 5 years old!
• Thea is 4 years old!
• Thea is three years old today!
• Thea turns two!
• Thea turns one!

Sculptures along the Potomac River

My friend Mike and I took the kids to a park to run off some energy after a trip to Trader Joe's that yielded and inordinate amount of free sugar. It's a gorgeous location, though pretty wet and muddy after all the snow we've had.



Liam is holding the polar bear he picked out this morning for Thea's birthday present, one for him and one for her. He looks a lot fussier than he really was. They had a blast running up and down the stairs and finding "secret" nooks to hide in.

Lunch with our favorite friends

The kids and I met BFFs Nylonthread and Rosie for lunch at Mandalay this afternoon. The food wasn't as good as it was a few years ago, but the company couldn't have been better.



Thea took this picture; she's quite good at it!

Christmas cheer

I started the day beautifully. Here's the eggs benedict I gorged
myself on, so good I felt the need to memorialize it on my blog.

Snow day!

The Blizzard of '09 hit us pretty hard. The thundersnow (new vocab word!) left about 20 inches of snow on the DC area, and shut down schools for the rest of the year. But it sure was pretty.


(Picture stolen from Todd's blog. Thanks, Todd!)

The kids meet Santa

Todd and I took the kids to the local community center for a breakfast with Santa. They both had a great time playing and making ornaments.



At least, they both had fun until Thea's best friend from kindergarten showed up. Then I think Liam felt a little left out.



Wendy and Thea are in the same class and go to the same aftercare. They're adorable together.

At the Pixies show, DAR, December 1, 2009

E and I went to the Pixies "Doolittle" show at Constitution Hall last night. We had a blast, despite the fact that we're old and decrepit. Standing for the whole show killed my back and E's feet. We're also jaded. Here's E surveying the "double" bourbon I bought for her at the DAR's bar.