12.28.2008

Kitty in a Haystack


Kitty in a Haystack, originally uploaded by melissa.coats.

We just returned from a trip to the grandparent's ranch in Athens, TX - about a four hour drive from Austin. They have 18 dogs on the ranch, and about as many cats and horses. You're not supposed to ask a rancher how many "head of cattle" they have, so I have no idea how many cows we saw. Kennedy loved all the kittens at the stables, and it was hard for all of us to resist the tempatation to take one home with us. Honestly, if we didn't have our two dogs in the car with us, we would have brought little Sunshine back with us. It was a fun weekend, but the first thing everyone wanted to do, and had to do, when we got home was take a bath. There's no place like home....

12.21.2008

Happy Chanukah


Kennedy & Santa, 2005

We didn't celebrate any Jewish holidays when I was growing up -- my grandparents were Jewish, but it was almost an afterthought for them. Even though they skipped the traditions of their ancestors, it is important that I keep the heritage alive for my daughter. I consider her lucky that she gets to celebrate two winter holidays. (It's so cute to hear her sing the dreidle song!)

This year it has been difficult to prepare for Chanukah. Our menorah candles melted together in the garage, so I had to look high and low for more. I assumed that any grocery store, Hallmark store, Pier1 -someone- would have them. Nope. We had a ghetto candle lighting tonight with tea lights. Oh well, it's the thought that matters. On the flip side, my latkes turned out great this year! I used a recipe from a children's book (thanks Mandy!).

12.11.2008

It skips a generation

My daughter, 3 and my mom, 6. The nuts don't fall far from the tree, do they?

12.08.2008

Her Obsession is Now My Obsession


Calico Update: these critters are on sale 40% off! (here). Nifty!
This weekend Kennedy had an urge to go play with "the dollhouse with the bunnies and kitties and piano (?)" at our neighborhood toy store, Kaleidoscope. Sure enough the little piano was there in the display house, but I couldn't find it on the shelf in any of these intricate room sets. When I asked the woman who (presumably) owns the store, she said they don't make it any more, but that she would sell us the display model for five dollars. Now THAT is true holiday spirit.

12.05.2008

School Picture 2008


School Picture 2008, originally uploaded by melissa.coats.

It was so hard to choose - the photographer was great this year. We picked two shots, but I didn't get a digital copy of the second. Ohs wells.