If You're Happy and You Know It Throw Some Rice

They have a "rice table" at preschool. It's like a sandbox but it's filled with, duh, rice. I set one up for the kids in the kitchen using bowls and a baking sheet. Don't know who those school teachers manage it with eight kids, because my children put all the rice in their mouths (blech) and on the floor. I seem to tolerate any "bad" behavior if they're having fun playing with each other. Go figure.

Two's Company....

No, three's not a crowd. But it sure is crowded in a double stroller.

A Shout-Out to Z

Much love goes out to ZaZa, who helped us through the second snow storm, canceled work flights and an unexpected federal holiday. We miss you already.

My Sweet(s)

There wasn't a lot of pomp this Valentine's Day. No exotic dinners out or elaborate gifts, but there was no lack of love and sweets for my sweets. Buzz was serving up super-cute big, frosted cookies adorned with those phrases you find in the box of candy hearts. I had to ask the nice man behind the register to grab me two, and avoid some of the edible messages I could see behind the glass counter. "I don't need my toddler to 'call me' and 'hot' isn't exactly what I'm going for here," I told him.

Eliza (grandma) knew exactly what I meant. Seems she had recently purchased a similar confection for her other grand-daughter, Sarah, who she visited last week in Chicago. How cute, she thought, a cookie that said "I'm me"...kinda fits Sarah, who's been marching to her own drummer of late. Eliza's daughter Jessica quickly corrected her. "Mom," she moaned. "that says 'I-M Me!'"

Happy Valentine's Day to all. Hope everyone enjoyed a chocolate mustache or two.

Oh to Be in Pair-ee

Harry found my green chapeau, a mock beret, and spent much of Sunday wearing it. As you can see he put it on himself, squashed tomato style. What's that Harry? "Maman, je voudrais une banane avec mon yaourt ce matin. Et plus vite que ça."

Would You Like Ice With That?

After the blizzard abated last night, we discovered a new foot of snow (just what we needed) and the most beautiful icicles dangling from every rooftop, including our own. One particularly choice specimen hanging outside Harry's bedroom window stretches a good four feet.

Paul is on his fourth day of federal stay-cation. So this morning he made the kids a toboggan run in the backyard. At this rate, Harry and Charlotte are going to think we live in Anchorage, not Alexandria.

That's Harry and Charlotte, below, in a heap after two-"man" ride down our backyard course. Thank you Sabrina for sharing your sled with us. We'd buy one but that would pretty much guarantee no snow for the next decade.

Inuit Kisses

After being walloped by a powerhouse snow storm, which dumped as little as 17 inches of snow or as much as 29, depending on who you believe, Paul was able to fulfill THE dream, the recurrent dream, the dream of snowy dreams...and build his third igloo in as many decades.

And damn if it isn't true: if you build it, they will come. The neighbors. The gawkers. The city inspectors. The media. Seems everyone in rosemont either helped with the construction (Thank you Martha, whoever you are, for spending at least an hour making snow bricks), letting their kids play inside or just stopping to take pictures and offer Paul a pat on the back.

Large construction credit goes to our neighbors -- the incomparable Klines -- who keep us fat and happy when there's foul weather (gourmet homemade pizza, designer beer...can we move in?). Dad Jeff and son Max did much work, which was begun just behind a terrifically-large snowman they erected on Saturday night -- also the subject of much photo snapping.

This igloo, if it's not clear from the pictures, was made by stuffing snow into the city's recycling containers and stacking them, Inuit-style.

It has been suggested we throw down a bearskin rug and light a fire. You're welcome to join us, but no admittance without a slice of whale blubber for sharing.