When in Rome ...

Anna and MJ can ice skate earlier than I could as a kid. They took some lessons this winter, and we've walked to our rink at the park a few times to glide around. Hey, when you have a solid 4+ months of winter, you gotta do winter sports!

Chez Malecki Chalet

We trekked back up north with three other families to stay for the weekend at our friends Kristen and John's cabin. It was just as beautiful in the winter as it was in the summer (which seems eons ago). The kids did a lot of sled riding. The ladies went cross-country skiing. We all ate delicious food and snacks and did a lot of laughing. Kids also watched the Smurfs DVD that we brought and were as engrossed in the Smurf village as I was as a kid. Smurfs rule! Thanks, John and Kristen!

MJ is a Happy Girl

Mary Jane is like a ray of sunshine. She wakes up happy and goes to bed happy (most of the time). She's constantly smiling, telling a story that she finds funny and drawing cheery pictures. This picture kinda illustrates her regular state-of-mind. It's in her doctor's office. I took her in because she had a sore throat, tummy ache and a terrible rash all over her body. Did she complain? No. She spent the time waiting for the doc engrossed in drawing dinosaurs on a blackboard. We could all learn a lot from how MJ sees the world! (In case your wondering, I don't usually take my camera to doctor appointments -- just happened to be in purse, and I'm glad it was!)

Happy 8, Anna!

Our Anna is 8 years old! From Elmo to High School Musical. From Cheerios to pepperoni pizza and mac-n-cheese. From Lincoln to Madison. From Goodnight Moon to Magic Tree House. From toddler time at the library to piano lessons, art classes, Girl Scouts and soccer. We've treasured every stage and every smile and every hug. Love you, Sweet Pea! Happy Birthday. (More pix to come of the big b-day party.)

T & J in town

Thanks to Uncle Todd and Aunt Julia for stopping in Madison on their way home from skiing. We celebrated Anna's b-day and -- as tradition now dictates -- Todd brought the "8" balloon all the way from Chicago.

New Year's Eve

Okay, NYE was 22 days ago ... cut me some slack! At least I'm not too embarrassed to post old news. Can't resist posting our night with good friends the Siklos and Moran families. Anna spent half the day cutting tiny scraps of confetti that I threw for the kids at "midnight" (well, it was midnight Eastern time). Had some good food, lots of drinkies and enjoyed jostling with our favorite Brit.

Inauguration Day

I'm proud to be an American. I'll always remember how on this day our country -- and the world -- came together to usher in a new era in history. I look forward to hugging my kids when they come home and looking in their eyes knowing we're working to make things better.

I'm a bit misty, overwhelmed, inspired and speechless. God Bless the Obamas and the USA.