Cute new do

While delivering the kitties to the vet for their program shots, we passed the Brat Pack salon. Since Auntie had just gotten a new haircut, and Mommy was sporting a rockin' new do, Elena was inspired to get her hair cut and styled. About 4 inches were cut off while Elena watched Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus on dvd. Then she got a little braid and some glitter sparkles. Nothing finishes a trip to the hair salon like a lollipop and prize toy. So beautiful, especially in the fancy dress from Auntie Tracy!
Two cute cuts.
FYI, fat Whitto weighed 17lbs 14oz, kitty Warrick was 13lbs 10oz, and Perrin 8lbs 8oz.

Mini putt-putt

Elena had some putt-putt fun with the boys. She worked very hard to get the skills down and was always asking if she was holding the club correctly.

Look at her hit that purple ball! Luke looks athletic but chilly.
Elena got a hole-in-two! Go E!
She had a blast and looks forward to the next golfing experience. Any one game?

San Francisco Zoo

It's another beautiful, sunny day in central California - let's go to the zoo! Look at the baby giraffe! The zoo is also the home to a newborn gorilla, but she was inside and we could only see her on video.
The San Francisco Zoo must have some partnership with Fisher-Price because their logo was everywhere. Throughout the zoo there were great photo opportunities (like this giraffe one) which had the Fisher-Price logo at the bottom. And there was an entire snack station devoted to Fisher-Price Little People - tables, umbrellas, etc.

This is Elena's favorite.

Uncle Al warned us of poo throwing animals, but we only witnessed them spraying... This rhino sprayed, and we saw the tapir spray too.

Elena was super excited to see the hippopotamus and we made sure it was going to be a stop on our zoo tour (after a few turns on the carousel), but we never found it! We finally had to ask a zoo employee where the hippo was at. They informed us that the hippo had been old and passed away. Elena was disappointed, but a bag of pink cotton candy eased her pain (and her sweet tooth ;-0).

Let's all cruise to Santa Cruz (so witty)

We got a great deal on plane tickets ($54 each way!!!) and flew to San Francisco during Elena's mid-winter break to visit the Vecchiets. Despite many people feeling poorly with various symptoms, we had a super fun time! After visiting Al's store, we went to Santa Cruz for some fun on the beach and to see the monarch butterfly migration. Everyone had fun at the beach playing in the sand, avoiding the water, and playing follow the leader.
Luke was a bucket head Transformer who made a cake pie. Elena made tea and squished sand buildings her mom made.

The weather was fantastic! The sun was nice and warm and it wasn't too windy. The surfers seemed to be having a great time. As the tide came in, we collected all the sand toys and created a cake sculpture. Impressive!

Happy cousins enjoying chocolate chip cookies.

Since we saw the butterflies after the beach, it was a little cooler and the butterflies weren't as active (the temperature has to be at least 55 degrees for them to fly).

Auntie Tracy visits!

Auntie Tracy came for a visit with Uncle Brandon and Gizmo!

They brought Rock Band which Elena loved! She rocked the drums and couldn't get enough of them.
Elena adores Auntie Tracy and loved jamming with her and her daddy.

Auntie Tracy has a great voice! It's so good she could use it to lure little babies into her clutches and give them raspberries or zerberts.

Auntie Tracy enjoys shopping in the U.S. Elena had fun following her around the Seattle Premium Outlets and Target. Auntie Tracy is great at spoiling Lenaloo and bought her lots of pretty dresses and fancy accessories. Cute, cute, cute! Elena loved the fancy chocolate drizzled caramel apple she was given too.

We took advantage of Auntie Tracy's kindness and had her redecorate/rearrange the homes we own in Animal Crossing: City Folk. She did a great job (which Elena has already destructed) but we learned some tips and have our fingers crossed that some day one of the rooms will be on display at the HRA (Happy Room Academy).

Random tasks of cuteness

Elena thinks she's Harry Cotter. No matter how many times we tell her it's Harry Potter, she still insists on Harry Cotter. She should watch the movie and find out.Too bad Elena isn't always this obedient... One of her greatest challenges is following her mommy's directions. Hopefully it's a little girl phase that she'll grow out of and not a mother/daughter relationship trait that lingers.

Hooray for sunny weather and a swing set!

A beautiful day, but still a bit chilly out.Zachy isn't having near as much fun as Elena, but really she's having enough fun for 12 people!

With some help, Elena was able to do forward and backward flips on the rings!


When there's no one around willing to push the swing (and someone is too lazy to pump her legs) there's always twisting the swing and letting go to spin, and spin, and spin!

Elena in 3-D

Did everyone enjoy the Super Bowl? Elena enjoyed the free 3-D glasses we picked up at Target.She thought they were way cool.
Grandma showed her some 3-D pictures on the computer.

Playhouse Disney LIVE! 2/01

Part of Elena's Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa was tickets to see Playhouse Disney Live. Elena and Grandma went to the show and ice cream afterwards. Elena dressed up with a sparkly skirt and shoes, Mickey Mouse earrings, and mouse ear hair. She just loved, loved, loved the show! And the cotton candy Grandma bought her.
Elena didn't have a favorite part, but Grandma enjoyed the Little Einsteins.

Elena brought home a souvenir for herself and Zachy. They both got tools who are characters in Handy Manny.

Elena can't wait for her next show! What's coming next? Princesses on Ice again? Elena can only hope.

Look how tall her hair has gotten!

New PJs!

More poodle jammas for Elena!

These are actually Gizmo/Poodle jammas. Or Gizmo/Rai jammas. Gizmo is due for a visit any day now. Elena is anxiously awaiting his cuteness!

Elena's lost tooth!!!!! 1/17

Elena lost her first tooth without any fanfare. At some point on the 17th of January, Auntie noticed a big gap (bigger than usual) in her mouth. Then we got Elena's story: she lost a tooth and put it in the trash.
Oh Elena! Did you even know it was loose? Why didn't you tell anyone? This is an exciting event! Where did you put the tooth again? (Mommy contemplates the possibility of digging the treasured keepsake out of the trash - arg! no luck!)

After the third degree, we told Elena all about the tooth fairy and the wondrous gifts of cash she brings! Hmmm... the Knot Fairy is still alive in her mind and Elena does not show any excitement for a little creature to enter her room and mess with the pillow her head will be on. To avoid restless sleep, Auntie helps her make a little tooth shaped envelope to hang on her door. It worked! The tooth fairy left $2! Probably would have been more if there was an actual tooth...

Elena's new tooth has already started coming in, and her other bottom front tooth is loose now too. Anyone got an apple?

A Lesson from Grandma 1/09

Grandma and Elena always start fantastical projects. Here they are designing a new wardrobe for Barbie and her princess friends. BIG STEP: Elena gets a lesson on the sewing machine! First they practiced with paper and Grandma helped guide E's hands.

Then, E got a chance to try it herself! It went ok, but was difficult coordinating her hands with the foot pedal.

No sewing on fabric yet, but she did cut some fabric pieces to sew on a later date.

Cute in the basket 1/07

That basket overstuffed with animals sure looks comfy!

Comfy enough to sit in while chatting on the phone with Grandma.

Gosh Grandma! Don't ask such hard questions! And let me take a turn talking!

Making snacks 1/01

Ever had these? Apple slices dipped in jello powder and then dehydrated. Delicious!
Elena enjoyed dipping them in raspberry and pineapple flavored powders and placing them on trays. Don't ask for a taste because she has gobbled them all up!