New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve in State College is called "First Night", but as I considered this, isn't it technically the last? Anyhoo, for such a small town, there is a lot to do and quite a lot of diversity too! There were tons of different music groups performing: bagpipes, drums, jazz, harps, random bands, etc. Also, something pretty cool they do is recreate a burning man (see description at end of post) with resolutions and regrets to be burned before midnight. A 5K, a parade similar to my beloved May Day Parade from Mpls, and an ice sculpture competition were also spectator events that everyone seemed to enjoy witnessing.

Do you believe that we made this?











and this...












and this...












Explanation of Burning Man in Nevada: to quote their site, "people make the journey to the Black Rock Desert for one week out of the year to be part of an experimental community, which challenges its members to express themselves and rely on themselves to a degree that is not normally encountered in one's day-to-day life." In other words, mountain bikers go to the desert to do drugs and burn a wooden person. It can have a more cerebral meaning for people, but think Woodstock with more art and you'll get close. Note that this is not the feeling in State College, but I'm merely comparing the feeling of community and the burning of something in representation of something else. In this case, burn 2007, on with 2008!

Sadly, Anja didn't sleep well last night, so we had to skip the burning completely and come home to put our little pumpkin to bed. It would've been nice to warm up--it's actually cold out there tonight.

Happy New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Last night Anja was especially easy-tempered. With any fussing I'd say, "Are you fussing? Shall I call Santa and tell him you're being fussy?" Then she'd say sweetly, "No! Look! I'm smiling and laughing. Ha-ha-ha," and her tune turned on a dime. Fast-foward to bedtime, Thad had just finished reading Madeleine and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and her determination for expediting Santa's arrival was most evident. She promptly rolled over, brought the blankets on her and said with what was apparently nothing short of the personification of glee, "Merry Christmas Dada. Good night."

I awoke around 7:30 and was too excited to fall back asleep. After making coffee, checking the news, fussing with final details, I could wait no longer--I woke them both. Anja was a little puzzled, but also cautiously eager to see what Santa had delivered. She first discovered that he ate the oatmeal cookie with orange-flavored craisins we made. She warmed up over time, either because her comfort level naturally rose, or it was the candy canes she ate for breakfast. We tried to play Chutes and Ladders and Candyland, but she was only mildly interested in the games. Us: "Wait! Come back! Let's play this game. You're winning!" She did end up winning both, fair and square.

Funniest thing I've seen in a while is this quote from the rules for Candyland:

Once you've mastered the classic game, try this more challenging version. On each turn, draw TWO cards. Look at each card and choose which one you want to play. Move your gingerbread character pawn accordingly, then discard both cards. Hint: This special rule helps children learn to make decisions as well as speeds up gameplay.

Apparently, the writers of the game actually DO play with 3 year-olds. We had a good chuckle with that one.

Some of the Anja highlights from this morning are, in no particular order:

• Anja loved seeing Colin's face/present under the tree.


• Putting on new Dora lip-goo every minute, like an addict.


• Telling me (so sweetly) she bought me socks "so you can wear them to bed and your feet won't get cold."


• Jumping on her bike and riding it like a pro.


• It's 40 degrees and sunny out! All three of us raced around outside with the new kid vehicles: bike, scooter, skateboard.

Here you can see Anja enjoying some of her gifts:

Lovely Little Bellefonte

The next town over is lovely little Bellefonte where Victorian houses climb the mountains. There are many large antique shops along Main Street where there also was a horse-drawn carriage giving rides. I swear there is a street steeper than anything I saw in San Fransisco. I was nervous to drive down! Since it was night, most of the pictures didn't turn out great, but this gives an idea.

Flower Girl To Be

The fun part of being a kid is decorating the tree in your underware and thinking nothing of it.

In Memory

A friend died last year. Today would've been her birthday, so today I remember her life.

She was so sassy, but in a way everyone loved.