Random 2011

I know it is 2012 but I still had pictures from 2011. 

Feats of strengths. (not pictured: the airing of grievances) Happy Festivus, everyone!

 Geoff went to Hazel's school field trip to the zoo. She sat on the top of the rhino.

 And the top of the safety mat. Which doesn't seem that safe. But, safer than the pictures where she is standing on the top of it and waving.

 Hazel was a witch for Halloween. We went to the costumer parade and she was adorable and awesome and witchy. She has no idea about the whole Witch Hazel thing...

 I was Medusa. And terrifying.

See you later, 2011!

The house

All I wanted for Christmas was progress to be made on the house. And, lucky for me, I got what I wanted!

Earlier in the month, just after we got home from Hawaii, we had insulation sprayed on the walls. You can kind of see it on the back wall. It is the white/yellow stuff. It was sprayed on the north and south exterior walls. We also have six of the nine new windows installed.

Geoff and Duffy got also got the two bathrooms and the laundry roomed framed in! Hooray!! And part of the ceiling done (enough to get the rooms framed)

Yeah, this doesn't look like much, but trust me, this is a pretty big step.
Another view of the same thing. You can also see the south wall with windows and spray foam.

My dad also came up this last week to install a duct and heater vent for our kitchen (and Geoff moved the world's most dangerous outlet while they were down there). Combined with the draft guard I made for the back door, the kitchen is no longer tundra-cold, just arctic-cold. Still cold, but I don't have to wear a parka when I am in there.

Now, I am just hoping the momentum continues....

Happy Birthday, Hazel!

My baby girl is six! SIX! The longest, and shortest, six years of my life. I can't imagine what my life would be like without her. I adore her and I am so happy to be Hazel's mama.

Hazel originally had crazy plans for her birthday, including a sleepover for everyone and people dressing like witches. But, then she remembered how much she loves unicorns and rainbows. And the rainbow unicorn birthday party was a go!

We had rainbow fruit. And yogurt dip clouds.

Hazel and I shopped all over for all the colors of fruits.
And rainbow vegetables. This was even more difficult than the rainbow fruits. There are NO blue vegetables. Plus, we had a lot of green veggies, per Hazel, and then I kind of ran out of room. Whatev. It is still rainbow-tastic.
Rainbow waffles! With whipped cream clouds! I originally wanted to do all six rainbow colors, but sanity prevailed. Frankly, I think three was plenty. The birthday girl agreed. She preferred extra clouds, however.
Rainbow unicorn birthday cake! Thanks to our friend and neighbor who ran home to get another candle when I only had five. Doh.
We also had plenty of rainbow decorations. This lovely rainbow in the doorway, which stayed up they entire day (and will probably stay up for quite some time). Notice the secret unicorns?

Oh, and Hazel picked some rainbow flowers. And by "picked" I mean, "at the store". She loves them and they are so on theme.
Rainbow balloons in the doorway (more secret unicorns). Balloons and streams on the ceiling. Fancy!
Hazel also created this awesome game, Pin the Unicorn on the Rainbow. One of the older (nine-year-old boy) guests asked me, "what is the point of this game?" Obviously, he does not understand small girls because they loved it and played multiple times.
Another shot of the decorations. This was all Hazel. I was just there to provide height.

And now we are spending the evening playing with the loot. And eating cake and rainbow waffles.
Hazel also got this awesome card that is perfect for the theme! So cool.
The fun and chaos of the party was awesome. Hazel has a great time, I think the other guests had a good time and, well, it only comes once a year. Thank goodness, because we are all exhausted.