After a few snow storms. . .

View from work. . .









Not chains nor studs work in slush.

This day Mama waited for another two hours for a bus that was never coming. Buses were not on schedule because a lot of bus drivers couldn't get to work. Mama warmed up with a drink from Starbucks after the first hour. The cold had affected her taste buds, so she couldn't taste the difference between coffee and hot chocolate. She couldn't feel her toes in her hiking boots after an hour and half. Daddy came to get her after giving Uncle Osce a ride home and having an adventure of sliding sideways down a hill in the car with Cups saying, "No, Daddy, no," in the back. We also gave two others waiting for Mama's bus a ride home.

A few snow storms later. . .

On Mama's way to work. . . Marji's stayed open in the snow, and we were most grateful.

Brrrrrzzzz. . .

A bee with bare arms and bare legs. . .aren't you cold? It's even winter time for the bee as you can tell from her having a glove on the floor.

Uncle Sean's birthday party

Cups would look anywhere but at the camera. She doesn't like the flash much.







In the snow two other birthday parties scheduled for the weekend were canceled. However, Uncle Sean's was still on. We braved the snow and so did many others. From the pictures it looked like Cups stayed entertained a while listening to music on Uncle Jason's phone. Thank you everyone for playing with Cups at the party. Thank you for dinner and a great time, Uncle Sean and Auntie Amy!

Cups at work on a snow day

Cups stayed busy drawing. She entertained herself pretty well the whole time. She had Mama trace her foot while she snacked in the morning — uhhhhh, Cups?!



Snow. . .snow. . .



And more snow. . .



Cups was really good the five hours we were at work. She even had lunch, too. She did spill water down her shirt, so we had to change her outfit. It was funny that Uncle Brad, Mama's coworker, noticed that she had a different outfit on later in the day.

We took the next day off after Cupcakes and Mama waited two hours for a bus on the way home. Cups remained in good spirits the whole time in the freezing cold, walking up and down the sidewalk, singing, laughing and playing. We stopped by Starbucks before they closed five minutes later to warm up a little during the wait, and Cups had an Odwalla juice.

You were excellent, Cupcakes!

Cups going to work in the snow

The snow was thin in the walk path because Daddy had shoveled the night before.







Daycare was not open, so Mama got Cups ready to take her to work. Cups, cautious, has been a little trooper all her life — up to anything that comes up. We were lucky to have caught a bus within a few minutes of waiting. The bus ride took an hour and half to travel the seven miles downtown. The weather storm bonded people on the bus.

Surprise in the mail

Kids will play with anything!



Here's the real treat with Uncle Steve, Auntie Angela, Sarah and Laura.



Cups enjoyed the train. . . until Daddy banned it on the hardwood floor. Oh bummer!

Package for Cups

Uncle Mike and Auntie Cecilia in the Netherlands sent Cups a little package. Cups stood curiously in front of the envelope. Mama helped her get started opening the present. It was a cute red purse. Thank you, uncle and auntie!!

2008 Santa pictures

We liked our Santa picture, and the photographer took it within a minute, too. (There were two shots, and Cups looked more scared in the other one. Mama won't be keeping that one for Cups.) Auntie Lisa's family had three shots. The photographer donated her time, and our donations went to a charity. The pictures were online, and we got to download them to save for eternity.

Cups frosting a cookie

Cups was rather careful when she frosted her cookie with Auntie Penny's help after dinner. Mama filmed until the battery in the camera ran out of charge.

Visiting Santa at Cupcake Royale

After Cups napped, we hopped on the bus for the second time today (with Daddy this time) to go get a picture taken with Santa at Cupcake Royale in the Junction.



Is it safe to take a gift from a stranger? Daddy wanted Cups to thank the lady for a cookie frosting kit (promotion for a bakery close by), and Cups just stared with the expression you see in the picture on her face the whole time.



Annka dressed for in a super cute outfit for pictures with Santa and the Nutcracker show later.



Cups was scared of Santa and wouldn't take her coat off for the picture. Here is a picture of her new outfit from ahma.



Cups enjoyed the frosting.

Bus ride to the Farmers' Market

Mama got the inspiration to take Cups to the Farmers' Market to get some peach jam — in the snow. We ran out there just in time for the bus.



Our jam vendor did not come. We had breakfast at Bakery Nouveau, sat with a French family and learned about Columbia City Bakery in their neighborhood, got some peach jam from the bakery (feeling a little guilty for not supporting a "farmer") and got breakfast for Daddy, too, before waiting for the next bus that was due to come.



The bus ran late. Cups walked up around, touched stuff, and sang.



We had a good time. Cups ate well at breakfast. If Mama was not mistaken, Cups ate most of the chocolate banana muffin. The bus was late, but it came!

Fresh snow in the morning

To the left of our back door. . .



To the right. . .



Cups stepping in snow for the first time. Mama was not sure that she liked it.



Cups' ladybug boots in the snow. . .



Okay, this snowman was small, but Mama had to melt the fluffy snow with the heat of her hands to make it. It hurt just a little.



A different view of Cups' only snowman for the year. . .

First snow of the year

On the way to the house from the garage. . .



Daddy on the other side of our small deck. . .

Even though it was close to 11, Mama said, "Let's hurry and wake Cups up to see the snow." Cups napped next to Jessica on the sofa just inside the door.



Daddy's car getting covered. . .



Mama could not scrape off snow off Jessica's car fast enough.



Huge snowflakes. . .



Daddy and Cups in the snow. . . We showed Cups how to catch "free shaved ice."



Oh, yes, we had a great time at Daddy's work holiday party and brought home two pieces of truffle for Jessica and Cups.