The Chronicles of Alessandra: The Collector's Edition

Feast your eyes on the above scene from one of my favorite Christmas movies. Oh wait, that's not right. A photo from last January? Nope! Perhaps an image from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada? Negative, Ghostrider! The above photo would be the view from outside of my office windowpane YESTERDAY morning. That's right, October 12, 2009. Gross to you, Old Man Winter! Never you mind that we didn't have much of a summer. Or even an autumn to speak of, for that matter. The weather system just plain opted out of two seasons and went straight for winter...And THAT'S how we Minnesotans do it, people. We've got cajones!

Now that I've got you feeling nice and chilly (and thanking your lucky stars you don't live here), what better way to get all cozy, warm and fuzzy then by curling up with your favorite lovey and listening to a tale about my favorite girl?

Feelin' cozy in your PJs? Good!

In my line of work, a publisher will often take a few of their tried and true video game franchises and combine them into one Collector's Edition for all of the die-hard fans out there to devour. They'll put it in a special tin box, throw a tchotchkie inside that was Made In Taiwan, and slap a giant price tag on it to seal the deal. Since holiday preparation is well underway and I'm seeing my fair share of Collector's Editions (or CEs as we like to call them in the industry; If it don't have an acronym, it ain't worth sellin'!), I may as well go with what I know and make The Chronicles of Alessandra a "CE". Please enjoy the latest trials and tribulations of her life in a series compilation. The tin box is this blog, the tchotchkie is my crappy narrative, and the giant price tag is...well...There really is no price that is worth these moments. As Mastercard would say, they're priceless.

The Chronicles of Alessandra: The Eli Edition

One of my "bestest" friends was in a bind and enlisted the Torres family for some help. Mission at hand: To watch over her baby boy Eli while she embarked on a last-minute road trip to Wisconsin. Number of hours commited: Less than 24. Now, if you know us at all, then you have an inkling that we are lovers of the four-legged variety. The ones that bark. (Meowers, not so much.) Ali is no different than her mama and daddy, only is too young to have the scruples to leave well enough alone. "Well enough" being poor, patient, calm, handsome-pants Eli. She chased after poor Eli for hours on end when he would be just lying ever-so-comfortably on the floor, undoubtedly just waiting for his own mama to come and get him For the Love of God and Please Let This Child Stop Climbing On Me and Chasing After Me With Toys and Brooms and Hitting Me When She Thinks She's Petting Me. Eli was such a trooper and put up with all of it and then some. Needless to say, he'll be a wonderful boy when it comes time for Angie to have her own wee ones, and it is also going to be a very exciting day when we will have our own child-friendly bow wow for Ali to call her own.

I like this guy!

I will chase after him with this broom! (Please note he has retreated to the foyer, tail sticking out just to the left of the piano.)

Eeeellliiiii???? Where did you goooooooooo???


Harassment continues throughout the evening...

Let's just say Eli was VERY happy when his mama came to get him the next day. We love you Eli! Thanks for being such an easy job!

The Chronicles of Alessandra: The Eating With Fork Edition

In this two part series, we'll explore our realization that we just never do know how well she'll do at something until we try it. Turns out, she's a natural when it comes to using a fork!

Stab

Eat!

The Chronicles of Alessandra: The First Haircut Edition

That beautiful head of curls had to get evened out sometime! Much to my husband and mother's chagrin, I scheduled an appointment with my own trusted stylist, Amy! She has been doing my hair for years and is the only one that I felt qualified enough to address the "baby mullet" that was taking over my child's adorable noggin. So, off to Estetica in St. Paul we went...

Before: Nappy McNapperton!

During: She was SO good in the chair! Dare I say that she may have even had a little bit of fun???

After: Hot Tamale!!! And even Ricardo agreed it looks much better. Now it will grow in nice and purty. :)

And there you have it, The Chronicles of Alessandra: Collector's Edition. Feel free to stick it up on your shelf and let it collect some dust. And please don't take it out of the box, as that will compromise the integrity of it's value.

Until next time,

RAD