Cozy Ruski Shoes?

I woke up on time: bright and early to get in a few hours of studying for my Neuroscience PhD qualifying exams, but had an email in my inbox about a potential subletter for the time we're in Africa. She wants to swing by tonight so... I had to whip our "student home" (=books everywhere, dishes in sink, enough to make this clean freak go mad!!) into shape. One hour later and we are dusted, vacuumed, and clean kitchen-ed. PHEWF.

I told a friend yesterday: I think we need a nanny!!

Amidst all this, I need to find time to shop for winter boots. Being a no car family, it's not easy to make it to the mall (the city is full of darling boutiques, but for a decision like this I need options...). We were unsuccessful over the weekend, but this morning as I was scrubbing the stove a faded memory of Russian felt boots that a missionary friend of mine owned came back to life. What were those called again??

Five minutes of google searching and -- victory! Valenki. Totally clunky, but I hear they are the most comfortable boots known to man. You are meant to cut them down to the height you want using a simple pair of scissors. And the galoshes are removable for dry weather or indoors wear. Perfect for another frigid Chicago winter, perhaps?

Scholar Drew

I've resigned myself to the fact that Drew would rather be sitting in this precise location reading--cup of coffee on hand & candles lit--than pretty much anything else. Period.

It's true. And cute.

I can only hope that our children take after his study habits and not mine... Should they take after me, they'll spend most of their study time on the couch with gchat & facebook open, a tv show streaming in the background and checking their email every 10 seconds. I know. Pathetic.