Cate and I spent the morning driving out to Palmer for Ellianna's 5th birthday party. It was a surprise party for Ellianna, who was at a friend's house, and came home to find a few friends, presents, and cupcakes. For anybody who knows Ellianna, they'll know that this picture is quite unusual -- seeing Ellianna dressed as a princess. In general, she has shyed away from anything remotely "girly" preferring her horses and trains to her dolls and princesses. Recently, she has become more interested in traditional "girl" activities, so Brooke took advantage by hosting a princess tea party. Evan hid downstairs except to partake in the cupcakes. Too many princesses for his taste.

On the agenda that never seems to end:

• Clean house for houseguests coming tomorrow (Shannon and Charles and the kids arriving from Fairbanks! Yippee...another chance to try to convince them that they should move back to Anchorage)
• Go to the optometrist in the morning-- I think I need bifocals -- for real. My eyesight has gone to the dogs.
• Head to Costco for party snacks for Cate's birthday and dinner ingredients for hosting our guests.
• Bake barley-free, egg-free, dairy-free cupcakes for the party.
• Set up Self-Directed IRA custodian agreement for a retirement fund. Pronto. Make final decision about which agency will be best, and how to get it quickly set up.
• Determine next steps for meeting first deadline for client project....coordinate with Gwen.
• Get to library soon for "Suite Francaise" the new book club pick and to return all those videos and books on tapes. The kids have really been enjoying my rediscovery of children's books on tapes for car trips. Cate was in love with Kevin Henkes books before, but now they're completely memorized. If I have to listen to "Chester's Way" one more time, though, it may do me in.
• Praise God that Greg's new employees start next week. Greg's been in the office past 11:00 p.m. 3 nights this week (actually -- who knows, maybe tonight it'll be before 11:00? It's only 8:10 right now...maybe there's hope). He came home early one night for me to get to book club, but has been living at the office otherwise. Praying his employees will be good and quickly trained.