New addition

 So this morning, Alina comes upstairs where I was and says, "Mama, there's someone at the door."  I come down and, sure enough, someone at the door.  I sign something, and he leaves us this box:

 

OK, to be honest, I must admit that Alina was not dressed when the box arrived.  Neither was I.  We had, I assure you, accomplished many important things already, like eating breakfast, practicing math and violin, and making double-reed instruments out of drinking straws.  But, we had not actually gotten dressed.  Using the curiousity incited by the box, I insisted that everyone be dressed before we opened it.  Alina, sensing something important, insisted on wearing The Dress for the occasion.  She then suggested that everyone draw a picture of what they thought might be in the box.  Here is her masterpiece:

 She is a good guesser.

This new addition has been dubbed "Princess" and has already participated in an impromptu, home concert involving the imitating of raindrops falling and peals of thunder.  She (because of course a "Princess" is necessarily a "she") has taken up residence in a corner where she will be very happy until we have to put the radiator back in use, at which point, she will have to find a more temperature-neutral abode. 

This afternoon, Alina came to me and said, "Mama, did I really get a harp, or was that just a dream?"  Her huge grin said it all.