Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

2011 - it's only just begun


Nintendogs has entered this almost-3 year old's life. She's completely self-sufficient with this game. I fear I'll never get my DS back.

What has happened in the last month or so?

1. We all eventually recovered from the stomach plague. It took a lot longer than I thought it would. We didn't regain normal activity and eating until 2 weeks after it struck.

2. Now that I've paid for my registration, I shall announce it to the intarwebz: I am training for a sprint triathlon in July. There's more to the story of why I'm doing it and I will share that as the training progresses.

3. Because of #2 (heh...), I have been working out almost every day. And I enjoy it.

...

No really, I do! I think it's because I love our gym - great facility, great atmosphere, great people.

4. A gluten-free store and cafe opened up over the summer. I didn't realize their true significance to my life until I found they do carry out and take-and-bake pizzas. Tried our first ones on New Year's Eve. Heaven help me.

Yes, it's a good thing I enjoy my gym so much.

5. Our family Christmas present this year is a dishwasher. We are finally getting around to picking one out. I now know way more about dishwashers than I ever thought possible.

6. Speaking of Christmas, it was fantastic. There was a moment - a few days beforehand - that we thought my in-laws would be trapped in Nairobi for the holidays (due to terrible weather in Amsterdam that they needed to connect in), but they made it back safe and sound. Slight panic ensued when we heard there was a bombing at a bus station while they were supposedly still there. They left the day before.

7. At some point this month, I got so frustrated looking at our terribly inefficient, standard reach-in closet that I tore it apart to make a new one. I had every intention of making this a "me" project - showing that anyone can build their own custom closet (Califor.nia Closets be damned!), but ShankRabbit (and Peanut for a while) was intrigued and offered help. Projects are so much quicker when you have help.

I will have a post up when all is completed. Here's a sneak peek:


Before (ugh)


Current state (still in progress). Can you see the double closet rods on each side?


8. Got the chance to attend both Bears playoff games. At one point during the second one, we noticed a couple of F-16 fighter pilots* sitting at a table near us in the United Club. I told ShankRabbit, "hey, we should go over and say hi. I'd like to meet them." So, he tells me to follow him, taps their shoulders and says, "Hi. My wife has a thing for guys in uniform...can she take a picture with you?"

(Enter completely mortified expression and bright red face)

One of the guys responds with, "well, how can we say no to that?"

So, this picture was taken:


Pretty eventful December/January. A little scared and excited to see what February brings.

_____________
* - Despite what my husband said, I really wanted to meet them because what they do is so friggin' cool! Thanks to the power of the internet, here is the information on the fighter pilots that did the flyover after the National Anthem. I believe I met the two that coordinated the timing from the ground.

Friday, February 13, 2009

The Christmas quilt

So, I made my first quilt EVER as a Christmas present for my brother-in-law. The three brothers and three sister-in-laws exchanged names. The rules to the gift: 1) had to be handmade and 2) $25 limit on all materials.

I didn't have as much time as I would have liked and I also didn't have the appropriate tools (like a rotary cutter and board), so I had to make do. I think it turned out somewhat OK considering...




A modified version of the "rail fence" quilt. Since I didn't have a rotary cutter, my pieces came out in slightly different sizes, so I had to improvise...



As you can see in this close-up - the ends wouldn't have lined up, so I had to put a strip of fabric in between each row.

I didn't take a picture of it, but I tied off the quilt in the back. However, since I didn't have a large needle (I'm really good at having what I need, aren't I?), I had to do it with thick embroidery floss instead of the ribbon I bought for this purpose.

I think next time I make a quilt I'll be sure to have the appropriate tools.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Mewwy Chrimsas!

(title: my foster brother's version of "Merry Christmas" when he was little)

And now, go here to see a clip of Peanut enjoying her first Christmas. Forget gifts...wrapping paper is the way to go.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Monday Catch-Up

You would think I'd post more on the weekends - more free time and such...but it's just the opposite. Yes, we have more "free" time, but that's usually spent soaking up as much family time as possible.

Item 1: A breakfast I will not be eating...
ShankRabbit is flexing his piano/singing talent for the kiddies of "Breakfast with Santa" this year, so Saturday morning was very quiet without him around the house. While Peanut engrossed herself in her books (read: gnawed on), I got a chance to work on the uber-secret Christmas project.
I don't know how it happened - maybe it was the intoxicating thoughts of Christmas decorations, laughing kids, and wonderful tunes - but I will be playing an elf the next two Saturdays at this gig. I'm not making any promises, but a picture or two may be posted documenting this event.

I should have an elf name. Anyone got any ideas?

Item 2: Stay, Isabella...stay! Good girl!
As of the 23rd of December, I will officially be a "stay at home mom." I put that in quotes because I don't care for the phrase...and it's purely me being silly. I hear that term and think, "well, where else would I stay?"

I will miss this company and my coworkers immensely, but this is something ShankRabbit and I decided was the best for our whole family.

Time to dust off the Crock Pot!

Item 3: Randomness abounds!
I enjoy peppermint/mint tea. A lot. But don't put peppermint in my white chocolate mochas...I may have to hurt you.

I put Peanut to sleep in fleece pants and a fleece sweater last night because she peed on her last clean pair of fleece jammies. Not "peed in" as she usually does each night, but peed on...I hadn't quite gotten her diaper around her before she decided it was time to go.

Speaking of...

**This is a question for any mommies/babysitters/nannies/knowledgeable types. Peanut SOAKS through her diaper at least 2 times a week. It's not a fit issue...she just pees a lot! Does anyone know of how to remedy this (aside from changing her in the middle of the night...she already gets up once and I change her then, but most of the time this doesn't help)?

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Songs

The First Noel, O Christmas Tree, Deck the Halls, Away in a Manger, Feliz Navidad...those are just a sampling of the songs I associate with Christmas or holiday music. However, there is one they play on all the radio stations this time of year that doesn't make sense to me:

"My Favorite Things" - from The Sound of Music

What, just because they have a few lines about snow and sleigh bells, that makes it a Christmas song? According to Wikipedia:

The wintertime imagery of some of the lyrics has made "My Favorite Things" a popular song during the Christmas season, and it often appears on holiday-themed albums and compilations, although in the show and movie it is sung during a summer thunderstorm.

Huh.

So, I'm curious...what do you think?