I have hit a knitting block where Jon is concerned. Let's back up a little about three years. When I was pregnant I decided to learn how to double knit and make Jon a really cool scarf. Two years later the scarf was languishing and I decided to rip it out and start over. Six months after that, I finally knit a new scarf out of the old yarn, but it is ugly. I mean truly truly ugly. It is soft, though, and good colors, so he might like it (merry Christmas, honey!).
Last week I tried to start knitting him a new scarf with a cool cassette-tape-and-head-phones motif. It sucked, so I scrapped that project. Last night I started to knit a hat. I made it way too small. Scrapped again. I can't seem to get anything going where Jon is concerned.
Last month I made a very cute hat for Evelyn, kind of an eyelet beret situation. But....too big. So it will have to be some sort of Christmas present for someone with a bigger head.
What is the problem lately?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Take back
Remember in my last post when I said Evelyn is getting bigger and more wonderful each day? I take that back.
This morning, while Jon was in the bathroom, she found a glass Christmas tree ornament (one that wasn't even on the tree and we have no idea where it came from) and scratched the living hell out of our flat-screen TV. It's bad.
Then she changed the settings on the dishwasher, which melted a pyrex container lid.
Add that to the dresser-falling-on-top-of-her-as-she-balanced-in-the-top-drawer incident, the crayons all over the bedroom TV incident, the mascara all over the eyes (and couch!) incident, and I think she has a touch of the crazies. It's genetic, I fear, as my brother and I used to torment my mother with similar shenanigans.
Also, last night she walked into my room and said, "Rachel, I need some ice cream." Huh?
Heaven help us as she gets even taller and craftier.
This morning, while Jon was in the bathroom, she found a glass Christmas tree ornament (one that wasn't even on the tree and we have no idea where it came from) and scratched the living hell out of our flat-screen TV. It's bad.
Then she changed the settings on the dishwasher, which melted a pyrex container lid.
Add that to the dresser-falling-on-top-of-her-as-she-balanced-in-the-top-drawer incident, the crayons all over the bedroom TV incident, the mascara all over the eyes (and couch!) incident, and I think she has a touch of the crazies. It's genetic, I fear, as my brother and I used to torment my mother with similar shenanigans.
Also, last night she walked into my room and said, "Rachel, I need some ice cream." Huh?
Heaven help us as she gets even taller and craftier.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was so easy this year, most especially because I have so much to be thankful for. My family is healthy and happy. My job is relatively secure, considering the economy. Jon's shop is breaking even. My daughter is growing so fast I can hardly believe it, but she gets more fun and interesting every day.
What could be better?
Good food, that's what. And I had that in spades on Thanksgiving day!
Our happy Thanksgiving was marred on Saturday when our dog Tucker suddenly fell quite ill and had to be put down. It was really hard to say goodbye, but I'm glad he wasn't in pain for too long. We were able to take him to the vet who had helped us keep Tucker healthy for five years longer than anyone expected him to live. We said our goodbyes and, in keeping with the season, gave thanks that he was really only sick for one day. It was quick, and we miss him.
Now our family is focused on Christmas. We cut down our Christmas tree from the same farm we've gone to for three years, and this year Evelyn was much more involved. She carried the saw around (in a sheath), helped "cut down" little baby trees, and then helped me pull the tree back to the main entrance. Ev helped us decorate the tree on Friday and is a big fan of turning on the lights. She even got a string of lights in her bedroom.
The holiday season is a busy one, but a fun one, too. I can't wait to make my first batch of sugar cookies!
What could be better?
Good food, that's what. And I had that in spades on Thanksgiving day!
Our happy Thanksgiving was marred on Saturday when our dog Tucker suddenly fell quite ill and had to be put down. It was really hard to say goodbye, but I'm glad he wasn't in pain for too long. We were able to take him to the vet who had helped us keep Tucker healthy for five years longer than anyone expected him to live. We said our goodbyes and, in keeping with the season, gave thanks that he was really only sick for one day. It was quick, and we miss him.
Now our family is focused on Christmas. We cut down our Christmas tree from the same farm we've gone to for three years, and this year Evelyn was much more involved. She carried the saw around (in a sheath), helped "cut down" little baby trees, and then helped me pull the tree back to the main entrance. Ev helped us decorate the tree on Friday and is a big fan of turning on the lights. She even got a string of lights in her bedroom.
The holiday season is a busy one, but a fun one, too. I can't wait to make my first batch of sugar cookies!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A perfect storm
This is what happens when:
1. Jon is busy in the kitchen and thinks Evelyn is quietly watching TV.
2. I leave my expensive, waterproof, Chrisian Dior mascara on the bathroom counter after getting ready in the morning.
That baby loves putting on make-up...
1. Jon is busy in the kitchen and thinks Evelyn is quietly watching TV.
2. I leave my expensive, waterproof, Chrisian Dior mascara on the bathroom counter after getting ready in the morning.
That baby loves putting on make-up...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Curious and curiouser
The thing about Evelyn being so dang cute, is that it is hard to explain the cuteness and share the cuteness and blog about the cuteness. But seriously, she is so dang cute.
Last night was particularly fun. I don't know if it was the first snowfall or the return from a fun day with her Grandma Lew or just the position of the moon, but Evelyn was in a really fun, goofy, happy mood. She was singing and talking and being silly. She can now say my first name! And Jon's name! I have no idea where she picked that up, but if you ask her what is her mom's name, she'll say "Rachel."
At one point last night, she was carrying a ball of yarn and a giant unopened bag of powdered sugar around the kitchen and told me she was looking for a special place to hide it. She wandered around until she decided to "hide" it back in the pantry where it came from in the first place.
Perhaps the funniest incident of the whole night was Evelyn thinking Tucker was "sick" and needed to be taken care of. But let me back up. Evelyn found a ball of pink yarn in my yarn stash (actually, I brought it out of the stash), and since it was all messed up and tangled anyway, I let her have it. She would put it on her head and call it a hat, or throw it across the room. Then she started playing tug-o-war with Sophie. Evelyn would tease the dog with the big unruly yarn ball, Sophie would grab it with her teeth, then there would be much pulling and running and laughing. Once that fun game ended, Evelyn wanted Tucker to play, too. So she took the pile of yarn and put it on his face. When he didn't return her enthusiasm, she said, "Tucker's sick!" and proceeded to bring him all sorts of things to make him feel better. First her bottle, then her step stool. Next, a potato (why?), a spaghetti squash, and an oven mitt. Then she put the oven mitt on her hand and pet his head and told him he was a good boy. It was about the most adorable/hilarious thing I've ever seen.
Later that evening we walked around the neighborhood in the first snowfall of the season. I taught Ev about snowballs and she tried to step in every puddle on the sidewalk. It was a lot of fun.
There are days and moments of pure frustration and exhaustious, tantrums or whining, but on the whole we are so lucky to have such a happy, fun child. It is a blessing.
Last night was particularly fun. I don't know if it was the first snowfall or the return from a fun day with her Grandma Lew or just the position of the moon, but Evelyn was in a really fun, goofy, happy mood. She was singing and talking and being silly. She can now say my first name! And Jon's name! I have no idea where she picked that up, but if you ask her what is her mom's name, she'll say "Rachel."
At one point last night, she was carrying a ball of yarn and a giant unopened bag of powdered sugar around the kitchen and told me she was looking for a special place to hide it. She wandered around until she decided to "hide" it back in the pantry where it came from in the first place.
Perhaps the funniest incident of the whole night was Evelyn thinking Tucker was "sick" and needed to be taken care of. But let me back up. Evelyn found a ball of pink yarn in my yarn stash (actually, I brought it out of the stash), and since it was all messed up and tangled anyway, I let her have it. She would put it on her head and call it a hat, or throw it across the room. Then she started playing tug-o-war with Sophie. Evelyn would tease the dog with the big unruly yarn ball, Sophie would grab it with her teeth, then there would be much pulling and running and laughing. Once that fun game ended, Evelyn wanted Tucker to play, too. So she took the pile of yarn and put it on his face. When he didn't return her enthusiasm, she said, "Tucker's sick!" and proceeded to bring him all sorts of things to make him feel better. First her bottle, then her step stool. Next, a potato (why?), a spaghetti squash, and an oven mitt. Then she put the oven mitt on her hand and pet his head and told him he was a good boy. It was about the most adorable/hilarious thing I've ever seen.
Later that evening we walked around the neighborhood in the first snowfall of the season. I taught Ev about snowballs and she tried to step in every puddle on the sidewalk. It was a lot of fun.
There are days and moments of pure frustration and exhaustious, tantrums or whining, but on the whole we are so lucky to have such a happy, fun child. It is a blessing.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Halloween
Our little cowgirl. (And yes, mom, when I asked Evelyn if she was a boy or girl, she said girl. She also said I was a girl, and her dad was a girl.) Evelyn really enjoyed Halloween, the costumes, the candy, the candy, and--oh right--the candy. We went to Boo at the Zoo on Sunday morning and then trick-or-treating that evening.
For the official trick-or-treating, Evelyn wanted to put on "cowboy makeup," which she had to do herself, hence the black eye. She also had a "boo boo" on her cheek, which required a band-aid. There was nothing on her cheek, in case you were wondering, but it required a band-aid just the same. Funny how a pink Hello Kitty bandage can cure all sorts of ills. As can kissing it better. Magic!
For the official trick-or-treating, Evelyn wanted to put on "cowboy makeup," which she had to do herself, hence the black eye. She also had a "boo boo" on her cheek, which required a band-aid. There was nothing on her cheek, in case you were wondering, but it required a band-aid just the same. Funny how a pink Hello Kitty bandage can cure all sorts of ills. As can kissing it better. Magic!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Saving money is ADDICTIVE
It was a last-minute need. Jon is still suffering from congestion and coughing more than a week after the rest of his cold symptoms abated, and he was out of cough suppresent. Bedtime in two hours. In times past, I would have run to Walgreens, because I like that drugstore better, grabbed whatever name brand cough syrup looked best, and spent $8. Not a big expense, and when you consider that it kept Jon's coughing down so we could both sleep, a very reasonable expense at that.
But last night I decided to put my savvy shopper skills to use. I grabbed that week's Rite-Aid and Walgreens circulars to see if they had any cough syrup on sale. Huzzah! Using my Rite-Aid member card (which I signed up for a while ago, just in case I needed it), I could get a bottle of Tylenol cough on sale for $5 plus a $1 rebate. But I thought I could do better, so I fired up the old computer and did a 30 second search for Tylenol coupons and found one that gave me $3 off two purchases. So instead of buying one bottle of cough/cold medicine at $8, I was able to get TWO bottles for $5. That's $2.50 a piece, or a 70% savings. So very awesome.
After work I am going to the grocery store to get our weekly haul and I am super excited because I have 21 items on my list, 16 items that have a coupon (or two), four items that are on sale with no coupon, and only ONE ITEM on my list that has neither a sale nor a coupon price. In fact, if that ONE thing on my list doesn't have a brand on sale, I won't buy it. I'll make my own pasta sauce from the haul of tomatoes we got from our CSA. Also, part of my mad couponing skills will generate boxes of cereal as low as $0.99 a box.
I just feel like such a dupe for paying full price for so many things for so many years. There are thousands of coupons available, numerous sales and tons of special deals--not to mention the hundreds of websites dedicated to doing the legwork and finding everything for you--it is just so easy to spend less. And when I spend less on my list of groceries, it makes me want to spend less everywhere. No, not spend less, consume less. Consume fewer things, spend less when we do, be happy. Maybe that is my new mantra.
Why couldn't I have figured this all out five years ago? Time is an excellent educator.
But last night I decided to put my savvy shopper skills to use. I grabbed that week's Rite-Aid and Walgreens circulars to see if they had any cough syrup on sale. Huzzah! Using my Rite-Aid member card (which I signed up for a while ago, just in case I needed it), I could get a bottle of Tylenol cough on sale for $5 plus a $1 rebate. But I thought I could do better, so I fired up the old computer and did a 30 second search for Tylenol coupons and found one that gave me $3 off two purchases. So instead of buying one bottle of cough/cold medicine at $8, I was able to get TWO bottles for $5. That's $2.50 a piece, or a 70% savings. So very awesome.
After work I am going to the grocery store to get our weekly haul and I am super excited because I have 21 items on my list, 16 items that have a coupon (or two), four items that are on sale with no coupon, and only ONE ITEM on my list that has neither a sale nor a coupon price. In fact, if that ONE thing on my list doesn't have a brand on sale, I won't buy it. I'll make my own pasta sauce from the haul of tomatoes we got from our CSA. Also, part of my mad couponing skills will generate boxes of cereal as low as $0.99 a box.
I just feel like such a dupe for paying full price for so many things for so many years. There are thousands of coupons available, numerous sales and tons of special deals--not to mention the hundreds of websites dedicated to doing the legwork and finding everything for you--it is just so easy to spend less. And when I spend less on my list of groceries, it makes me want to spend less everywhere. No, not spend less, consume less. Consume fewer things, spend less when we do, be happy. Maybe that is my new mantra.
Why couldn't I have figured this all out five years ago? Time is an excellent educator.
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