Yay, doggies

As promised, here are a few pics of our new dog, Belle. They aren't the greatest, since I took them indoors on my cell phone, but you will still see her adorableness.

Belle is a rescue, about one year old, and some sort of pekinese/shih tzu/something mix. We're not sure. She's really cute, a bit smaller than Sophie, but about the same weight.

It doesn't seem like she was abused in her previous life (hooray!) but I think she was neglected. When she was rescued from a high-kill shelter in Kansas, the foster home said she didn't know how to use stairs, had never seen a TV, and was not housetrained. It seems like she was kept outdoors with the rest of her litter. She was matted and had fleas, but, thankfully, is in good health.

Sophie is being a bit territorial about her special sleeping places or the places she buries treats, but on the whole Sophie and Belle are getting along. They play, wear eachother out, and that is really what it is all about.

And now on to the pictures!

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

Die, Angelina Ballerina

As a parent of a small child in the 21st century, I watch my fair share of horrible children's TV. There are definitely some shows that are better than others, some that make me want to stab my eyeballs, and even some that have grown on me. Evelyn is a big fan of movies, too, but those are a lot easier to regulate.

Her favorites are Pixar and Disney, not surprsingly. She's gone through a Fantastic Mr. Fox phase, a Monsters, Inc. phase, and a Babe phase. She really likes The Princess and the Frog and  Beauty and the Beast right now, but she doesn't like the pricesses, she likes the animals. We're getting her Toy Story 2 for Christmas and I think she'll really like the toys and cowgirl.

Movies are fine. Aside from Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure, we haven't had any real stab-your-eyeballs-out movie obsessions. Television, though, that is different.

Luckily, Evelyn's favorite shows are Yo Gabba Gabba! (a real winner), Caillou (it used to annoy me, but it is OK now) and Kipper (calm and soothing British animals). She will occasionally want to watch Dirt Girl (which is weird, but ok), and Roary the Racing Car (harmless). The one that really grates on me, and I hate it, and sometimes it comes on right after Kipper and Evelyn ends up wanting to watch it, is ANGELINA BALLERINA.

It is an insipid show about whiney, manipulative mice who dance ballet and generally annoy everyone. I hate it. Absolutely horrible.

So what shows have your kids liked that you absolutely hate?

(Also, we got a new dog! Will post pics soon!)

Sis-o-law

I have a pretty cool sister-in-law, keeping with the spirit of my generally all-around cool family-in-law, and she is hand-making all of her Christmas gifts. I wish I had had the foresight to do the same, although I would have had to have started back in May. Still, it is such a nice idea.

Aside from children, does anyone really expect or want lavish expensive presents from the adults in their life? No. Hand made presents, chosen with the recipient in mind and given the attention and time that is so lacking in most of our lives, are much more thoughtful. I love the idea. Maybe 2011 will be the year of handmade gifts!

I was able to think far enough ahead to make a few gifts. Jon is getting that horrible scarf. I've got something on the needles right now that is turning out quite nicely, although I can't say who they are for. And I knit that thing over there and those right there. Evelyn even got in on the action this year.

I suppose it is the thoughtfulness of a handmade gift that is so special, and that needn't come only with handmade items. A thoughtfully chosen scarf in your friend's favorite color, or your husband's favorite brand of shoes, or a hat with your sis-o-law's derby team colors would be just as nice, even if you bought it.

Thoughtful = awesome.

Knitting block

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?

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.

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!

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...