post-Christmas

Rob and I had a really good second married Christmas.  We spent his Christmas Eve with his side and Christmas day with mine.  There was a lot of eating (like...a lot a lot), lots of gift giving and receiving, and lots of family time.

It all started with Simon helping me wrap presents...

Here is the ornament I made for the tree this year: a Santa-ish gnome.  I did a super crappy job so it may not last but I thought it would be fun to make a new ornament every year, considering the animal ornaments I made last Christmas.

Jess & Ethan

Dan was the present distributor

Erik & Ethan

Jane helping Ethan open his presents.

A picture I was taking of Rob on his phone (always) that Ethan photo-bombed.

Third try at a family photo.  Ethan has clearly had enough at this point.

Anyway, that was Christmas Eve!  Stay tuned for Christmas day!

what's going on

You know those times when all you want is something sugary and sweet?  That is me, right now.  Of course it becomes a problem when your house is miraculously void of any and all sweets.  The only thing I could find was a drawer with yellow and orange starbursts scattered on the bottom (because, ew.  and I had to dump the rejects from Halloween somewhere?) and a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup in the fridge.  I can't work with that.  Note to self: stock up on sweets.

In other news, I found the Care Bears movie on Netflix and am currently viewing.  Somehow I remember it being way more awesome in 1986, but I guess I was approximately one year old, and my standards were a little different.  Rob is at his movie night, so Simon and I have the house.

Also I can't believe we're less than two weeks away from Christmas.  Luckily, Rob and I are almost done with all the family shopping.  Let me tell you, Christmas shopping after your husband lost his job/luckily found a new one/but hasn't been paid in over a month is lame.  We're going to feel so rich after the holidays.

Well, back to Care Bears.  Netflix really needs My Little Ponies.  Like, the original ones.  I freaking loved that show.

i heart carson ellis

Tonight while Rob and I were out, I picked up the book Wildwood, by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis.  Yes, I had to get it out of a section that was under a sign "Ages 7-12" but no, I didn't care.  I had first heard of the book from Design*Sponge of all places, because they were praising Ellis' artwork in the book.  And when I saw it in a display of "best books of the year" at Joseph Beth Booksellers during story time with little girl today, I knew I wanted to have it.

And while I haven't read a word of it (Rob immediately started reading it), I am delighted with the illustrations.  Carson Ellis is the bomb.  Also, while doing a bit of research I quickly discovered she designs stuff all the time for The Decemberists, which I find pleasing, because they are awesome.

Lovely.

um.

WHAT.  

This girl is 15.  FIFTEEN.  I want to be her when I grow up and I'm eleven years older than her.  

I really don't like Bon Iver because it's super boring but she made this song so so good.

So good.

p.s. Rob's still at work.  This is bullsh.

tonight..

Rob is working again :(  He left at 12:30 and is expecting to get back around 9.  BUT.  I am eating leftover fettuccine alfredo from a date to Biagio's Bistro last night while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and wrapping presents.  Also, I have Yankee candles in various scents of Christmas-y wonder going on through the house.  So, it is still a good night. :)

p.s. Yesterday my dad came and put up Christmas lights for me! (Rob had to work yesterday too, poor kid) I started out trying to do them myself, but had more than a little trouble.  And I have this irrational fear of climbing ladders, and without anyone there to call 911 when I inevitably fell off, I wasn't really in the mood to risk it.  I still need to get a wreath for the door and some garland and more lights to wrap around our lamppost and maybe door too!  But I am so excited to have our own Christmas lights!

kids say the darndest things

They really do.

I try to keep a mental tab of all the ridiculous things little girl says throughout the day.  She is quite a character and she is not even a little bit shy.  It is kind of embarrassing sometimes.

Today alone, we got:

while crossing the street
"umm...abi...we're kind of jaywalking."

while driving silently in the car
*sigh* "I wish I could sleep in a dog bed."

while washing hands in a public restroom
me: "oooh automatic faucets, just our style"
little girl: "how convenient!"

Also, she would have TORN. UP. this show.

little update

So, today Rob accepted an offer from his current contract job.  It is potentially a really amazing opportunity and I am praying that he gives his best and gets the most out of it.  It is crazy to think that at the beginning of this month we were freaking out that he lost his job, and within two days he found this contract position, and now will be making a significant chunk more than in his previous position!  I think it's safe to say we both feel really blessed and I am so proud of him.  He is so talented at what he does and I hope that this is the start of an awesome new chapter for him!

This is us on our cursed trip to Pennsylvania.  Still, it's all I have right now.

:)

bath number one

Simon had his very first bath today (at least here...not too sure about his former life).  He took it like a champ and hasn't shunned me yet, so I am pleased.  It may have something to do with the large amount of treats he was given throughout the course of said bath.  But now he is clean and smells good.  It all worked out.

guilty pleasures: part one

THIS SONG.

I was once told all white people like Kid Cudi.  It stands to reason, I guess.

Also...

THIS COVER OF THAT SONG.

Obviously.

p.s. look up her cover of lady gaga's bad romance.  i mean...what?!

i crocheted something i actually like!

Out of boredom the other night, I google image searched "crochet slouchy hat pattern free" and clicked on the very first picture.  I was directed to this lovely blog entry.  It took me two nights to finish (I got hideously frustrated with the way step 4 was written.  Turns out I am more beginner than beginner sometimes).  But all problems were solved and this is what I came up with.  I used leftover yarn that wasn't exactly the weight I was supposed to use but I still feel like it worked.  Perhaps less slouchy than it should be, but whatever.  I'm going to get more yarn tomorrow and try again.  It was fun and easy!  

You know, once I figured out step 4.

lost and found phone = photo dump.

Okay, so I went overboard.  But today I was looking for my iPod and I found Rob's old iPhone stuffed into my glove compartment.  Wondering if there was anything good on it, I charged it up in my car and found all these ridiculous/glorious pictures from days of old.  So naturally I put them aaalllll on my blog.

I do what I want.

And now I want to go to bed.

Goodnight.

cosmic love

I have definitely posted this video somewhere before, but I felt inclined to post it again, because I love this song so.  I also just got finished explaining to Rob that this song makes me think of The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, a book that totally rules, specifically the part where the main character, Kvothe, is seduced by this thoughttobemythical woman named Felurian, and he is in this woods-type place basically just doing it with Felurian (inappropriate) and he has absolutely no concept of time because there it is always twilight-ish and no way to distinguish between days.  He doesn't necessarily want to be there because he loves another girl but he feels trapped and this video just makes me feel like it was about that part of the book.

Well, after I told Rob this  he just said that I was weird and returned to his video game.  So maybe I'm crazy.  So you'll have to read it for yourself and tell me.

a picnic in november

how the chipmans unwind on a wednesday night

1. Take family myspace-style portraits.

2. Dance around Simon.

3. Scare Simon (lovingly)

4. Leave Simon thinking, "What the frick just happened?"

And that's pretty much it.

want.

Dear design*sponge e-mails, you put me in way too covetous of mood for 8:30 AM.  But for real, I need an exact recreation of this bathroom, stat.  Except for maybe those slippers, they are kind of silly.

<3

i know i'm getting a little ahead of myself.

But lately all I can think about is moving and owning our own home.  Don't get me wrong, I like where we live and I'm grateful to my parents for renting this house to us, but I long for having something I know is ours for real (kind of).  I have been thinking about school districts and things so when the time comes and we have kids we won't have to worry and know we are in a good place.  I want to get out of Kentucky, and probably head toward Mason or some place like that.  Rob's family is up there and they have a really good school district.  We are possibly years away from being in a position to do anything like this, but I want to get an idea of what we're looking for.

weekend summary

FRIDAY
Rob and I went out to dinner to relax/celebrate his new job that he obtained so quickly.  Praying everything works out [and continues to work out].  Afterward we went to see Ides of March with Anka.  The plot didn't exactly appeal to me (I hate politics...like, so much) but seeing as it was filmed in Cincy and I frequently passed the movie bus on my way to work I was curious to see what parts of the city they used in the film.  The movie was whatever, but it was kind of cool to see my city in a movie.
SATURDAY
Laundry, to start the day.  Typical Saturday stuff.  We did some shopping and I splurged on the new Coldplay album, Mylo Xyloto, and Feist's latest, Metals.  The new Coldplay is really good, but I think I will always prefer their early stuff.  Feist's new album is lovely.  I got it on vinyl since we have a record player now!  I listened to the entire thing twice while cleaning the house.
SUNDAY
We went to church.  Rob played bass in the worship band.  Afterward, we went to my parents' for lunch and then Rob left for home but I stayed because my mom asked me to photograph a shower she was having for a girl who recently started attending the church.  I got out of there around 5 and have been hanging around home alone ever since because Rob is playing Dungeons in Dragons at his old professor's house (nerd alert).

I'm praying for a smooth and peaceful week.  I really need one.

Every once in a while I attempt a self-portrait.  But I feel like I always look like I was just crying and my face looks so tired and worn out.  I promise I'm okay, haha. 

ups and downs

So, I wasn't going to write anything about this on here, but seeing as how we let both sides of the family know, I guess it's safe to say that Tuesday, Rob lost his job.  It was both expected and unexpected and has caused a crap ton of stress in the two days since it's happened.  Rob has been working hard revamping his resume and portfolio and sending them out.  And today, he got a call!  And then a job!  It's a 30-day contract that I am praying hard works out only if it is the right fit.  All this junk that went down at his last job is mind-boggling and I really don't want to him to have to go through that again.

Blech, even though he has been contracted by this company, I still can't stop feeling uneasy.  If you have ever found yourself in a position similar maybe you have felt the same way.

In other news, I went with little girl on her very first class field trip today.  They went to Sunrock Farm in Northern Kentucky and it was super cute.  I actually took the same field trip when I was in kindergarten...so only 21 years ago, haha.  She got to pet a rabbit and a cow, brush a horse, feed goats, hold a chick, and even milk a goat!  Though the only thing she really seemed to be interested in was how long until she got to eat lunch...ha.

So glad tomorrow is Friday...I could sleep for an entire day.

i love them.

TRICK OR TREAT

This morning I took little girl to Rob's office for trick-or-treating.  There are two preschools close by and I guess the office park decided to do a little something special for the kids.  Rob was told to dress up so I went through great lengths to find him a costume.  Do you know who he is?  I certainly hope you said "Waldo".  Because apparently people didn't know who he was.  We couldn't find a red-and-white striped shirt OR an appropriate toboggan so I cut up some of his old white tees and glued them to a red sweartshirt...ha.  And I made my first yarn pom ever and sewed it to a red hat.  Add a pair of rounded specs from Urban and voila! insta-Waldo.  Also, little girl was a witch, and she was really getting into it.

<3

that one time we went to the symphony

yesssss. I totally salvages this photo from our symphony extravaganza a few weeks ago from Rob's iPhone.  Photo quality aside, we were super fancy here after Philip Glass' award dinner thingy (I'm classy).  Now I just need to find somewhere else to go to justify the money I spent on this attire.

blurb

I have to keep this short, because my laptop battery is about dead and I am way too lazy to plug that crap in.

This weekend was crazy and fun.  Saturday our dearly beloved friends Paige and Jarrod had their wedding ceremony, which Rob and I were both in.  It was so much fun and everyone was so awesome.  Also, vegan cupcakes are good.

Sunday was my last Sunday teaching the 1st-4th graders (le sigh).  They are so bad.  I mean, really.  I spend the entire time just trying to deal with their ADHD and blatant disrespect.  There are about 3 kids I can count on to be good students.

However, afterward we headed up to Columbus for the Moving Mountains/O'Brother/La Dispute/Thrice show. To be honest, I only care about Moving Mountains.  I knew nothing about O'Brother and La Dispute but I like the 2nd newest album from Thrice, but it's not like I listen to it often or anything.  Anyway.  MOV MOU FREAKING KILLED IT.  Seriously.  It was such an amazing performance and after they played my heart was so full.  I mean literally, that's what it felt like.  I felt really happy and satisfied and it was almost weird.    We even bought their two full-lengths on vinyl (uhh...now we just need to get a record player?) and a copy of Waves for my brother, Isaac, who we met after the show for gyros (first time, and, ew), because I was feeling charitable.

Now I am ready for next weekend.

:) :) :)

when mom was a kid

 

I love it when I'm snooping around my parents and find photos like these.  This is my mom's school picture for I'm guessing first or second grade.  Her bangs crack me up.  I remember her complaining about how terrible her hair always looked because her mom would cut it herself, along with her other five siblings.  Also, finding photos of my mom is rare because my grandma hardly ever had their picture taken.  So this is a gem to me.

being lame at the museum

Vacation is over.  We had a last hurrah at the museum today.  Rob is having some bad vibes from work and I got called to come back 2 days early.  I guess it is true that all good things must come to an end.

transatlanticism

This is by far my favorite Death Cab for Cutie album.  Probably my favorite album, ever.  I don't play it too often these days, but with being home alone all day and cleaning the house, I decided to give it a listen.  It is my perfect fall nostalgia album, and it invokes a number of memories in me.

The first time I ever heard anything off of this album was the beginning of my sophomore year of college.  My very first boyfriend had just broken up with me about a month ago at the time, and I was super sad about it, though I made every effort to look like I didn't care.  I even asked if I could ride with him and our friends to cincinnati's labor day fireworks like we had the previous year, and he agreed to pick me up.  So this is putting our date at approximately September 6, 2004.  It is still extremely clear to me.  I was sitting in the back of the car and the nolongerboyfriend and our friend Nate were sitting up front.  Tiny Vessels was playing and they were singing along, talking about how awesome this album was.   I remember listening to the lyrics and feeling like my heart was actively breaking.  Well, it ended up that nolongerboyfriend once again became boyfriend but then we broke up again (multiple times throughout the next three years?).  However, through the chaos I obtained a copy of Transatlanticism  and it is my true fall nostalgia music.

Oh, to be nineteen again.

But for real, if you have never listened to this album you should stop whatever it is you are doing and immediately go do so.

:)

time off

Yesterday was glorious.

I mean, it didn't start out glorious.  It started out that I forgot to set my alarm and the only reason I woke up is that Simon helped himself onto the bed and started sniffing all over my face.  So, minor setback.  Then Simon wouldn't go to the bathroom and that always stresses me out because I don't want him having accidents in the house when I'm gone.  And then I left for work when I should have been getting there and I spilled blazing hot coffee in my lap in the car.  So, rough start.

Then little girl came over to our house for the first time ever because she has been dying to meet Simon.  Well, the sentiment was not reciprocated as punk dog growled at her from a distance the entire time.  And we were there for three hours.  Luckily, she was hardly phased by it, too enthralled to be at her nanny's house and occupied herself cutting up yarn all over the floor of Rob's office (the kid loves her some scissors) and reading the few children's books I have in the house as result from my children's lit class in college and some yard sale purchases I made back in the day when I thought I would one day have for the library in my own classroom (sometimes life doesn't work out).

But, what made yesterday truly glorious was that it was the last day for a week and a half.  Yep, I have the next week and a half off.  AND I GET PAID FOR IT.  Win.

Little girl's parents are heading to Vegas for her momma's work/a getaway and her grandparents are coming into town!  And then they are staying extra long so they can visit with little girl's parents as well on their return.  So....I am thrilled.  I really, really am looking forward to this break.  I woke up this morning and felt very relaxed knowing if I don't get every single thing done that I need to this weekend it's okay, because I have like  nine more days to get it done!  Yessssssss!

Rob and I are going to look up rates and may even go back to St. Joseph, Michigan, where we went for our one year anniversary.   We super loved it there and I feel like it would probably be really pretty this time of year.  Rob has already been granted vacation days for next Friday and Monday so we can have a four-day weekend together.  I'm excited.

Anyway, I'm going to go to laundry.

!!!

just because i find it hilarious...

So, in < three weeks Rob and I are going to be in our very first wedding together, as bridesmaid and groomsman.  You probably remember me talking about Paige and Jarrod?  Anyway, Paige has graciously allowed her bridesmaids to select a shirt and shoes of their choice, but we are all wearing matching skirts.  Well, I picked out a shirt a few months ago and held onto it, feeling good about my choice.  But now that it's getting closer, I am second-guessing myself.  To put myself at ease, I decided to have Rob take some pictures of me in my potential bridesmaid garb to send to Paige for approval.  Aaaand this is what I got:

and I saved the best for last...

If you even have the option, zoom in on my face.  oh. my. gee.  For real, I told Rob it looks like I got high as a kite and then he beat me up, took a picture, and Simon is too ashamed to even watch.  This is quite possibly the most unflattering photograph in the entire world.  I love it.

Rob, my love, you are quite the photographer.  

ALSO: hopefully I'm able to be a bit more photogenic for the wedding photos.  Just saying.

on organization and other weekend randoms

Ugh.  Is it really Sunday night?  Weekends are going by way too quickly as of late.  Mr. Chipman and I had a pretty full weekend (again) and therefore did not get a lot done in the way of home projects and things that at this point I seem to be perpetually putting off.

On Friday we drove Anka and her friend Marie to the airport.   After that we went to Dewey's (always).

Saturday, I did laundry.  So, so much laundry.  For a long while I was super good about keeping up with the laundry.  I would be able to do all the laundry each weekend in 3 loads and I would be completely caught up.  However, in recent weeks I have skipped over that chore and therefore spent hours Saturday morning/afternoon doing load after load of laundry.   And since it's getting so flipping cold here in the great midwest, I can no longer dry clothes outside :(  P.S. I am still not caught up with laundry.    I had to cut it short and start getting ready for that fancy American Classical Music Hall of Fame stuff I went to with Rob and his company.  We attended the symphony afterward and it was pretty good.  I mean, I was tired and the classical music wasn't doing much to keep me awake.  I love Music Hall, though.  Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures of us looking like total babes in all our formal wear.  Which is a shame, because I ended up dropping a lot of money to obtain some fancy clothes.

And now it's Sunday, and we spent sooooooooooo much time doing church stuff.  And then we got home and I was determined that we'd start organizing the home office.  Well, naturally I started stressing out and gave up, and now we have a desk, a broken chair, a storage bench, and a pile of random knickknacks sitting in the living room because I refuse to put them back in the computer room.  Blah, we really need to get that basement redone so I don't feel so bad about dumping this stuff down there.

Anyway, I know all this stuff is super enlightening but I'm going to spare anymore details of my exhilarating weekend.

i know i said i wouldn't...

...but come on, he's a cutie patootie.  yeah, i said it.

Also, I picked up this rabbit toy for Simon this past weekend and he carries it around like his baby.  

date night, etc.

I think this Saturday counts as a pretty good one.  Even though Simon the Wise has quite turned into Simon the Whiner, mourning his captivity between the hours of 3 and 7 AM, we have still decided to keep him :).  This little guy sure is rearranging our schedules.  Around 11, I met with Rob's coworker/friend, Alyssa, and we went to the mall and got dresses for the Music Hall business next Saturday.  Then Rob and I spent the afternoon hanging out/cleaning/Simon entertaining and then my parents came over for dinner.  I decided to invite them over when I realized we hadn't had them over for anything besides house maintenance since we moved, and I thought that was kind of crappy.  I made chicken parmigiana and it was delish.  We need to have Rob's fam over sometime for the same.

After my family left, we decide to turn the remaining hours of Saturday into a date night, traveling up to West Chester to use our Rave passes and see Moneyball.  It was a pretty good movie and being at Union Centre was like old, pre-married times.

Now we are laying in bed, dreading the fact we have the alarm goes off in less than 4 hours for church business.  We are also experimenting letting Simon sleep in our room tonight.  So far he is staying on his pillow from his crate at the foot of the bed, so that's good.

Aaaand that's all she wrote.

Goodnight, blogpeople.