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.

:)