Smellyann Strikes Again

Ramblings

Today, the mail brought Chloë's clothes that I left behind in the hotel room when we overslept and I had to drag her out of bed and put her on the plane in her pj's. It was the iPOP souvenir shirt that all the performers signed for her, so I was so chagrined at LAX when I realized it was still in the drawer along with her undies and jeans. We still have one student left to sign it, so I'm glad it's back in our hot little hands.

Note to Oompa: Pleeeeaaaaase tell me how to take a picture so that the foreground is in focus and the background isn't? I did it once, but I don't know what I did, and I've been unable to reproduce it. I want to take cool pictures of stuff, too! And btw, what's the next step on our quilted squares?

It was freezing this morning when I put Chloë on the bus for her first day back to school. What a long break that was. Remember that guy, Robert, who I renamed something else? Craig, that's it. Robert-not-Craig and I talked about our holidays and his son who's in the military and our adventures in L.A., at the bus stop and on the way back to our respective houses. I had a point for bringing him up, but now I forget.

I put Jack on the bus and then ran into a shower before Jadey got here. I was still running late and had to throw on my clothes as I ran down the stairs, hair sticking every which way, when the doorbell rang. Sophie and I got dressed lickety-split, and then we went to my dr. appointment. I told him about not being able to wake up fully for the past week, the headaches and dizziness, and he thought it was just from traveling and jet lag. For a whole week?!! That's kind of a long time, so he wants me to go in for a full check-up. Meh. I probably won't. Have to do that soon for the drastic bypass anyway. Ooh, speaking of which, I have to remember to do one last blood test after a fast. Remind me Wednesday when Jadey's not here!

So then we drove over to Michael's to get the embroidery floss and beads for the friendship bracelet that "Chloë" has to make (psht, right) for trading at Brownies on Thursday. I saw much signage trumpeting the now-openness of the new Panera and just had to go in for lunch. I recognized a lot of the employees from the other Paneras around. Lunch was good. The place was hoppin'. They don't quite have everything down pat yet, but I'm sure they will when we go in next. Week.

We picked up our crafty things next door, taking care not to turn our heads to the right our left and get inspiration for some other crafty thing that would invariably cost a lotta money, and then we went to the bank. For the second time, since I went last night and found the depository not working. And what? It's closed again. Argh!! I would've driven down to the next branch, but I had to get home for Jack.

By the time we got home, I was feeling the annoying overwhelming drowsiness again. I sat down. Jack came home. Chloë came home. And soon, thankfully, Rob came home, and we put Jadey and the kids down for a nap, and I took one myself. I'm glad it was a short one. Lately, I'd been asleep more than awake, and it's frustrating to lose that much time.

I talked to the agents in L.A. today. I think they're getting annoyed with me calling, but so what. They never answered my question about exclusivity on Friday, and I need to know before we sign with NYC and Orlando. I called NYC again today and still haven't heard back. I'm hoping we can get that contract straightened out and then go up for maybe MLK day for a signing. Don't know why I can't just sign it and mail it to them like L.A. but whatever. Hey, trip to New York! We're hoping to take Stephanie-babysitter along and make a fun deal out of it. And maybe her husband. And maybe mine. Depending. He can't take any more days off though, or he won't have enough for the cruise, and you know I'm not missing that!

Well, that's all. I have cat litter to vacuum up.

Fin.

I'm Supposed To Be [insert just about anything else here]!

Welp, Christmas is over. It's good I told you that. Otherwise, you might not know.

My dad came in late last Sunday night - scared me half to death, even though I expected him any minute. We have café curtains in the bay window in the kitchen, where I was sitting doing my scrapbook. Next thing I know, 'tap, tap, tap' on the window, and I look up and see this big giant head. Ahhh! Thus it began.

The visit actually wasn't so bad this time. I had emailed him ahead of time that I didn't want any of that political, racist crap, and I wasn't going to wait on him hand and foot this time. Yay, me! Therapy's good for something. And he emailed me back without being all pissy and for the most part, he stuck with it.

So. Monday was Christmas Eve, and after we sat around (I watched Jade, who warmed to my dad instantly, and snuggled with him), we went to church for the singing and the candle-lighting that I so enjoy. Our attendance has been awful since we had Sophia - so, yeah, way too long ago to still be a good excuse - but the routine has just been all but shot since then. Oh, well. We try.

My dad, a steadfast Christian Scientist, seemed to really enjoy the service, although later he insulted my church as "harmless but useless." Shall I go there? Okay, at least I learn about what Jesus said there, intead of just what Mary Baker Eddy wrote. And after 65 years of going to the same church, he still hates every group who represents something he is not? I don't know if I'd call that harmless... so I guess we're even. BUDDOW!

But back to the Christmas spirit. ;)

We went home and had dinner - I'd stuck a frozen Smithfield marinated pork loin in a Pamper's Chef baker's stone before we left, turned on the oven, and bam! Savory smells greeted us when we arrived home. It was done!  Of course, I didn't eat it, but the boys seemed to enjoy it, as did The Human Garbage Can a.k.a. Sophia.

Then we opened our stockings, our Christmas Eve tradition. But we forgot our other one: Rob reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to the kids! Just completely left it out. Whoops. The kids went crazy with their stockings, even though I had really nothing in there but different candies this year, having put all the stocking loot in the attic with the 'big' stuff. Even my dad had a stocking - albeit containing nothing but a lump of coal - but he seemed to enjoy that.

Bed for the kids, then hours and hours of wrapping presents, for me. I'm so freaking fat now, my feet go numb soon after I sit on the floor, so it was an arduous process. (I can't wait 'til January 31st!!) I bought one of those new zippy paper cutter things from Scotch, and it was a bust. I prefer my nice sharp scissors, TYVM. Maybe when I get thinner and regain some agility, but for a big blog with short limbs who's stuck mainly in one spot, it didn't really do the trick.

Tuesday, the big day! After getting to bed around 2:30 AM, the kids woke us up at 8-something. Aghhhh. I made some cinnamon buns for breakfast (love that pop-open can stuff when you're too tired to think!), and then we headed in for the big mêlée. It was overwhelming. To me. And my dad kept saying the same thing. He was pretty much in a state of overwhelm during the entire visit, with the kids constantly crawling all over him, calling his name, wanting to show him something, tell him something or do something with him, and Christmas was even more so. He's a complete neat freak. I am, to an extent - but nothing like my father. No one is. I promise. He just kept looking at the toys (which are still there, by the way. Haven't moved. Well, to be played with, yes, but put away? Nope. Where?!) and paper and shaking his head, whimpering. I rather enjoyed his distress until he started bitching about it and yelling at the kids to clean up. 'Scuse me? Because I think it's my house, and those are my kids, and that is my job. And it's Christmas, for crying out loud.  Let them play with their new crap awhile! He caught me glaring at him over that.

The house shrinks a little bit every time someone comes to visit, y'know what I mean?

So Wednesday, Jade came back, and I felt like absolute crap. I had her in the bouncy seat for much of the day, so she wouldn't hurt herself with all the little toys spread everywhere, and I sat down on the couch for a breather. Rob and my dad were right there... next thing, I woke up to find Jade missing from her seat. Dad had picked her up and was napping with her on the couch. It warmed my heart. And not just a small bit because she's the brown baby. Who knew he liked little kids so much?? Between that Jade-snugging and the amount of time he spends playing with my kids, he really surprises me as a grandpa. He's definitely the fun one. He gets down. He gets into it. He only stops when he's really, genuinely tired. The man has some positive attributes, after all. (heh)

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I was supposed to have Jade, and all three days her mother called to say that her mother was going to keep her. Um, okay. (A) I really enjoyed the time I didn't have her, and (B) if I'm going to do this job, I'm going to want consistency and a constant paycheck. So that was the straw the broke the camel's back for me. I called her tonight and told her that it was no rush and I'd keep Jade until then, but she needed to find alternate childcare. It's a relief. I like Jade - love her, even - but organizing our schedule around hers has been a huge PITA.

So that's that. We did a ton of laundry, Chloë and I. I swear, I cannot climb that mountain. Who's the dude who kept having to push that rock up the hill? That's me, with the laundry. It used to be something I just did on Sundays. Now it's All. The. Time. UGH!!  But Chloë negotiated a $2 pay with me for helping with the laundry, and that meant she had enough money to buy another Webkinz when I paid her that and her allowance today. Cha-ching! She got the bullfrog and named her Lilly; that makes 12 for us. Do you know they don't give you a new room for your 10th and up - and you also can't use the pet's name when you buy a room for it and rename it? That's so annoying!!!  In other Webkinz newz, I gave her 9 charms and a bracelet for Christmas so we now have access - full, at that - to the Charm Forest! Fun stuff. (LOL!)

I took her to iPOP class today. She is so ready!!  I will be aghast if she blows it in Los Angeles. Just beside myself. She is doing so well, I would be shocked. Sean was really proud of her, and his wife came in and listened to her monologue today, too. She loved it and gave her muchos kudos.  Then she did her scene and her monologue again, for the ladies out front, and she did great. Good, good, good. We leave in four days!!! And last night, she was in the middle of saying grace when she switched gears and started saying the lines from her monologue. During grace!! It was pretty funny...

While we were at the mall today (for a lunch shop at Charley's Steakery or whatever), I looked in at both Gymboree and TCP for some cute clothes for her auditions - no dresses, or everyone will see her unnerpannies - and I was just so overwhelmed with the choices that we left. 'Sides, she's got lots of cute stuff. So we went to that boutique I love, the one that's going out of business, to see if there was anything, but they are practically empty. Bummer! I wanted to find a cute dress for Sophie too, but nothing. They have bitty baby girl clothes, and the only bitty baby girl I know is Lisa's Emilie, but she has no reason for a fancy party dress. Even a gorgeous little tangerine one. So I bought a bunch of hair doodles, a tiara, and a necklace-and-earring set, so we have lots of options for iPOP.

And that's my story, folks. Now to do those reports (oh yeah, we went to Bennigan's tonight for dinner. They sucked!!! as expected.)

Fin.

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

(Warning: this is super long!) Well, it's been a whirlwind few days around here. Friday, I had Jade all day. I got a phone call that day to do a car wash mystery shop, so the little girls and I went to do that. Sophia freaked out a little inside the automated part. Guess she hasn't been to one in a while. After Jadey went home, we went to Red Robin for dinner, for another shop. That's about it.

Saturday was kinda crazy. Jade was supposed to be with us all day, but thankfully, her mom called and said she wasn't. Good thing. We got up early and went to Chloë's school for the big Breakfast with Santa event - our first Advent activity. The kids each had a ticket to see Santa, which got them a Polaroid picture, a candy cane, and a little present. Chloë told me she asked Santa for a guitar for Christmas. Keep dreaming, child! Then the five of us had a ticket for breakfast, which was basically a muffin, bagel or donut, and juice or milk. It was fun, though.

Sophia and Jack each got a stuffed ball, and Chloë got a snowman. After breakfast, the kids ran around the cafeteria, played with their new toys, and greeted friends. We're getting to know so many people now, thanks partly to our PTA involvement and partly to everyone knowing who Chloë is at that school! She has a way of making herself known.

On the way home, we stopped at a church that was putting on a live nativity display. The players were all kids with no supervision, and I wasn't terribly impressed with their behavior, but it gave us another opportunity to talk about Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and, well, the reason for the season!

The kids crowded around to pet the sheep and goat, and then we headed home for Jack to get a much-needed nap. I think Sophie did, too. Anyway.

Next, we went to Chloë's acting school for her final day of her TV Commercial Acting class. The kids demonstrated their warm-ups for us, and then they each did their commercials and took some direction to show their 'versatility.' I wouldn't say Chloë is any more or any less talented than any other six-year-old, based on that - so I guess she'll really have to work those curly curls and general adorableness! ;)

We drove to Moe's (Welcome to Moe's!) after that, in Norfolk, for a lunch mystery shop. Well, lunner. Dunch. Something like that. Now, we've never really had any reason to drive straight from downtown Chesapeake to downtown Norfolk, so I got us a little bit lost - twice - before finally getting on the right path. I don't like getting lost. I'm not the kind of person who just gets in the car to drive, without a plan. I don't enjoy it. (Nevermind the wastefulness and pollution, which are also on my mind...) So I was glad to figure things out for myself and get where we needed to go.

The shop wasn't that great, but as always, the food was. Seriously, you should go. Between Panera and Moe's, I don't know which "casual restaurant" we've learned about from mystery shopping I like more. See, that's how they get ya. You think you're getting paid to do these jobs, but really, they want to get you in the door to see how good their stuff is. Remember last year, I wanted to buy the $8G piano? And that diamond ring? And the massage chair? Yeah. But I digress.

So then we went home for Jack to take another nap (growth spurt, maybe?? His pants are fitting a little short lately), and for me and Sophie to take one, too. I crashed. Rob took Chloë to her iPOP! preparation class. We just have a month left before the trip to Los Angeles! I've been thinking so much about the Europe trip that this one has completely slipped from my consciousness. We've really got to start getting ready. I need to find a *gag* dress for the big gala thingy. Oy. Anyway, so they went to class while the rest of us slept, and I really have no recollection of what we did for dinner. I do know that Rob and I watched Georgia Rule (we both gave it a 5 out of 5), and then he fell asleep while I watched Perfect Stranger with Halle Berry & Bruce Willis (eh. I give it a 3) and did a whole bunch of knitting on that lacy baby sweater. Then I set up the new Christmas tree. I haven't even fixed the branches on it, so it's not decorated or anything. It's just there. For the cat to climb in. Which excites all the kids to no end. I kinda like it, too. Especially when she falls. That's funny.

Sunday. I was so tired from staying up knitting and watching mervies that I didn't get up and do the Dunkin Donuts shop I was supposed to do. Well, I can do it up until Wednesday, but I really didn't want to have to wake up the Tots to go with me. I woke up just long enough to, I don't know, check my email and drink some juice, before I fell asleep again. On the fainting couch in the office, which was supposed to be mine where I could crash out anytime I desired, but which I almost never actually use except for dumping mail and stuff.

But then I got up, showered, and got my scrapbooking stuff out for my big scrapping date with Stephanie (the babysitter).  (I guess I probably don't need to say that anymore, since Stephanie who lives in Canada and I don't get to hang out very often. Ever.) (Speaking of which, are you still going to meet us in L.A., Steph?? :D) I set up my new Cricut, and my seven new Cricut cartridges, and I admired them and admired them until the shine wore off. Stephanie came, the kids sang a song to her for their second Advent avent, and we gabbed and exchanged ideas and worked very slowly on our actual projects and didn't get a whole lot done! It was fun, though. Being crafty is fun. Being crafty with a friend is even more.

And Rob called his dad for his birthday. Happy birthday, Al!

So after she left, I pretty much scrapped the night away - stopping only to do a quick shop at the Sonic around the corner with Rob and the kids - and got a bunch of pages done. I love my new toy! I definitely recommend it. The only thing is, I've put so much wear on it by now, I already need to replace the blade and cutting mat. Kind of a pain. At least it came with a couple replacements of each.

I took a break to type up Chloë's résumé, since we finally got her head shots back on Saturday, get our Christmas cards out since Rob picked up the Sears pictures while we scrapped, and make Chlo's "team" t-shirt. Oh, and I went grocery shopping, too. I only saved $22 in coupons this time, which is the lowest in a long time. But, I also spent less than usual too, so I guess it's all good.

Today, well, I forgot to bring my cell phone up to bed last night, which is my main alarm clock (in the form of both the program on the phone and Rob calling to wake me up!), so I way overslept. Way. I slept all the way until I had to get Jack up for school. Oops-a-daisy, that's not good. So I got all three kids ready (deja vu; we just did this last week), got Jack off to school, and then Soap and I drove Chloë in. But not before we opened our third Advent activity: ride the rides at the mall! The kids were looking forward to doing that all day long and never let me forget about it.

I had Baby Jade all day again today, after the kids went off to school, and it was good to see her again. She's definitely used to us by now and just jumped right in. The little girls sat in the kitchen with me while I scrapped until Jack returned from school. I have a ton of pages from the family reunion trip in June, and I'm not even halfway done. Oy. I shoulda done another book just for that!

Jack came home, and I put him and Sophie down in their rooms for naps, and Jade zonked out in our bed while I took a shower. She was so sound asleep, so it was not a minor annoyance when Chloë burst in the door and woke her up. And she didn't go back to sleep at all. Argh!

So I brought her down and went back to my scrapping. Rob came home, and we got ready to go to the mall. He had an eye exam - for, yes, a mystery shop - and I had to go along to "observe". Four kids. It was fun. Not so much, so while he was in with the doc, the kids and I wandered across the hall to The Children's Place, where I did a bunch of damage. Chloë needed a scarf, hat and gloves, and I don't feel like knitting them right now, so I got her a cute stripey pink and purple set. And Sophia wouldn't take off the matching mittens, so I got her some of those, and a proper winter coat since she's been wearing Chloë's Mickey zippy hoody from Epcot last year. Well, today she wore her raincoat because that's what Chlo fetched for her, but I could hardly button her belly up into it! And it's practically new. Oh, well. At least one kid is growing. I gave the raincoat (also from TCP) to Jadey's mom for her, when she picked her up. And I got the girls another matchy-matchy outfit, plus a second one for Sophie, on clearance. Cute stuff. Nothing for Jack. He needs clothes, but 3Ts are way too big, and I hate to buy him more 2Ts when he's almost five. It's just the principle of the thing.

Anyway, Rob called and said he was done with his exam, so we rushed back and sat there so I could watch what was what.

Afterward, we were on our way toward the promised Advent rides, when my back just totally seized up. That's not uncommon; I've had problems with it since the nerve damage I got from Sophia's delivery. But, we happened to be right in front of those massage chairs, you know the ones? I looked at Rob, and he told me to go for it. A buck for three minutes! I had two dollahs, so I gave one to Rob, and we sat down and got our backs rubbed. Thing was hard! It hurt! But oh, did it help. I definitely got my dollar's worth out of that. My back actually felt good afterward. He asked me if I wanted him to buy me that massage chair (not the mall one, the one from the Relax the Back mystery shop I did months ago), and heck yeah, I do! But not for three grand. Not right now.

We went and did the mall rides. Sophie picked the school bus. Jack picked the jeep, and Chloë picked the rocket. She looked up and shouted, "Webkinz!!" so I dropped all the quarters I had into Rob's hand and darted into the store. I spent another small fortune on three Webkinz (did you know they had a German Shepherd one? I didn't! Had to get that one), a Webkinz mousepad that Chloë asked for, two Webkinz pet carriers that I know she would love, and a few other Christmasy knick-knacks. I should've stayed out of there.

And that's about it. We rushed home to have a very late dinner and get Jade's belly fed before her mom came to get her, and to get Chloë's homework done and the kids off to bed. Now I'm going back to scrap before I pack it in until at least next weekend.

Fin.

Stickin' It To Ya

Look at me, Mommy!

Sophia sat next to me this evening, depleting my sticker supply while adorning herself, the rug, and anything else they would stick to. What did I do about it? Um... nothing. She was being quiet and relatively still. Sometimes, that's what a Mama needs, stickers be damned. That's what I needed tonight. 'Sides, she looked cute.

It was freeeeeeeezing this morning when I took Chloë to the bus stop. Her mittens fit Sophie this year, so I need to hurry up and knit her some new ones.

I was hoping it'd be warmer when I put Jack on the bus, but it was still chilly. No such luck.

Sophia and I had a shower and did some laundry (okay, she got into Q-tips while I did that), and then Jade joined us for the day. We drove to Panera for another lunch shop, and we got a lot of stares again today. We did Monday, too. I know what it's like being part of an interracial couple, but now I know what it feels like to be a mixed-race mom. Well, you know what I mean. Interesting. It doesn't matter that she's not mine; what matters is tolerance and acceptance.

So then we started to drive toward another lunch shop - I overbooked myself and had to be in two places at once - when there was a five-car accident right in front of us. Narrowly missed that one! It didn't like look anyone was hurt, but a few of them were sure stomping around and looking pissed.

So we missed the second shop, because I had to be there by 1400 and it was well nigh on 1345 by the time I got out of that mess. But then I remembered it could be done for a dinner shop instead, and a couple taps in my Palm T|X later, we were good to go. The little girls and I headed for the bank to deposit a mystery shopping paycheck, and then we headed home to wait for the big kids.

Jade's warming up to us. Today she did like to be tickled, and she smiled more, and she even laughed a bunch. She's got a cute little giggle.  She also has an enormous outie belly button. Rob joked that it's bigger than Jack's penis - and, well, it is.

So Jack and Chloë came home, and as they were grumpy little cranksters, I sent them up to nap along with Sophie. Baby Jadey was fussy, and I put her down for a nap, too. Ahhh. I was going to knit, but I can't find my dern stitch holders so that I can move on to the second sleeve. (My best friend) Lisa had a pre-term labor scare yesterday, so I've decided to make the current sweater for her baby Emilie Joy instead, and now I'm under the gun. Where did I put those thingies???

Everyone woke up just about at once, so I got four kids shod and coated and into the car to go do our trip on the Virginia Wesleyan College campus. We drove out there, put Jade in the stroller and had my three walking, and all the college kids were staring at us like we were foreign objects. What? A mom and little kids on a college campus? What is this? No, I definitely didn't get mistaken for a student this time, Rob! Rats.

And then we got up to the Sandella's counter to do the shop. We placed the order, and I started to get out my credit card when I remembered how college eateries work. I looked at the red-haired be-dredlocked laddie and said, "You don't take credit cards, do you." It wasn't a question. Cash only. Of course, I had no cash. Who carries cash? Dammit. So I turned my cadre of little folks around, buckled four little bodies back into the car, and headed home, as cranky as they.

Rob was on his way home by then, finally (he had duty and had to stand watch tonight), so I called him to stop at Taco Bell, since I had four hungry kids to feed and no inclination to want to cook something when my fridge is still full of turkey that nobody wants to eat. Should probably get rid of that bird by now, hm?

That's about it. I'm going to search for the elusive stitch holders now.

Fin.

A Little Jaded

So today was interesting. After I got the big kids on the bus, and I use the term "big" loosely, Sophia and I cleaned up the house a bit to wait for our new arrival. Barbara, the cleaning lady, was supposed to be here, but she's out of town this week. Man, it's just been a few months, and I already depend on her visits so much! So Soap and I tried to take up the slack a little bit, and then little Jade and her parents arrived.

Jade is a little girl whom I was supposed to start watching back in September, but for whatever reason, I didn't start until today. I typed up a big ol' contract, emergency care releases and a time sheet (I did good, right Roob?) last night, and we took our time going over and signing them all today. Then Baby Jade, as Sophie and I call her, was ours for the next 8 hours.

She's a cute little newly-one-year-old. Very serious. Takes a long while to warm up and hardly smiles even then. Does not like to be tickled.

First, we went to lunch. I had a Panera shop for lunch to do. Her parents were okay with it, so we went out and had some lunch. We ordered our usual, and Jade num-numbed on some bread while Sophie and I dined.  Then we went next door to the Michael's to see if I could find the Cricut cartridge I really wanted, since they were on sale there. I could not. Rats.

We went home, and Jade was clearly ready for her first nap of the day. Yeah, first. Ahh, I remember the days of multiple naps. And yet, it was easy to forget how little a new one-year-old actually does. She's still so babyish! She's barely walking and was very content to just sit around and hold a toy or two. Which I liked. Buh-lieve me. She fell asleep, but Sophia and the dog woke her up. Argh. Jack and Chloë came home, and my kids all went down for short naps, so I decided to try again with Jade. I rocked her in my chair, back and forth, back and forth, until I could feel her little teeth grinding on my shoulder. I lay down with her on the couch, hoping we could snooze together, but soon my kids were back downstairs and woke her up again. We'll have to work on that!

We went outside for a photo shoot, since it was overcast, and if there's one thing I learned from Amy J's photography lessons, it's that overcast is the best for taking pictures. Am I right, Oompa? Now, I am clearly not great at taking pictures, but it's fun to pretend. Here's Baby Jade:

Those are the fifth-graders (L to R: Rebecca, Bianca, Jade, Christa, Chloë) who walk my first-grader home from the bus every afternoon. They stayed and played with Jade for a while, wanting to hold her, kiss her and be sweet on her. Bad picture, though; the sun was behind them.

Then we went inside and took Sophia's picture, so you could see her new pixie Dorothy Hamill 'do. She's a pretty little thing. Really turned that newborn look around, didn't she?

So then Jack wanted pizza, and since I'm a little tired of turkey and mashed potatoes - even though we have a ton and a half left - I immediately agreed. While we waited for it to be delivered, I made some chocolate chip banana bread. I didn't really follow a recipe, just throwing this and that in and hoping for the best. Well, it was the best! Even Jade gobbled it down and showed me a rare smile while I fed her. Her aunt showed up an hour earlier than I expected her mother, to pick her up, while she still had chocolately lips. We'll see her again on Wednesday.

Now, I am going to make a cute origami Advent calendar for my kids to enjoy, and then I'm going to sort through all the pictures I just got in the mail, since they came disorganized, for my scrapbooking date with Steph on Sunday!

Fin.

Dude, I forgot half the things I was going to post. Oh well, I'll just say this: I did a search for Cricut cartridges and found them for $39!!!!!!!! (as opposed to their $89 full price, or $45 sale price at Michael's) regularly at Oh My Crafts! Stephanie-sitter, check them out, since they have some $15 Sizzix die cuts on clearance for like $3.

Post-fin.