so much fun

I have to admit that Christmas shopping this year is a lot less stressful with Ara on board and my new paycheck. I'm having so much fun Internet shopping with him that I don't want to get the tree and stuff out...I want to keep on shopping. One of the gifts I got him ~a hollow violin body electric bass guitar ~ came today AND he was home. I think he suspects, but he tried to google the return address and came up with nothing. But the size of the box is kind of a giveaway. He also picked out a leather jacket at JCP on our short black Friday trip. So he knows two of his gifts. He wasn't quite recovered enough to hit the stores and wore out within one hour. We got a lot done in the one hour. I am so excited about the gift I got for my Mom. Quite a bargain and so elegant. Wish I could be there to give it to her in person.

My de Quervains flared up over the last two weeks so I haven't been able to crochet like I wanted. I faithfully wore my brace for 6 days straight except to shower and now I'm hooking again! I finished a sock and started its mate (fingers are crossed that I can make them match).
And I spent the weekend cutting plastic shopping bags into strips and have a hefty ball of plarn (plastic yarn). But I can't tell what I created with it, I am so proud of it though. It's for someone special that I think will appreciate the labor of love that went into crafting and designing it. I can't wait to make more so save your plastic bags and drop them my way.

Ara recovered from his flu and I safely avoided it. I knew breathing in all those Lysol fumes would pay off. I have disinfected the doorknobs, keyboards, and handrails so many times that I can't believe the finish hasn't worn off. I even Lysoled the toothbrushes (don't worry, I rinsed them 10 minuets later). I didn't want any germs jumping from his toothbrush to mine, since they live in the same polka dot flower pot on the sink counter.

Since Ara was down, we kept Thanksgiving super simple. I did a turkey, mashed potatoes (instant) gravy (jar) and green beans (frozen) and chocolate chip cookies (nestle frigde pack). I felt like I was cheating! The leftover green bean and turkey got mixed in with tortellini (premade) and alfredo sauce (jar). The only thing I missed was homemade rolls and homemade gravy (jar just isn't the same) and the pumpkin pie. Cole already announced he wants roast beef for Christmas.

Shopping Starts...

Yesterday I hit JCPenny and Dicks Sporting Goods and got some clothes for Cole's Christmas. And today I hit JCP.com and got Jake and Andi some more good online deals. The stuff I was going to buy Jake in the store for 30 was online for 19 and I got a 15% off online coupon while shopping yesterday. I got Andi ring that was originally 100 something for 20 something...sapphires and real diamonds. So far I have only spent $198 all together. I love JCPenny. I need to write my ideas down for the rest so I don't go overboard and start getting things for other people besides the kids. I have no idea what to get the husband. I thought about a massage gift certificate but I don't' know if he would ever use it.

Cranberry

I think I had a mild kidney infection coming on over the weekend. Kept having back pain and waves of nausea...so I've been drinking gallons of water and Ara got me cranberry juice. Only when I looked at the ingredients on the label it was prune juice and cranberry juice. Best of both worlds---now I can pee and poop. I'm all better now.

I am ready to start the Christmas shopping, but I can't find the time to squeeze it in with running and picking kids up. I tried some online looking today, but no luck.

Vegas post

To no suprise to anyone that really knows me...My Vegas trip wasn't a gambling venture. I went to a zombie wedding/birthday party for a friend of a friend. I only walked 1/3 of the strip(because we got lost in the MGM Grand twice), and spent a day hiking at Red Rock Canyon.

Cold Feet

Ara is actually asking about what were planning on getting the kids for Christmas this year? pick me up because I just fainted...my little ole bahumbug of a guy is thinking of gifts. I knew it was a smart move to spend the extra on the holiday themed tissue box for his chairside table ;)
I'm also loving Ara because it's never hard to talk him into Arby's for lunch. I may have to sit in his stinky truck and ride to the dump, but the roast beef sandwich after is totally worth it.

A few days ago I finished my socks (crochet project) and already started another pair. Andi saw me working on this new pair (a Christmas gift for her) and asked if they were for her. I am still beaming that a kid actually wants homemade socks from me!

Rocky is officially an outdoor cat. It took me a few days to get over the guilt of kicking him out. We have the same personality---love to eat, hate to be touched, and bitchy. jk. It is kind of nice not to have to pick up everything (he tries to eat plastic wrappers and pukes), no more knocked over trash cans, no more vomited up hairballs, no more litter box (that he only pees in) or poopy messes on the carpet (the main reason he got booted outdoors). But I do miss him keeping my feet warm at night and laying on my chair with me.

November Nor'easter

November Nor'easter has hit. The news is saying that the rain and flooding will be worse than Hurricane Isabel. Ara had a hard time finding a way home from work today because a couple of trees were down. I didn't even go in and they've already called school off and my work called and told me not to come in. woo-hoo. I wanted to do a family dinner tonight, but the weather threw me off. It was getting dark so I started cooking and dinner was done at 3:30. The boys ate with me and then Ara finally rolled in and I sat with him, but we totally missed Andi. She's rearranging the posters in her room or something. I wanted to start a fire, but it's 71 in the house so Ara says no. boo-hoo. And he went behind me and blew out the oil lamps...I'm holding my ground with the candles.

Cole's got moved from third string to first string, but his game was called with the weather. And wrestling is starting for him next week...unless football wants him to wait. But all the coaches told him to start eating peanut butter and steaks and potatoes. I found a milkshake recipe online and its loaded. The mighty milkshake~ 1/2 cup premium ice cream, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 packet of carnation instant breakfast mix. A little thinner than Chick-fil-A but just as yummy. He's had two a day and I finally ran out of cream.

Survival

I survived the Vegas trip, but just barely. I feel like I am fighting some kind of cold and am super tired. That 3 hour time change kicked my butt. So I came home super tired (grouchy) and was expecting people to have missed me and be ready to celebrate. No can do. Ara just doesn't get that I like birthdays and holidays. After many tears on Tuesday night...he came home with a cake and balloons when he went to pick Jake up from work. I am loving that Jake works at a grocery. Next year I am throwing my own party!

This weekend I spent the whole time napping, crocheting, and watching movies. Not super fun, but super needed to just take a minute and slow down.

Trying to get psyched up to get some outdoor work wrapped up (power washing fence and more weed pulling).