The Invasion has Begun

Since it's getting close to Christmas a few presents have appeared under the tree. There's the usual.

From Mom & Dad.

None from Santa yet. But he doesn't come for a few more days.

But apparently we have someone besides the parents and kids giving presents! Baby got a little worried about who was bringing him presents.

All Olaf could say was "I hope whatever they put in there doesn't smell on Christmas!" Apparently the Zombie Invasion has begun. Don't forget to Double Tap.

Updated at 8:30pm: Baby brought me the package from the Zombies and asked who it was really from. I told him the Zombies must have dropped it off while we were out. He got a little whine in his voice and said "Don't say that! I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

Bling Bling

Middle Child has always loved Sparkly and Bold Things. When he was younger, somewhere around six or seven, everyone was buying me jewelry for Christmas. Calvin had picked out some nice earrings for me. Middle Child wanted in on the action. He looked through all the jewelry cases at the store. He pondered. I had left to wander the store while the boys took care of things. When I came back Olaf pulled me aside with a little snicker.

"You may want to talk to Middle Child about going on a special date to help him pick some jewelry for you for Christmas. He's been looking tonight and he wants to get you the biggest, gaudiest, class ring available."

I was not surprised. He's like a crow in that regards. The sparklier and brighter the better. When we walk by leopard print bags, shoes, or shirts he's always suggesting I get that for myself. It's all I can do to not laugh at his suggestion. I politely tell him I would never be caught dead in that outfit. (I better make sure I don't let him pick out my funeral clothing.)

So a few days later we went to another store. Middle Child had a certain amount of money to spend. I looked at some of the jewelry. There was a necklace I liked, but when we looked at the price it was a little too much. So then we looked at earrings. I picked out a few I liked. Then I turned around to look at some other things while he wheeled and dealed with the cashier and purchased me something for Christmas. He was so pleased with himself.

We went home and he instantly dragged Olaf into our room to help him wrap the present. Later that night I told Olaf how I picked out a few earrings and let him choose the final pair. he looked at me a little funny.

"Earrings?"

"Well, yeah. The necklace I liked was a little too much so we decided on earrings."

"Huh. Well he picked a good one. You'll like it."

Christmas morning came and Middle Child was so excited for me to open his present. I opened it up and found the necklace we had looked at sitting in a pretty box. With his big blue eyes, blond hair, and adorable smile he had finagled his way into purchasing the necklace for much less than marked!

Some of the More Awesome Gifts Received Christmas Morning

Skullcandy Headphones for the ipod. Love how Big is back in style!

My own Poker Chips! Half the neighbors think Face Cards are of the Devil
and the other half thinks Poker is a great Family Night Game!

Nerf Wars!!!!!

Karate Punching Bag

Marine shirts from the kids' Marine Uncle. They loved them!

His own rifle.

My own 3 C's Necklace. (You know: Calvin, Clayton, Cole)

A Flesh-Eating-Zombie Play Figurine set. Now on display in his office.

And of course, a Gillie suit for Baby!

And we couldn't forget Calvin.
We decorated the grave for the holidays.
It looked really nice.

My neighbor took this picture on Christmas Eve.
I thought it was really beautiful.

New Christmas Stockings

This year as I was putting out the Christmas stockings I decided I needed to make new ones. I love my stocking and I made one for Olaf and the kids, but I never really liked them. So at the beginning of December I went in search of cool Christmas fabric. Not to be found. Anywhere.

So late at night I got online and searched for some fun fabric. And found it. And ordered it. And waited. And waited. And waited. Only about three days, maybe five if you include the weekend, cuz I had to order it on a Thursday night, just in time for the weekend.

When it came I washed it up and dried it. I love folding freshly laundered fabric. It makes me happy. I know I'm weird. Then I cut it all up and pinned everything. Sister-in-Law Nurse was over laughing at my disorder of pins. I have these pins with pretty, metallic, pastel, round heads and I can't pin the same color right by each other. There's no particular order other than that. She laughed and threatened to send her two-year-old into my linen closet because it's so orderly (one day I'll take a picture and show you). I might have to change the locks. He's a Holy Terror but you can't get mad cuz he's so stinking cute.

Then after I got them cut and pinned they sat at for almost a week. I hate to get the sewing machine out unless I have a good chunk of time to sew, which doesn't always happen.

It finally happened and I got these stocking whipped up in no time at all. And with minimal seam ripping. For some reason it doesn't matter how small the project I always have to rip out at least one seam.

This fabric is my favorite. Candy Colored Christmas by Alexander Henry. So fun and whimsical. The other two with Christmas Trees are Michael Miller Fabrics, another one of my favorite designers. And the Santa Making a Snow Angel is another Alexander Henry stocking. That one's for Tank. I thought they turned out pretty cute with the Red Corduroy Cuff. I thought about velvet but decided in a family of boys corduroy was more appropriate. Hope you had an awesome Christmas! Olaf decided he wanted to keep his stocking that I made him. I told him that was okay, I'd give the dog the stocking meant for him. I guess he likes Tank enough that he was fine with that. At least he didn't want two stockings full of presents!

Biking with the Boys

For my birthday Olaf said I could get a bike. When I was starting to look I showed him a few Electra bikes that I thought were really cute. That's when he made the statement "I don't know what your budget for a bike is. . ."

I didn't realize until then that I had to find money for it in the budget. So then I was kind of bummed. I was determined to get a Cruiser bike with a few speeds and fenders. I needed at least three speeds so I could go up hills easier because I hate hills with a passion. I should rephrase that, I actually love hills, I just hate going up them under my own power. I think all that hill running I did in High School for track really messed up my love for running and biking hills. I love to look at hills and truly miss hills since there aren't many out here, but that's a story for another day.

I looked online a bunch for different cruiser bikes. Like I said I wanted one with several speeds and fenders. I looked and looked and looked some more. I spent days searching the internet for what I considered a "cool" bike. And I found a few. I did some more soul searching because I really had to love this bike. It was going to be mine for as long as it would last. I don't destroy bikes like my boys and I don't outgrow them either. So I had to find just the right one.

And after much deliberation I decided on this cute bike. I ordered it and patiently waited for it to arrive via UPS.

This last Sunday I got a computerized message from UPS: "You will receive a package tomorrow that needs to be signed for. If you are not there. . .blah blah blah. . .It will arrive between 8am and 7pm"

I got all excited and told Olaf my bike was coming tomorrow but I had to sign for it. I was hoping against all hope that it would come in the afternoon.

"What time is it coming? I'll be home if you're at work," he offered.

"Between 8am and 7pm" I told him. Then I had a brilliant idea to have my friend who is usually home sign for it. So I called her up and begged her to take my bike for me. And she agreed. Yeah! I went to work Monday morning in my windowless basement office where I have no cell phone reception. I really didn't expect it to come very early. But when I left work and was finally in Cell Phone Zone again a text came through. "Your package has arrived. It appears that 'some assembly is required.'"

So then I hopped on the phone and begged Olaf to come home early and put it together for me. When he got home he promptly set to getting it rigged up for me and a little while later I was riding around the neighborhood!

Since then the kids and I have been going for bike rides. Got to get them in before it snows again!