tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83434074247140613342024-03-12T20:13:57.277-05:00The Name Was Over The DoorBecause I said so, that's why.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.comBlogger762125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-17121360429040830932010-04-24T07:39:00.000-05:002010-04-24T07:40:08.253-05:00Going off the grid<div class="entry"> <p>Hey guys, we are in the process of trying to host the website on another space so this doesn’t get lost in the move, but if I am not replying, please just wait a few days, we are getting a cell repeater and cell internet card and the earliest we might get them is Tuesday. Possibility of going into the library to use internet, but not sure.</p> <p>This is good news, though, it means we are finally moving into our new place. It will be very different, but we are excited. Prayers for us and those coming to help us move tomorrow (or good thoughts if you don’t do prayers).</p> <p>Ready to countrified again!</p> </div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-7671974511296898672009-05-27T12:26:00.003-05:002009-05-27T12:38:21.222-05:00Why don't they have stuff like this in the US?For a long time, I was on the cusp of <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/">Plus Size Clothing</a>. After I had the baby, I'm no longer there (knock wood), but could be easily enough. With nursing, I definitely have the 'top' to be in the plus category and have long had to wear a bigger top than bottom. What is nearly impossible, though, is finding something to flatter your figure, especially a post baby figure.<br /><br />Do you hide your tummy, or ignore it, figuring everyone knows by the 20 lb lump of sunshine and dirty diaper that you're carrying around accounts for it? How exactly do you dress for post baby staying at home, going to church and oh dear lord! family functions! In the summer. Especially when you gave up all your too small clothes (which you desperately wish you now had) when you found out you were pregnant?<br /><br />Well the site linked above, yeah I wish we had that in the US. The bras alone would be worth the expense of going there if I really had to. I mean, who really has all those sizes that you don't have to special order some ugly thing from a department store catalog to get? All the cute stuff I see in the stores stops at a C. Sorry, some of us just have bigger girls than that. Especially us nursing ones! Definitely a favorite!<br /><br />I also love the swimsuits, not all the models are a size 0 and look like they haven't eaten in weeks. Rock on! It would be something I wouldn't mind my daughter seeing at some point. Most of the catalogs in the US are full of the same 5 women over and over again in various 'I could be blown away if a gust of wind came up' sizes. Not so with this one. The clothes are SO cute! I think my sister in law would like them too, she's young, but needs more trendy stuff than she can find at local stores. I think the dresses actually look better on the plus sized models, too, you get an idea of what YOU would actually look like wearing it, versus guessing how your lumps and bumps would fit under the size 0 magnified. Awesome. Now if we only had something like this in the US, it would be great!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-45920527394784132872009-05-27T12:25:00.001-05:002009-05-27T12:25:59.480-05:00I'm not happy about it or anything!Shopping Shopping Shopping<br /><br />I am going shopping this week! YEAH!!!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-6654341872220227672009-05-14T08:21:00.003-05:002009-05-14T08:36:44.603-05:00Fun Summer Get TogethersSummer is a time for parties, is it not? What kind of <a href="http://www.celebrations.com/summerparties">summer party</a> do you throw? Bar-be-ques, mother's day and father's day bashes, graduations, memorial day, and way at the end of the line, labor day. Who wants to think of that now, though, right? We're all just enjoying the spring flowers and hint of summer grill smoke in the air.<br /><br />So what about those impromptu things you just throw together at the last minute? Have you ever had one of those? I haven't, but I've been to several that my parents did. Usually it's on a weekend and all the sudden, all three of us kids show up with all of our kids and it gets close to a meal and we're all starving. Well, obviously mom did not plan on feeding us all. Luckily, everyone but us also lives in town, so they can either go back to their house, or just hit the grocery store in less than half an hour and be back with everything you need for a good time. Usually the guys volunteer to go, you know, to heave the manly bags of ice, and then call the women with 'what should we get?' as soon as they get there. Ha!<br /><br />My favorites are the cookouts that involve some good grilled chicken, yes it may be kind of common, but when you usually end up with baked chicken, grilled tastes really good around about this time of year. Grab all the condiments out of the fridge and you've got a smorgasbord of opportunity waiting for you. These impromptu parties don't usually have themes, but 'cookout' is good enough, with a checked table cloth, or even butcher paper spread over the tables (which can be easily recycled at the end of the night) and some crayons in some coffee mugs or decorative pails spread around the garden. Adults can write goofy messages to each other that the kids try to decode, and kids can draw animals and practice writing their names. It's always a good time, makes the kids feel involved, stems off boredom from the adults while the food is cooking, and the kids stay occupied enough not to destroy your house in the meantime! The parents of little kids will definitely want to do this at your house again!<br /><br />So do you throw impromptu parties? I think the time is ripe for us to try one out. This summer seems like a good time to put our culinary and hosting abilities to the test!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-34485099356449303052009-05-14T08:16:00.001-05:002009-05-14T08:18:37.237-05:00Why am I lil mouse?Am I still lil mouse? Or is the baby lil mouse? We think she's a lil moose at this point in time. She's definitely grown a lot in the last few weeks, she's almost out of her 6-9 month clothes, but the 12 month ones still seem a bit big.. sigh. I guess it all just is in how you look at it. Moose, mouse, what's the difference? (about a thousand pounds, I know!)...I was always called mouse because I was so small, maybe my baby will be giraffe because she's so tall?<br /><br />Hope you all enjoyed your mother's day!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-1313452283591932402009-05-11T07:43:00.002-05:002009-05-11T07:53:18.152-05:00Deer damaging your yard?Ever find yourself in need of <a href="http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/target-animal/deer">deer repellent</a> to restrict the damage to lawns and landscaped areas of your home? My mom has tried everything, including human hair (from the barbershop), rotten eggs and milk, and of course, bars of soap to try and repel the deer from her garden. She even tried planting turnips in their valley to try and get them to go for them instead of her stuff! Mostly, they managed to make their 2 black labs fat and full of stuff they shouldn't have been eating, but must have smelled oh so yummy to them!<br /><br />The biggest problem for the deer were trees planted around the garden as a windbreak. Even though they were very fast growing, the deer really liked the new shoots and leaves on the small trees that first summer. After rescuing some soap from puppy teeth clenches, mom gave up. But she didn't need to. Havahart® products could have helped her while she was waiting for those trees to get 'out of reach' to deer teeth. Some of them are listed as safe for organic gardens and by the EPA. What could be better than that? Safe, green, and not disgusting enough for the dogs to want to roll in or chew up, awesome!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-79006648094146393072009-05-11T07:40:00.002-05:002009-05-11T07:42:42.377-05:00Out doorsy stuff...Why am I writing about outdoorsy stuff?Mostly because I've been stuck inside for almost 6 months inside the city. I love to get out of town and hang out with the family, which we did for mother's day yesterday. Awesome. Checked out the pond (2 little fish, a million tadpoles and some GIANT bullfrog tadpoles that you could roast on a spit). Didn't get a chance to look much at the garden, but I did see some onions growing that I wanted to make into pizza sauce! Yum! It was nice to be outside despite the gnats and the skunk smelling dogs that were draped in pond moss!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-22032047004584014862009-05-11T07:26:00.002-05:002009-05-11T07:37:01.898-05:00Got gear?I must admit, you probably will not see me with a gun any time soon, but you can get a <a href="http://www.lapolicegear.com/blcqccahowib.html">Blackhawk holster</a> for yours from LA Police Gear, which was founded by police officers from Los Angeles to serve their needs. Neat, huh? They do not only sell to police officers, but also to military (the government), security guards, and the general public. To be honest, I had no idea such a thing existed, but the holster is right or left hand accessible, something my husband would love to know! It's hard to find gear that a lefty can use just as easily as a righty! There are also tactical flashlights (couldn't we all use a flashlight that's super bright, because obviously you ONLY need them when you're looking for something small or need light to read by in the dark, right? Checking electrical panels or finding the number for the electric company, right? Of course there's also tactical clothing, which I imagine would be darn handy for people playing paintball or laser tag as well. It's really an all out outdoorsy thing, because of course hunters would find great boots and camouflage items here as well. Check it out.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-63277846577130769422009-05-08T14:26:00.000-05:002009-05-08T14:27:11.588-05:00Need suggestionswhat other types of things do you want to hear about on this blog?Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-38194322038722902812009-04-29T18:43:00.003-05:002009-04-29T18:44:42.029-05:00Hi!If you've been redirected to this site from <a href="http://lilmouse.blogsite.org/">http://lilmouse.blogsite.org</a>, don't worry! I'm just redirected so you all don't think I got lost or anything! The server is shut down until after the move (Monday), so be sure to come back and say hi then!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-3721842322341477892009-04-27T08:42:00.000-05:002009-04-27T08:43:05.202-05:00Sometimes...you just want to bang your head against the wall!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-4823666789622563452009-04-24T11:00:00.001-05:002009-04-24T11:01:53.258-05:00March of DimesThey have now sent me 3! three! sets of labels. Argh, we are moving again, so my hubby suggested just cutting off the picture and using them to decorate things with. I'm always running out of stickers for all the cards I send out, so I guess I will have to do that! In the meantime, don't forget to walk or sponsor a walk for someone you love!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-51502152189439315492009-04-14T11:46:00.002-05:002009-04-14T11:47:47.904-05:00Preemie daysPreemies are all over the internet these days, clothing, special items, but of course, what is the real issue is health problems with them, that's why I sponsor the March of Dimes when I can. My own baby was a couple of weeks premature, so besides focusing on pregnancy issues, I like to also donate to the cause.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-45128612640203965862009-04-14T11:43:00.000-05:002009-04-14T11:44:22.745-05:00Trendy maternity clothes<p><a href="http://www.kikisfashions.com/" mce_href="http://www.kikisfashions.com">Maternity clothes </a>we've all seen them, we've all been scared by them. They're expensive, they look like tents, and are manufactured more to hide your body than show off your baby bump. This time last year? It's ALL I could think about. I found out the Thursday before Easter that I was pregnant. The biggest freak out, besides the health of the baby, was the clothes. I've heard of people having only one shirt they could wear during the last month because they could not fit into anything else, and wanted to save their money for diapers.</p> <p>Finding a dress for my baby showers or church was a nightmare. They were SO expensive and I wound up with a dowdy black dress that hid my bump more than anything. This site, though: http://kikisfashions.com has around 30 cute dresses, for anyone's taste, that show off that little one you worked so hard to create- and they're all under $30! In fact, I can't find anything over $30 on the site, and even tshirts at regular department stores cost that much at regular price when I was looking last year. At this site, it's all in one place, and a great selection. Check them out the next time you've got a bun baking in your oven.</p> <p>Expecting? Bloggers and Friends of Bloggers receive an exclusive 20% Off! Just use coupon code "blogfriends" during checkout to apply.</p>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-36398467451989498972009-04-09T01:48:00.000-05:002009-04-14T11:48:39.075-05:00Blogging from time to timeI will be back blogging here from time to time, please keep me in your readers.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-72453389652584248992009-01-21T19:58:00.001-06:002009-01-21T19:59:24.438-06:00We've movedPlease check your links and follow me to my new site.<br /><br />http://lilmouse.blogsite.org/Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-20829763519458867742009-01-12T07:00:00.001-06:002009-01-12T07:00:04.892-06:00Fun Monday and A FUN ANNOUNCEMENT!!!<a href="http://www.theprytzfamily.com/">Jan</a> is the hostess for this week's Fun Monday! She wants to know what the quirkiest thing in my household is that I would never throw away.... hmm... them of course!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289664420136818978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2u4ksREObBI9hwppRC7KAqJj7gJOthGTuTxGQAfY6hdhv2eUW6mU41CBZzLWHwdRsijBSQBfczI-5Kfz7u-OaVAcFKoo1bHzhvRxuDlPsu9_xJ1tTFWGMlV519z2qN5lXD7RI7zTbOc/s200/HPIM0501.JPG" border="0" /><br />Eh hmm. <a href="http://lilmouse.blogsite.org/"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;">This</span></a> is why I haven't posted in a few days. Please redirect your browsers to my <span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6600;">new </span>(combination) blog. I have found that keeping up with a mommy blog and a human blog is too much. So my <a href="http://m-shoemaker.blogspot.com/">husband</a> worked this up for me, so I can update everyone all at once.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-7882790494112906562009-01-01T00:01:00.001-06:002009-01-01T00:01:01.495-06:00Happy New Year!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9-AW7POziF6N5tkSC6eXkpn3jWoFxMWfjSQzPg5sNI61v31GM59jPXfrGQ373CrpoIGs4ArzYII2I0lIHqAI-ZqUxq_8XqI9uAjBPzuqTXMBjQ6siePYhWW20o1KeWYYhDlPwo3wenc/s1600-h/HPIM0445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286191586698024850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9-AW7POziF6N5tkSC6eXkpn3jWoFxMWfjSQzPg5sNI61v31GM59jPXfrGQ373CrpoIGs4ArzYII2I0lIHqAI-ZqUxq_8XqI9uAjBPzuqTXMBjQ6siePYhWW20o1KeWYYhDlPwo3wenc/s200/HPIM0445.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">To you!</div>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-66733533177941364002008-12-31T20:45:00.002-06:002008-12-31T21:40:45.894-06:00A year in review...January--political commercials had been going on for about 6 months in Iowa, we finally got to go vote in the caucus. It was pretty cool. There was a ton of snow, and the worst winter in Iowa for like, ever. I started doing Blog 365 (today as I write this is the last day, hallelujah!), blogging for cash on an occasional basis, and did a bunch of memes and fun mondays!<br />February--tracking presidential election results, the side of the road <a href="http://lil-mousehouse.blogspot.com/2008/02/customer-service-nightmare.html">debacle</a>, baby making, <a href="http://lil-mousehouse.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentine.html">valentine</a>, leap year birthday hubby.<br />March--we found out a new baby was on the way, and celebrated quietly! Found out that the Bears gave away a lot of their good players, which angered me somewhat, started exercising.<br />April--We thought we'd live in Iowa forever, so we started looking for places to buy, with no luck. We enjoyed the wildlife in our backyard coming around to new life in the springtime and dreamed of our baby to be, and wondered if we'd be as good as parents as the animals. Morning sickness began in earnest. <br />May--the big announcement was made! Maternity clothes became the staple, and I started a temp job again.<br />June--I got to visit with my friend/baby's godmother Tricia who was also pregnant, albeit beating me by about 10 weeks (due in September), had our sonogram and got to see our baby, and took a vacation to NC to see my aunt. Also, the Cedar River flooded like an insane amount and totally destroyed the downtown of Cedar Rapids.<br />July--gas prices hit an alltime high of $4 a gallon. We paid off my student loan and our truck. We rock!<br />August--Set up the nursery, watched the Olympics, Matthew went and interviewed for a new job, was offered and accepted it! I finished my temp job and vowed to be done for a while. I sang and read to the baby every day.<br />September--Had 2 baby showers, Matthew was officially cleared for hire for the job he accepted! We looked for houses and found 2 that we weren't totally in love with, but I was exhausted and told Matthew to choose. We packed up all of our clothes in preparation for a move.<br />October--We voted for the President of the United States. We moved and stayed with my parents for 2 weeks while we waited for a decision about the house we were trying to buy. It should have been a warning. The alarms were ringing but we didn't hear them. We rented the hell hole for 2 weeks and decided against buying a house at the current moment. <span style="color:#ff6600;">Our very <a href="http://lil-meeces.blogspot.com/2008/10/keeley-josephine.html">unexpected surprise </a>of a sweetheart, our baby girl arrived 3 weeks early! </span><br />November--We moved into our current apartment, gas prices start dropping rapidly. I counted my blessings and blogged about moving with an infant. It was a lot of sleepless nights.<br />December--We got used to our new baby, got some cloth diapers to try out, settled into our apartment, and started to feel safe again. My parents had their anniversary, and I got to spend it with them, as well as Christmas. Two things I didnt' think I'd get to do, I got to do. I've completed 9 and 10 on my <a href="http://lil-mousehouse.blogspot.com/2008/02/fun-monday-bucket-list.html">bucket list</a> as of the end of the year, yeah!<br /><br />Happy New Year everyone!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-41240711944568034292008-12-30T11:41:00.002-06:002008-12-31T11:43:40.155-06:00Fun with babyWe've been having a pretty good time now that Matthew has been able to be at home with Keeley and I for a week or so. We're getting into a good routine and I'll be REALLY upset when I have to deal with her alone again! It's so great that he can run and get her when she cries in the morning, and bring her to me, hungry, but with a clean diaper and ready to go. It's also nice that he can put her in bed and soothe her to sleep and I can either get some rest or work on other things that I don't normally get done until dark when he's been home for a while at night. Anyway, I think she and I will both be very very spoiled by the time this week is over!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-34799341562921190712008-12-29T20:41:00.002-06:002008-12-29T20:51:15.138-06:00So you had a bad day...What happens when the baby blues whack you upside the head 2 months after the baby is born? I had an awful morning, after traveling several days this week, KJ ate like a champ (nursing) twice last night, I was just astounded and thrilled. It took no time at all and she was content. She got a bottle first thing this morning because my chest was hard as a brick but I was all set to feed her again 3 hours later, and she would. not. eat. she screamed and screamed and screamed. Matthew gave her some milk out of a bottle and then she had an extreme amount of gas and seemed to quiet down and feel a lot better, but she wouldnt lay down to eat. This has happened twice lately. I had to sit her back up and eventually give her a bottle, but once the gas went away she seemed to be okay. Apparently this morning, though, I couldn't take it. I'm not sure but my guess is that it took a good 3 hours to calm the hell down. My husband finally convinced me that yes, he and the baby still needed me, that I shouldn't just go away and that I should probably go ahead and pump out the 3 quarts of milk that was gathering in my chest. The next time she was hungry? All fine and dandy. Good god. I wish I knew what the heck was bothering me about her being upset. I guess I'm still paranoid that she won't nurse at all and I'll be glued to the damn pump for the rest of my natural life (okay a year)... I'm trying to get away from using it, but she still hates the one side and won't nurse on it unless she's really desperate. Which is about 3 times since she's been born. In the meantime, she is happy enough, is gaining weight and growing, which I should be thrilled about.<br /><br />But for some reason this morning was hell on earth for me. I haven't felt that bad since getting 'home' to that hell hole house from the hospital when I couldn't get her to nurse. For some reason that's all tied up in my head with being a 'good' mommy. I couldn't give birth to her properly and nursing was all I had left in my head as 'being good' --not that people who bottle feed are bad, it's just a personal insano thing inside my head--for me it is either I am able to nurse her or I fail. And this instance just seemed to make me snap. After a long nap for both of us (okay I didnt' have a long nap, I dozed off and on for a little while)--everything returned to semi-normal.<br /><br />Therefore my new year's resolution will probably have something to do with being thankful for the love of god that my baby eats, poops, and sleeps (insert angel choir singing here) fairly well for a 2 month old.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-65174583988417462852008-12-28T20:43:00.002-06:002008-12-28T20:58:10.576-06:00Over the river and through the woods...We left around 545 this morning to go visit grandma, to church at 8 am and also to see Matthew's best friend P, who works in Boston. They went to junior high together and were definitely the beginnings of computer nerds. Geeks, whatever. They have kept in touch even though they went to different high schools and haven't lived in the same state for at least 10 years if not more. Of course they email occasionally and chat online. I happened to also go to school with P and went to prom with him. He's a nice guy and if I could take him in and fatten him up like I did my hubby, I would. He's one of those people (for my husband) that he can just catch up with even if it's been months since they talked or a year since they've seen each other. P has a birthday at this time of year and comes back to see his mom and celebrate Christmas.<br /><br />For the past 5 years or so, we have gone out to dinner with his mom, sister and her husband. Last year I guess we weren't around for the dinner, but Matthew got to see him for a while one afternoon. This year we missed dinner because of KJ of course. Maybe next year. We saw him this summer for a bit for their 10 year class reunion. I don't think either of them graduated from the school, but they both were well liked and the class was small enough to invite back everyone that was ever in the class. Anyway, I really like him, I think he's a good friend for Matthew. It sucks that he's so far away. Maybe one of these days we'll convince him to come back to the midwest, but until then, it's a rare summer visit and a Christmas tradition we look forward to all year long. His mom also really loves Matthew and she met Keeley and was ga ga over her, apparently, even though she has her own grandbaby and another on the way (her daughter is pregnant for a second time)--which is really nice. Kind of like a surrogate parent, even though Matthew doesn't need one. An adopted mom of some sort I guess. Like I said, he and Matthew were close for a while when they were younger.<br /><br />Well, anyway, we had a great time, we took 2 meatloaves and mom provided the rest of the food. It was all good and of course my parents were thrilled to see KJ again so soon.<br /><br />KJ told us what she thought of the Bears all too quickly, she got her 'uniform' dirty before the game even started. Oh and we held her Bears 'hat' on with a white headband with a bow on it. Too cute. Too bad they lost. She would have been a good cheerleader. Or, starring quarterback. Take your pick...Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-79339458975997902202008-12-27T20:25:00.002-06:002008-12-28T20:32:44.220-06:00Another round of ChristmasMy MIL and SIL came over today for Christmas with them. FIL was sick and didn't want to make KJ sick. We thank him heartily for that. One of the cool things we did was get a 'hunk' calendar for 15 yo SIL. Cowboys on it called 'studs and spurs' or something like that. They have it out at WalMart every year for Christmas time, before the new year (duh) and I have been wanting to get one for her for either her birthday in Nov. or Christmas since she was about 12. Finally went ahead and did it this year. She really seemed to appreciate it and not be embarrassed. I pointed out the one I liked. She didn't say anything. She'll have a whole year of beefcake to look at thanks to me. I hope she appreciates it!<br /><br />KJ made out like a bandit, her first Camoflage stuff from grandpa, some hat and gloves from Aunt D, they will fit next year, maybe, but I'm sure that's the smallest you could get, pink and camoflage colored. And a giant (okay just bigger than baby, so probably 2 ft tall), pooh bear and tigger. They will have to go nearby for her to poke at when she is up to poking things. They came pre-hugged, which is a requirement for me. If they hadn't been prehugged I would have made them hug them before she got them.<br /><br />Anyway, I warmed up a spiral sliced ham, and we had cheeseball and chips and such, not too fancy. None of us cared. Which was great. I didn't get too stressed out about it (it was stressful enough trying to get the baby to eat, we finally had to turn the air conditioner on to get her to stay awake long enough to eat, poor thing!) as it was already in the 60s outside, which is odd for December.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-34887977515388892382008-12-26T20:20:00.002-06:002008-12-28T20:23:40.068-06:00Mall hellToday we went to return some items that didn't fit or were duplicates. At a nearby mall. Finally, Matthew dropped me off NEAR a doorway, and I ran in and returned them. They went ahead and put money back on the credit cards, so no need to worry about anything else. Then I went back out and walked halfway across a huge parking lot. He had only made about a half a lap around the parking lot. It was that jammed. Bumper to bumper and no parking places ANYWHERE! We decided rather quickly that we'd wait until much after Christmas to go back and replace anything we got. Or just shop online like we did in the first place. Much easier that way. We found mall hell and have no desire to repeat it.Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343407424714061334.post-671510189282245392008-12-25T00:01:00.000-06:002008-12-25T00:01:00.782-06:00Merry ChristmasI hope that whatever your religion, your season, your reason, that the holidays are bright and merry for you. Hold your children close, and your spouse closer. Because it's what I celebrate, Merry Christmas!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04474928571871603804noreply@blogger.com1