"Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures"

I got a surprise in the mail today. Surprises are always wonderful, this one totally made my day!!!!

That's right, a pre-ordered copy of "Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures." by Amber Dusick.  You're totally jealous, I know.

Oh wait, you've never heard of Crappy Pictures?  

Truly? 

Check it out. 

Some of my faves: 

The Worst Park Ever (I think I've been there with the kids)

Public Toilets

Coffee and Wine

Showering

Reaction to Pregnancy Announcements

Really, there is so much good stuff, so many times when she makes me laugh out loud, or nearly pee my pants.  Go. Read. Her. Stuff. And then, come ask me to borrow the book. Or better yet, buy a copy yourself. And one for a friend.*

Thank you, Kathy!!!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!  

Now I'm off to read it. I'll probably have to lock myself in the bathroom and tell the kids I need some "privacy" to actually read it.  But I know that's probably how Crappy Mamma gets her reading done too. 

*No, I'm not getting any royalties or kickback from endorsing you to buy her book.  She's just really funny. I have no doubt even non-parents will enjoy it.

WW: Wiiiiiiiii-eeeeeee!

Mrs. Y's Present

Erin's kindergarten teacher is out on medical leave for a little while.  She's fighting a good fight, and has undergone her 3rd surgery in as many  months.  But she'll be out for the rest of the week, and will return during the new year.

One of the Moms had an idea for a very, very thoughtful class holiday present for her.

Each child was assigned a color.  They used their index finger to paint a few dots in an outline.  The outline is the shape of a peace dove.  Each unique color had a fingerprint dot on the bottom half, with the child's name next to it. (non-family members names smudged for privacy).  Such a thoughtful class gift.  I didn't get to see the final product, but we gave it to her as we caroled at her house a few days later. 

Salted Caramel Sauce

 I was in need of a quick hostess gift, so I made a batch of salted caramel sauce.

An hour later, with about 5 minutes work, I had two jars of tasty, sweet, rich delightfulness.  

Add a pretty lid cover made from a fabric scrap and a stamp, fake mod-podge on a label, and now I have two lovely little pots to give away.  Sweet. 

Fashion Friday - Parisian Style.

Grammy and Papa just returned from France along with a matching set of berets for the family.

And, Erin got a birthday surprise package from the Santa Cruz cousins.

Combine them, and this is what results:

Belated Grandma Thanks!

Grandma Carol made awesome pillowcases for the girls ages ago. She's quite the talent at the sewing machine.  But it's taken until now to get the girls to want BOTH of their pillows to be encased in BOTH the pillowcases.  Here they are, stifling back the giggles and pretending to sleep, grateful for their pillowcases.

 

Thanks, Grandma!

A Package! A Package!!!!

I got a package in the mail.  A surprise package!!!

Kitty Cody helped me inspect it, lest it be a bomb.  It checked out. 

YAY!   Bunny fruit snacks!!  Oh, wait. . . .

ooooo.... a fancy, perfectly knit, soft cozy cowl.  

Thank you every so much, Ms. Christie!  And now to get my hand made offerings off in the mail. . . 

Kids get into the Cube

Last time Brian returned from PDX the girls got a Rubik's cube as their surprise. 

Erin loved it and immediately set to work solving the puzzles Brian set for her.

 Robin loved it too but didn't quite get it.  She loved laughing at Erin's still antics.  

However, Brian got a little too ambitious just one little time, and one of the cubes ended up thus: 

That's more how I like to solve them.

Santa Came!

The girls wrote a note and left some treats:



In case you didn't notice, Erin likes to include belly button and nipples on her pictures. Also, Santa looks like he's been spending some time in Amish country:



And their efforts were rewarded!


It didn't take long to open up all the loot:



And the "big" present will be enjoyed for awhile yet!



Hope everyone had happy holidays and a wonderful end to 2011.

Easy skirts, attempt 5

Every girl in Erin's phonebook will get skirts this year for their birthday.  I made this one last weekend for her BFF Ella.

 Cute fabric, no? I made Erin a matching one, since it was her BFF and all.

I liked the fabric so much I bought 2.8 yards of it, all they had.  And for the size all the girls are now it's just about perfect: the width of the bolt is a tad bigger than the recommended 2x waist size.  The heart pattern is length-wise so I figure I can get about 7 skirts out of the deal, costing about $3 per skirt (including the cute pink trim).

Orders anyone?

Dear Technology: Thanks!

Guess who got a fancy new watch from the best wife in the world?  Mr. B, that's who!

No longer will I spend time tediously measuring my runs on Google Maps or mapmyrun.com.  Now, I can just let space technology and the intertubes be anal retentive for me.

Thank you, Dr. A!