We Elfed Ourselves

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1188150716

Furry Visitor

When you first see this picture, you probably think, "oh, how cute!" I thought it was cute too, until it wouldn't go away.

This kitty roamed our backyard for about five days. She tried to get in the back door (and even the front door) every chance she could get. The milk in the picture is from Allie, who snuck it outside when I wasn't looking. She and Emmie also named the cat "Ella", much to our dismay. (Once you name them, you have to keep them, right?)

Anyway, Ethan and I finally decided we better call Animal Control. This didn't upset either one of us because:

1) we aren't cat people

2) the poor thing was going to starve or freeze in the backyard

So I called Animal Control. And the woman on the other end of the line asks me, get this, "Do you have the animal contained in a box or carrier?"

What?!

I politely returned her question with one of my own, "You mean I'm supposed to catch the thing?" (In my head I'm thinking, 'if I wanted to chase cats around all day I would have gotten a job at a pet store!')

By her silence I assumed that was, indeed, what she meant. So then she told me the animal control officer would be out to our house sometime in the next few hours.

Meantime, I had to catch a cat. I went into our garage and got a little box. Then I thought that maybe cats could jump higher than 6 inches, so I better get a bigger one. I settled on a Rubbermaid container with a lid. I put an old towel inside and some shredded turkey. (I knew we would get rid of that turkey one way or another.)

After leaving the door open for a fraction of a second, the cat was inside the house. Next came the Rubbermaid. I quickly learned that the cat wasn't going to stay in there longer than it took to get a mouthful of turkey. After about seven attemps, I finally got the lid on with the cat inside. Whew! Oh, and for my cat-loving friends reading this, don't worry, there were air holes.

In the next hour or so that kitty was headed for the humane society. I'm sure she'll be some lucky little girl's Christmas present soon.

As for us, I think we'll stick with kids and dogs!

Disappointment

Sometimes life just ain't fair. We were supposed to have Emmie's friend birthday party tonight. The theme is "BIG" and I had made her a gigantic rice crispy treat, decorated with streamers and balloons, and for once all of her friends were able to come.

Then she got up this morning.

She was coughing, and it sounded like a barking seal. Probably croup. Then she was listless and complained about being cold. Her temperature was 102. Right now I am holding her; we just took her temp again and it was 104. Poor kid. I still think she doesn't understand that she's not having the party tonight.

We're going to try to reschedule, but in the meantime . . . rice crispies, anyone?

Three years ago, three minutes before Thanksgiving . . .

. . . our precious baby girl was born. (Here she is at her family birthday party with her cousin Mackenzie.)

Her current faves:

song: "I like to move it, move it"

food: cake

saying: "I'm funny."

toys: My Little Pony and anything princess

activity: dressing up like a ballerina with Allie

Happy Birthday Emily!

Let It Snow!

Aaahh . . . the first snow of winter. I love it. The kids just had to race outside and let the snowflakes fall on their faces. I didn't blame them. Even the dog was ecstatic.

When they were frozen and ready to come in, I made them hot chocolate and turned the fireplace on. Then we listened to "The Chronicles of Narnia" on a cd.

Perfect day!

Baby Shower Gift

One of my best friends since middle school is having her first baby! She and her husband have decided to name her London. Her middle name will be Joy. I wanted to make something special for her so I painted this for the baby's room (on a canvas). They are doing pink and chocolate brown in the nursery. I need opinions because the baby shower is tomorrow . . . do you think she'll like it?

Thanks!

Ridiculous

So I was just browsing one of my favorite clothings designers online when I came across this:

What the heck is that? According to the listing, it's a winter frock. Yeah. I wouldn't be caught dead in that, winter OR summer.

Seriously, people.

p.s. And you can have it now for the low, low price of $69.99!