Social/shopping life content
Saturday, I took the kids to a playdate with Chaos and Kat. Chaos lives just up the hill in Kent. All three mommies knit. My children did not flatten their children, which was a real fear, because my kids are considerably older. It was very nice. Also, there was banana bread. Wait, first, I went to Industrial Seattle to run an errand for my father, who somehow failed to buy enough paper the first time.
After dinner, the kids and sil and I sat around watching the Pixar shorts DVD (I think it's time to institute the Christmas moratorium on buying stuff for one's self). Do you know how HARD it is to explain the bittersweet and experiential nature of Pixar shorts to a 4-yo? "Why are they being mean to that big bird?" "Why are they pecking his feet?" "What happened?" I think until you feel like the big bird, it's hard to understand.
On Sunday, we went off to church. Woo! I need to figure out how to help with social hour, because if they had better food, people would stick around more. Then I figured the kids and I could head south, and mom and dad could head north, and we could effect a paper-swap somewhere in the middle.
On the way, I was distracted by seeing a Jo-Anns and remembering that there was a huge sale on flannel-backed satin. While there, I also remembered that I needed sewing machine needles, a new sewing machine light bulb, and some fabric to start sewing gift bags, because although I am not giving up paper entirely, maybe some things could be more durable. And [special ingredient] for my planned homemade gifts this year. And treats for the kids, because they were good. And a pattern that could become Kay's next Christmas dress, if a person were motivated. And crazy. Yeah. Crazy. But, you know, insanity is endearing, right? I am vexed, though. I can tell that someone, somewhere, makes LED bayonet-mount sewing machine bulbs, but can only find UK retailers. Pooh.
Then my parents STILL hadn't left, so I wandered down to Costco, where I started laying in supplies for the forthcoming festivities. A flat of evaporated milk. Blanket. Pillows. Towels. 5 lbs of pumpkin goo. I also got some day-to-day stuff. Bagels, muffins. And one pure indulgence of my holiday spirit: a Nordicware bundt pan of moderately elaborate design. Not the fairy-tale castle, but more than the fluted one I have now. This one has three tiers of vaguely gothic arches. I think my lemon cake deserves the best. Also, it came with a locking cake keeper, which now that I look at it, makes me nervous. The locking mechanis is a very slight twist, and the lid has a handle-like thing that I think would lead to doom. However, it will probably do fine for leaving on the table for the two days a cake might last.
At long last, we had lunch. The kids were almost out of good behavior by this point, poor things. We went home and did some picking up and then tried to have family movie night, but everyone was far too squirrelly, so after a few minutes, we sent them to bed.
After dinner, the kids and sil and I sat around watching the Pixar shorts DVD (I think it's time to institute the Christmas moratorium on buying stuff for one's self). Do you know how HARD it is to explain the bittersweet and experiential nature of Pixar shorts to a 4-yo? "Why are they being mean to that big bird?" "Why are they pecking his feet?" "What happened?" I think until you feel like the big bird, it's hard to understand.
On Sunday, we went off to church. Woo! I need to figure out how to help with social hour, because if they had better food, people would stick around more. Then I figured the kids and I could head south, and mom and dad could head north, and we could effect a paper-swap somewhere in the middle.
On the way, I was distracted by seeing a Jo-Anns and remembering that there was a huge sale on flannel-backed satin. While there, I also remembered that I needed sewing machine needles, a new sewing machine light bulb, and some fabric to start sewing gift bags, because although I am not giving up paper entirely, maybe some things could be more durable. And [special ingredient] for my planned homemade gifts this year. And treats for the kids, because they were good. And a pattern that could become Kay's next Christmas dress, if a person were motivated. And crazy. Yeah. Crazy. But, you know, insanity is endearing, right? I am vexed, though. I can tell that someone, somewhere, makes LED bayonet-mount sewing machine bulbs, but can only find UK retailers. Pooh.
Then my parents STILL hadn't left, so I wandered down to Costco, where I started laying in supplies for the forthcoming festivities. A flat of evaporated milk. Blanket. Pillows. Towels. 5 lbs of pumpkin goo. I also got some day-to-day stuff. Bagels, muffins. And one pure indulgence of my holiday spirit: a Nordicware bundt pan of moderately elaborate design. Not the fairy-tale castle, but more than the fluted one I have now. This one has three tiers of vaguely gothic arches. I think my lemon cake deserves the best. Also, it came with a locking cake keeper, which now that I look at it, makes me nervous. The locking mechanis is a very slight twist, and the lid has a handle-like thing that I think would lead to doom. However, it will probably do fine for leaving on the table for the two days a cake might last.
At long last, we had lunch. The kids were almost out of good behavior by this point, poor things. We went home and did some picking up and then tried to have family movie night, but everyone was far too squirrelly, so after a few minutes, we sent them to bed.