Old man smile, or sneer? I can't tell. Too many wrinkles.

Yesterday I was pulling into our parking space when I realized I was a little close to the dumpster. Then I hit it with my front bumper, leaving a bright green scrape mark. The condo association president, Ray, was a few feet away spraying for weeds. After I got out of the car he told me, "I knew you'd make it." The funny thing was, I clearly did not make it, but hit the dumpster about two yards from his face. This could be related to the fact that he is probably 92 years old, or he was being sarcastic, his hostility originating from when I made him come out to check the washing machine because I could not get a load to start for two days. Then I realized I was using a Canadian quarter the whole time, (after he asked after the second phone call, "Do ya think you have a Canadian quarter in there?") and I confessed this, making it known his trip to the complex and testing of the machine completely pointless. Touche, Ray.

First Day of Spring

The day Portlanders reluctantly come outdoors, blinking at that huge bright thing that creates heat that is called "the sun." We forgot it existed for a few months, but we don't take it for granted. Jon probably can think of better things than studying for finals outside, but hand sewing in the sun probably tops my list.

Pinkies out!

One spring break long ago, my grandparents took me and my siblings to the Oregon coast, where we visited Keiko the killer whale from Free Willy. We also stopped by a large mansion (I believe the Pittock Mansion here in Portland?), and my grandma took me and my sister to a tea house nearby. I think I remember the tea tasting funny, (and thinking when the food came, "that's all?") but it was one of the most memorable moments of the trip for me.

A few weeks ago my friends chose to go to a tea house for a joint birthday party, and I didn't know what to expect. My first thought was "man, that's girly." But I like my friends, and I dressed in my most grandma, tea-party-esque dress for the occasion. (To show even more how much I like my friends, I washed my hair.)

No need to worry. It was AWESOME. The herbal teas were super good, I ate tiny sandwiches with the crusts cut off, and I felt like I was living in the tea party Kenz and I (and our trolls) would pretend to have in our room when we were eight. Lesson learned: Super girly does not always mean super gag-inducing.

I could have imagined more interesting teacups, but you can't ask for perfection.

to do

*exchange stuff at forever 21 (not a success) and anthro (success! new owner of blue tights!)
       [also, can I say that my parallel parking job (third try) downtown was a thing of beauty.]
*clean bathroom
*make soft pretzels (which are related to my latest obsession, the bagel)
*fill out enrichment reimbursement sheet (craft night done!)
*order twin zygosity test 

 So that last one's a little unusual.

 

For those that care, this is me with a baby bump. For those that don't, this is a picture of me playing air guitar. Air saxophone didn't turn out so well. And, did you know that flutes and saxophones are keyed the same? (ahem Mackenzie) Crazy awesome.

too much

We are dogsitting this week. Last night, as is customary lately, I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, which is where the dog sleeps. I don't like to turn the light on because I don't want her to think it's morning already, but I noticed it smelled like she was letting off some gas. Turns out she let out more than gas because my toe brushed against her poo pile. Wonderful. (Don't worry, I sanitized the foot.)

I forgave her of her poo misdeed and after work took her on a walk. She was trying to chase a squirrel down a pathway towards a nearby park when I heard a large rustling in the trees above, and then something hit me. I thought a squirrel threw some leaves or something, but it turns out a large bird had unloaded their poo and pee supply for the year (seemingly) down the arm of my pink "private club" jacket. Before I realized it, I got some on my hand. Holding the dog's leash is really a two hand matter because the little thing can drag me all over the place, so my non-poop hand was formed into a painful claw by the time I got home.

I should not be experiencing this much poop in a 24 hour span. Like my lack of sleep, is this a subconscious way to prepare me for motherhood?

Flotsam and Jetsam

Welcome to my personal hell. I somehow need to attach doodads in various ways to these blocks in hope that the women in my church will want to make this craft. I've been staring at these mod-podged blocks for two days now and the inspiration is nonexistent. There will be other holidays to choose from, and I feel like I am going to be the one with an empty table on craft night. It's going to remind me too much of my high school lunch hour.

It kind of looks like a shoebox

Jon has been wanting a record player so badly. We've looked on Amazon, ebay, and Craigslist to find a cost-appropriate option (I preferred one with a small footprint). I tend to give up after a while, but this kid is persistent. On the way back from the coast he tracked one down outside of Portland, and we stopped by with a record to test it. All I have to say is, thank goodness for hoarders. We've met several interesting people from Craigslist adventures; Bob who sold us the tivo who had 3 crazy recliners instead of a couch and his genius daughter's typewriter-piano instrument invention mounted on the wall, and a giant of a woman with her GIANT Big-Dawg wearing son who bought our enormous overstuffed leather chair (match made in heaven, that one). This most recent woman had a house that lives in my mother's nightmares--it was overflowing with cluttery, dingy, kind of weird smelling stuff. But she had a huge flat screen TV. $10 and a clorox wipe (or two) later, the next Sunday morning was filled with the sound of vintage Mormon Tabernacle Choir tunes.

 

 

impromptu mid-week getaway

Including: Storms, wind, a fireplace, ocean, meh chowder at Mo's. (& too many jelly bellies!) Ignored my cell phone. Not that anyone called.

Of note: Valentine's weekend made me the ecstatic new owner of two coral-colored (!) latte bowls. Pink and I may not be great friends, but me and coral are BFFs.

Nesting for beginners

Step 1: Buy a crib.
Step 2: Crib is delivered to front door (Wednesday).
Step 3: Leave crib outside until Jon comes home because it is about 5 million pounds.
Step 4: Help Jon bring the crib inside.
Step 5: Go eat dinner.
Step 6: Live your life normally around a 150 pound box in your entryway.

In more successful nesting news, I finally finished the hand quilting on the baby quilt I started a year ago.

When excitement leads to tears

My twin sister Mackenzie is super talented. Her magnets are featured in this month's Crochet Today!, one of the most highest regarded crochet magazines (I didn't have to tell you that, of course). In celebration, she is having a giveaway on her blog to win some of these great magnets, which have super powers to never come unstuck from the fridge/magnet board placed thereon.

The magnets you can win!

Unless. I wanted to take a picture to post of my special "face" magnets, which were hand embroidered with the likeness of Jon and my face (Tyler deserves some credit here). They are amazing. I love them. And then I could not find my face. And then I remembered an unfortunate incident where I was throwing around a deflated kick ball with Mia, the dog I watch occasionally, and how I have a small apartment, and how I threw the ball into my magnet board, causing a small explosion. I must have knocked off my face magnet. The explosion of stuff caused our trash can to pop open... and I think you can deduce the rest. Needless to say I'm a little (a lot) depressed. And in need of a new face magnet.

Jon's face magnet. The detail! The mustache! I also need a baby face magnet. With a baby mustache.

But check out Kenz's blog and try to win some magnets of your own! If she's anything like me (and she is, obviously) each new comment is like a tiny slice of joy. Served on a tiny plate, with a tiny fork. (but that may be just me)

the sun (and reflection off my white skin) was blinding

Our store bought navels do not come close to these Arizona beauties. I think a single tear rolled down Jon's cheek as he ate the last one brought back from our sunny trip.

(Side note: He also excels at cutting of people's heads with the Holga)

baby feets

All we need now is a tiny seersucker suit. Or a wool sport coat with elbow patches. Mini hi-top chucks. Lots of stripes and hoods. Cardigans and cords. Who says dressing a baby boy is less fun? (Kenz, the masculine pom-pom hat is still expected. Can I request some ear flaps?)

New friend-in-laws

I have spent this week feeling a little guilty (but barely) because compared to the rush of Christmas, I have had little to do with my time. Which means I spend many afternoons reading and taking naps. Two of my friends got married during and right after our break, so combine making two quilts at the same time, making/finding/buying about 20 different presents for Christmas (and some birthdays), 3 viruses, and general not-feeling-good-ness and fatigue due to a little friend spending some time in my belly (gender TBD in one hour), I presented my mom with two half finished quilts at the break that she most generously helped me finish. 

My mom has made quilts for weddings forever, and now that my friends have started to get married, it has been special for me to make something for these girls that have been so wonderful to me. I like picking patterns that fit their personality, thus Nikki's is more modern, random, and geometric--Darien's is more traditional and timeless. I only have pictures of Darien's finished quilt top (I'll have to ask her for completed ones) so the next picture is a half finished representation of hers (with bad lighting):

How cool is "Crockett" as a new last name? Totally sounds like a band. Their weddings were very different--Nikki's was relaxed and small (and snowy), Darien's traditional and large (and sunny). Both were so wonderful, but the best part was getting to know their new husbands more and seeing how happy and perfectly matched they all were. Tiff got a lot more fun pictures of Darien's wedding than me (including a Jon and Brandon and baby family picture that should not be missed) but here is a small highlight of both.

Highlight:  The accordion player dedicated a song to the couple, introduced it as a romantic Italian favorite, Darien's then fiance Eric gets so excited that it will be the song from "Lady and the Tramp," and then he launches into a rendition of the theme from "The Godfather." Which has words? Didn't know that.

 

 

 

I don't know what bridesmaids are technically supposed to do, and I don't think we did any of it. But we did dance for 4 hours. It was so great to have Cassidy and Heather at this wedding too! So much fun. It took about 2 full days to physically recover from this weekend.

Highlight: Standing silent and still during the ring ceremony, the Bishop says the word "cleave," and Mere starts contagiously giggling.

Support Haiti (and get a deal yourself)

Ending at midnight tonight (Thursday), Portland artist Ryan Berkley is offering a buy two get one free on all prints with 10% going to the Red Cross. We love his illustrations and if you like portraits of animals dressed as people, you probably will too. And I think they look best in sets of three anyway.

Gift giving report card

Christmas for the Naylor family is a time to do two things. Make my dad laugh and my mom cry (happy tears, hopefully). Both things are pretty easy to do (dad crying is already a given) so we try to out do each other. I have to say I did a pretty poor job this year, as my other two siblings out gave me and really pulled out the big guns (my gift of a book was a long shot in the first place). Kenz really knocked it out with a beautiful homemade, home-dyed quilt especially for the giver of all quilts who rarely receives one. But really Kenz, the woman has enough quilts. I was left holding my book saying, "remember you watched this mini-series on PBS? And I thought to write in it but Dad told me not to give it to you but I did anyway so I half expected a return?" (And to respond to the forthcoming comment from my mother--she did like the book and appreciated the fabric bound Penguin classic, which is quite cool looking.)

I did get a (small) laugh from my dad. I got him a heart in Oregon shirt and as he opened it I said, "and the middle heart is green, just how you love being green!" (he recycles, he just doesn't admit it). The shirt was a mark of victory that the conservative guy has grown fond of our more liberal state. However, Jon, Tyler and Jake did the best by finding this gem for free in a thrift store--

Dad, Leftse. Leftse, Dad. This hand made Norwegian elf figure has a label on the stand that tells its history, which I don't remember but I'm sure includes scaring children to death on Christmas morning, knife held at the ready in the pouch at his waist. My Dad lived in Norway for two years serving a mission for our church and loves to speak the rarely useful language whenever he can. I repeat the words I know to Jon whenever I want a laugh. We all look forward to future Christmases where he will lay in hiding with his beady eyes and stuffed pantyhose face, scaring the Christmas spirit into all who find him.