The excitement:
The aftermath:
This was the first year that Skyler really completely “got” the concept of Christmas. It was a deligh!
Category: Skyler
Christmas Vacation
If you can’t tell from how late I’m posting, I’m on Christmas vacation for the rest of the year–and I already started partying over the weekend.
The party started with reading a headline I never thought I’d read in a paper in my home state (and tearing up over the photo galleries and mentally cheering the judge*):
It also involved decorating gingerbread cookies with the nephew and “Gromma” and “Grompa”:
And it ended with watching the actual Christmas Vacation while somebody waited for Santa:
It’s a good time of year.
*As quoted from the Tribune article linked to above, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby issued the nicest and most rational “suck it” that I have ever heard to conservative arguments:
Shelby took issue with the state’s argument that the plaintiffs “do not possess the qualifications” to enter a marriage relationship, saying there is “no dispute that the plaintiffs are able to form a committed relationship with one person to the exclusion of all others” and to raise children within that union if they desire.
Shelby said the state’s argument about the ties between marriage, procreation and optimal child-rearing were not compelling, nor was its assertion that the plaintiffs were seeking a new right.
“However persuasive the ability to procreate might be in the context of a particular religious perspective, it is not a defining characteristic of conjugal relationships from a legal and constitutional point of view,” the judge said. “The state’s position demeans the dignity not just of same-sex couples, but of the many opposite sex couples who are unable to reproduce or who choose not to have children.”
What same-sex couples seek is simply the same right “currently enjoyed by heterosexual individuals: the right to make a public commitment to form an exclusive relationship and create a family with a partner with whom the person shares an intimate and sustaining emotional bond,” he said.
The Adventures Of Niner & N.N.
My nephew Skyler currently pronounces his name “Niner.” Since my name also has a tricky “k” sound, mine comes out closer to “Enen.” Obviously this makes him even more adorable. If I ever write a children’s book, “The Adventures of Niner and N.N.” will be the title–and this* will be the cover shot:
Photoshop in an airship and some tiny goggles for “Niner” and done–steampunk children’s adventure story.
*This was from the adventure of “N.N. is here to pick peaches; I’d better show her how I can fearlessly climb the ladder!” a couple weeks ago. N.N.’s right hand is in a death grip on the ladder, just in case.
Tuesday Project Roundup: Finished
Over the long weekend I finished and wore the Tory Burch-knockoff tunic, so we can all cross that off the list:
(And I broke out the white jeans, because now it’s summer!)
I also spent some time with this guy (who has the right idea) 
And some time under here (which is getting a NEW DECK starting today!)
Birthday Project Roundup!
My nephew Skyler is two years old today! It’s hard to believe that just a year ago he was starting to walk, and that he outgrew his first Hawaiian shirt 20 months ago. He obviously needed another aloha shirt, so I made him one for his birthday.
What do you think, Skyler?
I think he likes it!
Speaking of making things for the Most Darling Nephew Ever, remember how my dad learned how to make balloon animals for Skyler? Look what Dad made for the Nemo-themed party last Saturday:
“But wait, there’s more!”
Amazing! It gets even better, though. My dad even made one of the party games, a bean bag toss: made the frame, cut the holes, and painted it. (My sister-in-law sewed the bean bags.)
I think it’s fitting that I gave Skyler art supplies for his “fun” present (because who wants a shirt when you’re two?). I don’t think he can avoid making things in this family.
Good Helpers
It’s been far too long since I’ve featured a nephew picture. Here he is helping to “clean” the shower at my parents’ house:
And here’s Toby, who was “helping” me change the sheets over the weekend:
I Wish I Had His Energy
Of course, I wish Play-Doh (being swung in that bucket) got me that excited, too. More darling pictures at my brother’s blog.
Tuesday Project Roundup: SQUEEE!
Look at who’s modeling his really really oversized sweater!!
In new project news, I’m going to say that putting up the Christmas tree counts.
(I’m having a fuse issue with the bottom third of the tree–I replace them but they short out again. That’s not very Christmas-y of you, tree.)
No Projects To Round Up
I haven’t tackled the pile of Christmas projects from October (except for the chutney–everybody’s getting chutney this year!) nor have I put the sleeves in that rayon dress, nor have I started on a quilt for a friend. I also don’t think I ever mentioned that Skyler’s sweater turned out plenty big, so I don’t have a picture of him wearing that (since wearing it won’t be possible for a few months).
Instead, I give you a picture of Skyler hiding in an end table, lifted from my brother’s blog. Because sometimes you just have to hide in an end table. I feel the same way lately, kiddo.
Eeeeeeeeeeek!
It’s Halloween, and if you’re a Celt it’s Samhain tomorrow, and that means it’s just six weeks until the winter solstice, and if you’re me you may begin a prolonged and escalating freakout as you contemplate 2013, so what do you?
You pet your cat, you see your nephew tonight in his costume, and you look at this picture from your brother’s blog yesterday.
You may also listen to this.