s-sooo c-c-colddd

Apparently it's actually winter now or something. When we left the house this morning it was literally NINE degrees outside. The kind of cold that feels like an insult. Eventually the day warmed to a quite balmy 21. I can't complain, though... at least it was sunny. (That and there was a big 'No Complaining' sign hanging above my head... ha ha... anyone?)

My Hall of Fame entry is about 95% done. All the hard stuff is over, yet I seem to have completely stalled out. I seriously need to get 1 more photo and then mail it. But that would require leaving the house and it is much too cold to do that.

On the bright side, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I got some fun heart garlands, I think I'll let Betsy help me hang them up. Also, I have developed a peculiar addiction to those pink jelly hearts... you know the ones... that don't quite taste like cherries? I always go crazy on one weird seasonal candy (candy corn, candy canes, those Spice flavored jelly beans where the purple ones taste like Anise or something 1920's like that, and not like grape, which is disgusting) and eat a bunch of it, and then when the season is over, I'm good. Am I the only one who does this? I think I should scrapbook about it, or something.

Try not to get The Decembrists' "Oh Valencia" stuck in your head. Go ahead, I dare you.

HECK YES!!!

The Colts are going to the Super Bowl!!!

I didn't watch most of the game because I knew it would stress me out too much. Matt insisted that I come down and see it when they were tied at 34. When there were 30 seconds left and the Patriots had the ball, Matt said "They need a sack" and I said "Or an interception, that would be good" and right that very moment Marlin Jackson caught an interception and basically ended the game. I can only imagine how insane it was downtown. I'd just assumed that Tom Brady and New England were unbeatable - and an 18-point lead sure did look insurmountable, didn't it? ;-) Now we have high hopes for what the newspapers have already dubbed "The I-65 Bowl" (even if I-65 really only gets you as far as all that stinkin' construction in Gary) but I think I will have to find some other project to distract me from the game.

Speaking of football, Matt and I watched 'Invincible' over the weekend. I was expecting to hate it (I hated 'The Rookie') but actually I think I got into it more than Matt did. He liked the football stuff, I liked the awesome soundtrack (the movie does take place in 1976 after all) and seeing J.D.'s pregnant urologist girlfriend from 'Scrubs.' Good date movie, I think.

We did get dumped with snow yesterday, for the first time all season really. It's already starting to melt, but it's wet and easy to pack so Matt took Betsy out this morning and they made a snowman together. We didn't have any regular size carrots, so he has a baby carrot for a nose.

random stuff...

We went to the State Museum on Monday (all the museums are free on MLK Day). They had a really gross exhibit about bugs and dead bodies. Fascinating, but gross.

I'm 97% done with my Hall of Fame entry. Still waiting for York Photo to send me my prints so I can finish up the Crafty Combo. Why do I keep ordering from York? They always take f o r e v e r to send me my pictures.

We're teaching Betsy how to write her name now. She's got the E and the T and more or less the Y (it looks a lot like the T, but I'm forgiving) and we're working on the B. S still has her completely stumped, however.

My voice is nearly hoars from rrawring with Porter.

The Colts are playing the Patriots in the conference championship this weekend. I hate to be a Negative Nellie, but aren't the Pats the ones who always knock the Colts out of the playoffs? Much like the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. I don't, however, reserve the same level of hatred for the Patriots as I do for the Cowboys. Some teams are just pure evil.

Don't overcook angelhair pasta. Not a pretty sight.

Old Navy is having a massive clearance sale. No more 97-cent capris for me. But, I got Matt some work pants for $8 (good thing, they inevitably end up with ink on them) and a scarf for 75 cents. Now his neck will be warm when he's walking from the parking garage, because I am a good wife.

You actually haven't seen cute, until you've seen a 1-year-old do the motions to 'Popcorn Popping.'

More pictures

I took a bunch of pictures yesterday. I'm still hopelessly optimistic, even though I'm limited both by my lack of photography skills and the uncopperation of my subjects. The black-and-white one is for my Hall of Fame entry:I'm finally attempting the Original Technique layout, so I'll be doing an unusual embellishment to complement a list of advice that I want to give Betsy. This is the only layout I haven't at least started, so the end is definitely in sight!

The color photo is for another layout I have planned... I ordered some of the Cloud 9 Valentine stuff from Luv2 for their January contest. It's actually been ages since I've entered one of Luv2's monthly contests, and I've never used anything of this brand before, but I really like what I've seen so far from the design team. It's always fun to try something new.

Speaking of something new... have you seen the CHA previews from American Crafts? Sweet holy prettiness, I love those papers. The ones named after foods are my favorite (although it's always going to bug me that they spelled vinaigrette wrong). Ooh, I can't wait until these come out. I'm still waiting to see what Chatterbox comes up with, but I'm sure it will be gorgeous too.

We watched 'American Mormon' on Sunday - it was pretty funny - and since then, Betsy has apparently been practicing her documentary-film-interviewing skills. She spent half of yesterday with a green plastic knife in her hand, sticking it in our faces and saying, "Hello. How are you? What's your name?" Very cute.

Happy New Year

Yeah, yeah, I know, it was a little while ago...

Mike and Mandy came over on Monday, bearing Christmas gifts for the kids. Mandy knitted a fetching purse and hat for Betsy. (Did I mention how jealous I am that Mandy knows how to knit? I am way too uncoordinated.) Betsy was pretty excited because if there's one thing she loves, it's accessories. They also brought Porter a little basketball. Do these people know my kids, or what?

I've made some resolutions, but they all have to do with scrapbooking. I created a scrapbook layout about it, in fact.

Today, I resolve that we will finally get the Christmas decorations down.