Advice from an Expert.

Most people who know me realize I am an unsung, yet strongly opinionated, expert in many unexpected topics. Well, add another hash mark to the tally; I am now an expert in stinky things that befoul your fridge. Here is my main piece of advice: If something is stinking up my fridge, it is leftover beans and rice in a Nancy-ware container shoved to the back row. It could also be refried beans (use up the whole can when you open it, or your fridge will stink in 3 weeks.) I'm not sure if the bane of your refrigerator's freshness is beans, but I would wager that it is usually the same substance over and over again.

Another obvious piece of advice: Purge your fridge of its offensive lingerers the day of, or the day before, garbage pickup. If you have any questions concerning kitchen odors, or anything related at all, take advantage of your acquaintance with an Expert in such matters any time, absolutely free of charge.

Merry Christmas

I swear, we heard a thump! I thought it was Boa, since she's always jumping up and knocking stuff over, but turns out she was in the bathroom with Todd when the thump occurred. Trevor was nestled all snug in his bed, but he doesn't know what a sugarplum is (come to think of it, neither do I, really.) Could've been a big limb crushing our roof; then again, maybe it was a slightly overweight man in a red suit landing on the roof. I blamed Boa on the missing cookies, but maybe I was wrong about that too.

Oh boy, I'm going to milk the Santa thing (shameless, ludicrous lie) as long as possible.

Oh Christmas Tree

We went to find a tree yesterday. Trevor and I went on a hayride while Todd walked around looking for the One. It was cold! We had so much fun on the hayride, because there was a family of six kids with us just whooping and cheering about how much fun it was. Goes to show, attitude really is everything. It would have been just a tractor pulling a wagon without those kids talking it up.
See, that's the problem with our tree right now. We have lights (maybe not quite enough) and ornaments, but no skirt and no sparkle. We need garland, by golly, and tinsel!
Trevor has his own ideas about the uses of a Christmas tree. Today he was throwing a hacky sack at it. I had to retrieve it from the inner branches when it got stuck, and I didn't have quite the energy level (before morning coffee) to teach him that we don't throw things at the tree. I finally threatened to put the tree outside...hey, it's not an empty threat, I will put it on the porch if I have to say ridiculous things like "we look with our eyes" all day. Try saying that in a normal voice, it's impossible
Both sets of grandparents sent Trevor an advent calendar (thank you!) and it is a fun activity every morning. He is very excited about the one with chocolate in it. Trevor's usual manner of eating is to stuff as much food in his mouth as possible, and then ask for more with his mouth full; He savors the chocolate, cradling it carefully in his hand almost to the point of melting and taking tiny bites.
I've been torturing myself by listening to the radio station that plays the same twelve holiday favorites over and over. I could listen to Jingle Bell rock about eighty more times, but if I have to hear the Little Drummer Boy again, I might say something rude.

More!

This little boy cannot get enough of many things in life. Dried apples, raisins, being chased around the house, Christmas lights, trains, trucks, the car in front of kmart that goes up and down, Jingle Bell Rock. Sparkling apple cider, playing in water, stomping in puddles in his frog boots. His sign for "more" (which loosely resembles the official baby sign for more), now accompanied by the word delivered as a command, is so frequently used that his young friend Anna now uses it as a sign to mean Trevor!

Rainy Day Blogging

Ahhh, I love naptime. I really should be cleaning the floor or at least working on some knitting, but I'm going to do this first. It is a very rainy day, the kind when I don't even want to go outside. I'm soliciting you readers (c'mon, even if you're anonymous readers who don't ever comment) for toddler-friendly activity ideas for rainy days BESIDES shopping and spending money. Todd cleaned out the garage (or at least shoved everything to one side) and we now call it our private indoor play park. That's the latest fun activity. There's also the bathroom sink, at which Trevor will stand on a chair and play for an hour, getting himself and everything else soaking wet. What else, guys? We've got a few more months of days like these.
Well, I'm off to my cleaning/knitting. I'm waiting for your ideas and if you don't post them, I'll keep harassing you.