Would have been a gift spoiler

Over the years my side of the family has grown to to the point that exchanging gifts would mean buying for 11 other people, so last Christmas we decided to exchange names. This year I got my other sister.

A few years ago I chaperoned my daughter and her friends at the Warped Tour (actually I love alternative and wanted to go too, but all the parents think I took one for the team). My other sister agreed to go with. Turns out she likes the old school, political message alternative music. We bounced between stages all day.

When I saw "vinyl records" on her list, I was so happy. I went to several different music stores looking for the perfect album.

I settled on Barry Manilow Live - a two album set with all his best music - because who doesn't love the Copacabana? As a kid, I listened to that album over and over and over - and there was probably some hair brush microphone singing in there somewhere too. In my defense I was raised on Abba, the BeeGees, and Kenny Rogers.

Then I bought a whole bunch of real albums for her: Loverboy, The Police, Jefferson Starship, Genesis, Heart.... cuz I couldn't find Pennywise or Pearl Jam on vinyl.

If anyone else had drawn her name, she would have gotten lotion and candles. Now you see why I couldn't share this day's album page until after the gift giving was done.

over the river...

My other sister and her husband moved into a beautiful new home, and so it was her turn to host Christmas. They made ham and potatoes, and we opened gifts that we exchanged names for. This was the view on the drive out to her house:

it's kinda creepy

Yesterday we went to my sister's house for some Halloween fun. My sisters and I change our hair color a lot, and were all a little lighter over the summer. All three of us showed up last night dark - completely unplanned. Freaky.

Tell me again why we have pets....

Today while we were at work and school one of the dogs got locked in my oldest daughter's bedroom. She was sleeping all snuggled up on the bed when we left and somehow must have closed the door, and found herself trapped. She pulled the carpet back, shredded the pad, and separated the carpet and backing. She also ate everything in the room - books, gift bags, baskets - and chewed up the bottom of the door.

We were able to fit most of the pieces of the pad-puzzle back together and fold the carpet back. There is a one inch gap where it meets the hallway, and about a 10 inch tear down the middle being held together with packing tape right now.

I would be furious about it except she's a rescue dog who came to us in bad condition. Who knows what she went through before we got her, thanks to my other sister (who will be helping us replace the carpet later this year).

Now I can share these!

Now that the gift opening is over I can share the jewelry I made as gifts. I made the photo bracelet for my oldest, and another for my sister. I made the pendant necklace for my other sister.

holding down the fort

My sister and her husband went out of town and left my other sister in charge of the three kids for the weekend. I called the house to see how things were going and my five year old nephew told me that I should be babysitting. I asked why and he said, "Because you're more like a babysitter."

I'm not sure if that means I am more fun like a teenager or more responsible like a parent.... I do know that before the 'rents left he asked, "So if Aunt A is staying here, who will be in charge?"

Should I be worried?