Crafty Carol, or not

So now that I'm having this little baby girl I feel pressure, and admittedly a bit of desire, to join all the other trendy and talented moms with daughters I know in adorning my child in adorable accessories that I, of course, make myself.  There's only one problem:  I am like the most UNcrafty person to ever walk the earth!  I recently completed this hair bow:

Maybe it looks cute enough, but if you knew the agonizing amounts of time and effort that went into making that dumb bow you would know how NOT worth it it was.  It was the first one, and I venture the second one would probably be a little easier, but you know what would be even easier?  Paying some other Crafty Carol to make the cute accessories for me.  Now that's more up my ally.  Any of you crafters interested?   

We won!

A couple weeks ago we bid on a sofa on eBay and WON!  It's the first time I've ever been the highest bidder in all of the (three) times I've bid on eBay.  What a thrill!  We now not only have a cozy rocker, but a comfy little couch as well.  The two together have brought a much more homey (as in Sunday night casseroles, not gangsta') feel to our flat--no more of that dentist-office-waiting-room feel.  *Big smiles*    

The sofa...it matches the plain, off-white color of our walls perfectly, don't you think?  Ha.  Color isn't as important as getting to cuddle during movies.

The photos above the couch are hung with these darling little clothespins.  I love them.  We're not allowed to hang things on the walls, so we've had to get creative with our decorating.

Justin is great about keeping me stocked with a fresh bouquet of flowers.  Love him and them.

To top off the charm of our little abode we have this guy sitting on the stone wall outside our window...picturesque, no?

You've gotta be kidding me

This is what we woke up to this morning...

Yeah, it's not supposed to snow in Oxford.  We just happen to be here to enjoy the coldest winter in like 30 years.  Lucky us.

A Bit of Advice

I'm starting to look into making a stroller purchase.  I'm thinking a stroller/car seat combo might be nice?  Any tips from all you expert moms out there?

Wanna meet...

in Paris on Valentine's Day?

'Cause that's where we'll be.

Reunited And it Feels So Good...

I must say that I feel pretty intimidated as I sit here and write this post. Jill has been commander-in-chief of the Malden family blog since its creation and acquiring permission to contribute has been quite a task. I feel like a columnist whose future is in the hands of an Editor; wish me luck!

Some of you know Ken Fowler but many of our friends since high school do not. Ken and I were best friends all through high school. Just before our junior year his dad got a new job and moved his family out of Paradise. Ken stayed and lived with my family for 2 years so that he could graduate with his friends. We did pretty much everything together although our personalities were very different. He is the smart one, actually the genius one--he is a physicist in Switzerland working with a massive particle collider to make anti-matter and such. Ah what do I know, I'm just the averagely intelligent guy who doesn't really understand what Ken does academically or professionally. The thing that bonded us, and drove my parents crazy, was our deep love for sarcasm and witty insults--mainly aimed at each other.

Anyway, we graduated (he the Valedictorian...which I thought was spelled "valevictorian" until just now...once again he's the genius, not me) and both went off to college where we kinda lost touch for about 5 years. Ken came to my wedding in 2005 and then moved to Switzerland to do his science stuff. Since then we have kept in better touch. In December he got married to a beautiful girl named Rachelle and brought her out to Europe with him. Well, Ken and Rachelle  visited Oxford this weekend and we were able to spend a couple of days with them. Our time together was too short but it was fun. They did the Harry Potter stuff and then we did the C.S. Lewis stuff with them: Went to dinner at the Eagle and Child pub where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis met for lunch each week, toured C.S. Lewis' home, and wandered through the forest behind his home that inspired Narnia. We had a blast and it was great fun seeing a good friend again.

Here we are, Ken and I at C.S. Lewis' house. We were lucky enough to pass a woman who lives there and she gave us a tour though she was on her way to catch a bus. Thanks lady.

The original 'Wardrobe'

The sitting room where Lewis and his friends would "fug" up the place by shutting the doors and windows and smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes until the entire room was filled with smoke. It no longer smells like that but the ceiling has been restored with yellowish paint to simulate nicotine residue...classy.

Hello, Hello Again

Our sojourn in America has at long last come to an end.  We had a wonderful time hanging out with family and friends and enjoying the BEAUTIFUL California weather.  In fact, the transition from sunny mid-60's to wet and gloomy low-40's has been a little difficult.  We're also still trying to adjust to the time change, leading to some pretty bizarre sleeping habits.  Luckily Justin doesn't start school till Tuesday, so hopefully we'll be back to normal by then.  I was a little sad to leave CA, but must admit that it's nice to be back to our own little life too.  We didn't take too many pictures of the trip, but I'll post some from what we did take because...what's a blog post without a few pictures?? 

 

This is what Paradise looked like our first day there.  I like snow around Christmas because I feel it "sets the mood."  I also like that the snow disappeared after Christmas and we were able to enjoy some short-sleeve-shirt weather.

 

The stars of So You Think You Can Dance? better watch out for this duo!

Me and the hubster chillin' at my mom's Christmas party

Many members of my extended family came to visit while we were there, including my Grandma and her husband, Richard.  Aren't they cute?  Thanks to all who visited.  It was fun to see you!

Santa brought the Frazer clan Scene It?, Seinfeld.  Obviously the excitement it generated was pretty heavy.

Baby made out like a bandit this year.  She's not even breathing on her own yet, but her aunts and grandmas are already spoiling her.  I found this particular dress and sweater a few days before Christmas.  I thought it was so cute, but figured I would bring my mom back and show it to her because I was sure she wouldn't be able to resist buying it.  Turns out she hated it.  I know, right??  How could you hate this adorable dress?  Anyway, I was so bummed with her disgust for the dress that I didn't even buy it myself.  I couldn't stop thinking about it though and went back a couple days later to get it, but it was gone.  Dang.  Needless to say, I was SO excited on Christmas morning when I opened a package from Grandma Stacy to Bryn and found the dress inside.  She went back and bought the "ugly" dress.  I LOVE it.  Thanks, Mom!

   

We brought Oxford t-shirts to all the Malden cousins.  Gotta represent!

Did you see that movie Four Christmases?  Well, Justin and I are Three Christmases celebrators since our families all live pretty close together.  We share the yuletide cheer with my mom, Justin's fam, and my dad.  Here's a pic of my dad passing along some of that cheer to the camera. 

I got to see some friends who were in town while I was there.  So fun!

We also got to attend Cody's Eagle Scout Court of Honor while there.  Casey was deemed Cody's mentor which entitled him to a pin, hence the pointing in the picture.  Congratulations, Cody.  We're so proud of you!

Cute pic of 2 bros and a hot mama

Our next big adventure is the baby's arrival in March.  Anyone up for a visit in February to help break up the waiting period??  We would love to have you!