Anyday

It has surprised me every once in a while when I notice something that we've brought with us from home and the history of the item. A few things:
1. The pillow case on Lacey's American Girl doll's pillow. Grandma Suzie made it with me when I was little. It is made out of "silk" like her sleeping pillow case was. She first introduced me to the idea that there were pillows to put on the bed during the day and then a pillow in the closet for sleeping, with a silk pillowcase so your hair wouldn't get so messed up. I thought the idea of having separate pillows was insane. Then again, I still can't quite believe the practice of using decorative pillows on your bed and then having to remove them at night. Some things don't change I suppose.

2. A polar fleece scarf embroidered with the Google logo made it here. I received it at work one year as our "Christmas present" as an advertiser.

3. My rainbow pajama pants from Aunt Sharon. They're so colorful it makes it harder to be grumpy in them.

4. My Nike running shoes, bought on sale on the way home from work one day so that I couldn't have an excuse not to go run or walk and get some exercise. I bought them in 2004, they looked brand new until my mom and I put some miles on them walking around Steilacoom last year, and now they're finally looking worn from walking all around Ankara.

5. A stuffed giraffe with a music box inside. The giraffe was given to Lacey by Greg when she was a tiny baby, and Maren picked it out as one of the things she wanted to bring.

6. A stuffed cow that Aeden sleeps with. It is one of the many stuffed toys that Greg got for Maren that she completely latched onto. She carried the cow around with her under her left arm like a football, and it even made it into her 1-year-old pictures. Now Aeden goes to sleep with it under his arm, and giggles anytime I make it say, "Moo" to him.

7. Aeden's green fleece blanket. It has a taxi design on one corner. Paul and Ane gave it to me at Maren's baby shower and both Maren and Aeden have put it to very good use. Aeden did not agree with me the other day when I was putting it into the washing machine and instead drug it around the house all day with him. I snuck it into a separate load later.

8. Aeden's blue fleece blanket. This is a weird one. We got the blanket from a Dove soap offer when Lacey was about 2. Evie cut the offer out of the newspaper and gave it to me. Since I actually used the product and would be able to get the UPC's without buying extra just for the offer, I went ahead and sent it in. We received the blanket and it has been in use since. It is the exact same color as the acrylic blanket we had when I was little, which was called the "soft blue blanket". It was used on my parent's bed, so it was a special treat when I got to use it to watch TV or if I took a nap in their bed. It was the soft blue blanket as opposed to the crunchy gold/orange blanket I had on my bed, which I always worked hard not to touch without a sheet or a bedspread between it and me.

9. Flannel crib sheets from Pottery Barn. I would call them Aeden's, but they were originally Maren's. I never found a pattern I liked more, so I didn't get new ones for Aeden. I was hoping to have a bit of home for Aeden in his bed to help him sleep. Probably more for me than him, I'll admit.

10. A knitted multi-color ball given to Aeden by "the hospital ladies" when he was born. I stuffed it into a carryon bag at the last minute since it weighed nothing, scrunches down, and doesn't roll too far. And because Aeden loves balls. I don't know which guild or association it was, but after Aeden was born a lady brought around a little cart of knitted hats, trimmed bibs, and this single ball. I chose the ball, thinking we might actually get some use out of it, and knew the other items would just get put in a keepsake box or given away. I'm glad the yarn scraps in un-coordinating colors made it into a ball and are getting put to use!

11. A white sweater I bought to wear at our wedding if it was chilly. So that makes it 9 1/2 years ago. I never wore it, until we had tea in Halifax on my mom's birthday. It came here with us.

12. A wool sweater Kaye & Myron got for me for Christmas a few years ago. I always get compliments on the pattern around the bottom and the sleeves when I wear it.

13. A green fleece pullover from Campmor. One of Brian's summer camp kids left it behind after their tour around Washington State and it fit me. I've worn it every winter since. That was 1995. My god. I'm a walking Campmor ad.