Can You Hear Me Now?

I uploaded the pictures of the gifts for the Family over at Flickr so I could add notes to them and detail what everything is. (Run your curser over the photo to get the notes). What isn’t pictured, is the indoor kitchen grill Michelle donated (because I couldn’t lift it out of my office) and the two Christmas coffee mugs (for each of the parents) and music boxes (for each of the girls) my mom donated. Anyway, you can see the goods right here.

When my mom was here on Wednesday she wrapped all the girls presents and a few of the mom’s things, so all I have to do now is bag up the rest with tissue paper in the festive bags I bought, and label everything properly. Michelle is coming over tomorrow to help me with that. My mom is also writing up the Christmas card, and inside that will go the $200 gift card for Superstore and the $50 gift card for Canadian Tire. Then, we’re all set!

Thanks to everyone for your contributions. I’m sending out an email to all contributors who may not read my blog, so they can know the results as well. Woo hoo! Good job, everyone!! I think this family is going to get the surprise of their life. I raised about $900 and spent every penny on them!!

On Wednesday when I got home, my scooter was back! Yay! I promptly took it out to the mall and got a latte. It is SO much better now. The problems really started after that accident I had back in April. The speed dial has been out of line since then and it hasn’t felt as balanced when I ride it. I didn’t think it was a big deal and didn’t want to spend what I thought would be hundreds of dollars to get it tuned up. Anyway, I guess whatever got knocked around that day took awhile to completely disconnect. But they fixed it up totally, my speed dial is back in line, and it rides like it did when I first got it. I had forgotten how good that was. Well worth the $60.

Today I was back at the mall (trying to do a little bit of my OWN Christmas shopping each day! Gift baskets for clients and stuff since I’m not baking…) I found out that my Wal-Mart is the second busiest Wal-Mart in the world. I had heard it was the second busiest in the country, but I was corrected by the cashier. “Busiest in the country… second busiest in the world“. Well, holy shit. And yet they took out 4 tills to put in “self-serve” stations because people asked for them, and now they are rarely used. People are afraid of them. That store is nuts busy all the time, but you can imagine what it’s like right now. It’s going to be open 24 hours from December 18 - 24! I bet 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday will be a GREAT time to shop there. Too bad I live in ‘da hood and would never be out alone at that time.

Today Jess was working at the place where I get my latte. She’s the only staff whose name I know, because we tend to yakety yak (Google actually helped me spell that) a lot. She has put in her notice and finishes next week We talked for awhile and I promised I would come by to see her next week (I mean, what are the chances, really). I gave her my number and really hope we do keep in touch, not just say it. She tried to give me a handful of chocolates which I turned down. Go me! I hope I can keep my momentum up over the holidays. If I can make it through that, I can do it forever!!

Oh dear Lord.

I just want to smoosh my head in their bellies!! (I think I did that 2 minutes later)

Pam and I were able to get to the bank and then buy the gift cards really fast! We just missed the rush and there were no line-ups. So, the family is all stocked up - presents galore and gift cards.

Afterwards we went for a bite to eat. I wanted to try the Vietnamese place that’s really close to me. (I know, more Vietnamese… but have I mentioned, rice noodles? And I loooove it!) Pam wanted to go out on a limb and try something different… so she ordered us deep fried QUAIL as an appetizer. It ended up arriving after our main dishes, but whatever. Quail is not my thing, for the record. We each picked at a piece and then Pam took the rest home to give to her brother!

I cheated a bit on my “no wheat” thing by getting a dish that had a few pieces of spring roll in it. It was the only chicken satay dish and I “oops” forgot to say “no spring rolls”. Anyway, it wasn’t that great and the noodles were cold. My favourite place is still my favourite place. Three times the amount of chicken, the food is hot, and the sauce is WAY better.

When I got home, my mom was here. She came into town to meet some friends for dinner, and then stayed over here. Before she left for dinner, she had me help her decide which scarf to wear, and I TOTALLY went with the bright pink feather boa! Haha so flashy and she looked so cute. She’s here for a bit today to assist with the scooter exchange while I’m at a client’s and wrap some presents! I’ve separated them into piles so provided the cats don’t knock them around, it is easy to tell whose is whose.

I twisted my right ankle when I fell yesterday and it is killing me today.

My mom just showed me a sweater Bob bought for her that is too big so she’s giving it to me, and I immediately changed into it to wear today. It is so soft and cozy and has Christmas trees on it. Not THAT kind of sweater, but it’s cream coloured with 4 small trees in various shades of blue over the chest. Quite pretty.

Anyway, I’m off to work. have a great day!

There’s only 600 million cat beds, momma’s laps, sofas, comforters, etc. to curl up on around here, but lately they’re into hanging out in the hall.

Today started off rather crappy. After my shower and getting dressed, I went back into the bathroom to check how my hair was drying. As I often do, I did a little lose-my-balance dance. I usually catch myself, but this time I stumbled and fell. (I didn’t break anything, no worries). So I’m on the floor, half in the hall and half in my bathroom. I figured I would be able to get up if I could get to my La-Z-Boy in the living room, so I crawled in that direction. (I learned the hard way that my bed is too high to help me get up).

Once there, I was too tired to make the attempt to get up. And a little weepy, because damn, I just fell and had to crawl on my hands and knees to the living room and now I have no energy. I’m so pathetic, blah blah blah. I called my mom to talk until I regained some strength, but then there was a buzz at the door. Expecting my $250 cheque via courier, I was really wishing I could get up. After the second buzz, I hung up on my mom (sorry mom, but you had put the phone down and I couldn’t tell you first) and called the rental office of my building. I asked them to buzz in the person at the door for me, because I had fallen and I couldn’t get up.

The office manager came to my door and asked if she could bring the package in, (see, wooden doors, you can hear anything through them) and I said sure. She came in and put it on the counter, then called out to me and asked if I was okay. I said “well, I can’t really get up…” she came around the corner and saw me sitting on the floor in front of my chair, and said “hang on, I’ll get someone!” and ran out, telling “someone” to come “quickly! It’s an emergency!!!!” (Oh, brother). Suddenly there were three people standing over me and by that time I had regained the strength to pretty much get up on my own anyway. That didn’t stop them from fussing over me, which only made me cry (Argh!! Why do I have to be such a GIRL!) The man was all, “it’s okay, sweetie” and the receptionist from the office was offering to get me water or something. I was fine, just embarrassed now, thanks.

Anyway, after they left I just sat there and regained my composure. A few minutes later the office receptionist called me to make sure I was okay, and to ask me if I needed anything, help getting to bed to lie down… and to call her anytime I need anything because she knows CPR and has her First Aid. I thanked her and hung up, then proceeded to head for the kitchen. After wolfing down rice crackers, half a package of goat’s cheese and a Larabar, I realized food is not going to solve my problems. If it did, I would be the most problem-free person on the face of this earth.

Anyway, the first package wasn’t the cheque, but it came about an hour later. So the day started getting better immediately, as that means I’ll be seeing Pam later and we’ll buy gift cards and go for dinner.

I took pictures of all the family gifts today, I tried my best to display them like a Price is Right showcase. I should be able to have them up by the weekend.

I’m getting my scooter back tomorrow! $60 later. Nothing wrong with the batteries, thank God, that would have been a few hundred dollars I don’t have. It was something wire-related blah blah blah techietalk blah blah.

Pam’s on her way, I gotta go! I’ll write more later (and a kitty pic).

Sunday night’s haul: $118.74. And what did that get me?

• For the 6 year old girl: “Veterinarian Barbie“, and a Ballerina Barbie was only $5 so I had to get that too, some doll clothes and a blue T-shirt;
• For the Dad: a beige sweater, another blue shirt, a red pullover, black gloves and hat, and a few more pairs of socks;
• For the mom: a quick run into Dollarama to get a few more utensils (salad forks, cheese grater, a nicer serving ladle, garlic press) and a plastic thing you hang over the sink to hold sponges, scrubbers, etc. I grabbed one for myself while I was at it!
• 8 AA batteries!

Last night:

I spent a little more on cookware and dishes than I planned, but I really liked these dishes (they were $40 for a set of 4, not $60) so I bought her two sets. I was planning to get her two sets that were $20 each, but these were so much nicer. For cookware, I got her a 10 piece Betty Crocker set. All in total, $169.39. Which turned out to be okay, because later last night another $50 mysteriously appeared in my PayPal account. Woo hoo!

Tomorrow I should be receiving $250 from my client Ken, and then my friend Pam is taking me to pick up a $200 Superstore gift card (huge grocery store) and $50 Canadian Tire card (hardware and lots more).

Then the real work begins… wrapping all the presents, labeling them, and boxing them up for delivery. I bought wrapping paper and gift bags and stuff last night, and I’m hoping to get some people over to help me wrap. My friend Jason (and hopefully Sheldon?) is going to play Santa next Tuesday morning when I need to deliver everything. I guess I need to find some boxes to put everything in! I’ve got quite the load!

So I should be done shopping, unless I get more contributions. I can always think of more things to buy!

Oh, a couple things I forgot to mention… when my brother was over last week, I finally remembered to ask him to hang the 3 sunflower pictures I’ve got up. After Kim gave me the sunflower field one, I knew I could wait no longer and needed to get them up. (Good thing too, because my mom was going to buy me the same one Kim bought me, and she probably wouldn’t have known I already had it if it wasn’t hanging in the hall now!) So Lisa and Shawna, the ones you gave me finally have a real home too. I know, I know, took me long enough. But YOU try hammering a nail in the wall with one hand!!

The other thing is, I love my Hummingbird. (Still not a sex toy, people. Oral B doesn’t make sex toys to their knowledge, but what you want to do with your electric toothbrush in the privacy of your own home is your business). I highly recommend it to all one-handed individuals. My periodontist will be SO thrilled.

I can’t wait to get my own scooter back. I don’t like driving the 4-wheeler, you can’t make tight turns and you need to be able to do that when shopping in crowded stores! It also doesn’t have lights in the back (which are needed with it getting dark so early right now), and it doesn’t stop immediately when you let go of the whatchamicalits power thingys. You let go and it still pumps ahead a bit. Which has caused me to bump into many a door, wall, and display rack.

Of course, if I’d been driving this one for 4 years and the one I own now was my loaner, I’d be complaining about that one. It’s all about what you’re used to. I just really miss my basket… I can’t get a latte with the one I’ve got now (Don’t tell me I can buy one and drink it at the mall… not the same AT ALL! I always bring it home and relax with it, I don’t want to drink it in a crowded noisy mall. It’s not just the latte, it’s the lifestyle).

Pepper and Pita are quite fond of their lifestyle, too.

Last night I took a quick trip over to the mall, with a promise to not overload my basket this time because it’s very frustrating having to pick everything up that falls out when I make a turn. Anyway, I went into Dollarama and bought the following for the mom:

• Cooking utensils - various spoons, spatulas, whisks, ladels, wooden spoons, a timer, measuring cups;
• Body wash;
• Bath body sponge w/handle;
• Body butter;
• Large make-up mirror;
• Dusting powder;
• A cute container with cotton swabs, cotton balls, cotton cosmetic pads;
• A gift bag to put all the beauty-related products in (I have more to add from my own bathroom, never used or opened.

Guess what I spent? Guess!!! You’re wrong. Only $18.02. I freakin’ love Dollarama. (The stuff does not look cheap, FYI).

So happy with that bundle, I decided I’d buy the girls a couple books each. I didn’t have room in my basket for much else. So, off to Coles I went and bought the 10 year old a couple Judy Blume books, and the six year old the Paper Bag Princess (yes, Kim, I found it! Thanks for the suggestion) and a Junie B. Jones book I was told is popular with kids that age. The books all totaled $31.20.

So there’s your family shopping update. For those keeping count, I have spent $286.13. I estimate the pots, pans and dishes to total about $120 and the rest of Dad’s stuff about $75 (hat, gloves, a couple shirts). I really do need to get the 6 year old a Barbie or something though too, to even it up with the kids. I’ve got enough $$ to do that.

Ahhh! I forgot to get AA batteries for their folding piano and disposable cameras for myself. REMIND ME. I need to take pictures of everything! I didn’t want to set foot in Wal-Mart yesterday, though. I may go later or tomorrow.

Before going shopping, my friend Michelle came by and dropped off her contribution, an indoor electric grill. She’s only used it a couple times and still had the box, and since she has a house now and will get an outdoor BBQ, she offered this one up. Very cool.

Michelle took me over to her new house, as she is now pretty close to me. It’s really nice. The pictures in her blog don’t do it justice. The hardwood floors are gorgeous, and all the paint and everything is like new. I had a lot of fun getting down her stairs (why does down have to be so much harder?) but made it in one piece. Afterwards we went for dinner, Vietnamese again. “But you just went with Kim a few days ago!” “I don’t care, I could eat that every day.” I wish that place delivered.

When I got home, as I was walking up my hallway a couple guys I’ve never seen before came out of the door across the hall from me carrying one of those silver metal brief cases. They were dressed like every person who comes in or out of that apartment… like hip-hop dudes with their ball caps on backwards. Carrying a silver metal brief case. I don’t mean to jump to unfair conclusions, but I do not believe they are lawyers.

Today there was a buzz at my door when I was still in bed (I won’t tell you the time). I considered ignoring it because it’s Sunday, and I wasn’t expecting anybody. And quite often buzzes for the guys across the hall accidently hit mine too. (God knows they are busier than me). But after a second long buzz, I decided to go see who was there. It was a postal worker, with a delivery for me. On a SUNDAY?! Since when does Canada Post work over and above what is legally required of them? It was the book that was missing from my earlier order. So Kim, your gift is here for pick-up any time you’re up for a drive out this way again!

Pepper hanging at the door, keeping an eye on the drug dealers.

Taking a break from family updates, (I’ll be shopping a bit more later tonight), I’m doing this MeMe that is circling around the internet.

I think I’ve added to this thing about 6 times since I first posted it. I need to stop picking at it!!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Invite a musician I only knew from MySpace to spend a couple days at my place when he was coming through Calgary in June. Smartest thing I think I’ve ever done.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I actually made any, although I probably started the year promising myself I’d stick to a healthy diet and exercise, and then not do it. I’ll have to check my archives lol. I’m definitely not making any for 2007, I’m just going to do my best.

Update later - Oh! I remember now, my resolution for 2006 was to keep a Daily Gratitude journal. I kept it up pretty good for awhile there, but recently got bored with it… I may give it another go at some point, but I didn’t notice anything life-changing about it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin, a client’s wife, an old friend (in her car! On the side of the road!), and Angelina Jolie.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
I didn’t leave the country.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More money/less debt, and better health!

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 29, the day I brought Pita and Pepper home!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I did a lot of things I’m proud of, come to think of it… but cutting out wheat, dairy and refined sugar since Nov. 18 is definitely one of the biggest. Taking a trip to Montreal only a month after all my hospital stuff was quite an achievement as well.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not committing to and doing daily exercises that will only HELP ME.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Uh… yeah!! I’d say so. Breaking my (good) wrist June 9, the subsequent 7 week stay in a care facility, only to come out and go back to the hospital to have my gall bladder removed, and due to MS-related complications not come home for another 2 weeks. 9 weeks of not walking/moving much really compromised my mobility, and I’m still trying to get it back to at least the way it was. It’s been a rough year in that regard.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
T-shirt sheets. Ticket to Montreal. And all the things I’m buying now for the Pay it Forward Family.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mom’s. With everything I was going through over the summer, as my mother she feels it worse than me I think. But she only showed me strength and positivity, and never complained when I needed help doing everything from wiping my butt to feeding myself. (I guess that doesn’t really go in the same sentence. Oh well).

Also, all the friends who visited me in the hospital and took care of my cats for me. All the running around Shawna did for me when she was here. And, I can’t forget Rob, particularly when he happened to be here and stayed with me for a couple days after I got home from the hospital.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People that were supposed to meet me places or made other plans with me, and never showed up or called or anything. Grrrrr!!!!

14. Where did most of your money go?
RENT. Up to $925 now and my AISH disability support is $1,000. The extra I make bookkeeping went to bills, food, and lattes. And a little trip to Montreal.

15.What made you really really really excited?
Getting my kittens!!!! And going to Montreal!!

16.What song will forever remind you of 2006?
Lindy’s version of “Fast Car” live at the Yellow Door in Montreal.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? Hmmm… a little happier I think, thanks to the great friends I have and made. b) thinner or fatter? Fatter. c) richer or poorer? A little poorer, but pretty much the same. Just more debt!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising, meditating

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At my mom’s! I’ve given her recipes for wheat free etc. baking so we can have some goodies. No cheese ball (my mom makes the BEST cheese balls), shortbread or chocolate for me this year. Wah!!

21. How will you be spending New Year’s?
I’d like to go to the Pub’s NYE bash because I really like the band playing, but with the shortage of cabs in this city right now, and NYE is bad enough without that added problem, I’d never get home. I’ll probably just stay in like I did last year, unless AH can come get me.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Madly, with Pita and Pepper.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What were your favorite TV programs?
The Office, Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, Corner Gas, Arrested Development (I watched the DVDs)

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t believe so, no.

26. What was the best book you read?
I have sooooooooo many books that I haven’t read yet and I rarely seem to get through any, I’m so bad with the reading… maybe that will be my new year’s resolution. Less time at the computeer, more time reading! Anyway, my favourite that I actually read all the way through was You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs (which I won through Robyn’s Giveaways. Yay!)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
ROB SZABO. Well, actually, I believe I discovered him in late 2005 but didn’t see/meet him and truly appreciate his greatness until 2006. So I’m sticking with that.

28. What did you want and get?
Kittens!

29. What did you want and not get?
Zero balance on my credit cards, a slim and fit body, an amazing boyfriend. There is always next year.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t actually go to a movie theatre ONCE. I haven’t seen any recent movies. I did, however, buy What is Indie and that is really good.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 38. I got my kitties and went out for dinner with my birthday partner AH.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery. And if AH hadn’t taken his wife back. There, I said it.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Easy to pull on elastic waist pants and baggy shirts. Between broken bones and stuff, dressing has not been the easiest thing, so Keep It Simple Stupid was my 2006 fashion concept. You’re Welcome.

34. What kept you sane?
My cats, my mom, Emma, Rob, AH and other friends. In the Care Facility, my room mate the last couple weeks, and the night nurse Karen.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp, always and forever

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war in Iraq and Gay Marriage. I’m against the first and pro the second, FYI.

37. Who did you miss?
Rob. Emma. Lobelia. Shawna. My kitties when I was in the hospital. Jason and Sheldon who were on the road so much. Some friends around here I don’t get to see much, like Lisa and Kim.

38. Who was the best new person(s) you met?
Rob and Lobelia!

38. Side question…who would you like to get to know better?
Too many people to list.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Getting old is not for sissies. Take care of yourself and your health. I spent 7 weeks with a lot of old people who hadn’t, and it was NOT pretty.

40. Favorite Memory of 2006?
I need more than one. Everything to do with Pita and Pepper, Rob, and my trip to Montreal!

Yes, my little babies, you totally made my year.

As did Monsieur Szabo.

I got home tonight, walked in the door, and saw my loaner scooter. A good quality 4-wheeler (mine is only 3), but with NO BASKET. Eeeeek! My stepdad hooked the basket from my walker to the front of it, so I’ll be okay. It’s a little awkward, since a walker basket is so much wider than a regular scooter basket, and I found out the hard way that you can’t make a tight turn when the basket is full. Heh.

I went shopping, and this is today’s loot:

• 6 year old girl: a pair of funky jeans with blue and pink flowers on the bum pockets, a “Princess” pink T-shirt, and a Sleeping Beauty rice paper lamp and night light set.
• 10 year old girl: the funkiest pair of jeans I have ever seen, with a silver belt and glitter and designs on them, two tops, two puzzles (one glows in the dark), and a very neat scrapbook craft kit.
• For mom - a nine piece knife set with block.

All of that for $126.83. I found the pots, pans and dishes I want to get mom, but I can’t lift them and my basket was just a little overflowing as it was. So I’ll call on a friend to help me there. I’ll go to Dollarama to get cooking utensils this weekend. Then I’ll get a few more things for Dad, and we should be all set. As of today, (once my client comes through with the $250 that will be for groceries and Canadian Tire gift cards), I think I have enough money to get everything. Any more I collect will go towards a Wal-Mart gift card or cash for them or something, so THANKS TO ALL who contributed! My mom also bought this cool little folding piano keyboard for the girls to fight over share and she has two music boxes to add as well. Spoiled! Hee. I guess I will get them each a book and then stop with the little girl stuff. After I make 100% sure they’re even. I think the 6 year old needs another top and toy…

I think the no dairy/wheat/sugar thing is working. I worked all day, then went to the Chiropractor and stuff with my parents, then went out shopping. I left the house at 10:15 am and finished shopping at 8:30 pm. Go me!

Ahhh, Pita and Life in the Lap of Luxury.

So, my scooter is dead. Medi-Chair is coming by tomorrow to pick it up and take it into their shop for repairs. They are leaving me with a loaner, thank God, because this is NOT the time for me to be without a scooter. I just hope it has a basket big enough to carry all the loot I want/need to buy!

I don’t have any updates about family shopping, because I couldn’t do any more today. However, AH came by and gave me $20 and I received a cheque for $100 from my old boss, so the money is coming in! Yay! I think another $200 or so (over and above what’s been promised to me, that I haven’t seen yet) and I will be able to get them everything I wanted to! Except, you know, cookware like this. She may have to settle for something a little less extravagant.

So please… if you haven’t already, help me Pay it Forward! If everyone reading gave $10, I’d be able to fly them to Hawaii for the New Year. Hehe . And my Ego.

I did get over to the mall today, though. My brother came by and we pulled out the ol’ manual wheelchair and he pushed me over. I just needed some bottled water, and I finally picked up some pictures that had been sitting in Wal-Mart for two weeks. So you get cat pics today. Also, a very nice Wal-Mart greeter de-magnetized my coat. I bought my coat there a few weeks ago, and every time I go in or out their doors I ::dingdingdingdingding:: I have to stop and pull out my receipt and prove I paid for everything, every goddamn time. It was very annoying. I wasn’t sure if it was my coat or my scooter or what. But when we went in today with my wheelchair, and it happened again, I knew it was my coat. After all this time, someone finally offered to de-magnetize it, and 3 seconds later it was done, and no more setting off alarms. That was so easy. Why didn’t someone offer to de-magnetize me before?? They only see it happening every bloody day on a fairly regular basis. Anyway, alls well that ends well.

Next week I promise to upload photos of all the family loot I’ve bought. I’ll be getting more this weekend! Wheeeee!! It’s like I said to my brother today, I enjoy shopping for other people SO MUCH, that by doing this project y’all are giving ME the best Christmas ever. I wouldn’t be able to do this without your help, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m having lots of fun with it. I expect to get a call from an organizer soon about when exactly they need it by, but I’m expecting Dec. 18 or 19. I wish I could deliver it personally and see their faces. They will, however, be getting a card with the first names and locations of everyone that donated so they know how many people out there, all over the world, (I’m looking at you, Melany) care about them.

Tomorrow is an eventful day. I’m working at the Pub and then my parents are picking me up and we’re heading to the chiropractor. While I’m gone, I’ll be getting deliveries of healthy food and the loaner scooter (pleasepleaseplease let it be decent, with a basket!) I’ll stop in the health food store beside my Chiro’s office too, for more Larabars because I must have one every day. Then we’ll probably go for dinner, and if I can resist I’ll stay in the rest of the evening, but I may go shopping. I mean… Friday nights the mall is pretty quiet, right? Good time to shop.

Whyyyyy do they have to GROW??

Remember this? Last May…

Now look! Bigger!

Thankfully, I can still catch Pepper being childish.