Pics

Odessa has had quite a bit of fun with my camera, taking many blog-able photos of herself that I would never have taken, such as these:


Tonight was our Christmas, as she is spending the next two weeks in another state with family and her godmother. I got some blog-able photos:


Odessa liked her presents--including the underwear, which she had asked for, and the socks, which I bought because I noticed her wearing mis-matched socks quite frequently. Gotta like a teenager who is happy to get socks for Christmas! I also bought her some books and DVDs, and a word-a-day calendar. When she gets back at the end of her winter break, there will be (hopefully!) a quilt, a scarf, and a tote bag all waiting for her, along with two necklaces that I've made already, some personalized stationery (ordered but not yet shipped to me), and probably a Starbuck$ gift card. I opted against luggage once I realized just how expensive it is, and against a computer now that I've learned how expensive teenagers are. We'll see how long Odessa ends up spending with me, and luggage and a computer could be good graduation presents.

Christmas with Odessa

I am doing a real Christmas with Odessa. (Christmas itself is Shabbat, so there might be some issues, but...) We have a tree that we are going to decorate on Sunday, and I've started buying presents. Here's my list of what I'm getting her:

• "cute draws" (she asked for these; I bought them last night, hooray for suburbs)
• socks (she has been wearing mismatched socks; I don't know if it's a fashion statement or a lack of socks. I bought three pairs of cute regular socks and three pairs of knee-highs.)
• two pairs of not-at-all-subtle tights (also bought last night)
• a word-a-day calendar because she asked me to help her learn a new word a week.
• two necklaces that I am going to make (I have the beads and chains, just need to make them)
• books (from the used book store, I think, since I can get more books for less there)
• a going-to-college-sized suitcase
• a quilt that I will make
• if I have time, I will knit her a scarf

She wants a digital camera, an iPod, and a laptop. I might get her a netbook if the budget allows, since this was the very first thing I thought about getting her. She has a bit of an entitlement issue (all teenagers do, and being in care I think contributes to it) so I'm a little torn about it, but I think it really will come down to budget rather than to attitude.

This list doesn't include little things that I'm sure I'll pick up over the next few weeks. But if you have any other good ideas for presents, I'm all ears!