The handmades

Handmades found their way into all the kids hands this year. And while I was nervous they would make me happier than the kids, I am pleasantly surprised by their positive response to them.

Yoda for Ephram.

Clarice (we may or may not have watched Rudolph A LOT last month) the Deer for Elin. 

And a new little dolly (a la Shelley!) for Wren.

Elin got a new little play kitchen this year as well so I got my hands into the felt food pot and we're hooked, me and her. Even if I didn't really love all the little stitches it takes to make these (and I do!), seeing the play it has produced would be more than enough incentive to keep adding to her grocery bag. 

Food
Deer
Dolly

Christmas

Christmas holidays in pictures. The ones I actually remembered to take that is.

Grandma

Thinking about Peggy today.

Thinking about her lots lately actually.

Missing her. 

But mostly feeling inspired.

Today by the memory of her and Grandpa making doughnuts together. 

Her frying and flipping.

Him taking care of dipping the hot treats in the big pile of sugar. 

Other days remembering stacks of quilts and the sound of woodworking tools whirring in the little room off the porch. 

Hands kept busy, making for the people they loved. Christmas gifts of the best kind.

The way they worked together. 

A rich heritage, of hard work and homemaking, creativity and crafting. 

But mostly of love.

Inspired.

For the holidays...

...and in every other way. 

A birthday kind of day, Part 2

She got her one and only birthday wish, 

and went from this...

to this...

 

All of a sudden 4 seems so grown up.

A birthday kind of day, Part 1

Pancakes & Pyjamas

Red Velvet & Buttermilk (with bacon)

Sprinkles & Chocolate

Syrup & Whipped Cream

Bunting & Banners

Presents & Friends

And then...

4

I am up before the sun, waiting for a certain 4 year old to wake up and realize she is in fact, after 365 days of waiting and wishing and planning, four.

I can't wait to see her face. 

 

Happy day Elin!

A murmuration of Starlings

Design Mom posted this today and I am a little thrown off by how overwhelmed it has made me thinking about God's creativity in nature and the way his creation worships Him. Just by being. Amazing. 

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

51 days

Christmas projects are on the go. 

We're making a play kitchen for the girls and what's a play kitchen without play food?

I'm loving ending my days with a needle and thread and with any luck the cupboards in the play kitchen will be bursting by the time December 25 rolls around. 

51 days to go!

A Halloween Story.

This year we bought costumes.
I kept quiet while my handmade loving heart broke.
Two days before Halloween,  they changed their minds.
My heart leapt.


Then I panicked.


Two days.
To make 3 costumes.


Sonic the Hedgehog for the boy.
Minnie Mouse for the girl.
Wings for the bird.


I did it.

Halloween morning came.
The girl decided her store bought costume was the way to go after all.

So Sonic, Supergirl, and a winged Wren headed out that night.
And loved every minute of it.

The end.

So good.

Even when the husband can't come home early to help and all the laundry smells like mold because you left the wet clothes in the basket for a few days too many and the baby is still crying because you took her for needles yesterday...

...being a parent is so good. Moments like these make days like today manageable.