Friday, December 26, 2008

Afters...



The afters of Christmas at our house are a dance party...we have everyone make some song requests (including the kids) and we make a playlist and let it take over. Our living room becomes a dance floor!



Me and the Irishman...



Cupid shuffle...




Kate and Lenny...




Matt and Margaret (parents of The Fuzz)...



The Fuzz entertains us with some guitar samplings... (he signed autographs after!)



Auntie T became a great place to crash!




Tyler busted it out...



Sylvie and Bronwyn rocked it...


Ella showed us some pre-party style...






And during all the excitement and dancing my Ella pirouetted herself right into a bench, unfortunately mouth first...so what were teeth that were "preparing" to loosen and come out (they had been hurting her for a while and she had been telling us everyday she thought they were loose), one of them is actually now loose and with her constant touching and checking will probably be out before she goes back to school. I am not ready for my baby to begin loosing teeth...I am not ready to see this yummy little face change and transform into it's next self...so this morning while we were having breakfast I snapped some photos of her with teeth in tact. She and I had a lovely little morning as she chatted and discussed the impending tooth loss. She has a funny view of the world that I enjoy hearing. It was nice to get some time alone just she and I admidst what has been quite a bit of chaos!












And finally, we are hoping for some more Christmas Miracle as I ask for your thoughts and prayers and wishes for healing for my Uncle John as he fights his way through some big battles! He is a beautiful soul and I hope to keep him around for a bit longer!



Thursday, December 25, 2008

CHRISTMAS!!!

Down they came...(luckily it was 8am!)
Yes she got straws for Christmas!! And she was happy about it!!

Let the play begin, lots of horses to be had!!

The best gift!!! She made my Beetle in school!!



My witches ball...

Another lovely ornament made in school!

This is actually a typewriter for the dolls!



B's sewing box! She did get her sewing machine and has been sewing all morning!



And the Irishman got a lovely new hat straight out of Fargo...should I be scared he has the expression to match??? Hmmm...

And Ella got her Kit Kittridge hat...
I have dinner on and have hopes of having two girls and their other halves over for dinner and am making dinner for the guys working at the tower today...and then let there be dancing!!
So hope everyone's Christmas is filled with awe, joy, and peace today. Hope you all have plenty and find a little something to be grateful for this holiday season!!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Decadence
































Quote from my Yogi tea today "The only tool you need is kindness"
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." - Mother Teresa
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." -Edward Everett Hale
So I am having a day of total decadence...you see that top photo, that in fact was my lunch today! Marietta's and butter, chocolate covered edamame, chocolate covered blueberries, and a lovely square of Paul Newman's dark chocolate and espresso (thank you Michelle!!), and a cup of yogi tea. I felt so very special as I climbed into what the Irishman titled my nest in my big ole purple chair by the tree on this snowy day. I was surrounded by candles, incense, tea, beautiful ornaments (I always put my most favorites on the side by the purple chair!!), blankies, and new reading Mary Janes Farm magazine (www.maryjanesfarm.org) which I just discovered at a seasonal trip to one of my favorite stores yesterday (Tractor Supply Company). If you have never looked at any of her books they are really lovely and full of information and ideas and recipes...but be prepared you may want to chuck it all and move to a farm.
I have all ingredients set out for cookies, that I have yet to toddle my way into the kitchen to bake but will make sure to do today, it feels like a cookie day! And I need to make something a little heartier than chocolate for dinner! I am thinking lasagna or black bean and sweet potato burritos, maybe both that would cover food for the weekend!!
Hope all are enjoying their Friday's. And hopefully all are safe and a little less buried than us with our foot of snow (did I mention it is still snowing!) Although, I am finding it delightful to watch out the window and really pleased that I could stay snuggled in my nest today and not have to skate to work!!



Tuesday, December 16, 2008

One more













One more trip to the Santa house completes our family visit for the year. And this round Mrs. Claus was home! Ella wants a fairy doll and stuffed animals. B wants a child's sewing machine...and John and I just want some time...I think the girls are more likely to find their wishes granted than John and I but it would be nice...just me the Irishman and a nice dinner and some coffee...I miss him sometimes!!
Hope all your wishes come true this season. But you have to believe!!


Sunday, December 14, 2008

If...


If you are good at hiding...
If you are planning a surprise attack...
If you are disguised as blankies and cushions on the couch...
Then you might just be the one surprised...
You should see the other guy...oh wait that was a 7 yr. old curly haired little lovely who was devastated to think she hurt her Daddy... live and learn... no more monkeys jumping on the couch...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Holly Jolly...







So this year I had it in my head that I would really, really like to have some fresh holly to decorate. So while I was happily entertaining two lovely ladies, my Irishman tipped out and came home with a large bundle of holly. I was so excited. I know those of you who have access to it all the time will not possibly understand the excitement over something as simple as holly but it is a novelty for us city girls!! I am a very lucky woman! And I truly love the effect it had tucked in and about the nooks and crannies!
The first photo is two of our Christmas decorations having a mid-day snack with a new bear that came home to live with lady Ella. One of the things I enjoy about having kids is these little surprise scenes you sometimes find around the corner. You just never know who might be enjoying a meal in your home!
Hope everyone is enjoying those special details that make the holidays special. Now I need to sort out making my Christmas gifts but I just cannot get motivated! I have a lot of peeling in my future!!




Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Peace...













After a couple of very snowy days skating my way into work, much too early in the morning, I am finally snuggled on my couch in my jammies with candles aglow, Loreena Mckennit's Holiday cd humming away, and the house finally all decorated. I am ensconced in a lovely peace and quiet. Enjoying the glow and flicker and scents of the candles, and taking a little time to focus on the positive and let those thoughts fill me up with gratitude for all that is and letting go of all that is not. And tomorrow I welcome my lovely friends Trena and Gloria for coffee and tea and baked yummies that I managed to get done this evening. I am pleased to be bringing all this good back into my home. May you all find time for a little peace of your own!!