Ornaments

The regular pinecones that Corynn gathered she made into ornaments. I still have to get some star beads for the tops. The little votive holders were perfect to help them stand while drying. 

Containing glitter

A great way to contain glitter and especially BEADS (that roll!) when doing a craft project with little ones is to use a cookie sheet. Of course, no matter what, there will be strays...but this works really well. I also used a baby plate (with different compartments) to seperate the different types of beads. 

Sparkles

 

Little Miss

 

Is it still snowing??

 

That didn't work like I thought it would...

We were outside the other day and Corynn went to the back of the house while I was playing fetch with the pupper. A few minutes later, this is the girl that was coming toward me. She was crying and crying and telling me she was wet. She has been potty trained for many months so I thought perhaps she had fallen into a puddle or something. But then she told me that she had tried to go potty outside like Papa does...

cough, cough.

Well, I suppose I should tell her the difference between girls and boys. OR perhaps I should tell Matt to nilch the whole 'outdoorsy' personality. Nah-THAT would never happen! :-) 

Flaky

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
arrives the snow."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

And so the snow arrives, lazily floating from the heavens to catch a glimpse of yuletide cheer.

I don't know how much will lay or if it will accumulate at all-but it has Corynn in quite a tizzy about wearing her snowboots (like something as trivial as SNOW has stopped her from wearing them before!) and being pulled in her sleigh.

Last night's dinner went well, despite some changes of plans. When Nancy caught wind of the fact that we had someone to stay with the kids, she called immediately and insisted we bring them. Sometimes I wish I could be a bit less of a pushover. So, I canceled the sitter (because she said she would be offended if I didn't...) and hoped for the best. And the best is what I got. The children were marvelous-especially since they stayed up nearly two hours past their bedtime. They did nothing that wouldn't make me proud. I always exasperate myself with what-ifs...time and time again in this life o' mine. You would think I would learn. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. SHAME on me! I am so thankful and proud of my children-and LOVE them, flaws and all (as I have a perfect example to look to in our Heavenly Father...) but I do so thank the Lord that those times are few and far between-especially when dinner and antiques swirl into the picture as well!

Last night, as Matt snuggled nestled in his bed, with visions of sugarplums dancing in his head, I poured over my Christmas books to look for some craft and decor inspirations. I will be sharing a few of the GREAT ideas in the coming days (and weeks) before Christmas. What a wonderful thing a blog is-a one stop shop for me. A way to look back at my thoughts from years past, photos of big ones as teensie ones, a recipe sorter, an idea organizer, a communicator among friends. I love it. To think, I once snubbed my nose up to the whole idea!

 

Santa Baby

On the Blessed Masses:

I know of, let's see, A LOT!!! of pregnant ladies and in the last week four more wee ones have been announced! Just today I have heard of TWO-and one is my TWIN, so....I am wondering now if I might need to head to the store for a pregnancy test!!! Many hearty congratulations to all! I am wondering what is in the water...and where can I get some? ;-)

On the Complexities of Dinner:

This is Matt's final week of work and the boss and his wife has asked us to dinner. That sounds grand-but it's not. I don't know WHY they want to meet or WHAT we are supposed to talk about, since it all very awkward a situation. I invited them to dinner HERE but they INSISTED we go there. Their home is full of beautiful antiques and now that Andrew is crawling, I thought it would ease some of my looming tension. But they refused, rather bluntly, so instead a friend from church is coming over for an hour or two. I can only hope for the best, but in all honesty, I will be glad when this dinner is OVER.

On Baby woes:

Remember when Andrew was so sick? It didn't take long for all the pieces to come together. The very next night, he cried all through the night-so much that he slept in my arms all night on the pullout in the basement. The next morning-two bottom teeth had broken through his gums. For every breastfeeding mama-this is NOT an exciting milestone and I am no exception. Ouch.

On Preoccupied Hands:

My fingers still nimbly twist and turn yarn on that crocheted sampler afghan but I am ready for a quick crochet project that can be completed with instant gratification. SO-I was online and spied this site that is home to tons and tons of free crochet patterns. I was looking for a pattern for a poncho for Corynn. Here is the one that I will probably try first-it CLAIMS to be 'easy'. We shall see. Here and here are a few more that I liked -including this one for Andrew! They will be great winter projects-my goal is to finish them by spring-so that they can USE them!

Well, those are the thoughts swirling around my head today! Happy Monday to all and to all a good night!

Mysteries solved...

I always wondered how Santa made it into homes without fireplaces!

(Actually, when my digital needs its batteries changed, all the photos taken without the flash turn out blurry and slurred like this. When I replace the batteries, I hope to get some better shots. But I just KNEW I couldn't make a post WITHOUT at least ONE picture!) 

Deck the Halls

Since Matt had to work today, (can you believe he bred 40 cows since YESTERDAY?? And that is something you are supposed to go to school for-but he never did. And as long as I am bragging, I might as well share that in the seven months that he has been here, he has nearly TRIPLED the pregnancy rate? And that is a SERIOUS achievement given the cow health hurdles he has had to face! Yes-I am proud of him...)

ANYWAY-where was I?

Since Matt had to work today, I spent the morning doing the last of the hall-decking. I am just so happy I was able to decorate for the season. It means so much to me. Each thing that we have, from nativity to stockings, brings fond recollections and it is with great joy that I get to glance at them again this year.

I was planning to do the outdoor lights yesterday as it was unseasonably mild-in the 60's in fact! I had unexpected company though, for which I am now very glad. Last night the wind was SO forceful I just know it would have wrecked havoc on all my work. And I HATE, DESPISE, LOATH doing things twice. That is Santa's job.

So-here are a bunch of pictures of my now festive home since I will not have the pleasure of hosting too many (if any) of you long distance friends over the holidays. Of course, feel free to see it all in person at any time!!! :-) 

A family heirloom

Okay-not really. :-) I made this tree skirt the first year we were married and it has been a fond friend since. 

I found these...

hidden under the branches. Corynn says they are Christmas presents. 

another view

 

Nativity

This nativity by Willow Tree was a wedding gift for us and is signed by the artist. I love its elegant simplicity. 

The stockings all hung...

Well, three of them at least. We will be needing one for the littlest Newman before too long! Since we don't have a mantel, these are hung on the staircase with care, right in the foyer! 

Yum!

Tis the season, after all! 

Jolly Old St. Nick

This fella is handpainted by a very talented woman I once knew. I was manager of a store selling crafts on consignment and was gifted this because I am a giraffe fan (and Santa is carrying a giraffe.) He sits atop nesting boxes (from said store.) 

Towering Glass

A dining room table is naked if it doesn't sport a centerpiece, though fresh flowers are not often easy to come by around here. So, I have to get creative. Here I topped a cake server with some colored glasses, then on top of that I added a shallow glass bowl-and inside of THAT, another green colored container (recycled from fall) filled with red cranberries and a white votive. Maybe closer to Christmas I will spoil myself and fill the shallow glass with white roses and pine boughs. (With cranberries floating in the water to set it off...naturally.) 

The whole ensemble

 

Also in the Dining Room

Linda gave me these three Victorian buildings at the end of last season. One is a house, one a library and one a post office. All very fitting! 

The kitchen table

 

I'm the Grinch. No, I'm not. Yes...I am.

Well, back I am from my nightmarish shopping excursion. And empty handed no less. I am the world’s biggest cheapskate.

Really.

I am.

I was in Target looking at all the WONDERFUL toys that my children would love to share their room with and then I looked at the prices. Can one REALLY spend THAT much on toys?!?!

Here is the pivotal (or maybe pitiful) thing. Last year, shortly after Christmas, (do you remember exactly when Elizabeth?) my sister and I visited Target (due only to my ridiculous obsessions with nachos drowning in cheese) discovered that all the excess toys from Santa’s workshop were 75-80% off! Yes-that is right. I am ruined for life.

Now, when I see those same wonderful toys-I remember what they cost AFTER Christmas and I can’t bring myself to throw away money just for the sake of opening presents on Christmas day. The way I see it, the grandparents will be getting the children gifts that will be opened on or close to Christmas, so why must I buy things NOW when we could technically, open presents as a family the next week? Really-it is like extending the fun. Right?! Am I pathetic? I think I am. But, I still think we will be celebrating Christmas a week late this year.

I am NOT kidding.

PS-If I am a grinch, then why am I so blasted HAPPY that we received our first Christmas card today?!?!

Now-it is off to struggle through writing a Christmas card insert explaining the many changes that have taken place this year and approaching it WITHOUT sounding like a gypsy (at best) or an idiot (at worst.) Wish me luck.

Cards and cookies

But a minute to type but I can't post pictures without a SMALL word. Can I? :-)

I am going CHILD FREE for the night, as I have a meeting to plan and organize a cookie exchange with some women from church. Can you believe it? After that, I will not miss a once in a lifetime (or close) opportunity to go shopping without a certain little Miss stealing glimpes of Christmas surprises. It is nice, too, that I have a little Panda whose belly can be made full with goodies besides mama's milk now that he eats real food.

On that note: Panda bears in the wild eat all day long and don't stop. And my little Panda is living up to his name. When he starts eating things that are NOT ground in the foodmill-he is going to eat us out of house and home!!! He despises baby food-smart little guy. Who would want boring puree when you can have foods melded with spices-not to mention textured? The foodmill sure is getting a workout! He just seems to be growing up and getting so big these last few weeks! I see my baby disappearing~and while it IS exciting, it is also sort of sad.

Speaking of Panda's, I hear a bit of roaring going on upstairs. Must be off...

It looked taller here....

 

Tisk Tisk

This year, out of desperation, we went 'corporate' on our tree purchasing. Instead of the $10.00 trees from a tree farm in Candor, we had to go to Lowes: a 'tree farm' inside glass-with trees that are already lit and will never die. OR Magnificent REAL trees that cost a fortune.

No wonder Matt got a small and squat one-that is all we could afford!

Don't worry, this time next year we should know the ins and outs of cheap and country trees.