A holiday review

Our holiday time has been full. We stepped away from books, computers and schedules and really took time to relax. Staying up late, sleeping in, PJ's past noon. We also sprinkled in lots of time to ski, skate, toboggan, read, knit, watch hockey and play games.
We started with a winter solstice dinner that was simple and enjoyable. The girls asked lots of questions about the solstice and why we have such short days where we live. It was simple informal learning and quiet enjoyable family time.

As we moved into the holidays we spent lots of time together. This Christmas Eve we were all healthy. Last year we had sick kids.

After the girls were in their Christmas Pj's, we spent time reading and singing together.

On Christmas morning we spent time doing our devotions together and reading the Christmas story before opening presents and having brunch.

Of course we eventually got to the much anticipated gifts and stockings. Papaya wore the Santa hat all morning. She absolutely loves it.

With a few dog lovers in our midst, we made sure that there was a special treat under the tree for Jesse.

A few handmades made it into the Christmas mix. Each girl had knit socks in their stockings. They also had one handmade present under the tree. Here is Boo-boo's doll quilt.

This is Bugsy's new bag. She loves it and thinks the colors are perfect for her. Why are we not surprised at her checking it out like an ostrich? Notice the knit socks?

Papaya got a new bag too. This one only got finished on the 23rd! The original one I started got tossed because it simply was not working and I couldn't save it. So under a time crunch, I finished this in 1-1/2 hours. It came together nicely and she has been using it regularly.

Then we had ooohs!

And aahs!

And sheer delight!

Here's hoping that your holidays have created some special memories, helped you find moments to relax and drawn you closer to Jesus, who came as a babe, for our salvation.

a doll quilt

I had a little bit of leftover fabric and whipped together a little doll quilt for my youngest. This project was really fast and came together well. All my girls still love playing dolls and what better than a little bit of love to wrap them in.

I went completely unconventional and threw on a bright border. The blue is actually in the quilt in a few places. It seemed a little more fun than more orange or yellow.

One more handmade done for Christmas. Speaking of which, since all my kids are asleep, I have one more to finish. It's starting to feel a little last minute!

the catch all

This bag will be under the tree this Christmas for our oldest daughter. I hope it will be the bag she grabs as she goes out the door. Maybe to throw in her snack, water bottle and vest for skating. Maybe to throw in her tap and jazz shoes on a Saturday morning.

The bag is quite roomy. The finished dimensions are 13x12x10" (without the straps). At first it doesn't sound big but it should easily hold the things she will need it for.

The polka dot fabric actually has blue dots on it. For some reason they seem really white to me in the pictures.

I found the pattern called "Daisy Dazzler" in the Quilts and More Fall 2009 magazine. You can find a link to the pattern online.

a christmas wish

Papaya had a very specific Christmas list.

She was worried that we wouldn't have anywhere to put our stockings. The stockings that are hung every year on the railing/banister of our stairs. So she wrote a quick wish and gave it to her Dad.

In the spring we had replaced the carpet in our living room and upstairs. However we never put our banister back up because my husband's busy field season was upon us.

The "wish list" from our daughter was the incentive he needed to get started on the project again. I figure it is better the kids encouraging him, then me nagging. So, with the help of a friend, who is a contractor, from church they hauled out the tools and started to tackle the project.

Here is what it looked like for the last 7 - 8 months.

Here the bottom plate and main post are getting set in.

Then a days work is almost done as they, okay friend, place the last spindles. The work isn't really done. The railing is just primed white and we need to decide exactly how we are going to paint it. Any suggestions?Here is our "Chief Inspector". She had her magnifying glass out and was a helpful little girl to the gentlemen that were working.
And here is the answer to a little girls wish.

The stockings are hung by the stairs with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there.

another one done....almost

I am trying to tick the things to do off my Christmas list.

This is one of those projects.

And it is almost done.

This is my last pair of Christmas socks to knit.

I will be glad when it is done.

After that only a few more small sewing projects and I should be done.

new advent tradition

Here's our newest tradition.

I splurged a little and bought this advent truck.

It has 24 drawers in it.

To count down the days until Christmas.

Our girls were very excited this morning.

With 3 girls and 24 drawers the math works out perfectly.

They will each get 8 turns opening a drawer.

Each drawer will contain a little something.

Maybe a chocolate or eraser.

Maybe a bible verse about the Christmas story.

Maybe a little task of kindness.

I only have 6 days done,

even though they don't know that yet!

The drawers are small too only 4 cm x 4 cm.

Any ideas would be great!

Then this afternoon we put on music

and they spent time painting some Christmas decorations

made out of a baked dough.

Messy but fun! The perfect day!

christmas day

well our christmas day was certainly not what any of us expected

boo-boo's sickness kept her up all night

at midnight, bugsy decided to join the party and got terribly sick

somehow papaya slept blissfully unaware of the happenings

as the big cheese and i switched beds, made beds, arranged kids

rinsed out buckets again and again

by morning i felt bleary and weary

and my hands were raw from being washed over and over and over

gratefully, our non-sick child is very patient

and put up with the "ill" and simply tired members of her family very well

if it wasn't for papaya, we might have just cancelled presents till the next day

but i just couldn't look at her and do it

the two other sisters rallied, well barely, to the occasion

but boo-boo had to interrupt the plans for.....

well, a little break

this picture was taken at the end of the morning

you can tell that she was barely hanging on....

and right after the last present was unwrapped

she laid down on the living room floor

and passed out

we picked her up and laid her on the chair

which she didn't move from for most of the rest of the day

a little later in the day, not wanting to miss the festivities

the big cheese thought he would join along with the girls

and found his place on the couch

so papaya and i snuggled, read books

and assembled the toy from grandma and grandpa

all in all, it wasn't awful

except i felt terrible for boo-boo who had it the worst

took her a few days to recover from it too

so many things to be thankful for though

we were still together and could care for one another

we had food (though not many were eating), shelter and each other

as we look at the gift of the manger, we have a reason to hope and keep on

when i see so many who don't or won't

evening of Christmas eve

here is the two older girls on christmas eve

we were just home from the candlelight service at church

our youngest didn't want to be in the picture

we soon realized why

she quickly got sick with the flu

which left her catching bits of sleep in between "the yucky stuff"

her body didn't give her a break from the flu

until at least 7 a.m. on christmas day

even then, she was far from finished

a pre-christmas peek

angels aware concert

here are pictures from the Christmas concert our church put on

all three girls participated in it

and mommy helped organize it from september to december

it had a great gospel message that Jesus came to earth as a baby

so that we can be in heaven with him

the angels we're aware of God's plan of salvation

and said these words before the last song of the concert:

"we're aware that the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

we're aware that God sent his son into the world,

not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved

we're aware that God so loved the world,

that he gave his one and only son,

that whoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life"

holiday cheer

here is our little elf

she loves to be domestic

bake, decorate, craft

she's quiet and gentle

but don't mess with her

because though her fuse is long

her boom can be big

we love her

i had nothing to do with it

here is the creation oma and opa made with the girls

i had nothing to do with it

i stood back and watched

they even cleaned up the mess! gotta love that

if you get this far into the post, i do wonder....where opa's decorating skills went? did he really retire that long ago? love you dad!