Very merry indeed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our holiday was filled with so much love and laughter this year.  There is no doubt why this is my very most favorite time of year.  Gathering together with friends and family for celebrations and snuggling in together with loved ones for quiet moments in front of the fire.  Our Christmas was certainly very merry this year. 

Babies

It's no secret that I've been sewing babies lately, lots and lots of them in fact. I have to say that this has turned into one of my absolute favorite sewing sprees. I adore the fun patterns at Bit of Whimsy Dolls and have tried out a few new ones this past week too (those pictures will come a bit later). These sweet little dolls are so much fun to make and the response to them has been overwhelming. I simply can not express how heartwarming the love has been. Someone pointed out to me that so many littles will be snuggling with one of my handmades come Christmas morning. How incredible is that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's really hard to believe that I actually made that many. They were so much fun that I just couldn't wait to start on the next. Tonight I am finishing my last two, one for each of my littles and then maybe I'll be ready to start on something new. Maybe.

December days

It certainly seems as though not much has been happening around our place if you are looking in this space but that couldn't be further from the truth.  The days have simply sped by, the steady hum of my sewing machine the background rhythm to all that has occurred. 

I try my best to keep the days slow and simple for our family during this time of year.  It's so very easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle that is often December.  It is quite easy for me especially.  I often fall into the trap of adding just one more project to my to-do list until I find myself up until the wee hours of the morning working and then find myself exhausted the next day.  I've tried very hard to avoid that trap this year.  And I will admit that I wasn't fully successful but I can also say that I haven't let the list get too overwhelming.  Often times I find myself sneaking back to my machine during a quiet moment to try and fit in just a bit more work but nearly as often I find myself with lots of help.  Our table full of coloring pages, sewing pins, new ideas, and lots of little hands working away on that next great idea.  That is the kind of work I can not get enough of. 

Most of our work is super secret and can't be shared but we have been making a few things for ourselves like cookies and special ornaments for our tree.  These girls do love to paint.

The words I had intended to write here today seem so unimportant this morning as I woke with my heart still heavy after yesterday's tragedy in Connecticut.  And yet at the same time I can not help but focus on those that gave everything to protect the angels in their care.  Those are the names we should be remembering, the lives we should be celebrating...

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. ~Washington Irving

Today we will honor them in the best way we know how.  By turning away from the bad, focusing on the good people who gave so much, and praying.  May we all continue to band together and from this tragedy may we all find strength, love, and understanding as we move forward.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

 

 

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Saint Nicholas and Simplicity

I really struggled with the holiday this year, in fact the entire holiday season has been this way for me.  I had such great plans and yet nothing seems to be getting accomplished.  At least not in the way I had imagined.  Our advent calendar and mama made stockings will be put off for yet another year, and I think I'm finally okay with that.  Today may have just been the turning point I needed. 

Thanks to the facebook status of a friend at 11pm last night I was reminded that today was Saint Nicholas' Day.  I felt an instant rush of panic as I realized that I had nothing prepared and didn't even read the girls our favorite Saint Nicholas book at bedtime.  I sat here lamenting over the fact that we didn't have the wooden shoes I had hoped for, not even the mama made slippers I had promised myself I would make.  In fact, the only available shoes were the shiny silver dress shoes I had purchased earlier that afternoon.  Certainly not the picture I had in my mind and I will admit to going to bed last night with a bit of a heavy heart. 

All that changed this morning as we woke to find this under our tree.

 

 

The girls were overjoyed with their beautiful and completely unexpected surprise.  And this mama was reminded of the beauty that simplicity can bring to a holiday like this.  We spent the day watching a favorite Saint Nicholas movie, reading our favorite books about giving and planning ways we could help others in the coming weeks.  It certainly wasn't the day I had originally imagined but I think, perhaps, that is what made it all that sweeter. 

 

 

December?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?  Well inside that might be the case as we've been pulling out decorations and getting into the holiday spirit over this past week.

 

 

 

 

 

Outside is an entirely different story however.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been lucky to have very warm weather this past week and have taken full advantage. The mama in me has loved the extra time to be outside this year before the hibernation of winter starts. It has been especially nice since this was the week daddy took his vacation so we were able to enjoy it together. Lots of time spent outside ending our week with marshmallows roasted over an open fire. Not a bad way to start the month of December at all.