Friday, December 31, 2010

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. 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.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

home

After more than a week traveling and Christmas-ing-we are finally home and getting ready to work on a new winter rhythm.  Preparing for the 'event' with the little boys was fun.  The anticipating, the crafting, the waiting, the potential of being on the naughty list, all brought us a December full of fun. 

We first traveled to Nathan's family home for 2 Christmas gatherings and present giving (and getting).  We were lucky with the weather (especially as it came it as we were leaving) and the boys really enjoyed the quiet and party time we had there.

 






We came home for a brief 24 hours for Christmas Eve service and for Santa to arrive.  The boys decided to (again) put an apple out for Santa instead of cookies.  "Something healthier" for him was their reason.  Carrots were for the reindeer although Mason ate most of them before he went to bed.  Christmas morning we opened our presents and played for a while before heading to my parent's house for a couple of days.
When we arrived at my parent's house, my brothers and sister-in-law were ready for some Christmas fun.  They all spoiled my boys.  It was fun!  I think my youngest brother, Brandon, was quite jealous of what he gave Mason.  He really wanted it for himself.  
We spent the rest of the week snuggling, watching movies, playing with the new toys, building with playdough and gingerbread.  

It was a great Christmas.  Now we get to work on doing things like remembering how to take naps and sleep through the night...and finding a place for everything new we got.   I think I need an addition to the home for all the fun dress-up clothes we acquired.  Mason should be able to remain in "character"- daily. 


(But I am a little glad and sad it is over.)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. 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. 
Happy Weekend to you!  


participating in a weekly moment via Soulemama

Christmas programs

Today was quite a busy day. With the treat of a stomach virus possibly stopping all things in motion, we managed to get through it.

I had my Mom's Group Christmas brunch at the Allerton's Mansion in town.  It was lovely as ever with the grounds all covered in a perfect white blanket and statues looking as though they were slumbering in the snow.  The fellowship and meal was very sweet and a bit chilly but so nice to end the first semester in a tranquil, easy morning.

This evening the boys had a their school program.  Reagan's class was cows and Mason's class was sweet little men ( I think!) .  Reagan had a line to memorize and lots of songs to sing.  He still doesn't understand that his little line was funny and that people were not laughing at him in a bad way.  How does one explain that?   4 of his 11 classmates were out sick tonight so their herd was quite small.


Mason was so nervous before he had to 'preform' -  it was quite cute.  He was confused about the fake baby Jesus lying in a basket.  As soon as I went to get him, he confided to me that it was all wrong.  The baby was supposed to be real and in a manger with straw and hay, not a basket. 


It went really well and was very cute.

If you would like to see them perform, you can see Reagan here and Mason here.  I do warn you though...I did not inherit my mother's ability to video tape well.  Motion sickness may occur.  Watch at your own risk. 

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Yarn Along Wednesday

I have so many things I can actually blog about but since they are gifts for people who might actually read this, I can't even share how excited I am about them!  I've learned that lesson when I blogged about making my Nana a special sweater - only to have her email me asking if she was the "Nana" I was referring to!

Last week I was working on an hourglass sweater.  I finished it in 7 days.  I knitted every spare chance I had and having an awful cold and a sweet husband, I was able to finish it with time to spare. After assessing my Christmas inventory, I've decided, at the last minute again, that something else is needed.  I'm currently working on a Baktus in Malabrigo sock yarn.  It should be easily wearable and cozy.  This is my third Lacy Baktus and I do like how fast and versatile they are.


Because I am knitting like a crazy fool (nothing really new here), I'm not reading any current 'print' novels.  I'm still devoring books on Ipod though.  I am going to start reading, Painting With Children, since my two oldest love to paint and ask to do it all the time.  Even though I highly encourage free lance artistry, I think a little more guidance might be nice.  They are currently really enjoying some new winter books I added to my basket.  The Tomten and The Tomten and the Fox.  They are fantastic!  So magical without being in your face about it and leaving lots for the imagination and questions.  I had to get them since they are what Elizabeth Zimmerman based my favorite sweater, the Tomten, from.  It was quite fitting since I've knitted three of them!
Happy Knitting and Reading!

Friday, December 10, 2010

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. 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. 



Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Yarn Along Wednesday

Participating in Yarn Along Wednesday again...


With the holiday approaching, I've been frantically knitting holiday gifts.  Last week I started another Milo for a friend and finished it in a couple days.  Then my oldest needed a pair of mittens -stat- as the temperature was not reaching above 10 and I had forgotten to make him a pair.  He really wanted white mittens like how Baba made in The Mitten but I convinced him brown ones would work for now.  Now I am working on a last minute sweater, The Hourglass Sweater, from appropriately Last Minute Gifts.  I guess I'm reading that too now!


Monday, December 6, 2010

Santa Train

In our small, utterly wonderful little town, we have a train museum.  As we drive to preschool every day, we get to pass all of the parked wagon, engines, caboose, breakdown trains... and they interest my boys daily. 

But, come December, one of those trains turns into a special train.  Santa's train.  This is our second year of the Santa Train and it was just as much fun as last years'.  You are given a ticket that gets punched by a conductor, a sack lunch, and a visit from Santa.  We cruise at walking speed through town and back and watch out the windows, squeal, scream, laugh, and eat.  It is pretty magical! 


Friday, December 3, 2010

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. 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. 
Happy Weekend to you and yours!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Yarn Along Wednesday

On my needles this week is another Milo vest for a secret person.  I dyed the yarn up last weekend and have only done the gauge swatch so far.  I hope to get some good progress on it tonight.  In the last 2 weeks, I've knitted 5 pairs of fingerless mitts for Christmas gifts!  As fast as those are to knit, I think I am looking forward to a break from them!  I also hope to finish my Annabel sweater that has been nagging me to be finished. 


Reading wise, I am not currently reading anything but listening to random old audiobooks on my iphone while I trim the house.  My children are starting The Advent Book tonight thanks to my BFF suggestion.  They are really excited to read it and discover what is behind each door.  This is our first year of doing advent as a family.  I wanted to wait until they were old enough to appreciate the ritual of it.  Plus, our Elf, Mr. Armstrong, has come to watch over us and fly back to Santa each night.  I love the addition of another pair of eyes to see who is naughty and nice!

Happy knitting and reading on Yarn Along Wednesday!