tuesday i made.

a hat. pattern here.

trains

we like to build trains and towns and trains with towns up in here. 

singing program

penelope's preschool had a little "singing program." i made the mistake of calling it a concert and p was quick to roll her eyes and correct me, "it's a singing program, MOM!" it was cute.

pablo

my cousin posted this quote on facebook after the devastation that was friday. i really love it. i am posting it to share it, but mainly to remember it.

“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.” -Pablo Picasso

Family pictures 2012

we had family pictures taken by heather mann. it is nice to have some good pictures of our little family.so...if you're ok with is, i will post way too many of the previously mentioned picture. here we go.

oh, hey, santa.

doesn't she look pumped?

neighbor christmas gifting

this year i made bread for neighbors and friends. i like to try to get some of our neighbors a little treat for Christmas. last year i did banana bread. i love making bread, what else can i say? this round i made 8 loaves. i think i might do another batch, so as to spread a little more love. we wrapped them in craft paper and taped the labels on with washi tape.

nativity

i made this cloth nativity a couple of weeks ago. it has character. i really wanted a nativity that the kids could play with, but that also had a handmade feel. this time of year is so wonderful for so many reasons and the most important reason is that we celebrate the birth of Christ.  i want my kids to know that that is the most important reason. hopefully these wee peoples will help. let me introduce you to them:

the shepherds

 the wise guys

 the holy family

and the angel

i used scrap fabric and stuffed them with polyfil and beans (hopefully they don't sprout...)

next year i might make a stable and animals.

gingerbread

 katie came over with j and g. we decorated gingerbread (which were seriously structurally unsound) houses and then chatted while the kids played. it was good. i think we'll try again next year and i will make less sketchy houses.

these are the cookies p rolled out and cut out ALL BY HERSELF. she's getting too big.

counting down

Happy December. penelope is really excited about the count down chain she made foe christmas. in other news, it's december. what? i need to keep telling myself this, because i'm having a hard time coming to terms with the fact. i am really excited about the christmas cookies, the parties, the family we will be visiting, the lights, the carols, the decor...i can go on. tell me your favorite holiday activities.

boot cuffs

who doesn't love the look of boots with super textured socks? well, this project was a quarter the work it would be to make a full sock or a leg warmer. i love them and i think i need them in 51 colors.  i am perfecting the pattern and if i'm happy with it, i will share it here with you.

have a lovely weekend.

nourishing lip balm

 I made this lip balm yesterday and I'm already loving it. my lips have been in really bad shape and I've been wanting to use my essential oils more with my skincare, so i decided to make my own lip treatment. this balm is wonderful on lips and I've been using it on my hands too. I was able to find the coconut oil at Trader Joe's. instead of coconut oil you can use other oils like olive oil, almond oil or jojoba oil). i ordered Shea butter and beeswax on Amazon.com. you can also use other essential oils, next time i plan to try peppermint oil with lavender for a more tingly lip balm. these are incredibly easy and will make great gifts and stocking stuffers.

2T Beeswax (about 1 oz)
2T Shea butter
2T Coconut oil
1/2 t. Vitamin E oil
5 drops Lavender oil
5 drops Melaleuca (tea tree) oil

1. place beeswax in a glass jar (i used a mason jar)
2. put jar in a sauce pan of boiling water
3. once wax is melted add shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin e oil. 
4. after everything in the jar is melted and well mixed stir in essential oils and pour into your lip balm containers.(you can buy little  jars online here.

I am getting excited about making lotion bars, too.  i might use this recipe.

weekend

 wow. i really didn't want this weekend to end. it was wonderful and long. i ate delicious food, spent time with friends and with my sweet little family. my boy got his hair cut and so did my big girl! it was a big day. i made my ladies hats. i think they look cute, but isla won't keep hers on. oh, and isla recently learned how to take off her shirt. from here on out i can't guarentee any level of modesty from that chick. onsies? we also got out our Christmas decorations. i made a nativity this year, which i'm excited about, but haven't been excited enough to photograph. i guess there's not a whole lot to say... i loved this weekend, but i am SO excited for the next few weeks (aka the best time of the year). here's to a great MONDAY.

thankful

my heart is full.  i truly have so much to be grateful for. we have had a lot of changes this year.  i am so grateful for bryan's new job, our new home and the friendships that we are making here in our new life. But the things i am most grateful for the constants in my life: my family, my husband and children, my beliefs, Jesus Christ.

i hope you all have a beautiful thanksgiving.

weedending

that little movie clip posted just before this post was something my sweet husband posted as a joke. while i was in england for study abroad i taught primary to a group of children at church every sunday. one of those kids liked to call me "googley eyes."

anyway, this weekend wasn't rainy. or overcast. amazing, i know! it was nice to have a little sunshine. we went to arboretum and ate lunch and bings. it was really nice. we also did a fair amount of laying around and the kids did a fair amount of destroying the house, while i was busy baking, crocheting and reading (mom's deserve a weekend too). now i'm going to go for a run and  then clean up the disaster area that is the my house, but not before i make you look at some pictures.

 

 the babes

 

i've been crocheting mistletoe. i have a few more ideas and will probably make another one or two mistletoe before decorating time.  i think i will felt the one above....

 chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting-the flavor of my weekend.

i hope you all had a lovely weekend.

googly eyes! :)

harlequin throw: DONE

i finished this puppy. BAM! it took me long enough! i first posted a peek of this throw here and if i'm correct (i hope i'm not) it took me 8 months to complete. 8 months is way too long. i generally like projects that are not super time consuming, like 2hr long projects. when i have an unfinished project it looms in the back of my mind and pesters me until i've finished it. the funny thing is i have this knack for starting incredibly time consuming projects, like afghans. i need to learn to enjoy the journey, right? i love afghans and i will probably start another one soon, because i like to cause myself  mental anguish.

 i think it's lovely.