Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Christmas:

We had a really nice (although too short) visit with our families. It was good to see everyone again. My sister-in-law had a beautiful tree up when we got there:


I was really glad that this year handmade gifts were a large part of the kids' Christmas. Here is a sampling -there are lots more photos over on Flickr. I want to say Thank You again to all of the ladies who participated in the stocking stuffer swap with us. Ray loved everything.







Hurray for handmade toys!!
We are catching up around here with some chores before I start my job next week, and I have messed up my back something fierce while shoveling snow, but I have a Christmas pudding, and a bottle of champagne waiting for me for New Year's Eve. Happy Holidays Everyone.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Around Here:

Well, we've just been doing some Christmasing:


I've been busy knitting, of course. We leave for visiting on Wednesday, and I am extra excited for the kids to have their gifts from me this year. A lot of work went into some handmade goodies.

When we return, well...I will be beginning my new Job, it looks like. That's right. It's not that bad, actually -I have been offered a job as the new aftercare teacher at our local Waldorf School. So I can have my kids with me, and it will be a good setting for both of them. Taking care of a whole group of someone else's children all afternoon, though? That will be a challenge. I've decided it would be better than being stranded at home all winter with other people's children. At least we will get out of here every day. That doesn't happen in the cold months when I do daycare from here. I will be tired, and have less time for some things. We will have a "schedule" instead of just a "rhythm" to our days, and that will be something to get used to again. It will be what I make of it. I have to have income, and I guess this is the best kind of situation.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Oh my gosh!

I have gotten most of my packages already for the Stocking Stuffer Swap, and I am so pleased! This is such a talented and generous group. Only, now I feel like my little offerings will seem a bit meager in comparison. They took me forever, so that's something, I guess. Thank you so much everyone. I will post photos after Christmas.

Also:



We got our tree! She loves it so much, and it was fun to go get it -Daddy bought it for us, so we keep thanking him. He is so nice.


Friday, December 4, 2009

Preparations:

I have been feverishly working to get all things done that I feel are a necessary part of Christmas this year. The packages for the stocking stuffer swap will go in the mail tomorrow:


-decorations and Advent calendars are appearing:







I'll never finish, but it's all very pretty, and putting me in a good mood. I love how into it Ray is this year, which is why we've decided to have our first real Christmas tree. We will go pick it out this weekend -so exciting. In the meantime, there is a winter faire at the Waldorf school, a baby shower, and a regional craft bazaar all of which need to be attended as well -whew! Well, I'm off to make finger-sandwiches.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Holidaying:

We had a nice Thanksgiving visiting relatives in New Jersey. Ray had tons of fun with her cousins.


Zev did this during dinner, and for that I was thankful:


I couldn't really even begin to catalog all the knitting projects that have been going on lately. A lot of it has been for the shop, which has been an interruption to my holiday knitting plans, but things are selling, and I'm getting quite a few custom order requests. All good things.
Baby mittens are now available in many colors (as a custom order), though this pair is sold.

These were not knitted for sale, but just for a little boy who is chewing on everything he can get his hands on:


At first I thought they were kind of an icky idea, but he loves them. I guess babies do love to chew on sweaters and blankets, so it makes sense. They are easy to grasp, and he just gets so excited whenever he sees them. Other than that, I will have to do a "what I'm making" post after Christmas. Seriously -it's sooooo much stuff.