Christmas Morning

I keep forgetting that I need to upload the pics in reverse order from how I want them to appear.  Oops.  With that in mind, think backwards!  Here is the after-presents...

And the during...
Right after Emma opened her Diego costume.  It's all she asked for for Christmas and talked about it almost everyday for weeks before.  Needless to say, she loves it!
And, Christmas morning!!

Gingerbread, part 2.

Emma, aka Bella Junior, convinced me that we needed to make a Gingerbread Train.  Yes, a train.  And then when we finished she immediately wanted to eat it.  Not quite yet... but maybe tomorrow!!

Gingerbread, part 1.

I decided that today we would make a Gingerbread House.  Not from a kit, because I personally think it is actually easier to make my own- no fumbling with dry icing or cracked-hard cookie.  Despite that I haven't made the gingerbread or the plans and it is already mi-afternoon is not stopping me.  I am sure we can get it going in a bit here and be ready to decorate at least after dinner.  So, I decided to go and get some ideas for the plan on the Internet (which, of course, led to a blog... and still no dough!).  So, I don't think ours will measure up to these fancy houses, in fact I am sure it will pale in comparison.  Ah, well.... 

Above is at the Mall of America.  This is the largest gingerbread house in the world.  See all those little people?  They are real ;)

This tiny one is at Disneyland, and is actually very big.  Hmm.  Must've gotten a small file.
This one is the winner of the national Gingerbread House making contest from 2 years ago.  Pretty fun.
Here is the White House's gingerbread house.  Their theme is "A red, white and blue Christmas".  Is that original?  I am not sure.
And this last one is the "Eco-friendly, sustainable Gingerbread House", complete with solar panels and rainwater harvest tank.

So... me and the kids will probably be making the simple, Hansel and Gretel-ish House with sloppy dripping icing and candy wherever there is room for it.  Unless Bella sees this and starts making a fancy plan for something else!

random memories

Do you ever just remember something you haven't thought about in years?  Then all of a sudden, it is there... in your mind for no apparent reason?  Like you forgot all about it... then remembered?  That happened to me today.  Not a life altering memory.  Just a random one that I forgot about.  Curious?

When I was little, this sweet old couple used to pick me up and take me to church.  They'd come for me every Sunday I wanted until I was in about, 6th grade, I think.  5th or 6th.  One of them.  Anyway.  And I used to go to their house to swim in their pool, or spend the night or play with their grandkids.  I even went to Michigan with them once.  Of course, I lived in Ohio then, so it's not as grand as you might be thinking.  Anyhow, I randomly remembered today that he had a workshop.  It was like a wood working workshop, I am not sure what he made.  But there were saws and tools and power tools which we weren't allowed to touch.  But we could touch the scrap pile.  And the hammer and nails.  So I remember making creations in that saw-dust-filled place time and again.  Mostly just planks of wood nailed together in a pile, but it was fun.  Really, really fun.  Random Memory.

Which brings back other memories of that house:  The window from the attic to the attic hall that served as a secret message center.  The bitter taste of cereal after orange juice in the morning (random!).  The time I tried to snorkel under water in the pool because I didn't want my mom to see me and take me home... but I went too deep and breathed in a lung full of water.  Their giant backyard and the pond where we used to find frogs and tadpoles.  All of the Christmas cookies in tins on the buffet- I never felt bold enough to search through them looking for the good cookies. And I remember the ear-hair trimming of the Mr. at the table in the kitchen. (Old people are so funny!)  I remember being the lunch helper in Kindergarten (that's how we met) and she was the lunch lady at the church nursery school.  

The good ole church nursery school.  That brings back even more memories! Those giant waffle-like blocks they had which we used to build houses and giant castles and forts. (thinking back, they probably aren't as giant as I had imagined then!! Even so, I can still see their scratched up corners of thick plastic blocks and snapping them together, it seemed as though we were building all the way up to the ceiling because we were so high!)  ...The cots for napping, and the cards the workers used to play while they watched us.  I remember them letting me play with them a few times... Of running through the dark halls under the sanctuary where we used to play hide and seek- and the loud clicky footprints of Bill the Janitor- the keeper of the "No-running-in-the-house-of-God rule".  We were scared of that man. And Pastor Airheart and his wife's giant yellow hair.  And of being in the Christmas play, saying the lines and singing the songs. It's sacred, isn't it?  Childhood memories... so randomly!

Years later I met some church friends who lived in their old house.  I visited there and snooped around.  It wasn't quite the same, add-ons and re-dos.  I wonder where those people are now. I did see those pastors a while back.  Walking through the mall in Akron.  I wanted to stop them and tell them their investment payed off.  That they made a difference to that little girl they picked up each week for Sunday school.  But I was working and they were walking fast (and she had the same big yellow hair).  I guess we'll save it for heaven!

xmas crafts!

We finally did some kid-crafts together for Christmas!  We got this idea from the bracelet bead kit Grammy got Isabella for her birthday.  Oven-Bake clay, inlaid beads.  Perfect snowflakes! :)

...And

Breathe.

I finally got the Christmas cards out.  I really hope they get to all of you in time.  I am running so late this Christmas!!

And I finished the last touches of decorating tonight... I know, a few short days before Christmas.

And we started shopping a couple nights ago... yes, only a couple of nights ago.  And we aren't done!  I am hoping we figure this all out, because we have a few more days.

And I have not been able to find very much Christmas music on the radio.  We were scanning and scanning and there was none!  Isn't it strange?  We finally found a familiar tune, but when they starting singing- it was the Spanish station!  We listened along, I decided the girls don't know the words, anyway!  It was actually pretty cool listening to those old tunes in a new light.

And... we're having a Christmas party tomorrow night for our small group.  That should be really fun!!

And we went Christmas caroling again today.  ...Well... we thought we were just caroling!  And there weren't that many of us there.  But it was more like a performance!  With like 2 or 3 people from the worship team and a few other of us non-worship team people.  But our friend Angela did a really great job, and it was a success!  The girls even got presents from Santa there- except Emma who is terribly afraid of both Santa and Mrs Claus.

Today was cookie day.  Em and I started this morning making Gingerbread Cookies.  Em says "Binbingead".  She laughed when the Gingerbread Man ran away... when he cried "Don't eat my leg!' (And yes, it's me in my VBS Safari apron)

She also did an AMAZING job icing cookies.  Who knew a 3 year old could be so talented? And she rolled out the dough.  And cut out the cookies.  So sweet.

Then friends came and we worked the day away making: The Gingerbread Men, Iced Sugar Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge, Double Chocolate Biscotti, No Bakes, Rockie Road Squares, & Peppermint Bark. Wow!!

I'm tired!  But I love cookie day.  

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

... unless you were in Atascadero last night for "Winter Wonderland"!!  Now let me try to be positive about this one.  Eva and I have sort of been proud of ourselves for having good attitudes about these things even when they didn't work out the way we wanted- even when EVERYone around was... complaining, to say the least.  But last night.  Was.  A waste of time. A complete waste of time and money. 

It could have been because the day just started off wrong for me and I was a little stressed about finding and preparing for the babysitter and making sure everything was ready for Todd when he got off work. I wanted everything to be ready for him so he could just pile them in the car and go. But then. The phone. It rings on our way. Do you know where the car keys are? he asks. The keys?  I say.  Doom in the pit of my stomach as a fumble through my purse. (and the keys are already a sensitive issue with us because of a previous... let's just call it an adventure) I have the keys! I say. The keys. In my purse, an hour away.  So no car for the babysitter, who has to pick up Bella.  No car for Todd who was supposed to bring the girls up later with Eva's husband and son.  I was totally bummed because I thought that I had prepared everything SO well, so no one would be stressed.  But alas, I forgot to give her the keys.  So, that pretty much put a damper on the night for me... and therefore for poor Eva.  And then Eva says.  It would be worth having a spare set.  I stare at her.  She says.  Oh.  Nevermind. (That is another story.  For another day.)

So, trying to figure out the key thing, unload our car... and the fact that there was NO ONE there when we got there except some nasty old ladies across the street who were swearing every five seconds as they set up their booth, and because it didn't start till 5 and we were told to set up at 1.  Good thing we didn't get there till 2.  And the spaces were cramped... and the parking was far.. and down we go into the pit of the complaining vendor.  It just makes me realize that we have to go into a show with no expectations.  We have to think that it may or may not be the right venue for us.  And if it's not, it's not.  We won't make the same mistake next year.  And this one WAS NOT.  And I don't even think I would go next year.  Unless I lived in Atascadero & went for the community.

So they advertised piles of snow.  I am thinking PILES of snow!!  Like piles, you know- like a lot. But, instead, it was like one bulldozer-shovel-full of snow.  Seriously?  One shovel full?  OK, so there were like 3 piles... but wouldn't it have been better to just combine them?? And the man driving, who we affectionately named "The Snow Man" (tee hee) was SO grouchy that even when we tried to wave and smile he just looked away.  "He doesn't even know he's the snowman!!!" said Eva. (And, as a side note.  When we got there we totally mocked this little tiny pile of snow we saw on one of the side streets.  There is the pile of snow, we said, laughing.  Little did we know, that actually WAS the pile of snow.  Although, I could just think it is ridiculous because of having grown up where it does actually snow.  But I am pretty sure it was just ridiculous.)

And when it finally started the place was PACKED.  Packed in the way the fair is packed.  Full of people eating cotton candy who crowd the street so no one can move.  Except in our little booth where it was empty, but at least warm because of the Costco space heater that I made Todd buy me last year for our garage.  Yes, we were the booth where no one was.  It was sad. But we did end up giving away a lot of cards.  It was "Do you guys have a store?" and "Are you guys online?".  No one was there to shop. Good thing we got business cards.

Eric and Todd and the kids did manage to borrow someone's van and make their way up.  Emma was scared of Santa and wouldn't talk to him.  They sledded down the hill, but the lines were crazy for everything. And the "piles" of snow where just big melted puddles of water.  So they stayed for maybe an hour and then went back home.

On the way back we stopped at Wienerschnitzel for some chili cheese fries and hot dogs.  And to get warm since we were FREEZING. We were discussing how usually, even if it is a flop for us, there is SOMEthing redemptive about the time.  But this time, I could see nothing.  Eva pointed out the one silver lining: seeing our sweet friends Jesse and Shannon and baby Jude.  The last time I saw them was SO long ago.  And they finally got to pick out a blankie from the amen booth.  That was the one really great thing about the night.  

But at least now we have a break.  No shows on the calendar.  And we are learning!  Learning which shows are for us and which are not.  I am excited for the break, and it felt so good to get home last night.  I like that feeling.  

morning ramblings...

I never told you all how it went last weekend.  We had the show we were looking the most forward to, Holiday in the Plaza in San Luis Obispo.  All of us vendors set up by the old Mission in Mission Plaza.  We met some cool people again and were stationed next to a sweet couple who worked as a team, him selling metal yard sculptures and her selling sewn items.  The first day they wore shirts that said "Yes, Dear".  They were cute.  

This time it was a success!  We were steady all day long on both days, and once again people loved our stuff.  It is always really exciting when people love it.  And not just like, 'oh this stuff is nice'.  More like.  They LOVE it.  And get it.  That was encouraging!  And we made money!  So that was a bonus :)

And.  A store owner was raving about how well our stuff would go in her store.  She gave us her card, told us to take a peek, and then bring in some stuff so we could talk about price.  And after we packed up we walked over and looked in.  Her store is SO incredibly cute.  And she already had one of our signs hanging up with a price tag.  Pretty amazing.

All in all, it was a fun weekend.  Aside from missing hanging out with the family and missing church for weeks and weeks, it has been a great little adventure.  And we'll be looking forward to a break for Christmas.  And then to starting up again after the new year.

And did I mention we went to a boat parade?  We skipped the traditional, extremely LONG Parade of Lights in Santa Maria for a Christmas boat parade on the Pacific.  It reminded me of something I saw on TV once.  It was fun.  

Well.  I think I need to begin packing up for Winter Wonderland.  I'll let you know how it goes.  It looks fun from the video of last year's.  I am hoping to sled down a hill or two.  Love.

the adventure continues...

Our last show of the season, Winter Wonderland in Atascadero.  

And this one should be all-around fun.

She's 8.

She had a great birthday. Todd's rule this year: no party. We instead did his childhood family tradition where  she gets to pick dinner and I would bake her the cake of her choosing. Which, as a side note. (Because there always has to be a side note!)  I was sure that I would definitely NOT start this tradition. Mostly because I just like to either A. buy a cake or B. make cupcakes, and because C. Todd's mom makes some crazy cakes that are pretty impressive :)  But this year Todd announced it to her before I could make any objections and she was really excited about it.  And she choose Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches for dinner with Chips with Chocolate Milk. And I am always up for an easy dinner, so Todd's childhood tradition it is.  She picked Little Pet Shops in the Snow as her cake... which I think she may have seen at someone else's party because it seems really specific.  So I gave it my best shot.

So her birthday.  She took donuts to school and they sang her happy birthday twice.  Plus she got a bunch of pencils and a Blow Pop and you know how exciting those are!  She opened her gifts when she got home from school.  She was so sweet and excited about each gift.  It was beautiful.  And later in the evening we went Christmas Caroling with the worship team from church.  Bella had fun reading the lyrics and singing along.  And she felt extra special when everyone sang Happy Birthday to her at the end of the night.  

an excerpt

My great friend Eva put in to words the happenings of her heart as of late. As we go to the craft fairs, as we see the uniqueness of people and their talents, as we examine their wares and get lost in their art... as we explore the community... something is stirring.  As we meet the variety of people and see how different we all are, yet all so full of promise, I am sensing something more. And as we have been researching different venues and events, the excitement grows. Excitement not just for what we can become involved in, but excitement for the movement we see happening in this generation on a wider scale. And even though I didn't appreciate the little voice of one of the indie-artist she references, I love the revelations she partially evoked.  

From Eva's "home sweet home":

Driving around the other day, I had some deep thoughts as I was listening to a mixed CD my loving lil' sister made me. As the charming, unpolished notes of various indie-sounding musicians calmed me and the rain fell gently, I started thinking about how much beauty there is in the imperfection of humanity. What is it, I asked myself, that makes you look for the places in the painting where you can clearly see the brush strokes - the work of the artists hand? What is it that makes husbands think their wives look beautiful first thing in the morning with no makeup and messy hair? 

My mind traveled on to AMEN Handmade, and how we love things to look worn, flawed, one of a kind. There's also a major uprising going on right now (ucc) of young crafters (renegade) and artists (capsule) who share the same feeling, selling wobbly, almost childlike drawings, and lopsided craft-monsters, funky felted purses where you can see the stitching, and clothing with raw edges exposed. EXPOSED. That's the key word, I think. There's something in all of these experiences that lets you into the secret little world of the person who made it. Somehow you feel that you've gotten to see a glimpse of their honest soul - the inmost part of their creative heart, and that..... that is something precious. More precious than ever in this world of  quick notes and backward glances, top eight friends and wall-to-walls.

Last weekend at the poorly attended Paso Robles Digital Film Festival, Ann and I were lucky enough to get situated next to a man with a positive attitude. A silversmithing storyteller.  And, he told us a good one as we were about to pack up and go home. In the story of the "Cracked Pot", a water carrier took water in two jugs back to his master's house time after time. One perfect pot, and one cracked. The cracked one was very ashamed of it's flaw, and always apologizing, until the water carrier helped it to see that it was watering flowers all along the roadside each time it was carried, and that the flowers were known throughout the land for their beauty.

Maybe the parts of us that are different are ready to be shared, and maybe what the world sees as awkward or flawed is actually just the intricate and beautiful work of the master's hand?

So, I am not sure why I am writing this (or crying about it), but I know there is something in all of us that longs to connect... to really know and be known. I will end with this verse, which has been a particular treasure to me of late:

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12

mixed message

Emma was playing today....

Do you see it?  

A wise man and a flying reindeer.

poor eve

Well, yesterday I finally took Evie in to Urgent Care since there was some really gross funk draining out of her ear.  I told you before, she is getting molars... like 4 molars right now.  She has been so crabby and not at all herself for weeks.  I had been blaming it entirely on the teeth.  And then the past week or so she has been a complete grouch.  It finally dawned on me on Saturday that she may have an ear infection.  Hello, light bulb!  And wouldn't you know it, later that day the funk started dripping.  But Urgent Care was closed by then and I figured she'd be alright until after church on Sunday.  So.  After a long night and stressful morning, I finally took her in.  Which, by the way- as a side note.  I hate hospitals.  Hate them. Seriously.  I know they help people and that's great.  I just don't like being there.  So, anyway.  Two ear infections and a burst ear drum later, Evie is souped up on antibiotics, antibiotic ear drops and pain reliever.  And she is already beginning to look like her old self again.  Poor little thing!  

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