Much Merriment

Gnome Sleeping Bag and my original creation- a bed side spool table

A pair of Wee Folk Art inspired gnomes and another original creation- a padded mushroom spool table

Ready to see Santa

Momma's cookie helper and taster

Momma's cookie theft (look how guilt yet innocent he looks!) 

Opening their annual tree ornament

The tree is done, phew! 

Crafting a snowflake garland

Gingerbread house with Daddy

Greenery from our yard for pillar hangings- we made 6... we have lots of pillars. 

and they were free, all materials from our yard. Beat that Traders Joe's for $7 a pop! 

I am going to take a break until after Christmas. I would encourage you all - and at times even myself-to enjoy this time with your children. Include them in everything. It doesn't have to look perfect or pretty. The memories and experiences are far more valuable than a nice photo. I also am pretty sure that no children were included in what Martha Stewart makes either! What fun is that? Children learn through being included in all aspects of our lives. Let them enrich yours as well. They will remember it always. 

I might pop in to post a few photos of any last minute elfing, but until then- Merry Christmas!  

Here is a poem I read the kids today. They loved it! 

'Christmas Bells' poem by Henry Wadsworth

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The Carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;

‘For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Weekending

In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.  

~William Blake

Two winter gnomes, the red has mistletoe on his back and the blue has the nativity star.  Inspired by Wee Folk Art!

A new creation. A stuffed felt mushroom wood table for the gnomes. 

Drooly from teething! 

Fresh cranberry and dried orange garland. 

We are certainly busy over here. Quite a few last minute gifts that need to be completed for the kids. My Christmas cards are finally all addressed and stamped. They'll go out on Monday. 

However amid this self imposed hustle, I found time with Jonas today to string some garland. He sure loved helping and he is quite precise for an almost 2 year old. Poor fellow though, he is getting his 2 year molars in right now. No fun for Christmas. 

We also gave Deirdre an early present today, a new pet Dutch rabbit. She named him 'Hoppy'. He is only six weeks old and adorable. He is inside with us in a cage for a few weeks until he is older. He was just weaned. Hopefully he will fill the hole in her little heart that Snow White- the hen which a predator got- left. 

My broody mother hen, Precious, still seems to be a good mother hen and is setting on the nest. Please pray that this lasts. I would really hate to see the entire clutch go bad. 

Tomorrow is Deirdre's official birthday, even though we celebrate it earlier in the month. She is spending the day with her Omi and Grandfather. They are going to a special kids concert. I should have some time then to finish up her  and Jonas' quilt (plus some other goodies). Then on Monday I am taking her ice skating. Really it is Craig who will be skating with her.  I think this pregnant lady needs to stay away from the ice. 

I hope you all are having a relaxed and productive weekend too! Feel free to share the gifts you're working on! 

Elfing Crayons

Tonight will be a quick blog. Craig and I are giving each other an early Christmas gift tonight. We are going out to dinner, kid free, in Colonial Williamsburg. We both prefer the gift of time together, with good food, so this is perfect. 


Today however I did a bit of elfing (aka making our own handmade gifts) for the kids. I re-batched some broken crayons for Jonas, into circle crayons. At his age, he still needs large bulky crayons- so these are perfect! I also cringe when any of our beeswax crayons bite the dust, since the cost so much more. This is a nice way to re-use the broken pieces you have lying around (plus they still are just as vibrant re-batched). 

It is a very simple process too. 


-Just take your broken crayon bits and sort them into color groups (greens and yellows, red and oranges, & blues and purples). 

-Then put then in a oven safe silicone muffin pan. I bake mine at 350 for 7 minutes. 
-Once they come out I mix the melted wax together and let then set for 20 minutes outside. 
-Then pop them out and enjoy. If you use a silicone mold, and I highly suggest you do, then they will come out no problem!

Enjoy and have a great night! We will!