Thank you Debbie! Usually when mail arrives addressed to the kids shortly before Christmas, we slide it under the tree and wait to open. I'm so glad Buby tore through your envelope.
Your timing couldn't have been better ~ it's baking week ~ and both wee ones are totally smitten with the colors and patterns you chose.
A sweet + sparkly card transcribed by Buby's teacher and attached to a secret something that he crafted in school for the family. It seems our boy is better about keeping secrets this year, and his mom about not peeking.
Bleu's wooden footstool came out from under her this morning while we were all in the kitchen mixing up a batch of gingerbread cake. I know. Nothing like a black eye before breakfast. It was less of a fall and more of an awkward twist and turn as she lost balance and hit the cabinet knob on her way down. No more foot stools!
I phoned our pediatrician right away, since she started swelling around her right eye. A minute later I called My Sweets, and already Bleu looked like she had been in a bar brawl. Luckily the footstool is low to the ground and her actual eye seems to have been spared. The ped. said to watch her at home.
Our beloved Boo Boo Buddy has been gone for weeks, and there's a new one tucked inside Bleu's stocking. That girl is prone to boo boos and wouldn't let anyone come within 10 feet of her with an ice pack, frozen veggies, or the like. Today I had The Mask in the fridge ready to go. I've used it for migraines in the past and realized it is the AWESOMEST remedy for facial/eye swelling. The back strap is Velcro and totally adjustable for kids. She loved wearing it.
Next time you're at the pharmacy, pick one up for a couple of bucks. It's in the home spa section.
12.16.09
Building bear traps with his friend Grace. Again, in case the bears are not his friends. Or so he says. They used to call their piles campfires, but it switched over to bear traps a few weeks ago.
When they see eye to eye. It's heartfelt and almost makes up for the dueling.
P.S. The children are big into hide-and-seek as of late. Both of them. I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher when they pulled blankets from the chest and huddled together waiting for me to discover them.
12.12.09
I made these basic goodie bags last year to count down the days of December with the kids. It's my version of an advent calendar. I used plain white sacks from the craft store and Martha Stewart's holiday paper collection.
We have the perfect walls, separating our foyer and living areas, from which to hang them. The spacing is just right for 13 bags across, so My Sweets had the genius idea of doubling up. For example, bag #1 is also bag #13 {on the back side}, and bag #12 is also bag #24. It works out, since the peppermint-colored rope can only handle so much weight anyway. After day 12 I simply turn each bag over on its clothespin. Takes two seconds, and it's OH SO MUCH FUN for the wee ones.
Every night before bed I drop in one treat for Buby and one for Bleu. Or sometimes I fill three or four bags at once. It's the first thing the kids want to do when they come downstairs in the morning. That and the holiday book basket.
Several of you have asked what I put in these advent bags. Sometimes it's a physical gift and other times it's a handmade coupon for a good time, a walk to the coffee shop, a clue to finding an even bigger 'get'. I don't like small junk in the house, but I do make a few exceptions for things I KNOW for sure that the kids will absolutely love... and USE. There are a handful of necessities that I'd buy anyway, like colorful bandages, that they go hog wild over. Here's my list of tiny advent treats:
12.10.09
Oh yeah. Buby had a great night last Thursday. He sang his heart out in front of his entire school community. Five whole songs, including "Something's Missing," "It's Hanukkah Time," "Reindeer Pokey," "Santa's Elves," and "Hear Those [school] Bells."
His favorite song, the one he rehearsed around the clock, is "Something's Missing." It seems to have cemented his obsession with snowmen. I go to bed at night chanting "Once there was a snowman... he looked rather sad...." It's a catchy tune.
Between this year {so far} and last, Buby has performed/appeared in six shows at his school. There's a class play, a Halloween parade on stage, a winter concert, and a spring recital. As a parent, these nights are pretty awesome. Like bring-me-to-tears awesome. Last year we could hardly see Buby's mouth move. His hands were locked at his side. He was up on stage, but not quite comfortable. Not yet. Understandably. I'd be a wreck up there. This year it's a whole other story. He's confident and loud and really relishes the moment. Though I must note that his stage face is still quite serious. All business.
Watching his classmates perform was equally gratifying. Buby's friend Kathryn kept shouting, "Mommy, did you like the concert?" IN THE MIDDLE OF the concert. Can you say CUTE? His bestie Jon was the most animated performer I've ever seen. Alexa kept waving to her mom + dad, who sat right behind us. All of the kids did an amazing job, made us laugh, made us cheer.
Thank you to My Sweets for showing up early and snagging us front-row-center. Bleu had her own seat, and that alone kept her happy the entire time. She love music.
After the concert we took Buby to his favorite place on earth... Barnes + Noble. The children's section there is ginormous and the shelves filled with every book on his have/want lists. He shared a piece of carrot cake with My Sweets, indulged in a Starbucks hot cocoa with whipped cream {a post-concert tradition now}, and then perused to his heart's content. My Sweets read him a handful of books, and then we headed home. We didn't buy anything, and I love that he doesn't ask. He's just content to be there, surrounded by literature, for as long as we'll allow.
12.08.09
At four years old, his ability to even focus on a task like this ~ painting 60 wooden beads for two Christmas necklaces ~ astounds me. But Buby was willing and able and meticulous in his work. He pays even more attention to detail than I. Tomorrow he's gifting this one to his leading lady. Wish it was me. Pics to follow.
12.12.09
I bought a basic holiday coloring book the other day, one with perforated pages and no recognizable characters {woohoo!}. I figure every year, starting now, the kids will each color a page for Santa and leave it next to the cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. Buby liked this idea and started on his while eating breakfast.
P.S. I'll explain later how we count down to Christmas here, since we celebrate early and then go away for actual Christmas.
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He beats to his own drum. Literally.
Buby paraded through the village yesterday wearing his snow boots, favorite scarf, "Daisy Head Maisy hat" and homemade drum. Did I mention it was 50-something degrees?
He told everyone who would listen ~ and even a few others ~ that he was The Little Drummer Boy and then happily performed "Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum" without skipping a beat on the drums.
11.3.09
While I'm cooking dinner, she likes to sit in my chair at the kitchen table and color.
So happy you're here. You're my very favorite {with September running a close second}. Sure, you book up fast and tend to throw in curve balls every year {like the sickies}, but I fell in love with you ~ the 12th and last page of the calender ~ as a young girl and that's not about to change now.
For me you conjure up the most vivid thoughts of giving and giggling, family gatherings, fresh evergreen scents, baker's twine, ice cream cake, Sunday sermons, instrumentals, greetings, dessert tables, glitter glue, jello with marshmallows, heaps of snow, photo projects, cousins, and friends. I want for my two itty bitties to share these associations and to make more of their own.
Our current to-do lists are pretty much the same as last year and filled with great anticipation from top to bottom. Per usual, I'm making an effort to simplify, plan ahead, and take more time to enjoy YOU this season. Hopefully with fewer late nights, long lines and mad dashes to the market. So far. So good. Here's where we are as of December 3.
Holiday Prep
Christmas Traditions
End of Year
Post Edit: Green items finished on or by 12.7.09.
We helped Grandma + Grandpa cut down their tree last Saturday, but we still needed to find our own. The plan was to stop at a tree farm we know and love near home on our way back from Thanksgiving travels.
My Sweets made excellent time. I think it was 5 hours and some change, and we pulled into the tree farm about 10 minutes shy of closing. Jazzy {the dog} waited in the car while we shot over to the fields with our saw. Buby insisted on carrying it, of course. That kid is pretty picky, but he knows what he wants when he sees it. He's definitive and doesn't waiver. It didn't take long at all to find a Douglas Fir both wee ones could agree on.
Talk about unloading. Once we pulled in front of the house, we unloaded kids, animals, luggage, winter gear, electric guitar amps from my dad, and a tree. A great big tree that we set up and lit right after chowing down on a complete dinner courtesy of my mom. I warmed up her leftover turkey a la king, poured it over whole wheat fettuccine, and served up her frozen applesauce and apple-raspberry and cherry pies for dessert. Yum.
The tree fell on top of me. In 33 years I've never had a fully bedazzled tree fall on top of me whilst crouching down to pick up needles. Ornaments smashed to the floor. Jazzy darted off. I immediately asked the kids to please climb up on the couch. After a split-sec survey of the situation, I started laughing. I couldn't help it. I had a tree on my back. A heavy one. Buby looked at me, paused, and then started crying. His signature fake cry. He didn't like that I was laughing in the midst of such tragedy. He spied the few random pieces that had cracked and claimed they were his "very very favorite ornaments!" I assure you they were not, but he made me promise I would tape them up.
This reminds me of a few weeks ago when the three of us were dancing to Swift's "You Belong With Me" after dinner when Bleu {from my hip} reached out and grabbed the mirror that hangs on the wall between the kitchen and family rooms. It crashed to the floor. The sound was startling. I lifted the little ones onto the couch and assured them it was "totally okay. Just stay put for a minute." I didn't care about the mirror. I mean, I liked it, but it was no biggie. Just something from a store. I proceeded to vacuum up the bits. Buby thought about it and then started crying. He claimed it was his "very very favorite mirror!" I assure you it was not, but he desperately wanted to feel sad over the loss of it. And he wanted the rest of us to as well. He's sensitive like that.
