What a wonderful Christmas with many highlights in no particular order:
1. The Super Boy capes - Stephanie and I spent several hours on Christmas Eve sewing Super Boy capes for Wesley and Finn. Well, Finn was with us so we were not able to give 100% attention to the capes - not when a smiling almost 11-month old demands your attention. I, for one, was most happy to put sewing aside to help him empty plastic things from my kitchen cupboards. They make such nice noises when banged together. And they scatter so well.
We have used it in all of our play. It has been slept on, hugged, dragged, and used to lunge at stuffed animals (and Grandma). Wesley is utterly enchanted. Thank you, Michelle. It is brilliant.
It was a wonderful season filled with blessings and I hope that all of you have had equally joyous times with family and friends.
Happy New Year!
1. The Super Boy capes - Stephanie and I spent several hours on Christmas Eve sewing Super Boy capes for Wesley and Finn. Well, Finn was with us so we were not able to give 100% attention to the capes - not when a smiling almost 11-month old demands your attention. I, for one, was most happy to put sewing aside to help him empty plastic things from my kitchen cupboards. They make such nice noises when banged together. And they scatter so well.
Finn getting ready for lunch in his great great grandmother's high chair. Notice my scarf tying him in. |
The capes have been worn continuously since Christmas morning. On the reverse sides, Wesley's has a big W and Finn's a big F |
2. I passed the cookie-making baton to Stephanie. I think this is the first year since the early 1970s that I have not created a floury mess in my kitchen as I rolled out dozens and dozens of cookies. It was a fun ride but also exhausting and I really can't do it anymore in my small kitchen. After 10 seconds of internal assessment about how I felt about passing the baton I realized it felt GREAT! And now I know it is much more fun to make a Christmasy mess in someone else's kitchen.
It was the more than willing 4-year old hands that made the process a bit more challenging. Wesley wanted to help at every step. When he jiggled the table for the tenth time while Stephanie was, oh so patiently, trying to outline shortbread cookies with thin royal icing I giggled as I heard her mutter under her breath through slightly gritted teeth, "Remember, I am creating memories." So funny. And, actually, we all had a wonderful time. Memories WERE created.
It was the more than willing 4-year old hands that made the process a bit more challenging. Wesley wanted to help at every step. When he jiggled the table for the tenth time while Stephanie was, oh so patiently, trying to outline shortbread cookies with thin royal icing I giggled as I heard her mutter under her breath through slightly gritted teeth, "Remember, I am creating memories." So funny. And, actually, we all had a wonderful time. Memories WERE created.
Finished bags of cookies for Wesley's preschool staff. |
3. The tree - My most unusual tree (some have had the nerve to compare it to Charlie Brown's) that I bought 6 years ago at the Day-After-Chrismas-Sale at Brinton's in Carmel has served me well in the small places in which I have tucked it. It's 6 feet tall but only about 2 feet wide - it's more of a redwood tree than a fir or pine. But it is perfect here at the OFH (Old Folks Home). It fits right into my wee space.
Welsey added an ornament of his own creation. He gathered some of the felt from the stocking I made for Finn and voila, with a little glue and some pins, he felt it was a perfect representation of a reindeer's antlers. Who am I to object? It held the place of glory on the tree.
You will note that I followed the "If 3 ornaments can fit in a space certainly 20 can" philosophy. The tree may be small but it was jammed full of memories. |
Do you see the small Santa ornament to the immediate left of Wesley's "antlers" (mid antler)? It is the triangular-shaped Santa's face with a red plaid cap - eyes barely peeking above a white beard? This ornament has special memories. Years ago the family had an intervention with me about the decrepit shape of the flannel nightgown I chose to wear - season after season after season. Although I cherished that nightgown - its pulled-out-of-shapeness made it especially comfortable - they pointed out that it also illustrated my complete lack of personal pride. Couldn't I see how simply awful it was? Okay, it was wretched and threadbare but they didn't have to get personal about it. But I got back. On Christmas morning they each received identical santa ornaments made from the remains of that nightgown. I still laugh when I pull mine out each year (and secretly stroke its softness - such a great nightgown!).
4. Wesley's use of my Noah's Ark Advent calendar (an ark with 12 pairs of animals and Noah). Last Christmas 3-year old Wesley used the ark to illustrate how animals can pee overboard by hanging off the side (like the way his Uncle Lee pees on his and Titi's boat). This year he had a more scientific bent. When he discovered that the wire tail of one of the little pigs had come off, he brought it to me to fix. I told him that the pig would have to have surgery. Wesley was intrigued. He decided that ALL the animals needed surgery. He would pile a group of them into my small African mokoro model boat then sail them to a nearby "hospital" - another basket - where I performed MANY surgeries (both the few that were needed and those that were completely superfluous) over the past weeks.
The mokoro is at the bottom of the ark ramp ready to pick up the animals. "Surgery" is the basket to the left. Busy busy hospital this Christmas season. |
5. The Butt Biting Squid
The very best family gift was the HUGE Butt Biting Squid made by Michelle (Titi) for Wesley and Finn. After all the to-do over the imaginary butt biting squid that could supposedly leap up and bite Wesley's butt if he tried to pee overboard on Lee and Titi's new boat - well, one actually arrived via UPS. Michelle is incredible. It is 5 feet long, designed and executed by her. It even has a zippered mouth that can open up and attack the butts of unwary overboard pee-ers.
The very best family gift was the HUGE Butt Biting Squid made by Michelle (Titi) for Wesley and Finn. After all the to-do over the imaginary butt biting squid that could supposedly leap up and bite Wesley's butt if he tried to pee overboard on Lee and Titi's new boat - well, one actually arrived via UPS. Michelle is incredible. It is 5 feet long, designed and executed by her. It even has a zippered mouth that can open up and attack the butts of unwary overboard pee-ers.
It was a wonderful season filled with blessings and I hope that all of you have had equally joyous times with family and friends.
Happy New Year!