The Christmas Sewing Results

In a stroke of pure luck I happened to dig into one of the "to be unpacked" bags a few days before Christmas to find this little gem:

I made this Christmas romper for poor powerless Eli when he was one. And to think I almost missed the chance to inflict the same dorky humiliation on Amos. Would it not have been a crying shame to miss this opportunity to break out the dorky home-sewn gear? Tragedy I dare say. Tragedy.


And, the 2010 home-sewn Christmas jammies on their Christmas Eve debut:


Pretty snazzy.

Embracing the Ride

It's Thursday, and I'm wading through all the Christmas photos to give you guys the best of our Christmas week in review. But since it's Thursday, I remembered that fun little blog I stumbled upon...The Anderson Crew...and it's fun little Thursday feature, Embrace the Camera.



And, just because I haven't said it enough...Thursday.

The above photo was from the day after Christmas when the fella and I took the boys to the zoo and rode the beautiful carousel. The Dizzard has never been a huge fan of the carousel. His first ride was a freak fest. But he's warmed to the concept over the years. He still insists upon riding only stationary items.

Boogie on the other hand, is fearless.

Dizzy the Magi

We took the boys to the kids' Christmas Eve service at church. Of course, our un-napped, sugar-crazed, kids - The. Preacher's. Kids. (the fella is a minister) - had to leave early because they were too loud and disruptive. ugh.

But, prior to our ungraceful exit, Eli participated in the interactive telling of the Christmas story. At a certain point, each set of characters (angels, shepherds, and magi) was invited to come up and play their part.

Eli was a magi. They saved the big hat for him, bless his heart. This magi came a bit late to the party (and offered his gift to the Children' Minister instead of Jesus).

Look at that sweet big-headed magi. Mama's so proud.

Came late to the party and stayed late. Figures. He had to be asked to leave. Man, I've been there.

He played the part with gusto. And it was oh so sweet.

And come on...he's three. I call that a Christmas miracle.

Christmas Jammies

We have a little tradition of giving the boys new Christmas jammies and slippers on Christmas Eve night. Tonight I think it'll go a little like this: kiddo Christmas eve service at church at 4:00. Home for dinner. Open and put on jammies and slippers. Ride around and look at Christmas lights before nestling the children all snug in their beds.

Can you believe that this is the first year I made their Christmas jammies? Last year at this time I was just sewing as a hobby. Now I'm like semi-pro. Crazy right?

So, for your previewing pleasure...this year's Christmas jammies:



Eli picked the Christmas tractor fabric, clearly.
Amos supported the choice of Christmas light flannel with a hearty, "YEAH!"

I totally love their choices and I can't wait to see them on their sweet little booties come tonight. Happy Christmas Eve to all! And to all a good night!

The Devolution of the Christmas Photo

We've been spending lots of time perched and playing in front of our Christmas tree and big picture window. It's a very fun spot with lots of sun and it feels festive.

So when we were playing there the other morning, and the boys were in great moods, the light was right and the camera was within reach - I thought it'd be a good time for a little holiday photo shoot.


Enter...the sillies.







Best. Photo shoot. Ever.

Mini Ho Hos Vol. 2

Yaya, the Jolly Christmas Elf, is helping Eli to fully embody his Santa persona. Yesterday morning she appeared with a homemade beard that she crafted in her workshop while we were sleeping, just like up there in the North Pole.

Ho Ho Ho-larious.


I did make him take the beard off to make Christmas Wreath-cakes.
Yum. Me.

Dreamy...

I'm pretty sure those are visions of sugarplums in those dreamy eyes. Dizzy is so ready. Is there anything sweeter than a 3-year-old at Christmas? Me thinks not.

The last three days he's been spending evenings donning his Santa hat, toting his sack, and riding in his sleigh delivering toys to all his buddies. Nevermind that his sack is a garbage bag, and his sleigh is the cozy coupe. He's fully committed to the character. He talks to, feeds and cares for his reindeer including but not limited to the standard eight, plus Rudolph, Rudolph's parents, Clarice and even Fireball. Remember Fireball?

And because there had to be a bit of cooperative sneaking, the fella let me in on what Eli thinks I need for Christmas and it is crazy thoughtful and observant for a 3-year-old.

My heart is warmed. Hope yours is too.

Mini Ho Hos

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

Wha?!

Happy Birthday Fella

Yesterday the fella turned the big 33. We celebrated with cake. As is our custom.

Then, as is becoming our custom, we had a lovely date of dinner and Christmas shopping for the boys. This makes for a very fun and festive evening and gets us all the more excited for Christmas morning. It works nicely to celebrate his birthday a week before Christmas, a week before New Years. Perhaps we can continue to find something to celebrate every Saturday from now until his 34th birthday. Actually, scratch that. That sounds exhausting.

Sneakity Peekity

I made one. One Christmas present. I've had it planned for months. I could not be more excited. But you only get a sneak peak in case the recipient is watching.

Deckin' the Halls

Finally! I have halls to deck!





The boys are in holiday heaven. I think they were as antsy as I was to get the Christmas party started. Dizzy kept asking, "Is it Christmastime?" And though I assured him it was, nothing is quite as convincing as tinsel and twinkly lights.

Baby Boogie loves the lights. I'm not sure where he learned to try to blow them out, but man it melts my heart.

Movin' on Up.

I think for the time being I'm going to see how far I can get on posts with cliche titles which contain abbreviated gerunds. They're serving me well.


Well lovelies...we're in. We're all moved into the sweet little house Dizzy calls California. And for only being two sleeps in, we're surprisingly settled. We all have beds. The dishes are in their cabinets. We brought home our Christmas tree today. Joy of joys.

Our population has increased by one lovely soul. My mama, Yaya, arrived on moving day and has been a Godsend, entertaining babies, cooking, schlepping, and donning all manner of hats, as seen above. The boys think she hung the moon. But she's short like me, so that would've been a feat.


The whole moving operation was miraculous. We had a constantly revolving crew of amazing volunteers who moved stuff down three flights of stairs to the new place, and then emptied our storage unit. Bless their hearts.

Much of what was in storage was remnants from my potter life, which I now miss even more. When I saw my wheel I nearly buckled. But now it's in my house, as are about 15 50-lb. boxes of clay (see what I mean about blessing their hearts!?). Eventually I might just sneak down in the night and get my potter on, but for now it's good enough just to know it's there and periodically go down and smell the dust.

I also got to unload lots of yummy pots that had to be stored. One box is actually labeled: "All my favorite pots I had to put in storage :( (sad face)." I haven't opened that one yet. I want to wait until all the clutter is gone so I can savor finding each piece it's rightful place.


The boys seem right at home. There's an embarrassment of space from their perspective. They each have a room with a closet, two windows and lots of play space. That's a serious upgrade from student housing, believe you me. They love all the nooks and crannies of an older house. They love LOVE going downstairs to Yaya's, who brought treasures from the beach like plastic crabs, seashells and bona fide beach sand.



Next we look forward to decorating our Christmas tree, finally! It's home and lighted and the fella's taking the afternoon off today for decorating. Speaking of my beloved, his birthday is upon us. Literally the first item to be put in it's place was the Happy Birthday Daddy banner. And rightly so. Happy Birthday my love. And welcome home.

Keep on Truckin'

Dizzy's favorite part of moving...

I could just eat that boy up...ears and all.

Embracing Transition and the Camera

It seems I may have run out of chuckable items. I loaded 33 30-gallon garbage bags with anything that wouldn't break upon impact 3 stories down. Amos and Eli loved every dramatic toss.

And yes, I had a baby on my hip each time. Seems Amos is not a fan of my packing up all his things and throwing them over the balcony. But I have assured him it'll all be worth it.

Tomorrow is for real Moving Day. No more piddly suv loads with babies in tow. We're talking moving truck, furniture pads and strapping young men (ok...middle aged PhD students with nothing better to do on winter break and who couldn't think fast enough on their feet to get out of it, poor guys). A thousand thanks in advance.


In my avoidance of the many packing jobs still to be done, I stumbled upon a sweet little blog called The Anderson Crew. This lovely lady has a fun Thursday tradition of getting the behind-the-scenes blogger out from behind the camera and into a post. So today...I embrace the camera with the above photo.




Stay tuned - the next entry comes to you from the new house! Hooray!