"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
29 December 2009
27 December 2009
Christmas
What a wonderful Christmas we had. I can only hope yours was as lovely as ours. The children woke us up at around 7am and opened their stockings on our bed. Then we headed downstairs for presents and breakfast and then Grant went back to bed as he's been on night shift.
During the morning I sat down at the kitchen table to read a magazine and glanced up to see the kids playing happily with their new things. I was suddenly so keenly aware of how blessed we are and how much we have - good health, beautiful children, a warm home, reliable employment, food in abundance, the means to spoil our kids a little at Christmas ... right down to fresh water anytime we want it, we just have to turn a tap. I was hit with a wave of gratitude so intense it brought tears to my eyes. I am so thankful for all we have been so richly blessed with.
We enjoyed a delicious late lunch of roast chicken, beef and pork, roast potatoes and parsnips, peas, corn, carrots and green beans and gravy. I forgot to cook the little sausages in bacon (pigs in blankets) and stuffing balls, but they weren't missed. I'll add them to a meal today or tomorrow.
I had done a newborn session for a former client (I did her previous maternity, newborn and then later her baby's 1-year photos) on the 23rd and last night Grant picked up an extra shift last night at double pay - I'm so grateful we are able to start building up our savings again. Grant had to pretty much clear our meager savings out for his New Zealand trip in January. The plan ticket was extortionate and then there's the added expense of car hire (also extortionate) and money to get around.
Today we have hung out at home, Grant was asleep again. I took down the Christmas tree and packed away the decorations and vacuumed everywhere. I asked the boys if they wanted leftover roast dinner for lunch (I make lots because we love the leftovers) but they wanted something else. It surprised me because Noah especially polished his food off yesterday, he loved the food. Anyway, I then sat down with my own roast dinner while they had something else and Noah indignantly asked me, "Why don't we get that?!" Silly boy! Oh well, he can have some for supper tonight!
The boys are on holiday for the whole of this coming week, returning to school on the 4th. We're enjoying our time at home. I hope this finds all of you happy and well!
P.S. Here's a little tip for you when packing away your Christmas lights - wind them around a sheet of cardboard for easy unraveling next year.
During the morning I sat down at the kitchen table to read a magazine and glanced up to see the kids playing happily with their new things. I was suddenly so keenly aware of how blessed we are and how much we have - good health, beautiful children, a warm home, reliable employment, food in abundance, the means to spoil our kids a little at Christmas ... right down to fresh water anytime we want it, we just have to turn a tap. I was hit with a wave of gratitude so intense it brought tears to my eyes. I am so thankful for all we have been so richly blessed with.
We enjoyed a delicious late lunch of roast chicken, beef and pork, roast potatoes and parsnips, peas, corn, carrots and green beans and gravy. I forgot to cook the little sausages in bacon (pigs in blankets) and stuffing balls, but they weren't missed. I'll add them to a meal today or tomorrow.
I had done a newborn session for a former client (I did her previous maternity, newborn and then later her baby's 1-year photos) on the 23rd and last night Grant picked up an extra shift last night at double pay - I'm so grateful we are able to start building up our savings again. Grant had to pretty much clear our meager savings out for his New Zealand trip in January. The plan ticket was extortionate and then there's the added expense of car hire (also extortionate) and money to get around.
Today we have hung out at home, Grant was asleep again. I took down the Christmas tree and packed away the decorations and vacuumed everywhere. I asked the boys if they wanted leftover roast dinner for lunch (I make lots because we love the leftovers) but they wanted something else. It surprised me because Noah especially polished his food off yesterday, he loved the food. Anyway, I then sat down with my own roast dinner while they had something else and Noah indignantly asked me, "Why don't we get that?!" Silly boy! Oh well, he can have some for supper tonight!
The boys are on holiday for the whole of this coming week, returning to school on the 4th. We're enjoying our time at home. I hope this finds all of you happy and well!
P.S. Here's a little tip for you when packing away your Christmas lights - wind them around a sheet of cardboard for easy unraveling next year.
25 December 2009
Pringles tube to the rescue
I wanted to take some cookies to my friend but I wanted them to look cute rather than just on a paper plate or something. So I used an empty Pringles tube.
It was so easy to decorate with gift wrap, scrapbooking paper, ribbon and a circle punched from a Christmas card, and it fit 19 cookies perfectly.
Everyone loves a little glitter!
It was so easy to decorate with gift wrap, scrapbooking paper, ribbon and a circle punched from a Christmas card, and it fit 19 cookies perfectly.
Everyone loves a little glitter!
24 December 2009
Christmas ornament tradition
I wanted to share a little Christmas tradition that we have. Each year we buy the boys a special tree ornament to commemorate a milestone they have had that year. Here are Daniel's special ornaments:
2001 (Daniel's first Christmas): Just a simple "JOY" ornament because that's what we felt, having Daniel join our family. No real milestone as he was only 6 weeks old.
2002: One of the first words that Daniel said was "teddy" so we bought him a teddy ornament.
2003: He was going through a very clingy stage and would follow me around saying, "Huggy Mommy, huggy Mommy!" When I saw this ornament with the little arms flung wide it looked like he was asking for a hug so I bought it for Daniel.
2004: We were in Cape Town for Christmas. Daniel chose this bead and wire guinea fowl at a craft market and played with it while on holiday. When we got home I added a wire loop and some ribbon to hang it on the tree.
2005: The beginning of the dinosaur obsession.
2006: Daniel started school.
2007: He lost his first tooth.
2008: He learned to ride his bike.
2009 (this year): He learned to swim and got glasses. I found this Smurf toy on eBay and made some wire glasses for him, which I glued on. I added some embroidery floss around his waist so he can hang from the tree.
This year Daniel also got an extra ornament to commemorate his baptism - the white dove represents the Holy Ghost. The year he gets the priesthood he'll also get an extra ornament (a key).
We've continued the tradition when Noah came along:
2005 (first Christmas): He was such a chilled out baby that I bought him a snowman. If you squeeze him it plays Frosty the Snowman.
2006: He became obsessed with cars and adored Weetabix. He would eat 5 for breakfast! (For those who aren't familiar with Weetabix, it's a wheat biscuit breakfast cereal and most adults eat 2!) I bought this little Weetabix truck on eBay and added some wire to attach cord to hang it.
2007: The car / truck obsession continued. He didn't do much else!
2008: He was going through a very chatty phase and would NOT.STOP.TALKING all day long. I ordered this little wooden speech bubble from an Etsy seller and painted it white with a black border. I added the sentiment with rub-on letters.
2009 (this year): He started school.
I've had so much fun choosing or making each year's ornament and one day when each boy leaves home he'll have a box of 21 (or however many) ornaments, which tell the story of his life, to hang on his own Christmas tree in his own home. I've made sure I included each child's name and the year on the back of each ornament and I'll include a little photo album detailing the explanation behind each ornament.
2001 (Daniel's first Christmas): Just a simple "JOY" ornament because that's what we felt, having Daniel join our family. No real milestone as he was only 6 weeks old.
2002: One of the first words that Daniel said was "teddy" so we bought him a teddy ornament.
2003: He was going through a very clingy stage and would follow me around saying, "Huggy Mommy, huggy Mommy!" When I saw this ornament with the little arms flung wide it looked like he was asking for a hug so I bought it for Daniel.
2004: We were in Cape Town for Christmas. Daniel chose this bead and wire guinea fowl at a craft market and played with it while on holiday. When we got home I added a wire loop and some ribbon to hang it on the tree.
2005: The beginning of the dinosaur obsession.
2006: Daniel started school.
2007: He lost his first tooth.
2008: He learned to ride his bike.
2009 (this year): He learned to swim and got glasses. I found this Smurf toy on eBay and made some wire glasses for him, which I glued on. I added some embroidery floss around his waist so he can hang from the tree.
This year Daniel also got an extra ornament to commemorate his baptism - the white dove represents the Holy Ghost. The year he gets the priesthood he'll also get an extra ornament (a key).
We've continued the tradition when Noah came along:
2005 (first Christmas): He was such a chilled out baby that I bought him a snowman. If you squeeze him it plays Frosty the Snowman.
2006: He became obsessed with cars and adored Weetabix. He would eat 5 for breakfast! (For those who aren't familiar with Weetabix, it's a wheat biscuit breakfast cereal and most adults eat 2!) I bought this little Weetabix truck on eBay and added some wire to attach cord to hang it.
2007: The car / truck obsession continued. He didn't do much else!
2008: He was going through a very chatty phase and would NOT.STOP.TALKING all day long. I ordered this little wooden speech bubble from an Etsy seller and painted it white with a black border. I added the sentiment with rub-on letters.
2009 (this year): He started school.
I've had so much fun choosing or making each year's ornament and one day when each boy leaves home he'll have a box of 21 (or however many) ornaments, which tell the story of his life, to hang on his own Christmas tree in his own home. I've made sure I included each child's name and the year on the back of each ornament and I'll include a little photo album detailing the explanation behind each ornament.
23 December 2009
Snow at home, yesterday and today
Noah, looking out of the window this morning: "It's fantastic! It's like a snow world!"
Daniel wearing my wellies (which are too big for me) as he has outgrown his. Noah's wearing Daniel's old wellies even though they are too big.
There's a little back that's getting cold!
Grant took these photos with his iPhone on the way home this morning after night shift - this is our road:
Daniel wearing my wellies (which are too big for me) as he has outgrown his. Noah's wearing Daniel's old wellies even though they are too big.
There's a little back that's getting cold!
Grant took these photos with his iPhone on the way home this morning after night shift - this is our road:
Snow in Cheshire
Some photos from our time in Cheshire visiting friends this weekend.
At one point, after I took the photo below, we left the boys playing outside and the adults went in for a bit. After a while I went to check on them, only to find that Noah had taken the ice-scraper and "cleaned the snow off the cars" - including the Porsche next door!!! We just hightailed it indoors. I am (almost) 100% sure he used the rubber squeegee edge and there was no paint damage, but we weren't going to go sniffing around the Porsche.
At one point, after I took the photo below, we left the boys playing outside and the adults went in for a bit. After a while I went to check on them, only to find that Noah had taken the ice-scraper and "cleaned the snow off the cars" - including the Porsche next door!!! We just hightailed it indoors. I am (almost) 100% sure he used the rubber squeegee edge and there was no paint damage, but we weren't going to go sniffing around the Porsche.
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