Christmas Morning

We try not to overload the kids with gifts at Christmas, but it always looks like so much stuff! The kids don't really have a Christmas list (they have everything they need!) so Mike and I try to get them things that keep them active, encourage reading and curiosity and education and creativity. But my favorite thing is that the kids made lots of love notes, beaded math bracelets, embroidered bean bags... I love their homemade gifts! They stuffed them in each others' stockings, where they also found socks, toothbrushes, chocolate coins and nuts, candy canes, and an orange. Mike got the kids street hockey sticks, an indoor basketball hoop, portable soccer goal nets, and a vintage Fisher-Price record player with about 30 audiobooks on records that he found from a former school teacher on E-Bay. I made fabric baskets, aprons, and pajamas for each of the kids and got them TEGU magnetic blocks, books, games, flashcards and science kits. I think it was a successful booty stash for everyone!
After spending the morning talking to grandparents on the phone, eating apple pie for breakfast, testing out a few scientific gifts, and cleaning up the detritus from opening gifts, we packed up the van and started our road trip up north!

mama's workshop

Been so busy but loving all the creative output and these sparkly dark nights with the family.

Fabric storage baskets, aprons, knitting projects... it's been a delight!

a little elvish workshopping!

In the spirit of MAKING things for Christmas gifts, we have been pretty busy this month! My basement studio is a messy center of creation and production! Benji and Correy observed me embroidering something and asked if I would teach them how to do it, too. I was skeptical but it turned out to be the perfect craft for them to do! They love it and are very focused (but often need help when things get twisted or the thread comes out of the needle), even taking it to church to work on it while sitting in the pew!
As for me, I've been sewing up aprons for my friends, nieces and nephews, knitting hats, sewing cloth baskets for the kids, and baking up a storm. It is delightful, if a little chaotic!

Christmas gift preparations and a walk outside

I've been so busy, spending hours and hours down in my basement sewing studio which is like Santa's workshop these days. I love making gifts, but it is also a little stressful...
Thankfully we take lots of breaks, like going for a walk today at the Arboretum. We played hide n seek by the Capitol Columns. I found a great place to hide at the outermost corner behind one of the columns and no one could find me. I stayed there giggling as they searched high and low for me. Finally I snuck up behind Maya to surprise her and found her in tears; she thought I had left or gotten lost and that she was alone, responsible for her three little brothers. I felt terrible! I never meant to scare her and I remembered that as mature as she is, she is still a child with very real fears. I hugged and reassured her for a few minutes before we all walked back to the van together. Thankfully all safe and sound.