Greetings

maybe next year

wish I'd noticed this  before now. it might have made it's way under the Christmas tree for a little athlete I know. it's very cool.  although I'm not sure Lacrosse has much of a following in Idaho.

all aboard!

Today's advent activity: Polar Express play date.  Not an elaborate party, just a few special activities with a couple of little playmates from the neighborhood. A nod to Piglet's undying devotion to all things Polar and Express.

Wooden trains to play with, a perfect story to read, a special art project, and hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars. Even candies with nougat centers. Happy little boys indeed! 

...candy canes and silver lanes aglow...

Today's advent activity: christmas ornaments, like last year. Positively simple, a reproduction of an ornament my mother hung on our family Christmas tree all through my childhood. It was always a favorite of mine. I like that they look old fashioned and shiny.

white pipe cleaners, cut in half

red tri-beads

clear tri-beads

scissors

This was really easy for my little guy to do on his own, and a fun lesson in patterns and fine motor skills. Not to mention visually fun to look at, all those shiny beads. 

The original, far left, and our reproductions

traditions?

this was my first attempt at the tradition of building gingerbread houses with Mr. J and the little ones. Now I know why I've never done it before. And why I probably will skip this tradition for the rest of my lfe.

Mr. Santa

We ventured into the frigid evening air to take part in the local Christmas celebration along the river. Though it was a somewhat lackluster event overall, and really really cold outside, we had a pleasant visit with jolly old St. Nick. A darling fellow, really, who stood to greet all the children with a warm "Ho Ho Ho."  A sentiment little Nanuk has been repeating ever since.

a first letter

this letter is the first of its kind in our little family, and thus, a treasure. why he insisted on wearing his shades while writing is a mystery to me, but he refused any assistance, save some spelling. he was positively giddy to sign his name and put it in the envelope, ready for the mailbox. (wink wink). I can't bear to part with it.  I love that his requests are so few and so simple: a nitro ade truck and a bouncy ball. I love the crooked and imperfect letters. I love that he believes.

festive

this could be a fun project on a restless winter day. multi colored, monochromatic, or perhaps in gold and white?  instructions on lisa's lovely blog

PS: she's offering a discount on her lovely jewelry, too!

advent

we haven't done an advent calendar in decembers past, but I think this might be the year to start. I am considering making one myself, hence the early holiday post. I really like this one, but not the price tag. Anybody care to help me come up with a knock off?

the day after Christmas

looked like this:

a long winter's nap, insisted upon by the very napping babe himself. a day after Christmas miracle.

Christmas Eve

visions of sugarplums soon will be dancing in these little noggins

What-Shall-We-Give?

the stockings are hung with care

children will be nestled in their beds this eve

and we remember why

herald angels sang

Joy! to the world

on a silent night,

that a loving mother laid her baby in a manger.

let earth receive her King.

What-Shall-We-Give?

this is a most lovely message.  click away.

Mr. and Mrs. Kringle/Claus/Nicholas

In a nearby neighborhood in the month of December, a kind couple dons their festive finest to greet eager children along the sidewalk. Their home is bedecked with twinkling lights and doo-dads, and they stand out front in the evenings, asking each child if they've been naughty or nice and what might be their Christmas wish. Then the children are sent on their way with a little candy cane.

The Mr. and Mrs. are kind and jolly and not at all phased by the chill in the air. I drove past last weekend with my little ones and couldn't resist. So, we stood in the cold and waited our turn. Piglet mesmerized by the shining wonderland of the front yard, clutching his fleece blankie and snuggling close to me.

It's one of the sweet things about living in a small town such as this, that people such as these can do such a thing.

I snapped a photo, but it was so cold outside my shutter didn't open all the way!  If you'd like to catch them, the last chance will be Christmas Eve from 7-9pm, Corner of Hartert and Holmes.

brown paper packages

A sweet and savory treat for those dear to us and near to us. If you weren't home yesterday, expect a special delivery just in time for dinner. 

christmas greetings

I am cursing myself for mistakenly ordering too few cards this year. Unintentional. I clicked that silly "confirm order" button before double checking all the details.  Grrrr. So, if you don't receive a card from us this year, it's because you a) are not a relative,  and/or b) I see you more than once per month. But it doesn't mean I love you any less. I beg forgiveness and feel I have entered the depths of tackiness, but  still I share our greetings here:

Thanks to Mr. J's sister, Kelly, for generously and quickly snapping a few dozen shots between the turkey and the pie on Thanksgiving, for tolerating two wiggly little boys in the cold wind, and for her mad photoshop skills, which are mostly for me.

making christmas part I

one of the links on our paper chain said "make ornaments." Inspired by a Christmas tree ornament from my childhood, but unable to replicate the same supplies, I improvised.

our final product

I posted the how-to over here if needed, but really, these were super super easy, just pipe cleaners and beads.

paper chain

In an effort to harness the gleeful anticipation in the heart of my child, we made a paper chain together, counting down the days to Christmas. I don't know why I felt it necessary, but it turned out to be a fun little project for the two of us; a chance to hone his fine motor skills with safety scissors and glue sticks. Since the passage of time, the concept of a calendar is still a bit fuzzy for Piglet,  I jotted down on white labels some simple, special activities to emphasize the extra special time of year that is December: make snow angels, deliver treats to friends, make paper snowflakes and the like.  I've been sneaking the stickers onto the backsides of our paper links when it's convenient, to avoid any drama if, say,  Piglet cuts off a link that says: make a snowman when there isn't any snow on the ground. Tomorrow seems like a cookie baking day...

for the locals: A Christmas Stroll

Snake River Landing is hosting a Christmas Stroll this weekend

admission is free

live music, carriage rides, a special visitor

bundle up!

Friday, December 4th, 6pm-9m

Christmas Books

the latest addition to our Christmas book collection:

The Mitten by Jan Brett

charming and sweet and wintry with beautiful illustrations, though not necessarily Christmas-y. we loved it at first read.

In other, related news...
Last Friday our local bookstore hosted a special story time in the evening, featuring this book. I had not, prior to that time, taken my babes to any story time at the library or bookstore, so fearful have I been as to Piglet's desires to remove the library koi from their pond and whoop and holler and such. I thought perhaps it was time to try, so we ventured out. Mr. J cruised the bookstore with Nanuk while Piglet and I parked ourselves on tiny benches in the story corner, waiting for the story teller. Waiting, waiting. Piglet getting restless, but doing his best. Long story short, the Story Teller finally arrived twenty minutes late and opted to read 3 stories that Piglet has had memorized for a year before even starting into the featured book. He was bored. He scampered up and down the aisles gleefully periodically shouting "I know that book! I know that book!"  Thirty minutes (hello! these are toddlers waiting!) after Story Time was to begin, the story-teller began The Mitten. I asked a clearly keyed up Piglet if he wanted to listen, at which point he flew up the aisle, grabbed the story teller from behind in a happy little head lock and shouted "I found you!" Which he also proclaimed to the 2 little girls who had lately arrived. He then leapt onto the reading platform, threw his arms up in the air and bellowed "Ladies and gentlemen" at which point a mortified Mr. J swooped in and tossed Piglet over his shoulder and hustled us all out of the store.

We went back the next morning for another try. Surprisingly, they let us in.

And surprisingly, Piglet sat happily and quietly through two and a half stories.

I can't get enough of these guys

I'm digging Straight No Chaser;

this little ditty is great.

I recommend listening to the entire song.